Patent ID: 8342568

Claim:
A covering element for the interior of a motor vehicle, comprising: a visible face ( 5 ) and an invisible face ( 7 ) opposite the visible face ( 5 ); a given thickness of material between the visible face and the invisible face; a weakening line ( 9 ) which is formed on the invisible face ( 7 ) and defines a gate zone ( 11 ) which is to open under the pressure of the deployment of the airbag when the motor vehicle is subjected to an impact, the weakening line ( 9 ) comprising a groove ( 13 ) which has a given total length and is delimited by a bottom ( 17 ); and at least one transverse rib ( 15 ) which projects relative to the bottom ( 17 ) toward the invisible face and closes the groove ( 13 ) at least partially, the weakening line comprising between the transverse ribs zones of normal strength and/or zones of lesser strength, the zones of normal strength extending over most of the total length of the groove ( 13 ), the zones of normal strength having a thickness of material between the visible face ( 5 ) and the bottom ( 17 ) which is continuously between predetermined minimum and maximum limits, wherein each zone of lesser strength ( 23 ) has a thickness of material between the visible face ( 5 ) and the bottom ( 17 ) which is continuously less than said minimum limit.