Patent ID: 7793972

Claim:
A trim panel selectively attached to vehicular structure for use in a passenger compartment for covering an expandable air bag, the trim panel comprising: a first portion and a second portion integrally formed as a unitary panel each portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surfaces of the first and second portions defining a concave recess adapted to receive at least a portion of the expandable airbag, the first and the second portions adapted to radially extend around at least partially surrounding the expandable airbag, the first portion and the unitary second portion defining a frangible portion positioned between the first and the second portions along a first edge of the second portion leaving a freestanding second edge of the second portion opposite the frangible portion not directly in contact with the first portion; at least one tether having a surface area, the tether connected to the first portion and the second portion adjacent the second portion first edge, wherein substantially all of the tether surface area facing the first and the second portions is in contact with the respective first and second portions, the tether operable to prevent detachment of the second portion from the first portion into the passenger compartment on expansion of the airbag.