Patent ID: 8047563

Claim:
An air bag module cover, comprising: a. a face panel operatively coupleable to a first structural portion of an air bag inflator module, wherein said face panel in a nominal orientation comprises: i. first and second lateral door portions separated by a central substantially vertical tear seam; ii. a first distal hinge portion operatively coupling said first lateral door portion to a first laterally distal portion of said face panel; iii. a first lower vertical distal tear portion below said first distal hinge portion and between said first laterally distal portion of said face panel and said first lateral door portion; iv. a second distal hinge portion operatively coupling said second lateral door portion to a second laterally distal portion of said face panel; and v. a second lower vertical distal tear portion below said second distal hinge portion and between said second laterally distal portion of said face panel and said second lateral door portion, wherein said first and second laterally distal portions of said face panel are on opposing lateral sides of said face panel, and respective first and second upper edges of said first and second lateral door portions are bounded by a separable upper boundary; and b. a lower door portion operatively coupleable through a lower hinge portion to either said first or a second structural portion of said air bag inflator module, wherein said lower door portion is located on a bottom side of said air bag module cover, a first edge of said lower door portion abuts respective first and second lower edges of said first and second lateral door portions at a separable lower boundary, said first edge of said lower door portion is distal with respect to said lower hinge portion, and said lower door portion comprises first and second lateral separable boundaries defining first and second lateral edges of said lower door portion; wherein the module is configured so that the lower door portion opens and deploys before the first and second lateral door portions on the face panel.