Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.

Erik B Robins

Jamison Jaramillo

A trim panel attachable to a structural pillar of an automotive vehicle for covering an expandable side-curtain air bag. The trim panel can also be part of a vehicular pillar structure or a vehicle subassembly. The trim panel is composed of a unitary molded body having first and second body portions connected to each other. The first body portion is formed of a first material and the second body portion is formed of a second polymeric material that is more flexible than the first material. The second body portion is configured as a deflectable flap movable between a first position in overlying relationship with the side-curtain airbag in a non-deployed state and a second deflected position upon deployment of the side-curtain airbag.

Vehicle pillar trim panel assembly

A moveable integrated airbag panel and method of assembly is presented. In the exemplary application, a vehicular expandable airbag is attached to the inside of an A-pillar trim panel along with the inflator to form an integrated airbag panel that is attached as a preassembled unit to the vehicle body structure. On deployment of the airbag, the integrated airbag panel as a unit moves away from the A-pillar structure while a portion of the airbag remains attached to the A-pillar structure to limit movement of the airbag. The moveable integrated airbag panel provides increased coverage and protection of the occupant in the A-pillar area.

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Milford, MI, United States of America

Erik B Robins