Davidson Textron Inc.

Mary K Marshall

Scott M Filion

Scott E Rafferty

James R Pritchard

Wayne D LaRoche

Brian R Hatter

An interior energy absorbing panel for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle has a thermoplastic skin, a thermoplastic retainer, a thermoplastic air duct, and an energy absorbing rigid polyurethane foam core which is reaction injection molded about the air duct and to the skin and retainer without requiring any added adhesive. When the skin is of the soft type, a layer of semirigid polyurethane foam is reaction injection molded between the skin and the energy absorbing foam core to impart a soft feel to the skin and protect the energy absorbing foam core from indentation during normal use.

Panel with integral energy absorber and air duct

An air bag cover door for a steering wheel mounted air bag module includes an inner cover, an outer cover, a horn actuator attached to the inside surface of the outer cover, and one or more protrusions extending between the inner and outer covers about the horn actuator. The protrusions prevent the inner cover from compressing the horn actuator under the pressure exerted by the stored material of the air bag. The outer cover, including its inside surface, is deformable upon hand pressure being exerted thereon and the horn actuator is responsive to such deformation to activate the vehicle horn. The horn actuator can be a transducer, such as a variable resistor, adhered to the inside surface. The inner cover is permanently secured to the base of the air bag module by, for example, rivets, while the outer cover section is removably secured to the base by, for example, screws. This construction permits removal of the outer cover section and access to the horn actuator without providing access to the contents of the air bag module.

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York, ME, United States of America

Mary K Marshall