Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc.

Scott Beam

Raymond Edward Kalisz

James Steele

Wes Roy

Adrien Bender

A vehicle interior panel and method of manufacturing a vehicle interior panel for use over an airbag. The vehicle interior panel includes a substrate having an airbag door with one or more t-shaped stiffening ribs embedded in the airbag door. The t-shaped stiffening ribs help increase the rigidity of the airbag door, which can help improve deployment performance of the airbag. The t-shaped stiffening ribs may be co-molded or insert molded with the substrate.

Airbag door for a vehicle interior panel and method of manufacturing the same

Interior panels having integrated airbag doors for motor vehicles are provided. In one example, an interior panel comprises a substrate having outer and inner surfaces and an opening extending therethrough. An airbag chute-door assembly is mounted to the substrate and comprises a chute wall that at least partially surrounds an interior space. The chute wall is configured for stowing an airbag module. The chute wall defines an expansion feature that facilitates moving sections of the chute wall for assembling the airbag module to the chute wall. A door flap portion is pivotally connected to the chute wall and at least partially covers the opening. A perimeter flange extends from the chute wall and has a flange section that overlies the outer surface of the substrate. A skin covering extends over the substrate and a foam is disposed between the skin covering and the substrate.

Foam-in-place interior panels having integrated airbag doors including substrates with airbag chute-door assemblies for motor vehicles

Interior panels having integrated airbag doors for motor vehicles are provided. In one example, an interior panel comprises a substrate having an opening. A skin covering and foam cover the substrate. An airbag chute-door assembly is mounted to the substrate. The airbag chute-door assembly comprises a chute wall that at least partially surrounds an interior space. The chute wall is configured to direct passage of an airbag through the interior space towards the opening. A door flap portion is pivotally connected to the chute wall via a hinge section and at least partially covers the opening. A gusset hinge feature extends from the hinge section between and operatively coupled to the door flap portion and the chute wall. A perimeter flange extends from the chute wall away from the interior space and has a flange section that overlies the outer surface of the substrate.

Interior panels having integrated airbag doors for motor vehicles are provided. In one example, an interior panel comprises a substrate having an opening. A skin covering and foam cover the substrate. An airbag chute-door assembly is mounted to the substrate and has a front side that faces towards the skin covering and the foam. The airbag chute-door assembly comprises a chute wall that extends from a side opposite the front side. A door flap portion is pivotally connected to the chute wall via a hinge section and at least partially covers the opening. A perimeter flange extends from the chute wall and overlies the substrate. The airbag chute-door assembly has a groove formed in the front side between the door flap portion and the perimeter flange defining a frangible tear seam.

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Commerce Township, MI, United States of America

Scott Beam