Abstract: The invention relates to a facia panel for allowing an inflated airbag to pass through. In accordance with the invention, a composite finished part includes a support element made of plastic and having a reduced thickness in comparison to its other dimensions, and a connecting sheet joined to the support element and not extending over the whole surface of the support element. The part presents a special zone which forms a door for an airbag and is designed to make it possible to create a passageway for the airbag. The zone is delimited by a periphery constituted by an embrittled portion presenting two extremities and by an articulating portion which defines, between the two extremities, a articulation axis overlapped by the connecting sheet. The connecting sheet is present over the greater part of the special zone present, along at least the major part of the embrittled portion end on either side of the embrittled portion, and encompassed in the support element.

Abstract: The invention relates in particular to a facia panel designed to make it possible for an airbag to pass through it at the time the airbag is inflated. In accordance with the invention, the part includes a plastic support element (8) having a reduced thickness in comparison to its other dimensions; a connecting sheet (6) joined to the support element; the part presenting a special zone (15) which forms a door and is designed to make it possible to create a passageway, the zone being delimited by a periphery constituted by an embrittled portion (14) presenting two extremities of an articulating portion which defines, between the two extremities, an articulation axis overlapped by the sheet; along at least the major part of the embrittled portion, the sheet is present on either side of the embrittled portion; and the sheet is present over the greater part of the special zone.

Abstract: A knee protection device (1) for a person (2) sitting on a seat arranged inside a motor vehicle is provided in the case of an accident-related deformation of the leg space. The device has a load distribution plate (3) which is driven instantaneously from its rest position in the direction toward the knee parts of the person (2), upon activation of the trigger device attached to it. The trigger device may be a pyrotechnic device (4) of the type used for a safety belt attached to the seat.

Abstract: An airbag system for motor vehicles and the like includes an inflatable airbag contained in a housing having a protective cover normally closing a panel opening aligned with an open end of the airbag housing. The cover is bodily movable away from the opening during deployment of the airbag and a flexible tether is interconnected between the cover and the panel or the housing for limiting the travel of the cover away from the panel opening during deployment. The cover includes an integral outer skin and inner skin folded over and spaced therefrom having slots to permit passage of tethers into a space formed between the skins and eventually filled with foam. An anchor in the form of an elongated element is placed between the skins and the tether and is secured to the anchor for spreading the load exerted by the tether over a wide area of the cover to prevent fracturing or breakage thereof.