Abstract: An airbag apparatus utilizes an interior panel of a vehicle. The interior panel has a rectangular fracture-opening section defined by at least one hinge groove and one fracture groove formed on an inside surface of the interior panel through irradiation with laser pulses. The fracture groove includes bridge portions and continuous hole portions provided alternately. Each of the bridge portions includes no laser-formed hole and has a thickness equal to the interior panel. Each of the continuous hole portions is composed of first holes for fracture which have a first depth and are successively formed between adjacent bridge portions through irradiation with laser pulses, and second holes which have a second depth smaller than the first depth and are each formed between adjacent first holes, through irradiation with laser pulses, so as to remove an original-thickness portion between the adjacent first holes.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for an automobile includes an airbag case for accommodating an airbag in a folded condition, the airbag case being disposed behind a surface panel which is made of a thermoplastic resin material and provided within the automobile; a fracture-opening section of the surface panel, the fracture-opening section facing an opening of the airbag case and being defined by means of fracture grooves formed on an inside surface of the surface panel; at least one reinforcement plate member fixed to the inside surface of the surface panel in a region corresponding to the fracture-opening section; and a frame member surrounding the reinforcement plate member and fixed to the inside surface of the surface panel in a region surrounding the fracture-opening section. The frame member and the reinforcement plate member are each made of a thermoplastic resin material, and are fixed to the inside surface of the surface panel through vibration welding.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus uses an interior panel of an automobile. The interior panel is formed of a multi-layer sheet including a surface layer, an intermediate foam layer, and a base layer. The interior panel has front and rear hinge grooves and left and right fracture grooves for defining a fracture-opening section, and a center fracture groove for dividing the fracture-opening section into front and rear fracture-opening subsections to be split apart from each other in a casement condition. The hinge grooves, the center fracture groove, and the left and right fracture grooves are formed of laser-machined holes which have different depths and do not pass through the surface layer of the interior panel.

Abstract: An airbag device for a passenger seat for use in a vehicle like an automobile. Reinforcement ribs 12 of rectangular horizontal cross-section protrudently extend downward from the back side of a fracture-opening section 30 of the interior cover. Mounting holes 14 are formed at the predetermined intervals in the front and rear side walls 12a of the reinforcement ribs (in the longer direction). Hooks 36 mounted to the front and rear side edge surfaces 5b of the airbag case 5 (in the longer direction) are joined to the mounting holes via a mounted section 35 extending downward from hinge sections 34 of reinforcement plate members 33. The left and right side walls 12b of the reinforcement ribs 12 are spaced from the left and right side edges 5c of the airbag case by a predetermined distance, and fracture grooves 30a of the fracture-opening section are formed at the portions positions spaced at the predetermined intervals.

Abstract: An automobile airbag apparatus disposed within an instrument panel covered with an interior cover. A fracture-opening section is defined in the interior cover to be located in opposition to the opening portion of the airbag case. The fracture-opening section is defined by at least a fragile groove formed from the back surface of the interior cover to surround the fracture-opening section. A reinforcement plate member is attached to the back surface of the fracture-opening section through deformation of a portion of the fracture-opening section through application of heat thereto. The reinforcement plate member has a main-body portion attached to the back surface of the fracture-opening section and an attachment portion extending from the main-body portion via a hinge portion. A plurality of slits are formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement plate member such that the slits extend in parallel in the transverse direction of the reinforcement plate member.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for an automobile includes an airbag case for accommodating an airbag in a folded condition, the airbag case being disposed behind a surface panel provided within the automobile; a fracture-opening section of the surface panel, the fracture-opening section facing an opening of the airbag case and being defined by means of fracture grooves formed on an inside surface of the surface panel; and a reinforcement frame member having a frame portion, at least one fracture-section reinforcement portion, and an edge reinforcement portion, which are integrally formed at an upper end portion of the frame portion. The frame portion has an engagement portion to which the airbag case is connected. The fracture-section reinforcement portion is joined to the inside surface of the surface panel to cover and reinforce the fracture-opening section.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for an automobile includes an airbag case for accommodating an airbag in a folded condition, the airbag case being disposed behind a surface panel which is made of a thermoplastic resin material and provided within the automobile; a fracture-opening section of the surface panel, the fracture-opening section facing an opening of the airbag case and being defined by means of fracture grooves formed on an inside surface of the surface panel; at least one reinforcement plate member fixed to the inside surface of the surface panel in a region corresponding to the fracture-opening section; and a frame member surrounding the reinforcement plate member and fixed to the inside surface of the surface panel in a region surrounding the fracture-opening section. The frame member and the reinforcement plate member are each made of a thermoplastic resin material, and are fixed to the inside surface of the surface panel through vibration welding.

Abstract: An airbag device for a passenger seat for use in a vehicle like an automobile. Reinforcement ribs 12 of rectangular horizontal cross-section protrudently extend downward from the back side of a fracture-opening section 30 of the interior cover. Mounting holes 14 are formed at the predetermined intervals in the front and rear side walls 12a of the reinforcement ribs (in the longer direction). Hooks 36 mounted to the front and rear side edge surfaces 5b of the airbag case 5 (in the longer direction) are joined to the mounting holes via a mounted section 35 extending downward from hinge sections 34 of reinforcement plate members 33. The left and right side walls 12b of the reinforcement ribs 12 are spaced from the left and right side edges 5c of the airbag case by a predetermined distance, and fracture grooves 30a of the fracture-opening section are formed at the portions positions spaced at the predetermined intervals.

Abstract: The airbag apparatus includes a fracture-opening section of an instrument panel cover located in opposition to an opening portion of an airbag case and capable of being split apart, and a plurality of reinforcements fixedly attached to the back surface of the fracture-opening section. The fracture-opening section includes a contour portion and a splitting portion, which, in turn, include fragile portions formed through laser processing. The reinforcements are attached to the fracture-opening section in such a manner as to correspond to subsections of the fracture-opening section into which the splitting portion divides the fracture-opening section. The reinforcements each include a hinge portion and a leg portion. An end of the leg portion is engaged with a plurality of hooks fixedly attached to side edges of the opening portion of the airbag case. Upon inflation of the airbag, the fracture-opening section opens apart along the splitting portion.

Abstract: The airbag apparatus includes a fracture-opening section of an instrument panel cover located in opposition to an opening portion of an airbag case and capable of being split apart, and a plurality of reinforcements fixedly attached to the back surface of the fracture-opening section. The fracture-opening section includes a contour portion and a splitting portion, which, in turn, include fragile portions formed through laser processing. The reinforcements are attached to the fracture-opening section in such a manner as to correspond to subsections of the fracture-opening section into which the splitting portion divides the fracture-opening section. The reinforcements each include a hinge portion and a leg portion. An end of the leg portion is engaged with a plurality of hooks fixedly attached to side edges of the opening portion of the airbag case. Upon inflation of the airbag, the fracture-opening section opens apart along the splitting portion.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a front passenger seat includes a fracture-opening section which is defined in an interior cover and is split into front and rear subsections upon inflation of an airbag, and front and rear reinforcement plate members fixedly attached to back surfaces of the front and rear subsections. Upper bent portions and lower bent portions are alternately formed at predetermined intervals at each of the mutually-opposed end portions of the front and rear reinforcement plate members such that a vertical step is formed between the upper bent portions and the lower bent portions. A projection tongue having an engagement hole is provided at the tip end of each upper bent portion. A projection engageable with the engagement hole is formed on the upper face of each lower bent portion. The mutually-opposed end portions of the front and rear reinforcement plate members are superposed and engaged with each other in such a manner that the projection tongues are located above the lower bent portions.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a front passenger seat includes a fracture-opening section which is defined in an interior cover and is split into front and rear subsections upon inflation of an airbag, and front and rear reinforcement plate members fixedly attached to back surfaces of the front and rear subsections. Upper bent portions and lower bent portions are alternately formed at predetermined intervals at each of the mutually-opposed end portions of the front and rear reinforcement plate members such that a vertical step is formed between the upper bent portions and the lower bent portions. A projection tongue having an engagement hole is provided at the tip end of each upper bent portion. A projection engageable with the engagement hole is formed on the upper face of each lower bent portion. The mutually-opposed end portions of the front and rear reinforcement plate members are superposed and engaged with each other in such a manner that the projection tongues are located above the lower bent portions.

Abstract: An automobile airbag apparatus disposed within an instrument panel covered with an interior cover. A fracture-opening section is defined in the interior cover to be located in opposition to the opening portion of the airbag case. The fracture-opening section is defined by at least a fragile groove formed from the back surface of the interior cover to surround the fracture-opening section. A reinforcement plate member is attached to the back surface of the fracture-opening section through deformation of a portion of the fracture-opening section through application of heat thereto. The reinforcement plate member has a main-body portion attached to the back surface of the fracture-opening section and an attachment portion extending from the main-body portion via a hinge portion. A plurality of slits are formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement plate member such that the slits extend in parallel in the transverse direction of the reinforcement plate member.

Abstract: An airbag system is provided which has an instrument panel cover provided with a favorable appearance and enables to protect a passenger sitting on the front passenger seat at an instance of collision. To have such favorable appearance, the cover is combined by mold forming with a lid plate located opposite to an opening of an airbag case as a single unit. The lid plate is arranged having its outer edge decreased in the physical strength. While a main body of a lid plate reinforcement made of a metallic material is joined by thermal bonding to the back side of a region inside the outer edge of the lid plate, a hinge extending outward from the main body is fixedly joined by a bracket to the airbag case so that the hinge, when the airbag element accommodated in the airbag case inflates, can be bent upward to lift or open up the lid plate. Accordingly, the cover when broken out is prevented from generating sharp edges or scattering broken pieces.

Abstract: A treating method for improving the strength of molded products. Molded products of a thermosetting resin containing a phenol resin as a main component are taken out of a mold of an injection molding machine, and then immediately immersed in water or exposed to blown air. With this treatment, the breaking strength, particularly the toughness of the molded products is increased. This method provides molded products having a large strength at room temperature as well as at temperatures around 120.degree. C.