Abstract: An air delivery system (10) for a vehicle (12) includes an air plenum (42) and a coupling joint (14) that is coupled to the air plenum (42). The coupling joint (14) is configured to reside between and is hidden by overlapping sections (34,36) of a vehicle housing (16). An air transfer device (50) passes air through the air plenum (42) and the coupling joint (14).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle trim panel having a storage compartment includes providing a first mold assembly comprising a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein the first mold assembly defines a first cavity. A second mold assembly is provided and comprises a third mold section and a fourth mold section. The second mold assembly defines a second cavity. A first material is introduced into the first cavity, thereby producing a substrate. A second material is introduced into the second cavity, such that the second material forms a movable wall. The substrate and the movable wall define a vehicle trim panel, wherein the movable wall includes a fold formed therein for permitting movement of the movable wall to expand the storage compartment.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle trim panel having a storage compartment includes providing a first mold assembly comprising a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein the first mold assembly defines a first cavity. A second mold assembly is provided and comprises a third mold section and a fourth mold section. The second mold assembly defines a second cavity. A first material is introduced into the first cavity, thereby producing a substrate. A second material is introduced into the second cavity, such that the second material defines a flexible member. The substrate and the flexible member define a vehicle trim panel, such that the flexible member defines an expandable portion of the storage compartment.

Abstract: A duct assembly for a vehicle. The duct assembly includes a trim panel and an air duct. A seal having multiple seal portions is disposed on the air duct to inhibit air leakage. The seal portions are integrally connected and formed from a common material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a two-shot injection molded polymeric component having first and second shots made from polymeric materials. The first shot is made from a relatively hard polymeric material, while the second shot is made from a polymeric material which may differ from the first shot by way of color or polymer type. In this way, the second shot provides texture and aesthetic value to the component. Integrally molded with the second shot is an attachment feature that allows an accessory to be attached proximate the back side of the component without the use of a separate fastener or other separate attachment feature.

Abstract: A trim panel assembly and a method of manufacture. The trim panel assembly includes a trim panel and a backplate. The trim panel includes a speaker grill that allows sound to transmit from a speaker into the interior of a vehicle. The backplate is attached to the trim panel and includes a speaker mounting portion located adjacent to the speaker grill and a seal located adjacent to the speaker mounting portion that is configured to inhibit sound leakage.

Abstract: In at least certain embodiments, the present invention relates to a trim panel assembly and a method of making the same. The trim panel assembly comprises a housing having a perimeter portion defining an opening. The housing comprises a housing panel and a housing skin covering at least a portion of the housing panel. The trim panel assembly further comprises a door moveable between a first position wherein the door closes the opening to a second position wherein the door provides access to the opening. The door comprises a door panel and a door skin covering at least a portion of the door panel. The trim panel assembly further comprises a bumper disposed between the housing and the door. The bumper and at least one of the skins are made during the same injection molding step.

Abstract: An instrument panel for an automobile that eliminates the gaps between the lateral ends of the instrument panel and adjacent door panels, when the doors of the automobile are in their closed positions. In one embodiment, the instrument panel includes a rigid substrate and a pliable cover layer that extends beyond lateral ends of the substrate to form flexible flanges. The flexible flanges contact the door panels when the doors are closed, and deform toward the substrate so as not to interfere with the closing of the doors. In another embodiment, the substrate includes central and lateral sections connected by the pliable cover layer. As the doors of the automobile are closed, the lateral substrate sections contact the door panels and are deformed toward to central substrate section.

Abstract: An automotive interior trim component includes a rigid substrate member that forms the structural support for the trim component. A portion of the substrate member has a thickness that is reduced relative to surrounding portions of the substrate member to define a target area for providing a soft feel to the trim component. The trim component may further include a flexible cover layer and a backing member disposed on a side of the substrate member opposite the cover layer. The substrate member and cover layer may be formed in a two-shot molding operation.

Abstract: A vehicular air bag assembly includes at least one rib extending from an air bag opening. The rib guides the air bag during deployment. The rib may also support an air bag door. Fingers extending from a panel into the air bag opening may be used to support the air bag door, either together with or instead of the rib. The rib then separates the fingers from the air bag during air bag deployment.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention relates to a trim panel for concealing an air bag. The panel comprises a substrate and a cover over the substrate. The cover includes a cover skin. The panel also comprises a tear seam having at least a portion comprising a pattern of alternating residual wall thicknesses in the panel. At least one embodiment of the present invention also relates to a method for making a trim panel for concealing an air bag.

Abstract: A system and method for spray application of polyurethane used to spray form an article is disclosed. A spray nozzle is rotated as the polyurethane composition is sprayed onto a mold surface to apply a swath of polyurethane to the mold surface. The spray nozzle may be of an internal mixing or external mixing type that is moved relative to a mold surface in a path to create a skin layer with multiple partially overlapping swaths being applied in multiple passes. A motor and gear drive are used to rotate the nozzle tip and associated structure.

Abstract: A method of forming an airbag assembly for a vehicle including the steps of providing a sheet of hinge material, where the hinge material includes a sheet of scrim material encapsulated within a polymer. Next, a panel is provided that is formed of a substrate material. An under face of the panel may have a tear seam to allow an airbag to exit the panel body when the airbag is deployed, and the tear seam may define an airbag door. Next, a first portion of the sheet of hinge material is secured to the panel within the airbag door defined by the tear seam. Securing the hinge material to the panel may occur by vibration welding a portion of the hinge material to the panel. A second portion of the sheet of hinge material is secured to the airbag housing and an airbag housing is secured to the panel. The hinge material may be secured to the airbag housing such that a third portion of the sheet of hinge material forms a loop.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an airbag assembly and a trim component for vehicle including the step of providing a first mold structure having a first surface formed therein, a second mold structure having a second surface formed therein and a third mold structure having a third surface formed therein. The first mold structure and the second mold structure are positioned to define a first cavity. A first material is introduced into the first cavity to form a substrate. The substrate and the third mold structure are positioned to define a second cavity. A second material is introduced into the second cavity to form at least one of a portion of an airbag assembly and an outer layer overmolded onto the substrate. Additionally, a scrim material may be disposed within the second cavity to produce a hinge having an embedded layer of scrim material.

Abstract: A method of making a multi-layered trim component for attachment to a structure of a vehicle is disclosed herein. The method includes providing a mold having a cavity formed therein which defining first and second surfaces. The mask is magnetically secured to the mold to cover the first surface. A first material is applied in the cavity so as to form a first layer conforming to the second surface. The mask is removed from the cavity of the mold. A second material is then applied in the cavity so as to form a second layer conforming to the first surface, wherein the first and second layers define a multi-layered trim component.

Abstract: A cross beam assembly extends between side frame members of a vehicle and includes a beam having a hollow interior. The beam defines an opening formed therein. The assembly further includes an air bag inflator assembly having a source of pressurized gas for expelling gas to inflate an air bag. The inflator assembly is disposed within the hollow interior of the beam such that activation of the inflator assembly expels gas through said opening.

Abstract: A system and method of making polyurethane skins for interior components is provided wherein a colorant/polyol mixture is injected into a polyurethane layer to provide color in the polyurethane layer. An in-mold coating may be applied to the mold over which the polyurethane layer is sprayed. The colorant/polyol mixture is combined to match the color of the in-mold coating. The colorant/polyol mixture is injected into the same spray applicator that dispenses polyol and isocyanate of a two part polyurethane forming mixture. The colorant may be selectively injected into the spray applicator to selectively provide color in the polyol and isocyanate composition that matches the color of the in-mold coating.

Abstract: An interior vehicle trim panel includes a panel body having a front face and an under face. The under face has a tear seam to allow an airbag to exit the panel body when the airbag is deployed. The tear seam defines an airbag door. A sheet of hinge material attached to the under face of the airbag door of the panel body. An airbag collar is attached to the under face of the panel body about the airbag door. An airbag housing is attached to the airbag collar, such that a portion of the sheet of hinge material is secured between the airbag collar and the airbag housing, thereby forming an interior vehicle trim panel.

Abstract: An interior vehicle trim panel includes a substrate having a front face and an under face. The under face has a tear seam to allow an airbag to exit the substrate when the airbag is deployed. The tear seam defines an airbag door. The outer layer is bonded to the front face of the substrate. A portion of the outer layer defines a hinge member for the airbag door. The outer layer is preferably mechanically bonded to the substrate in a mold, thereby forming an overmolded interior vehicle trim panel. Preferably, the hinge member of the outer layer is thicker relative to a region of the outer layer adjacent the airbag door.

Abstract: A method of spray forming articles with a nozzle that sprays in a flat fan-shaped spray pattern. The process may be used to form articles from a polyurethane composition. Repeated passes of the nozzle that partially overlap apply a deposit in a series of parallel paths. A primary flat fan-shaped spray is flanked by a pair of secondary sprays that are outboard of the primary spray. The secondary sprays facilitate feathering the edges of adjacent deposits and provide a spray application having a consistent thickness.