Abstract: A component for an interior of a vehicle is provided, including a substrate, a skin cooperating with the substrate to define a cavity, and foam disposed within the cavity. The substrate includes a recess defining a side wall and a back wall. The skin includes a primary wall defining a show surface, a perimeter wall extending away from the primary wall and contacting the side wall, and a terminal wall extending away from the perimeter wall. The terminal wall further contacts and applies a force onto the back wall. The foam is disposed within the cavity such as to substantially seal at least one of the perimeter wall and the terminal wall against the substrate. The force acting on the back wall promotes a substantially flam-tight seal, thus preventing foam from leaking between the substrate and the skin.

Abstract: A process for forming an instrument panel or other motor vehicle interior trim component having a laser scored invisible deployment restraint system opening. Processing of such components having foam material layers often produces compression forces in the foam. Heat ageing of the foam causes the compression set to be relieved, which causes the deployment seam line to become visible. In this invention the part is heated prior to laser scoring to relieve compression forces within the foam layer prior to laser scoring.

Abstract: A process for forming an instrument panel or other motor vehicle interior trim component having a laser scored invisible deployment restraint system opening. Processing of such components having foam material layers often produces compression forces in the foam. Heat ageing of the foam causes the compression set to be relieved, which causes the deployment seam line to become visible. In this invention the part is heated prior to laser scoring to relieve compression forces within the foam layer prior to laser scoring.