Abstract: A plastic particle is formed of a plastic material having at least one integral protruding ring disposed on its outer surface. The ring may be continuous or intermittent around a perimeter of the plastic particle. Preferably, the particles have an outer diameter in the range of 0.007 inches to 0.040 inches.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus/method for making a joint line in a plastic article comprising the steps of providing a mold having a mold surface, providing a gasket in the mold wherein the gasket defines first and second mold spaces, and molding a layer of a plastic material within one of the mold first and second mold spaces. In addition, during molding, the gasket is laterally moved relative to the mold surface in a direction towards that mold space containing the plastic material to therein form a distinct joint line.

Abstract: A method of forming a motor vehicle instrument panel with a flexibly tethered air bag deployment door includes the steps of molding an instrument panel with a first plastics material to a desired shape and with an integral air bag deployment door whose opening is defined by a tear seam formed by a groove molded in one side of the panel and with an integral mounting/hinge flange that extends from an inside surface of the door, and forming a bonded layer of second plastics material on one side of the flange and the inside surface of a potentially frangible portion of the door.

Abstract: A method of forming a motor vehicle instrument panel with a flexibly tethered air bag deployment door comprises the steps of molding an instrument panel with a first plastics material to a desired shape and with an integral air bag deployment door whose opening is defined by a tear seam formed by a groove molded in one side of the panel and with an integral mounting/hinge flange that extends from an inside surface of the door, and forming a bonded layer of second plastics material on one side of the flange and the inside surface of a potentially frangible portion of the door.

Abstract: An adjustable impact test fixture (10) for testing impact characteristics of interior trim panels (22). The fixture (10) comprises a support (12), a backing plate (14) attached to the support, and a movable floating plate (16) supported in spaced-apart relation to the backing plate. The fixture further includes one or more energy absorbing inserts (18) that are removably disposed between the backing plate (14) and the floating plate (16). Each insert (18) causes the fixture (10) to have a predetermined or known impact characteristic. The fixture (10) further includes a mounting assembly (20) adapted to fixedly secure a trim panel portion (22) to the floating plate (16).

Abstract: A hold down arrangement for an air bag door closing a deployment opening of an instrument panel comprises a molded plastics receiver provided on the backside of the door formed with a bore having a wall. A threaded fastener is supported by structure of the panel and includes an externally threaded shank that is threaded into the bore to provide a strippable hold down connection sufficient to secure the door against inadvertent opening until such time as the air bag is deployed.

Abstract: An air bag cover assembly includes a support that has an opening for deployment of an air bag and a door that is connected to the support at one end for movement between a closed position closing the opening in the support and an open position for deployment of the air bag. The outer surface of the support and the door are bonded to an elastomeric foam cushion formed in an underlying relationship to a polymeric skin that forms a covering of the cover assembly. When the air bag is deployed, it impacts an impingement member that cooperates with a reaction member so that edge tabs on one of the members rotate laterally in the elastomeric foam cushion and assist in tearing the elastomeric foam cushion and polymeric skin apart to release the air bag door.

Abstract: A one-step process is disclosed for the emulsion polymerzation of vinyl chloride, optionally in the presence of copolymerizable comonomers, using a water-soluble initiator or initiator system and a mixed emulsifier of: (1) at least one C.sub.12 -C.sub.18 straight chain alkyl or alkenyl surfactant, such as sodium lauryl sulfate; (2) at least one C.sub.14 -C.sub.20 straight chain alkyl or alkenyl alcohol, such as stearyl alcohol; and (3) at least one C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 straight alkyl chain sulfosuccinate emulsifier; such as, sodium diamyl sulfosuccinate and sodium dihexyl sulfosuccinate. The presence of the sulfosuccinate emulsifier allows the reaction to be run at lower temperatures than possible using just the other two components of the emulsifier with production of a polymer latex having good mechanical stability. The polymer product is useful as a plastisol or organosol resin.