Abstract: A pedestrian airbag apparatus in which smooth inflation and deployment of an airbag are achieved without using an inflator having a high output is provided. An opening 3a for allowing passage of the airbag provided on a bonnet hood 3 is covered by a lid 20. A rear edge 20r of the lid 20 is rotatably joined to the rear edge side of the opening 3a via hinges 21, and a front edge 20f and the rear edge 20r of the lid 20 are disengageably engaged with a peripheral edge portion of the opening 3a by clips 30, respectively. The clips 30 on the front edge 20f side and the hinges 21 on the rear edge 20r side are arranged so as to be shifted in the vehicle width direction. The clips 30 on the front edge 20f side and the clips 30 on the rear edge 20r side are arranged so as to be shifted in the vehicle width direction.

Abstract: An interior trim panel is provided that is adapted to house a supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) system when installed in a motorized vehicle. The trim panel includes a rigid substrate configured to attach to the vehicle. The rigid substrate includes opposing inner and outer surfaces, and defines a cavity therein with an opening formed through the inner and outer surfaces. The cavity is configured to nest the SIR system therein. A standing rib protrudes from the rigid substrate outer surface, elongated about at least a portion of the opening. An outer skin is injection molded over the rigid substrate, covering the outer surface and opening. The outer skin includes a reduced thickness portion, formed between an external surface thereof and the standing rib, which is configured to weaken the outer skin such that the inflatable cushion can break therethrough when transitioning from a non-expanded state to an expanded state.

Abstract: An interior trim structure covers a stowed side curtain airbag and allows deployment of the side curtain airbag through an interface joint to a position along a sidewall of a passenger compartment adjacent a rear seat location of a two-door coupe style vehicle. A center pillar trim piece and a rear pillar trim piece can be assembled to one another with at least one projection releasably interlocking with a corresponding aperture formed along adjacent edges of the trim pieces. Each projection is located in a complementary position with respect to a corresponding aperture formed along the adjacent edge to temporarily secure an interface joint defined between first and second edges when in an abutting relationship with respect to one another in a closed position. The interface joint defines an openable passage along the first and second abutting edges allowing deployment of a side curtain airbag through the interface joint.

Abstract: A rear pillar garnish assembly to cover an air bag in a rear pillar for an automotive vehicle is provided and includes a base attached to the rear pillar, a flexible cover attached to a front portion of the base, a stiffener attached to the flexible lid and to the rear pillar, a speaker assembly, and a rear cover. When the air bag deploys the force of the air bag dislodges the flexible cover from the front portion of the base to allow the air bag to expand into a passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle. The flexible lid, however, remains attached to the stiffener thereby preventing the flexible lid from becoming airborne into the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle.

Abstract: An airbag device where a case and a lid are connected by engaging a hook of the case with a hook hole in the lid and where the hook moves in the hook hole toward the vehicle interior side when the lid recedes. Energy absorption characteristics when the lid recedes are improved by a simple structure. The hook (18) used for connection to the lid (20) and provided at the case (10) is engaged with the hook hole (25) of the lid (20). The hook hole (25) is a long hole elongated in the vertical direction, and in the middle of the long hole is provided a partition-like section (26) for partitioning the inside of the hook hole (25) into the upper half and the lower half. The hook (18) is engaged with that portion of the hook hole (25) which is lower than the partition-like section (26). As the lid (20) recedes, the hook (18) moves upward in the hook hole (25) while cutting the partition-like section (26).

Abstract: A side airbag cover for holding a folded shape of a side airbag to be stored includes a first cover portion for covering a front inflation portion of the side airbag, the front inflation portion inflating and deploying substantially forward in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle; and a second cover portion for covering a lower inflation portion of the side airbag, the lower inflation portion inflating and deploying substantially downward.

Abstract: An tear seam in a cover of an airbag includes multiple, non-intersecting slits defined in a fabric of the cover that may be woven with weft yarns oriented generally parallel to a longitudinal axis and warp yarns oriented generally transverse thereto. The multiple slits are diagonal with respect to the longitudinal axis and include end portions. The end portions of substantially all adjacent slits mutually overlap, to weaken the strength of the fabric along the tear seam.

Abstract: An interior lining component of an automotive vehicle and method of making same having a support layer and a decorative layer. The decorative layer is joined, either indirectly via an intermediate layer or directly, to the support layer. A series of alternating slits and bridging elements are formed in the support layer along a desired predefined tear seam line. Blind holes of a predefined residual wall thickness and/or microperforation holes extend into the decorative layer along the predefined tear seam line in the region of the bridging elements and in the region of the slits so that the spacing between the holes in the slit regions is narrower than the spacing in the bridging element regions.

Abstract: In an airbag device, a decorative member is prevented from being scattered with a simple structure at the time of expansion of an airbag. That is, a concave part of the airbag cover (50) on which the decorative member is mounted is connected to an unmoved connection member while freely separable from other portions at the time of expansion of an airbag. To that end, there are formed, on the inner faces of the airbag cover (50), a circular tear line Lc for partitioning the concave part (52) and a plurality of tear lines L1˜4 extending outward from the tear line Lc in the radial direction thereof for forming each of opening pieces (50a). Further, attachment pieces (50b) of respective opening pieces (50a) are fastened to plastic deformable attachment parts of a base plate by screws. With this structure, the concave part of the airbag cover can be immovably held at the time of spread of the airbag.

Abstract: An overhead trim system for a motor vehicle has a mounting bracket coupled to an overhead area of the motor vehicle and an integrally formed trim member. The integrally formed trim member is configured to extend along a selected length of a perimeter of the overhead area and defines a hinge. The integrally formed trim member is coupled to the mounting bracket to define a cavity configured for receipt of an airbag module. The hinge in a first position is capable of retaining the airbag module within the cavity and in a second position is capable of enabling the airbag module to expand.

Abstract: An airbag-releasing structure capable of smoothly releasing an airbag in the vehicle, an inner case, and an airbag device are provided. In one form, the inner case of the present invention includes the inner panels connected to the inside of the outer panel, and the side walls defining the space for housing the retainer. Each inner panel includes the supporting portion connected to the fixing portion of the outer panel, the flap portion welded to the door portion, and the hinge portion formed between the supporting portion and the flap portion. The hinge portion has the apex section, the connecting section adjacent to the supporting portion, which connects the supporting portion and the apex section, and the connecting section adjacent to the flap portion, which connects the flap portion and the apex section. The connecting section adjacent to the supporting portion and the connecting section adjacent to the flap portion each have a straight section extending in the direction in which the airbag is released.

Abstract: A vehicle hood airbag device in which a door (18) that covers an opening (22A) in the outer hood panel (22) is supported by a hinge (21) when an airbag (16) is deployed. The hinge (21) is connected to a stepped bolt (52) (a connector member) on the side of an inner hood panel (24) so that the hinge (21) is relatively displaceable within a predetermined range with respect to the inner hood panel (24). Accordingly, it is possible to accommodate the dimensional variation between the opening (22A) of the outer hood panel (22) and the door (18) when the door (18) is attached to the outer hood panel (22) to cover the opening (22A) by the relative displacement of the hinge (21) with respect to the stepped bolt (52), thereby maintaining design integrity with the external appearance of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular air bag door is disclosed. More particularly, a vehicular air bag door for achieving a reduction in the number of constituent elements and a simplified manufacturing process thereof is disclosed. The vehicular air bag door includes a chute provided at an instrument panel to mount an air bag module thereon, a door plate provided in an opening of the chute and connected with a door section defined in the instrument panel, and a hinge provided between the chute and the door plate. The chute, the door plate, and the hinge are integrally formed with one another.

Abstract: An outer cover layer, for a panel that defines a rupturable deployment door of an air bag deployment system in an automotive vehicle, is formed with an invisible pre-weakened tear seam prior to being overlaid onto the panel. The outer cover layer material is pre-weakened along a defined door opening pattern by a single step impression of a variable depth scoring knife into the under surface of cover layer material. The scoring knife contains a series of cutting edges of varying depth and length along its length that coincides with the seam pattern. The scoring may be performed during the conveyance of the cover layer material by making a single impression of the scoring knife into the lower surface thereof so that the maximum cut depth does not penetrate the outer surface of the material.

Abstract: A crash pad for mounting an airbag for a vehicle includes a base layer made of a hard material and an outer cover layer made of a soft material. An opening is formed in the base layer, and a mounting housing is formed integrally with the base layer. An airbag door is coupled at one end thereof to the base layer. In the crash pad, the airbag mounting housing is integrated into the crash pad, thus reducing manufacturing costs. Further, the airbag door is separately installed, and a cutting operation is not required, so that the opening force of an airbag cushion is not reduced, and the opening direction of the cushion does not deviate from a predetermined direction.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) helps to protect an occupant of a vehicle. The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14), an inflation fluid source (26), and a diffuser plate (200). The inflation fluid source (26) provides inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The diffuser plate (200) is disposed between the inflation fluid source (26) and the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The diffuser plate (200) includes a main body portion (210) and a plurality of raised portions (230). The raised portions (230) define slots (232) for allowing inflation fluid to flow from the inflation fluid source (26) to the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14).

Abstract: A front passenger airbag device includes an airbag that deploys toward a front seat passenger, and an airbag door provided in a dashboard. The airbag door includes a central door that opens in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and lateral end doors that are provided on the lateral sides of the central door to open in the vehicle width direction due to the inflation pressure of the airbag. The inflation pressure of the airbag acts on the respective lateral end doors almost exclusively during the initial stage of the airbag deployment.

Abstract: A vehicle interior decor element, in particular an air bag cover, comprising a front side (36) facing the vehicle interior and an opposite rear side (34), a cover (18) and a decorative element (20) which is provided at the cover (18), is visible from the front and is at least partly translucent. The decorative element (20) includes sections (24) between which the decorative element (20) has a gap (26) through which the cover (18) is accessible from the front side (36). The decorative element (20) extends with at least one portion (44) thereof towards the rear side (34) towards or into a cavity (42) which is formed in the cover (18) and in which an illuminant (50) for illuminating the decorative element (20) is accommodated.

Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag cover hinge comprising a textile hinge, which can be connected to the airbag cover as well as to a supporting part surrounding the airbag cover, wherein the airbag cover hinge has a textile base structure, in which stop threads are integrated, the tensile strength of which is higher than of the textile base structure and the length of which is greater than the textile base structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thorax airbag device without housing which is mounted between a guide yoke and a tearing thread. The invention also relates to a seat which is provided with a thorax airbag device without housing which is mounted by a guide yoke and a tearing thread.

Abstract: An airbag device includes a door (16), an inflator (18), and an airbag (20). The door (16), provided in a vehicle-body outer panel (12), is opened to open an opening (12A) in the vehicle-body outer panel (12) when a predetermined situation occurs. The inflator (18) is disposed inside the door (16). The inflator (18) includes a gas-injection port (36) that is closer to the end (16B) of the door (16) in the longitudinal direction of the door (16) than to the center of the door (16) in the longitudinal direction of the door (16). The airbag (20) is disposed at a predetermined position inside the vehicle-body outer panel (12). When the predetermined situation occurs, the airbag (20) is inflated by the pressure of the gas supplied from the inflator (18) to open the door (16), and the airbag (20) passes through the opening (12A) in the vehicle-body outer panel (12), and is deployed toward the outside of a vehicle body. The high inflation pressure of the airbag (20) is applied to the end (16B) of the door (16).

Abstract: A structure of arranging interior components of a vehicle is provided. The structure includes a panel member extending along a side of a roof of the vehicle, and a bracket having a fixing base attached to the panel member, a first attaching base to which a first interior component is attached, and a bent piece connecting the fixing base and the first attaching base. The bent piece includes a sideward extending portion which inwardly extends in a width direction of the vehicle from the fixing base, and a downward extending portion which downwardly extends from the sideward extending portion and to which the first attaching base is connected. A second interior component is arranged between a space surrounded by the panel member and the bent piece.

Abstract: A garnish includes a garnish body which covers a folded air bag and a locking portion which is inserted to be locked in a mounting hole in a mounting base on a vehicle body. The locking portion holds the garnish body which is pressed by the air bag when the air bag is inflated to move so as to form a projecting space for the air bag. The locking portion includes a locking main body portion which is inserted to be locked in the mounting hole and a connecting piece portion. The connecting piece portion includes a locking base portion on which the locking main body portion is provided, connecting portions which are connected to a rear surface of the garnish body, and deformable portions lying between the locking base portion and the connecting portions and is molded integrally with the garnish body. The deformable portions deform to extend a distance between the locking base portion and the connecting portion when the garnish body moves towards a vehicle interior side.

Abstract: The glove box door includes an outer panel constituting a rear circumferential wall, an inner panel constituting a front circumferential wall, an airbag apparatus located between the outer panel and inner panel, a plurality of reinforcing ribs and void spaces formed around the airbag apparatus. The airbag apparatus includes a case that encases an airbag and an inflator and opens toward the rear, a holder that mounts the case on the outer panel, and a door that allows airbag emergence. The holder includes a joint flange and coupled to the outer panel by the joint flange. The outer panel is fabricated of hard synthetic resin having enhanced rigidity relative to the holder. A pair of mounting elements are assembled with the holder in such a manner as to be prevented from forward or backward movement. Mounting tongues formed on the case are secured to the mounting elements which are assembled with the holder and thus the case is mounted to the outer panel.

Abstract: An embodiment of an interior trim for a motor vehicle integrating a lid for an airbag; the trim having: an inner layer, made of rigid plastic material having a behavior of a thermosetting type, which constitutes the skeleton; an intermediate layer, made of spongy plastic material that bestows softness to the touch; an outer coating layer having aesthetic purposes; and a reinforcement element, which is fixed with respect to the inner layer and involves the entire area of the lid.

Abstract: An air bag cover or air bag device that secures the escape path of an air bag in an upper part of a steering wheel. Developing lines are formed in an air bag cover. When the air bag is inflated and developed, the air bag cover is divided into an upper open portion, left open portion, right open portion, and lower open portion so as to be opened. A decorative part is formed on the left open portion, and the upper open portion is difficult to be caught on a wheel part of the steering wheel.

Abstract: An airbag emblem may be backlit or illuminated to provide the emblem with greater visual appeal. In order to accomplish this illumination, an illumination source is used. This illumination source may be electroluminescent foil. The emblem includes colors that are added or inserted onto the emblem. These colors are translucent so that they may be illuminated by the illumination source. This emblem may be placed as part of an airbag cover on a steering wheel.

Abstract: An automotive airbag apparatus is able to reduce the shock caused by early deployment of airbag against a passenger not in a position for safe airbag restraint, and further able to deploy quickly and effectively when a passenger is in a position for safe restraint. The airbag apparatus includes an airbag housing in which a folded airbag resides until deployed by the gas from an inflator, an airbag door that opens on a hinge from the pressure applied by the deploying airbag, and a restrictor member extending over the folded airbag beneath the airbag door with a direction from front to rear of the vehicle. The restrictor member has a fixed end at forward part thereof attached to the airbag housing, and a releasable fixed or free end at rearward part thereof, the free end coming into frictional contact with the airbag door in the vicinity of the hinge as the airbag door is pushed out by the early phase of the airbag deployment.

Abstract: A skin material (5) including an impregnable fiber layer is overlapped and bonded onto a top surface of a base material (3) including a base material cleavage groove (13) having a predetermined depth from a rear surface of the base material (5) toward the top surface thereof. A skin cleavage groove (11) having a predetermined depth and corresponding to the base material cleavage groove (11) of the base material (3) is provided on a rear surface side of the skin material (5), the rear surface side being a bonding surface side to be overlapped and bonded onto the base material (3). Meanwhile, to facilitate cleavage, the skin cleavage groove (11) is provided inside a region of a hardened layer subjected to a hardening process by using a hardening agent.

Abstract: A knee airbag device includes an airbag module and an airbag door. The airbag module, which is provided inside a column cover that covers the rear end portion of a steering column, includes gas generation device that generates gas when a collision occurs, and a knee airbag that is inflated and deployed from a folded state when the knee airbag receives the gas from the gas generation device. The airbag door, which is provided in the lower portion of the column cover, is opened when the inflation pressure of the knee airbag is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. When the knee airbag is deployed, at least a portion of the airbag door is positioned between an interfering object that is positioned in an area on the side of the column cover, and at leaser a portion of the knee airbag.

Abstract: A structure of a rear portion of a vehicle furnished with a curtain airbag apparatus includes a rear pillar, a soft roof trim, a rear pillar trim harder than the roof trim, and a cover constituting part of the rear pillar trim and covering a specific area of a front face portion of the rear pillar trim. The curtain airbag apparatus includes a curtain airbag and an inflator for inflating and deploying the curtain airbag into the vehicle interior along side window glass. The cover of the rear pillar trim can easily be displaced frontward along an airbag deployment joint. When inflated, the curtain airbag fixed to a vehicle body along an upper edge and a rear edge of the side window glass in a retracted position deploys into the vehicle interior upon separating and displacing the cover of the rear pillar trim frontward from the other part thereof.

Abstract: In an airbag module cover, at least one pair of tear lines is provided on a double-wall portion (an inner side wall and an outer side wall). The tear line provided on the inner side wall is formed as a slit. The tear line provided on the outer side wall is formed as a groove. Therefore, strength of the double-wall portion is reduced to tear the tear lines unfailingly and torn module cover can be opened unfailingly as a deployment door by an inflating airbag.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes an inflatable occupant protection device (18) and a member (20) that defines a deployment opening (22) through which the inflatable occupant protection device (18) is inflatable. The vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) also includes a cover (30) having an attachment portion (34) and a deployment door portion (36). The attachment portion (34) is securable to the member (20) for positioning the deployment door portion (36) for closing the deployment opening (22). The cover (30) also includes a rupturable portion (134, 136, and 156) that ruptures for enabling inflation of the inflatable occupant protection device (18) through the deployment opening (22). At least a part of the rupturable portion (134, 136, and 156) is formed at a union of the attachment portion (34) and the deployment door portion (36).

Abstract: An airbag apparatus includes a back-side cover provided at a roof side rail which is provided on a side of a roof of a vehicle and extends in a front-back direction of the vehicle, wherein the back-side cover is arranged on a side of the roof side rail, which faces an interior of the vehicle; an interior-side cover for covering a side of the back-side cover, which faces the interior; and an airbag contained in a case formed by the back-side cover and the interior-side cover. An easily-bending portion is formed in the middle of the back-side cover along vertical directions thereof, and the easily-bending portion bends when receiving a pushing pressure from the airbag which is deploying, and the airbag deploys toward the interior through a space between the back-side cover and the interior-side cover which open in accordance with the bending of the easily-bending portion.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat back frame, a foam cushion mounted on the frame, and an air bag assembly mounted upon the frame within a hollow provided in the cushion. A trim cover covers the cushion and conceals the air bag assembly, and includes a side panel facing the side of the vehicle and a front panel facing forwardly. The side panel and front panel are joined together at a vertical extending separable seam. The side panel has a lower portion and an upper portion joined together at a horizontal extending separable seam located adjacent to the lower edge of the air bag assembly. Upon inflation of the air bag, the inflating air bag forces the side panel outwardly causing separation of the separable seams and enabling the air bag to inflate both forwardly through the vertical extending separable seam and downwardly through the horizontal extending separable seam.

Abstract: An airbag configuration is provided for a vehicle seat having an airbag that can be expanded by a gas upon the activation. The airbag configuration is covered by a cover that covers the airbag relative to the surroundings in the inactivated state, the cover having a target weakened area that is implemented to open the cover upon the activation and permit the airbag to expand into the surroundings, and having a connector, the connector connected to the cover in the target weakened area, the connector being fastened in a fastening area to the airbag.

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 vehicle seat includes a seat back frame, a cushion, and an air bag assembly mounted upon the frame within a hollow provided in the cushion. A trim cover includes a side panel facing the side of the vehicle and a front panel facing forwardly, the side panel and front panel being joined to one another at a vertical extending seam. The side panel also has a lower horizontal extending separable seam, an upper horizontal extending separable seam, and a forward vertical seam that may or may not be sewn to the front panel. On inflation of the air bag, the inflating air bag forces the side panel outwardly causing separation of the separable seams and inflate forwardly, upwardly and downwardly through separable seams of the side panel. In addition, a rear vertical extending seam can be provided that would extend between the upper and lower horizontal extending separable seam.

Abstract: A trim panel attachable to a structural pillar of an automotive vehicle for covering an expandable side-curtain air bag. The trim panel can also be part of a vehicular pillar structure or a vehicle subassembly. The trim panel is composed of a unitary molded body having first and second body portions connected to each other. The first body portion is formed of a first material and the second body portion is formed of a second polymeric material that is more flexible than the first material. The second body portion is configured as a deflectable flap movable between a first position in overlying relationship with the side-curtain airbag in a non-deployed state and a second deflected position upon deployment of the side-curtain airbag.

Abstract: A resin made air bag door includes a main portion having a welding face to be attached to an inner surface of a dashboard having a thickness of 2.0 mm or less at a welding area, by vibration welding, a plurality of welding ribs formed on the welding face in a vibrating direction of the vibration welding, and at least one bridging rib formed on the welding face of the main portion and extending in a direction crossing across the welding ribs. The plurality of welding ribs includes a welding portion to be melted at the time of vibration welding and a bonding portion to be bonded to the inner surface of the dashboard, remaining at the time of vibration welding. A width of a tip end of the bonding portion is equal to or less than 3 mm.

Abstract: A knee airbag device includes an airbag module and an airbag door. The airbag module includes a gas generation device that is operated when the knee airbag device is operated, and a knee airbag that is stored in a folded state inside a column cover that covers the rear end portion of a steering column. When the knee airbag receives gas from the gas generation device, the knee airbag is inflated and deployed toward the knee of an occupant. The airbag door, provided in the lower portion of the column cover, is made of a flexible material. When the knee airbag is inflated and deployed, the airbag door is opened toward the knee of the occupant due to an airbag inflation pressure.

Abstract: An air-bag unit for a vehicle seat including a squab (2) and a back-rest (5). The back-rest (5) includes a frame which is covered with upholstery (7). An air-bag unit (22) has an inflatable air-bag (28) connected to an inflator (23) to inflate the air-bag 28. The air-bag unit 22 is mounted to the back-rest frame (6) so as to be located inboard of part of the frame (10) with the inflator (23) being located adjacent the rearmost region of the frame (6) and positioned to direct gas into the air-bag (28) in a generally forward direction. The arrangement is such that actuation of the air-bag unit (22) will cause the air-bag (28) to inflate so that at least part of the air-bag (28) lies between the frame (6) and the occupant (16) of the seat.

Abstract: An attachment structure comprises a top ceiling, a cover member to cover a window glass from the inside of a vehicle compartment, an airbag which is stored along an upper edge portion of the window glass in its non-operation state and inflates downward through a gap which is formed between the window glass and the side end portion of the top ceiling which is pressed down by the airbag receiving a gas pressure from an inflator; and support members to support the cover member longitudinally at a position which is on an outside of the inflating airbag. Accordingly, the proper inflation of the airbag can be provided despite of the cover member at the window.

Abstract: An airbag module for a vehicle includes a first storage compartment for use by an occupant of the vehicle and a second storage compartment for storing a first folded airbag prior to deployment. A single integrated cover overlies the storage compartments. The cover is configured to be integrated and installed into an instrument panel of the vehicle when the airbag module is installed in the vehicle. The cover includes a manually operable first door covering a first opening to the first storage compartment, and wherein, in an open position, the first door permits access to the first storage compartment. The cover includes a second door configured to open when the first airbag thereby creating a second opening in the cover to permit the first airbag to deploy into the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting and guiding deployment of a side airbag through a deployment seam of a seat cover for a vehicle seat having a seat frame includes an airbag assembly connectable to a support portion of the seat back frame, an intensifier pocket having an inboard and outboard panel, and an elongate support rod releasably connectable to the seat back frame of the vehicle seat for closing and anchoring an opening in the pocket. Each panel has a first peripheral portion connected to opposite edges of the deployment seam in the seat cover to be forced open during inflation of the side airbag, second peripheral portions extending inwardly toward the seat back frame where the inboard and outboard panels are connected to one another, and third peripheral portions defining an opening in the pocket of sufficient size to allow the pocket to be positioned over the airbag assembly and support portion of the seat back frame.

Abstract: A vehicle interior panel, which functions as an airbag cover for covering an airbag expanding direction of an airbag apparatus, is comprised of a base member layer having a tearing portion which defines a door portion opened by the expanding of an airbag of the airbag apparatus, a cushion layer laminated on the base member layer, and a skin member laminated on the cushion layer. The skin member having a weak portion functioning as a tearing portion of the skin member. The weak portion being formed outside of a position just above the tearing portion of the base member layer.

Abstract: An airbag case includes a line of weakness which enables the case to be ruptured under the effect of a force exerted by the airbag during inflation of the airbag. The line of weakness is formed by a junction, by injection, of two layers of material defining respective parts of the surface area of the case.

Abstract: An air bag device includes a retainer having an opening, a lid for covering the opening of the retainer, an air bag accommodated in the retainer, at least one hinge member connecting the retainer and the lid, and at least one guide plate having a hook-shaped or J-shaped cross section to define a recess. The hinge member is bent at its mid portion along the recess of the guide plate, and one end portion of the hinge member is fixed to a reverse surface of the lid at one side thereof and the other end portion of the hinge member is fixed to the guide plate and sandwiched between the guide plate and the retainer.

Abstract: A switch apparatus for the horn device of a vehicle includes an inflator housing and a terminal unit provided in the inflator housing and configured to include a first contact element connected to the inflator and a second contact element connected to the inflator housing. A switching plate is installed using elastic members, which are spaced apart and insulated from the inflator housing, so that the switching plate makes contact with the inflator housing if the inflator housing is pressed, thereby operating the horn. A connector unit is coupled to the terminal unit with inflator wires and a horn wire, and is provided therein with a first connection element and a second connection element so that the horn wire and the inflator housing are electrically connected to each other.

Abstract: A combination positionable in an interior of a motor vehicle is disclosed herein. The combination includes an instrument panel having a body extending along a lateral axis between an outboard side and an inboard side. The body has an outwardly-facing surface for display in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and an inwardly-facing surface opposite the outwardly-facing surface. The combination also includes a score pattern formed in the inwardly-facing surface and defining three regions. Each region is less than fully surrounded by score lines. The combination also includes an inflatable restraint disposed adjacent the inwardly-facing surface at the score pattern. The inflatable restraint is operable to burst through the body upon engagement and thereby convert the three regions into first and second and third doors in the body.