Abstract: There is provided an airbag cushion which is configured to allow the joint between a distal end portion of a lid member and the airbag cushion by a separable joint member to be released easily and rapidly as a whole, and is able to be inflatable rapidly and substantially uniformly as a whole, and an airbag apparatus having the airbag cushion. A rear panel 14 of an airbag cushion 10 is provided with a vent hole 18 which communicates the interior and the exterior of the airbag cushion 10, and the vent hole 18 is covered with a lid member 60 from the inside of the airbag cushion 10. A distal end portion of the lid member 60 and portions of the front panel 12 and the rear panel 14 of the airbag cushion 10 overlapped with the distal end portion of the lid member 60 are releasably joined by a tear seam 70.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an airbag door for instrument panel and its manufacturing method. A passenger side airbag (PAB) door for instrument panel includes a substrate with airbag opening, skin layer and foam layer, a PAB door reinforcement board which covers the airbag opening is connected to the instrument panel substrate. This PAB door reinforcement board is a cellulosic composite material board which is soaked by thermoplastic plastic or thermoplastic elastomer, formed through thermoforming. In present invention, the turnover and movable portion of the airbag door is lighten greatly. The airbag door with the light composite material can prevent the windshields from being broken effectively when the airbag deploys sufficiently and impacts against the windshields.

Abstract: An airbag system is provided with an airbag housing, a separate firing channel, and at least one latching connection for securing the airbag housing and firing channel to each other, which includes, but is not limited to a shaft with two opposing walls on the airbag housing or the firing channel, and a strap for introduction into the shaft, which is joined with the other airbag housing or firing channel, wherein the shaft and/or strap exhibits a first latching projection for engaging in back of a shoulder of the strap or shaft.

Abstract: An airbag cover and an airbag device capable of improving an outer appearance of the airbag cover and simplifying a structure of a hinge portion are provided. In one form, an airbag cover is formed by integrally resin molding a plate portion which forms a vehicle interior surface with an inner case to be disposed on the back surface of the plate portion to form an inflation/development path of an airbag. The airbag cover includes a door member formed in the plate portion so as to be split upon inflation/development of the airbag, and a hinge portion which turnably retains the door member. The hinge portion includes a first thin portion formed at a connection portion between the inner case and the plate portion, and plural first ribs disposed on the outer surface of the first thin portion so as to be bent or buckled upon the inflation/development of the airbag.

Abstract: A split-opening portion is formed by two transverse breakable portions that extend substantially along the transverse direction of a vehicle, two front-rear breakable portions that extend substantially along the front-rear direction of the vehicle and are connected to the transverse breakable portions, and a middle breakable portion that is located between the two transverse breakable portions and extends substantially along the transverse direction of the vehicle. The middle breakable portion is connected to the front-rear breakable portions. In a front passenger seat airbag apparatus, the split-opening portion is broken by pressing force of an inflated airbag so that door portions are separated from the door adjacent portion, and the door support portions are pivoted together with the door portions about hinge portions serving as fulcrums.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus is provided including an airbag which is formed as a bag body by connecting a plurality of panels via seaming and is folded and housed in an instrument panel, and an inflator, wherein: in one form the airbag includes: a multi-layered connecting portion that connects at least three layers of the panels; and a height regulating portion that regulates a dimension of a height direction of the airbag from an upper surface of the instrument panel in an initial stage of an inflation and deployment process of the airbag; and the multi-layered connecting portion is positioned further toward a vehicle rear than the height regulating portion, in a state where the airbag apparatus is mounted to a vehicle.

Abstract: A knee airbag apparatus includes a front panel configured to face toward an occupant when the knee airbag deploys and a rear panel configured to face toward an instrument panel when the knee airbag deploys. The rear panel is joined to the front panel to form an inflatable knee cushion configured to inflate to protect an occupant's knees during a crash event. The knee airbag further includes at least one internal tether extending between the front and rear panels. The internal tether is attached to the front panel at a front panel attachment location offset from a rear panel attachment location. The knee airbag further includes an external tether attached at one end to the front panel, and at a second end at the knee airbag housing.

Abstract: A cover for an airbag module includes at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer includes a predefined tear line and the third layer is configured to face into a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

Abstract: An airbag to be inflated by gas for a vehicle includes a base member for the airbag, an opening and closing vent provided in the base member, and a discharging gas control member for restraining gas from discharging from the opening and closing vent. The discharging gas control member closes or slightly opens the opening and closing vent when an occupant does not contact a front surface of the airbag facing the occupant when the airbag is inflated. The discharging gas control member opens or widely opens the opening and closing vent so as to allow the gas to be discharged from the opening and closing vent when the occupant contacts the front surface of the airbag, and the front surface is pushed in a direction opposite to the occupant.

Abstract: A device is provided for snap-fastening an airbag unit in a subassembly of a motor vehicle, especially in a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, snap-in elements that are associated with each other being provided on the airbag unit and on the subassembly of the motor vehicle. In order to be able to snap-secure an airbag unit both to a plate-shaped subassembly and to a subassembly having a lateral wall, at least one snap-in hook is provided on the airbag unit or on the subassembly of the motor vehicle, at least one pivotable plastic snap-in clip being associated therewith on the other subassembly. The snap-in hook engages with said clip in at least one section thereof when in the snap-in position.

Abstract: A restraint system is provided that includes, but is not limited to at least one airbag module having an airbag having at least one chamber for front vehicle occupants in a vehicle, a space at a distance from the windshield between dashboard and front vehicle occupant being fillable using the airbag by unfolding. To improve the vehicle comfort and the passenger safety according to the current and future requirements and provide more interior space, the airbag module is fastenable to a vehicle body structure forming the front vehicle interior, the restraint system being implemented using an airbag enlarged by a depth (T) of a dashboard.

Abstract: An airbag cover and an airbag apparatus are provided which achieve cost reduction by integrally molding an instrument panel and an inner case as well as ensure the rigidity of the instrument panel without degrading the aesthetically pleasing of the instrument panel. An airbag cover according to one form of the present invention is an airbag cover that is formed by integrally molding a plate-like portion constituting a vehicle interior surface and an inner case that is disposed on the back face of the plate-like portion and constitutes an airbag inflation and deployment path, wherein the plate-like portion constitutes part of the instrument panel disposed in front of an occupant, and the inner case is formed in a position in front of an occupant in a passenger seat, and the side close to a driver's seat of the plate-like portion is formed so as to be disposed in the back of a convex portion formed in the middle of the instrument panel, into which onboard equipment is set.

Abstract: An airbag assembly for use within a vehicle. The airbag assembly includes an airbag, an inflator configured to provide a gas to inflate the airbag and a housing with an inflator receiving portion and an upper mounting portion. The inflator receiving portion includes a cavity in which the inflator and the airbag are stored. The upper mounting portion is configured to mount a first side of the airbag housing to a cover. The inflator receiving portion and the upper mounting portion are integrated together in a single, unitary piece.

Abstract: An air bag module arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle, which includes, but is not limited to an air bag module a one driver-side dashboard panel that is fastened to an internal transverse support. In order to allow a simply constructed and simple fastening, the air bag module is fastened to an external transverse support of the external vehicle structure. An air bag and a method for fastening an air bag module, in particular for producing an air bag module arrangement, are also provided for a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle interior cladding is provided for one or more vehicle components situated in or adjacent to the vehicle passenger compartment, in particular for the dashboard of a vehicle, with an airbag cover, under which an airbag is arranged in an airbag module for a restraint function. The vehicle interior cladding exhibits at least two separate cladding components that are provided for cladding different areas of one or more arranged vehicle components, in particular for a passenger side dashboard. A first cladding component at least partially envelops the airbag cover and a second cladding component forms a visible boundary line with the airbag cover. An airbag through opening is formed in the vehicle interior cladding at least partially in the area of the boundary line during the deployment of the airbag.

Abstract: This invention is in the field of safety devices to lessen injuries arising from impact in vehicles, particularly automobiles. A bolster which may be employed to reduce impact severity to passengers from either frontal or side impacts is activated by impact sensing devices. The housing of the bolster has a lateral length L. Upon activation, the bolster is inflated with an activating fluid and extends the lateral length L of the bolster upon activation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an airbag guide with a covering which comprises a lid (4) and an airbag guide (7) which are connected to each other by a hinge (10). In the fitted state, the lid (4) is clamped between the airbag guide (7) and the edge region of the outlet opening (2) for the airbag.

Abstract: An interior panelling part for covering an airbag has a sheet-like support, a decorative layer and an intermediate layer arranged between the support and the decorative layer. A passage opening for the airbag is left open in the support. The intermediate layer comprises a mat which spans the passage opening and overlaps with the support outside the passage opening. The intermediate layer and/or the decorative layer is/are weakened longitudinally or offset parallel to an edge of the passage opening on just one side of the passage opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an airbag door for instrument panel and its manufacturing method. A passenger side airbag door for instrument panel includes a substrate with airbag opening, skin layer and foam layer, a PAB door reinforcement board which covers the airbag opening is connected to the instrument panel substrate. This PAB door reinforcement board is a cellulosic composite material board which is soaked by thermoplastic plastic or thermoplastic elastomer, formed through thermoforming. In present invention, the turnover and movable portion of the airbag door is lighten greatly. The airbag door with the light composite material can prevent the windshields from being broken effectively when the airbag deploys sufficiently and impacts against the windshields.

Abstract: This invention is in the field of safety devices to lessen injuries arising from impact in vehicles, particularly automobiles. A bolster which may be employed to reduce impact severity to passengers from either frontal or side impacts is activated by impact sensing devices. The housing of the bolster has a lateral length L. Upon activation, the bolster is inflated with an activating fluid and extends the lateral length L of the bolster upon activation. A bolster is also provided having portions which inflate at differing rates.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a crash pad for an automotive interior, including a passenger air-bag door, which may have a main resin layer including a door region having a hinge portion and a tear line for a deployment of an air-bag and a crash pad region at least partially surrounding the door region, in which the hinge portion has a groove formed on a lower surface of the main resin layer along a longitudinal direction of the passenger air-bag door, and a lower resin layer disposed on a lower surface of the main resin layer to cover the hinge portion and having flexibility or a percentage of elongation superior to the main resin layer.

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 airbag module for a vehicle includes an airbag cushion, an inflator to inflate the airbag cushion, a sleeve connected to the airbag cushion and a tether configured to pass through the sleeve. A first end of the tether is anchored to a portion of the airbag cushion, module, or a structure of the vehicle and a second, opposite end of the tether is capable of passing through at least a portion of the sleeve during deployment of the airbag. The tether and sleeve are configured to initially restrain the deployment of the airbag cushion to provide a knee bolster, after which the tether is configured to unlace within the sleeve to release the restraint on the airbag cushion.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of airbag cushions including diffuser panels to redirect inflation gas within the cushion. In an embodiment particularly suited for use as a knee airbag cushion, a diffuser panel is positioned over the inflator opening and in between the front and rear faces of an airbag cushion panel. The diffuser panel defines a plurality of channels such that, upon inflation of the airbag cushion through the inflator opening, the channels redirect inflation gas towards the top corners and sides of the interior of the airbag cushion.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a passenger airbag apparatus comprising: an airbag configured to inflates and expands from an opening; a retainer configured to comprise a body having substantially rectangular frame-shaped side walls; arm members configured to extend respectively from the side walls along a left and right directions, and to be affixed to the panel; a substantially disk-shaped gas generator attached to the bottom surface of the body; and a support member arranged in a manner that the upper end portion thereof is attached to an outer periphery of the opening and to cover the sides of the airbag, wherein: the retainer further includes hook members provided on the side walls along a front and rear directions, and engage the body with the support member; the body and the hook members are integrally constructed with substantially the same thickness; and the hook members further includes a first rib portion.

Abstract: This device comprises a flexible net (26), a first end portion (28) of which is overmolded by the flap (20) and a second portion (30) is overmolded by a support element (24), the central portion extending between said first and second portions (28, 30) forming a flexible hinge (22) for articulating the flap (20) relative to the support element (24). The second portion (30) comprises an end part (32) protruding from the support element (24) on the opposite side to the hinge-forming part (22), said end part (32) comprising a stop element, such that, when the airbag is deployed, the stop element prevents the second part (32) from being pulled out of the support element (24).

Abstract: In a method for producing a weakened zone, in particular a predetermined breaking point for an airbag exit opening, in a carrier part equipped on the visible side with a decorative material, in particular a leather decoration, the carrier part is provided with a weakened section using first process, and weakening of the decorative material is performed through the weakened section of the carrier part using a second process. The weakening of the carrier part and the weakening of the decorative material taking place temporally close to one another, in particular at the same time. Furthermore, the invention relates to a component and an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: An airbag cover to be mounted to correspond to a passenger seat of a vehicle is disclosed that provides an effective technique to ensure the strength, during opening, of an opened end in the part opening toward an occupant pushed by an inflating and developing airbag. In an airbag cover according to one form of the present invention, a part opening toward an occupant pushed by an inflating and developing airbag is configured such that in regard to a spaced distance between an opened end of a flap part and a plurality of bonding ribs, each of the spaced distances in the regions of corners of the opened end is smaller than the spaced distance in the region of the hinge part.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an airbag door that opens during deployment of an airbag, and a crash pad integrally injection-molded with the airbag door. The airbag door may include a tear groove, torn during the deployment of the airbag; a slanted part; and a variable part, a thickness of which varies. The crash pad may include an insertion part which contacts the slanted part of the airbag door to support the airbag door when the airbag door opens. A method includes simultaneously injecting materials of a crash pad and an airbag door with an upper and a lower mold and a slide mold coupled to one another such that the airbag door is integrally injection molded with the crash pad, retreating the molds, and removing the airbag door by moving the slide mold.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include inflatable cushion airbag assemblies and methods for folding, rolling, and packing an airbag cushion within a housing such that the cushion deploys with predetermined characteristics.

Abstract: An airbag includes a circumferential plane, a margin, a receiving plane and a second seam line. The circumferential plane is formed by being seamed to form a first seam line from its base end to its farthest end and has a closed cross section. The margin for the first seam line is provided on the circumferential plane. The receiving plane extends integrally from the circumferential panel and receives a passenger at an impact. The circumferential plane and the receiving plane are seamed together to form the second seam line. The second seam line crosses the first seam line and goes across the margin in a width direction of the margin. According to the airbag, its manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

Abstract: An airbag device in which a lid part over an opening formed in a base member opens in a suitable opening direction when the airbag is deployed. A tear seam is formed so as to extend along the axis line of a hinge shaft of the lid part in a region further to the outside than the opening. Detaching parts where a skin member on the base member detaches from the base member are provided to the outside region.

Abstract: An integrated air bag chute structure that provides means for providing automatic interlocking attachment of the chute to the substrate of an instrument panel. By inserting the air bag chute into a substrate aperture and utilizing slots, depressions and notches formed in the chute structure beneath a surrounding flange, the aperture edges are captured and retained to thereby lock the chute in place.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicular instrument panel, and more particularly, is a vehicular instrument panel in which a door portion can be easily cut away from an instrument panel for the inflation of an air bag upon a car collision. The vehicular instrument panel includes a door portion provided on the instrument panel at a position corresponding to an air bag, and a tear line provided on the instrument panel to define a boundary between the door portion and the instrument panel, the tear line being torn upon a car collision. The tear line includes several sections having different shapes from one another.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a front passenger's seat includes a case that includes a front storage area that has an airbag mounting plane and a rear storage area. A bottom wall of the rear storage area is located at a lower level than the airbag mounting plane of the front storage area. The airbag has a generally square conical contour whose top is disposed at the front end and includes proximate the front end a gas inlet port. The airbag is secured to the mounting plane of the case by the periphery of the gas inlet port. A lower folded-up portion that is formed by folding up a lower inflatable portion of the airbag is stored in the rear storage area of the case. The airbag apparatus further includes proximate left and right edges of an opening of the case in the rear storage area means for restraining emergence of the lower folded-up portion of the airbag from the opening of the case in an early stage of airbag deployment by holding down left and right end regions of the lower folded-up portion.

Abstract: In a knee airbag attached to a steering column, the knee airbag is inflated and deployed quickly to a small space between an instrument panel and the knees of a vehicle occupant in a collision. A knee airbag 36 of a knee airbag device 10 is formed of a first inflation portion 38 which extends in a vehicle lateral direction along an instrument panel 12 side, and a second inflation portion 46, which is deployed to a vehicle occupant knee side. A gas supply opening 42, to which gas ejected from an inflator 22 is supplied, is disposed at a first inflation portion 38 side. The gas supply opening 42, and the pair of protection portions 46 provided at left and right end portions of knee airbag 36, are provided on substantially the same line in a vehicle lateral direction, and the first inflation portion 36 communicates the two as a gas flow path.

Abstract: The invention provides for an apparatus and method for attaching a Passenger Side Inflatable Restraint (PSIR) chute. In one embodiment an automotive interior component comprises an automotive instrument panel having an outer surface and an inner surface. The automotive interior component further comprises an automotive PSIR hidden chute assembly contained behind the automotive instrument panel, wherein the PSIR hidden chute assembly has a chute and at least one PSIR door. The chute is connected to the inner surface of the automotive instrument panel. The automotive interior component further comprises a tuning clip connected to the chute and configured to engage the PSIR door. Engagement of the tuning clip to the PSIR door reduces deflection of the automotive instrument panel visible on the outer surface by biasing the PSIR door upward.

Abstract: An integrated air bag support structure that functions to dissipate excessive energy from a door panel during air bag deployment includes a support base configured to surround a door support panel. An air bag chute tube extends downward from the support base and contains a plurality of skirt walls. The door support panel separated from the support base by a gap on all four sides. A hinge element extends between one of the skirt walls of the air bag chute tube and one edge of the door support panel, and includes a plurality of pivoting elements and an arm extension to absorb energy during deployment.

Abstract: A passenger airbag apparatus for a vehicle includes a retainer, an airbag folded and retained in the retainer, a deployment-limiting sheet, and a shape-retaining sheet. The deployment-limiting sheet has one end coupled to the retainer or the rear portion of the airbag, and extends toward the front portion of the airbag while being superposed on the airbag. The deployment-limiting sheet has a first folded part and extends along the rear portion of the airbag during inflation of the airbag. The first shape-retaining sheet is coupled to the retainer or the deployment-limiting sheet for retaining a shape of the folded airbag and a shape of the deployment-limiting sheet. The first shape-retaining sheet has a shape-retainment release portion for releasing a shape of the folded airbag by inflation of the airbag.

Abstract: A knee-protecting airbag apparatus is mountable on a door of a glove box that has a box body provided with an opening at the rear and the door. The airbag apparatus includes an airbag, a generally columnar inflator housed in the airbag, a case housing the airbag and inflator, and an airbag cover constituting a rear face of the glove box door and being openable at airbag deployment. The inflator includes a body that discharges inflation gas and a fixing section that secures the body and the airbag to the case. The fixing section includes a projecting portion and the projecting portion extends at an upward or downward angle to the thickness direction of the glove box door.

Abstract: In a knee protecting airbag device (M1), an airbag (26) folded and housed below a steering column (3) is expanded and inflated while rising from the lower side of the steering column (3) along a column cover lower surface (9a) during an inflation process. The shape of the airbag having completed the inflation is in a generally plate shape capable of covering at least the lower surface of the column cover. Even if the knee of the driver comes close to the column cover when the driver depressing a brake pedal, therefore, the airbag being expanded and inflated goes smoothly into the clearance between the knee of the driver and the column cover lower surface. The airbag having completed the expansion and inflation protects the knee of the driver properly so that the knee may not interfere with the column cover.

Abstract: Vehicle including a switch assembly includes a vehicular component subject to control by an occupant in the passenger compartment, and a switch assembly for controlling the component based on pressure applied by the occupant of the vehicle to an exposed surface of the vehicle. The switch assembly includes at least one wireless transmission component arranged to wirelessly transmit an indication of the application of pressure to the exposed surface, and a control mechanism for controlling the wireless transmission by the wireless transmission component(s) based on the application of pressure to the exposed surface. The control mechanism may be a switch or a variable impedance which react to the application of pressure to the exposed surface.

Abstract: The airbag for a front passenger's seat includes an inner panel comprised of a pair of left and right base cloths. Each of the base cloths has a band shape curved in a generally C shape. A circumferential edge of a communication area communicating left and right shoulder restraining portions of the airbag is constituted by a joint portion joining inner edges of the respective base cloths together. The joint portion includes a corner area having a large curvature. Each of the base cloths includes a reinforcing portion at its inner edge for preventing the corner area from being so deformed as to reduce the curvature thereof upon airbag deployment.

Abstract: An airbag device for a vehicle, including an airbag package, a receptacle, and a flexible protective covering for the airbag. The flexible protective covering includes at least two flexible, sheet-like protective elements secured to the receptacle. The flexible, sheet-like protective elements are connected to one another via at least one separable tearing line. The flexible, sheet-like protective elements flank the airbag during initial inflation and expansion of the airbag. A flexible guide layer is arranged between the protective covering and the airbag package. The flexible guide layer is permanently connected to a first of the sheet-like protective elements, such that the first sheet-like protective element, together with the guide layer, forms a composite layer flanking the airbag during inflation.

Abstract: An air-bag device capable of improving degree of freedom in setting of reaction forces according to physical frames of occupants, a vehicle occupant's lower limb protecting device and a device for protecting an occupant at the time of vehicle side collision using the air-bag device. Knees of an occupant of large build whose inertia load at the time of collision is great are assuredly protected by collective energy absorbing action of the upper cylinders (121, 121) and the lower cylinders (122, 122) at the time of collision. In a case of an occupant of small build whose inertia load at the time of collision is small, loads from the upper cylinders (121, 121) and the lower cylinders (122, 122) are exerted on the occupant in appropriate proportions according to physical size of the occupant to fulfill impact absorption at the time of collision.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a seamless airbag door assembly for a motor vehicle. A panel having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the panel has predetermined breaking lines that are not visible when the panel is viewed from the outside surface. A scrim is connected to the inner surface of the panel and has a cut-line operable aligned with the predetermined breaking lines of the inner surface of the panel. An airbag chute is connected to the scrim and inner surface of the panel in order to connected the airbag chute to the panel.

Abstract: Air bag assembly is inflatable by an inflator mounted on the vehicle forward of the vehicle occupant seat. The air bag assembly has a vertical extending, occupant facing restraining surface located at a distance from the air bag base end. An air bag base wall extends generally horizontally from a base end mounted on the inflator and divides the air bag assembly into a lower air bag portion for restraint of the occupant lower torso and an upper air bag portion for restraint of the upper torso. The upper air bag portion includes an inflatable left hand lobe rising from the left side of the base wall and an inflatable right lobe rising from the right side of the base wall. The left and right hand lobes define an upper un-inflated void space, the lower extent of which is provided by the horizontal extending base wall.

Abstract: A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle is disclosed which comprises an air-bag module (1) having an inflatable air-bag (5) in fluid communication with an inflator (4). An internal tether (14) is provided having a first end (15) and a second end (16). The first end (15) of the tether is connected to a restrainable part (13) of the air-bag, whilst the second end (16) of the tether is free from connection with the air-bag but is initially trapped between the folds or rolls of an initially folded or rolled part of the air-bag. The arrangement is such that, upon inflation of the air-bag, the tether serves to restrain the restrainable part (13) of the air-bag until such time as the folded or rolled part of the air-bag (9) becomes sufficiently unfolded or unrolled to release the second end (16) of the tether (14).

Abstract: An interior panel assembly and an airbag device are provided that are equipped with structure for preventing an interior panel and a backing plate from becoming detached from each other. In one form, when an inflator discharges gas, movable door-frame members are moved (lifted) upward by being pushed upward by an inflating airbag. An instrument panel ruptures along a peripheral tear line, causing a door portion to be cut and separated from the surrounding instrument panel. Grooves serving as rupturable sections extend along joint sections between backing plates and leg plates of the movable door-frame members. When the backing plates of the movable door-frame members open outward together with the door portion, the grooves rupture to cause the backing plates to become partially separated from the leg plates. At the sections of the backing plates partially separated from the leg plates, the backing plates become substantially flat as a result of the partial separation from the leg plates.

Abstract: A housing (4) for receiving an airbag is fixed to a support member (2) by at least one fixing element (18) which extends through a hole (20) of the member and which is fixed to the housing (4). The fixing element (18) is retained in the hole (20) with play so that the fixing element (18) is capable of pivoting, in a plane which contains the axis of the hole (20), inside the hole (20) under the action of the deformation of the housing (4) so as to absorb the deformation brought about by the deployment of the airbag.