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A method for deployably concealing an air bag behind an instrument panel which includes a decorative plastic skin that covers a structural panel and a door that covers an opening in the panel. The panel includes a retainer and an outer foam layer adhered to a retainer outer surface. The door pivots

A method for deployably concealing an air bag behind an instrument panel which includes a decorative plastic skin that covers a structural panel and a door that covers an opening in the panel. The panel includes a retainer and an outer foam layer adhered to a retainer outer surface. The door pivots on a hinge at a rear margin of the door. The skin is adhered to outer surfaces of the door and the panel. When closed, the door outer surface lies flush with the panel outer surface forming a seam between the door and the panel. The skin extends across the seam to conceal the door and panel. When opened, a front edge of the door pivots away from the opening to provide an air bag deployment path through the panel. A portion of the skin surrounding the door separates from the outer foam layer of the panel. The skin peels back to form a skin "tent" when the door opens. A delaminated front edge of the skin forms a tent opening that serves as an exit for the deploying air bag. The skin may also extend around an air conditioning bezel mounted in the panel and axially inward between the bezel and the panel. In this case, the bezel is axially outwardly movable when the skin is peeled back and is pulled outward from between the bezel and the panel.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [16.] An air bag closure assembly comprising:a trim member including a panel and a skin;an air bag deployment opening disposed in the panel;a door supported for pivotal movement around a hinge and disposed adjacent the air bag deployment opening;the skin supported on outer surfaces of th

[ I claim:] [16.] An air bag closure assembly comprising:a trim member including a panel and a skin;an air bag deployment opening disposed in the panel;a door supported for pivotal movement around a hinge and disposed adjacent the air bag deployment opening;the skin supported on outer surfaces of the door and the trim member panel;a closed position in which the door closes the opening forming a seam between the door and the panel, the skin extending across the seam between the door and panel outer surfaces in a layered disposition to conceal the seam from vehicle occupants;an open position in which the door is pivoted away from the opening around the hinge to provide an air bag deployment path through the panel;the skin covering and adhering to a surrounding portion of the panel when the door is in the closed position, the surrounding portion of the panel outer surface being greater in area than the door outer surface; andthe skin being separable from the surrounding portion of the panel outer surface when the door carries the skin outwardly and lifts the skin from the surrounding portion of the panel outer surface as an air bag inflates and forces the door out of the closed position toward the open position, the skin being separable from the surrounding portion of the panel outer surface to provide an exit for a deploying air bag.