Passenger airbag module using an essentially unitary cover

• Main Authors: KAISER, AXEL W, LEONHARD, TIMOTHY J, RALSTON, JOSEPH L, BOLIEAU, DONALD J, ANDERSON, DANIEL W, ROGERS, MARK
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 09.04.1997
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR

An essentially unitary airbag cover assembly is provided for concealing an airbag module. The cover has a vehicle panel (13) with a front surface (16), a foam core (18) and panel substrate (20) with a dropped lip or shelf (24) on a distal end (22) thereof. A deployment door (12) incorporated in the panel is hinged to the panel along one side thereof with at least one of the remaining sides of the door resting in the panel on the dropped lip or shelf (24) of the panel substrate (20). The deployment door (12) and panel (13) are substantially the same thickness, and the shelf (24) is dropped such that when the deployment door is positioned on the dropped shelf in the panel substrate, the door and panel are on the same level and there is no need for a connection between the panel and deployment door aside from the hinged side of the door.