Active bolster with hot-weld rivets

摘要

An active bolster for an automotive vehicle includes a plastic-molded outer trim panel with a welding track on an inside surface and a plastic-molded expandable bladder member with a welding flange along a peripheral edge with a first surface facing the trim panel inside surface and a second opposed surface. The welding track and the welding flange are joined by a hot weld to form a sealed chamber. A plurality of counterbores are distributed over the welding flange in order to form rivets that mechanically strengthen the weld. Each counterbore is comprised of a neck portion penetrating the first surface and a head portion penetrating the second surface. Each head portion includes an internal ledge extending laterally from the neck portion. The hot weld includes plastic-molded material that flows from the welding track through each neck portion and spreading onto the internal ledge in each head portion.

主权项

1. An active bolster for providing an interior trim surface of an automotive vehicle, comprising:
a plastic-molded outer trim panel having a welding track on an inside surface; and a plastic-molded expandable bladder member having a central attachment section configured to attach to a support structure of the vehicle, a welding flange along a peripheral edge with a first surface facing the trim panel inside surface and a second opposed surface, and a pleated region between the central attachment section and the welding flange, wherein the welding track and the welding flange are joined by a hot weld to form a sealed chamber; wherein a plurality of counterbores are distributed over the welding flange, wherein each counterbore extends between the first and second surfaces, wherein each counterbore is comprised of a neck portion penetrating the first surface and a head portion penetrating the second surface, and wherein each head portion includes an internal ledge extending laterally from the neck portion; wherein the hot weld includes plastic-molded material that flows from the welding track through each neck portion and spreading onto the internal ledge in each head portion.