Corrugated weld seam for active bolster

摘要

An active bolster is provided for an interior trim surface of an automotive vehicle. A plastic-molded outer trim panel has a welding track on an inside surface. A plastic-molded expandable bladder member has 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. The welding track and the welding flange are joined by a closed-loop hot weld seam to form a sealed chamber. The welding track and welding flange comprise complementary surfaces having a plurality of corrugations making the weld seam at least partially shaped as an undulating ribbon. As a result, a majority of the forces on the weld seam during inflation are in shear instead of peel.

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 closed-loop hot weld seam to form a sealed chamber; wherein the welding track and welding flange comprise complementary surfaces being slanted to add a shear force component.