AIRBAG TEAR SEAMS FORMED BY IRRADIATION

摘要

A method of making a vehicle interior panel includes irradiating a covering layer material in a manner that reduces the strength of the material while preserving the thickness of the covering layer. An irradiated portion of the covering layer is arranged to at least partially overlie an airbag door region of an underlying substrate to help define the location of an airbag tear seam. The irradiation process can be carried out using an electron beam or ultraviolet light. Natural or synthetic organic materials may have their chemical structures altered by irradiation in a manner that reduces the strength of the material, thus reducing or eliminating the need for stress-concentrating features in covering layers and enabling non-visible tear seams to be formed in high strength materials like leather.

主权项

1. A method of making a vehicle interior panel for use over an airbag, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a covering layer comprising a material having a strength; (b) irradiating the covering layer in a manner that reduces the strength of the material and preserves the thickness of the covering layer where irradiated; and (c) disposing a decorative covering that includes the covering layer over a vehicle interior panel substrate so that an irradiated portion of the covering overlies at least a portion of an airbag deployment region of the substrate.