Foam-in-place interior panels having integrated airbag doors including substrates with airbag chute-door assemblies for motor vehicles

摘要

Interior panels having integrated airbag doors for motor vehicles are provided. In one example, an interior panel comprises a substrate having outer and inner surfaces and an opening extending therethrough. An airbag chute-door assembly is mounted to the substrate and comprises a chute wall that at least partially surrounds an interior space. The chute wall is configured for stowing an airbag module. The chute wall defines an expansion feature that facilitates moving sections of the chute wall for assembling the airbag module to the chute wall. A door flap portion is pivotally connected to the chute wall and at least partially covers the opening. A perimeter flange extends from the chute wall and has a flange section that overlies the outer surface of the substrate. A skin covering extends over the substrate and a foam is disposed between the skin covering and the substrate.

主权项

1. An interior panel having an integrated airbag door for a motor vehicle, the interior panel comprising:
a substrate having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an opening extending therethrough; an airbag chute-door assembly mounted to the substrate, wherein the airbag chute-door assembly comprises:
a chute wall at least partially surrounding an interior space and configured for stowing an airbag module that contains an airbag and to direct passage of the airbag through the interior space towards the opening during deployment, wherein the chute wall defines an expansion feature that facilitates moving sections of the chute wall from a nominal position away from each other to an expanded position for advancing the airbag module in the interior space to mount to the chute wall, wherein the expansion feature is defined by a bowed section of the chute wall when in the nominal position;a door flap portion pivotally connected to the chute wall and at least partially covering the opening; anda perimeter flange extending from the chute wall away from the interior space, wherein the perimeter flange has a flange section overlying the outer surface of the substrate; a skin covering extending over the substrate; and a foam disposed between the skin covering and the substrate.