A component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The component may comprise a structural substrate, an airbag chute and a structure coupling the chute and structural substrate. The structure may comprise a rib injection molded onto the structural substrate; the structure may be bonded to the structural substrate. The chute may be welded to the structure and/or the structural substrate. The structural substrate may comprise a panel comprised of fibers; the structure may be comprised of resin. The structure may comprise an interface bonding the chute and structural substrate; the interface may comprise a molded feature/resin feature/mounting area on the structural substrate; a structure/material/rib injection molded on the structural substrate; a bond; an attachment; a composite or resin material; a material comprising fibers; polypropylene with fibers. The component may comprise a trim component; an instrument panel; a trim panel.

A vehicle interior component is disclosed. The component may facilitate deployment of an airbag and may comprise a panel comprising fibers. The panel may comprise a notch formed as a depression in a first side of the panel and at least one feature adjacent the notch. A second side of the panel may comprise a substantially planar surface opposite the notch. The panel may comprise at least one of a resin, a thermoplastic resin, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate. The notch may direct deployment of the airbag through the panel. The feature may comprise a protrusion to provide a relief for the notch. The component may comprise a rib formed on the panel adjacent the notch comprising resin. The rib may comprise a resin portion comprising resin and a fiber portion comprising fibers of the panel. The component may comprise a trim panel, an instrument panel, a door panel.

An instrument panel (10) is formed by bonding a base material portion (20) composed of a base material M1 and a different material portion (30) composed of a different material M2. The different material portion (30) is infiltrated into the base material portion (20) and the infiltration portion (33) has a plurality of intermittent recessed portions.

A passenger airbag door includes a frame provided in an instrument panel; a skin layer disposed to face the frame; a foamed layer disposed between the frame and the skin layer; and a fabric layer formed in the frame through an insert injection molding process, the frame includes a frame body mounted to the instrument panel; and a deployment line configured to be torn such that the frame body is opened and divided into parts, the deployment line includes a plurality of slots disposed at positions spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of the frame body, and each of the plurality of slots may be formed such that a width thereof is reduced toward opposite ends thereof.

A vehicle interior panel and method of manufacturing a vehicle interior panel for use over an airbag. The vehicle interior panel includes a substrate having an airbag door with one or more t-shaped stiffening ribs embedded in the airbag door. The t-shaped stiffening ribs help increase the rigidity of the airbag door, which can help improve deployment performance of the airbag. The t-shaped stiffening ribs may be co-molded or insert molded with the substrate.

A vehicle interior/trim component configured to support an airbag module is disclosed. The component may comprise a structural substrate with a reinforcement to provide a door/opening for airbag deployment. The reinforcement may comprise a pattern of threads (e.g. top stitch to secure the door and bottom stitch). The reinforcement may comprise threads sewn within and/or pressed into a surface of a substrate/panel. The top stitch thread weight may be greater than that of the bottom stitch. The top stitch may comprise a retaining thread/hinge; the bottom stitch may separate upon deployment. The reinforcement may comprise KEVLAR, aramid, nylon, polyester, thread, ceramic fibers, polymeric fibers, synthetic fibers, etc. The structural substrate may comprise a fiber panel, compression-formed component, generally rigid fiber mat, etc. The component may be formed by injecting resin into a mold to form an ancillary component of a composite structure.

This process for manufacturing a plastic part (1) having a first technical face and a second face, in a mold comprising a first shell intended to form the first face endowed with impressions intended to form technical members of the technical face and a second shell intended to form the second face, the first shell and the second shell delimiting a cavity that forms the part (1), comprises the following steps:providing a porous reinforcing element (3);draping the reinforcing element (3) over the first shell by covering the surface of the first shell and the impressions intended to form the technical members;retaining the reinforcing element (3) on the first shell by retaining means;bringing the first shell and the second shell together;injecting a plastic in order to fill the cavity, the plastic passing through the porous reinforcing element (3) in order to fill impressions intended to form the technical members;moving the first and second shells apart;ejecting the plastic part (1).

A vehicle interior panel includes a seal between a substrate and an airbag chute and around an opening in the substrate through which the airbag chute is installed. The seal prevents a foam layer from extending into the opening when the foam layer is being molded. The seal is attached to the airbag chute prior to assembly with the substrate and is made from a material that is more flexible than the airbag chute material. The seal can be attached to the airbag chute in a two-shot molding process and spaced from the perimeter of the airbag chute along its back side. During molding of the foam layer, foam expansion pressure acts to improve the function of the seal as a foam barrier.

A release agent supply device for cold knife weakening comprising: a wheel which adapted to roll in a weakening line formed by cold knife weakening; a nozzle, the opening of the nozzle is close to the rim of the wheel with a small distance (d1) and orients to the wheel; and a release agent feeder which is in fluid communication with the nozzle for providing the release agent to the nozzle; wherein the nozzle is adapted to supply the release agent to the wheel, and the wheel is adapted to apply the release agent to the weakening line when rolling therein The release agent supply device comprises simple structure, and is easy to be added on the ordinary cold knife.

A method is provided to fabricate an injection molded piece with a weakened portion in an injection molding system having a cavity defined by a fixed mold part and a moveable mold part. The method comprises injecting raw material in a liquid state into the cavity to form the injection molded piece; moving a weakening insert into the injection molded piece from a first surface of the injection molded piece; injecting a gas to the first surface of the injection molded piece with a controlled pressure, wherein moving the weakening insert into the injection molded piece and injecting the gas are performed while the injection molded piece is in the liquid state.