A method for manufacturing an automotive interior component may include providing a cover, a substrate, a chute connected to the substrate, heating the cover, forming the cover via a negative vacuum forming tool, and supporting the substrate and chute via a buck. The method may include moving at least of the negative vacuum forming tool and the buck toward the other of the negative vacuum forming tool and the buck such that the cover and the substrate may be in contact with each other. The method may include bonding the substrate with the cover via providing pressurized fluid to a chamber of the buck to force the substrate toward the cover. The chamber may be defined by the buck and the substrate.

An instrument panel forming method is provided with: a first supply step for supplying a base material 103 that will form the base material part and the different material 303 that will form the different material part into the cavity; and a second supply step for opening, with the pressure applied on the different material 303 maintained to be greater than the pressure applied on the base material 103, the frame-shaped core 215 to bring the base material 103 into contact with the different material 303 and cause the different material 303 to protrude into the base material 103 in the central section of the boundary between the base material 103 and the different material 303 in the thickness direction of the base material 103 and the different material 303 where solidification of the base material 103 and the different material 303 is delayed.

To improve the positioning accuracy of a reinforcing member relative to a cutting line. An airbag lid includes an airbag lid main body having a positioning reference portion and a cutting line positioned relative to the positioning reference portion, and a reinforcing member attached to the airbag lid main body to surround the cutting line. The reinforcing member is positioned relative to the positioning reference portion.

An air bag chute assembly for an automotive instrument panel is injection molded to form an integral deployment chute, door, and attachment flange, The flange attaches to the instrument panel around an aperture in the instrument panel. The tubular chute extends interiorly from the flange to a lower end configured to receive an inflating air bag from an air bag module and defines a deployment path along a longitudinal axis. A door flap is disposed in an upper end of the chute rotatable from the flange to emerge through the aperture. The flap has an interior side impacted by the inflating air bag carrying a plurality of raised strengthening ribs. The flap has at least one closed-section hollow channel protruding from the interior side to a channel height extending beyond the strengthening ribs formed by gas-assist injection molding.

Interior panels having integrated airbag deployment doors for motor vehicles and methods for making such interior panels are provided. In one example, an interior panel for a motor vehicle includes a substrate. The substrate includes a substrate section and an insert. The insert is disposed in the substrate section such that a frangible tear seam is formed along an interface between the insert and the substrate section defining an integrated airbag deployment door in the substrate.

An air bag guide for a motor vehicle, includes a molded component defining a guide channel with an exit opening so the air bag can exit from the guide channel. The molded component is a thermoplastic material or a thermoplastic matrix and includes an insert inserted into the molded component. A first section of the insert, connects the insert with the molded component. A second section hingedly connects to the first section that is movable and opens under the action of the air bag upon exiting the guide channel then closes the exit opening. The insert is of the same thermoplastic material as the molded component or includes the same thermoplastic matrix and is self-reinforcing at least in the second section.

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 trim component for a vehicle interior is disclosed. The trim component may provide an opening for airbag deployment and may comprise a substrate; a foam layer and a cover comprising a support layer coupled to a skin layer. The support layer may comprise at least one of polyurethane coating; two-component reactive aliphatic polyurethane; two-component reactive aromatic polyurethane; polyurea; acrylic elastomer; aromatic TPU; aliphatic TPU; TPO. The support layer may comprise a polyurethane coating. The polyurethane coating may be sprayed on the skin layer. The polyurethane coating may comprise a waterborne polyurethane. A thickness of the support layer may be generally less than a thickness of the skin layer. The trim component may comprise first and second features to facilitate deployment of the airbag through the opening. The support layer may limit fragmentation/separation of the skin layer during airbag deployment. The trim component may comprise an instrument panel.

A trim part, in particular for covering an airbag in a vehicle, is provided. The trim part comprises at least one outer layer, at least one hinge layer comprising at least one first break line which forms a first part of a perimeter of a flap area and is attached to a first surface of the at least one outer layer, at least one structural layer attached to a first surface of the at least one hinge layer facing away from the at least one outer layer characterized in that at least one of the at least one outer layer comprises a fiber composite material and the at least one structural layer comprises at least one second break line forming a breakthrough area corresponding to the flap area of the at least one hinge layer.

An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus can be a dashboard member. The dashboard member can include a panel member. The panel member can include a weakening portion integrally molded with the panel member to create a tear seam. The dashboard member can include a chute member integrally molded with the panel member. The chute member can support an air bag and direct the air bag through the tear seam.