Vehicle interior panel with laser-formed tear seam
First Claim
1. A method of forming an airbag tear seam in a vehicle interior panel comprising an upholstery layer disposed over a semi-rigid substrate, the method comprising the step of:
- forming a plurality of blind cuts spaced apart along a tear seam pattern in a side of the upholstery layer opposite a decorative side before the upholstery layer is disposed over the substrate, wherein at least a portion of each one of the blind cuts is formed by removing material from the upholstery layer at a plurality of overlapping locations using a laser beam, wherein the step of forming the plurality of blind cuts includes the steps of;
forming a groove portion of each of the blind cuts in a first plurality of sequential cutting passes along the tear seam pattern during which material is removed from the upholstery layer at a plurality of overlapping locations; and
, subsequently,forming a finger portion of each of the blind cuts in a second plurality of sequential cutting passes along the tear seam pattern during which material is removed from the upholstery layer at a plurality of locations within each groove portion, each finger portion comprising a plurality of discrete fingers extending from the groove portion toward the decorative side of the upholstery layer,wherein one finger of each finger portion is defined at a first end of the corresponding blind cut, another finger of each finger portion is defined at an opposite second end of the corresponding blind cut, and the remaining fingers of each finger portion are equally spaced between the fingers at the first and second ends of the corresponding blind cut, andwherein each blind cut has a scalloped configuration comprising an interfinger portion of upholstery material remaining between each pair of adjacent fingers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An upholstery layer of a vehicle interior panel includes an airbag tear seam formed as a plurality of blind cuts arranged along a tear seam pattern. Each one of the blind cuts is formed by laser material removal at a plurality of locations along the pattern. Laser energy is delivered to the upholstery layer in a series of ultra-short pulses to form the blind cuts, which are formed in the upholstery layer while separate from a substrate of the panel. This technique is particularly useful with leather upholstery materials, in which non-visible airbag tear seams have been proven difficult to form.
15 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of forming an airbag tear seam in a vehicle interior panel comprising an upholstery layer disposed over a semi-rigid substrate, the method comprising the step of:
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forming a plurality of blind cuts spaced apart along a tear seam pattern in a side of the upholstery layer opposite a decorative side before the upholstery layer is disposed over the substrate, wherein at least a portion of each one of the blind cuts is formed by removing material from the upholstery layer at a plurality of overlapping locations using a laser beam, wherein the step of forming the plurality of blind cuts includes the steps of; forming a groove portion of each of the blind cuts in a first plurality of sequential cutting passes along the tear seam pattern during which material is removed from the upholstery layer at a plurality of overlapping locations; and
, subsequently,forming a finger portion of each of the blind cuts in a second plurality of sequential cutting passes along the tear seam pattern during which material is removed from the upholstery layer at a plurality of locations within each groove portion, each finger portion comprising a plurality of discrete fingers extending from the groove portion toward the decorative side of the upholstery layer, wherein one finger of each finger portion is defined at a first end of the corresponding blind cut, another finger of each finger portion is defined at an opposite second end of the corresponding blind cut, and the remaining fingers of each finger portion are equally spaced between the fingers at the first and second ends of the corresponding blind cut, and wherein each blind cut has a scalloped configuration comprising an interfinger portion of upholstery material remaining between each pair of adjacent fingers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification