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Air bag cover with seamless interface tear seam and method and apparatus for producing same

  • US 5,580,083 A
  • Filed: 10/02/1995
  • Issued: 12/03/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In a cover assembly for an air bag unit deployable into the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle through an opening in the cover assembly at a separable hidden tear seam in the cover assembly, the improvement comprising:

  • an outer skin formed of polymeric material and having a smooth outer surface;

    means forming a preformed gap in said outer skin;

    said preformed gap having a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the remainder of the outer skin and having a shape conforming to an outlet from the air bag unit;

    a filler strip within said preformed gap bonded to said outer skin and having an outer surface that joins the outer surface of the outer skin to form a smooth uninterrupted outer surface extending across all of the outer skin whereby there is no readout of the presence of a air bag unit beneath the outer skin;

    said filler strip being of the same or compatible material as said outer skin; and

    a plastic parting agent between said filler strip and said outer skin whereby said filler strip and said outer skin are not thoroughly bonded together and said filler strip will immediately separate from said outer skin to form an opening upon deployment of the air bag from the air bag unit.

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