# US 10,369,953 B2 · Interior panels including substrates with inserts for defining integrated airbag deployment doors for motor vehicles and methods of making the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,953 B2 - Document ID: US10369953B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/695,679 - Filed: 2015-04-24 - Published: 2016-10-27 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-24 - Assignees: Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Michael J. Twork; Bradley P. Kusky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369953B2 ## CPC - B60R 21/2165: characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening - B29C 45/0081: {of objects with parts connected by a thin section, e.g. hinge, tear line} - B29C 45/14: incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles {(B29C45/1671 takes precedence)} - B60R 21/215: characterised by the covers for the inflatable member {(B60R21/2176 takes precedence)} - B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials - B29L 2031/3038: {Air bag covers} - B29L 2031/3041: {Trim panels} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An interior panel for a motor vehicle comprising: a substrate comprising: a substrate section; and an insert 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, wherein the substrate has an outer surface and an inner surface that is opposite the outer surface and has a beveled outer edge that extends along the interface and that is at an incline at an angle from the inner surface towards the outer surface, the integrated airbag deployment door is disposed in the substrate section laterally adjacent to the insert, and the insert extends longitudinally along a door flap shape-defining direction and is defined by projection of an optionally variable cross-section along the door flap shape-defining direction, and wherein the optionally variable cross-section has an airbag deployment door facing sidewall which extends along the interface at the incline such that at least a portion of the optionally variable cross-section that faces the integrated airbag deployment door tapers inwardly from the inner surface towards the outer surface, and wherein the optionally variable cross-section has an outer sidewall facing opposite the airbag deployment door facing sidewall, and wherein the outer sidewall defines an interlock step for securing the insert to the substrate section during airbag deployment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The interior panel of claim 1, wherein the integrated airbag deployment door has a beveled outer edge matchingly interfacing with the airbag deployment door facing sidewall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The interior panel of claim 1, wherein the angle at which the airbag deployment door facing sidewall extends from the inner surface towards the outer surface is from 91 to 135 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The interior panel of claim 1, wherein the optionally variable cross-section is configured as a variable substantially L-shaped cross-section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The interior panel of claim 1, wherein the optionally variable cross-section has an intermediate upper section that is disposed between and spaced apart from the outer surface and the inner surface of the substrate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The interior panel of claim 1, wherein the door flap shape-defining direction is configured to define a substantially U-shaped integrated airbag deployment door. ### Claim 7 An interior panel for a motor vehicle comprising: a substrate comprising: a substrate section; and an insert 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, wherein the substrate has an outer surface and an inner surface that is opposite the outer surface and has a beveled outer edge that extends along the interface and that is at an incline at an angle from the inner surface towards the outer surface, the integrated airbag deployment door is disposed in the substrate section laterally adjacent to the insert, and the insert extends longitudinally along a door flap shape-defining direction and is defined by projection of an optionally variable cross-section along the door flap shape-defining direction, and wherein the optionally variable cross-section has an airbag deployment door facing sidewall which extends along the interface at the incline such that at least a portion of the optionally variable cross-section that faces the integrated airbag deployment door tapers inwardly from the inner surface towards the outer surface, and wherein the optionally variable cross-section has a base section that is generally planar with the inner surface of the substrate section and the insert has a down standing rib that extends from the base section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The interior panel of claim 7, further comprising a chute operatively coupled to the insert along the base section laterally adjacent to the integrated airbag deployment door. ### Claim 9 An interior panel for a motor vehicle comprising: a substrate comprising: a substrate section; and an insert 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, wherein the substrate has an outer surface and an inner surface that is opposite the outer surface and has a beveled outer edge that extends along the interface and that is at an incline at an angle from the inner surface towards the outer surface, the integrated airbag deployment door is disposed in the substrate section laterally adjacent to the insert, and the insert extends longitudinally along a door flap shape-defining direction and is defined by projection of an optionally variable cross-section along the door flap shape-defining direction, and wherein the optionally variable cross-section has an airbag deployment door facing sidewall which extends along the interface at the incline such that at least a portion of the optionally variable cross-section that faces the integrated airbag deployment door tapers inwardly from the inner surface towards the outer surface, and wherein the insert has a plurality of standoffs that extend from the intermediate upper section of the insert to the outer surface of the substrate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The interior panel of claim 9, wherein the plurality of standoffs are spaced apart from each other a distance of from 15 to 75 mm.