Vehicle instrument panel
AssigneeKansei Corporation
InventorKazuhiro Saito
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sub panel concealing an airbag is mounted in the instrument panel of a vehicle. The sub panel covering a portion of the instrument panel appears to be part of the instrument panel. The inner surface of the sub panel has cleavage grooves that split open during a vehicle collision allowing the airbag to expand, protecting the passenger. The sub panel and airbag unit are replaceable after the airbag is deployed, restoring the instrument panel functionality. In the preferred embodiment, the sub panel covers a portion of the instrument panel on the passenger side of the vehicle.
Claims12
A vehicle instrument panel comprising:
- an instrument panel body having an opening;
- a sub panel;
- said opening being closed by said sub panel;
- an airbag disposed within said sub panel;
- said sub panel having at least one cleavage groove disposed on a surface of said sub panel whereby when said airbag is deployed, said cleavage groove splits open;
- and
- said sub panel covering less than all of said instrument panel body.
An instrument sub panel comprising:
- a sub panel unit covering less than all of an instrument panel of a vehicle;
- said sub panel unit being removably insertable in said instrument panel;
- at least a first cleavage groove disposed on a surface of said sub panel unit whereby at least said first cleavage groove is cleavable during a vehicle collision by said airbag;
- and
- means for removably securing the sub panel unit to said instrument panel whereby said sub panel unit appears to be integrally associated with said instrument panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.