# US 2002/0074782 A1 · Vehicle instrument panel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2002/0074782 A1 - Document ID: US20020074782A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 09/510,457 - Filed: 2000-02-22 - Published: 2002-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 1999-02-22 - Assignees: Kansei Corporation - Inventors: Kazuhiro Saito - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20020074782A1 ## CPC - B60R 21/2165: characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening - B29C 37/0032: {the coating being applied upon the mould surface before introducing the moulding compound, e.g. applying a gelcoat (B29C44/14 and B29C44/32 take precedence)} - B29C 37/0057: {Moulding single grooves or ribs, e.g. tear lines (folding lines B29C53/06)} - B32B 5/18: characterised by features of a layer {of} foamed material - B29C 2791/001: Shaping in several steps - B29C 2791/006: Using vacuum - B29L 2031/3008: {Instrument 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) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of said sub panel appears to be continuous with an exposed surface of said instrument panel body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein: said opening having a front edge, a seat edge, a side edge and a center side edge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 2, further comprising: an airbag lid part disposed on said sub panel; said airbag lid part being openable; and a panel body surrounding said airbag lid part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 3, further comprising: a ridge line: said ridge line being disposed on said front edge; and said ridge line extending from said center side edge to said side edge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 1, further comprising: a central panel having a central panel edge; said central panel being disposed on a generally central portion of said instrument panel body; and said center side edge being disposed along said central panel edge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 4, further comprising: an air conditioning vent disposed near said side edge of said sub panel; and said airbag lid part being disposed in a generally central portion of said sub panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 1, further comprising an airbag unit support being disposed on an inner surface of said sub panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 4, wherein: said airbag lid part and said panel body are formed using a multicolored molding process. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 4, wherein: said airbag lid part and said panel body are made as separate parts; and said airbag lid part being fixably attached to said panel body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein: said sub panel having a front surface with a material which; at minus 40 degrees C.; has a tensile strength of between 250×9.8N/cm2 (250 Kgf/cm2) and 500×9.8N/cm2(500 Kgf/cm2), an extension percentage of at least 50%, and a tearing strength of at least 10×9.8N/cm2(10Kgf/cm2); and at 85 degrees C.; has a tensile strength in a range of 10×9.8N/cm2(10 Kgf/cm2) to 100×9.8N/cm2(100 Kgf/cm2), an extension percentage in a range of 150 to 500 (%), and a tearing strength of at least 5×9.8N/cm2(5 Kgf/cm2). ### Claim 12 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.