Single cutter self-piercing cover assembly for airbag

An interior trim member having an invisible door for concealing an airbag restraint system including an airbag, an airbag housing, a gas generator and a retaining member for supporting the interior trim member on a vehicle frame characterized by:

• the interior trim member having an outer skin with a smooth outer surface, a foam backing layer and an retainer insert member bonded together as a composite assembly;
• a cover insert member located inboard of said foam layer having side edges thereon forming an opening with respect to said retainer insert member;
• a single cutter means pivotally connected to said retainer insert member at a point recessed below said outer shell;
• said single cutter means each including a sharp cutting edge located adjacent one of said side edges prior to deployment of said airbag;
• means responsive to deployment of said airbag to cause said single cutter means to pivot with respect to said retainer insert member to cause said sharp cutting edges to sequentially cut through said foam layer and said outer shell at said opening between said cover insert member and said retainer insert member for forming a three sided opening in said outer shell defining a passage for deployment of said airbag into a vehicle passenger compartment.

A cover assembly for concealing an airbag restraint system including an airbag, a housing for the airbag, a gas generator located in the housing for supplying gas to the air bag in response to vehicle impact the cover assembly comprising:

• an outer shell, a retainer insert member for securing the cover assembly on a support;
• a cover insert member having four side edges thereon forming an opening with respect to said retainer insert member;
• a single cutter means pivotally connected to said retainer insert member at a recessed position inboard of said outer shell;
• said single cutter means including a plurality of sharp cutting edges located adjacent three of said four side edges prior to deployment of said airbag;
• actuator means responsive to deployment of said airbag to cause said single cutter means to pivot with respect to said retainer insert member to cause said sharp cutting edges to cut through said outer shell at said opening between said insert cover member and said retainer insert member for forming a three sided opening in said outer shell before said cover insert member is displaced and said cover insert member thereafter being engaged by said airbag during its deployment to open so as to define a passage for deployment of said airbag into a vehicle passenger compartment.