Tethered cover airbag system

A tethered cover for a panel opening aligned with an airbag inflator housing, comprising:

• cover means normally closing said panel opening for protecting said airbag in said housing, said cover means including an integrally formed inner and outer skin of molded resinous plastic material folded over to form a space between facing portions of said skins;
• flexible tether means interconnected between said cover means and said panel or inflator housing having an outer end portion extending into said space between said skins;
• and
• elongated anchor means extending across a substantial portion of said cover means mounted between said inner and outer skin and attached to said tether means for distributing forces exerted by said tether means on said cover means during airbag deployment over a substantial portion of said cover means to reduce stress thereon.

An airbag system for motor vehicles and the like, including an inflatable airbag contained in a housing while in a deflated condition, said housing having an open end for permitting said airbag to pass outwardly when inflatably deployed to provide cushioning support for an occupant of a vehicle seat, comprising:

• cover means normally closing a panel opening formed in a panel in said vehicle adjacent said open end of said housing for protecting said airbag, said cover means movable to uncover said opening during deployment of said airbag;
• flexible tether means interconnected between said cover means and at least one of said panel and said housing for limiting the movement of said cover means away from said panel upon inflatable deployment of said airbag;
• said cover means including an integral outer and an inner skin folded over along an edge portion, said inner skin having slot means formed to permit passage of said tether means into a space formed between said skins;
• said inner and outer skins being integrally molded together in a unitary piece and folded over along a fold line extending along an edge of said cover means, and also interconnected by heat staking adjacent an opposite edge portion of said cover means spaced opposite said fold line, said outer skin including at least one integral heat stake extending toward a hole formed in said inner skin for receiving said heat stake;
• and
• anchor means in said space engaging said tether means for securing said tether means to said cover means and engaged by support members for positioning said anchor means in said cover means.