Apparatus for aiding in the opening of an integral deployment door in a panel of an airbag assembly

A vehicle panel assembly having a contoured panel and a single integral airbag deployment door defined in a portion of said contoured panel for deployment of an airbag from an airbag module positioned behind said contoured panel and deployment door, said panel assembly comprising:

• a panel front surface for facing an interior of a vehicle compartment and having a front edge,
• a panel rear surface substrate having a dropped shelf extending therefrom,
• a foam core between said panel front surface and said panel rear surface substrate,
• said integral deployment door having the same contour as said panel and being hinged in said panel assembly along a first side of said door with said front edge of said panel comprising a second side of said door,
• a pair of spaced notches in said front edge of said panel assembly on said second side of said door opposite the hinged side of said door for delineating the ends of the second side of said door,
• a pair of generally parallel tabs positioned on said dropped shelf of said panel rear surface substrate and extending into said foam core toward said panel front surface in alignment with said notches,
• said tabs extending along lines from said notches to said first side of said door, thereby forming with said notches only two tear regions whereby said notches concentrate stresses and initiate separation of said deployment door from said panel along only said two tear regions to define the remaining sides of said door.