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US 6,398,256 B1Granted
Vehicle instrument panel
AssigneeKansei Corporation
InventorKazuhiro Saito
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims15
A vehicle instrument panel comprising:
- an instrument panel body having an opening;
- said opening extending over substantially an entire passenger seat side portion of said instrument panel body;
- a sub panel molded separately from said instrument panel body;
- said opening being removably closed by said sub panel;
- said sub panel having at least one cleavage groove disposed on a surface of said sub panel whereby when an airbag is deployed, said cleavage groove splits open;
- said surface proximate said airbag;
- a flange at a perimeter edge of said sub panel
- a panel attachment groove at an edge of said opening, whereby said flange fits within said panel attachment groove when said opening is removably closed by said sub panel and
- said sub panel covering less than all of said instrument panel body;
- whereby a replacement of said sub panel is simplified.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.