Air bag deployment chute and panel assembly

An air bag deployment panel assembly for deploying an air bag through a panel member of a vehicle, the air bag deployment panel assembly comprising:

• a panel member having an outer show surface and an inner surface, the panel member including a groove on the inner surface which forms a structurally weakened area of the panel member to enable selective air bag deployment through the structurally weakened area;
• and
• a deployment chute positioned against the inner surface of the panel member, the deployment chute including:
• a stationary portion including a base and a peripheral wall integrally connected to the base, the base having first and second surfaces, the first surface attached to the inner surface, the base having an inner periphery to define an opening of the base, the peripheral wall being integrally connected to the second surface of the base and extending therefrom adjacent the inner periphery, the peripheral wall defining a channel through which the air bag may deploy, the stationary portion being configured to receive the air bag within the channel to guide the air bag through the stationary portion during deployment of the air bag;
• and
• at least one door portion disposed on the inner surface of the panel member and in the opening adjacent the air bag, the at least one door portion being circumscribed by the stationary portion through which the air bag is deployed, the at least one door portion being hinged to the base to facilitate pivotal movement of the at least one door portion to allow deployment of the air bag through the opening of the stationary portion and through the structurally weakened area of the panel member during impact of the vehicle, the inner periphery being positioned against the structurally weakened area of the panel member so that outer portions of the groove are supported by the base to prevent inadvertent pivotal movement of the at least one door portion toward the air bag when force is applied on the outer surface of the panel member.

An air bag deployment chute for deploying an air bag through a panel member of a vehicle, the panel member having an outer show surface and an inner surface, the deployment chute positioned against the inner surface of the panel member, the panel member including a groove formed on the inner surface which forms a structurally weakened area of the panel member to enable selective air bag deployment through the structurally weakened area, the groove defining a prescribed tear pattern, the deployment chute comprising:

• a stationary portion including a base and a peripheral wall integrally connected to the base, the base having first and second surfaces, the first surface attached to the inner surface, the base having an inner periphery to define an opening of the base, the peripheral wall being integrally connected to the second surface of the base and extending therefrom, the peripheral wall defining a channel through which the air bag may deploy, the stationary portion being configured to receive the air bag within the channel to guide the air bag through the stationary portion during deployment of the air bag;
• and
• at least one door portion disposed on the inner surface of the panel member and in the opening adjacent the air bag, the at least one door portion being circumscribed by the stationary portion through which the air bag is deployed, the at least one door portion being hinged to the base to facilitate pivotal movement of the at least one door portion away from the air bag to allow deployment of the air bag through the opening of the stationary portion and through the structurally weakened area of the panel member during impact of the vehicle, the inner periphery being positioned against the structurally weakened area of the panel member so that outer portions of the groove are supported by the base to prevent inadvertent pivotal movement of the at least one door portion toward the air bag when force is applied on the outer surface of the panel member.