US 12,304,414 B1
Vehicle instrument panel and foldable airbag deployment door
James Paul Yizze, Washington, MI (US); Victor A. Johnson, Royal Oak, MI (US); Jeffrey William DeMunnik, Ypsilanti, MI (US); Nicholas Andrew Mazzocchi, Ypsilanti, MI (US); Shane Scherbarth, Superior Township, MI (US); and Alan Curtis Moran, Canton, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 28, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/619,409.
Int. Cl. B60R 21/205 (2011.01); B60R 21/215 (2011.01); B60R 21/2155 (2011.01); B60R 21/2165 (2011.01)
CPC B60R 21/205 (2013.01) [B60R 21/2155 (2013.01); B60R 21/2165 (2013.01); B60R 2021/21537 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An airbag deployment door for a motor vehicle, the airbag deployment door comprising:
a panel;
a hinge formed along one side of the panel, the hinge configured to couple to a panel on the vehicle to allow the panel to pivot;
a tear seam extending on an opposite side of the panel, wherein the tear seam is configured to open during the deployment of an airbag; and
a scoring line extending through the panel in the shape of a generally Y-shape to form first, second, and third panel members, wherein the scoring lines allow the first, second, and third panel members to fold along the scoring lines during deployment of the airbag.