US-12623624-B2 - Component for vehicle interior

Abstract

A vehicle interior component configured to provide an opening for airbag deployment is disclosed. The component may comprise a substrate and a cover structure comprising a single-layer cover comprising a generally uniform outer surface and an inner surface comprising a line such as a seam/tear line; the line may comprise sections and/or a set of cavities; the line may be not readily perceptible at the outer surface; the line may comprise an opening section and a groove connecting cavities; the line may comprise an intermediate section and a transition section. The cover structure may comprise a molded cover such as a single-layer molded cover/skin. A cavity may comprise a depth and facets. The cover structure/cover may consist essentially of a resin material. The component may comprise a trim panel, instrument panel, door panel, etc. A method for forming a component comprising the cover structure comprising a single-layer cover comprising cavities in a mold is also disclosed.

Inventors

• Liyong Wang

Assignees

• Shanghai Yanfeng Jinqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240905

Priority Date

20200423

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A component for a vehicle interior configured to provide an opening for deployment of an airbag through the opening comprising: a substrate; and a cover structure comprising a single-layer skin providing a cover comprising a rear side facing the substrate and configured to establish the opening for deployment of the airbag and a front side providing an external surface facing the vehicle interior; wherein the cover comprises a weakened portion in the rear side of the cover to establish the opening for deployment of the airbag; wherein the front side of the cover comprises a substantially continuous surface opposite to the weakened portion; wherein the weakened portion comprises a set of cavities in a pattern; wherein the cover comprises a thermoplastic elastomer layer; wherein the weakened portion comprises a groove configured to connect at least two cavities of the set of cavities in the thermoplastic elastomer layer; comprising at least one of (a) a trim panel; (b) an instrument panel; (c) a door panel; (d) a pillar; (e) a trim panel with the cover structure comprising the single-layer skin with the set of cavities comprising a cavity with a profile; (f) a trim panel with the cover structure comprising the single-layer skin with the set of cavities comprising a cavity with a profile comprising a flat surface and a curved surface; (g) a trim panel with the cover structure comprising the single-layer skin with the set of cavities comprising a cavity with a profile comprising a set of facets; (h) a trim panel with the cover structure comprising the single-layer skin with the set of cavities comprising a multi-faceted shape comprising a flat surface and a curved surface; (i) a trim component with the cover structure comprising the single-layer skin with the set of cavities comprising a profile comprising a multi-faceted shape; (i) a trim component with the cover structure comprising the single-layer skin with the set of cavities comprising a flat shape and a curved shape; (k) an instrument panel comprising the single-layer skin and an intermediate foam layer; (l) an instrument panel comprising the single-layer skin and an intermediate foam layer and a framework; (m) automotive upholstery comprising the single-layer skin with the set of cavities on an underside; (n) automotive upholstery comprising the single-layer skin with the set of cavities on an underside and an opposing side providing a cover surface; (o) a trim panel with the cover structure comprising the single-layer skin formed as a molded layer with the set of cavities comprising a cavity with a profile comprising a multi-faceted shape; (p) a trim panel with the cover structure comprising the single-layer skin formed as an injection-molded layer with the set of cavities comprising a cavity with a profile comprising a multi-faceted shape; (q) a trim panel with the cover structure comprising the single-layer skin formed as a molded elastomer layer with the set of cavities comprising a cavity with a profile comprising a multi-faceted shape.
2. 2 . The component of claim 1 wherein a cavity of the set of cavities comprises at least one of (a) a bevel; (b) a fillet; (c) a chamfer.
3. 3 . The component of claim 1 wherein the set of cavities is formed by molding the cover in a mold comprising at least one projection configured to form the cavity.
4. 4 . The component of claim 1 wherein the inner surface comprises a line configured to provide a tear line for the opening for deployment of the airbag; wherein the tear line comprises an opening section comprising a set of cavities and a groove configured to connect at least two cavities of the set of cavities; wherein the tear line comprises an intermediate section comprising a set of cavities; wherein the tear line comprises a transition section comprising a set of cavities.
5. 5 . The component of claim 4 wherein the cover comprises a molded cover layer.
6. 6 . The component of claim 4 wherein at least two cavities of the set of cavities are configured to connect to a groove configured to provide the tear line.
7. 7 . The component of claim 6 wherein the groove comprises a depth less than a depth of the set of cavities at the tear line at the intermediate section.
8. 8 . The component of claim 1 wherein the cover consists essentially of a resin material.
9. 9 . The component of claim 1 wherein the cover is configured to be torn in an extension direction of a weakening line comprising a plurality of weakening holes extending from a back surface of the skin in a thickness direction of the skin.
10. 10 . The component of claim 9 wherein the plurality of weakening holes is arranged at intervals from each other to form the weakening line.
11. 11 . The component of claim 9 wherein the weakening line comprises a tear-off section.
12. 12 . The component of claim 9 wherein a skin residual thickness of the weakening holes of the tear-off section is less than a skin residual thickness of the weakening holes of a portion of the weakening line outside the tear-off section.
13. 13 . The component of claim 9 wherein the tear-off section comprises at least two weakening holes with weakening portions; wherein at least two weakening holes of the tear-off section are arranged such that a connecting line of weakening portions of at least two weakening holes extends in the extension direction of the weakening line.
14. 14 . The component of claim 9 wherein adjacent weakening holes of the tear-off section are connected by a weakening groove extending from a back surface of the thermoplastic elastomer layer.
15. 15 . The component of claim 9 wherein spacing between adjacent weakening holes of the tear-off section is 1 mm to 2 mm.
16. 16 . The component of claim 9 wherein the weakening line comprises an exposed section at a center; wherein the tear-off section is located at a center of the exposed section.
17. 17 . The component of claim 9 wherein the skin residual thickness of the weakening holes of the tear-off section is 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm; wherein the weakening groove comprises a depth of 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm.
18. 18 . The component of claim 9 wherein the weakening groove comprises a depth in the thermoplastic elastomer layer less than a depth of the adjacent weakening holes of the tear-off section.
19. 19 . The component of claim 9 wherein the skin is formed by injection molding, slush molding or calendaring.
20. 20 . The component of claim 9 wherein the weakening holes are formed (a) in a process of forming the skin by injection molding or (b) by hot pressing after forming a semi-finished product of the skin by slush molding or calendaring.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/941,579 titled “COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR” filed Sep. 9, 2022, which is a continuation of PCT/International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2021/088929 titled “VEHICLE INTERIOR COMPONENT” filed Apr. 22, 2021, which claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 202010326691.X filed Apr. 23, 2020 (now Chinese Patent No. 111391777B). The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference in full the following patent application(s): (a) Chinese Patent Application No. 202010326691.X filed Apr. 23, 2020 (now Chinese Patent No. 111391777B); (b) PCT/International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2021/088929 titled “VEHICLE INTERIOR COMPONENT” filed Apr. 22, 2021; (c) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/941,579 titled “COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR” filed Sep. 9, 2022. FIELD The present invention relates to a vehicle interior component. The present invention also relates to a vehicle interior component comprising a cover configured with a set of elements in the cover underside configured to facilitate the formation of an opening for deployment of an airbag from an airbag module. The present invention also relates to a vehicle interior component comprising a single-layer cover configured with a set of elements in the cover underside configured to facilitate the formation of an opening for deployment of an airbag from an airbag module. BACKGROUND It is known to provide vehicle interior component configured to facilitate deployment of an airbag from an airbag module. It would be advantageous to provide an improved vehicle interior component configured to facilitate deployment of an airbag from an airbag module. It would be advantageous to provide a vehicle interior component comprising a cover configured with a set of elements in the cover underside configured to facilitate the formation of an opening for deployment of an airbag from an airbag module. It would be advantageous to provide a vehicle interior component comprising a cover configured with a set of elements in the cover underside configured in sections to facilitate the formation of an opening in a progression across the sections for deployment of an airbag from an airbag module. It would be advantageous to provide a vehicle interior component comprising a cover formed by molding and configured with a set of elements in the cover underside configured to facilitate the formation of an opening for deployment of an airbag from an airbag module and to provide a uniform consistent appearance without perceptible defects. It would be advantageous to provide a vehicle interior component comprising a cover formed by molding in a mold tool and configured with a set of elements in the cover underside configured to facilitate the formation of an opening for deployment of an airbag from an airbag module and to be produced in an efficient manner with a relatively thin molded cover and with projections in the mold tool to form the set of elements with a set of projections configured to facilitate formation and efficient release of the cover from the mold tool. It would be advantageous to provide a vehicle interior component comprising a single-layer cover configured with a set of elements in the cover underside configured to facilitate the formation of an opening for deployment of an airbag from an airbag module. It would be advantageous to provide a vehicle interior component comprising a single-layer cover configured with a set of elements in the cover underside configured in sections to facilitate the formation of an opening in a progression across the sections for deployment of an airbag from an airbag module. It would be advantageous to provide a component for a vehicle interior configured to provide an opening for airbag deployment through the opening comprising a substrate and a single-layer cover structure/cover comprising a generally uniform outer/exterior surface and an inner surface comprising a line not readily perceptible at the outer surface to provide a tear line for the opening. It would be advantageous to provide a component for a vehicle interior configured to provide an opening for airbag deployment through the opening comprising a substrate and a single-layer cover structure/cover consisting essentially of a resin material. It would be advantageous to provide a component for a vehicle interior configured to provide an opening for airbag deployment through the opening comprising a trim panel, instrument panel or door panel with a cover structure comprising a single-layer cover comprising cavities and a groove formed in a mold. SUMMARY The present invention relates to a component for a vehicle interior comprising a cover structure comprising a single-layer skin providing a cover configured to be torn in an extension direction of a weakening line comprising a plurality of weakening holes extending from a ba