Interior equipment element for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle

Abstract

An air bag apparatus for a vehicle having an air bag, a panel with a trap formed therein, a support rib extending over a length of the trap, and a connecting member secured to the trap and to the support rib so as to retain the trap when the trap opens. The trap opens completely when the air bag expands in a direction of expansion. The support rib is oriented in the direction of expansion and is secured to the vehicle. The trap and the connecting member are separate pieces. The support rib has a rigid side adjacent an upper edge of the trap.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An air bag apparatus for a vehicle comprising: 
 an air bag having a direction of expansion;    a panel having a trap means formed therein, said trap means having a closed contour, said trap means for opening completely when said air bag is expanded in said direction of expansion;    a support rib oriented in said direction of expansion, said support rib extending substantially over a length of said trap means, said support rib being securable to the vehicle; and    a connecting member secured to said trap means and to said support rib so as to retain said trap means when said trap means opens, said trap means and said connecting member being separate pieces, said support rib having a rigid side adjacent an upper edge of said trap means, said rigid side being spaced from said panel.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a chamber through which said air bag expands in said direction of expansion, said chamber being separate from said panel and positioned behind said panel, said support rib being a face of said chamber.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a housing positioned between said support rib and said panel, said connecting member having a length supplement freely deformable within said housing.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said support rib defined by a portion of said connecting member, said support rib having a portion that is rigid in said direction of expansion.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said panel being of a single layer of material.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said closed contour having an area of weakening formed on a side of said panel facing said air bag, said area of weakening not being visible from an opposite side of said panel.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , said chamber having a plurality of wings disposed orthogonally to lateral faces of said chamber, said plurality of wings being evenly spaced from each other, one of said plurality of wings defining said support rib and having a cut-out portion.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said connecting member being secured to said trap means beneath said panel, said connecting member extending substantially over an entire surface area of said trap means.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 protecting means secured to said chamber for protecting said length supplement from said air bag during the expansion of said air bag.