Vehicle interior panel and vehicle airbag device

Abstract

An instrument panel of an automobile includes a base and a covering bonded to a surface of the base. A cleavage groove is formed on the back of the base. When the base is cleaved by inflation pressure of an airbag, the cleavage groove serves as a starting point of the cleavage. The covering is formed by a ground fabric layer made of knitted fabric and a covering layer bonded the surface of the ground fabric layer. The ground fabric layer is formed of an original fabric in which the tensile strength in directions along its surface is anisotropic. The cleavage groove includes a first groove section, which is cleaved first. The covering is oriented with respect to the base such that the direction of the smallest tensile strength of the ground fabric layer matches with a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first groove section extends.

1 . A vehicle interior panel that is configured to be cleaved by an inflation pressure of an airbag, the panel comprising:
 a base; and   a covering bonded to a surface of the base, wherein   the base has a back,   a cleavage groove is formed on the back of the base, wherein, when the base is cleaved by inflation pressure of the airbag, the cleavage groove serves as a starting point of the cleavage,   the covering is formed of an original fabric in which the tensile strength in directions along its surface is anisotropic,   the cleavage groove includes a first groove section that is first cleaved when the cleavage groove is cleaved, and   the covering is bonded to the base such that a direction of the smallest tensile strength of the covering matches with a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first groove section extends.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle interior panel according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the covering at least includes a ground fabric layer and a covering layer, which is bonded to a surface of the ground fabric layer,   the ground fabric layer is formed of the original fabric, in which the tensile strength in directions along its surface is anisotropic, and   the covering is bonded to the base such that a direction of the smallest tensile strength of the ground fabric layer matches with the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first groove section, which is first cleaved when the cleavage groove is cleaved, extends.   
     
     
         3 . The vehicle interior panel according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the covering at least includes a ground fabric layer, a cushion layer bonded to a back of the ground fabric layer, and a backing layer bonded to a back of the cushion layer,   the backing layer is formed of an original fabric, in which the tensile strength in directions along its surface is anisotropic, and   the covering is bonded to the base such that a direction of the smallest tensile strength of the backing layer matches with the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first groove section, which is first cleaved when the cleavage groove is cleaved, extends.   
     
     
         4 . The vehicle interior panel according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the covering at least includes a ground fabric layer and a cushion layer bonded to a back of the ground fabric layer, and   the cushion layer is formed by stacking original fabrics of a plurality of foamed plastic having different tactile sensation properties.   
     
     
         5 . The vehicle interior panel according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the covering at least includes a ground fabric layer and a cushion layer bonded to a back of the ground fabric layer, and   the cushion layer is formed of an original fabric, in which the tensile strength in directions along its surface is anisotropic, and   the covering is bonded to the base such that a direction of the smallest tensile strength of the cushion layer matches with the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first groove section, which is first cleaved when the cleavage groove is cleaved, extends.   
     
     
         6 . The vehicle interior panel according to  claim 5 , wherein the cushion layer is formed of an original fabric made of warp knitting. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle interior panel according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the covering at least includes a ground fabric layer and a covering layer, which is bonded to a surface of the ground fabric layer,   the covering layer is formed of an original fabric, in which the tensile strength in directions along its surface is anisotropic, and   the covering is bonded to the base such that a direction of the smallest tensile strength of the covering layer matches with the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first groove section, which is first cleaved when the cleavage groove is cleaved, extends.   
     
     
         8 . The vehicle interior panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleavage groove is formed only in the base. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle interior panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the interior panel is an instrument panel. 
     
     
         10 . A vehicle airbag device formed by combining the interior panel according to  claim 1  and an airbag module, wherein
 the interior panel includes a retainer on a back thereof, and 
 the airbag module is formed by 
 the airbag retained, in a folded state, by the retainer, 
 an inflator that generates an inflation gas and supplies the gas to the airbag, and 
 the retainer.