Prestressing fixture to eliminate automotive p.s.i.r. door-chute vibration weld visibility

Abstract

An automotive interior component including an airbag chute having at least one weld bar, and a pre-stressed instrument panel having a substrate layer for bonding to the weld bar. The pre-stressing provides tensile stress at weld bar bonding areas to reduce any deformation visible on an exposed surface of the instrument panel.

1 . An automotive interior component comprising:
 an airbag chute having at least one weld bar; and   a pre-stressed instrument panel having a substrate layer for bonding to the weld bar,   wherein tensile stress at weld bar bonding areas in the pre-stressed instrument panel reduces any deformation visible on an exposed surface of the pre-stressed instrument panel due to shrinkage of weld melted instrument panel material.   
     
     
         2 . An automotive interior component according to  claim 1 , wherein the weld bar of the airbag chute is vibration welded to the substrate layer. 
     
     
         3 . An automotive interior component according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cover layer bonded to the substrate layer. 
     
     
         4 . An automotive interior component according to  claim 3 , wherein the cover layer is made of one of polyvinyl chloride and ThermoPlastic Olefin. 
     
     
         5 . An automotive interior component according to  claim 3 , wherein the cover layer is about 0.4-1.0 mm thick. 
     
     
         6 . An automotive interior component according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cover layer and an intermediate foam layer bonded to the substrate layer. 
     
     
         7 . An automotive interior component according to  claim 6 , wherein the foam layer is made of polypropylene. 
     
     
         8 . An automotive interior component according to  claim 6 , wherein the foam layer is about 0.5-3.0 mm thick. 
     
     
         9 . An automotive interior component according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate layer includes thermoplastic polymers. 
     
     
         10 . An automotive interior component according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate layer is about 2.0-4.0 mm thick. 
     
     
         11 - 14 . (canceled)