Trim panel having air bag door

Claim 1

An interior trim panel for a motor vehicle having an opening for deployment of an air bag and an air bag door that is attached to the interior trim panel for closing the opening and for being opened by an air bag when the air bag is deployed comprising; a sheet metal air bag door retainer formed integrally with the air bag door for defining an initial shape of the air bag door, and a sheet metal bracket attached to the retainer for securing the air bag door to the trim panel for closing the opening and for being opened by the air bag when the air bag is deployed; the bracket having an end portion securing the air bag door to the trim panel; the door retainer having an end flange securing the retainer to one of the trim panel and the bracket end portion; the door retainer having a closure portion spaced from the end flange and configured to close the air bag deployment opening in a closed position; the door retainer having a weakened hinge portion disposed between the end flange and the closure portion to pivot the closure portion to an open position responsive to deployment of the air bag; the bracket having a channel disposed between the bracket end portion and the weakened hinge portion of the retainer, the channel opening toward the retainer, the channel having a leg that is an integral extension of the bracket end portion and a second leg that is secured to the retainer adjacent the weakened hinge portion; and the bracket having two side plates supported on respective opposite sides of the channel to connect the channel to an air bag canister or a support structure to provide a bracket that weighs less, requires less material and is easier to construct.