Importance

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Abstract

An article including a panel-like structure mountable in an automobile vehicle to form a part of the interior thereof and conceal a secondary restraint system, and a process for making the same are disclosed. According to this process, an outer layer is established on a first mold surface, with the exterior surface of the outer layer having an opaque visual appearance and a configuration complementary to the first mold surface. A casting composition is then rotationally casted onto an inner surface of the outer layer to create an inner layer of a predetermined thickness while restricting the gel thickness along an elongated structurally weakened tear seam. The casting composition is then fused. The outer layer and inner layer collectively define a layered composite structure, with the outer layer presenting the same opaque visual appearance to the exterior surface thereof unaffected by change in the inner layer thickness so that the structurally weakened tear seam is hidden from view. The composite structure is united with a reinforcing substrate including at least one door so that the structurally weakened tear seam is in cooperative association with the door so as to fracture when the door is actuated.

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First Claim