US Patent 7118123 Dynamic/controlled tether arrangement for an airbag door

An airbag door construction for airbag deployment comprising an instrument panel having an area outlining at least a portion of an airbag door. A reaction plate is attached to the underside of the panel at the airbag door location. The reaction plate contains first and second molded features, each such feature having a flexural strength (Fs), wherein the first molded feature's Fs is lower than the second molded feature's Fs. A tether is included that engages with the molded features in the reaction plate whereupon airbag deployment the tether is not retained by the first molded feature but is retained by the second molded feature