Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Edward F Elmer

John P Wallner

Russell E Stein

Matthew C Bollaert

Robert I Phillion

Robert F McGee

Bonnie L Maier

Michael Akins

Russel E Stein

Matthew J Ferguson

Gary A Herbst

An apparatus (10) includes a vehicle part (16) with a structural portion (44) and a trim portion (50) covering the structural portion (44). An air bag module (30) is located within a deployment opening (56) in the trim portion (50) of the vehicle part (16). A deployment structure (70) closes the deployment opening (56). The deployment structure (70) consists of a single, continuous body of molded plastic material, and includes a deployment door (78 or 80) partially bounded by a stress riser (82) in the plastic material. The module (30) is mounted on the structural portion (44) of the vehicle part (16). The deployment structure (70) is fully supported on the vehicle part (16) by the trim portion (50) separately from the module (30) and the structural portion (44).

Vehicle occupant protection apparatus

A deployment structure (32) encloses and conceals an inflator (20) and an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) in a vehicle. The deployment structure (32) is a unitary plastic part defining a deployment door (86) having a Class A surface (76). The unitary plastic part further defines a mounting flap (114) having an aperture (126), and another mounting flap (116) having another aperture (128). The mounting flaps (114 and 116) are movable relative to one another to positions in which the apertures (126 and 128) are aligned to receive a mounting stud (36) which supports the inflator (20) and the protection device (12) in the vehicle.

An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12), a cover (32) for the protection device (12), and a pair of clamping parts (34, 42) with a fastener structure (36, 40). The protection device (12) comprises a first compressively deflectable structure. The cover (32) comprises a second compressively deflectable structure. The fastener structure (36, 40) comprises a stud (36) extending longitudinally between the clamping parts (34, 42), and applies a clamping load to the clamping parts (34, 42). At least one of the deflectable structures (12, 32) is compressively stressed by the clamping load. The apparatus (10) further includes a bushing (48) which is indeflectable under the clamping load. The bushing (48) extends over the stud (36) fully between the clamping parts (34, 42) to space the clamping parts (34, 42) from each other. Accordingly, the spacing between the clamping parts (34, 42) is unaffected by creep in the compressively stressed deflectable structure.

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Auburn Hills, MI, United States of America

Edward F Elmer