Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Garry Hayes

Jonathan McDonnell

Peter C Feldman

William C Haps, Jr

Apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle ( ) that has a side structure ( ), a roof ( ), and A, B, C, and D pillars ( ) includes a first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) that is inflatable away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. The first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ), when inflated, is positioned generally between only the C pillar ( ) and the D pillar ( ) of the vehicle ( ). The apparatus ( ) also includes an inflation fluid source ( ) for providing inflation fluid for inflating the first inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ).

Inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for a vehicle with third row seating

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus ( ) for inserting into and covering an opening ( ) of an instrument panel ( ) comprises an air bag module ( ). The air bag module ( ) has an air bag ( ), which is inflatable through the opening ( ) in the instrument panel ( ) for protecting a vehicle occupant during a crash condition. The apparatus ( ) further comprises a door ( ) for covering the opening ( ) in the instrument panel ( ). The door ( ) is attached to the air bag module (14) and is movable relative to the air bag module ( ) to locate the door ( ) relative to the instrument panel ( ). The door ( ) and the instrument panel ( ) have respective interlocking portions ( and ), which snap together to attach the door ( ) to the instrument panel ( ). The interlocking portions ( and ) snap together when the air bag module ( ) is inserted into the opening ( ) in the instrument panel ( ) and the door ( ) is moved relative to the air bag module ( ) into a position to cover the opening ( ). The interlocking portions ( ) of the instrument panel ( ) are deflected when the respective interlocking portions ( and ) of the door ( ) and the instrument panel ( ) snap together.

Air bag module deployment door with snap-in feature

An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having an instrument panel ( ) includes a knee bolster ( ) movable in the vehicle from a stored position adjacent the instrument panel to a blocking position spaced apart from the instrument panel. The knee bolster ( ) has at least one fastener opening ( ) and a tear seam ( ) extending around the fastener opening. The tear seam ( ) defines and encloses a securing portion ( ) of the knee bolster ( ). A fastener ( ) releasably maintains the knee bolster ( ) in the stored position adjacent to the instrument panel ( ). The fastener ( ) extends through the fastener opening ( ) in the knee bolster ( ) and overlies the securing portion ( ) of the knee bolster. The knee bolster ( ) ruptures at the tear seam ( ) in response to movement of the knee bolster from the stored position to the blocking position. The securing portion ( ) of the knee bolster ( ) remains secured to the instrument panel ( ) by the fastener ( ) when the knee bolster moves from the stored position.

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Garry Hayes