Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Gary A Herbst

Russell E Stein

Edward F Elmer

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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East China, MI, United States of America

Gary A Herbst