Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Laurence H Keeler

Susan A Richards

Robert E Resh

Lawrence J Zelinski

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (,) for mounting on a portion (,) of a vehicle (,) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (,). The apparatus (,) includes an actuatable inflator (,) for inflating the protection device (,), and a support (,) for supporting the inflator and the protection device (,) on the vehicle portion. The apparatus (,) also includes a deployment door (,) having a first condition covering the protection device (,) when the protection device is in the deflated condition. The door (,) is movable from the first condition to a second condition in response to inflation of the protection device (,). A flexible tether (,) is secured to the vehicle portion (,) and to the protection device (,) and to the deployment door (,). The flexible tether (,) remains secured to the vehicle portion (,) to limit movement of the deployment door (,) away from the vehicle portion in response to inflation of the protection device (,).

Air bag module with tethered door

An apparatus (10) for restraining a vehicle occupant comprises an air bag assembly having a center of gravity (70) and including a container (20), an air bag (42), and an inflator (50). The air bag assembly is pivotally mounted to an instrument panel (16) of the vehicle with a pivot axis (90) offset from the center of gravity (70). The air bag assembly has a stored position and an operative position and is pivotable from the stored position to the operative position. Thrust produced upon inflation of the air bag pivots the air bag assembly. The apparatus further includes a knee blocking member (36) secured to a side (24) of the container (20) of the air bag assembly. When the assembly moves from the stored position to the operative position, the knee blocking member (36) moves to an occupant restraining position. An actuator (110, 116) is operatively mounted to the air bag assembly and the instrument panel (16) for, when actuated, applying a moment to the air bag assembly to pivot the air bag assembly from the stored position to the operative position.

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Marysville, MI, United States of America

Laurence H Keeler