Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Lawrence J Zelinski

Laurence H Keeler

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 (,).

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Chesterfield, MI, United States of America

Lawrence J Zelinski