Passenger airbag module deployment door attachment system

Abstract

A passenger airbag module deployment door attachment system includes a molded plastic deployment door unit having a front wall providing a deployment doorway. Attachment legs extend rearwardly from the front wall for interlocking engagement with mating portions of walls of the airbag module. At least one band encircles the attachment legs for holding them in their interlocking engagement. Four attachment legs are shown surrounding a deployment passageway in encircling relationship. This passageway leads from an exit of the airbag module to the deployment doorway. The four attachment legs as shown provide four support surfaces effectively surrounding the deployment passageway for supporting and directing toward the doorway a high-energy expanding cushion (airbag) during its deployment. These attachment legs absorb impact energy and provide reinforcement for the front wall of the molded plastic unit. Each attachment leg has a band-receiving channel with a convex arcuate profile for causing tension 'T' in an attachment band to provide inwardly-directed clamping force 'F' distributed along the band-receiving channel for firmly securing interlocking engagement of the attachment legs to the walls of the airbag module.