Air bag module with an integral shield

Abstract

An apparatus () for helping to protect a vehicle occupant includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (). An inflator () provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (). The inflation fluid flow from the inflator () is transverse to a central axis () of the inflator. A shield () includes a piece of material () folded about the inflator () and having a wall portion () that is interposed between at least a portion of the inflator and the protection device () and against which inflation fluid initially exiting from the inflator at least partially impinges. The wall portion () has a plurality of tear seams () that rupture due to inflation fluid pressure acting on the shield () to enable the wall portion to form a plurality of flaps () within the protection device (). Each flap () moves away from the central axis () of the inflator () about a respective axis that extends transverse to the central axis () of the inflator to block inflation fluid contact with portions of the protection device ().