Robyn A K Bryant

US Patent:

56927711, Dec 2, 1997

Filed:

Mar 12, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/614089

Inventors:

Kenneth T. Milne - Gilbert AZ
Robyn Bryant - Gilbert AZ

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B60R 2116

US Classification:

2807282

Abstract:

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes a reaction plate (74), an inflator (12) supported on the reaction plate (74), and a cover (30). The cover (30) has at least one pivotal deployment door (34,36) extending over the inflator (12), and further has a pair of mounting flaps (50) overlying the reaction plate (74). A retainer (100) holds the mounting flaps (50) and the inflator (12) against the reaction plate (74). The mounting flaps (50) and the reaction plate (74) together define tongue-and-groove joints (144) for interlocking the mounting flaps (50) with the reaction plate (74) so as to block movement of the mounting flaps (50) across the reaction plate (74) when the inflator (12) is actuated.