Inventors:
Mark M. Klozik - Shelby Township MI
Daniel G. Alcini - Shelby Township MI
Jerri A. Brachel - Macomb MI
Chienhom Lee - Rochester Hills MI
Gregory R. Kigar - Toledo OH
Assignee:
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Lyndhurst OH
DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI
International Classification:
B60R 2116
Abstract:
An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ), an inflator ( ), a cover ( ), and a reaction plate ( ). The inflator ( ) provides inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device ( ). The cover ( ) at least partially encloses the inflatable device ( ) and the inflator ( ). The cover ( ) has a front panel ( ), which faces a vehicle occupant, and side panels ( ), which laterally surround the inflatable device ( ). The reaction plate ( ) has a base plate portion ( ) to which the inflatable device ( ), the inflator ( ), and the cover ( ) are attached. The reaction plate ( ) has at least one projection ( ) extending from the base plate portion ( ). The at least one projection ( ) overlies at least a portion of at least one of the side panels ( ) of the cover ( ) to resist deformation of the at least one side panel laterally away from the inflator ( ) as the inflatable device ( ) inflates.