Abstract: An element fixedly mounted in a motor vehicle having a free end and an aperture spaced apart therefrom is provided for securing an inner end portion of a flexible tether to the vehicle for restraining an air bag cover during air bag deployment. An attachment connector having a hook at one end is adapted to be engaged in hooked relation over the free end of the fixed element with the inner end portion of the tether sandwiched between facing adjacent surfaces of the attachment connector and the fixed element. A unidirectional, self-locking, snap-in-type, fastener mounted on the attachment connector remote from the hook end has a shank that is passed through the tether and is thereafter positioned to extend through the aperture of the fixed element when the attachment connector is engaged with the fixed element and pivoted about the hook end with the tether in sandwiched relation between the fixed element and the attachment connector.

Abstract: An integral deployment door in a panel of an airbag assembly which covers and conceals an airbag module. The molded panel having a front surface layer, a foam core, and a rear surface substrate has notches therein in alignment with the proposed tear region or sides of the deployment door. Tabs are provided which extend upwardly into the foam core along the sides of said deployment door and in alignment with the notches. The notches and tab construction weaken the tear region and concentrates the stresses along the sides of the deployment door to reduce the force required to open the deployment door and to reduce the fragmentation of the foam core due to the separation of the door from the rest of the panel.

Abstract: An essentially unitary airbag cover assembly is provided for concealing an airbag module. The cover has a vehicle panel with a front surface, a foam core and panel substrate with a dropped lip or shelf on a distal end thereof. A deployment door incorporated in the panel is hinged to the panel along one side thereof with at least one of the remaining sides of the door resting in the panel on the dropped lip or shelf of the panel substrate. The deployment door and panel are substantially the same thickness, and the shelf is dropped such that when the deployment door is positioned on the dropped shelf in the panel substrate, the door and panel are on the same level and there is no need for a connection between the panel and deployment door aside from the hinged side of the door.

Abstract: An air bag inflator having a plurality of gas exit orifices of three different sizes arranged so as to provide thrust neutral operation maintains air bag performance at the same level over the temperature range of ambient to +85.degree. C., directing all of the generated gases into the air bag at ambient temperature, but allowing a portion of the gases to be directed away from the air bag at +85.degree. C.