Abstract: An air bag assembly for a vehicle occupant compartment includes an inflatable air bag, a closure interposed between the air bag and the occupant compartment, and a fluid source for supplying fluid to the air bag to cause the air bag to inflate towards the occupant compartment. The air bag is positioned to apply a force to the closure upon receiving fluid from the source. The closure defines at least part of a separable connection which opens in response to the force so as to create an opening through which the air bag can be inflated into the occupant compartment. The separable connection is at least partially defined by a first connection surface, a second connection surface positioned adjacent to the first connection surface, and a connection device for connecting the first and second connection surfaces together. The separable connection is formed so as to open through movement of the first and second connection surfaces relative to each other in response to the force applied to the closure.

Abstract: A vehicle air bag module includes a new and useful tether structure for incorporating a cover into the air bag module. The tether structure enables the cover to separate from the remainder of the module but remain tethered to the air bag as the air bag is being deployed from the module.

Abstract: A structure and assembly technique for providing an internal reinforcement for an air bag module to restrain bulging of the module while minimizing the size of the module. The air bag module comprises a container with a wall defining a cavity for a gas generator and at least a part of an air bag. The wall also defines an opening through which at least part of the bag is inserted into the cavity. A reaction member, preferably a fabric tether strap, is connected with at least two points of the wall adjacent the container opening and extends across the opening in the container. The tether strap is located internally of the container and resists deformation of the container under the pressures of air bag deployment, without increasing the size of the module. The tether strap is preferably constructed as a part of the air bag itself, and is incorporated into the container at the time the air bag is assembled with the container.

Abstract: An improved handle for towing a person, such as a water skier, has a configuration which matches the natural shape of the grip of human hands as they hold the handle. The handle includes an upwardly and forwardly sloping lower section which is engaged by one hand of the skier. An upper section of the handle also slopes upwardly and forwardly and is engaged by the other hand of the skier. The upper and lower sections of the handle are interconnected by a connector section which extends rearwardly from an upper end of the lower section of the handle to the lower end of the upper section of the handle. This results in the upper and lower sections of the handle being offset so that the hands of the skier are disposed with the palm of one hand on a first side of the handle and a palm of the other hand on the opposite side of the handle.