Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag (14), an inflator (12), a reaction plate (70), and a retainer (100). The reaction plate (70) has first and second support surfaces (74 and 84) which are spaced from each other. The retainer (100) holds the air bag (14) and a mounting part (64) of the inflator (12) against the reaction plate (70) with a clamping force. The retainer (100) has a first clamping surface (104) for holding the air bag (14) against the first support surface (74) on the reaction plate (70). The retainer (100) further has a second clamping surface (128) for holding the mounting part (64) of the inflator (12) against the second support surface (84) on the reaction plate (70).

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.