Fastener structure for a vehicle occupant protection apparatus including an inflatable curtain

Abstract

An apparatus (10) includes a relatively rigid vehicle part (22) and a housing (50). The housing (50) contains an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) at a location between the vehicle part (22) and a vehicle occupant compartment (17). A wall (54) of the housing (50) is located adjacent to the vehicle occupant compartment (17). The apparatus (10) further includes a fastener structure (70). The fastener structure (70) extends from the vehicle part (22) to the housing wall (54). The fastener structure (70) restrains movement of the housing wall (54) away from the vehicle part (22) under the influence of inflation fluid pressure forces applied by the protection device (12) upon inflation of the protection device (12). The fastener structure (70) is configured to collapse toward the vehicle part (22) under the influence of crash forces applied by a vehicle occupant.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.