Vehicle safety apparatus including movable inflatable occupant protection device

A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:

• a vehicle steering column connected to a vehicle steering wheel to turn rotatable steerable vehicle wheels;
• an inflatable device having a folded, uninflated condition and an unfolded, inflated condition for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle;
• a vehicle part spaced apart from the vehicle steering wheel;
• a housing mounted to said vehicle part and containing said inflatable device, and
• at least one actuatable fastener for fastening said housing to said vehicle part, said actuatable fastener having an unactuated condition securing said housing to said vehicle part and blocking movement of said housing in a forward direction in the vehicle relative to the vehicle part, said actuatable fastener comprising a pyrotechnic rivet;
• said actuatable fastener having an actuated condition releasing said housing for movement in the forward direction in the vehicle relative to the vehicle part under load applied to said inflatable device by the vehicle occupant, said forward movement of said housing enabling forward movement of said inflatable device.

A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:

• a vehicle steering column connected to a vehicle steering wheel to turn rotatable steerable vehicle wheels;
• an inflatable device having a folded, uninflated condition and an unfolded, inflated condition for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle;
• a vehicle part spaced apart from the vehicle steering wheel;
• a housing mounted to said vehicle part and containing said inflatable device;
• at least one actuatable fastener for fastening said housing to said vehicle part, said actuatable fastener having an unactuated condition securing said housing to said vehicle part and blocking movement of said housing in a forward direction in the vehicle relative to the vehicle part,
• said actuatable fastener having an actuated condition releasing said housing for movement in the forward direction in the vehicle relative to the vehicle part under load applied to said inflatable device by the vehicle occupant, said forward movement of said housing enabling forward movement of said inflatable device;
• and
• a bend strap connected with said housing for controlling forward movement of said housing.