Housing for inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle that has a side structure and a roof, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and being inflatable in a direction away from the vehicle roof into a position between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant;
• and
• a housing for mounting in the vehicle in a position extending along the vehicle, said housing including a chamber extending along the length of said housing, said chamber receiving said inflatable device in the deflated condition;
• said housing including a first housing part having a locking rib and a second housing part having a locking groove and an opening into said locking groove;
• said locking rib being movable in a first direction through said opening into said locking groove for releasably closing said housing with said inflatable device inside said chamber;
• said first housing part having a tool receiving portion adjacent said locking rib, said tool receiving portion having a first tool receiving surface extending perpendicularly from a main body portion of said first housing part, said second housing part including a second tool receiving surface coextensive with a main body portion of said second housing part, said locking groove extending perpendicularly from said main body portion of said second housing part, said first and second tool receiving surfaces being for receiving an assembly tool for applying force to move said locking rib in said first direction through said opening into said locking groove.

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and being inflatable into a position to help protect the vehicle occupant;
• and
• a housing constructed of a single piece of homogeneous material for mounting in the vehicle, said housing including a chamber receiving said inflatable device in the deflated condition, said housing comprising:
• a central body portion;
• an outer cover flap extending away from said central body portion, said outer cover flap including a first terminal edge positioned opposite said central body portion and extending along the length of said housing, said outer cover flap including a locking rib extending along said first terminal edge;
• an inner cover flap extending away from said central body portion and away from said outer cover flap, said inner cover flap including a second terminal edge positioned opposite said central body portion and extending along the length of said housing, said inner cover flap including a locking groove and an opening into said locking groove extending along said second terminal edge edge, said locking groove extending perpendicularly from said inner cover flap;
• and
• a fill tube extending from said central body portion between said outer and inner cover flaps,
• said locking rib being movable in a first direction through said opening into said locking groove for releasably connecting said outer and inner cover flaps to close said housing with said inflatable device inside said chamber,
• said outer cover flap having a tool receiving portion adjacent said locking rib, said tool receiving portion having a tool receiving surface extending transverse to said first direction for receiving an assembly tool for applying force to move said locking rib in said first direction through said opening into said locking groove.

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and being inflatable into a position to help protect the vehicle occupant;
• and
• a housing for mounting in the vehicle, said housing including a chamber receiving said inflatable device in the deflated condition, said housing comprising:
• a central body portion;
• an outer cover flap extending away from said central body portion, said outer cover flap including a first terminal edge positioned opposite said central body portion and extending along the length of said housing, said outer cover flap including a locking rib extending along said first terminal edge;
• and
• an inner cover flap extending away from said central body portion and away from said outer cover flap, said inner cover flap including a second terminal edge positioned opposite said central body portion and extending along the length of said housing, said inner cover flap including a locking groove and an opening into said locking groove extending along said second terminal edge, said locking groove extending perpendicularly from said inner cover flap,
• said locking rib being movable in a first direction through said opening into said locking groove for releasably connecting said outer and inner cover flaps to close said housing with said inflatable device inside said chamber;
• said outer cover flap having a tool receiving portion adjacent said locking rib, said tool receiving portion having a flat tool receiving surface extending transverse to said first direction for receiving an assembly tool for applying force to move said locking rib in said first direction through said opening into said locking groove.

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and being inflatable into a position to help protect the vehicle occupant;
• and
• a housing for mounting in the vehicle, said housing including a chamber receiving said inflatable device in the deflated condition, said housing comprising:
• a central body portion;
• an outer cover flap extending away from said central body portion, said outer cover flap including a first terminal edge positioned opposite said central body portion and extending along the length of said housing, said outer cover flap including a locking rib extending along said first terminal edge;
• and
• an inner cover flap extending away from said central body portion and away from said outer cover flap, said inner cover flap including a second terminal edge positioned opposite said central body portion and extending along the length of said housing, said inner cover flap including a locking groove and an opening into said locking groove extending along said second terminal edge, said locking groove extending perpendicularly from said inner cover flap,
• said locking rib being movable in a first direction through said opening into said locking groove for releasably connecting said outer and inner cover flaps to close said housing with said inflatable device inside said chamber, said terminal edges of said outer and inner cover flaps extending transverse to each other when said housing is closed;
• said outer cover flap having a tool receiving portion adjacent said locking rib, said tool receiving portion having a tool receiving surface extending transverse to said first direction for receiving an assembly tool for applying force to move said locking rib in said first direction through said opening into said locking groove.