Patent ID: 6540257
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:a sensor for sensing a vehicle collision; an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant; an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device; a housing for directing inflation fluid under pressure from said inflation fluid source toward said inflatable device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source; and at least one rupturable burst panel attached to said housing, said burst panel having a unitary structure with opposing surfaces spaced from each other by a surface extending between said opposing surfaces, said burst panel being attached to said housing only at said surface extending between said opposing surfaces; and initiating means for, when actuated, enabling said at least one burst panel to detach from said housing to a condition in which no portion of said burst panel remains attached to any portion of said housing to enable flow of inflation fluid out of said housing away from said inflatable device through an opening in said housing.