Patent ID: 7374198

Claim:
An airbag module for a vehicle, comprising: an inflator; an air bag having an opening that is fluidly coupled to the inflator; a canister that is adapted to receive the inflator and the air bag, the canister comprising: a center section, comprising: end portions provided on opposing ends of the center section; a cavity defined between the end portions; a center interlock hole placed at each of the end portions; end caps that are adapted to attach to corresponding end portions of the center section, the end caps comprising: a plate portion that is adapted to couple to corresponding end portions of the center section to form a receptacle, the plate portion having a structure that receives and secures the inflator; an edge that extends from the plate portion toward the center section to engage corresponding end portions that are provided on opposing ends of the center section; an end cap interlock hole that is placed at each of the end caps to align with the associated center interlock hole placed at each of the end portions; and a diffuser, comprising: a retainer provided in the canister to define a space between the center section and end caps for receiving the inflator; a flange provided along edges of the retainer that are proximate to the center section, wherein the flange is adapted to mechanically couple the air bag to the canister; a plurality of studs provided in the flange to extend from the flange and to secure the retainer to the canister by penetrating through corresponding aligned ones of the center interlock hole and the end cap interlock hole, wherein the plurality of studs fasten the end caps and the center section to prevent disassociation of the end caps and the center section during inflation of the air bag; and a diffuser cavity that is aligned with the opening of the air bag.