Patent ID: 7331599

Claim:
A device for connection of two subassemblies including an airbag module for being connected to a supporting vehicle component, with an expanding element which is arranged on one of the subassemblies to be connected, a latching opening which is provided on another of the subassemblies to be connected and into which the expanding element can be introduced in such a manner that, in a latching position in an expanded state, it engages behind the edge of the latching opening, and a securing element which can be brought into engagement with the expanding element in such a manner that it holds the expanding element in the expanded state, characterized in that, before being brought into engagement with the expanding element, the securing element is connected releasably to a different component from the subassembly provided with the expanding element and is arranged behind the latching opening in such a manner that it can be brought into engagement with the expanding element when the expanding element is guided beyond its latching position through the latching opening, characterized in that the expanding element has a stem and an expanding section, the stem reaching through the latching opening, after the expanding element is introduced into the latching opening until it reaches the latching position, and the expanding section engaging behind an edge of the latching opening, and the stem of the expanding element is of such a length in a direction of extent of the latching opening that the expanding element can be brought with respect to the latching opening into an engagement position, in which the stem reaches through the latching opening and the expanding section is spaced apart from the edge of the latching opening.