Patent ID: 7165780

Claim:
An airbag construction for protecting vehicle occupants in a motor-driven vehicle, comprising: an airbag module including a housing and an airbag retained in the housing and connected to a gas pressure source, an interior paneling covering the airbag housing, the interior paneling provided with a weakened zone, at least one flap retaining the airbag in folded position, said flap connected with the interior paneling by a connecting element, wherein upon deployment of the airbag, pressure exerted by the airbag causes the flap to open and the interior paneling to rupture into pieces along the weakened zone, such that the connecting element attached to the flap and the interior paneling is able to pull the pieces of the interior paneling away from a deployment path of the airbag, wherein the module is arranged in a retaining device such that a structural space is formed laterally between the retaining device and the module, said space is for receiving the flap and ruptured pieces when the airbag is deployed.