Patent ID: 6942244

Claim:
Apparatus for coupling an airbag cover having a peripheral sidewall with a an airbag housing member having a peripheral sidewall, comprising an array of hooks and retainers each formed in one piece with the peripheral sidewall of the airbag housing member with the hooks being in staggered relation to the retainers, the hooks and retainers oriented ward each other and being configured to capture a part of the airbag cover between them, to couple the airbag cover with the airbag housing member, wherein the airbag cover is formed of elastically deformable material and the peripheral sidewall of the airbag cover has an array of openings therein, each opening configured to fit over one of the hooks when the airbag cover is captured between the hooks and the retainers, the airbag cover is configured to be tightly fit over the housing member as the airbag cover is being coupled with the housing member, and the housing member is formed of relatively rigid material such the airbag cover can deform elastically as it is being coupled with the housing member and the airbag cover is being captured between the hooks and the retainers, the hooks have outer surfaces that define ramp portions over which the airbag cover will ride as the airbag cover is being coupled with the housing member, so that as the airbag cover is being coupled with the housing member (i) the cover will deform elastically as it rides over the ramp portions of the hooks (ii) a leading edge of the cover will engage the retainers and be compressed until the openings in the cove receive respective hooks of the housing and (iii) when the cover is released the cover will react against the retainers, and expand between the hooks and retainers to capture the cover between the hooks and the retainers.