Importance

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Abstract

An air bag assembly for a vehicle occupant compartment includes an inflatable air bag, a closure interposed between the air bag and the occupant compartment, and a fluid source for supplying fluid to the air bag to cause the air bag to inflate towards the occupant compartment. The air bag is positioned to apply a force to the closure upon receiving fluid from the source. The closure defines at least part of a separable connection which opens in response to the force so as to create an opening through which the air bag can be inflated into the occupant compartment. The separable connection is at least partially defined by a first connection surface, a second connection surface positioned adjacent to the first connection surface, and a connection device for connecting the first and second connection surfaces together. The separable connection is formed so as to open through movement of the first and second connection surfaces relative to each other in response to the force applied to the closure. The relative movement is primarily in a shear direction that is generally parallel to the first and second surfaces.

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First Claim