Inflator mounting structure for a passenger's air bag system

Claim 1

An inflator mounting structure for a passenger's air bag system, comprising: an inflator having a cylindrical body portion, a gas producing agent retained in the body portion, and fixing means attached to one side of the body portion, a retainer for retaining the inflator therein, said retainer having first and second side walls situated opposite to each other, a first opening formed in the first side wall for allowing the fixing means of the inflator to pass therethrough so that the inflator is fixed to the first side wall of the retainer by the fixing means, and a second opening formed in the second side wall opposite to the first opening, said second opening having a size greater than that of the body portion of the inflator, and a circular bushing made of at least one of a resin and rubber and having a heat softening property so that the bushing is softened by heat due to fire near the inflator, said circular bushing having a bifurcated portion with a groove at an outer periphery thereof so that the second side wall of the retainer is inserted in the groove to securely hold the circular bushing therein, and a lip extending inwardly toward a center of the circular bushing from the bifurcated portion, said lip being tapered toward the center of the circular bushing and having a shape of trapezoid in cross section and an inner size substantially the same as an outer diameter of the cylindrical body portion of the inflator so that the circular bushing closely contacts and supports the cylindrical body portion of the inflator, and in case of fire, allows gas of the inflator to exhaust from an inside of the retainer to an outside through a portion between the cylindrical body portion of the inflator and the lip.