Air bag inflator assembly

Claim 1

Apparatus comprising: an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint; inflating means for inflating said restraint, said inflating means including an inflator housing which comprises a first structure containing a source of inflation fluid for inflating the restraint, said first structure having a plurality of fluid outlet openings, said first structure further having a cylindrical wall surface centered on an axis and a first annular surface portion facing in a first direction along said axis; a second structure having a cylindrical surface which extends circumferentially around said axis, said second structure further having a second annular surface portion facing in a second direction along said axis opposite said first direction; and connecting means for connecting said first structure to said second structure, said connecting means including an elongated flexible connector member having first and second opposite longitudinal end surfaces, said connector member having an installed position extending circumferentially around said axis between said cylindrical wall surface of said first structure and said cylindrical surface of said second structure, said connector member having first and second abutment surface portions which respectively abut said first and second annular surface portions of said first and second structures when said connector member is in said installed position, said connector member thus blocking movement of said first and second structures axially relative to each other when said connector member is in said installed position; one of said structures further having surface means for defining a passage through which said connector member can move longitudinally into said installed position in a direction transverse to said axis upon longitudinal movement of said connector member through said passage.