Air bag module mounted in vehicle door

摘要

An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (11) in the event of a side impact to the vehicle comprises a vehicle door (30) for location adjacent to and outboard of a vehicle seat (38). An air bag module (12) mounted in the door (30) includes an air bag (14) and an actuatable inflator (16) for inflating the air bag from a deflated condition stowed in the door to an inflated condition extending inboard from the door. The vehicle door (30) comprises a structural door panel (32), at least one exterior skin panel (36) supported on the structural panel, and at least one interior trim panel (34) supported on the structural door panel. The structural door panel (32) is formed as one piece and has module portions (50) disposed between the interior trim panel (34) and the exterior skin panel (36). The module portions (50) define a recess (52) in the structural door panel (32) for receiving and supporting the module (12). The structural door panel (32) further defines a deployment opening (58) through which the air bag (14) is inflatable from the recess (52).