Break-away airbag retaining flap

摘要

A break-away retaining flap (32) for containing a deflated, folded-up airbag (30) in a rigid housing (12) of an airbag module (10) while a pivotable cover (34) is attached with fasteners (50) to close an open end (16a) of the housing (12) comprises a sheet of thin flexible woven fabric material having a first portion designed for attachment to the housing (12) along a line of pop-rivets (24) spaced away from the open end (16a) and a second portion adapted to be secured onto a row of fasteners (50) adjacent the open end (16a) of the housing while the cover (34) is attached. The retaining flap (32) holds the folded-up airbag (30) in place in the housing (12) during the assembly process and prevents crimping, binding or damage of the airbag (30) when the cover (34) is installed during final assembly. The retaining flap (32) has a weakened portion intermediately between the first and second attached portions defining a tear-away line adapted to facilitate break-away of the retaining flap into at least two parts when the airbag (30) is inflated without impeding the rapid inflation of the airbag (30) during deployment. An inflator module (10) including the retaining flap (32) and a method of assembling the module (10) are also described.