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An adapter comprises a peripheral wall incorporating a plurality of apertures adapted to cooperate with a corresponding plurality of hooks depending from side walls of an airbag retainer. A flange projecting from the peripheral wall provides for attaching the adapter and airbag retainer to a vehicle

An adapter comprises a peripheral wall incorporating a plurality of apertures adapted to cooperate with a corresponding plurality of hooks depending from side walls of an airbag retainer. A flange projecting from the peripheral wall provides for attaching the adapter and airbag retainer to a vehicle instrument panel. The adapter incorporates an opening therethrough defined by the peripheral wall, through which the airbag is deployed. In one aspect, the peripheral wall is discontinuous.

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What is claimed is: 1. A housing for an inflatable restraint system, comprising: a plurality of retainer panels attachable to form a substantially rectangular retainer body for receipt of a folded inflatable restraint cushion, wherein at least one of said panels includes a plurality of projecting h

What is claimed is: 1. A housing for an inflatable restraint system, comprising: a plurality of retainer panels attachable to form a substantially rectangular retainer body for receipt of a folded inflatable restraint cushion, wherein at least one of said panels includes a plurality of projecting hooks; and a plastic adapter comprising wall portions positionable around the retainer body, and a flange projecting substantially perpendicular to said wall portions; wherein at least one of said wall portions includes a plurality of apertures for receipt of said hooks, said apertures having widths greater than a width of said hooks to allow relative movement therebetween, and said adapter comprises five wall portions defining a substantially rectangular shape with a discontinuous periphery. 2. The housing of claim 1, further comprising a metal reinforcing plate attached to at least one of said wall portions. 3. The housing of claim 2, wherein said adapter is overmolded about said plate. 4. An adapter for attaching an airbag retainer to an instrument panel in a vehicle, comprising: a molded plastic body having a plurality of integral planar wall portions adapted to attach with a substantially rectangular airbag retainer; and a substantially planar flange projecting outwardly from said wall portions, said flange adapted to attach with a vehicle instrument panel; wherein said molded plastic body includes a discontinuous periphery and said molded plastic body includes an opening therethrough at least partially defined by at least one of said wall portions and said flange. 5. The adapter of claim 4, wherein said plurality of wall portions includes: a first side wall having a substantially constant height; and second and third sidewalls oriented substantially perpendicular to said first sidewall and attached at opposite ends thereof, said second and third sidewalls having heights decreasing in a direction away from said first sidewall. 6. An adapter for attaching an airbag retainer to an instrument panel in a vehicle, comprising: a molded plastic body having a plurality of integral planar wall portions adapted to attach with a substantially rectangular airbag retainer, wherein said plurality of wall portions includes: a first side wall having a plurality of apertures formed therein for receipt of hooks; and a second and a third side wall positioned opposite said first side wall, each of said second and third side walls having a least one aperture formed therein for receipt of hooks; and a substantially planar flange projecting outwardly from said wall portions, said flange adapted to attach with a vehicle instrument panel; wherein said molded plastic body includes a discontinuous periphery. 7. The adapter of claim 6, wherein each of said second and third side walls includes a single aperture formed therein. 8. An inflatable restraint system for a motor vehicle, comprising: a retainer with a plurality of attachable panels and a plurality of attachment hooks projecting from at least one of said panels; an inflatable restraint device positioned in said retainer; a gas generator operable to provide an inflation gas to said inflatable restraint device; and an adapter for attaching said retainer to a vehicle instrument panel, said adapter comprising a peripheral wall with a plurality of apertures for receipt of said hooks, and a flange projecting substantially perpendicular to said peripheral wall, wherein said adapter comprises an opening therethrough, wherein said opening is at least partially defined by at least one of said peripheral wall and said flange, and said inflatable restraint device is adapted to deploy through said opening, and wherein said adapter defines a portion of a rectangle having a gap formed along one side thereof, said gap facilitating flexing of said adapter. 9. An inflatable restraint system for a motor vehicle, comprising: a retainer with a plurality of attachable panels and a plurality of attachment hooks projecting from at least one of said panels; an inflatable restraint device positioned in said retainer; a gas generator operable to provide an inflation gas to said inflatable restraint device; and an adapter for attaching said retainer to a vehicle instrument panel, wherein said adapter comprises: a peripheral wall including a first side wall having a plurality of apertures for receipt of said hooks, second and third side walls each having at least one aperture, wherein said second and third side walls are each opposite to said first side wall, and a flange projecting substantially perpendicular to said peripheral wall, wherein said adapter comprises an opening therethrough, wherein said opening is at least partially defined by at least one of said peripheral wall and said flange, and said inflatable restraint device is adapted to deploy through said opening. 10. The inflatable restraint system of claim 9, further comprising a metallic reinforcing plate attached along said first side wall, said plate having a plurality of apertures substantially aligning with the apertures formed in said first side wall. 11. The inflatable restraint system of claim 10, wherein said adapter is formed having apertures sized such that said adapter is movable relative to said retainer when engaged therewith. 12. An adapter for a vehicle air bag housing, comprising: a first peripheral wall defining an at least partially enclosed opening through which an inflating airbag may be projected, wherein said opening extends through said adapter and said first peripheral wall is adapted to engage with at least one mounting member in a vehicle dashboard; and a second peripheral wall depending from said first peripheral wall and adapted to engage with an airbag housing, said second peripheral wall defining a substantially rectangular opening, and comprising a discontinuous periphery. 13. The adapter of claim 12, wherein said first peripheral wall is substantially planar and oriented substantially perpendicular to said second peripheral wall. 14. The adapter of claim 13, wherein said first peripheral wall defines a substantially rectangular opening. 15. The adapter of claim 12, wherein said second peripheral wall comprises a plurality of integral wall portions arranged in a substantially rectangular fashion. 16. The adapter of claim 12, wherein said first peripheral wall defines a plane that slopes relative to said second peripheral wall. 17. The adapter of claim 12, wherein the first peripheral wall extends outwardly relative to the second peripheral wall. 18. An adapter for a vehicle air bag housing, comprising: a first peripheral wall defining an at least partially enclosed cross sectional area through which an inflating airbag may be projected, said first peripheral wall adapted to engage with at least one mounting member in a vehicle dashboard, wherein said first peripheral wall defines a substantially rectangular cross section and said first peripheral wall comprises a discontinuous substantially rectangular cross section; and a second peripheral wall depending from said first peripheral wall and adapted to engage with an airbag housing, wherein said first peripheral wall is substantially planar and oriented substantially perpendicular to said second peripheral wall. 19. A method of mounting an airbag retainer for an inflatable occupant restraint system in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: molding a plastic adapter having a mounting flange and at least one sidewall depending from the flange, wherein the sidewall is adapted to attach with an airbag retainer and said plastic adapter incorporates an opening therethrough, wherein said opening is at least partially defined by at least one of said mounting flange and said sidewall; attaching the molded plastic adapter to an airbag retainer for housing a folded airbag, wherein said folded airbag is adapted to deploy through said opening, and said molded plastic adapter includes a discontinuous periphery; and mounting the airbag retainer in a vehicle via an engagement of the mounting flange with mounting members in an instrument panel in the vehicle. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of attaching the molded plastic adapter to an airbag retainer comprises flexing the plastic adapter to accommodate the airbag retainer inside a periphery of the sidewall.