INFLATABLE BOLSTER

1 . An inflatable bolster for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the inflatable bolster comprising:

a) a hollow body comprising:

i. a first wall devised to face a mating surface of the vehicle, the first wall being provided with a molded cavity;

ii. a second wall opposite the first wall and devised to face the passenger compartment; and

iii. an air chamber formed between the first and second walls;

b) an inflator for injecting a pressurized fluid into the air chamber and thereby inflating the hollow body, the inflator being mounted to the hollow body; and

c) attachment means for attaching the hollow body to the mating surface, the attachment means comprising:

i. a base retained within the molded cavity; and

ii. a fastener projection extending from the base and outward from the first wall, the fastener projection devised to engage a complementary element on the mating surface and attach the inflatable bolster thereto.

2 . The inflatable bolster of claim 1 , wherein the molded cavity is formed around the base during molding of the hollow body, thereby encapsulating the base in the first wall.

3 . The inflatable bolster of claim 2 , wherein the base and the hollow body are formed of compatible materials having compatible surface energies which enables polymer bonding therebetween.

4 . The inflatable bolster of claim 2 , wherein the base has a disk-like shape and comprises a series of radial alternating ridges.

5 . The inflatable bolster of claim 2 , wherein the fastener projection is a threaded stud.

6 . The inflatable bolster of claim 2 , wherein the fastener projection is a clip.

7 . The inflatable bolster of claim 6 , wherein the fastener projection is a duel level snap clip.

8 . The inflatable bolster of claim 1 , wherein the first wall comprises angled sections.

9 . The inflatable bolster of claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises a male dovetail portion and the molded cavity comprises a corresponding female dovetail portion having a side opening for allowing insertion of the male dovetail portion therein.

10 . The inflatable bolster of claim 9 , wherein the molded cavity further comprises a clip proximate the opening for retaining the base within the molded cavity after insertion.

11 . The inflatable bolster of claim 9 , wherein the fastener projection is a threaded stud.

12 . The inflatable bolster of claim 9 , wherein the fastener projection is a clip.

13 . The inflatable bolster of claim 12 , wherein the fastener projection is a duel level snap clip.

14 . An inflatable bolster for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the inflatable bolster comprising:

a) a hollow body comprising:

i. an first wall devised to face a mating surface of the vehicle;

ii. a second wall opposite the first wall and devised to face the passenger compartment; and

iii. an air chamber formed between the first and second walls;

b) an inflator for injecting a pressurized fluid into the air chamber and thereby inflating the hollow body, the inflator being mounted to the hollow body; and

c) attachment means for attaching the hollow body to the mating surface, the attachment means comprising:

i. a dovetail portion extending outward from the first wall, the dovetail portion devised to engage a slot on the mating surface and attach the inflatable bolster thereto.

15 . The inflatable bolster of claim 14 , wherein the mating surface comprises a reaction plate for strengthening the inflatable bolster, the complementary element comprises a slot, the slot having a side opening for allowing insertion of the dovetail portion therein; wherein the engagement of the dovetail portion and the slot retains the reaction plate to the inner wall.