Fabric housing for air bag inflator

A new and improved air bag module of lightweight construction includes a rectangular support frame defining an open mouth for the mounting of an air bag and having spaced apart opposing end walls and spaced apart opposing side walls. An inflator support depends from each of the end walls of the rectangular support frame to support the inflator beneath the support frame. A liner of flexible sheet material, such as air bag material, has a rim portion adapted for attached to the support frame and a side wall portion suspended from the support frame and reaching between the spaced apart inflator supports whereby upon actuation of the inflator, the inflation gas is contained by the liner and exhausted through the open mouth. In a preferred embodiment, the liner of flexible sheet material has end walls and side walls which are suspended from the support frame and surround the inflator. A support loop may be provided intermediate the inflator supports to control outward expansion of the liner by the inflation gas. The support loop may be a metal strap attached to the support frame, or a loop of flexible sheet material sewn to the rim portion of the liner.