Air bag assembly

• US 20030209888A1
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Hier, Michael J., Davis, Joseph J. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,851,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together

Abstract

An air bag assembly, for mounting on a panel having a recess, includes an air bag adapted to be positioned in the recess, and an inflator associated with the air bag for inflating the air bag. The inflator is further adapted to be positioned in the recess and mounted to the panel. The assembly also includes a cover configured to cover the air bag and to release the air bag when the air bag is inflated. The cover has a side wall with an enlarged end, and the enlarged end is configured to be trapped between the inflator and the panel when the inflator is mounted to the panel, so as to secure the cover to the panel.

Claims

1. An air bag assembly for mounting on a panel having a recess, the assembly comprising:

an air bag adapted to be positioned in the recess;

an inflator associated with the air bag for inflating the air bag, the inflator being adapted to be positioned in the recess and mounted to the panel; and

a cover configured to cover the air bag and to release the air bag when the air bag is inflated, the cover having a side wall with an enlarged end, the enlarged end being configured to be trapped between the inflator and the panel when the inflator is mounted to the panel, so as to secure the cover to the panel.

2. The air bag assembly of claim 1 wherein the inflator has a projection that is engage able with the enlarged end when the inflator is mounted to the panel.

3. The air bag assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover includes an additional side wall having an additional enlarged end, the additional enlarged end being configured to be trapped between the inflator and the panel when the inflator is mounted to the panel.

4. The air bag assembly of claim 3 wherein the inflator has two projections that are engage able with the enlarged ends when the inflator is mounted to the panel.

5. An air bag system comprising:

a panel having a recess

an air bag disposed in the recess;

an inflator associated with the air bag for inflating the air bag, the inflator further being disposed in the recess and attached to the panel; and

a cover covering the air bag and configured to release the air bag when the air bag is inflated, the cover having a side wall with an enlarged end, the enlarged end being trapped between the inflator and the panel to secure the cover to the panel.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the panel includes a projection engaged with the enlarged end.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the inflator includes a projection engaged with the enlarged end.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the panel includes a retainer that defines the recess, the retainer having a retainer projection engaged with the enlarged end, and wherein the inflator includes an inflator projection engaged with the enlarged end.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the panel includes a rib engaged with the inflator for positioning the inflator within the recess.

10. The system of claim 5 wherein the cover includes an additional side wall having an additional enlarged end, the additional enlarged end being trapped between the inflator and the panel.

11. The system of claim 5 wherein the panel is an instrument panel.

12. An air bag system comprising:

an instrument panel retainer including a main portion and an indented portion extending from the main portion, the main portion defining an appearance surface, the indented portion having first and second retainer side walls that cooperate to define a recess having first, second and third recess portions, each retainer side wall further defining a shoulder and a retainer projection;

an inflator connected to the instrument panel retainer and disposed at least partially in the first recess portion, the inflator having first and second inflator projections;

an air bag connected to the inflator and configured to be inflated by the inflator, the air bag being disposed at least partially in the second recess portion; and

a cover covering the air bag and configured to release the air bag when the air bag is inflated, the cover having a top portion disposed at least partially in the third recess portion and engaged with the shoulders, the top portion defining an appearance surface that is disposed adjacent to the appearance surface of the instrument panel retainer, the cover further having first and second side walls extending from the top portion, each side wall extending between a respective retainer projection and a respective inflator projection, each side wall further having an enlarged end disposed in the first recess portion, each enlarged end being engaged with a respective retainer projection and a respective inflator projection, such that the enlarged ends are trapped between the inflator and the instrument panel retainer to thereby secure the cover to the instrument panel.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the retainer side walls are joined together proximate the inflator, and wherein the retainer side walls cooperate to define a rib engaged with the inflator and configured to position the inflator at least partially in the first recess portion.