Inflator press fit housing for inflatable curtains

• US 20040036263A1
• Filed: 08/26/2002
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Henderson, David, Petersen, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 6,945,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

An airbag inflator housing for mounting an airbag inflator to a vehicle. The airbag inflator housing includes a press-fit inflator mount for engaging an outer surface of an airbag inflator and a bracket member attached to the inflator mount that is configured to be attached to a vehicle. The inflator housing may hold the inflator in a press-fit manner by having an inside diameter that is smaller than an outside diameter of the airbag inflator. Alternatively, the inflator housing may hold the inflator in a clearance-fit or slip-fit manner, in which the inside diameter is equivalent to or larger than an outside diameter of the airbag inflator. In these inflator housings, the inflator must be additionally secured by a weld, a set screw, crimping, adhesive, or another suitable method.

Claims

1. An airbag inflator housing for securing an airbag inflator to a vehicle comprising:

an inflator mount for engaging an outer surface of an airbag inflator; and

a bracket member attached to the inflator mount, the bracket member being configured to be attached to a vehicle.

2. The airbag inflator housing of claim 1, wherein the inflator mount engages the outer surface of the airbag inflator in a press-fit manner, the inflator mount having an inside diameter smaller than an outside diameter of the airbag inflator.

3. The airbag inflator housing of claim 2, wherein the inflator mount comprises a ring-shaped member.

4. The airbag inflator housing of claim 2, wherein the inflator mount comprises a cup-shaped ring configured to receive an airbag inflator.

5. The airbag inflator housing of claim 1, wherein the inflator mount engages the outer surface of the airbag inflator in a press-fit manner, the inflator mount having an inside diameter that is larger than an outside diameter of the airbag inflator, and the inflator mount further including a plurality of ridges to render an effective inside diameter of the inflator mount smaller than the outside diameter of the airbag inflator.

6. The airbag inflator housing of claim 1, wherein the inflator mount engages the outer surface of the airbag inflator in a slip-fit manner, the inflator mount having an inside diameter that is larger than the outside diameter of the airbag inflator, the inflator mount further being attached to the outer surface of the airbag inflator by a method selected from a group comprising welding, crimping, or using a set screw to retain the airbag inflator in the inflator mount.

7. The airbag inflator housing of claim 1, wherein the inflator mount engages the outer surface of the airbag inflator in a clearance-fit manner, the inflator mount having an inside diameter that is substantially identical to the outside diameter of the airbag inflator, the inflator mount further being attached to the outer surface of the airbag inflator by a method selected from a group comprising welding, crimping, or using a set screw to retain the airbag inflator in the inflator mount.

8. The airbag inflator housing of claim 1, wherein the inflator mount has an inside diameter that is larger than the outside diameter of the airbag inflator, the inflator mount further including a set screw to retain the airbag inflator in the inflator mount.

9. The airbag inflator housing of claim 1, wherein the bracket member comprises a gusset.

10. The airbag inflator housing of claim 1, wherein the bracket member comprises a retention hook.

11. An airbag inflator housing for securing an airbag inflator to a vehicle comprising:

a press-fit inflator mount for securely engaging an outer surface of an airbag inflator, the inflator mount having an inside diameter smaller than an outside diameter of the airbag inflator; and

a bracket member attached to the inflator mount, the bracket member being configured to be attached to a vehicle.

12. The airbag inflator housing of claim 11, wherein the inflator mount comprises a ring-shaped member.

13. The airbag inflator housing of claim 11, wherein the inflator mount comprises a cup-shaped member.

14. The airbag inflator housing of claim 11, wherein the inflator mount comprises a tubular member further comprising ridges positioned on an inside face of the inflator mount.

15. The airbag inflator housing of claim 11, wherein the bracket member comprises a gusset.

16. The airbag inflator housing of claim 11, wherein the bracket member comprises a retention hook.

17. An airbag inflator housing for securing an airbag inflator to a vehicle comprising:

an inflator mount for securely engaging an outer surface of an airbag inflator, the inflator mount having an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the airbag inflator, the inflator mount being securely engaged to the outer surface of the airbag inflator by a method selected from the group consisting of welding, crimping, and using a set screw; and

a bracket member attached to the inflator mount, the bracket member being configured to be attached to a vehicle.

18. The airbag inflator housing of claim 17, wherein the bracket member comprises a gusset.

19. The airbag inflator housing of claim 17, wherein the bracket member comprises a retention hook.

20. A method of mounting an airbag inflator to a vehicle comprising the steps of:

attaching a diffuser end of an airbag inflator to a gas guide;

attaching an airbag inflator housing comprising a press-fit inflator mount and a bracket member to an airbag inflator by the inflator mount; and

attaching the bracket member to the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the press-fit inflator mount comprises a ring-shaped member.

22. The method of claim 20, where in the press-fit inflator mount comprises a cup-shaped member.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the press-fit inflator mount comprises a tube-shaped member having ridges on an internal surface of the tube.

24. A method of mounting an airbag inflator to a vehicle comprising the steps of:

attaching a diffuser end of an airbag inflator to a gas guide;

attaching an airbag inflator housing comprising a slip-fit inflator mount and a bracket member to an airbag inflator by the inflator mount; and

securing a slip-fit inflator mount to the airbag inflator using a method selected from the group comprising welding, crimping, and using a set screw; and

attaching the bracket member to the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the slip-fit inflator mount comprises a ring-shaped member.

26. The method of claim 24, where in the slip-fit inflator mount comprises a cup-shaped member.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the slip-fit inflator mount comprises a tube-shaped member having ridges on an internal surface of the tube.

28. A method of mounting an airbag inflator to a vehicle comprising the steps of:

attaching a diffuser end of an airbag inflator to a gas guide;

attaching an airbag inflator housing comprising a clearance-fit inflator mount and a bracket member to an airbag inflator by the inflator mount; and

securing the clearance-fit inflator mount to the airbag inflator using a method selected from the group comprising welding, crimping, and using a set screw; and

attaching the bracket member to the vehicle.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the clearance-fit inflator mount comprises a ring-shaped member.

30. The method of claim 28, where in the clearance-fit inflator mount comprises a cup-shaped member.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the clearance-fit inflator mount comprises a tube-shaped member having ridges on an internal surface of the tube.