Snap-locking initiator assemblies for inflator devices

• US 20050126416A1
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Clark, Marcus
• Granted Patent: US 7,510,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/202.120
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/103 Mounting initiator heads in initiators; Sealing-plugs
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/195 Manufacture

Abstract

An initiator assembly for an inflator device. The initiator assembly includes an initiator. The initiator has an initiator cup at least in part defining a storage chamber containing at least one reactive charge and has at least one electrical connector in reaction initiating communication with the at least one reactive charge. The initiator assembly also includes an initiator retainer element connected to the initiator and a connector socket. The initiator retainer element is adapted to be disposed on a first side of a wall of the inflator device and the connector socket is adapted to be disposed on a second side of the wall opposite the first side. The initiator assembly is adapted to snap-lock to the inflator device.

Claims

1. An initiator assembly for an inflator device, comprising:

an initiator including an initiator cup at least in part defining a storage chamber containing at least one reactive charge and the initiator also including at least one electrical connector in reaction initiating communication with the at least one reactive charge;

an initiator retainer element connected to the initiator;

a connector socket; and

wherein the initiator retainer element is adapted to be disposed on a first side of a wall of the inflator device and the connector socket is adapted to be disposed on a second side of the wall opposite the first side, and the initiator assembly is adapted to join with the inflator device by a snap-lock connection.

2. The initiator assembly of claim 1, wherein the initiator retainer element and the connector socket are adapted to snap-lock together through an opening in the inflator device.

3. The initiator assembly of claim 2, additionally comprising at least two retaining arms extending from at least one of the initiator retainer element and the connector socket, each of the at least two retaining arms including a latch tab;

wherein the at least two retaining arms are adapted to extend through the opening in the inflator device to snap-lock the initiator retainer element and the connector socket together.

4. The initiator assembly of claim 1 additionally comprising:

a raised rim on an outer surface of the initiator cup, the raised rim including a rim side disposed toward an end of the initiator opposite the at least one electrical connector; and

at least two initiator retainer arms having latch tabs disposed on the initiator retainer element;

wherein the latch tabs of the at least two initiator retainer arms are snap-locked to the rim side to connect the initiator retainer element to the initiator.

5. The initiator assembly of claim 4 additionally comprising an initiator sleeve including a centrally disposed opening disposed around the outer surface of the initiator cup and the initiator sleeve including an initiator sleeve first end abutting the rim side of the raised rim;

wherein the latch tabs of the at least two initiator retainer arms are snap-locked to an initiator sleeve second end of the initiator sleeve opposite the initiator sleeve first end to connect the initiator retainer element to the initiator.

6. The initiator assembly of claim 5 wherein the initiator sleeve comprises a collar flange.

7. The initiator assembly of claim 4 additionally comprising:

at least two collar flange apertures in the collar flange; and

a recess formed in the initiator retainer element;

wherein each of the at least two initiator retainer arms extends into one of the at least two collar flange apertures and at least a portion of the initiator sleeve collar flange is disposed in the initiator retainer element recess.

8. The initiator assembly of claim 4 wherein the raised rim is a raised circumferential ring.

9. The initiator assembly of claim 3 wherein the at least two retaining arms extend from the initiator retainer element.

10. The initiator assembly of claim 9 wherein the connector socket includes a connector socket opening and at least one shoulder adjacent the connector socket opening and the latch tabs of the at least two retaining arms are adapted to engage the at least one shoulder to snap-lock the initiator retainer element and the connector socket together.

11. The initiator assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least two retaining arms extend from the connector socket.

12. The initiator assembly of claim 1 wherein the initiator retainer element and the connector socket are formed of a plastic material.

13. An initiator assembly for an inflator device having a wall with an opening, the initiator assembly comprising:

an initiator including an initiator cup at least in part defining a storage chamber containing at least one reactive charge and the initiator also including at least one electrical connector in reaction initiating communication with the at least one reactive charge;

an initiator retainer element connected to the initiator, the initiator retainer element including two retaining arms and each of the two retaining arms including a latch tab; and

a connector socket including a connector socket opening;

wherein the retaining arms of the initiator retainer element are adapted to extend through the wall opening of the inflator device and the connector socket opening, and the latch tab of each retaining arm is adapted to snap-lock to a surface of the connector socket to connect the initiator assembly to the inflator device wall.

14. The initiator assembly of claim 13 additionally comprising:

a raised rim on an outer surface of the initiator cup, the raised rim including a rim side disposed toward an end of the initiator opposite the at least one electrical connector; and

at least two initiator retainer arms having latch tabs disposed on the initiator retainer element;

wherein the latch tabs of the at least two initiator retainer arms are snap-locked to the rim side to connect the initiator retainer element to the initiator.

15. The initiator assembly of claim 14 additionally comprising an initiator sleeve including a centrally disposed opening disposed around the outer surface of the initiator cup and the initiator sleeve including an initiator sleeve first end abutting the rim side of the raised rim;

wherein the latch tabs of the at least two initiator retainer arms are snap-locked to an initiator sleeve second end of the initiator sleeve opposite the initiator sleeve first end to connect the initiator retainer element to the initiator.

16. The initiator assembly of claim 15 wherein the initiator sleeve comprises a collar flange.

17. The initiator assembly of claim 15 additionally comprising:

at least two collar flange apertures formed in the collar flange; and

a recess formed in the initiator retainer element;

wherein each of the at least two initiator retainer arms extends into one of the at least two collar flange apertures and at least a portion of the initiator sleeve collar flange is disposed in the initiator retainer element recess.

18. The initiator assembly of claim 14 wherein the raised rim is a raised circumferential ring.

19. The initiator assembly of claim 13 wherein the connector socket includes at least one shoulder adjacent the connector socket opening and the latch tabs of the at least two retaining arms are adapted to engage the at least one shoulder to snap-lock the initiator retainer element and the connector socket together.

20. The initiator assembly of claim 13 wherein the initiator retainer element and the connector socket are formed of a plastic material.

21. An initiator assembly comprising:

an initiator including an initiator cup at least in part defining a storage chamber containing at least one reactive charge and the initiator also including at least one electrical connector in reaction initiating communication with the at least one reactive charge;

an initiator retainer element connected to the initiator;

a connector socket including a connector socket opening;

at least two retaining arms extending from at least one of the initiator retainer element and the connector socket, each of the at least two retaining arms including a latch tab;

an adapter plate including an adapter plate opening;

the initiator retainer element disposed on a first side of the adapter plate and the connector socket disposed on a second side of the adapter plate opposite the first side;

wherein the at least two retaining arms extend through the adapter plate opening and the latch tabs of the retaining arms are snap-locked to a surface of one of the initiator retainer element and the connector socket to connect the initiator retainer element, the adapter plate, and the connector socket together.

22. The initiator assembly of claim 21 additionally comprising:

a raised rim on an outer surface of the initiator cup, the raised rim including a rim side disposed toward an end of the initiator opposite the at least one electrical connector; and

at least two initiator retainer arms having latch tabs disposed on the initiator retainer element;

wherein the latch tabs of the at least two initiator retainer arms are snap-locked to the rim side to connect the initiator retainer element to the initiator.

23. The initiator assembly of claim 22 additionally comprising an initiator sleeve including a centrally disposed opening disposed around the outer surface of the initiator cup and the initiator sleeve including an initiator sleeve first end abutting the rim side of the raised rim;

wherein the latch tabs of the at least two initiator retainer arms are snap-locked to an initiator sleeve second end of the initiator sleeve opposite the initiator sleeve first end to connect the initiator retainer element to the initiator.

24. The initiator assembly of claim 23 wherein the initiator sleeve comprises a collar flange.

25. The initiator assembly of claim 24 additionally comprising:

at least two collar flange apertures formed in the collar flange; and

a recess formed in the initiator retainer element;

wherein each of the at least two initiator retainer arms extends into one of the at least two collar flange apertures and at least a portion of the initiator sleeve collar flange is disposed in the initiator retainer element recess.

26. The initiator assembly of claim 22 wherein the raised rim is a raised circumferential ring.

27. The initiator assembly of claim 21 wherein the connector socket includes a connector socket opening and at least one shoulder adjacent the connector socket opening and the latch tabs of the at least two retaining arms are adapted to engage the at least one shoulder to snap-lock the initiator retainer element and the connector socket together.

28. The initiator assembly of claim 21 wherein the initiator retainer element and the connector socket are formed of a plastic material.