Airbag module canister

• US 20050218630A1
• Filed: 03/28/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Honermann, Bradley S., Vigeant, Peter L., Tata, Joseph M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,374,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.200
• 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

Abstract

An airbag module comprising an improved canister, retainer assembly and method of attaching the airbag module to the vehicle is disclosed. The canister includes snap-on end caps, which assemble onto the center section of the canister. A retention mechanism provides the snap-on capability, while a lap joint provides extra security to ensure the end caps remain on the center section during assembly and initiation of the inflator secured within the canister.

Claims

1. An airbag module for a vehicle comprising:

a center section having an end;

an end cap attached to said end of said center section;

a retainer assembly mounted to said center section; and

a fastener for joining said center section, said end cap, and said retainer assembly.

2. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein said fastener is a stud fixed to said retainer assembly.

3. The airbag module of claim 2, wherein said center section and said end cap each includes an aperture defined therein through which said stud is passed for joining.

4. The airbag module of claim 1, further including an inflator substantially mounted within said center section, said end cap, and said retainer assembly and wherein said end cap is interchangeable with another end cap to accommodate an inflator of a different length.

5. The airbag module of claim 1, further including a mounting member for attachment of the module to the vehicle.

6. The airbag module of claim 5, wherein said center section has a recess defined therein for receiving said mounting member.

7. The airbag module of claim 6, wherein said mounting member has a stud for mounting the airbag module to the vehicle and wherein said center section has a stud-passing aperture through which said stud is passed for connection to the vehicle.

8. The airbag module of claim 6, wherein said mounting member includes two studs for mounting the airbag module to the vehicle and wherein said center section has two stud-passing apertures through which said studs are passed for connection to the vehicle.

9. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein said center section has two ends and wherein said airbag module has two end caps, one for each of said ends of said center section.

10. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein said one of said center section or said end cap includes a tab and the other of said center section or said end cap includes a tab-receiving slot, said end cap being fastened to said center section by the slotting of said tab into said tab-receiving slot.

11. The airbag module of claim 10, including a plurality of said tabs and a like plurality of said tab-receiving slots.

12. An airbag module for a vehicle, comprising:

a mounting member having at least one stud extending therefrom for attaching the module to the vehicle; and

a canister having a receiving area for receiving said mounting member and at least one stud-passing aperture defined in said receiving area.

13. The airbag module of claim 12, wherein said at least one stud includes no more than two studs and wherein said at least one stud-passing aperture includes no more than two stud-passing apertures.

14. The airbag module of claim 12, wherein said canister includes a center section having an end and an end cap fitted to said end of said center section.

15. The airbag module of claim 12, wherein said canister includes a center section having a first end and a second end, a first end cap for attachment to said first end of said center section, and a second end cap for attachment to said second end of said center section.

16. The airbag module of claim 14, wherein said receiving area of said canister has a recess defined therein for receiving said mounting member.

17. The airbag module of claim 12, wherein said one of said center section or said end cap includes a tab and the other of said center section or said end cap includes a tab-receiving slot, said end cap being fastened to said center section by the slotting of said tab into said tab-receiving slot.

18. The airbag module of claim 17, including a plurality of said tabs and a like plurality of said tab-receiving slots.

19. The airbag module of claim 12, wherein said stud is threaded.

20. The airbag module of claim 19, further including a nut for attachment to said threaded stud.

21. An airbag module comprising:

a center section having a first end and a second end;

a first end cap for attachment to said first end of said center section;

a second end cap for attachment to said second end of said center section;

a retainer assembly mounted to said center section, said retainer assembly including a plurality of studs; and

each of said center section, said first end cap and said second end cap having a plurality of stud-passing apertures defined therein, said plurality of said studs and said plurality of said stud-passing apertures being the same number.