Gas generator assembly mounting mechanism

• US 20060244244A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Blackburn, Jeffery S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,789,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.200
• 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: Y10T 24/1498 Plastic band

Abstract

A vehicle occupant protection system (180) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint device (202) positioned in the vehicle, and a gas generating system (8) coupled to the inflatable restraint device (202) for providing inflation fluid to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint device. The gas generating system (8) is secured to the vehicle by a mounting mechanism (10) having a first strap (12) wrapped around a portion of the gas generating system (8) and a second strap (14) coupled to the first strap (12) and wrapped around a portion (24) of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A mounting mechanism for securing a gas generator to a vehicle, the mounting mechanism comprising:

a first strap adapted to wrap in a first direction around a portion of the gas generator;

a second strap coupled to the first strap and adapted to wrap in the first direction around a portion of the vehicle;

a locking mechanism for securing the first strap around the portion of the gas generator; and

a locking mechanism for securing the second strap around the portion of the vehicle.

2. The mounting mechanism of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first strap and the second strap includes a plurality of openings formed therealong adapted for receiving a portion of the at least one of the first strap and the second strap therein, and wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking feature incorporated into each opening of the plurality of openings for lockingly engaging the portion of the at least one of the first strap and the second strap.

3. A vehicle occupant protection system including a mounting mechanism in accordance with claim 1.

4. The mounting mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a base portion, the first strap and the second strap projecting from the base portion, the base portion including therein:

the locking mechanism for securing the first strap;

the locking mechanism for securing the second strap;

a first opening in communication with the locking mechanism for securing the first strap, for lockingly receiving a portion of the first strap therein from a first direction; and

a second opening in communication with the locking mechanism for securing the second strap, for lockingly receiving a portion of the second strap therein from a second direction different from the first direction.

5. The mounting mechanism of claim 4 wherein the second direction is substantially opposite the first direction.

6. The mounting mechanism of claim 4 wherein the locking mechanism for securing the first strap also secures the second strap.

7. The mounting mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a base portion, wherein the first strap projects from the base portion and the second strap projects from the base portion, the base portion including the locking mechanism for securing the first strap and the locking mechanism for securing the second strap, wherein the first strap is secured when a portion of the first strap is inserted into the base portion along a first surface of the base portion, and wherein the second strap is secured when a portion of the second strap is inserted into the base portion along a second surface of the base portion different from the first surface.

8. A vehicle occupant protection system including a mounting mechanism in accordance with claim 7.

9. A method for securing a gas generator to a vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing a first strap adapted to wrap around a portion of the gas generator;

providing a second strap coupled to the first strap and adapted to wrap around a portion of the vehicle;

wrapping the first strap around the portion of the gas generator so as to form a snug fit between the first strap and the portion of the gas generator;

securing the first strap around the portion of the gas generator so as to substantially maintain the snug fit between the first strap and the portion of the gas generator;

wrapping the second strap around a portion of the vehicle so as to form a snug fit between the second strap and the portion of the vehicle; and

securing the second strap around the portion of the vehicle so as to substantially maintain the snug fit between the second strap and the portion of the vehicle.

12. An airbag module including a gas generator secured to a vehicle in accordance with the method of claim 9.

13. A vehicle occupant protection system including a gas generator secured to a vehicle in accordance with the method of claim 9.

10. A vehicle occupant protection system comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint device positioned in the vehicle; and

a gas generating system coupled to the inflatable restraint device for providing inflation fluid to inflate the vehicle occupant restraint device, wherein the gas generating system is secured to the vehicle by a mounting mechanism having a first strap wrapped around a portion of the gas generating system and a second strap coupled to the first strap and wrapped around a portion of the vehicle.

11. An airbag module comprising:

a gas generating system;

an airbag mounting mechanism having a first strap wrapped around a portion of the gas generating system and a second strap coupled to the first strap and adapted for wrapping around a portion of a structure to which the airbag module is to be attached; and

an airbag operatively coupled to the gas generating system.