Airbag assembly

• US 20090033072A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lisseman, Jason Carl, Beaty, Kenneth Irving, Schneider, Angela Susan, Murray, Stewart Alexander, Lipson, Danielle Marie
• Granted Patent: US 8,052,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2178 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2035 using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21656; assembling of modules B60R21/217
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

An airbag module includes a retainer, diffuser, inflatable airbag, and an inflator to inflate the airbag. The diffuser is configured to disperse inflation gas from the inflator into the inflatable airbag. The retainer and/or diffuser comprise a glass-filled polymer material. The retainer includes a projection extending from a base wall. The projection couples to a hole in the diffuser flange and prevents the diffuser from rotating relative to the retainer. The inflator is coupled to the retainer by trapping an inflator flange under an overhang in a retainer cavity.

Claims

1. An airbag module, comprising:

a retainer comprising a glass-filled polymer material;

a diffuser coupled to the retainer, the diffuser comprising a glass-filled polymer material;

an inflatable airbag; and

an inflator to inflate the airbag,

wherein the diffuser is configured to disperse inflation gas from the inflator into the inflatable airbag.

2. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the glass-filled polymer material of one or both the retainer and diffuser comprises glass filled nylon.

3. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the glass-filled polymer material of one or both the retainer and diffuser comprises 40% glass.

4. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the glass-filled polymer material of one or both the retainer and diffuser comprises a range of 10% to 70% glass.

5. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the glass-filled polymer material of one or both the retainer and diffuser comprises a range of 10% to 60% glass.

6. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the glass-filled polymer material of one or both the retainer and diffuser comprises a range of 10% to 50% glass.

7. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the glass-filled polymer material of one or both the retainer and diffuser comprises a range of 10% to 30% glass.

8. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the retainer includes a base wall and at least one latch extending from the base wall, the at least one latch being configured to couple the retainer to a vehicle body component.

9. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the retainer further includes at least one projection extending from the base wall, the at least one projection being configured to couple to holes in flanges of the diffuser and to prevent the diffuser from rotating relative to the retainer.

10. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the retainer includes at least one cavity positioned about a periphery of a central opening, the at least one cavity being defined by an overhang formed in a main body of the retainer.

11. The airbag module of claim 10, wherein the overhang includes an open end portion at one end of the cavity to permit entrance of a flange into the at least one cavity, and wherein the overhang includes a stop opposite the open end portion configured to prevent over-rotation of the flange.

12. The airbag module of claim 11, wherein the inflator is configured to couple to the retainer by trapping the flange under the overhang in the at least one cavity.

13. An airbag module, comprising:

a retainer;

a diffuser with at least one flange;

an inflatable airbag; and

an inflator to inflate the airbag,

wherein the diffuser is configured to disperse inflation gas from the inflator into the inflatable airbag,

wherein the retainer includes at least one projection extending from a base wall, the at least one projection being configured to couple to a hole in the at least one flange of the diffuser and configured to prevent the diffuser from rotating relative to the retainer, and

wherein the inflator is configured to be coupled to the retainer by trapping at least one inflator flange under an overhang in at least one retainer cavity, the at least one retainer cavity being positioned about a periphery of a central opening of the retainer.

14. The airbag module of claim 13, wherein the retainer includes a base wall and at least one latch extending from the base wall, the at least one latch being configured to couple the retainer to a vehicle body component.

15. The airbag module of claim 13, wherein the overhang includes an open end portion at one end of the at least one cavity to permit entrance of the at least one inflator flange into the at least one cavity, and wherein the overhang includes a stop opposite the open end portion configured to prevent over-rotation of the at least one inflator flange.

16. The airbag module of claim 13, wherein the diffuser is positioned between the inflator and retainer.

17. The airbag module of claim 13, wherein at least one of the diffuser and retainer comprise a glass-filled polymer material.