Air cushion restraint device having reinforced inflation attachment
First Claim
1. An air cushion occupant restraint system for a motor vehicle of the type having an inflator for generating an inflation gas, comprising:
- an air bag defining an internal volume which is filled with said inflation gas in the event of vehicle impact, said air bag including an inflation gas opening for enabling said inflator to discharge said inflation gas into said air bag, said air bag including a retainer ring affixed to said air bag generally circumscribing said inflation gas opening and having a plurality of posts arranged around said retainer ring, andmounting means for securing said air bag to said vehicle including a support structure coupled to said motor vehicle and a clamping ring which cooperate to clamp said air bag and said retainer ring between said support structure and said clamping ring around said inflation gas opening, and wherein at least one of said support structure or said clamping ring includes a plurality of apertures which receive said retainer ring posts.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air cushion restraint system (ACRS) providing enhancements in the strength of the attachment between an air bag and associated support structure and further providing improvements in the fabrication and assembly of such systems. ACRS systems in accordance with this invention incorporate an air bag with a retainer ring member which reinforces the inflation or mounting opening which is provided to enable inflation gases to be vented into the bag and to mount the bag to the associated vehicle structure. The retainer ring is sewn directly to the air bag at the inflation opening and is preferably made of a polymeric material. In a preferred embodiment the retainer ring features projecting post members which enter and engage with apertures in a corresponding mounting structure to prevent the air bag from pulling away from the attachment structures during depolyment
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. An air cushion occupant restraint system for a motor vehicle of the type having an inflator for generating an inflation gas, comprising:
-
an air bag defining an internal volume which is filled with said inflation gas in the event of vehicle impact, said air bag including an inflation gas opening for enabling said inflator to discharge said inflation gas into said air bag, said air bag including a retainer ring affixed to said air bag generally circumscribing said inflation gas opening and having a plurality of posts arranged around said retainer ring, and mounting means for securing said air bag to said vehicle including a support structure coupled to said motor vehicle and a clamping ring which cooperate to clamp said air bag and said retainer ring between said support structure and said clamping ring around said inflation gas opening, and wherein at least one of said support structure or said clamping ring includes a plurality of apertures which receive said retainer ring posts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An air cushion occupant restraint system for a motor vehicle of the type having an inflator for generating an inflation gas, comprising:
-
an air bag defining an internal volume which is filled with said inflation gas in the event of vehicle impact, said air bag including an inflation gas opening for enabling said inflator to discharge a retainer ring made from a polymeric plastic material affixed to said air bag generally circumscribing said inflation gas opening and having a plurality of posts arranged around said retainer ring, and mounting means for securing said air bag to said vehicle including first and second support members which cooperate to clamp against opposing sides of said air bag and said retainer ring around said inflation gas opening, and wherein at least one of said support members includes a plurality of apertures which receive said retainer ring posts.
-
-
13. An air cushion occupant restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising:
-
an inflator assembly for generating an inflation gas in the event of vehicle impact, said inflator assembly having a radially projecting perimeter flange, an air bag defining an internal volume which is filled with said inflation gas in the event or vehicle impact, said air bag including an inflation gas opening for enabling said inflator to discharge said inflation gas into said air bag, said air bag including a retainer ring affixed to said air bag generally circumscribing said inflation gas opening and having a plurality of posts arranged around said retainer ring, a support plate having an inflation opening corresponding with said air bag inflation opening and having apertures for receiving said retainer ring posts, a clamping ring circumscribing said air bag inflation opening, and securing means for attaching together said inflator assembly, said support plate and said clamping ring and for clamping said opposing surfaces of said air bag around said inflation opening. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. An air cushion occupant restraint system for a motor vehicle of the type having an inflator for generating an inflation gas, comprising:
-
an air bag defining an internal volume which is filled with said inflation gas in the event of vehicle impact, said air bag including an inflation gas opening for enabling said inflator to discharge said inflation gas into said air bag, said air bag including a retainer ring made from a polymeric material which generally circumscribes said inflation gas opening and is secured to said air bag by stitching around said inflation gas opening, mounting means for securing said air bag to said vehicle including first and second support members which cooperate to clamp against opposing sides of said air bag and said retainer ring around said inflation gas opening, and post means for mechanically linking said mounting means to said air bag and said retainer ring to resist said air bag at said inflation gas opening from pulling away from said mounting means in response to inflation gas pressure inside said air bag during deployment. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. An air cushion occupant restraint system for a motor vehicle of the type having an inflator for generating an inflation gas, comprising:
-
an air bag defining an internal volume which is filled with said inflation gas in the event of vehicle impact, said air bag including an inflation gas opening for enabling said inflator to discharge said inflation gas into said air bag, said air bag including a retainer ring sewn to said air bag generally circumscribing said inflation gas opening and having a plurality of posts arranged around said retainer ring, and mounting means for securing said air bag to said vehicle including first and second support members which cooperate to clamp against opposing sides of said air bag and said retainer ring around said inflation gas opening, and wherein at least one of said support members includes a plurality of apertures which receive said retainer ring posts.
-
Specification