Safety apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of assembling an apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, said method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a canister containing gas generating material and an inflator housing relative to each other;
resiliently deflecting a wall of the canister by applying a force against the wall of the canister by pressing the wall against a first wall of the inflator housing; and
retaining the canister against movement relative to the inflator housing by transmitting force between the resiliently deflected wall of the canister and a second wall of the inflator housing.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for use in inflating a vehicle occupant restraint includes an inflator housing and a canister containing gas generating material. The canister has a resiliently deflectable wall which presses against the inflator housing to hold the canister against movement relative to the inflator housing. A cushion is disposed inside the canister between the wall and the gas generating material. In addition, auto ignition material is disposed in a projecting wall portion of the canister. When the apparatus is assembled, the wall of the canister is resiliently deflected by applying a force against the projecting wall portion of the canister. After the inflator housing has been closed, the canister is retained against movement relative to the inflator housing by the force applied by the resiliently deflected wall of the canister against the inflator housing.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of assembling an apparatus for inflating a vehicle occupant restraint, said method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a canister containing gas generating material and an inflator housing relative to each other; resiliently deflecting a wall of the canister by applying a force against the wall of the canister by pressing the wall against a first wall of the inflator housing; and retaining the canister against movement relative to the inflator housing by transmitting force between the resiliently deflected wall of the canister and a second wall of the inflator housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for use in inflating a restraint for an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflator housing, said inflator housing including first and second end walls which partially define a chamber; and a canister containing gas generating material, said canister including a first wall, a second wall and a side wall, said side wall of said canister being fixedly attached to said first and second walls of said canister, said first wall of said canister engaging said first wall of said housing, said first wall of said canister being resiliently deformed and pressing against said first wall of said housing, said second wall of said canister engaging said second wall of said housing, said side wall transmitting force from said resiliently deformed first wall of said canister to maintain said second wall of said canister in engagement with said second wall of said housing. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for use in inflating a restraint for a occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflator housing having a chamber; a canister containing gas generating material located in said chamber, said canister having a resiliently deflected wall pressing against said inflator housing to hold said canister against movement in said chamber relative to said housing; and a cushion disposed in said canister between said wall of said canister and the gas generating material, said cushion being at least partially compressed by said wall of said canister to provide a force for resisting deflection of said wall of said canister and to hold the gas generating material against movement. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification