Air bag module
First Claim
1. An air bag module for installation in vehicle structure, comprisingan air bag having a mounting hem,a cylindrical air bag inflator,a container comprising an open-ended body having an exterior and a generally cylindrical interior, an axially-extending gas discharge opening formed in the body, a pair of mounting flanges on the body exterior flanking the opening, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced and axially-extending interior ribs on the body for mounting the inflator in spaced relation to the body interior, andan air bag deployment chute for housing the air bag atop the container and having side flanges interengageable with the container flanges to secure the chute to the container without additional fasteners.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A container for an air bag inflator comprises an open-ended cylindrical aluminum or magnesium extrusion having circumferentially-spaced internal ribs, an axial gas discharge opening and a pair of grooved mounting flanges flanking the opening. A cylindrical inflator is inserted through one end of the container on the ribs. An air bag deployment chute includes depending mounting flanges. An air bag, which includes mounting hems having loops, is placed in the chute. A U-shaped retainer is inserted into the hem loops and into the chute channels. This assembly is slid endwise into the container grooves. An end plate is attached to the retainer ends and has a notch to engage an orientation lug on the inflator. In another embodiment, the chute is omitted and the air bag hem loops each receive a mounting rod which are inserted radially into the container grooves. A mounting plate has flanges that are bolted to the container flanges, clamping flanges of an air bag cover in between. The mounting plate includes depending side flanges, which trap the hems and rods in the grooves, and depending end flanges which axially confine the inflator. The end flanges incorporate the orientation slot a protector for inflator wiring. The container ribs space the inflator from the container walls and create insulating air gaps. The air bag hems can also be sewn to the mounting plate flanges, eliminating the mounting rods and enabling use of a simpler container.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. An air bag module for installation in vehicle structure, comprising
an air bag having a mounting hem, a cylindrical air bag inflator, a container comprising an open-ended body having an exterior and a generally cylindrical interior, an axially-extending gas discharge opening formed in the body, a pair of mounting flanges on the body exterior flanking the opening, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced and axially-extending interior ribs on the body for mounting the inflator in spaced relation to the body interior, and an air bag deployment chute for housing the air bag atop the container and having side flanges interengageable with the container flanges to secure the chute to the container without additional fasteners.
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6. A method of assembling an air bag module which includes an open-ended container having axially-extending internal ribs, a gas discharge slot and grooved mounting flanges flanking the slot;
- a cylindrical inflator;
an air bag having hem loops;
a chute having depending flanges;
a retainer having a pair of mounting rods; and
an end plate, comprising the steps ofa. inserting the inflator endwise into the container on the ribs, b. placing the folded air bag in the chute, c. placing the hem loops on the chute flanges, d. inserting the mounting rods into the hem loops, e. assembling the chute, air bag and retainer endwise onto the container with the flanges interengaging to lock the hem loops and mounting rods against radial removal, f. attaching the end plate to the rod ends to lock the retainer in place. - View Dependent Claims (7)
- a cylindrical inflator;
Specification