Driver side inflatable air bag system and method of assembly
First Claim
1. An air bag system comprising:
- a vehicle steering wheel having a structural frame which includes an integral retainer,a cover which together with said retainer forms a container,an inflator which is at least partially disposed within said container and which is coupled to said retainer, andan air bag disposed within said container, said air bag including a beaded periphery which defines a gas inlet opening and which is captured between said inflator and said retainer thereby coupling said air bag to said retainer,said inflator including a housing having an exterior surface which is positioned adjacent to said retainer and which includes a tangential groove;
said retainer including a bore aligned with said tangential groove; and
said system further including a pin disposed within said tangential groove and said bore to couple said inflator housing to said retainer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag system includes (i) a vehicle steering wheel having a structural frame which includes an integral retainer, (ii) a cover which together with the retainer forms a container, (iii) an inflator which is at least partially disposed within the container and which is coupled to the retainer, and (iv) an air bag which is disposed within the container and which includes a beaded perimeter that defines a gas inlet opening and that is captured between the inflator and the retainer thereby coupling the air bag to the retainer. To assemble the air bag system, the air bag is preassembled with the inflator by securing its beaded perimeter to the inflator. The inflator is then inserted into the retainer in such a manner that the beaded perimeter is captured intermediate the inflator and the retainer. Next, the inflator is coupled to the retainer and the cover is coupled to the steering wheel to form a container for the air bag.
39 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An air bag system comprising:
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a vehicle steering wheel having a structural frame which includes an integral retainer, a cover which together with said retainer forms a container, an inflator which is at least partially disposed within said container and which is coupled to said retainer, and an air bag disposed within said container, said air bag including a beaded periphery which defines a gas inlet opening and which is captured between said inflator and said retainer thereby coupling said air bag to said retainer, said inflator including a housing having an exterior surface which is positioned adjacent to said retainer and which includes a tangential groove; said retainer including a bore aligned with said tangential groove; and said system further including a pin disposed within said tangential groove and said bore to couple said inflator housing to said retainer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of forming a driver side air bag system comprising a vehicle steering wheel having a structural frame which includes an integral retainer forming an open-ended container, and an air bag having a beaded periphery which defines a gas inlet opening, said method comprising the steps of:
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securing the beaded periphery of the air bag to an inflator for inflating the air bag; after the beaded periphery of the air bag is secured to the inflator, inserting the inflator into the retainer so that the beaded periphery is captured intermediate the inflator and the retainer; coupling the inflator to the retainer; and attaching a cover to the retainer to close the container. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of forming a driver side air bag system comprising an inflator with a housing having a plurality of outwardly extending tabs, a vehicle steering wheel having a structural frame including an integral retainer which forms an open-ended container and which has a corresponding number of slots sized to receive the tabs, and an air bag having a beaded periphery which defines a gas inlet opening, said method comprising the steps of:
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securing the beaded periphery of the air bag to the inflator; inserting the inflator into the retainer so that the beaded periphery is captured intermediate the inflator and the retainer; coupling the inflator to the retainer; and coupling a cover to the steering wheel to close the container; said step of coupling the inflator to the retainer including the step of rotating the inflator with respect to the retainer in such a manner that the outwardly extending tabs lockingly engage the slots. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification