Air bag module with a center mounted tubular inflator
First Claim
1. A vehicle air bag module comprising,a module housing including a flat base member having a slotted section with a curved wall running the width thereof and having an inflator diffuser opening formed in a raised portion of said slotted section at a position intermediate the ends thereof,a folded inflatable cushion having a gas inlet rectangularly shaped opening with an inner periphery,a retaining ring extending around the inner periphery of said gas inlet opening of said cushion, said retaining ring having slotted sections with curved walls that match and are disposed adjacent said slotted section of said base member of said module housing,a tubular inflator comprising a cylindrical housing and a diffuser extending at an angle of substantially 90°
- from said inflator at a position intermediate the ends thereof, said inflator being disposed in said slotted section of said main body of said module housing with said diffuser extending through said diffuser opening, anda retaining bracket having a slotted section that matches and is disposed adjacent to and extends around the back side of said tubular inflator to hold said inflator in place thereagainst.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag module using a tubular inflator uses a different housing, retaining ring, cushion and inflator bracket than are currently used, with the appearance and function of the module not being changed but only the internal components. The inflator is placed in a slotted section of the module housing with the diffuser thereof protruding from the center through a hole in a raised portion of the module housing slotted section, which hole is sized closely to the size of the diffuser. The diffuser extends directly into the module at a 90° angle to the plane surface of the housing. The retaining ring has raised portions in the center thereof to match the raised portion of the module housing, has holes in the raised portions, and has tabs which extend through holes in the cushion and the module housing. The module housing has tabs on the raised portion thereof which extend through holes in the cushion and retaining ring. The cushion uses a rectangular mounting so that the cushion can match the radius of the module housing in the raised portion which goes over the tubular inflator. The retaining bracket extends around the back side of the inflator to hold it in place and includes cover retaining brackets incorporated therein. Studs which hold the module together extend from the retaining ring through holes in the cushion, module housing, and retaining bracket.
22 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A vehicle air bag module comprising,
a module housing including a flat base member having a slotted section with a curved wall running the width thereof and having an inflator diffuser opening formed in a raised portion of said slotted section at a position intermediate the ends thereof, a folded inflatable cushion having a gas inlet rectangularly shaped opening with an inner periphery, a retaining ring extending around the inner periphery of said gas inlet opening of said cushion, said retaining ring having slotted sections with curved walls that match and are disposed adjacent said slotted section of said base member of said module housing, a tubular inflator comprising a cylindrical housing and a diffuser extending at an angle of substantially 90° - from said inflator at a position intermediate the ends thereof, said inflator being disposed in said slotted section of said main body of said module housing with said diffuser extending through said diffuser opening, and
a retaining bracket having a slotted section that matches and is disposed adjacent to and extends around the back side of said tubular inflator to hold said inflator in place thereagainst. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- from said inflator at a position intermediate the ends thereof, said inflator being disposed in said slotted section of said main body of said module housing with said diffuser extending through said diffuser opening, and
Specification