Air bag inflator subassembly for installation onto the dashboard substrate of a motor vehicle
First Claim
1. A simple one-piece air bag inflator assembly for attachment to a dashboard substrate of a motor vehicle comprising:
- an elongated cylindrical inflator for providing a gas at a pressure, said inflator having a tubular outside wall with an outer surface, a first end and a second end, a first end closure attached to said inflator first end and a second end closure attached to said inflator second end to form a sealed tubular chamber, wherein each of said first and second end closures are substantially flat plates attached to the respective inflator ends by fastener means, inflator apertures formed in the outside wall of the inflator for directing generated gas from said sealed tubular chamber, and at least two first flanges integral to the outer surface of the inflator and running the length of the inflator, said first flanges having first apertures formed therein, wherein said first flanges divide said inflator surface into a first arc and a second arc wherein said inflator apertures are contained within one of said arcs, said inflator also including a plurality of channels integral to the outside wall of said inflator and running the length of the inflator, each of said channels defining a central aperture wherein said fastener means comprises fasteners which engage with said central apertures of said channels;
an air bag cushion in a folded condition while being stored, said air bag cushion having a first portion, which when said air bag cushion is deployed is disposed opposite an occupant of the vehicle, a second portion attached to said first portion, which terminates in a third portion defining a gas inlet opening for said air bag cushion, said air bag cushion third portion attached to at least two separate of the first flanges of said inflator such that said inflator apertures exhaust the gas into said air bag cushion for the normal inflation thereof; and
an air bag retention means that maintains the air bag cushion in the folded condition while being stored.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag inflator subassembly is described which when installed onto a dashboard substrate forms a complete air bag inflator unit. The air bag inflator subassembly comprises a plurality of flanges formed integral to the body of the inflator. An air bag cushion and retainer cover are attached to the inflator subassembly. The subassembly eliminates the need for a separate canister and simplifies the process of installing the air bag inflator unit. The subassembly is installed on the dashboard substrate and is attached to the appropriate electrical connections. The subassembly utilizes existing vehicle hardware to form part of the air bag canister.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A simple one-piece air bag inflator assembly for attachment to a dashboard substrate of a motor vehicle comprising:
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an elongated cylindrical inflator for providing a gas at a pressure, said inflator having a tubular outside wall with an outer surface, a first end and a second end, a first end closure attached to said inflator first end and a second end closure attached to said inflator second end to form a sealed tubular chamber, wherein each of said first and second end closures are substantially flat plates attached to the respective inflator ends by fastener means, inflator apertures formed in the outside wall of the inflator for directing generated gas from said sealed tubular chamber, and at least two first flanges integral to the outer surface of the inflator and running the length of the inflator, said first flanges having first apertures formed therein, wherein said first flanges divide said inflator surface into a first arc and a second arc wherein said inflator apertures are contained within one of said arcs, said inflator also including a plurality of channels integral to the outside wall of said inflator and running the length of the inflator, each of said channels defining a central aperture wherein said fastener means comprises fasteners which engage with said central apertures of said channels; an air bag cushion in a folded condition while being stored, said air bag cushion having a first portion, which when said air bag cushion is deployed is disposed opposite an occupant of the vehicle, a second portion attached to said first portion, which terminates in a third portion defining a gas inlet opening for said air bag cushion, said air bag cushion third portion attached to at least two separate of the first flanges of said inflator such that said inflator apertures exhaust the gas into said air bag cushion for the normal inflation thereof; and an air bag retention means that maintains the air bag cushion in the folded condition while being stored. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A combination comprising:
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a) an air bag inflator assembly, including; an elongated cylindrical inflator having a tubular outside wall with an outer surface, a first end and a second end, a first end closure attached to the first end, and a second end closure attached to the second end to form a sealed tubular chamber, discharge apertures in the tubular outside wall direct gas from the sealed tubular chamber upon actuation of the inflator, and at least two first flanges integral to the outer surface of the tubular outside wall and running the length of the inflator, said first flanges having first apertures formed therein; an air bag cushion in a folded condition while being stored, said air bag cushion having a portion defining a gas inlet opening attached to at least two of the first flanges such that the discharge apertures exhaust the gas into said air bag cushion for the normal inflation thereof; and an air bag retention cover that overlays the air bag cushion and maintains the air bag cushion in the folded condition while being stored; and b) a vehicular dashboard having an inside surface and an outside surface, with a substrate in spaced relation to the inside surface, the substrate comprising at least one pair of oppositely facing side walls which include a first end and a second end, with second flanges attached to the second end of the side walls, the second flanges having second apertures therein, first fastener means passed through said second apertures in said second flanges and said first apertures in said first flanges secure said air bag inflator assembly with said vehicular dashboard and wherein said vehicular dashboard forms a movable deployment cover overlying the air bag retention cover. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification