Air bag cushion rivetless retainer ring, axial pin method

• US 5,443,284 A
• Filed: 04/15/1993
• Issued: 08/22/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Morton International Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Strahl, Paul E., Adams, Gary V., Allard, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): FERRITER, KARIN L
• Application Number:
  US08/048,567
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728 R, 280/728 A, 280/730 R, 280/731, 280/732, 280/743 R, 280/736, 220/4.24, 220/309, 403/282, 403/279, 403/276, 29/513, 411/521
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49922 by bending over projecting prongs

Abstract

A clamping device for clamping an automotive air bag to an automotive air bag inflator. The clamping device includes an annular retainer ring and module housing. Axial descending members, in the form of tabs, pins, or circular posts are attached to the bottom of the annular retainer and pass through holes in the air bag and module housing. The axial descending members provide additional places wherein the shear stress of the air bag fabric can resist the forces applied to the air bag during deployment. Undersized fastener openings in the module housing in conjunction with annular retainer tabs bent to grasp the module housing clamp the air bag during assembly of the air bag module without installation, thus securing the inflator.

Claims

1. An air bag mounting system for assembling an air bag with a module housing consisting essentially of:

an annular retainer having a first inner boundary, a body with a top and bottom, a first outer boundary, a plurality of first holes passing through the body of the annular retainer, and a plurality of integral axial descending tab members formed out of said annular retainer and projecting away from said bottom of said body of said annular retainer, said axial descending tab members being formed by providing U-shaped openings in said annular retainer with tab-bent portions opposite the bites of said U-shaped openings and said tab-bent portions being circumferentially spaced at substantially the same radius along said annular retainer,

a module housing having a mounting edge, a module body with a module top and module bottom, and second inner boundary defining an opening matching the shape of the inflator with a plurality of second holes passing through said module body, and a plurality of third holes passing through said module body positioned to receive said axial descending members of said annular retainer when said annular retainer is brought into proper relation thereto; and

an air bag having a gas inlet opening conforming in shape to said opening of said annular retainer in a central region thereof, a plurality of fourth holes radially outwardly of said gas inlet opening, and a plurality of fifth holes radially outward of said gas inlet opening, wherein an annular portion of said gas inlet opening of said air bag is placed between said annular retainer and said module housing, and wherein said axial descending members of said annular retainer pass through said fifth holes and said third holes said axial descending members and the shear stress of the air bag in the area appurtenant to said fifth holes act in opposition to the radial forces generated upon deployment of said air bag and retain said air bag in place;

and a fastener means passed through said first, fourth and second holes to Join said annular retainer, said air bag, and said module housing.

2. A device as specified in claim 1 wherein a first wall integral to said first inner boundary is attached on said top of said annular retainer, said wall being substantially perpendicular to said body of said annular retainer.

3. A device as specified in claim 1 wherein a second wall integral to said first outer boundary is attached on said top of said annular retainer, said wall being substantially perpendicular to said body of said annular retainer.

4. A device as specified in claim 1 wherein said second holes in said module housing are undersized whereby said fastener means engage the edges of said second holes to hold said annular retainer and said air bag to said module housing.

5. A device as specified in claim 4 wherein each of said undersized holes in said module housing is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced substantially radially outwardly extending notches from said undersized fastener holes.

6. A device specified in claims 4 or 5 wherein the edges of said undersize holes are beveled.

7. A device as specified in claim 1 wherein said third holes are circular, oval or rectangular in shape.