Cylindrical inflator retainer ring

• US 5,458,363 A
• Filed: 06/16/1994
• Issued: 10/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Morton International Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Folsom, Marc D., Palmer, Dwaine K., Garner, Brett R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELLIS, CHRISTOPHER P
• Application Number:
  US08/260,586
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728 A, 280/732, 280/741, 280/743 R, 280/728 R, 403/3.4
• US Class Current: 280/728.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

A retainer for attaching an inflator having a substantially constant cross section to an air bag canister is disclosed. The retainer comprises a coupling ring having a first rim adjacent to one end of the coupling ring and a second rim adjacent to the other end of the coupling ring. A band having a diameter less than the diameter of the rims is formed by a gap between the two rims. The coupling ring is inserted over one end of the inflator and the inflator is installed into an air bag canister through an aperture in one end of the canister. The canister side wall surrounding the aperture is held between the two rims thereby coupling one end of the inflator to the canister. The other end of the inflator is secured to the canister by a mounting stud integral to the inflator which stud passes through an opening in the other side wall of the canister.

Claims

1. A combination comprising:

an elongated tubular gas generator having a substantially constant diameter, said gas generator having a smooth outer surface, a first end, and a second end;

an air bag canister having a first end wall and a second end wall and defining a cavity for said gas generator and at least part of a folded automotive air bag cushion, said second end wall having a second aperture therein having a diameter greater than the diameter of said gas generator, said gas generator being actuable to generate a gas under a pressure in said cavity; and

a coupling ring having an outer wall, a first surface defining a first end and a second surface defining a second end, said first surface and said second surface being substantially parallel to one another, said first and second surfaces having circular cross-sections, a first rim adjacent to said first surface, a second rim adjacent to said second surface, and an internal aperture having a diameter less than the diameter of said gas generator, said first rim having an outer diameter which is greater than the diameter of said second aperture, said second rim having a second outer diameter which is greater than the diameter of said second aperture and less than the outer diameter of said first rim, and an indentation between said first rim and said second rim, said indentation defining a diameter which is less than said outer diameter of said second rim;

wherein said second end of said gas generator is inserted through said second end of said coupling ring such that said coupling ring is inserted onto said second end of said gas generator, and said gas generator and coupling ring are inserted into said air bag canister through said second aperture such that said canister second end wall is contained between said first rim and said second rim thereby holding said gas generator to said canister.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coupling ring further comprises a slit through said outer wall from said first surface to said second surface thereby permitting said coupling ring to expand when inserted onto said gas generator.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first surface of said coupling ring comprises a gas generator adjacent inner surface contoured to the shape of the gas generator second end.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coupling ring is tapered from said first surface to said second surface.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coupling ring is made from a material selected from a group consisting of nylon, nylon 66, polyethylene, polypropylene and aluminum.