Inflatable air bag module
First Claim
1. An inflatable air bag module for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a housing for containing an air bag in deflated condition and an inflator assembly for providing gas to inflate said air bag when activated;
said housing having spaced apart opposite walls and including a first compartment holding said deflated air bag and having an exposed outer cover on one side formed with a fracture line defining an edge of a door, said door having a hinge area adapted to permit said door to pivot open rapidly upon fracture along said fracture line to release said inflating air bag to expand out of said compartment;
said housing including a second compartment for holding said inflator assembly;
generally flat structural panel means for dividing said housing into said first and second compartments and secured to said opposite housing walls for maintaining existing spacing between said housing walls, said panel means having openings therein for permitting gas from said inflator assembly to rapidly inflate said air bag; and
a row of fasteners for securing all together said first and second compartments, said divider panel and said air bag along a common area around a periphery of said module housing.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable air bag module for motor vehicles includes a housing for containing an air bag in deflated condition and an inflator assembly for providing gas to inflate the air bag when activated. The housing includes a first compartment holding the deflated air bag and having an exposed outer cover on one side formed with a fracture line defining an edge of a door. The door is adapted to pivot open along a hinged area when the cover is fractured by pressure from the inflating air bag as it expands out of the compartment. The housing also includes a second compartment holding the inflator assembly and a generally flat divider panel is provided between the first and second compartments with openings therein for permitting gas from the inflator assembly to rapidly inflate the air bag. A single row or set of fasteners is provided for securing all together the first and second compartments, the divider panel and an open end of said air bag along a common level extending around the entire periphery of the housing at a mid-level. The divider panel helps to prevent the walls of the housing from bulging outwardly when the air bag is inflated.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An inflatable air bag module for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a housing for containing an air bag in deflated condition and an inflator assembly for providing gas to inflate said air bag when activated; said housing having spaced apart opposite walls and including a first compartment holding said deflated air bag and having an exposed outer cover on one side formed with a fracture line defining an edge of a door, said door having a hinge area adapted to permit said door to pivot open rapidly upon fracture along said fracture line to release said inflating air bag to expand out of said compartment; said housing including a second compartment for holding said inflator assembly; generally flat structural panel means for dividing said housing into said first and second compartments and secured to said opposite housing walls for maintaining existing spacing between said housing walls, said panel means having openings therein for permitting gas from said inflator assembly to rapidly inflate said air bag; and a row of fasteners for securing all together said first and second compartments, said divider panel and said air bag along a common area around a periphery of said module housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An inflatable air bag module for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a housing for containing an air bag in deflated condition and an inflator assembly for providing gas to inflate said air bag when activated; said housing including a first compartment holding said deflated air bag and having an exposed outer cover on one side formed with a fracture line defining an edge of a door, said door having a hinge area adapted to permit said door to pivot open rapidly Upon fracture along said fracture line to release said inflating air bag to expand out of said compartment; said housing including a second compartment for holding said inflator assembly; a generally flat divider panel between said first and second compartments having openings therein for permitting gas from said inflator assembly to rapidly inflate said air bag; a row of fasteners for securing all together said first and second compartments, said divider panel and said air bag along a common area around a periphery of said module housing; said first and second compartments having nested confronting open ends; said row of fasteners extending around said confronting open ends; and said divider panel including flange means in nested relation with said confronting open ends of said first and second compartments. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A housing for an inflatable air bag and an inflator assembly, comprising:
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a first compartment for containing said air bag in an uninflated condition, a second compartment for containing said inflator assembly, perforated flat structural panel means for separating said housing into first and second compartments and secured to spaced apart walls of said compartments for preventing said walls from moving farther apart; and joining means for securing said compartments, said panel and said air bag together around a periphery of said housing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A housing for an inflatable air bag and an inflator assembly, comprising:
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a first compartment for containing said air bag in an uninflated condition, a second compartment for containing said inflator assembly, a perforated flat panel separating said first and second compartments; joining means for securing said compartments, said panel and said air bag together around a periphery of said housing; said joining means comprising a plurality of spaced apart fasteners aligned along a row extending around a central portion of said housing, each of said fasteners being extended through said compartments, said panel and said air bag; and said joining means comprising overlapping marginal edge portions of said first and second compartments, a flange of said panel and a marginal edge portion of said air bag. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A housing for an inflatable air bag and an inflator assembly, comprising:
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a first compartment for containing said air bag in an uninflated condition, a second compartment for containing said inflator assembly, a perforated flat panel separating said first and second compartments; joining means for securing said compartments, said panel and said air bag together around a periphery of said housing; said first and second compartments having nested confronting open ends, and said panel being disposed between said open ends; and said panel having flange means in nested overlapping relationship with said confronting open ends of said compartments.
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Specification