Passenger air bag module with snap-attachment deployment cover
First Claim
1. An improved passenger air cushion module for use in retaining an air cushion restraint system and a pressurized gas source for inflation thereof for presentment to a motor vehicle occupant, the module comprising:
- a deployment cover having a central face portion with a tear seam pattern for deploying an air bag therethrough and an outer peripheral portion;
a reaction canister having a mouth along which said cover outer peripheral portion is retained;
a plurality of complementary pairs of mating male and female fastening portions engageable for coupling in one-way substantially simultaneous snap-action engagement, one of said portions provided on said cover peripheral portion, the other provided on said canister proximate said mouth, said female portions each forming a guide having a through-slot for receiving and surrounding the associated male portion and said female portions each including means for laterally biasing said male portions during assembly of said cover to said canister; and
wherein said plurality of complementary pairs of mating fastening portions are provided spaced apart from one another about said outer peripheral portion of said cover and said canister mouth such that for each pair, one of said mating portions is provided on said cover and the other is provided on said canister in an aligned arrangement with one another, said male portions all extending in substantially the same direction and being substantially aligned with said through-slots formed by said female portions wherein said cover can be assembled to said canister by movement of said cover onto said canister with substantially simultaneous engagement of all of said plurality of complementary pairs of mating male and female fastening portions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved passenger air cushion module having a module cover which snap-fit engages to a corresponding complementary module reaction canister which eliminates the need for fasteners or retaining clips and brackets when assembling the cover to the canister, and particularly retains the cover to the canister in a manner which allows for aesthetic and mating flush-mount engagement of the cover with corresponding vehicle structure supporting the canister module. Such a passenger air bag module further provides for positive retention of the cover to the canister during deployment of an air cushion, namely an air bag, from within the module in response to a sensed vehicle collision.
38 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. An improved passenger air cushion module for use in retaining an air cushion restraint system and a pressurized gas source for inflation thereof for presentment to a motor vehicle occupant, the module comprising:
-
a deployment cover having a central face portion with a tear seam pattern for deploying an air bag therethrough and an outer peripheral portion; a reaction canister having a mouth along which said cover outer peripheral portion is retained; a plurality of complementary pairs of mating male and female fastening portions engageable for coupling in one-way substantially simultaneous snap-action engagement, one of said portions provided on said cover peripheral portion, the other provided on said canister proximate said mouth, said female portions each forming a guide having a through-slot for receiving and surrounding the associated male portion and said female portions each including means for laterally biasing said male portions during assembly of said cover to said canister; and wherein said plurality of complementary pairs of mating fastening portions are provided spaced apart from one another about said outer peripheral portion of said cover and said canister mouth such that for each pair, one of said mating portions is provided on said cover and the other is provided on said canister in an aligned arrangement with one another, said male portions all extending in substantially the same direction and being substantially aligned with said through-slots formed by said female portions wherein said cover can be assembled to said canister by movement of said cover onto said canister with substantially simultaneous engagement of all of said plurality of complementary pairs of mating male and female fastening portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
Specification