Air bag module
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint connected with said housing;
an inflation fluid source in said housing for supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint, said inflation fluid source having a first end portion projecting from said housing; and
means for connecting said inflation fluid source with said housing, said connecting means comprising a spring member connected with said housing and having an annular configuration defining a central opening in said spring member, said first end portion of said inflation fluid source extending through said central opening in said spring member, said spring member including a portion having a first condition in which said first end portion of said inflation fluid source is movable through said central opening of said spring member and a second condition in which said first end portion of said inflation fluid source is not movable through said central opening of said spring member;
said spring member having a substantially planar configuration when said portion of said spring member is in the first condition and having an arcuate non-planar configuration when said portion of said spring member is in the second condition.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag module (10) includes a housing (12), an air bag (14), and an inflator (16). A pair of wave springs (20, 22) are mounted on opposite end walls (40, 42) of the housing (12). The springs (20, 22) engage opposite end portions (132, 134) of the inflator (16) to secure the inflator to the housing (12). The inflator (16) extends through a cardboard plenum tube (18) in the housing (12). The plenum tube (18) keeps open a passage in the air bag (14) for insertion of the inflator (16) during assembly of the module (10).
29 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:
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a housing; an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint connected with said housing; an inflation fluid source in said housing for supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint, said inflation fluid source having a first end portion projecting from said housing; and means for connecting said inflation fluid source with said housing, said connecting means comprising a spring member connected with said housing and having an annular configuration defining a central opening in said spring member, said first end portion of said inflation fluid source extending through said central opening in said spring member, said spring member including a portion having a first condition in which said first end portion of said inflation fluid source is movable through said central opening of said spring member and a second condition in which said first end portion of said inflation fluid source is not movable through said central opening of said spring member; said spring member having a substantially planar configuration when said portion of said spring member is in the first condition and having an arcuate non-planar configuration when said portion of said spring member is in the second condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7, 10)
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4. A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:
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a housing; an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint connected with said housing; an inflation fluid source in said housing for supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint, said inflation fluid source having a first end portion projecting from said housing; and means for connecting said inflation fluid source with said housing, said connecting means comprising a spring member connected with said housing and having an annular configuration defining a central opening in said spring member, said first end portion of said inflation fluid source extending through said central opening in said spring member, said spring member including a portion having a first condition in which said first end portion of said inflation fluid source is movable through said central opening of said spring member and a second condition in which said first end portion of said inflation fluid source is not movable through said central opening of said spring member; said inflation fluid source having a longitudinal central axis, said spring member being generally planar and extending perpendicular to said axis when said portion of said spring member is in the first condition; said central opening in said spring member having a circular cross-sectional configuration as taken in a plane perpendicular to said axis when said portion of said spring member is in the first condition; said central opening in said spring member having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration as taken in a plane perpendicular to said axis when said portion of said spring member is in the second condition. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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8. A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:
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a housing; an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint connected with said housing; an inflation fluid source in said housing for supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint, said inflation fluid source having a first end portion projecting from said housing; and means for connecting said inflation fluid source with said housing, said connecting means comprising a spring member connected with said housing and having an annular configuration defining a central opening in said spring member, said first end portion of said inflation fluid source extending through said central opening in said spring member, said spring member including a portion having a first condition in which said first end portion of said inflation fluid source is movable through said central opening of said spring member and a second condition in which said first end portion of said inflation fluid source is not movable through said central opening of said spring member; said housing including a wall having surfaces defining a slot in said wall, said spring member having a mounting portion received in said slot and fixed in position relative to said housing, said portion of said spring member being movable relative to said mounting portion of said spring member. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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11. A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:
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a housing; an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint connected with said housing; an inflation fluid source in said housing for supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint, said inflation fluid source having a first end portion projecting from a first end of said housing and having a second end portion projecting from a second end of said housing; and means for connecting said inflation fluid source with said housing; said means for connecting said inflation fluid source with said housing comprising a first spring member connected with said first end of said housing and having an annular configuration defining a central opening in said first spring member, said first spring member having a deflected condition wherein said first spring member has a substantially planar configuration and said first spring member having an undeflected condition wherein said first spring member has an arcuate non-planar configuration, said first end portion of said inflation fluid source extending through said central opening in said first spring member when said first spring member is in said deflected condition, said first spring member blocking movement of said first end portion of said inflation fluid source relative to said first end of said housing when said first spring member is in said undeflected condition; said means for connecting said inflation fluid source with said housing further comprising a second spring member connected with said second end of said housing and having an annular configuration defining a central opening in said second spring member, said second spring member having a deflected condition wherein said second spring member has a substantially planar configuration and said second spring member having an undeflected condition wherein said second spring member has an arcuate non-planar configuration, said second end portion of said inflation fluid source extending through said central opening in said second spring member when said second spring member is in said deflected condition, said second spring member blocking movement of said second end portion of said inflation fluid source relative to said second end of said housing when said second spring member in said undeflected condition.
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12. A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:
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a housing; an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint folded and stored in said housing; an inflation fluid source in said housing for supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint; means for connecting said inflation fluid source with said housing; and a cylindrical tube extending through said inflatable restraint and defining a chamber in said inflatable restraint, said tube being made from a frangible material which is easily broken away from a position covering fluid outlets of said inflation fluid source upon actuation of said inflation fluid source; said inflation fluid source having a portion extending through said tube and through said chamber in said inflatable restraint. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:
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a housing; an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint folded and stored in said housing; an inflation fluid source in said housing for supplying inflation fluid to said inflatable restraint; and plenum means for maintaining a chamber in said inflatable restraint through which said inflation fluid source is extensible during assembly of said vehicle safety apparatus, said inflatable restraint having a portion extending around said inflation fluid source and around said plenum means, said plenum means being made from a frangible material which is easily broken away from a position covering fluid outlets of said inflation fluid source upon actuation of said inflation fluid source. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification