Inflatable restraint assembly

• US 5,498,024 A
• Filed: 08/17/1995
• Issued: 03/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Morton International Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Caruso, Charles P. Jr., Ward, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US08/516,366
• Time in Patent Office: 208 Days
• Field of Search: 280/732, 280/743.1, 280/728.2, 280/728.1, 220/666, 220/675, 220/676
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• 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

Featured for use as a part of an inflatable restraint system is a reaction canister assembly with a body part and frame structure that reduces and/or minimizes the number of component parts, including fasteners, incorporated therein.

Claims

1. An inflatable restraint system reaction canister comprising:

a one-piece trough shaped reaction canister body part having a base portion, first and second opposite ends, and first and second opposite side walls continuously extending from the base portion, each of the side walls having a first end at the base portion and a second end having a frame retaining notch extending along at least a portion thereof, and

a one-piece reaction canister frame structure including opposed lateral first and second side flanges, opposed first and second end flanges each continuous with each of the first and second side flanges, and first and second opposed end caps angularly extending from the first and second end flanges, respectively,

wherein in the assembly of said body part with said frame structure, the frame retaining notch of each of the body part side walls is in mating engagement with a mating portion of the frame structure side flanges, securing said frame structure with said body part.

2. The reaction canister of claim 1 wherein said base portion comprises a tubular diffuser.

3. The reaction canister of claim 1 wherein said first and second side walls are spaced apart and in conjunction with said first and second end caps to define an airbag retaining cavity.

4. The reaction canister of claim 1 wherein said body part is formed by extrusion fabrication.

5. The reaction canister of claim 1 wherein said body part is formed of aluminum.

6. An inflatable restraint system subassembly comprising:

a one-piece trough shaped reaction canister body part having a base portion, first and second opposite ends and first and second opposite side walls continuously extending from the base portion, each of the side walls having a first end at said base portion and a second end having a frame retaining notch extending along at least a portion thereof, and

a one-piece reaction canister frame structure including opposed lateral first and second side flanges, opposed first and second end flanges each continuous with each of the first and second side flanges, and first and second opposed end caps angularly extending from the first and second end flanges, respectively,

wherein in the assembly of said body part with said frame structure, the frame retaining notch of each of the body part side walls is in mating engagement with a mating portion of the frame structure side flanges, securing said frame structure with said body part, and

with said subassembly additionally comprising an inflator device further coupling said body part with said frame structure and locking said body part and said frame structure in a coupled arrangement.

7. The inflatable restraint system subassembly of claim 6 wherein said base portion comprises a tubular diffuser wherein said inflator device is held in coaxial relation.

8. The inflatable restraint system subassembly of claim 6 wherein said inflator device is thrust neutral.

9. The inflatable restraint system subassembly of claim 6 wherein said inflator device is directional.

10. The inflatable restraint system subassembly of claim 6 wherein said first and second side walls are spaced apart and in conjunction with said first and second end caps to define an airbag retaining cavity.

11. The inflatable restraint system subassembly of claim 6 wherein said body part is formed by extrusion fabrication.

12. The inflatable restraint system subassembly of claim 6 wherein said body part is formed of aluminum.

13. An inflatable restraint system subassembly comprising:

an extruded one-piece trough shaped reaction canister body part having first and second opposite ends and including a continuous circumference tubular diffuser portion and first and second opposite side walls continuously extending from the tubular diffuser portion, each of the side walls having a first end at the tubular diffuser portion and a second end having a frame retaining notch extending along at least a portion thereof, and

a one-piece reaction canister frame structure including opposed lateral first and second side flanges, opposed first and second end flanges each continuous with each of the first and second side flanges, and first and second opposed end caps angularly extending from the first and second end flanges, respectively,

wherein in the assembly of said body part with said frame structure, the frame retaining notch of each of the body part side walls is in mating engagement with a mating portion of the frame structure side flanges, securing said frame structure with said body part, and

with said subassembly additionally comprising an elongated inflator device centered in the tubular diffuser portion, the inflator device further coupling said body part with said frame structure and locking said body part and said frame structure in a coupled arrangement.

14. The inflatable restraint system subassembly of claim 13 wherein said inflator device is thrust neutral.

15. The inflatable restraint system subassembly of claim 13 wherein said inflator device is directional.

16. The inflatable restraint system subassembly of claim 13 wherein said first and second side walls are spaced apart and in conjunction with said first and second end caps to define an airbag retaining cavity.

17. The inflatable restraint system subassembly of claim 13 wherein said body part is formed of aluminum.