Vehicle safety apparatus including inflatable restraint

• US 5,518,266 A
• Filed: 10/20/1994
• Issued: 05/21/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: O'Docherty, James K., Nemoto, Hiroshi, Brannon, Kenneth D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/326,789
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/731, 280/732, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together

Abstract

A vehicle safety apparatus (10) includes an air bag (16), a mounting plate (14) for mounting the air bag in the vehicle, and a retaining ring (18). The air bag (16) is clamped between the retaining ring (18) and the mounting plate (14). A recess (130) is formed on a first one of the retaining ring and the mounting plate (14). A projection (100) on a second one of the retaining ring (18) and the mounting plate (14) forces a portion of the air bag (16) into the recess (130) to resist movement of the air bag relative to the retaining ring and the mounting plate.

Claims

1. An apparatus for restraining an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a vehicle collision, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said restraint having a folded and stored condition and an inflated condition, said restraint having an inflation fluid volume for receiving inflation fluid, said inflation fluid volume being defined by an interior surface of said restraint, and said restraint having an exterior occupant engaging surface;

a mounting member for mounting said inflatable restraint in a vehicle;

a retaining ring for engaging said interior surface of said restraint and for clamping said exterior surface of said restraint against said mounting member;

means for securing said retaining ring to said mounting member with said restraint clamped between said retaining ring and said mounting member;

surface means for defining a recess on a first one of said retaining ring and said mounting member, said surface means including a bottom wall of said first one of said retaining ring and said mounting member; and

means for forcing a first portion of said restraint into said recess and into engagement with said bottom wall of said recess, said means for forcing comprising a projecting member on a second one of said retaining ring and said mounting member, said projecting member clamping said exterior surface of said restraint against said bottom wall of said first one of said retaining ring and said mounting member.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said surface means for defining a recess on said first one of said retaining ring and said mounting member comprises surfaces on said mounting member defining said recess in a major side surface of said mounting member which is presented toward said retaining ring, said mounting member including said bottom wall, said projecting member being connected with and projecting from said retaining ring in a direction toward said recess in said mounting member.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said surface means for defining a recess on said first one of said retaining ring and said mounting member comprises surfaces on said retaining ring defining said recess in a major side surface of said retaining ring which is presented toward said mounting member, said retaining ring including said bottom wall, and wherein said projecting member is connected with and projects from said mounting member in a direction toward said recess in said retaining ring.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said surface means for defining a recess on said first one of said retaining ring and said mounting member comprises surfaces defining a plurality of spaced apart concentric grooves, and wherein said projecting member comprises a plurality of spaced apart projecting portions of said second one of said retaining ring and said mounting member which are concentric with said grooves.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said surface means for defining a recess on one of said retaining ring and said mounting member comprises surfaces defining a circular groove extending around a central opening in said first one of said retaining ring and said mounting member, and wherein said projecting member extends completely around said central opening in said first one of said retaining ring and said mounting member.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said projecting member comprises an outer peripheral flange portion of said one of said retaining ring and said mounting member, said recess comprising a circular groove extending around said central opening in said first one of said retaining ring and said mounting member at a location radially outside said means for securing said retaining ring to said mounting member.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said surface means for defining a recess on said first one of said retaining ring and said mounting member comprises surfaces defining a plurality of circular recesses arranged on said first one of said retaining ring and said mounting member, and wherein said projecting member comprises a plurality of spaced apart circular projections, each one of said projections overlying a respective one of said plurality of circular recesses.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each one of said projections comprises a flange surrounding and defining an opening in said second one of said mounting member and said retaining ring, each one of said flanges projecting into a respective one of said plurality of recesses.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said projection comprises at least one tooth having a sharp point engageable with said restraint to block movement of said restraint in a predetermined direction.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said projecting member comprises a series of projecting ridges forming a knurled surface on said second one of said retaining ring and said mounting member.

11. An apparatus for restraining an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a vehicle collision, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint;

a mounting member for mounting said restraint in the vehicle, said mounting member including surface means for defining a recess on said mounting member;

an inflation fluid source supported on said mounting member and having an axis; and

a retaining ring clamping said restraint against said mounting member;

said retaining ring having a main body portion and at least one tooth on said main body portion,

said tooth comprising a portion of the material of said main body portion which is bent out of said main body portion and which provides an opening in said main body portion,

said tooth projecting from said main body portion in a direction toward said inflation fluid source,

said tooth projecting toward said recess and engaging said restraint and forcing a portion of said restraint into said recess to resist movement of said restraint relative to said retaining ring and said mounting member.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said tooth is one of a plurality of teeth which are formed on said retaining ring.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said teeth are disposed in a circular array centered on said axis.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said tooth has a triangular configuration including side surfaces converging at a sharp point and extending in a direction toward said axis, said sharp point engaging said restraint.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said tooth is one of a group of teeth positioned around said opening in said main body portion of said retaining ring at a location radially outward of said inflation fluid source.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 including a plurality of said groups of teeth on said retaining ring spaced apart around said inflation fluid source.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said opening is star shaped.

18. An apparatus for restraining an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a vehicle collision, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint;

a mounting member for mounting said restraint in a vehicle;

a retaining ring for clamping said restraint against said mounting member;

means for securing said retaining ring to said mounting member with said restraint clamped between said retaining ring and said mounting member; and

a projecting member on a first one of said retaining ring and said mounting member, said projecting member comprising an alternating pattern of projecting ridges and recesses forming a knurled surface on said one of said retaining ring and said mounting member, said ridges on said knurled surface engaging said restraint and forcing a portion of said restraint into a recess on a second one of said retaining ring and said mounting member, said ridges on said knurled surface cooperating with said recess in resisting movement of said air bag from its desired position between said retaining ring and said mounting member.

19. An apparatus for restraining an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a vehicle collision, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said restraint having a folded and stored condition and an inflated condition, said inflatable restraint having a plurality of first fastener openings arranged in a non-symmetrical configuration;

a mounting member for mounting said inflatable restraint in a vehicle, said mounting member having a plurality of second fastener openings arranged in a non-symmetrical configuration identical to the configuration of said first fastener openings;

a retaining ring for engaging said restraint and for clamping said inflatable restraint against said mounting member; and

a plurality of fasteners arranged on said retaining ring in a non-symmetrical configuration identical to the configuration of said first and second fastener openings, said fasteners on said retaining ring projecting through said first fastener openings and through said second fastener openings to secure said retaining ring to said mounting member with said inflatable restraint clamped between said retaining ring and said mounting member.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said fasteners disposed in said non-symmetrical configuration have centers which are lie on a common circle.

21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said fasteners are spaced apart around the circumference of said circle at least two different angular intervals.

22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said plurality of fasteners includes four fasteners, first and second adjacent ones of said four fasteners being spaced apart at a 90°

interval around said circle, and third and fourth adjacent ones of said four fasteners being spaced apart at an 80°

interval around said circle.