Seat mounted side impact module
First Claim
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1. A side impact air bag module assembly for mounting to a vehicle seat of the type having a generally vertically extending seat frame member said assembly comprising:
- a housing having a deployment opening with a back surface having a shallow-well portion contiguous with a deep-well portion;
an inflator including mounting means configured for mounting said inflator within said housing deep-well portion;
an inflatable side impact air bag having an inflation opening and a pair of flaps provided in opposed relationship about said inflation opening, said flaps including mounting holes;
a module cover for covering said deployment opening, said module cover having a tear seam configured to open during air bag deployment;
retaining means configured to engage said air bag flaps and said module cover, said retaining means affixing said air bag flaps and said module cover to said housing; and
mounting means for enabling attachment of said assembly to the vehicle seat, said mounting means configured such that said housing deep well portion is positionable at least partially inboard of an outboard surface of the vehicle seat frame member.
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Abstract
A side impact air bag module assembly for retaining a side impact air bag to a vehicle seat frame which provides a housing having a minimum internal volume configured for mounting to an existing seat back frame with minimal modifications so as to conform to the seat back structure and decrease the packaging size required within the seat back. The housing retains an inflator within a deep-well portion in conjunction with a retainer configured to fasten the air bag and inflator to the housing and seat back frame.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A side impact air bag module assembly for mounting to a vehicle seat of the type having a generally vertically extending seat frame member said assembly comprising:
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a housing having a deployment opening with a back surface having a shallow-well portion contiguous with a deep-well portion; an inflator including mounting means configured for mounting said inflator within said housing deep-well portion; an inflatable side impact air bag having an inflation opening and a pair of flaps provided in opposed relationship about said inflation opening, said flaps including mounting holes; a module cover for covering said deployment opening, said module cover having a tear seam configured to open during air bag deployment; retaining means configured to engage said air bag flaps and said module cover, said retaining means affixing said air bag flaps and said module cover to said housing; and mounting means for enabling attachment of said assembly to the vehicle seat, said mounting means configured such that said housing deep well portion is positionable at least partially inboard of an outboard surface of the vehicle seat frame member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A side impact air bag module for mounting to a vehicle seat of the type having a generally vertically extending seat frame member, said assembly comprising:
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a housing having a deployment opening with a back surface having a shallow-well portion contiguous with a deep-well portion; an inflator including mounting means configured for mounting said inflator within said housing deep-well portion; a side impact air bag having an inflation opening and a pair of flaps provided in opposed relationship about said inflation opening, said flaps including mounting holes; retaining means configured to engage said air bag flaps, said retaining means affixing said air bag flaps to said housing; and mounting means for enabling attachment of said assembly to the vehicle, said mounting means configured such that said housing deep well portion is positionable at least partially inboard of an outboard surface of said vehicle seat frame member wherein said housing further forms a pair of mounting apertures, at opposing ends of said deep-well portion, and said inflator mounting means further comprising a stud extending from each end of said inflator constructed and arranged for mating engagement with said housing mounting apertures, one receivable in each aperture, one of said studs further including a threaded portion extending from one of said mounting apertures so as to receive a nut and entrap said inflator within said housing. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A side impact air bag module for mounting to a vehicle seat of the type having a generally vertically extending seat frame member, said assembly comprising:
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a housing having a deployment opening with a back surface having a shallow-well portion contiguous with a deep-well portion; an inflator including mounting means configured for mounting said inflator within said housing deep-well portion; a side impact air bag having an inflation opening and a pair of flaps provided in opposed relationship about said inflation opening, said flaps including mounting holes; retaining means configured to engage said air bag flaps, said retaining means affixing said air bag flaps to said housing; mounting means for enabling attachment of said assembly to the vehicle, said mounting means configured such that said housing deep well portion is positionable at least partially inboard of an outboard surface of said vehicle seat frame member; and an air bag cover having a pair of longitudinally extending opposed flaps, each flap including a plurality of apertures configured for mounting between said retaining means and said housing so as to retain said cover to said housing.
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12. A side impact air bag module for mounting to a vehicle seat of the type having a generally vertically extending seat frame member, said assembly comprising:
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a housing having a deployment opening with a back surface having a shallow-well portion contiguous with a deep-well portion; an inflator including mounting means configured for mounting said inflator within said housing deep-well portion; a side impact air bag having an inflation opening and a pair of flaps provided in opposed relationship about said inflation opening, said flaps including mounting holes; retaining means configured to engage said air bag flaps, said retaining means affixing said air bag flaps to said housing; and mounting means for enabling attachment of said assembly to the vehicle, said mounting means configured such that said housing deep well portion is positionable at least partially inboard of an outboard surface of said vehicle seat frame member wherein said housing has a T-shaped cross-sectional configuration.
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13. A side impact air bag module for mounting to a vehicle seat of the type having a generally vertically extending seat frame member the assembly comprising:
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a housing having a deployment opening with a back surface having shallow-well portion contiguous with a deep-well portion; an inflator including mounting means configured for mounting said inflator within said housing deep-well portion; a side impact air bag having an inflation opening and a pair of flaps provided in opposed relationship about said inflation opening, said flaps including mounting holes; retaining means configured to engage said air bag flaps, said retaining means affixing said air bag flaps to said housing; and mounting means for enabling attachment of said assembly to the vehicle, said mounting means configured such that said housing deep well portion is positionable at least partially inboard of an outboard surface of said vehicle seat frame member wherein said inflator further comprises at least one keyed stud and said housing further comprises at least one keyed mounting opening for receiving said inflator in an aligned configuration, and said retaining means comprises a partially circumferential member having a pair of longitudinally extending flanges on either side, each of said flanges including a plurality of fasteners for securing said retainer to said housing to trap said inflator therebetween, said partially circumferentially portion of said retaining means including a plurality of inflation openings for passing inflation gasses from said inflator into said air bag. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification