Airbag inflator retention tabs
First Claim
1. A module housing for mounting an airbag inflator within an airbag module, the airbag inflator having a cylindrical sidewall and a inflator flange extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical sidewall, the module housing comprising:
- A) a module baseplate having a bottom surface and defining an inflator-receiving aperture sized to receive the cylindrical sidewall of the airbag inflator with the inflator flange of the airbag inflator butting against the bottom surface of the module baseplate; and
B) a plurality of resiliently bendable retention tabs extending from the bottom surface of the module baseplate around the inflator-receiving aperture for deflecting and then clamping the inflator flange against the bottom surface of the module baseplate when the airbag inflator is inserted into the inflator-receiving aperture and wherein each retention tab has an upper tab portion extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the module baseplate and radially inwardly towards the inflator-receiving aperture to a lower tab portion extending upwardly from the upper tab portion and also radially inwardly toward the inflator-receiving aperture to a distal end of the retention tab, the distal ends of each of the retention tabs spaced apart from the bottom surface of the module baseplate less than a thickness of the inflator flange.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A module housing for mounting an airbag inflator, having a cylindrical sidewall and a inflator flange extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical sidewall, within an airbag module. The module housing includes a module baseplate having a bottom surface and defining a generally circular inflator-receiving aperture sized to receive the cylindrical sidewall of the airbag inflator with the inflator flange of the airbag inflator butting against the bottom surface of the module baseplate. Two opposing, resiliently bendable retention tabs are positioned around the inflator-receiving opening for clamping the inflator flange against the bottom surface of the module baseplate to retain the airbag inflator within the module housing prior to and during assembly of the airbag module, and during disassembly of the airbag module.
31 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A module housing for mounting an airbag inflator within an airbag module, the airbag inflator having a cylindrical sidewall and a inflator flange extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical sidewall, the module housing comprising:
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A) a module baseplate having a bottom surface and defining an inflator-receiving aperture sized to receive the cylindrical sidewall of the airbag inflator with the inflator flange of the airbag inflator butting against the bottom surface of the module baseplate; and B) a plurality of resiliently bendable retention tabs extending from the bottom surface of the module baseplate around the inflator-receiving aperture for deflecting and then clamping the inflator flange against the bottom surface of the module baseplate when the airbag inflator is inserted into the inflator-receiving aperture and wherein each retention tab has an upper tab portion extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the module baseplate and radially inwardly towards the inflator-receiving aperture to a lower tab portion extending upwardly from the upper tab portion and also radially inwardly toward the inflator-receiving aperture to a distal end of the retention tab, the distal ends of each of the retention tabs spaced apart from the bottom surface of the module baseplate less than a thickness of the inflator flange. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An airbag module comprising:
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A) airbag inflator having a cylindrical sidewall and a inflator flange extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical sidewall; B) a module housing comprising; a module baseplate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the module baseplate defining an inflator-receiving aperture around the cylindrical sidewall of the airbag inflator with the inflator flange of the airbag inflator butting against the bottom surface of the module baseplate; and a plurality of resiliently bendable retention tabs extending from the bottom surface of the module baseplate around the inflator-receiving aperture wherein the plurality of resiliently bendable retention tabs comprise at least two retention tabs and wherein each of the at least two retention tabs includes an upper tab portion extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the module baseplate and radially inwardly toward the inflator-receiving aperture to a lower tab portion extending upwardly from the upper portion and radially inwardly toward the inflator-receiving aperture to a distal end of the retention tab, the distal ends of the at least two retention tabs spaced apart from the bottom surface of the module baseplate less than a thickness of the inflator flange, each of the distal ends of the at least two generally opposed retention tabs clamping the inflator flange against the bottom surface of the module baseplate and retaining the inflator within the inflator-receiving aperture; C) an inflatable, folded airbag cushion having a collar defining an open mouth receiving the cylindrical sidewall of the airbag inflator; D) means for securing the collar of the airbag cushion and the inflator flange to the baseplate; and E) an airbag module cover secured to the module housing covering the folded airbag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An airbag module comprising:
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A) an airbag inflator having a cylindrical sidewall and a inflator flange extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical sidewall; B) a module housing comprising; a module baseplate having a top surface and a bottom surface, the module baseplate defining an inflator-receiving aperture around the cylindrical sidewall of the airbag inflator with the inflator flange of the airbag inflator butting against the bottom surface of the module baseplate; and a plurality of resiliently bendable retention tabs extending from the bottom surface of the module baseplate around the inflator-receiving aperture clamping the inflator flange against the bottom surface of the module baseplate and wherein each retention tab has an upper tab portion extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the module baseplate and radially inwardly towards the inflator-receiving aperture to a lower tab portion extending upwardly from the upper tab portion and also radially inwardly toward the inflator-receiving aperture to a distal end of the retention tab, the distal ends of each of the retention tabs spaced apart from the bottom surface of the module baseplate less than a thickness of the inflator flange. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification