Airbag cushion and airbag inflator retention device

• US 5,687,988 A
• Filed: 07/17/1996
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Morton International Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jordan, Michael P., Olson, Brent K., Storey, J. Kirk
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US08/682,281
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/732, 280/730.1, 280/736, 280/740, 280/741, 280/742, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover

Abstract

An inflator and cushion retaining device for mounting an airbag inflator and an airbag cushion within a motor vehicle. The inflator and cushion retaining device includes an elongated trough for receiving and supporting a sidewall of the airbag inflator. The trough extends from an endwall to an open end, and the endwall defines an opening for receiving a mounting stud extending from an end of the airbag inflator. At least one tooth extends into the opening from the endwall for catching the mounting stud and securing the mounting stud within the opening. A pair of arms extends from the trough adjacent the open end for wrapping around the inflator and securing the inflator within the trough. At least one rib protrudes inwardly from the trough adjacent the open end for spacing the sidewall of the inflator away from the trough. The inflation and cushion retaining device and the inflator are contained within an airbag cushion. Studs extend transversely to and outwardly from the outside of the trough and through openings in the airbag cushion for mounting the airbag cushion together with the inflator and cushion retention device and the airbag inflator, as part of an airbag module within a motor vehicle.

Claims

1. An inflator and cushion retention device for mounting an airbag inflator having an elongated sidewall extending from a first end to a second end with a mounting stud extending from the first end, the inflator and cushion retention device comprising:

an elongated open trough for receiving and supporting the sidewall of the airbag inflator, the open trough having two opposing sides, a bottom, an endwall and an open end opposite the endwall;

an opening defined by the endwall for receiving the mounting stud extending from the first end of the airbag inflator to prevent the first end of the inflator from lifting out of the trough;

a first arm extending from one side of the trough adjacent the open end opposite the endwall and a second arm extending from the other side of the trough generally opposite the first arm adjacent the open end opposite the endwall, the arms sized to bend over the inflator and overlap;

means for locking the first and second arms together to prevent the second end of the inflator from lifting out of the trough;

means for preventing the airbag inflator from sliding out of the open end of the trough; and

at least one mount extending from the trough for mounting the inflator and cushion retention device and the airbag inflator within a motor vehicle as part of an airbag module also including an airbag cushion.

2. The inflator and cushion retention device of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing the airbag inflator from sliding out of the open end of the trough comprises at least one tooth extending from the endwall of the trough into the opening defined by the endwall for engaging the mounting stud of the airbag inflator and securing the mounting stud within the opening.

3. The inflator and cushion retention device of claim 2 wherein the means for locking the first arm and the second arm together comprises:

a tab forming a part of and extending from one of the first arm and the second arm; and

an opening defined by the other of the first arm and the second arm for receiving the tab, whereby the tab is bendable to lock the first arm and the second arm together.

4. The inflator and cushion retention device of claim 2 wherein

the opening defined by the endwall for receiving the mounting stud of the inflator is positioned to hold the sidewall of the inflator spaced-apart from the trough, and

the inflator and cushion retention device further includes at least one spacer extending inwardly from the trough generally adjacent the open end for spacing the sidewall of the inflator apart from the trough.

5. The inflator and cushion retention device of claim 2 wherein the at least one mount comprises a stud extending generally transversely to and outwardly from the trough.

6. An airbag inflator assembly comprising:

A) an airbag inflator having an elongated sidewall extending from a first end to a second end and a mounting stud extending outwardly from the first end; and

B) an inflator and cushion retention device including

1) an elongated open trough receiving and supporting the sidewall of the airbag inflator, the trough having two opposing sides and a bottom extending from an endwall to an open end,

2) an opening defined by the trough endwall receiving the mounting stud extending outwardly from the first end of the airbag inflator for preventing the first end of the inflator from lifting out of the trough,

3) a first arm extending from one side of the trough adjacent the open end opposite the endwall and a second arm extending from the other side of the trough generally opposite the first arm adjacent the open end opposite the endwall, the arms bent over the sidewall of the inflator and overlapping,

4) means locking the first and second arms together preventing the second end of the inflator from lifting out of the trough,

5) means preventing the airbag inflator from sliding out of the open end of the trough, and

6) at least one mount extending from the trough for mounting the inflator and cushion retention device and the airbag inflator within a motor vehicle as part of an airbag module also including an airbag cushion.

7. The airbag inflator assembly of claim 6 wherein the means locking the first arm and the second arm together comprises:

a tab forming a part of and extending from one of the first arm and the second arm; and

an opening defined by the other of the first arm and the second arm for receiving the tab, with the tab bent back to lock the first arm and the second arm together.

8. The airbag inflator assembly of claim 6 wherein the opening defined by the endwall for receiving the mounting stud of the inflator is positioned so that the sidewall of the inflator adjacent the first end is spaced-apart from the sides and bottom of the trough, and the inflator and cushion retention device further includes at least one spacer extending inwardly from the trough generally adjacent the open end and spacing the sidewall of the inflator adjacent the second end apart from the trough.

9. The airbag inflator assembly of claim 6 wherein the at least one mount comprises at least one stud extending generally transversely to and outwardly from the trough.

10. The airbag inflator assembly of claim 6 wherein the means preventing the airbag inflator from sliding out of the open end of the trough comprises at least one tooth extending from one of the endwall of the trough or the mounting stud of the inflator and engaging the other of the endwall or the mounting stud for securing the mounting stud within the opening.

11. The airbag inflator assembly of claim 10 wherein the at least one tooth extends from the endwall of the trough.

12. The airbag inflator assembly of claim 10 wherein the at least one tooth extends from the mounting stud of the inflator.

13. The airbag inflator assembly of claim 6 wherein the means preventing the airbag inflator from sliding out of the open end of the trough comprises a stop extending from the sidewall of the inflator and butting against the bent over first and second arms.

14. The airbag inflator assembly of claim 13 wherein the stop comprises a shoulder defined by the sidewall of the inflator.

15. An airbag module comprising:

A) an airbag inflator assembly including

1) an airbag inflator having an elongated sidewall forming gas exhaust ports and extending from a first end to a second end with a mounting stud extending from the first end, and

2) an inflator and cushion retention device including an elongated open trough having two opposed sides, a bottom, an endwall and an open end opposite the endwall, an opening defined by the endwall receiving the mounting stud extending from the first end of the inflator for preventing the first end of the inflator from lifting out of the trough, said retention device mounting and supporting the airbag inflator therein with the elongated sidewall of the inflator spaced apart from the sides and bottom of the trough, a first arm extending from one side of the trough adjacent the open end opposite the endwall and a second arm extending from the other side of the trough generally opposite the first arm adjacent the open end opposite the endwall, the arms bent over the inflator and overlapping;

means locking the first and second arms together to prevent the second end of the inflator from lifting out of the trough;

means for preventing the airbag inflator from sliding out of the open end of the trough; and

at least two spaced-apart studs extending from the bottom of the trough, and

B) an inflatable airbag cushion containing the airbag inflator assembly and defining an aperture for each of the spaced-apart studs allowing the studs to extend from the trough through the airbag cushion for mounting the airbag inflator assembly and airbag cushion to a vehicle.

16. The airbag module of claim 15 wherein the means locking the first arm and the second arm together comprises:

a tab forming a part of and extending from one of the first arm and the second arm; and

an opening defined by the other of the first arm and the second arm receiving the tab, with the tab bent back locking the first arm and the second arm together.

17. The airbag module of claim 15 wherein the inflator and cushion retention device further includes at least one spacer extending inwardly from the trough generally adjacent the open end spacing the sidewall of the inflator adjacent the second end apart from the trough.

18. The airbag module of claim 15 wherein the means for preventing the airbag inflator from sliding out of the open end of the trough comprises at least one tooth extending from one of the endwall of the trough or the mounting stud of the inflator catching the other of the endwall or the mounting stud and securing the mounting stud within the opening for preventing the airbag inflator from sliding out of the open end of the trough.

19. The airbag module of claim 18 wherein the at least one tooth extends from the endwall of the trough.

20. The airbag module of claim 18 wherein the at least one tooth extends from the mounting stud of the inflator.

21. The airbag module of claim 15 wherein the means for preventing the airbag inflator from sliding out of the open end of the trough comprises a stop extending outwardly from the sidewall of the inflator and butting against the bent over first and second arms.

22. The airbag module of claim 21 wherein the stop comprises a shoulder defined by the sidewall of the inflator.