Air bag module with energy absorbing mounting bracket

• US 5,700,028 A
• Filed: 05/16/1996
• Issued: 12/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Pray, David Allan, Sparkman, John Paul, Logan, Jeffrey Allen, Hattery, John Clifford Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US08/649,040
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/732, 280/728.3, 280/728.1, 280/736, 280/740, 280/741
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover

Abstract

An air bag module includes an inflator for generating inflator gas, an air bag deployable upon generation of inflator gas and secured to the inflator, and a mounting bracket attached to the inflator. The mounting bracket is adapted to secure the inflator to the vehicle. The inflator preferably includes opposing ends and the mounting bracket has a central portion secured to the vehicle. The mounting bracket advantageously includes first and second cantilevered portions, each of the cantilevered portions extending outwardly from the central portion and engaging an end of the inflator. The cantilevered portions each having a predetermined strength such that the cantilevered portions each deform in the direction of the deploying air bag such that the mounting bracket absorbs energy during air bag inflation by predetermined deformation of the cantilevered portions.

Claims

1. An air bag module in a vehicle comprising:

an inflator for generating inflator gas;

an air bag deployable upon generation of inflator gas, the air bag secured to the inflator;

a mounting bracket attached to the inflator, the mounting bracket adapted to secure the inflator to the vehicle; and

the inflator including opposing ends and the mounting bracket having a central portion secured to the vehicle, the mounting bracket having first and second cantilevered portions, each of the cantilevered portions extending outwardly from the central portion and engaging an end of the inflator, the cantilevered portions each having a predetermined strength such that the cantilevered portions each deform in the direction of the deploying air bag such that the mounting bracket absorbs energy during air bag inflation by predetermined deformation of the cantilevered portions.

2. The module of claim 1 wherein the predetermined strengths of the first and second cantilevered portions are such that the predetermined deformations of the first and second cantilevered portions are generally equal.

3. The module of claim 1 wherein the inflator has an elongated axis and wherein the elongated axis of the inflator is generally parallel to the central portion of the mounting bracket prior to air bag inflation and wherein each of the cantilevered portions has a predetermined strength such that the cantilevered portions deform generally equally during air bag inflation such that the elongated axis of the inflator remains generally parallel to the central portion of the mounting bracket upon deformation of the cantilevered portions.

4. The module of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second cantilevered portions include laterally bent ends having first and second end openings, respectively, each engaging an end of the inflator and wherein the first and second end openings are coaxially aligned prior to air bag inflation and wherein the first and second cantilevered portions each have a predetermined strength and deform a predetermined amount in the direction of air bag inflation such that the first and second end openings remain coaxially aligned after deformation of the first and second cantilevered portions during air bag inflation.

5. The module of claim 4 wherein one of the cantilevered portions includes an angled portion adjacent the laterally bent end to assist in positioning the inflator.

6. The module of claim 4 wherein the air bag is slip-fittedly mounted on the inflator and wherein the air bag is trapped on the inflator between the bent ends of the mounting bracket.

7. The module of claim 1 wherein the central portion of the mounting bracket includes outwardly protruding fasteners for securing the inflator to the vehicle.

8. An air bag module in a vehicle comprising:

an inflator for generating inflator gas;

an air bag deployable upon generation of inflator gas, the air bag secured to the inflator;

a mounting bracket attached to the inflator, the mounting bracket adapted to secure the inflator to the vehicle;

a container for housing the air bag and inflator therein, the container having walls defining a substantially enclosed container volume; and

the inflator including an elongated inflator axis and the container including a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending perpendicular to the elongated axis and wherein the ribs define an internal volume of the container being less then the container volume for positioning the inflator and air bag within the container and for restraining movement of the inflator relative to the container.

9. The module of claim 8 wherein the container including the ribs is integrally molded as one piece.

10. The module of claim 8 wherein the container includes a reaction surface extending perpendicular to and engaging the ribs, the reaction surface for engaging the air bag and preventing the air bag from interacting with the ribs during air bag inflation.

11. The module of claim 10 wherein the container including the ribs and the reaction surface are integrally molded as one piece.

12. An air bag module in a vehicle comprising:

an inflator for generating inflator gas;

an air bag deployable upon generation of inflator gas, the air bag secured to the inflator;

a mounting bracket attached to the inflator, the mounting bracket adapted to secure the inflator to the vehicle;

a container for housing the air bag and inflator therein, the container having walls defining a substantially enclosed container volume, the container including a plurality of locating features for positioning the mounting bracket and inflator within the container during assembly; and

the locating features including a plurality of tabs integrally molded with the container.

13. The module of claim 12 wherein the plurality of tabs include at least one pair of spaced apart, opposing tabs.

14. The module of claim 13 wherein the at least one pair of spaced apart, opposing tabs are spaced for an interference fit with the mounting bracket.