Airbag cushion assembly having a horn switch secured with a cushion strap
First Claim
1. A horn switch unit for use as part of an airbag cushion assembly having an inflatable folded airbag cushion and a first elongated tether and a second elongated tether extending from the airbag cushion, the horn switch unit comprising:
- at least one horn switch for closing a horn switch circuit to activate a remote vehicle horn upon being compressed;
at least one rigid support plate secured to the at least one horn switch;
the horn switch unit defining a first elongated slot for receiving the first elongated tether of the airbag cushion assembly, a second elongated slot for receiving the second elongated tether of the airbag cushion assembly, and a weakened portion of the horn switch unit rupturable by a force produced by an inflating airbag cushion to break the horn switch unit between the first elongated slot and the second elongated slot;
whereby the horn switch unit can cooperate with the first elongated tether and the second elongated tether to retain the airbag cushion in a folded condition prior to inflation of the airbag cushion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag cushion assembly including a horn switch unit secured to an airbag cushion with a cushion strap, with the cushion strap and horn switch unit cooperating to retain the airbag cushion in a deflated, folded position prior to mounting the airbag cushion assembly within an airbag module and prior to inflation of the airbag cushion. The horn switch unit defines a first elongated slot, a second elongated slot and a weakened portion rupturable upon a force created by inflation of the airbag cushion to break the horn switch unit between a first and a second elongated slots defined by the horn switch unit. The horn switch unit is positioned on the folded airbag cushion opposite the collar, with a first elongated tether of the cushion strap extending through the first slot of the horn switch unit to a distal end secured to the collar of the airbag cushion, and a second elongated tether extending through the second slot of the horn switch unit to a distal end secured to the collar of the airbag cushion.
30 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A horn switch unit for use as part of an airbag cushion assembly having an inflatable folded airbag cushion and a first elongated tether and a second elongated tether extending from the airbag cushion, the horn switch unit comprising:
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at least one horn switch for closing a horn switch circuit to activate a remote vehicle horn upon being compressed; at least one rigid support plate secured to the at least one horn switch; the horn switch unit defining a first elongated slot for receiving the first elongated tether of the airbag cushion assembly, a second elongated slot for receiving the second elongated tether of the airbag cushion assembly, and a weakened portion of the horn switch unit rupturable by a force produced by an inflating airbag cushion to break the horn switch unit between the first elongated slot and the second elongated slot; whereby the horn switch unit can cooperate with the first elongated tether and the second elongated tether to retain the airbag cushion in a folded condition prior to inflation of the airbag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A cushion strap for use as part of an airbag cushion assembly also including a folded inflatable airbag cushion having a collar defining an open mouth for receiving inflation fluid, a retainer ring positioned within the airbag cushion over the collar and having a plurality of spaced-apart studs extending through a plurality of stud holes in the collar, and a horn switch unit positioned on the folded airbag cushion generally opposite the collar, the horn switch unit defining a first elongated slot, a second elongated slot and a weakened portion rupturable upon inflation of the airbag cushion for breaking the horn switch unit between the first and the second elongated slots, the cushion strap comprising:
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a collar defining a plurality of stud holes for receiving the plurality of spaced-apart studs extending from the retainer ring to secure the collar of the cushion strap to the collar of the airbag cushion; a first elongated tether sized to extend from a first end secured to the collar of the cushion strap, and through the first slot of the horn switch unit to a distal end defining at least two stud holes for receiving at least two of the plurality of spaced-apart studs extending from the retainer ring to secure the distal end to the collar of the cushion strap; and a second elongated tether sized to extend from a first end secured to the collar of the cushion strap generally opposite the first end of the first elongated tether, and through the second slot of the horn switch unit to a distal end defining at least two stud holes for receiving at least two of the plurality of spaced-apart studs extending from the retainer ring to secure said distal end to the collar of the cushion strap; whereby the first elongated tether, the second elongated tether and the horn switch unit will cooperate to retain the airbag cushion in a folded condition prior to inflation of the airbag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A airbag cushion assembly for use with a horn switch unit defining a first elongated slot, a second elongated slot and a weakened portion rupturable upon inflation of an airbag cushion for breaking the horn switch unit between the first and the second elongated slots, the airbag cushion assembly including:
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a folded, inflatable airbag cushion having a collar defining an open mouth of the airbag cushion for receiving inflation fluid; a retainer ring positioned within the airbag cushion over the collar and having a plurality of spaced-apart studs extending through a plurality of stud holes in the collar; a first elongated tether sized to extend from a first end secured to the collar of the airbag cushion, and through the first slot of the horn switch unit when the horn switch unit is positioned on the folded airbag cushion generally opposite the collar, to a distal end defining at least two stud holes for receiving at least two of the plurality of spaced-apart studs extending from the retainer ring to secure the distal end to the collar; and a second elongated tether sized to extend from a first end secured to the collar of the airbag cushion generally opposite the first end of the first elongated tether, and through the second slot of the horn switch unit to a distal end defining at least two stud holes for receiving at least two of the plurality of spaced-apart studs extending from the retainer ring to secure said distal end to the collar; whereby the first elongated tether, the second elongated tether and the horn switch unit will cooperate to retain the airbag cushion in a folded condition prior to inflation of the airbag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. An airbag cushion assembly comprising:
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A) a folded, inflatable airbag cushion having a collar defining an open mouth of the airbag cushion for receiving inflation fluid; B) a cushion strap including a first elongated tether extending from a first end secured to the collar of the airbag cushion to a distal end, and a second elongated tether extending from a first end secured to the collar of the airbag cushion to a distal end; and C) a horn switch unit positioned on top of the folded airbag cushion generally opposite the collar and including, 1) at least one horn switch for closing a horn switch circuit to activate a remote vehicle horn upon being compressed, and 2) at least one rigid support plate secured to the at least one horn switch, with the horn switch unit defining a first elongated slot with the first elongated tether of the cushion strap extending through the first elongated slot of the horn switch unit and the distal end of the first elongated tether secured to the collar of the airbag cushion, the horn switch unit defining a second elongated slot with the second elongated tether of the cushion strap extending through the second elongated slot of the horn switch unit and the distal end of the second elongated tether secured to the collar of the airbag cushion, the horn switch unit also defining a weakened portion rupturable upon a force created by inflation of the airbag cushion to break the horn switch unit between the first and the second elongated slots; whereby the first elongated tether, the second elongated tether and the horn switch unit cooperate to retain the airbag cushion in a folded condition prior to inflation of the airbag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An airbag module comprising:
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A) a module baseplate; B) an airbag cushion assembly secured to the module baseplate, the airbag module assembly including, 1) a folded, inflatable airbag cushion having a collar defining an open mouth of the airbag cushion for receiving inflation fluid, 2) a cushion strap including a first elongated tether extending from a first end secured to the collar of the airbag cushion to a distal end, and a second elongated tether extending from a first end secured to the collar of the airbag cushion to a distal end, and 3) a horn switch unit positioned on top of the folded airbag cushion generally opposite the collar and including, a) at least one horn switch for closing a horn switch circuit to activate a remote vehicle horn upon being compressed, and b) at least one rigid support plate secured to the at least one horn switch, with the horn switch unit defining a first elongated slot with the first elongated tether of the cushion strap extending through the first elongated slot of the horn switch unit and the distal end of the first elongated tether secured to the collar of the airbag cushion, the horn switch unit also defining a second elongated slot with the second elongated tether of the cushion strap extending through the second elongated slot of the horn switch unit and the distal end of the second elongated tether secured to the collar of the airbag cushion, the horn switch unit additionally defining a weakened portion rupturable upon a force created by inflation of the airbag cushion to break the horn switch unit between the first and the second elongated slots, whereby the first elongated tether, the second elongated tether and the horn switch unit cooperate to retain the airbag cushion in a folded condition prior to inflation of the airbag cushion; C) a module cover positioned over the airbag cushion assembly and secured to the module baseplate, the module cover defining at least one tear seam positioned over the weakened portion of the horn switch unit; and D) an airbag inflator secured to the module baseplate with a portion of the airbag inflator defining a plurality of gas exhaust ports positioned within the mouth of the airbag cushion.
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Specification