Externally mounted side airbag module with decorative outer cover
First Claim
1. An airbag module housing for use as part of a side airbag module for mounting in a vehicle seat, the airbag module housing comprising:
- an elongated, generally flat base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base to an open top of the module housing, the sidewall having a first side and an opposing second side; and
an elongated first rail portion running along an outer face of the first side of the sidewall and an elongated second rail portion running along an outer face of the second side of the sidewall, each of the first and the second rail portions being generally parallel with the open top and having a flange for catching a fabric hook of the vehicle seat.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A side airbag module adapted to mount within an external recess of a vehicle seat, the recess providing access to an internal structural member of the seat with a substantially continuous fabric hook connected to upholstery surrounding the recess. The side airbag module includes a dish-shaped module housing, an airbag cushion and an inflator secured within the module housing, a lid closing the module housing and covering the airbag cushion and inflator, a trim ring, and a mounting projection for securing the airbag module to the internal structural member of the seat. The module housing includes a sidewall and an elongated rail running along an outer face of the sidewall and having a flange for catching the fabric hook of the seat to pull the seat upholstery tightly around the recess when the airbag module is mounted therein. The sidewall defines a plurality of cover openings receiving stakes extending from the lid, with distal ends of the stakes being deformed, securing the stakes within the cover openings and securing the lid to the module housing. The sidewall also defines a plurality of trim openings receiving trim hooks extending from the trim ring securing the trim ring to the module housing. The trim ring covers any gap between the lid of the module cover and the seat recess when the airbag module is mounted within the recess and provides an aesthetically pleasing finish to the externally mounted airbag module.
53 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An airbag module housing for use as part of a side airbag module for mounting in a vehicle seat, the airbag module housing comprising:
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an elongated, generally flat base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base to an open top of the module housing, the sidewall having a first side and an opposing second side; and an elongated first rail portion running along an outer face of the first side of the sidewall and an elongated second rail portion running along an outer face of the second side of the sidewall, each of the first and the second rail portions being generally parallel with the open top and having a flange for catching a fabric hook of the vehicle seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A side airbag module adapted to mount within an external recess of a vehicle seat, the recess providing access to an internal structural member of the seat with a substantially continuous fabric hook connected to upholstery surrounding the recess, the side airbag module comprising:
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A) an airbag module housing including, an elongated generally flat base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base to an open top of the module housing, the sidewall having a first side and an opposing second side, and an elongated first rail portion running along an outer surface of the first side of the sidewall generally parallel with the open top, and an elongated second rail portion running along an outer surface of the second side of the sidewall generally parallel with the open top, the module housing fitable within the recess of the vehicle seat with the open top facing out of the recess and the first and the second rail portions each having a flange adapted to catch the fabric hook to pull the seat upholstery tightly around the recess; B) an inflator and a folded airbag cushion in communication so that inflation gas from the inflator will inflate the airbag cushion, the airbag cushion and the inflator secured within the module housing with the airbag cushion positioned between the inflator and the open top of the module housing; C) a module cover defining at least one tear seam and including a lid closing the open top of the module housing, and means securing the lid to the module housing; and D) means for securing the airbag module to the internal structural member of the seat. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A side airbag module adapted to mount within an external recess of an vehicle seat, the recess providing access to an internal structural member of the seat, the side airbag module comprising:
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A) an airbag module housing including, an elongated generally flat base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base to an open top of the module housing, the sidewall having a first side and an opposing second side, and a first row of spaced-apart cover openings defined in the first side of the sidewall generally parallel with the open top, and a second row of spaced-apart cover openings defined in the second side of the sidewall generally parallel with the open top, the module housing fitable within the recess of the vehicle seat with the open top facing out of the recess; B) an inflator and a folded airbag cushion in communication so that inflation gas from the inflator will inflate the airbag cushion, the airbag cushion and the inflator secured within the module housing with the airbag cushion positioned between the inflator and the open top of the module housing; C) a module cover defining at least one tear seam and including, a generally flat lid closing the open top of the module housing, a first attachment arm extending from the lid and terminating at a bottom edge butting against an inner surface of the first side of the sidewall of the module housing in alignment with the first row of cover openings, a plurality of spaced-apart stakes extending from the bottom edge of the first attachment arm, each of the stakes extending through one of the openings of the first row of cover openings and terminating at distal ends with means securing the distal ends of each stake against an outer surface of the first side of the sidewall so that the stakes cannot be withdrawn from the openings, and a second attachment arm extending from the lid and terminating at a bottom edge butting against an inner surface of the second side of the sidewall of the module housing in alignment with the second row of cover openings, a plurality of spaced-apart stakes extending from the bottom edge of the second attachment arm, each of the stakes extending through one of the openings of the second row of cover openings and terminating in distal ends with means securing said distal ends of each stake against an outer surface of the second side of the sidewall so that the stakes cannot be withdrawn from said openings; and D) means for securing the airbag module to the internal structural member of the vehicle seat. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
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A) a vehicle seat having an external recess, the recess providing access to an internal structural member of the seat with a substantially continuous fabric hook connected to upholstery surrounding the recess; and B) a side airbag module including, 1) an airbag module housing including, an elongated generally flat base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base to an open top of the module housing, the sidewall having a first side and an opposing second side, and an elongated first rail portion running along an outer surface of the first side of the sidewall generally parallel with the open top, and an elongated second rail portion running along an outer surface of the second side of the sidewall generally parallel with the open top, the module housing fitting within the recess of the vehicle seat with the open top facing out of the recess and the first and the second rail portions each having a flange catching the fabric hook and pulling the seat upholstery tightly around the recess; 2) an inflator and a folded airbag cushion in communication so that inflation gas from the inflator will inflate the airbag cushion, the airbag cushion and the inflator secured within the module housing with the airbag cushion positioned between the inflator and the open top of the module housing; 3) a module cover defining at least one tear seam and including a lid closing the open top of the module housing, and means securing the lid to the module housing; and 4) means securing the airbag module to the internal structural member of the vehicle seat.
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22. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
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A) a vehicle seat having an external recess, the recess providing access to an internal structural member of the seat; and B) a side airbag module including, 1) an airbag module housing including, an elongated generally flat base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base to an open top of the module housing, the sidewall having a first side and an opposing second side, and a first row of spaced-apart cover openings defined in the first side of the sidewall generally parallel with the open top, and a second row of spaced-apart cover openings defined in the second side of the sidewall generally parallel with the open top, the module housing fitting within the recess of the vehicle seat with the open top facing out of the recess; 2) an inflator and a folded airbag cushion in communication so that inflation gas from the inflator will inflate the airbag cushion, the airbag cushion and the inflator secured within the module housing with the airbag cushion positioned between the inflator and the open top of the module housing; 3) a module cover defining at least one tear seam and including, a generally flat lid closing the open top of the module housing, a first attachment arm extending from the lid and terminating at a bottom edge butting against an inner surface of the first side of the sidewall of the module housing in alignment with the first row of cover openings, a plurality of spaced-apart stakes extending from the bottom edge of the first attachment arm, each of the stakes extending through one of the openings of the first row of cover openings and terminating at distal ends with means securing the distal ends of each stake against an outer surface of the first side of the sidewall so that the stakes cannot be withdrawn from the openings, and a second attachment arm extending from the lid and terminating at a bottom edge butting against an inner surface of the second side of the sidewall of the module housing in alignment with the second row of cover openings, a plurality of spaced-apart stakes extending from the bottom edge of the second attachment arm, each of the stakes extending through one of the openings of the second row of cover openings and terminating in distal ends with means securing said distal ends of each stake against an outer surface of the second side of the sidewall so that the stakes cannot be withdrawn from said openings; and 4) means securing the airbag module to the internal structural member of the vehicle seat.
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Specification