Air bag module with deployment flap

• US 5,823,566 A
• Filed: 10/16/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Manire, Gregory B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/730,978
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.3, 280/732, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

An air bag module (10) comprising a housing (12) having sides (14) and an open mouth (18); an air bag (22) mounted within the housing prior to deployment of thereof in a compact configuration; a retainer flap (100) comprising a single piece of material, having a tearable region (110) thereon, enveloping the air bag to retain the air bag in its compact configuration prior to deployment and being of sufficient length such that upon deployment of the air bag, the flap (100) is extendible to lie between the mouth of the housing and the deployed air bag to protect the air bag. The flap having a main body (102) and the at least one leg (104) extending therefrom having mounting openings (108) for attaching the flap to corresponding mounting fasteners (54), wherein the length of the main body is sufficient to extend beyond the mouth of the housing after the tear regions have been severed upon the deployment of the air bag to provide a protective layer between the housing (and/or instrument panel) and the deployed air bag.

Claims

1. An air bag module (10) comprising a housing (12) having an open mouth (18a,b);

an air bag (22) mounted within the housing prior to deployment in a compact configuration;

a retainer flap (100) having a tearable region thereon, the flap looped about the air bag to retain the air bag in its compact configuration prior to deployment and upon being torn a portion thereof is of sufficient length such that upon deployment of the air bag, the flap is positioned to lie between the mouth of the housing and the deployed air bag to protect the air bag.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the flap includes a main body (102) and at least one leg (104a,b) extending from the main body, wherein the tearable region comprises a stress riser on the at least one leg.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein the flap includes two legs.

4. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein the main body (102) and the at least one leg (104a,b) include mounting openings (82a-c;

108a,b) for attaching the flap to corresponding mounting fasteners (54).

5. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein the length of the main body is sufficient to extend beyond the mouth of the housing after the tear regions have been severed upon the deployment of the air bag to provide a protective layer between the housing and an adjacent portion of an instrument panel and the deployed air bag.

6. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein the main body of the flap is coated.

7. An air bag module (10) comprising a housing (12) having an open mouth (18a,b);

an air bag (22) mounted within the housing prior to deployment in a compact configuration;

a retainer flap (100) including a first end, a main body and an opposite second end positioned proximate the first end, and having a tearable region thereon between the second end and the main body (102), the main body enveloping the air bag to retain the air bag in its compact configuration prior to deployment and also being of sufficient length such that upon deployment of the air bag, the flap is positioned to lie between the mouth of the housing and the deployed air bag to protect the air bag.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 wherein the flap includes and at least one leg (104a,b) extending from the main body, wherein the tearable region comprises a stress riser on the at least one leg.

9. The device as defined in claim 8 wherein the flap includes two legs.

10. The device as defined in claim 8 wherein the main body (102) and the at least one leg (104a,b) include mounting openings (82a-c;

108a,b) for attaching the flap to corresponding mounting fasteners (54).

11. The device as defined in claim 8 wherein the length of the main body is sufficient to extend beyond the mouth of the housing after the tear regions have been severed upon the deployment of the air bag to provide a protective layer between the housing and an adjacent portion of an instrument panel and the deployed air bag.

12. The device as defined in claim 10 wherein the main body of the flap is coated.

13. An air bag module (10) comprising a housing (12) having an open mouth (18a,b);

an air bag (22) mounted within the housing prior to deployment in a compact configuration;

a retainer flap (100) including a first end, a main body and an opposite second end positioned proximate the first end, and having a tearable region thereon relatively located adjacent a portion of the compact air bag opposite the mouth of the housing, the main body enveloping the air bag to retain the air bag in its compact configuration prior to deployment and also being of sufficient length such that upon deployment of the air bag, the main body of the flap is positioned to lie between the mouth of the housing and the deployed air bag to protect the air bag.