Fastenerless driver air bag cover and easy to assemble air bag module assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An air bag module (10) comprising:
- a housing (24) having first and second cover fastening features (46a,
32) and at least one mounting feature (42a) which matingly engages at least one cooperating feature (66a) on a steering wheel frame (64) for slidingly mounting the housing to the steering wheel frame (64);
the cover (12) having an inwardly extending outer perimeter forming a side wall (14,
16) to form a cavity (26) in cooperation with the housing for placement of an air bag and inflator therein, the cover (12) having first and second housing engagement members (60, 56a, 57a, 59a) configured to operatively engage the first and second cover fastening features (46a,
32) of the housing (24) to secure the cover and housing to each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an air bag module (10) having a housing (24) with at least one connector (46a) and a cover (12) having a side wall (14) which surrounds the housing (24) to form a cavity between the panels for placement of an air bag and inflator therein. The cover (12) has at least one engagement member (56a) configured to operatively engage the connector (46a) of the housing (24) to secure the cover and housing to each other.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An air bag module (10) comprising:
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a housing (24) having first and second cover fastening features (46a,
32) and at least one mounting feature (42a) which matingly engages at least one cooperating feature (66a) on a steering wheel frame (64) for slidingly mounting the housing to the steering wheel frame (64);the cover (12) having an inwardly extending outer perimeter forming a side wall (14,
16) to form a cavity (26) in cooperation with the housing for placement of an air bag and inflator therein, the cover (12) having first and second housing engagement members (60, 56a, 57a, 59a) configured to operatively engage the first and second cover fastening features (46a,
32) of the housing (24) to secure the cover and housing to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An air bag module assembly (10) comprising:
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a housing (24) having at least one cover fastening feature (46a); a cover (12) having an inwardly extending outer perimeter forming a side wall (14) and at least one housing engagement member (56a) configured to engage with the at least covering fastening feature (46a); an air bag and inflator within the cavity and secured to the housing (24), the air bag inflatable in response to inflation gas provided by an inflator, the at least one housing engagement member (56a) being joined to the at least one cover fastening feature (46a) to secure the housing (24) to the cover (12), the housing (24) including first mounting means including at least one louver (42a) for matingly engaging at least one extension (66a) on a steering wheel (64) for securing said air bag module assembly to said steering wheel frame (64). - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An improved air bag module (10) of the type having a housing (24) configured to engage a cover (12) to form a cavity therebetween for placement of an air bag and inflator therein, the improvement comprising:
at least one connector (46a) on said housing (24) configured to engage at least one engagement member (56a) on said cover (12), said at least one connector (46a) and said at least one engagement member (56a) being integrally formed one of the cover and the housing. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of assembling an air bag module assembly (10), the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a housing (24) having at least one fastening feature (46a) for engaging a cover (12) having an inwardly extending side wall (14) along a perimeter thereof and means for engaging the at least one fastening feature; securing an air bag module to the housing; bringing the housing (24) in proximity to the cover (12) such that the side wall (14) surrounds the housing (24) to form a cavity between the cover and the housing of said air bag and inflator therein; and facilitating the at least one fastening feature (46a) to engage the means for engaging the at least one connector.
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Specification