Side impact air bag module

• US 5,918,898 A
• Filed: 01/24/1997
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Pionk, Michael P., Wallner, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US08/787,248
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/740, 280/742, 280/736, 280/737, 280/741, 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/732, 280/728.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

An air bag module (10b) includes an elongate inflator (40b) having first and second axially spaced outer surface portions (72b, 82b). A tubular retainer assembly (100b, 170b) at least partially encloses the inflator (40b). To secure the inflator (40b) and the retainer assembly (100b, 170b) together, a first clamping portion (110b) of the retainer assembly engages the first outer surface portion (72b) of the inflator and blocks movement of the first outer surface portion of the inflator relative to the retainer assembly. A second clamping portion (120b, 170b) of the retainer assembly (100b, 170b) engages the second outer surface portion (70b) of the inflator (40b) and blocks movement of the second outer surface portion of the inflator relative to the retainer assembly.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle in the event of an impact to the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable occupant protection device having a deflated condition and being inflatable into a position adjacent to the vehicle occupant for helping to protect the vehicle occupant;

an inflator which is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable device, said inflator having a longitudinal axis, a first terminal end surface, a second terminal end surface, and a central portion between said first and second terminal end surfaces;

a one-piece diffuser receiving said inflator, said one-piece diffuser having a central wall portion and first and second opposite end portions;

means for supporting said diffuser and said inflator on the vehicle;

said central wall portion of said diffuser being spaced radially outward from said central portion of said inflator to define a diffuser chamber between said central wall portion of said diffuser and said central portion of said inflator;

said first end portion of said diffuser extending radially inward from said central wall portion of said diffuser and radially inward of said first terminal end surface of said inflator and blocking axial movement of said inflator in a first axial direction; and

said second end portion of said diffuser having a radial portion extending radially inward from said central wall portion of said diffuser in a direction toward said longitudinal axis and radially inward of said second terminal end surface of said inflator, said radial portion of said diffuser blocking radial movement of said second terminal end surface of said inflator and blocking axial movement of said inflator in a second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said radial portion of said diffuser comprises a cylindrical wall portion of said diffuser which has an arcuate portion extending radially inward from said central wall portion of said diffuser.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said arcuate portion of said radial portion of said diffuser does not extend axially in a direction toward said first end portion of said diffuser.

4. An air bag module comprising:

an elongate inflator having first and second axially spaced terminal end surfaces;

a one-piece tubular retainer assembly at least partially enclosing said inflator; and

means for securing said inflator and said retainer assembly together, consisting of (a) a first clamping portion of said tubular retainer assembly engaging said first terminal end surface of said inflator and blocking movement of said first terminal end surface of said inflator relative to said tubular retainer assembly, and (b) a second clamping portion of said tubular retainer assembly engaging said second terminal end surface of said inflator and blocking movement of said second terminal end surface of said inflator relative to said tubular retainer assembly.

5. An air bag module as set forth in claim 4 wherein said retainer assembly consists essentially of a tubular metal retainer having at least one opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said retainer assembly.

6. An air bag module as set forth in claim 4 wherein said inflator has a cylindrical outer surface which extends for substantially the entire length of said inflator, said first terminal end surface of said inflator comprising an engagement surface on said inflator disposed radially inward of said cylindrical outer surface said inflator, said first clamping portion of said tubular retainer assembly extending radially inward of said cylindrical outer surface and engaging said engagement surface on said inflator.

7. An air bag module as set forth in claim 6 wherein said inflator has an end portion and said engagement surface on said inflator is on an end portion of said inflator.

8. An air bag module as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second clamping portion of said tubular retainer assembly comprises a radial wall portion extending radially inward from a central wall portion of said tubular retainer assembly in a direction toward a longitudinal axis of said inflator.

9. An air bag module as set forth in claim 8 wherein said radial portion of said tubular retainer assembly comprises a cylindrical wall portion of said tubular retainer assembly which has an arcuate portion extending radially inward from said central wall portion of said tubular retainer assembly, and wherein said arcuate portion of said radial portion of said tubular retainer assembly does not extend axially in a direction toward said first clamping portion of said tubular retaining assembly.

10. An air bag module as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tubular retainer assembly comprises a tubular member having a generally cylindrical wall portion, said first and second clamping portions of said tubular retainer assembly being spaced apart along the length of said tubular member and extending radially inward from said generally cylindrical wall portion into engagement with said first and second terminal end surfaces of said inflator.

11. A vehicle safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle in the event of an impact to the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable occupant protection device having a deflated condition and being inflatable into a position adjacent to the vehicle occupant for helping to protect the vehicle occupant;

an inflator which is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable device, said inflator having a longitudinal axis, a first terminal end surface, a second terminal end surface, and a central portion between said first and second terminal end surfaces;

a one-piece diffuser receiving said inflator, said one-piece diffuser having a central wall portion and first and second opposite end portions;

means for supporting said diffuser and said inflator on the vehicle;

said central wall portion of said diffuser being spaced radially outward from said central portion of said inflator to define a diffuser chamber between said central wall portion of said diffuser and said central portion of said inflator;

said first end portion of said diffuser extending radially inward from said central wall portion of said diffuser and radially inward of said first terminal end surface of said inflator and blocking axial movement of said inflator in a first axial direction; and

said second end portion of said diffuser having a radial portion extending radially inward from said central wall portion of said diffuser in a direction toward said longitudinal axis and radially inward of said second terminal end surface of said inflator, said radial portion of said diffuser blocking radial movement of said second terminal end surface of said inflator and blocking axial movement of said inflator in a second axial direction opposite to said first axial direction;

wherein said radial portion of said diffuser is spaced apart from said second terminal end surface of said inflator, said apparatus further comprising a cushion disposed intermediate said radial portion of said diffuser and said second terminal end surface of said inflator, said radial portion of said diffuser clamping said cushion against said second terminal end surface of said inflator to block radial and axial movement of said second terminal end surface of said inflator.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cushion is made from a compressible material.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said inflator is clamped axially between said cushion and said first end portion of said diffuser, said inflator being free of other connections with said diffuser.

14. An air bag module comprising:

an elongate inflator having first and second axially spaced terminal end surfaces;

a tubular retainer assembly at least partially enclosing said inflator; and

means for securing said inflator and said retainer assembly together, consisting of (a) a first clamping portion of said tubular retainer assembly engaging said first terminal end surface of said inflator and blocking movement of said first terminal end surface of said inflator relative to said tubular retainer assembly, and (b) a second clamping portion of said tubular retainer assembly engaging said second terminal end

15. An air bag module comprising:

an elongate inflator having first and second axially spaced terminal end surfaces;

a one-piece tubular retainer assembly at least partially enclosing said inflator; and

means for securing said inflator and said retainer assembly together, consisting of (a) a first clamping portion of said tubular retainer assembly engaging said first terminal end surface of said inflator and blocking movement of said first terminal end surface of said inflator relative to said tubular retainer assembly, and (b) a second clamping portion of said tubular retainer assembly engaging said second terminal end surface of said inflator and blocking movement of said second terminal end surface of said inflator relative to said tubular retainer assembly;

wherein said second clamping portion of said tubular retainer assembly has a curl portion extending radially inward in a direction toward a longitudinal axis of said inflator and toward said first clamping portion of said tubular retainer assembly, said curl portion blocking movement of said second terminal end surface of said inflator relative to said tubular retainer assembly.

16. An air bag module as set forth in claim 15 wherein said curl portion comprises a cylindrical wall portion of said tubular retainer assembly which is curled radially inward and axially in a direction toward said first clamping portion of said tubular retainer assembly about a circular bending axis which is centered on said longitudinal axis.