No fasteners side air bag module
First Claim
1. An air bag safety system comprising:
- (a) a base plate;
(b) an air bag cushion;
(c) a cylindrical-shaped inflator assembly in communication with said air bag cushion, said inflator assembly being configured to rapidly fill said air bag cushion upon actuation; and
(d) an attachment assembly configured to attach said inflator assembly to said base plate, said attachment assembly being configured such that said inflator assembly is attached to said base plate without either applying force to said inflator assembly so as to deform said attachment assembly or applying beat to said inflator assembly,said attachment assembly having,a resilient tie strip attached to said base plate, andretaining means for locking said tie strip in place to hold said inflator assembly on said base plate, said retaining means having,a receiving body having a passageway formed therethrough,a male connector attached to said receiving body, said male connector comprising ridges extending outwardly from said receiving body into said passageway, and said male connector being at least partially disposed in said passageway of said receiving body, anda female connector comprising a plurality of grooves formed in said tie strip, said grooves being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tie strip, said female connector configured to cooperate with said male connector so as to lock said tie strip in place in said passageway of said receiving body, thereby attaching said inflator assembly to said base plate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag safety system comprising an air bag cushion and a cylindrical-shaped inflator assembly connected to the air bag cushion. The inflator assembly is figured to rapidly fill the air bag cushion upon being actuated. The inflator assembly is attached to a base plate by an attachment assembly configured to attach the inflator assembly to the base plate without either applying force to the inflator assembly so as to deform the attachment assembly or applying heat to the inflator assembly. The attachment assembly comprises a tie strip and a retention mechanism configured to lock the tie strip in place to hold the inflator assembly on the base plate. The air bag safety system also includes a plurality of resilient mounting hooks configured to cooperate with either a frame member within the vehicle occupant compartment or an attachment piece mounted to the frame member, such that air bag safety system can be snapped in place. The air bag safety system also includes a heat shield attached to the base plate to protect the interior surface of said air bag cushion from the gases used to rapidly inflate the air brag cushion. A method of assembling the air bag safety system is also provided.
56 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An air bag safety system comprising:
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(a) a base plate; (b) an air bag cushion; (c) a cylindrical-shaped inflator assembly in communication with said air bag cushion, said inflator assembly being configured to rapidly fill said air bag cushion upon actuation; and (d) an attachment assembly configured to attach said inflator assembly to said base plate, said attachment assembly being configured such that said inflator assembly is attached to said base plate without either applying force to said inflator assembly so as to deform said attachment assembly or applying beat to said inflator assembly, said attachment assembly having, a resilient tie strip attached to said base plate, and retaining means for locking said tie strip in place to hold said inflator assembly on said base plate, said retaining means having, a receiving body having a passageway formed therethrough, a male connector attached to said receiving body, said male connector comprising ridges extending outwardly from said receiving body into said passageway, and said male connector being at least partially disposed in said passageway of said receiving body, and a female connector comprising a plurality of grooves formed in said tie strip, said grooves being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tie strip, said female connector configured to cooperate with said male connector so as to lock said tie strip in place in said passageway of said receiving body, thereby attaching said inflator assembly to said base plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An air bag system comprising:
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(a) an elongated base plate; (b) an air bag cushion; (c) an elongated, cylindrical-shaped inflator assembly attached to said air bag cushion, said inflator assembly being configured to rapidly fill said air bag cushion with a pressurized gas; and (d) an attachment assembly configured to attach said inflator assembly to said base plate, said attachment assembly being configured such that said inflator assembly is attached to said base plate without either applying force to said inflator assembly so as to deform said attachment assembly or applying heat to said inflator assembly;
said attachment assembly comprises a resilient tie strip attached to said base plate and a retention mechanism attached to said base plate and configured to lock said tie strip in place to hold said inflator assembly on said base plate,said retention mechanism having, a receiving body having a passageway formed therethrough, a ridge attached to said receiving body, said ridge extending outwardly from said receiving body into said passageway, and a groove formed on said tie strip and configured to cooperate with said ridge, so as to lock said tie strip in said passageway of said receiving body, thereby attaching said inflator assembly to said base plate. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for assembling an air bag safety system comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a base plate; (b) providing a cylindrical-shaped inflator assembly to be attached to said base plate; and (c) mounting said inflator assembly, on said base plate using an attachment assembly configured so that said inflator assembly is attached to said base plate without either applying force to said inflating means so as to deform said attachment assembly or applying heat to said inflator assembly, wherein mounting said inflator assembly includes, inserting the remote end of a resilient tie strip into a passageway formed through a retention mechanism, pulling said tie strip through said retention mechanism until said tie strip is tight against said inflating assembly, and locking said tie strip in place. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An air bag safety system comprising:
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an air bag cushion; an inflator assembly in communication with the air bag cushion and configured to rapidly fill said air bag upon actuation; an elongated base plate; an attachment assembly disposed on the base plate and configured to secure the inflator assembly to the base plate, the attachment assembly having, two resilient tie strips attached to the base plate, and two retention mechanisms configured to engage and lock a corresponding tie strip. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An air bag safety system comprising:
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an air bag cushion; an inflator assembly in communication with the air bag cushion and configured to rapidly fill said air bag upon actuation; an elongated base plate; an attachment assembly disposed on the base plate and configured to secure the inflator assembly to the base plate, the attachment assembly having, a resilient tie strip attached to the base plate, a retention mechanism configured to engage and lock the tie strip, and a first positioning structure configured in a circular shape and disposed on an end of the base plate, the first positioning structure having a circular opening disposed therein to receive an end of the inflator assembly. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification