Airbag module

• US 6,168,185 B1
• Filed: 01/06/1999
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ross, Hubert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): McKinley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US09/226,403
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/728.1, 280/740, 280/742, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover

Abstract

The invention relates to an airbag module for vehicles, particularly for installation in a seat of a vehicle. The airbag module has a support with components for fastening the total airbag system to the vehicle and for accommodating the gas generator as well.

Claims

1. An airbag module comprising:

(a) an airbag;

(b) a tubular gas generator;

(c) a support accommodating the gas generator as well as the airbag;

(d) a cover enclosing the gas generator and the airbag;

(e) a holding flange securing one end of the gas generator to the support;

said holding flange comprising a device for passing through a mounting bolt disposed at the gas generator, wherein the holding flange extends in a longitudinal direction from the end of the gas generator to a location along the gas generator so as to include gas outlet openings, said holding flange partly encloses the circumference of the gas generator serving to direct the flow of gas from the gas generator to the airbag;

(f) a clamping flange securing the other end of the gas generator to the support; and

(g) a plurality of projecting pins arranged in the longitudinal axis direction of the support facing away from the gas generator, wherein the pins extend through the airbag.

2. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein the element for fastening the complete airbag module to the vehicle comprises ends protruding or overhanging form support, wherein the ends serve as mounting flanges and have passageways for passing therethrough a fastener.

3. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein the clamping flange has elastic fingers that contact the circumference of the gas generator.

4. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein in the region of the support, in which the gas generator and the support are opposite each other, one or several elastic members are arranged for producing a retention force which has an effect on the gas generator perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof.

5. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein the support further comprises an elastic overhang in the area of the clamping flange into which the one edge of the gas generator can be clipped for producing a holding force in axial direction of the gas generator.

6. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein the support merely partly encloses the circumference of gas generator and is spaced from the gas generator except for the area of flanges or the fingers, respectively.

7. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein the projecting pins extends through the cover.

8. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein the airbag is overlapped in the area of the projecting pins.

9. The airbag module of claim 2 wherein the clamping flange has elastic fingers that contact the circumference of the gas generator.

10. The airbag module of claim 2 wherein the outlet openings of the gas generator are arranged with the holding flange in a contact-free manner.