Airbag cushion attachment

• US 6,189,915 B1
• Filed: 01/13/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Soderquist, Quin, Bosgieter, Lance M.
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/229,372
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/728.2, 280/741, 280/736, 280/740, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23538 Sewing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together

Abstract

Arrangements and methods for attaching an airbag cushion are provided wherein an attachment opening of the airbag cushion is clamped between an inflator and an airbag retainer which previously had been floatingly confined within the body of the airbag cushion.

Claims

1. A method of joining an inflatable airbag cushion in an airbag module which includes:

an inflatable airbag cushion comprising at least a front and a back panel with the airbag cushion having an inflatable body defining an attachment opening, an inflator disposed externally relative to the inflatable body and a module element extending from the inflator through the cushion attachment opening, the module element having opposed first and second ends with the first end disposed adjacent the inflator and directly joined thereto, said method comprising the steps of;

fixing an airbag retainer relative to the module element to clamp the cushion opening between the inflator and the airbag retainer, wherein the module element provides a conduit for passage of inflation fluid with the module element second end extending into the cushion inflatable body and wherein, prior to said fixing step, the airbag retainer is floatingly confined within the inflatable body and

joining the front and back panels together about their respective peripheries,

wherein prior to completely joining together the front and back panels, the airbag retainer is placed within the airbag cushion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the airbag retainer is substantially planar with the cushion inflatable body in the vicinity of the cushion opening and wherein the module element is an inflator diffuser extending from an inflator disposed outside of the inflatable body, the diffuser having a distal, gas diffusing end comprising the second end projecting within the inflatable body, additionally comprising the step of:

securing the airbag retainer with the diffusing end.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the inflator includes at least one longitudinally-extending projection forming the module element extending through the cushion opening.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the cushion includes a sew line of reinforcing stitches around the cushion opening and securing at least one reinforcement layer of material to the cushion, additionally comprising the step of:

extending the module element through both the cushion opening and the at least one reinforcement layer of material.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the cushion includes an internal tether, the tether having an opening generally corresponding to the cushion opening, additionally comprising the step of:

extending the module element through both the cushion opening and the tether opening.