Airbag module

• US 6,840,534 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Volkmann, Matthias, Wackenroder, Thilo, Zirfas, Hans-Peter, Weyrauch, Dirk, Lincoln, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/212,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/736, 280/741, 280/732
• 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

Abstract

An airbag module has at least a housing and an inflator. The inflator is pushed into a securing device on the housing in a longitudinal direction of the inflator. A first longitudinal end of the inflator abuts against an abutment on the housing. A securing element is inserted into the housing behind a second longitudinal end of the inflator and abuts against the second longitudinal end.

Claims

1. An airbag module comprising a housing and an inflator, the housing including a housing base, two longitudinal sidewalls, a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end, and a securing device extending from the housing base internal of the housing for surrounding an outer periphery of the inflator in the vicinity of the second longitudinal end of the housing in which the inflator is pushed into the securing device in the housing in a longitudinal direction of the inflator, the inflator having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, with the first longitudinal end of the inflator abutting against an abutment on the housing at the first on longitudinal end of the housing, and a securing element being inserted into the housing between the opposing second longitudinal end of the inflator and the second longitudinal end of the housing abutting against the second longitudinal end of the inflator securing the inflator to the housing.

2. The airbag module according to claim 1 wherein the abutment is a cutout in a housing portion, in which the inflator engages, with the inflator having the region of its first longitudinal end at least one shoulder that abuts against the edge of the cutout and supports the inflator in the longitudinal direction thereof.

3. The airbag module according to claim 1 wherein the securing element is arranged on the housing by a non-detachable hinge, and may be brought into a position in the region of the second longitudinal end of the inflator.

4. The airbag module according to claim 1 wherein the securing element is an interference fitting component.

5. The airbag module according to claim 3 wherein the securing element is an interference fitting component.

6. The airbag module according to claim 1 wherein the securing element is a friction fitting component.

7. The airbag module according to claim 3 wherein the securing element is a friction fitting component.

8. The airbag module according to claim 4 wherein the securing element is a block that fills a free space between the second longitudinal end of the inflator and an opposing housing portion.

9. The airbag module according to claim 5 wherein the securing element is a block that fills a free space between the second longitudinal end of the inflator and an opposing housing portion.

10. The airbag module according to claim 1 wherein the securing element may be inserted into the housing through a cutout such that the securing element comes into contact with the second longitudinal end of the inflator.

11. The airbag module according claim 1 wherein the housing has a cover, and the securing element is a projection on the cover such that the projection juts into the interior of the housing and is in contact with the region of the second longitudinal end of the inflator.

12. The airbag module according to claim 1 wherein the securing device is an annular clip that surrounds the inflator at its outer periphery.

13. The airbag module according to claim 12 wherein the annular clip projects from an inner side of the housing.

14. A method of assembling an airbag module having at least a housing and an inflator, the housing including a housing base, two longitudinal sidewalls, a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end, and a securing a device extending from the housing base internal of the housing for surrounding an outer periphery of the inflator in the vicinity of the second longitudinal end of the housing comprising the steps of:

pushing the inflator into a securing device in the housing in a longitudinal direction of the inflator, encircling an outer periphery of the inflator;

bringing a first longitudinal end of the inflator into contact with an abutment on the housing at the first longitudinal end of the housing;

inserting a securing element into the housing between a second, longitudinal end of the inflator; and

the second longitudinal end of the housing;

thereby fixing the inflator in both the radial and longitudinal direction with a form fit.

15. The method of assembling an airbag module according to claim 14 wherein the inflator is first pushed into the securing device substantially in its longitudinal direction by its second longitudinal end, then is moved in the opposing direction to bring the first longitudinal end into contact with the abutment, and finally the securing element is inserted between the second longitudinal end of the inflator and the second longitudinal end of the housing.

16. The method of assembling an airbag module according to claim 14 wherein the securing element is connected to the housing in a starting position by a predetermined break point, with the predetermined break point being severed when the securing element is inserted, and the securing element being moved into a second position between the second longitudinal end of the inflator and the second longitudinal end of the housing.

17. The method of assembling an airbag module according to claim 14 wherein the securing element is connected non-detachably to the housing in a starting position, with the securing element being movable into a second position between the second longitudinal end of the inflator and the second longitudinal end of the housing.