Snap-in roof rail air bag assembly and method of installation

• US 7,159,894 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2002
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Schultz, Jeffrey J, Ronne, Jeffrey W
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREEDMAN, LAURA
• Application Number:
  US10/087,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20030164607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/749, 411/182, 411508-510, 411/913, 242/97, 244/53
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• 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

Abstract

A roof rail air bag assembly includes an air bag module having an air bag inflator and an air bag with a plurality of cushion retention tabs. Also included in the assembly are an inflator bracket and a plurality of snap-in clips. The bracket is attached to the air bag inflator; the snap-in clips are attached to the cushion retention tabs and to the bracket with threaded fasteners. The air bag assembly is positioned within the vehicle by an operator standing outside the vehicle, and each of the snap-in clips are inserted into openings in the vehicle roof rail. Removing the air bag module for service is accomplished by removing each of the threaded fasteners while the snap-in clips remain permanently attached to the vehicle roof rail.

Claims

1. A snap-in roof rail air bag assembly for a vehicle having a roof rail, comprising:

an air bag module including an air bag inflator and an air bag with at least one cushion retention tab;

a snap-in clip permanently attachable to the roof rail and selectively attachable to the at least one cushion retention tab, said snap-in clip including a fastening portion;

a removable serviceability attachment feature for attaching the air bag module at the at least one cushion retention tab to the snap-in clip by fastening said serviceability attachment feature to said fastening portion of said snap-in clip, and for selectively detaching the air bag module from the snap-in clip for removal of the air bag module for service by removing said serviceability attachment feature from said fastening portion of said snap-in clip; and

an inflator bracket having an inflator support portion supporting the air bag inflator and an attachment portion having a mounting tab for receiving the serviceability attachment feature, and for capturing the at least one cushion retention tab between the inflator bracket and the snap-in clip.

2. The roof rail air bag assembly of claim 1, further comprising an air bag cover protectingly covering the air bag, and having a tear seam along one edge.

3. The roof rail air bag assembly of claim 2, wherein the cushion retention tab extends through the air bag cover, for at least partially supporting the air bag and the air bag cover.

4. The roof rail air bag assembly of claim 3, wherein the mounting tab of the inflator bracket is attached to the snap-in clip with the serviceability attachment feature.

5. A method of installing an air bag module having an air bag inflator and an air bag with at least one cushion retention tab in a vehicle having a roof rail, comprising:

attaching the air bag module to an inflator bracket having an inflator support portion and an attachment portion with a mounting tab;

attaching a snap-in clip having a fastening portion to the at least one cushion retention tab with a removable serviceability attachment feature by fastening said removable serviceability attachment feature to said fastening portion;

capturing the cushion retention tab between the mounting tab and the snap-in clip prior to attaching the snap-in clip to the cushion retention tab; and

installing the air bag module in the vehicle by inserting the snap-in clip into the roof rail.

6. In combination with a vehicle having a roof rail, a roof rail air bag assembly adapted for snap-in installation in the roof rail of the vehicle, from outside the vehicle, the air bag assembly comprising:

an air bag module including an air bag inflator and an air bag with at least one cushion retention tab;

a snap-in clip permanently attachable to the roof rail and selectively attachable to the at least one cushion retention tab said snap-in clip including a fastening portion;

a removable serviceability attachment feature for attaching the air bag module at the at least one cushion retention tab to the snap-in clip by fastening said serviceability attachment feature to said fastening portion of said snap-in clip, and for selectively detaching the air bag module from the snap-in clip for removal of the air baa module for service by removing said serviceability attachment feature from said fastening portion of said snap-in clip; and

an inflator bracket having an inflator support portion connected to the air bag inflator and an attachment portion having a mounting tab for receiving the serviceability attachment feature, and for capturing the at least one cushion retention tab between the inflator bracket and the snap-in clip.