Expanding airbag inflator housing
First Claim
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1. An airbag inflator diffusion system, comprising:
- an airbag inflator having an exhaust gas exit port;
a sleeve having a longitudinal axis and shaped to receive the inflator securely within the sleeve, the sleeve expanding radially under a force of impinging exhaust gas, the sleeve comprising a structural stop to limit the radial expansion of the sleeve; and
at least two crimped tabs being added to a proximal end of the sleeve and at least two crimped tabs being added to a distal end of the sleeve, wherein the crimped tabs are folded inward to hold the inflator within the sleeve during deployment, wherein when the crimped tabs are folded inwards, the tabs are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, and wherein when the sleeve expands radially under the force of the impinging gas, the crimped tabs moves radially outwardly away from each other.
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Abstract
An airbag inflator diffusion system having a thin profile. The diffusion system includes an airbag inflator that is inserted into a sleeve. The sleeve has overlapping longitudinal edges positioned so that the sleeve tightly circumscribes the inflator. Engagement tabs are formed in one longitudinal edge of the sleeve and fold through perforations formed adjacent the other longitudinal edge. Upon activation of the inflator, the sleeve expands radially forming an exhaust passage through which exhaust gas may travel. The folded engagement tabs and their corresponding perforations limit the radial expansion of the sleeve.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An airbag inflator diffusion system, comprising:
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an airbag inflator having an exhaust gas exit port; a sleeve having a longitudinal axis and shaped to receive the inflator securely within the sleeve, the sleeve expanding radially under a force of impinging exhaust gas, the sleeve comprising a structural stop to limit the radial expansion of the sleeve; and at least two crimped tabs being added to a proximal end of the sleeve and at least two crimped tabs being added to a distal end of the sleeve, wherein the crimped tabs are folded inward to hold the inflator within the sleeve during deployment, wherein when the crimped tabs are folded inwards, the tabs are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, and wherein when the sleeve expands radially under the force of the impinging gas, the crimped tabs moves radially outwardly away from each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An airbag inflator diffuser, comprising:
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a sleeve having a longitudinal axis and having a first longitudinal edge that overlaps a second longitudinal edge along a length of the sleeve, the sleeve expanding radially under a force of impinging exhaust gas from an exit port of an inflator when installed within the sleeve; a structural stop to limit the radial expansion of the sleeve; and at least two crimped tabs being added to a proximal end of the sleeve and at least two crimped tabs being added to a distal end of the sleeve, wherein the crimped tabs are folded inward to hold the inflator within the sleeve during deployment, wherein when the crimped tabs are folded inwards, the tabs are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, and wherein when the sleeve expands radially under the force of the impinging gas, the crimped tabs move radially outwardly away from each other. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An airbag inflator diffusion system, comprising:
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an airbag inflator having an exhaust gas exit port; a sleeve having a longitudinal axis and having a first longitudinal edge that overlaps a second longitudinal edge along a length of the sleeve, the sleeve expanding radially to form an exhaust passage under a force of impinging exhaust gas from the exit port of the inflator installed within the sleeve, the sleeve having a perforation adjacent the first longitudinal edge and a tab adjacent the second longitudinal edge, such that the tab is shaped to engage the perforation upon radial expansion of the sleeve to limit expansion; and at least two crimped tabs being added to a proximal end of the sleeve and at least two crimped tabs being added to a distal end of the sleeve, wherein the crimped tabs are folded inward to hold the inflator within the sleeve during deployment, wherein when the crimped tabs are folded inwards, the tabs are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, and wherein when the sleeve expands radially under the force of the impinging gas, the crimped tabs move radially outwardly away from each other.
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Specification