Removable airbag hook bracket for serviceability

• US 7,699,338 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: INOAC USA, Inc (Inoue Rubber Public Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Intertec Systems LLC
• Inventors: Woodward, Walter R., Dargavell, Andrew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US11/762,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20080023944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/732
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening

Abstract

A passenger airbag module removably connectable to an automotive interior component. The passenger airbag module may include a front bracket engageable with an automotive interior component and a rear connector having a detent or an aperture. A rear bracket may be removably connectable with the rear connector by an aperture or detent for respectively receiving or insertion into the detent or aperture of the rear connector. The rear bracket may be further configured to engage the automotive interior component.

Claims

1. A passenger airbag module removably connectable to an automotive interior component, said passenger airbag module comprising:

a front bracket engageable with an automotive interior component and a rear connector having a detent or an aperture; and

a rear bracket removably connectable with said rear connector and including an aperture or detent for respectively receiving or insertion into said detent or aperture of said rear connector by movement of said rear bracket in a direction generally transverse to a passenger airbag module longitudinal axis, said rear bracket being further configured to engage the automotive interior component.

2. A passenger airbag module according to claim 1, wherein said rear bracket includes at least one hook configured to engage the automotive interior component.

3. A passenger airbag module according to claim 2, wherein the automotive interior component is an airbag chute engaged with an instrument panel, and said hook is configured for insertion into a complementary opening in the airbag chute.

4. A passenger airbag module according to claim 1, further comprising a fastener connectable to said detent and configured to secure said rear bracket to said passenger airbag module.

5. A passenger airbag module according to claim 1, further comprising a connector engageable with said detent for securing said rear bracket to said passenger airbag module.

6. A passenger airbag module according to claim 1, wherein said front bracket includes at least one hook for engaging the automotive interior component.

7. A passenger airbag module removably connectable to an automotive instrument panel, said passenger airbag module comprising:

a first bracket engageable with an airbag chute connectable to the automotive instrument panel, and a connector having a detent or an aperture and disposed at a generally opposite side of said passenger airbag module as said first bracket; and

a second bracket removably connectable with said connector and including an aperture or detent for respectively receiving or insertion into said detent or aperture of said connector by movement of said second bracket in a direction generally transverse to a passenger airbag module longitudinal axis, said second bracket being further configured to engage the airbag chute.

8. A passenger airbag module according to claim 7, wherein said second bracket includes at least one hook configured to engage the airbag chute.

9. A passenger airbag module according to claim 8, wherein said hook is configured for insertion into a complementary opening in the airbag chute.

10. A passenger airbag module according to claim 7, further comprising a fastener connectable to said detent and configured to secure said second bracket to said passenger airbag module.

11. A passenger airbag module according to claim 7, further comprising a connector engageable with said detent for securing said second bracket to said passenger airbag module.

12. A passenger airbag module according to claim 7, wherein said first bracket includes at least one hook for engaging the airbag chute.