Air bag module including improved inflator retainer assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An air bag module (20) comprising:
- an inflator (200) for providing inflation gas;
a retainer or bracket assembly (100)having a central plate portion, a flexible first bracket end (120) oriented at a non-perpendicular angle relative to a plane of the central plate portion and a flexible, second bracket end (130) oriented at an initial first non-perpendicular predetermined angle relative to the plane of the central plate portion, and a portion of the second bracket end configured as a spring and being deformable by movement of the inflator into a retained position of the inflator, the inflator when in an installed position extending across and through the first and second bracket ends, with portions of the inflator located on opposing sides of each of the first and second bracket ends; and
the second bracket end configured to create a twisting force upon that portion of the inflator extending through the second bracket end as a result of the second bracket end being deformed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag module (20) including: an inflator (200) for providing inflation gas; a bracket assembly (100) having an integral spring portion for resiliently biasing the inflator toward a retained position.
31 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An air bag module (20) comprising:
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an inflator (200) for providing inflation gas; a retainer or bracket assembly (100) having a central plate portion, a flexible first bracket end (120) oriented at a non-perpendicular angle relative to a plane of the central plate portion and a flexible, second bracket end (130) oriented at an initial first non-perpendicular predetermined angle relative to the plane of the central plate portion, and a portion of the second bracket end configured as a spring and being deformable by movement of the inflator into a retained position of the inflator, the inflator when in an installed position extending across and through the first and second bracket ends, with portions of the inflator located on opposing sides of each of the first and second bracket ends; and
the second bracket end configured to create a twisting force upon that portion of the inflator extending through the second bracket end as a result of the second bracket end being deformed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An air bag module (20) comprising:
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a cylindrically shaped inflator (200) for providing inflation gas to an air bag (300); a bracket assembly (100) for receiving, holding and orienting the inflator comprising a first retaining bracket (120) having opposing sides and a first opening (122) configured to receive a complementary shaped portion of the inflator and an opposing second retaining bracket (130), the second retaining bracket having opposing sides, and the inflator configured to extend completely through both the first and the second retaining brackets with portions of the inflator positioned adjacent each opposing side of the first and second retaining brackets; and
the second retaining bracket bent by the operation of the inflator, the second retaining bracket further configured to provide a twisting force upon the inflator in reaction to being bent, urging the inflator into portions of the first retaining bracket about the first opening, the second retaining bracket being the only retaining bracket providing a twisting force. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An air bag module comprising:
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a retainer or bracket assembly comprising a center portion and a first retainer end portion and a second retainer end portion, each of the first and second retainer end portions disposed generally at opposing ends of the center portion and in general alignment with one another, the first retainer end portion includes a first opening and the second retainer end portion includes a second opening, each of the first and second openings configured to receive and retain a respective first inflator end and an elongated body portion of an air bag inflator, the inflator crossing both the first and the second retainer end portions, the second retainer end portion further configured to be bent by the inflator as the inflator is twisted into a mounted position and the second retainer end portion generating a twisting bias retaining force on the inflator, the force directed opposite to the direction the second retainer end portion is bent, the force urging the first inflator end into a portion of the first retainer end portion. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An air bag module (20) comprising:
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an inflator (200) for providing inflation gas;
the inflator having a first end, a second end and a body between the first and second ends;a retainer or bracket assembly (100) having a central plate portion, a flexible first bracket (120) having a first opening therein, a second bracket (130) oriented at an initial first non-perpendicular predetermined angle relative to the central plate portion, the second bracket having a second opening therein; when the inflator is in a mounted configuration upon the retainer or bracket assembly, the first end extends outward from the first bracket, the second end extends away from the second bracket and wherein the body is in direct contact with the second bracket, wherein the second bracket is configured as a spring and deformable by movement of the inflator body to the mounted configuration and the second bracket configured to create a twisting force upon the body of the inflator tending to hold the body in the retainer or bracket assembly. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification