Mounting bracket for rail mounted airbag inflator

• US 7,703,797 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Wright, Sean Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth; Eric
• Application Number:
  US11/555,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/749, 248/58, 248/65, 248/200, 248/205.1, 248/309.1, 248/311.2
• 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 energy absorbing mounting bracket for a rail mounted airbag inflator is provided. The mounting bracket has a circular section and at least one base leg. The circular section entraps an airbag inflator and the base leg is rigidly attached to the circular section and mounted to a vehicle rail. The base leg positions the circular section of the mounting bracket a specific distance from the rail, for the purpose of allowing the section to deflect in a direction towards the rail when an impact force is exerted on the section. One embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a circular section entrapping an airbag inflator and a first base leg, a second base leg and an intermediate leg. The first base leg is located adjacent to the vehicle rail when the bracket is mounted to the rail and is rigidly attached to the intermediate leg. The intermediate leg is rigidly attached to the circular section and the second base leg is also rigidly attached to said section. The first base leg in combination with the intermediate leg and the second base leg position the circular section a specific distance from the rail. The distance from the rail coupled with the design of the base legs and the intermediate leg allow for the circular section to deflect in a direction towards the rail when it experiences an impact force. In this manner, an energy absorbing mounting bracket for a rail mounted airbag inflator is provided.

Claims

1. An energy absorbing mounting bracket for mounting a rail mounted airbag inflator on a vehicle rail, said mounting bracket comprising:

a cylindrical member, said cylindrical member directly contacting and entrapping an airbag inflator;

a base leg rigidly attached to said cylindrical member and mountable to a vehicle rail, said base leg positioning said cylindrical member a distance from the rail, for the purpose of allowing said cylindrical member to deflect in a direction towards the rail when an impact force is exerted on said cylindrical member; and

a generally U-shaped strengthening member extending outwardly from an end of said cylindrical member and extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member, said U-shaped strengthening member, said base leg and said cylindrical member formed from a single member;

wherein said generally U-shaped strengthening channel adds strength to said base leg.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said base leg includes an aperture, for the purpose of bolting said base leg to the rail.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said base leg includes a positioning member, for the purpose of positioning the mounting bracket on the vehicle rail.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein said positioning member includes an L-shaped hook.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical member has a reinforcing rib extending in a longitudinal direction along said cylindrical member.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein said reinforcing rib is integral with said cylindrical member.