Slide-on inflator housing
First Claim
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1. An airbag inflator assembly, comprising;
- an airbag inflator with a first mounting stem and a second mounting stem for mounting the inflator in a vehicle, the first mounting stem being more proximal to a gas exit end of the inflator,wherein the airbag inflator has a longitudinal axis and wherein the first mounting stem and the second mounting stem extend transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis and are aligned with each other along a line that is parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
an inflator housing with two opposing end portions, the inflator housing comprising a sidewall, which defines a chamber configured to slideably receive the inflator within the chamber of the inflator housing, the sidewall further comprising;
a receiving aperture for receiving the first mounting stem, wherein the receiving aperture comprises a receiving slot that is elongated and extends parallel with a longitudinal axis of the chamber of the inflator housing; and
,an extended portion at an inflator receiving end of the inflator housing,wherein the extended portion defines a recessed portion of inflator housing,wherein the recessed portion is configured to permit only a single end of the airbag inflator to be initially inserted into the chamber of the inflator housing and to simultaneously permit the first mounting stem to be inserted though the receiving slot such that the first mounting stem may then be moved in the receiving slot as the inflator is slideably advanced within the chamber of the inflator housing along their longitudinal axes.
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Abstract
An inflator assembly is disclosed for use in an automobile. The inflator assembly features a slide-on housing around an inflator.
40 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An airbag inflator assembly, comprising;
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an airbag inflator with a first mounting stem and a second mounting stem for mounting the inflator in a vehicle, the first mounting stem being more proximal to a gas exit end of the inflator, wherein the airbag inflator has a longitudinal axis and wherein the first mounting stem and the second mounting stem extend transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis and are aligned with each other along a line that is parallel to the longitudinal axis; and an inflator housing with two opposing end portions, the inflator housing comprising a sidewall, which defines a chamber configured to slideably receive the inflator within the chamber of the inflator housing, the sidewall further comprising; a receiving aperture for receiving the first mounting stem, wherein the receiving aperture comprises a receiving slot that is elongated and extends parallel with a longitudinal axis of the chamber of the inflator housing; and
,an extended portion at an inflator receiving end of the inflator housing, wherein the extended portion defines a recessed portion of inflator housing, wherein the recessed portion is configured to permit only a single end of the airbag inflator to be initially inserted into the chamber of the inflator housing and to simultaneously permit the first mounting stem to be inserted though the receiving slot such that the first mounting stem may then be moved in the receiving slot as the inflator is slideably advanced within the chamber of the inflator housing along their longitudinal axes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An airbag inflator assembly, comprising;
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an airbag inflator with a first mounting stem and a second mounting stem for mounting the inflator in a vehicle, the first mounting stem being more proximal to a diffuser end of the inflator, wherein the airbag inflator has a longitudinal axis and wherein the first mounting stem and the second mounting stem extend transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis and are aligned with each other along a line that is parallel to the longitudinal axis; and an inflator housing with two opposing end portions, the inflator housing comprising a sidewall, which defines a chamber configured to slideably receive the inflator within the chamber of the inflator housing, the sidewall further comprising; a receiving aperture for receiving the first mounting stem, wherein the receiving aperture comprises a receiving slot that is elongated and extends parallel with a longitudinal axis of the chamber of the inflator housing, wherein the receiving aperture permits an interference fit with the first mounting stem of such a magnitude that a person may manually achieve the interference fit; a notch configured to receive the second inflator mounting stem, wherein the notch is longitudinally co-linear with the receiving aperture; and an extended portion at an inflator receiving end of the inflator housing, wherein the extended portion defines a recessed portion of inflator housing, wherein the recessed portion is configured to permit only a single end of the airbag inflator to be initially inserted into the chamber of the inflator housing and to simultaneously permit the first mounting stem to be inserted though the receiving slot such that the first mounting stem may then be moved in the receiving slot as the inflator is slideably advanced within the chamber of the inflator housing along their longitudinal axes until the interference fit is achieved. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. An inflator assembly, comprising;
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an airbag inflator with a first mounting stem and a second mounting stem, wherein each mounting stem is configured to mount the inflator assembly in a vehicle, wherein the first mounting stem is more proximal to a diffuser end of the inflator than the second mounting stem; and an inflator housing with two opposing end portions, the inflator housing comprising a sidewall which defines a chamber, wherein the chamber is configured to slideably receive the inflator, the sidewall further comprising; an inflator receiving end having an inside perimeter larger than an outside perimeter of the inflator, the inflator receiving end comprising an aperture for receiving the inflator into the chamber of the inflator housing along the longitudinal axis of the inflator housing; a gas exit end disposed on the opposite longitudinal end of the inflator housing from the receiving end, the gas exit end comprising at least one aperture, which is in fluid communication with the chamber; a receiving aperture configured to receive the first mounting stem, wherein the receiving aperture comprises a receiving slot and a reduced portion, wherein the reduced portion is located at the end of the receiving aperture longitudinally closest to the gas exit end of the inflator housing, wherein the reduced portion is configured to slideably receive the first mounting stem; and a notch disposed on the inflator receiving end of the inflator housing sidewall and is longitudinally aligned with the receiving aperture, wherein the notch is configured to receive the second inflator mounting stem. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of assembling an inflator assembly, comprising:
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providing an inflator with a first and a second mounting stem, the first mounting stem disposed nearer a vent end of the inflator relative to the second mounting stem; providing an inflator housing configured to slideably receive the inflator within a chamber of the inflator housing; placing the first mounting stem into a receiving aperture of the inflator housing; pivoting the inflator relative to the inflator housing until the inflator is longitudinally aligned within the chamber; sliding the inflator in the chamber of the inflator housing until the first mounting stem is near a reduced portion of the receiving aperture and the second mounting stem is near a notch of the inflator housing; aligning the second mounting stem with the notch; and sliding the inflator further into the chamber of the inflator housing until the first mounting stem is fully received by a reduced portion in the receiving aperture and the second mounting stem is fully received by the notch.
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Specification