Inflator connectors for inflatable personal restraints and associated systems and methods
First Claim
1. A connector for operably coupling an airbag inflator to a gas tube, the connector comprising:
- a body having an attachment portion and a sleeve portion, the attachment portion having a first bore, the sleeve portion having a second bore in fluid communication with the first bore, wherein the first bore includes a first engagement feature positioned toward a first opening for operably engaging at least one of the inflator and the gas tube;
a coupling rotatably received in the second bore of the sleeve portion, the coupling having a second engagement feature positioned toward a second opening for operably engaging the other of the inflator and the gas tube, wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening, and wherein the coupling includes a first groove proximate to a first end portion of the coupling and a second groove proximate to a second end portion of the coupling; and
a first sealing ring received in the first groove and a second sealing ring received in the second groove, wherein the first and second sealing rings are configured to form a seal between the sleeve portion and the coupling.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Inflator connectors for inflatable personal restraints and associated systems and methods are described herein. An inflator connector configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, for example, can include a body having an attachment portion and a sleeve portion and a coupling rotatably received in the sleeve portion. The attachment portion of the body can include a first bore having a first engagement feature positioned toward a first opening for operably engaging at least one of an inflator and a gas tube. The sleeve portion can include a second bore in fluid communication with the first bore. The coupling can include a second engagement feature positioned toward a second opening for operably engaging the other of the inflator and the gas tube.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A connector for operably coupling an airbag inflator to a gas tube, the connector comprising:
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a body having an attachment portion and a sleeve portion, the attachment portion having a first bore, the sleeve portion having a second bore in fluid communication with the first bore, wherein the first bore includes a first engagement feature positioned toward a first opening for operably engaging at least one of the inflator and the gas tube; a coupling rotatably received in the second bore of the sleeve portion, the coupling having a second engagement feature positioned toward a second opening for operably engaging the other of the inflator and the gas tube, wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening, and wherein the coupling includes a first groove proximate to a first end portion of the coupling and a second groove proximate to a second end portion of the coupling; and a first sealing ring received in the first groove and a second sealing ring received in the second groove, wherein the first and second sealing rings are configured to form a seal between the sleeve portion and the coupling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A connector for operably coupling an airbag inflator to a gas tube, the connector comprising:
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a body having an attachment portion and a sleeve portion, the attachment portion having a first bore, the sleeve portion having a second bore in fluid communication with the first bore, wherein the first bore includes a first engagement feature positioned toward a first opening for operably engaging at least one of the inflator and the gas tube; a coupling rotatably received in the second bore of the sleeve portion, the coupling having a second engagement feature positioned toward a second opening for operably engaging the other of the inflator and the gas tube, wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening, and wherein the coupling includes an end portion having a groove, wherein the end portion protrudes beyond the second bore; and a retainer clip mated with the groove. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. An airbag inflator system, comprising:
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an inflator having a gas outlet, wherein the gas outlet includes inflator threads; a gas tube having an inlet, wherein the gas tube includes tube threads; and an inflator connector comprising a coupling rotatably coupled to a body, wherein the body is configured to connect to at least one of the inflator outlet and the gas tube inlet, wherein the coupling is configured to connect to the other of the inflator gas outlet and the gas tube inlet, wherein the body includes first threads at an inlet opening of the body, the first threads being configured to engage the inflator threads, and wherein the coupling includes second threads at an outlet opening of the coupling, the second threads being configured to engage the tube threads.
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9. An airbag inflator system, comprising:
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an inflator having a gas outlet; a gas tube having an inlet; and an inflator connector comprising a coupling rotatably coupled to a body, wherein the body is configured to connect to at least one of the inflator outlet and the gas tube inlet, wherein the coupling is configured to connect to the other of the inflator gas outlet and the gas tube inlet, and wherein the coupling includes at least one through-hole positioned around a sidewall of the coupling. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An airbag inflator system, comprising:
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an inflator having a gas outlet; a gas tube having an inlet; and an inflator connector comprising a coupling rotatably coupled to a body, wherein the body is configured to connect to at least one of the inflator outlet and the gas tube inlet, wherein the coupling is configured to connect to the other of the inflator gas outlet and the gas tube inlet, and wherein the coupling includes a barbed boss configured to connect to at least one of the inflator outlet and the gas tube inlet.
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14. A method of manufacturing an inflator connector, the method comprising:
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forming a body having a first bore in fluid communication with a second bore, the first bore having a first opening; forming a first engagement feature toward the first opening; forming a coupling having a second opening; forming a second engagement feature toward the second opening; inserting the coupling into the second bore, the coupling being configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the second bore, wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening; and forming at least one through-hole around a sidewall of the coupling, wherein the through-hole is in fluid communication with the first opening. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of manufacturing an inflator connector, the method comprising:
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forming a body having a first bore in fluid communication with a second bore, the first bore having a first opening; forming a first engagement feature toward the first opening; forming a coupling having a second opening; forming a second engagement feature toward the second opening; inserting the coupling into the second bore, the coupling being configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the second bore, wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening; forming the first engagement feature comprises forming first threads in an internal sidewall of the first bore, wherein the first threads are configured to engage threads on a gas outlet of an inflator; and forming the second engagement feature comprises forming second threads in an internal sidewall of the coupling, wherein the second threads are configured to engage threads on an end fitting of a gas tube.
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19. A method of manufacturing an inflator connector, the method comprising:
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forming a body having a first bore in fluid communication with a second bore, the first bore having a first opening; forming a first engagement feature toward the first opening; forming a coupling having a second opening; forming a second engagement feature toward the second opening, wherein forming at least one of the first and second engagement features comprises forming a barbed boss configured to engage at least one of a gas outlet of an inflator and an end fitting of a gas tube; and inserting the coupling into the second bore, the coupling being configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the second bore, wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with the first opening.
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Specification