Airbag inflator mounting apparatus, methods, and systems
First Claim
1. A method for assembling a vehicle airbag assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a housing comprising an opening;
providing an inflator comprising a collar, wherein the collar comprises an exterior surface;
positioning the collar of the inflator into the opening of the housing such that at least a portion of the exterior surface of the collar is adjacent to a portion of the housing defining the opening; and
coupling the inflator with the housing by engaging the exterior surface of the collar with at least one engagement structure such that the engagement structure directly engages the collar and such that the engagement structure directly engages the housing to secure the inflator to the housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatus, and systems for coupling an airbag inflator with a housing, such as an airbag module housing or an adapter housing configured to be coupled with an airbag module housing. In some implementations, a housing comprising an opening may be provided. An inflator comprising a collar may be positioned in the housing such that the collar of the inflator extends into, or in some cases through, the opening of the housing. The inflator may be fixedly coupled with the housing by engaging an exterior surface of the inflator collar with at least one engagement structure, such as a retainer clip or crimp formed in a collar sleeve of the housing.
-
Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A method for assembling a vehicle airbag assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a housing comprising an opening; providing an inflator comprising a collar, wherein the collar comprises an exterior surface; positioning the collar of the inflator into the opening of the housing such that at least a portion of the exterior surface of the collar is adjacent to a portion of the housing defining the opening; and coupling the inflator with the housing by engaging the exterior surface of the collar with at least one engagement structure such that the engagement structure directly engages the collar and such that the engagement structure directly engages the housing to secure the inflator to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A vehicle airbag assembly, comprising:
-
an airbag module housing comprising an opening, wherein the airbag module housing comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite from the interior surface; an airbag cushion positioned within the interior surface of the airbag module housing; an inflator comprising a collar configured to be received in the opening, wherein the collar is configured to extend at least partially through the opening such that at least a portion of the collar extends out of the opening and is positioned adjacent to the exterior surface of the airbag module housing; and a retainer clip configured to engage the at least a portion of the collar extending out of the opening to prevent the collar from being withdrawn from the opening after the collar has been positioned such that at least a portion of the collar extends out of the opening, and such that the retainer clip engages the exterior surface of the airbag module housing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A vehicle airbag assembly, comprising:
-
a housing comprising an opening at least partially defined by a collar sleeve, wherein the housing comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite from the interior surface; an airbag cushion coupled with the housing and positioned adjacent to the interior surface of the housing; and an inflator comprising an inflator collar configured to be received in the opening and to extend into the collar sleeve, wherein the inflator collar comprises at least one crimping feature configured to facilitate fixed engagement between the inflator collar and the collar sleeve, and wherein the collar sleeve is directly coupled to the inflator collar at the at least one crimping feature without the airbag cushion being positioned between the collar sleeve and the inflator collar. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification