Air bag module including improved inflator retainer assembly

• US 20060186644A1
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Trepiak, Kenneth G., Manire, Gregory B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,703,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.200
• 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 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.

Claims

1. An air bag module (20) comprising:

an inflator (200) for providing inflation gas;

a retainer or bracket assembly (100) comprising an integral spring portion for resiliently biasing the inflator within the bracket assembly.

2. The module according to claim 1 wherein the bracket assembly includes a bracket (102) having a central plate portion, a first bracket end (120) oriented at a non-perpendicular angle relative to a plane of the plate portion and a flexible, second bracket end (130) oriented at an initial first non-perpendicular angle relative to a plane of the plate portion and a portion of the second bracket end being deformable by movement of the inflator into its retained position.

3. The module according to claim 2 wherein the first bracket end (120) includes a first opening and wherein the second bracket end (130) includes a second opening and wherein a portion of the inflator insertable into the second opening is smaller than the second opening.

4. The module according to claim 3 wherein the second bracket end is configured to engage the inflator near a top and a bottom of the second opening as the inflator is moved to the retained position and to be bent as the inflator is so positioned.

5. A method of assembling an air bag module according to claim 1 comprising the steps of:

a) inserting the inflator within the spring portion of the bracket assembly;

b) rotating the inflator to a preferred position relative to the bracket assembly and while rotating the inflator, bending the spring portion of the bracket assembly creating a spring retaining force on the inflator.

6. The method of claim 5 including the step of inserting the inflator bracket end (120) opposite the spring portion of the bracket assembly.

7. An air bag module (20) comprising:

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 a first opening (122) configured to receive a complementary shaped portion of the inflator and an opposing second retaining bracket (130) configured to be bent by the inflator as the inflator is received within the bracket assembly, the second retaining bracket further configured to provide a spring force upon the inflator, urging the inflator into portions of the first bracket about the first opening.

8. The module according to claim 7 wherein the second retaining bracket is initially oriented at a predetermined angle and bent upwardly to a lesser angle by operation of the inflator.

9. The module according to claim 8 wherein the first retaining bracket is configured to bend outwardly upon receipt of the inflator and return to its initial configuration upon receipt of the inflator.