Inflator

• US 7,364,194 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2004
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Eiji, Mabuchi, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Winner; Tony
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCREARY, LEONARD
• Application Number:
  US10/990,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20050116446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/740, 280/741, 280/742, 280/728.2
• US Class Current: 280/741
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

An inflator is located inside an airbag of airbag device for supplying inflation gas. The inflator includes a substantially cylindrical body for generating inflation gas, and a substantially tubular retainer made of sheet metal to be mounted around the body for holding the body by fastening a fastening portion. The retainer includes mounting bolts for mounting the airbag to a predetermined mounting position. The retainer includes a fastening portion, a first support portion and a second support portion which are arranged in order along axial direction of the body to abut against a circumference of the body. The fastening portion and the second support portion are located in a substantially opposite area from the first support portion in the circumference of the body based on a center of a cross section of the body taken perpendicularly to the axial direction of the body as the retainer holds the body.

Claims

1. An inflator for supplying inflation gas to an airbag of airbag device for automobile which is used in an inserted state in the airbag, the inflator comprising:

a substantially cylindrical body for generating inflation gas; and

a substantially tubular retainer made of sheet metal for being mounted around the body, the retainer including a mounting member for mounting the airbag to a predetermined mounting position and an element for holding the body, the element for holding the body consisting of;

a fastening portion located in a vicinity of one end of the retainer for fastening on the body to deform plastically and protrude inward after the body of the inflator is inserted into the retainer which has been set inside the airbag in advance of the body;

a first support portion projecting inward from an inner circumference of the retainer; and

a second support portion projecting inward from the inner circumference of the retainer,

wherein the fastening portion, the first support portion and the second support portion are arranged in order along axial direction of the body to abut against a circumference of the body, whereby the retainer holds the body at least at three axial positions by the fastening portion, the first support portion and the second support portion, and

the fastening portion and the second support portion are located in a top portion on an outer circumference of the body and the first support portion is located in a bottom portion on an outer circumference of the body based on a center of a cross section of the body taken perpendicularly to the axial direction of the body as the retainer holds the body, wherein the top portion is substantially opposite to the bottom portion.

2. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the fastening portion is projected from the airbag when the inflator is inserted and located in the airbag.

3. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein gas discharge ports of the body are located at an end of the body apart from the fastening portion, such that inflation gas is fed to the airbag from a location apart from the fastening portion.

4. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises a positioning projection for positioning the body in the retainer by abutting against the body when the body is inserted into the retainer from a side of the fastening portion before fastened.

5. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the second support portion is located in the vicinity of an end of the retainer apart from the other end having the fastening portion.

6. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the first support portion is located substantially in an axial middle position in the retainer.

7. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein the first support portion and the second support portion are beads that are made by pressing a sheet metal forming the retainer.

8. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the fastening portion, the first support portion, or the second support portion includes two contact points that project inward and contact the circumference of the body, the contact points are arranged along a circumferential direction of the retainer.

9. The inflator according to claim 1, wherein when fastening the fastening portion to the body, the fastening portion, the first support portion and the second support portion are pressed against the body by a leverage where the fastening portion is an effort-point, the first support portion is a fulcrum, and the second support portion is an application point, such that the body is held by the retainer.

10. An inflator for supplying inflation gas to an airbag of airbag device for automobile which is used in an inserted state in the airbag, the inflator comprising:

a substantially cylindrical body for generating inflation gas; and

a substantially tubular retainer made of sheet metal for being mounted around the body, the retainer including a mounting member for mounting the airbag to a predetermined mounting position and a tubular portion for holding the body, the tubular portion consisting of;

a fastening portion located in a vicinity of one end of the retainer for fastening on the body to deform plastically and protrude inward after the body of the inflator is inserted into the retainer which has been set inside the airbag in advance of the body;

a first support portion projecting inward from an inner circumference of the retainer; and

a second support portion projecting inward from the inner circumference of the retainer,

wherein the fastening portion, the first support portion and the second support portion are arranged in order along axial direction of the body to abut against a circumference of the body, whereby the retainer holds the body at least at three axial positions by the fastening portion, the first support portion and the second support portion, and

the fastening portion and the second support portion are located only in a top portion on an outer circumference of the body and the first support portion is located only in a bottom portion on an outer circumference of the body based on a center of a cross section of the body taken perpendicularly to the axial direction of the body as the retainer holds the body, wherein the top portion is substantially opposite to the bottom portion.

11. An inflator for supplying inflation gas to an airbag of airbag device for automobile which is used in an inserted state in the airbag, the inflator comprising:

a substantially cylindrical body for generating inflation gas; and

a substantially tubular retainer made of sheet metal for being mounted around the body, the retainer consisting of a mounting member for mounting the airbag to a predetermined mounting position, a fastening portion, a first support portion and a second support portion, wherein;

the first support portion and the second support portion are preliminarily formed on an inner circumference of the retainer before the retainer is mounted around the body;

the fastening portion is fastened on the body to deform plastically and protrude inward after the retainer is mounted around the body;

while the fastening portion is located in the vicinity of one end of the retainer, the fastening portion, the first support portion and the second support portion are arranged in order along axial direction of the body to abut against a circumference of the body, whereby the retainer holds the body at least at three axial positions by the fastening portion, the first support portion and the second support portion; and

the fastening portion and the second support portion are located in a top portion on an outer circumference of the body and the first support portion is located in a bottom portion on an outer circumference of the body based on a center of a cross section of the body taken perpendicularly to the axial direction of the body as the retainer holds the body, wherein the top portion is substantially opposite to the bottom portion.