EP0542418A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air bag cushion retaining system
Assignee: Morton International LLC
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Filing: 1992-09-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A clamping device for clamping an automotive air bag (1) in place prior to connection of an automotive air bag inflator (14). The clamping device includes an annular retainer ring (16) and module housing (18). Axial descending members, in the form of tabs, pins, or circular posts are attached to the bottom of the annular retainer and pass through holes in the air bag (12) and module housing (18). The axial descending members provide additional places wherein the shear stress of the air bag fabric can resist the forces applied to the air bag during deployment. The air bag (12) is clamped between the retainer ring (16) and the housing (18) prior to connection of the inflator (14) by means of fasteners (20) engaging undersized holes in the housing (18) and/or by retainer ring tabs passing through holes in the housing and being bent so as to engage its under side.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E. Strahl
- 👤 John E. Allard
- 👤 Gary V. Adams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:59
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/217; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49915; Y10T29/49922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
296 words
A clamping device for holding an air bag (12) onto a matching air bag inflator (14) comprising: an annular retainer (16) having a first inner boundary (34), a body with a top and bottom, a first outer boundary (42), a plurality of first holes (22) passing through the body of the annular retainer (16), and a plurality of axial descending members (38, 52, 54) integral to and projecting away from said bottom of said body of said retainer ring; a module housing having a mounting edge (49), a module body (18) with a module top and module bottom, and second inner boundary (49) defining an opening matching the shape of the inflator with a plurality of second holes (26) passing through said module body, and a plurality of third holes (46) passing through said module body (18) positioned to receive said axial descending members (38, 52, 54) of said annular retainer (16) when said annular retainer is brought into proper relation thereto; and an air bag (12) having a gas inlet opening (48) conforming in shape to said opening (34) of said annular retainer (16) in a central region thereof, a plurality of fourth holes (24) radially outwardly of said gas inlet opening (48), and a plurality of fifth holes (44) radially outward of said gas inlet opening, wherein an annular portion of said gas inlet opening of said air bag (12) is placed between said annular retainer (16) and said module housing (18), and wherein said axial descending members (38, 52, 54) of said annular retainer pass through said fifth holes and said third holes; and a fastener means passed through said first (22), fourth (24) and second (26) holes to join said annular retainer (16), said air bag (12), and said module housing (18).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device as specified in claim 1 characterised in that a first wall (40) integral to said first inner boundary (34) is attached on said top of said annular retainer, said first wall (40) being substantially perpendicular to said body of said annular retainer (16).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device as specified in claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that a second wall (42) integral to said first outer boundary (36) is attached on said top of said annular retainer (16), said second wall (42) being substantially perpendicular to said body of said annular retainer (16).
Claim 4
Independent Claim
51 words
A device as specified in any preceding claim characterised in that said second holes (26) in said module housing (18) are undersized whereby said fastener means (20) engage the edges of said second holes (26) to hold said annular retainer (16) and said air bag (12) to said module housing (18).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as specified in claim 4 characterised in that each of said undersized second holes (26) in said module housing (18) is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced substantially radially outwardly extending notches (50) from said undersized second holes (26).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device specified in claim 4 or 5 characterised in that the edges of said undersize second holes (26) are bevelled.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
25 words
A device as specified in any preceding claim characterised in that the axial descending members include tabs (38), pins (54), dimples (52) or circular protrusions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as specified in claim 7 characterised in that the protrusion is in the form of a tab (38).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
22 words
A device as specified in any preceding claim characterised in that said third holes (46) are circular, oval or rectangular in shape.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
30 words
A device as in any preceding claim characterised in that said plurality of said axial descending members (38) are deformable so as to engage said bottom of module housing (18).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 10 characterised in that axial descending members (38) are tabs and said tabs are bent so as to engage said module bottom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
Assembly comprising an air bag (12), a module housing (18) and clamping means (16, 38, 46 or 15, 20, 26) characterised in that the clamping means is engageable with the housing so as to hold the air bag (12) to the housing (18) prior to connection of an air bag inflator (14) to the assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
163 words
Assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the assembly comprises: an annular retainer (16) having a plurality of first holes (22) passing through its body and a central gas inlet opening (34), an air bag (12) with an opening (48) and a plurality of fourth holes (24), a module housing (18) with an opening (49) and a plurality of second holes (26) and a plurality of fasteners (20) wherein the bag (12) and housing openings (48, 49) substantially conforming in shape to the retainer gas inlet opening (34) and the first, fourth and second holes in the retainer (16), bag (12) and housing (18) respectively are alignable so as to allow the fasteners (20) to pass through the first (22) and fourth (24) holes in the retainer (16) and bag (12) respectively and engage the second holes (26) in the housing which are undersized relative to the fasteners (20) in order to hold the bag between the retainer (16) and the housing (18).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR2625961A1
Cited
US4988119A
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EP0447030A2
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EP0469734A1
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GB2250243A
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GB2250483A
Cited
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