EP0602784A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cover rentention in occupant restraint installations
Assignee: Morton International LLC
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Filing: 1993-10-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A module housing (14) of a vehicle occupant restraint module assembly (10, 12) encloses a stowed airbag (22) and its inflator (20). A snap-on cover (16) of molded plastics material such as a polyolefin engages a rim (40) of the housing and has a flat face portion (44) with weakened tear lines (58, 60) to form doors (A, B) as the airbag inflates. The cover is secured against radial stresses by a heat-shrunk band (24), for example nylon 66 or rayon, applied around its peripheral surface (26).
Inventors
- 👤 Davin G. Saderholm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:20
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/217
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for retaining a cover (16) on a module housing (14) of an occupant restraint module assembly (12), said method comprising the steps of: applying a band (24) of heat shrinkable material about the periphery of said assembly to form a banded assembly, and heating the banded assembly to effect shrinkage of said band with the shrunk band of material serving to secure said cover to said housing during bag deployment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said cover (16) is a snap-on cover comprising moldable plastics, and has a substantially flat face portion (44) defining therein weakened tear lines (58, 60) adapted to rupture and form release doors (A, B) under the influence of an inflating air bag (22) and at least one arm portion (68) extending rearwardly from the face portion and adapted to engage with an opposed portion (40) of the housing for securing the cover to the housing against axial forces exerted on the assembly during deployment of the air bag.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said moldable plastics comprises an injection molded thermoplastics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said thermoplastics comprises a polyolefin.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
73 words
A method according to any preceding claim wherein said housing (14) comprises a rigid box-like structure having a bottom (32) and a side wall (34) defining a substantially open top with the housing adapted to contain therewithin an uninflated air bag (22) connected to an inflator (20) to inflate the air bag and with the side wall having an outwardly extending rim (40) disposed around at least a portion of the open top.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
23 words
A method according to any preceding claim wherein said heating step is conducted at a temperature below the autoignition temperature of the inflator.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
19 words
A method according to any preceding claim wherein said band of heat shrinkable material comprises nylon 66 or rayon.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
40 words
A method according to any preceding claim wherein said shrunk band (24) of heat shrinkable material is effective to secure the cover (16) to the housing against radial forces exerted on the assembly during deployment of the air bag (22).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 for cover retention wherein said assembly lacks a locking lip means of engagement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
192 words
An occupant restraint module assembly (10, 12) including a rigid box-like housing (14) having a bottom (32) and a side wall (34) defining a substantially open top with the housing adapted to contain therewithin an uninflated air bag (22) connected to an inflator (20) to inflate the air bag and with the side wall having an outwardly extending rim (40) disposed around at least a portion of the open top, and a cover (16) closing the top of the housing, said cover having a substantially flat face portion (44) and at least one arm portion (68) extending rearwardly from the face portion and adapted to engage with an opposed portion of the housing rim (40) for securing the cover to the housing against the axial forces exerted on the assembly during deployment of the air bag, characterised in that a band (24) of heat shrinkable material is applied about a retaining band installation area on the periphery (26) of said cover (16) and adjacent at least one retaining flange (28), which band upon heating shrinks to secure said cover to said housing against radial forces exerted on the assembly during bag deployment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said band of heat shrinkable material (24) comprises nylon 66 or rayon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
210 words
An occupant restraint module outer assembly (12) comprising: a rigid box-like housing (14) having a bottom (32) and a side wall (34) defining a substantially open top with said housing adapted to contain therewithin an uninflated air bag (22) connected to an inflator (20) to inflate said air bag and with said side wall having an outwardly extending rim (40) disposed around at least a portion of said open top, an injection molded thermoplastic olefin snap-on cover (16) for said top, said cover having a substantially flat face portion (44) defining therein weakened tear lines (58, 60) adapted to rupture and form release doors (A, B) under the influence of an inflating air bag and at least one arm portion (68) extending rearwardly from the face portion and adapted to engage with an opposed portion of said housing rim for securing said cover to said housing against axial forces exerted on said assembly during deployment of the air bag, said cover having a retaining band installation area about its outer peripheral surface (26), and a band (24) of heat shrinkable material applied about said retaining band installation area to secure said cover (16) to said housing (14) during bag deployment, said band being subjected to heating to effect shrinkage thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An assembly according to claim 12 wherein said housing and cover additionally comprise a locking lip means of engagement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An assembly according to claim 12 wherein said housing and cover lack a locking lip means of engagement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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