Valve arrangement for a vehicular inflatable cushion

Claim 1

For use with a housing containing an automotive inflatable cushion and having a cylindrical extension formed at an intermediate point along the underside thereof; a diffuser mounted in said housing adjacent said inflatable cushion and having a first opening formed at an intermediate point along the underside thereof and a second opening formed in the upper side thereof, and an inflator; an improved valve and connector arrangement therefor, comprising a valve member having a hexagonally-shaped central portion, means formed on one end thereof for connection with said inflator, and a cylindrical portion formed on the other end thereof, an axial passage formed through said valve member and an end-cap formed on said cylindrical portion, a transverse passage formed through said cylindrical portion adjacent said end-cap, a tubular member having tapered end surfaces formed on the ends thereof and being mounted in said transverse passage, said tapered end surfaces extending beyond the ends of said transverse passage, tWo pairs of aligned slots formed in oppositely disposed sides of said diffuser, said two pairs of slots being spaced a predetermined distance apart along the axis of said diffuser, a pair of resilient locking members each having tabs formed at the upper end thereof for mounting in said respective pairs of aligned slots, an opening formed in each of said resilient locking members, said valve member being operatively connected to said diffuser by having said cylindrical portion thereof inserted through said cylindrical extension and said first opening such that said tapered ends of said tubular member cause said resilient locking members to spread against the restraint of said tabs in said respective aligned slots until said ends of said tubular member snap through said respective locking member openings.