US5121941A — Air bag module

Claim 1

Independent Claim 181 words

A vehicle air bag module comprising: a reaction can including a main body defining a cavity and an air bag opening, an external flange extending away from said air bag opening, and an inflator-receiving slot formed in part of said main body; a folded air bag having a gas inlet opening and being at least partially disposed in said cavity; a retention device integral with said air bag around the periphery of said gas inlet opening and disposed adjacent said external flange on said reaction can; an inflator comprising a cylindrical housing and a coupling structure integral with the housing, said cylindrical housing extending partially through said inflator-receiving slot and including a portion disposed within said cavity and a portion disposed outside said cavity, gas dispensing nozzles being formed in said portion of said cylindrical housing disposed within said cavity; a first set of fasteners connecting said coupling structure of said inflator with a portion of said main body of said reaction can; and a second set of fasteners connecting said retention device with said external flange on said reaction can.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 181 words

A vehicle air bag module comprising: a reaction can including a main body defining a cavity and an air bag opening, an external flange extending away from said air bag opening, and an inflator-receiving slot formed in part of said main body; a folded air bag having a gas inlet opening and being at least partially disposed in said cavity; a retention device integral with said air bag around the periphery of said gas inlet opening and disposed adjacent said external flange on said reaction can; an inflator comprising a cylindrical housing and a coupling structure integral with the housing, said cylindrical housing extending partially through said inflator-receiving slot and including a portion disposed within said cavity and a portion disposed outside said cavity, gas dispensing nozzles being formed in said portion of said cylindrical housing disposed within said cavity; a first set of fasteners connecting said coupling structure of said inflator with a portion of said main body of said reaction can; and a second set of fasteners connecting said retention device with said external flange on said reaction can.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a cover, said cover including a portion designed to overlie said external flange on said reaction can, said second set of fasteners connecting said cover to said external flange on said reaction can.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 64 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of the fasteners in said second set of fasteners has opposite ends, said opposite ends being disposed external to said air bag, said cover, and said reaction can, whereby said opposite ends of each of said second set of fasteners may be inspected from outside of said vehicle air bag module.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 36 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said external flange has outer surface portions against which said retention device is disposed, said outer surface portions being co-planar relative to each other.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said external flange extends completely around said air bag opening.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 57 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said portion of said cylindrical inflator housing disposed within said air bag cavity occupies a predetermined portion of the volume space in said air bag cavity and said folded air bag fills substantially all remaining portions of the volume space in said air bag cavity.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said folded air bag occupies an envelope of predetermined geometric proportion and said retention device extends away from said envelope.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 52 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 1 wherein all of the fasteners of said first set of fasteners are oriented in a common direction to each other and wherein all of the fasteners of said second set of fasteners are oriented in a common direction to each other.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 100 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 8 wherein said main body of said reaction can comprises a wall with an inside surface defining said cavity and an outside surface on the opposite side of said wall from said inside surface, said inflator coupling structure comprising at least one flange integral with said cylindrical housing, said flange being disposed in a predetermined orientation against a portion of said wall, and said first set of fasteners extending through said flange and said portion of said wall to connect said cylindrical inflator housing to said portion of said wall.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

A vehicle air bag as set forth in claim 9 wherein said flange is disposed against the inside surface of said portion of said wall.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

A vehicle air bag as set forth in claim 9 wherein said flange is disposed against the outside surface of said portion of said wall.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

A vehicle air bag as set forth in any of claims 1-11 wherein said reaction can consists essentially of a monolithic structure.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 162 words

A vehicle air bag module comprising: a reaction can including (a) a main body defining a cavity and an air bag opening and (b) an external flange extending away from said air bag opening, said main body comprising a pair of converging wall sections and having an inflator-receiving slot formed in one of said pair of converging wall sections; a folded air bag having a gas inlet opening, said folded air bag being attached to said reaction can and disposed at least partially within said cavity; an inflator comprising a cylindrical housing and a coupling structure integral with the housing, said cylindrical housing extending partially through said slot in said main body and including a portion disposed within said cavity and a portion disposed outside said cavity, gas dispensing nozzles being formed in said portion of said cylindrical housing disposed within said cavity; and a first set of fasteners connecting said inflator coupling structure with said main body of said reaction can.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 162 words

A vehicle air bag module comprising: a reaction can including (a) a main body defining a cavity and an air bag opening and (b) an external flange extending away from said air bag opening, said main body comprising a pair of converging wall sections and having an inflator-receiving slot formed in one of said pair of converging wall sections; a folded air bag having a gas inlet opening, said folded air bag being attached to said reaction can and disposed at least partially within said cavity; an inflator comprising a cylindrical housing and a coupling structure integral with the housing, said cylindrical housing extending partially through said slot in said main body and including a portion disposed within said cavity and a portion disposed outside said cavity, gas dispensing nozzles being formed in said portion of said cylindrical housing disposed within said cavity; and a first set of fasteners connecting said inflator coupling structure with said main body of said reaction can.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

A vehicle air bag module as defined in claim 13 wherein said converging wall sections are of different dimensions whereby said main body is asymmetrical in shape.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 61 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in either of claims 13 or 14 further comprising a retention device integral with said air bag around the periphery of said gas inlet opening and disposed adjacent said external flange on said reaction can; and a second set of fasteners connecting said retention device with said external flange on said reaction can.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 46 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a cover, said cover including a portion designed to overlie said external flange on said reaction can, said first set of fasteners connecting said cover to said external flange on said reaction can.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 64 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 16 wherein each of the fasteners in said second set of fasteners has opposite ends, said opposite ends being disposed external to said air bag, said cover, and said reaction can, whereby said opposite ends of each of said second set of fasteners may be inspected from outside of said vehicle air bag module.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 36 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 17 wherein said external flange has outer surface portions against which said retention device is disposed, said outer surface portions being co-planar relative to each other.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 18 wherein said external flange extends completely around said air bag opening.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 57 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 19 wherein said portion of said cylindrical inflator housing disposed within said air bag cavity occupies a predetermined portion of the volume space in said air bag cavity and said folded air bag fills substantially all remaining portions of the volume space in said air bag cavity.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 32 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 20 wherein said folded air bag occupies an envelope of predetermined geometric proportion and said retention device extends away from said envelope.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 52 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 21 wherein all of the fasteners of said first set of fasteners are oriented in a common direction to each other and wherein all of the fasteners of said second set of fasteners are oriented in a common direction to each other.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 100 words

A vehicle air bag module as set forth in claim 22 wherein said main body of said reaction can comprises a wall with an inside surface defining said cavity and an outside surface on the opposite side of said wall from said inside surface, said inflator coupling structure comprising at least one flange integral with said cylindrical housing, said flange being disposed in a predetermined orientation against a portion of said wall, and said first set of fasteners extending through said flange and said portion of said wall to connect said cylindrical inflator housing to said portion of said wall.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 25 words

A vehicle air bag as set forth in claim 23 wherein said flange is disposed against the inside surface of said portion of said wall.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

A vehicle air bag as set forth in claim 23 wherein said flange is disposed against the outside surface of said portion of said wall.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 22 words

A vehicle air bag as set forth in any of claims 13-25 wherein said reaction can consists essentially of a monolithic structure.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 107 words

A reaction can for a vehicle air bag module, said reaction can comprising: a monolithic structure defining a cavity and an air bag opening; said monolithic structure including a main body portion and an external substantially planar flange circumscribing said air bag opening and extending away from said air bag opening; said main body portion of the monolithic structure extending away from said flange and defining the cavity; said main body portion having a slot shaped to enable a cylindrical inflator to extend partially through said slot whereby the cylindrical inflator will be disposed partially in said air bag cavity and partially outside said air bag cavity.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 107 words

A reaction can for a vehicle air bag module, said reaction can comprising: a monolithic structure defining a cavity and an air bag opening; said monolithic structure including a main body portion and an external substantially planar flange circumscribing said air bag opening and extending away from said air bag opening; said main body portion of the monolithic structure extending away from said flange and defining the cavity; said main body portion having a slot shaped to enable a cylindrical inflator to extend partially through said slot whereby the cylindrical inflator will be disposed partially in said air bag cavity and partially outside said air bag cavity.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 19 words

A reaction can as set forth in claim 27 wherein said monolithic structure is at least partially cold worked.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 17 words

A reaction can as set forth in claim 27 wherein said monolithic structure is made of aluminum.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 17 words

A reaction can as set forth in claim 27 wherein said monolithic structure is made of steel.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 21 words

A reaction can as set forth in claim 27 wherein said main body portion comprises a pair of converging wall sections.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 27 words

A reaction can as set forth in claim 31 wherein said converging wall sections are of different dimensions whereby said main body portion is asymmetrical in shape.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 19 words

A reaction can as set forth in claim 27 wherein said monolithic structure is made of a nonmetallic material.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 185 words

A vehicle air bag module comprising: a reaction can including a main body defining a cavity and an air bag opening, an external flange extending away from said air bag opening, and an inflator-receiving slot formed in part of said main body; a folded air bag having a gas inlet opening and being at least partially disposed in said cavity; a retention device integral with said air bag around the periphery of said gas inlet opening and disposed adjacent said external flange on said reaction can; an inflator comprising a cylindrical housing and a coupling structure which couples said housing to said reaction can, said cylindrical housing extending partially through said inflator-receiving slot and including a portion disposed within said cavity and a portion disposed outside said cavity, gas dispensing nozzles being formed in said portion of said cylindrical housing disposed within said cavity; a first set of fasteners connecting said coupling structure of said inflator with a portion of said main body of said reaction can; and a second set of fasteners connecting said retention device with said external flange on said reaction can.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 185 words

A vehicle air bag module comprising: a reaction can including a main body defining a cavity and an air bag opening, an external flange extending away from said air bag opening, and an inflator-receiving slot formed in part of said main body; a folded air bag having a gas inlet opening and being at least partially disposed in said cavity; a retention device integral with said air bag around the periphery of said gas inlet opening and disposed adjacent said external flange on said reaction can; an inflator comprising a cylindrical housing and a coupling structure which couples said housing to said reaction can, said cylindrical housing extending partially through said inflator-receiving slot and including a portion disposed within said cavity and a portion disposed outside said cavity, gas dispensing nozzles being formed in said portion of said cylindrical housing disposed within said cavity; a first set of fasteners connecting said coupling structure of said inflator with a portion of said main body of said reaction can; and a second set of fasteners connecting said retention device with said external flange on said reaction can.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 166 words

A vehicle air bag module comprising: a reaction can including (a) a main body defining a cavity and an air bag opening and (b) an external flange extending away from said air bag opening, said main body comprising a pair of converging wall sections and having an inflator-receiving slot formed in one of said pair of converging wall sections; a folded air bag having a gas inlet opening, said folded air bag being attached to said reaction can and disposed at least partially within said cavity; an inflator comprising a cylindrical housing an a coupling structure which couples said housing to said reaction can, said cylindrical housing extending partially through said slot in said main body and including a portion disposed within said cavity and a portion disposed outside said cavity, gas dispensing nozzles being formed in said portion of said cylindrical housing disposed within said cavity; and a first set of fasteners connecting said inflator coupling structure with said main body of said reaction can.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 166 words

A vehicle air bag module comprising: a reaction can including (a) a main body defining a cavity and an air bag opening and (b) an external flange extending away from said air bag opening, said main body comprising a pair of converging wall sections and having an inflator-receiving slot formed in one of said pair of converging wall sections; a folded air bag having a gas inlet opening, said folded air bag being attached to said reaction can and disposed at least partially within said cavity; an inflator comprising a cylindrical housing an a coupling structure which couples said housing to said reaction can, said cylindrical housing extending partially through said slot in said main body and including a portion disposed within said cavity and a portion disposed outside said cavity, gas dispensing nozzles being formed in said portion of said cylindrical housing disposed within said cavity; and a first set of fasteners connecting said inflator coupling structure with said main body of said reaction can.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-06-16	1995-12-16	1996-06-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-06-16	1999-12-16	2000-06-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-06-16	2003-12-16	2004-06-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Air bag module

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