Patent US5398960A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5398960A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Airbag module doors having slip-in and snap-in tether attachments
Assignee: Autoliv ASP Inc
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Filing: 1994-02-01
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Granted: 1995-03-21
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Expires: 2014-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A passenger side airbag module for a motor vehicle is designed to engage one end of a cover tether by a slip-fit latch. The other end of the tether is firmly secured to the breakaway portion of the vehicle instrument panel. A secondary latch prevents the anchor from rotating or rattling after installation.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Ravenberg
- 👤 David J. Green
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:30
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/217; B60R21/2171; B60R21/215; B60R21/216
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
In an automotive airbag installation including an airbag module assembly including a reaction canister positionable behind an instrument panel, a breakaway cover formed in said instrument panel, and a tether having a first end secured to said cover and a second end connectable to said module assembly, the improvement comprising: a tether anchor secured to the second end of said tether; and means for making a slip-fit engagement between said module assembly and said anchor while providing firm support during cover breakaway resulting from airbag deployment, said engagement means comprises a male connector on one of said anchor and module assembly and a female connector on the other of said anchor and module assembly wherein said female connector comprises a channel having a sidewall defining a slot therethrough and said male connector is insertable through an axial open end of said channel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
In an automotive airbag installation including an airbag module assembly including a reaction canister positionable behind an instrument panel, a breakaway cover formed in said instrument panel, and a tether having a first end secured to said cover and a second end connectable to said module assembly, the improvement comprising: a tether anchor secured to the second end of said tether; and means for making a slip-fit engagement between said module assembly and said anchor while providing firm support during cover breakaway resulting from airbag deployment, said engagement means comprises a male connector on one of said anchor and module assembly and a female connector on the other of said anchor and module assembly wherein said female connector comprises a channel having a sidewall defining a slot therethrough and said male connector is insertable through an axial open end of said channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said engagement means comprises a male connector on one of said anchor and module assembly and a female connector on the other of said anchor and module assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein said male connector is on said anchor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said female connector comprises at least one substantially cylindrical channel having a sidewall defining a slot therethrough and said male connector comprises a pin insertable through an axial open end of said cylindrical channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said female connector comprises first and second spaced, axially aligned channels and said male connector comprises first and second spaced, axially aligned pins insertable into the respective first and second channels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 4 additionally comprising means for substantially preventing rotation of said pin within said channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein said rotation preventing means comprises a latch interconnecting said anchor and said module assembly at a point on said anchor spaced from said pin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein said latch comprises a detent on one of said anchor and module assembly and a pawl on the other of said anchor and module assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein said detent is carried by said module assembly and said pawl is carried by said anchor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said female connector comprises at least one substantially cylindrical channel formed in said reaction canister and having a sidewall defining a slot therethrough and said male connector comprises a pin insertable through an axial open end of said cylindrical channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein said female connector comprises first and second spaced, axially aligned channels and said male connector comprises first and second spaced, axially aligned pins insertable into the respective first and second channels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 10 additionally comprising means for substantially preventing rotation of said pin within said channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement of claim 12 wherein said rotation preventing means comprises a latch interconnecting said anchor and said reaction canister at a point on said anchor spaced from said pin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement of claim 13 wherein said latch comprises a detent on one of said anchor and reaction canister and a pawl on the other of said anchor and reaction canister.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement of claim 14 wherein said detent is carried by said reaction canister and said pawl is carried by said anchor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement of claim 15 wherein said detent is a channel formed in said reaction canister and substantially parallel to said cylindrical channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement of claim 16 wherein said pawl comprises a tongue extending from said anchor and latchingly engageable with said detent upon rotation of said anchor about said pin within said substantially cylindrical channel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
110 words
An automotive airbag installation which comprises: an instrument panel including a breakaway portion therein forming a cover; a substantially trough-shaped reaction canister mounted behind said cover, said canister having first and second sidewalls, a floor, and first and second end plates for containing an inflator and a folded airbag therein; a hinge channel integral with, and protruding from, said first sidewall and slotted along its length to receive a hinge pin therein in slip-fit engagement; and a tether having a first end secured to said cover and a second end carrying .an anchor member, said anchor member including said hinge pin engageable with said hinge channel in said slip-fit engagement.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
110 words
An automotive airbag installation which comprises: an instrument panel including a breakaway portion therein forming a cover; a substantially trough-shaped reaction canister mounted behind said cover, said canister having first and second sidewalls, a floor, and first and second end plates for containing an inflator and a folded airbag therein; a hinge channel integral with, and protruding from, said first sidewall and slotted along its length to receive a hinge pin therein in slip-fit engagement; and a tether having a first end secured to said cover and a second end carrying .an anchor member, said anchor member including said hinge pin engageable with said hinge channel in said slip-fit engagement.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The installation of claim 18 additionally comprising means for latching said tether anchor to said first sidewall to prevent rotation between said hinge pin and hinge channel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The installation of claim 19 wherein said latching means comprises: a detent formed in the first sidewall of said reaction canister; and a pawl carried by said tether anchor and engageable with said detent.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-03-20 | 1998-09-19 | 1999-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-20 | 2002-09-19 | 2003-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-20 | 2006-09-19 | 2007-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |