US5452913A — Break-away airbag retaining flap

Claim 1

Independent Claim 151 words

In an airbag inflator module, the combination, including: a rigid housing for holding an inflatable airbag while in a deflated folded condition, said housing having an open end for permitting said airbag to escape upon deployment thereof; a cover attached to said housing with fastening means to enclose said open end for normally containing said deflated folded airbag, said cover designed to break along a predetermined fracture line to pivot open along a hinge line when said airbag is inflated upon deployment; and a break-away retaining flap of thin flexible sheet material extending over said airbag adjacent said open end for retaining said folded deflated airbag in said housing while said cover is attached to said open end, said retaining flap having a first part secured to said housing at a position within said housing and spaced away from said open end and a second part secured to said fastening means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 151 words

In an airbag inflator module, the combination, including: a rigid housing for holding an inflatable airbag while in a deflated folded condition, said housing having an open end for permitting said airbag to escape upon deployment thereof; a cover attached to said housing with fastening means to enclose said open end for normally containing said deflated folded airbag, said cover designed to break along a predetermined fracture line to pivot open along a hinge line when said airbag is inflated upon deployment; and a break-away retaining flap of thin flexible sheet material extending over said airbag adjacent said open end for retaining said folded deflated airbag in said housing while said cover is attached to said open end, said retaining flap having a first part secured to said housing at a position within said housing and spaced away from said open end and a second part secured to said fastening means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 49 words

The combination of claim 1, wherein: said retaining flap includes a second part having at least one opening therein adapted to fit over said fastening means, and including a weakened portion between said first and second parts adapted to break and release retention of said airbag upon inflation thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The combination of claim 2, wherein: said weakened portion comprises a plurality of perforations spaced apart along a line to facilitate break-away along said line when said airbag is inflated.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

The combination of claim 2, wherein: said weakened portion comprises a plurality of elongated perforations in spaced apart end to end relation defining a line of break-away when said airbag is inflated.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

The combination of claim 1, wherein: said break-away retaining flap is formed of woven fabric.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The combination of claim 2, wherein: said first part of said retaining flap is attached to said airbag.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

The combination of claim 6, wherein: said retaining flap is attached to said airbag by one or more rows of stitching.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 114 words

A break-away retaining flap for containing a deflated, folded airbag in a rigid housing while a pivotable cover is being attached to said housing with fasteners in order to cover an open end of said housing with said airbag therein, comprising: a piece of thin flexible sheet material having means on a first portion for attachment within said housing and away from said open end and means on a second portion for securing to said fasteners while said cover is attached, said piece of sheet material having a weakened portion between said first and second portions adapted to facilitate break-away of said retaining flap into at least two parts when said airbag is inflated.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 114 words

A break-away retaining flap for containing a deflated, folded airbag in a rigid housing while a pivotable cover is being attached to said housing with fasteners in order to cover an open end of said housing with said airbag therein, comprising: a piece of thin flexible sheet material having means on a first portion for attachment within said housing and away from said open end and means on a second portion for securing to said fasteners while said cover is attached, said piece of sheet material having a weakened portion between said first and second portions adapted to facilitate break-away of said retaining flap into at least two parts when said airbag is inflated.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

The break-away retaining flap of claim 8, wherein: said second portion comprises a plurality of spaced apart openings for receiving said fasteners to retain said airbag in place in said housing while said cover is attached.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 38 words

The break-away retaining flap of claim 9, wherein: said openings are spaced along a fastening line; and wherein said weakened portion comprises a plurality of perforations spaced apart along a break-away line between said first and second portions.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The break-away retaining flap of claim 10, wherein: said weakened portion comprises webs of reduced strength formed between adjacent perforations to facilitate break-away along said break-away line.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 167 words

A break-away retaining flip for containing a deflated, folded airbag in a rigid housing while a pivotable cover is being attached to said housing with fasteners in order to cover an open end of said housing with said airbag therein, comprising: a piece of thin flexible sheet material having means on a first portion for attachment to said housing away from said open end and a second portion adapted to be secured to said fasteners while said cover is attached, said piece of sheet material having a weakened portion between said first and second portions adapted to facilitate break-away of said retaining flap into at least two parts when said airbag is inflated; said second portion comprising a plurality of spaced apart openings for receiving said fasteners to retain said airbag in place in said housing while said cover is attached; and wherein said spaced apart openings are formed in spaced apart parallel tabs defining open spaces therebetween extending between said weakened portion and said second portion.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 167 words

A break-away retaining flip for containing a deflated, folded airbag in a rigid housing while a pivotable cover is being attached to said housing with fasteners in order to cover an open end of said housing with said airbag therein, comprising: a piece of thin flexible sheet material having means on a first portion for attachment to said housing away from said open end and a second portion adapted to be secured to said fasteners while said cover is attached, said piece of sheet material having a weakened portion between said first and second portions adapted to facilitate break-away of said retaining flap into at least two parts when said airbag is inflated; said second portion comprising a plurality of spaced apart openings for receiving said fasteners to retain said airbag in place in said housing while said cover is attached; and wherein said spaced apart openings are formed in spaced apart parallel tabs defining open spaces therebetween extending between said weakened portion and said second portion.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 41 words

The break-away retaining flap of claim 12, wherein: said tabs have an outer end forming a free edge of said retaining flap to facilitate placing said retaining flap over said airbag with said fasteners extended into said openings of said tabs.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 120 words

A method of assembling a deflated, folded-up airbag into a rigid housing of an airbag inflator module having a cover on an open end of said housing, which cover is fractured to pivot open when said airbag is inflated during deployment, comprising the steps of: securing a first portion of a flexible, break-away, airbag retaining flap to a wall within said housing at a position spaced away from said open end; placing said airbag in a deflated, folded-up condition in said housing; extending said retaining flap to cover over said airbag in said housing to protect the same; securing a second portion of said retaining flap to said housing; and attaching said cover over said open end of said housing.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 120 words

A method of assembling a deflated, folded-up airbag into a rigid housing of an airbag inflator module having a cover on an open end of said housing, which cover is fractured to pivot open when said airbag is inflated during deployment, comprising the steps of: securing a first portion of a flexible, break-away, airbag retaining flap to a wall within said housing at a position spaced away from said open end; placing said airbag in a deflated, folded-up condition in said housing; extending said retaining flap to cover over said airbag in said housing to protect the same; securing a second portion of said retaining flap to said housing; and attaching said cover over said open end of said housing.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 14, wherein: fasteners are utilized for attaching said cover onto said housing; and said securing second portion of said retaining flap to said fasteners.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 15, including: providing said fasteners extending outwardly of said housing and holding said second portion of said retaining flap in covering position over said folded-up airbag placed in said housing by said fasteners projecting into openings in said second portion of said retaining flap.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 14, wherein: securing said airbag along with said first portion of said retaining flap to said wall of said housing at said position away from said open end.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 14, wherein: securing said retaining flap seals off said open end of said housing for protecting said airbag from contact with said cover when said cover is attached to said housing.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 14, including the step of: forming a weakened area in said retaining flap between said first and second portions to facilitate the break-away of said retaining flap into separate parts along said weakened area when said airbag is inflated upon deployment thereof.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 14, including the step of: attaching said first portion of retaining flap to said airbag.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 20, wherein: attaching of said retaining flap to said airbag along an edge portion of an open end thereof.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 21, wherein: securing of said retaining flap to said airbag by stitching.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 175 words

A method of assembling a deflated, folded-up airbag into a rigid housing of an airbag inflator module having a cover on an open end of said housing, which cover is fractured to pivot open when said airbag is inflated during deployment, comprising the steps of: securing a first portion of a flexible, break-away airbag retaining flap to a wall within said housing at a position spaced away from said open end; placing said airbag in a deflated folded-up condition in said housing; extending said retaining flap to cover over said airbag in said housing to protect the same; securing a second portion of said retaining flap to said housing using fasteners which extend outwardly from said housing and project into openings in said second portion of said retaining flap to secure and hold the same in a covering position over said folded-up airbag in said housing; and attaching said cover over said open end of said housing using said fasteners after said step of securing the second portion of said retaining flap to said housing.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 175 words

A method of assembling a deflated, folded-up airbag into a rigid housing of an airbag inflator module having a cover on an open end of said housing, which cover is fractured to pivot open when said airbag is inflated during deployment, comprising the steps of: securing a first portion of a flexible, break-away airbag retaining flap to a wall within said housing at a position spaced away from said open end; placing said airbag in a deflated folded-up condition in said housing; extending said retaining flap to cover over said airbag in said housing to protect the same; securing a second portion of said retaining flap to said housing using fasteners which extend outwardly from said housing and project into openings in said second portion of said retaining flap to secure and hold the same in a covering position over said folded-up airbag in said housing; and attaching said cover over said open end of said housing using said fasteners after said step of securing the second portion of said retaining flap to said housing.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-09-25	1999-03-27	1999-09-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-09-25	2003-03-27	2003-09-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-09-25	2007-03-27	2007-09-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Break-away airbag retaining flap

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag