Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A passenger airbag cover to canister attachment for mounting a cover on an airbag canister which allows relative movement in three directions of the cover with respect to the canister to permit a proper fit of the cover to an instrument panel of a vehicle comprising: an airbag canister having a plurality of mounting holes in a sidewall surface thereof, a plurality of threaded studs mounted in said plurality of mounting holes with the threaded studs extending outwardly from the sidewall, an airbag cover having a forwardly extending door portion adapted to fit in an opening in an instrument panel of a vehicle in which a passenger airbag is installed and a rearwardly extending portion adapted to be attached to said airbag canister, a plurality of openings in said rearwardly extending portion of said airbag cover receiving said threaded studs, a shoulder nut, having a head and threaded body, mounted on each of said threaded studs for retaining attachment of said cover on said canister sidewall, wherein the heads of said shoulder nuts, when threaded on said threaded studs, are located at a distance from the canister sidewall and the size of the opening of each of the plurality of openings is greater than a diameter of the threaded body of the shoulder nut such that the attachment can provide relative movement of the canister to the cover in at least three directions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A passenger airbag cover to canister attachment for mounting a cover on an airbag canister which allows relative movement in three directions of the cover with respect to the canister to permit a proper fit of the cover to an instrument panel of a vehicle comprising: an airbag canister having a plurality of mounting holes in a sidewall surface thereof, a plurality of threaded studs mounted in said plurality of mounting holes with the threaded studs extending outwardly from the sidewall, an airbag cover having a forwardly extending door portion adapted to fit in an opening in an instrument panel of a vehicle in which a passenger airbag is installed and a rearwardly extending portion adapted to be attached to said airbag canister, a plurality of openings in said rearwardly extending portion of said airbag cover receiving said threaded studs, a shoulder nut, having a head and threaded body, mounted on each of said threaded studs for retaining attachment of said cover on said canister sidewall, wherein the heads of said shoulder nuts, when threaded on said threaded studs, are located at a distance from the canister sidewall and the size of the opening of each of the plurality of openings is greater than a diameter of the threaded body of the shoulder nut such that the attachment can provide relative movement of the canister to the cover in at least three directions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said shoulder nuts is provided with a tamper-proof driver receptacle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said studs is mounted on said canister by a stud strap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rearwardly extending portion of said airbag cover contains a reinforcing insert around the openings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said rearwardly extending portion of said airbag cover contains a reinforcing insert around the openings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure as claimed in claim 4 wherein the reinforcing insert is metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein the reinforcing insert is metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the threaded studs extend generally transversely outwardly from the sidewall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the threaded studs extend generally transversely outwardly from the sidewall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure as claimed in claim 4 wherein the threaded studs extend generally transversely outwardly from the sidewall.