Air bag module

Claim 3

An air bag assembly comprising: an air bag housing defining a contained housing interior, the housing having a rearward housing opening and axially spaced apart opposing end walls; and an air bag module subassembly for forwardly unidirectional insertion into the housing via the housing opening, the air bag module subassembly including an air bag for deployment through the housing opening, first and second opposing end supports being separate and independent from each other and being axially spaced apart, the first and second end supports each proximately abutting the respective end walls of the housing when the air bag module subassembly is inserted in the housing to restrain outward axial movement of the end supports away from each other, the first and second end supports each having an axially inwardly facing insertion slot therein, and an axially elongated air bag retainer secured to the air bag and having a first end seated in the insertion slot of the first end support and having a second end seated in the insertion slot of the second end support such that the air bag retainer is axially captured between the first and second end supports and held in position relative to the housing thereby.

Claim 4

An air bag assembly comprising: an air bag housing defining a contained housing interior, the housing having a rearward housing opening and axially spaced apart opposing end walls; and an air bag module subassembly for forwardly unidirectional insertion into the housing via the housing opening, the air bag module subassembly including an air bag for deployment through the housing opening, first and second opposing end supports being separate and independent from each other and being axially spaced apart, the first and second end supports each proximately abutting the respective end walls of the housing when the air bag module subassembly is inserted in the housing to restrain outward axial movement of the end supports away from each other, the first and second end supports each having an axially inwardly facing insertion slot therein, and an axially elongated air bag retainer secured to the air bag and having a first end seated in the insertion slot of the first end support and having a second end seated in the insertion slot of the second end support such that the air bag retainer is axially captured between the first and second end supports and held in position relative to the housing thereby.

Claim 5

The air bag assembly of claim 2 wherein the air bag module subassembly includes an inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag, the inflator being nonreleasably captured between the first and second end supports to prevent axial movement of the end supports relative to each other prior to insertion of the air bag module subassembly into the housing.

Claim 6

The air bag assembly of claim 2 wherein the first and second end supports each include a forwardmost portion spaced apart forward of the insertion slots, the forwardmost portions being secured to the housing after insertion of the air bag module subassembly therein to prevent removal of the air bag module subassembly out through the housing opening during air bag inflation.

Claim 7

The air bag assembly of claim 2 wherein the air bag module subassembly includes an axially elongated inflator for generating inflator gas to inflate the air bag, the inflator having opposing inflator ends each engaging one of the first and second end supports, the end supports axially capturing the inflator therebetween to hold the inflator in position relative the housing.

Claim 8

The air bag assembly of claim 2 wherein the insertion slots of the first and second end supports are each defined by spaced apart opposing forward and rearward surfaces connected by an axially outward outermost surface and wherein the outermost surfaces of each of the insertion slots each proximately abut respective opposing end walls of the housing to restrain outward axial movement of the end supports away from each other during air bag inflation.

Claim 9

The air bag assembly of claim 2 wherein the insertion slots are each defined by spaced apart opposing forward and rearward surfaces integrally formed on each of the end supports and wherein the air bag retainer is captured between the forward and rearward surfaces of the insertion slots to restrain the air bag retainer from rearward and forward movement relative the housing when the air bag module subassembly is inserted in the housing.

Claim 10

The air bag assembly of claim 2 wherein the air bag module subassembly includes an inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag and wherein each of the end supports nonreleasably engages at least one of the air bag retainer and inflator so that the air bag retainer and inflator remain axially captured between the end supports prior to insertion of the air bag module subassembly into the housing.

Claim 11

The air bag assembly of claim 2 wherein the end supports are each independently formed as a single integral piece.

Claim 12

An air bag assembly comprising: an air bag housing defining a contained housing interior, the housing having a rearward housing opening and axially spaced apart opposing end walls; and an air bag module subassembly for forwardly unidirectional insertion into the housing via the housing opening, the air bag module subassembly including an air bag for deployment through the housing opening, first and second opposing end supports being independent and separate from each other and being axially spaced apart, the end supports each including an axially inwardly facing insertion slot defined by spaced apart opposed forward and rearward surfaces connected by an axially outward outermost surface, the outermost surfaces each proximately abutting respective opposing end walls of the housing when the air bag module subassembly is inserted into the housing to restrain outward axial movement of the end supports away from each other, and an axially elongated air bag retainer secured to the air bag and having a first end seated in the insertion slot of the first end support by slip-fitted axial insertion therein and having an opposite second end seated in the insertion slot of the second end support by slip-fitted axial insertion therein such that the air bag retainer is axially captured between the outermost surfaces of the insertion slots to prevent axial movement of the air bag retainer and is captured between the forward and rearward surfaces of the insertion slots to prevent forward and rearward movement of the air bag retainer whereby the end supports hold the air bag retainer in position relative the housing.

Claim 13

An air bag assembly comprising: an air bag housing defining a contained housing interior, the housing having a rearward housing opening and axially spaced apart opposing end walls; and an air bag module subassembly for forwardly unidirectional insertion into the housing via the housing opening, the air bag module subassembly including an air bag for deployment through the housing opening, first and second opposing end supports being independent and separate from each other and being axially spaced apart, the end supports each including an axially inwardly facing insertion slot defined by spaced apart opposed forward and rearward surfaces connected by an axially outward outermost surface, the outermost surfaces each proximately abutting respective opposing end walls of the housing when the air bag module subassembly is inserted into the housing to restrain outward axial movement of the end supports away from each other, and an axially elongated air bag retainer secured to the air bag and having a first end seated in the insertion slot of the first end support by slip-fitted axial insertion therein and having an opposite second end seated in the insertion slot of the second end support by slip-fitted axial insertion therein such that the air bag retainer is axially captured between the outermost surfaces of the insertion slots to prevent axial movement of the air bag retainer and is captured between the forward and rearward surfaces of the insertion slots to prevent forward and rearward movement of the air bag retainer whereby the end supports hold the air bag retainer in position relative the housing.

Claim 14

The air bag assembly of claim 10 wherein the air bag module subassembly includes an inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag, the inflator being axially captured between the end supports to hold the inflator in position relative to the housing when the air bag module subassembly is inserted in the housing.

Claim 15

The air bag assembly of claim 11 wherein the end supports each nonreleasably engage at least one of the air bag retainer and inflator so that the air bag retainer and inflator remain captured by the end supports prior to insertion of the air bag module subassembly into the housing.

Claim 16

The air bag module of claim 11 wherein the end supports are each independently formed as a single integral piece.