US5503426A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of attaching a mounting bracket to an airbag inflator
Assignee: Autoliv ASP Inc
•
Filing: 1995-09-01
•
Granted: 1996-04-02
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Expires: 2015-09-01
Abstract
Abstract A method of attaching a mounting bracket to an inflator having a cylindrical sidewall and a peripheral inflator flange radially extending from the sidewall that includes: providing a unitary mounting bracket having a annular support, a flange seat adjacent the annular support for receiving the peripheral inflator flange and a cylindrical sleeve extending from the flange seat and having a distal portion; sliding the cylindrical sleeve of the mounting bracket onto the inflator until the inflator flange butts against the flange seat; and applying a suitable amount of axial force to the distal portion of the sleeve so that the distal portion deforms radially inwardly into a clamping band underlying at least a portion of the inflator flange. The inflator flange is clamped between the clamping band and the flange seat to secure the mounting bracket to the inflator. Preferably, a crimping die is used to crimp the distal portion of the sleeve into a clamping band while the inflator is supported in an inflator nest.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory J. Lang
- 👤 Todd S. Parker
- 👤 Brian H. Fulmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:17
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/217; B21; B21D; B21D39/00; B21D39/03; B60R21/26; B60R21/264; B60R21/2644
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of attaching a mounting bracket to an inflator having a sidewall and a peripheral inflator flange radially extending from the sidewall, the method comprising: providing a unitary mounting bracket having an annular support, a flange seat adjacent the annular support for receiving the peripheral inflator flange, and a sleeve sized and shaped to receive the inflator flange, the sleeve extending from the flange seat and having a distal portion; sliding the sleeve of the mounting bracket over the sidewall of the inflator until the flange seat butts against the inflator flange; and deforming the distal portion of the sleeve radially inwardly to form a clamping band underlying at least a portion of the inflator flange, thereby clamping the inflator flange between the clamping band and the flange seat to secure the mounting bracket to the inflator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of attaching a mounting bracket to an inflator having a sidewall and a peripheral inflator flange radially extending from the sidewall, the method comprising: providing a unitary mounting bracket having an annular support, a flange seat adjacent the annular support for receiving the peripheral inflator flange, and a sleeve sized and shaped to receive the inflator flange, the sleeve extending from the flange seat and having a distal portion; sliding the sleeve of the mounting bracket over the sidewall of the inflator until the flange seat butts against the inflator flange; and deforming the distal portion of the sleeve radially inwardly to form a clamping band underlying at least a portion of the inflator flange, thereby clamping the inflator flange between the clamping band and the flange seat to secure the mounting bracket to the inflator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 1 further including providing a crimping die having a generally concave depression sized to receive the distal portion of the mounting bracket sleeve, placing the concave depression of the crimping die over the distal portion of the mounting bracket sleeve after sliding the mounting bracket sleeve onto the inflator, and applying a suitable amount of axial force to the crimping die so that the crimping die deforms the distal portion of the mounting bracket sleeve radially inwardly into the clamping band.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1 further including providing an inflator nest having a face surrounding a recess sized to receive a portion of the inflator, and placing said portion of the inflator within the recess so that the annular support of the mounting bracket abuts the face prior to deforming the distal portion of the sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the distal portion of the sleeve is deformed sufficiently to clamp the inflator flange between the flange seat and the clamping band to prevent inflator rotation with respect to the mounting bracket in addition to securing the mounting bracket to the inflator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the clamping band is continuous.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the annular support is continuous.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the flange seat is continuous.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sidewall of the inflator is cylindrical.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the distal portion of the sleeve is deformed by applying a suitable amount of axial force to the distal portion.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of attaching a mounting bracket to an inflator having a cylindrical sidewall and a peripheral inflator flange radially extending from the sidewall, the method comprising: providing a unitary mounting bracket having a continuous annular support, a continuous flange seat adjacent the annular support for receiving the peripheral inflator flange, and a cylindrical sleeve extending from the flange seat and having a distal portion; sliding the cylindrical sleeve of the mounting bracket over the sidewall of the inflator until the flange seat butts against the inflator flange; and applying a suitable amount of force to the distal portion of the sleeve to deform the distal portion radially inwardly into a continuous clamping band underlying at least a portion of the inflator flange to clamp the inflator flange between the clamping band and the flange seat, thereby securing the mounting bracket to the inflator and preventing the inflator from rotating with respect to the mounting bracket.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of attaching a mounting bracket to an inflator having a cylindrical sidewall and a peripheral inflator flange radially extending from the sidewall, the method comprising: providing a unitary mounting bracket having a continuous annular support, a continuous flange seat adjacent the annular support for receiving the peripheral inflator flange, and a cylindrical sleeve extending from the flange seat and having a distal portion; sliding the cylindrical sleeve of the mounting bracket over the sidewall of the inflator until the flange seat butts against the inflator flange; and applying a suitable amount of force to the distal portion of the sleeve to deform the distal portion radially inwardly into a continuous clamping band underlying at least a portion of the inflator flange to clamp the inflator flange between the clamping band and the flange seat, thereby securing the mounting bracket to the inflator and preventing the inflator from rotating with respect to the mounting bracket.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of attaching a mounting bracket to an inflator having a cylindrical sidewall and a peripheral inflator flange radially extending from the sidewall, the method comprising: providing a unitary mounting bracket having an annular support, a flange seat adjacent the annular support for receiving the peripheral inflator flange, and a cylindrical sleeve extending from the flange seat and having a distal portion; providing a crimping die having a generally concave depression sized to receive the distal portion of the cylindrical sleeve; sliding the cylindrical sleeve of the mounting bracket over the sidewall of the inflator until the flange seat butts against the inflator flange; placing the concave depression of the crimping die over the distal portion of the cylindrical sleeve; and applying a suitable amount of axial force to the crimping die so that the crimping die deforms the distal portion of the sleeve radially inwardly into a clamping band underlying at least a portion of the inflator flange to clamp the inflator flange between the clamping band and the flange seat and thereby secure the mounting bracket to the inflator.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of attaching a mounting bracket to an inflator having a cylindrical sidewall and a peripheral inflator flange radially extending from the sidewall, the method comprising: providing a unitary mounting bracket having an annular support, a flange seat adjacent the annular support for receiving the peripheral inflator flange, and a cylindrical sleeve extending from the flange seat and having a distal portion; providing a crimping die having a generally concave depression sized to receive the distal portion of the cylindrical sleeve; sliding the cylindrical sleeve of the mounting bracket over the sidewall of the inflator until the flange seat butts against the inflator flange; placing the concave depression of the crimping die over the distal portion of the cylindrical sleeve; and applying a suitable amount of axial force to the crimping die so that the crimping die deforms the distal portion of the sleeve radially inwardly into a clamping band underlying at least a portion of the inflator flange to clamp the inflator flange between the clamping band and the flange seat and thereby secure the mounting bracket to the inflator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 11 further including providing an inflator nest having a face surrounding a generally cylindrical recess sized to receive a portion of the cylindrical sidewall of the inflator and placing the inflator with the mounting bracket positioned thereon within the cylindrical recess so that the annular support of the mounting bracket abuts the face prior to placing the concave depression of the crimping die over the distal portion of the cylindrical sleeve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the amount of axial force applied to the crimping die is sufficient to clamp the inflator flange between the flange seat and clamping band to prevent inflator rotation with respect to the mounting bracket in addition to securing the mounting bracket to the inflator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the clamping band is continuous.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the annular support is continuous.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the flange seat is continuous.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US5141247A
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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) | 1999-04-02 | 1999-10-02 | 2000-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-02 | 2003-10-02 | 2004-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-02 | 2007-10-02 | 2008-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |