US5520409A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cover retention in occupant restraint installations
Assignee: Autoliv ASP Inc
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Filing: 1992-12-15
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Granted: 1996-05-28
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Expires: 2012-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A method and assembly resulting in improved cover to housing retention in occupant restraint assemblies is disclosed. The improved retention is realized via the appropriate application and use of a band of heat shrinkable material about the assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Davin G. Saderholm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:02
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/217
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for retaining a cover in an occupant restraint module assembly, said method comprising the steps of: applying a band of heat shrinkable material about the periphery of the assembly comprising a reaction housing, an inflator, an uninflated air bag and the cover to form a banded assembly, and heating the banded assembly to effect shrinkage of said band with the shrunk band of material serving to secure said cover to said housing during bag deployment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for retaining a cover in an occupant restraint module assembly, said method comprising the steps of: applying a band of heat shrinkable material about the periphery of the assembly comprising a reaction housing, an inflator, an uninflated air bag and the cover to form a banded assembly, and heating the banded assembly to effect shrinkage of said band with the shrunk band of material serving to secure said cover to said housing during bag deployment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said cover is a snap-on cover comprising moldable plastic, with said cover having a substantially flat face portion defining therein weakened tear lines adapted to rupture and form release doors under the influence of an inflating air bag and at least one arm portion extending rearwardly from the face portion and adapted to engage with an opposed portion of the housing for securing the cover to the housing against axial forces exerted on the assembly during deployment of the air bag.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said moldable plastic comprises an injection molded thermoplastic olefin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a rigid box-like structure having a bottom and a side wall defining a substantially open top with the housing adapted to contain therewithin the uninflated air bag connected to the inflator to inflate the air bag and with the side wall having an outwardly extending rim disposed around at least a portion of the open top.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said heating step is conducted at a temperature below the autoignition temperature of the inflator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said band of heat shrinkable material comprises nylon 66.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said band of heat shrinkable material comprises rayon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said shrunk band of heat shrinkable material is effective to secure the cover to the housing against radial forces exerted on the assembly during deployment of the air bag.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
245 words
A method for cover securement in an occupant restraint module assembly including a rigid box-like housing having a bottom and a side wall defining a substantially open top with the housing adapted to contain therewithin an uninflated air bag connected to an inflator to inflate the air bag and with the side wall having an outwardly extending rim disposed around at least a portion of the open top, and a moldable plastic snap-on cover closing the top of the housing, the cover having a substantially flat face portion defining therein weakened tear lines adapted to rupture and formrelease doors under the influence of an inflating air bag and at least one arm portion extending rearwardly from the face portion and adapted to engage with an opposed portion of the housing rim for securing the cover to the housing against axial forces exerted on the assembly during deployment of the air bag, said method for securing said cover to said housing against radial forces exerted on the assembly during deployment of the air bag and comprising the steps of: applying a band of heat shrinkable material about a retaining band installation area on the periphery of said moldable plastic cover of said assembly to form a banded assembly, and heating the banded assembly at a temperature below the autoignition temperature of the inflator to effect shrinkage of said band with the shrunk band of material serving to secure said cover to said housing during bag deployment.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
245 words
A method for cover securement in an occupant restraint module assembly including a rigid box-like housing having a bottom and a side wall defining a substantially open top with the housing adapted to contain therewithin an uninflated air bag connected to an inflator to inflate the air bag and with the side wall having an outwardly extending rim disposed around at least a portion of the open top, and a moldable plastic snap-on cover closing the top of the housing, the cover having a substantially flat face portion defining therein weakened tear lines adapted to rupture and formrelease doors under the influence of an inflating air bag and at least one arm portion extending rearwardly from the face portion and adapted to engage with an opposed portion of the housing rim for securing the cover to the housing against axial forces exerted on the assembly during deployment of the air bag, said method for securing said cover to said housing against radial forces exerted on the assembly during deployment of the air bag and comprising the steps of: applying a band of heat shrinkable material about a retaining band installation area on the periphery of said moldable plastic cover of said assembly to form a banded assembly, and heating the banded assembly at a temperature below the autoignition temperature of the inflator to effect shrinkage of said band with the shrunk band of material serving to secure said cover to said housing during bag deployment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said moldable plastic comprises an injection molded thermoplastic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said thermoplastic comprises a thermoplastic olefin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said band of heat shrinkable material comprises nylon 66.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said band of heat shrinkable material comprises rayon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
180 words
In an occupant restraint module assembly including a rigid box-like housing having a bottom and a side wall defining a substantially open top with the housing adapted to contain therewithin an uninflated air bag connected to an inflator to inflate the air bag and with the side wall having an outwardly extending rim disposed around at least a portion of the open top, and a cover closing the top of the housing, said cover having a substantially flat face portion and at least one arm portion extending rearwardly from the face portion and adapted to engage with an opposed portion of the housing rim for securing the cover to the housing against the axial forces exerted on the assembly during deployment of the air bag, the improvement which comprises: a band of heat shrinkable material applied about a retaining band installation area on the periphery of said cover of said assembly and adjacent at least one retaining flange, which band upon heating shrinks to secure said cover to said housing against radial forces exerted on the assembly during bag deployment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
180 words
In an occupant restraint module assembly including a rigid box-like housing having a bottom and a side wall defining a substantially open top with the housing adapted to contain therewithin an uninflated air bag connected to an inflator to inflate the air bag and with the side wall having an outwardly extending rim disposed around at least a portion of the open top, and a cover closing the top of the housing, said cover having a substantially flat face portion and at least one arm portion extending rearwardly from the face portion and adapted to engage with an opposed portion of the housing rim for securing the cover to the housing against the axial forces exerted on the assembly during deployment of the air bag, the improvement which comprises: a band of heat shrinkable material applied about a retaining band installation area on the periphery of said cover of said assembly and adjacent at least one retaining flange, which band upon heating shrinks to secure said cover to said housing against radial forces exerted on the assembly during bag deployment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 14 wherein said band of heat shrinkable material comprises nylon 66.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement of claim 14 wherein said band of heat shrinkable material comprises rayon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
193 words
An occupant restraint module outer assembly comprising: a rigid box-like housing having a bottom and a side wall defining a substantially open top with said housing adapted to contain therewithin an uninflated air bag connected to an inflator to inflate said air bag and with said side wall having an outwardly extending rim disposed around at least a portion of said open top, an injection molded thermoplastic olefin snap-on cover closing for said top, said cover having a substantially flat face portion defining therein weakened tear lines adapted to rupture and form release doors under the influence of an inflating air bag and at least one arm portion extending rearwardly from the face portion and adapted to engage with an opposed portion of said housing rim for securing said cover to said housing against axial forces exerted on said assembly during deployment of the air bag, said cover having a retaining band installation area about its outer peripheral surface, and a band of heat shrinkable material applied about said retaining band installation area to secure said cover to said housing during bag deployment, said band being subjected to heating to effect shrinkage thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
193 words
An occupant restraint module outer assembly comprising: a rigid box-like housing having a bottom and a side wall defining a substantially open top with said housing adapted to contain therewithin an uninflated air bag connected to an inflator to inflate said air bag and with said side wall having an outwardly extending rim disposed around at least a portion of said open top, an injection molded thermoplastic olefin snap-on cover closing for said top, said cover having a substantially flat face portion defining therein weakened tear lines adapted to rupture and form release doors under the influence of an inflating air bag and at least one arm portion extending rearwardly from the face portion and adapted to engage with an opposed portion of said housing rim for securing said cover to said housing against axial forces exerted on said assembly during deployment of the air bag, said cover having a retaining band installation area about its outer peripheral surface, and a band of heat shrinkable material applied about said retaining band installation area to secure said cover to said housing during bag deployment, said band being subjected to heating to effect shrinkage thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of claim 17 wherein said housing and cover additionally comprise a locking lip means of engagement.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The assembly of claim 17 wherein said housing and cover lack a locking lip means of engagement.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a bottom and a side wall defining a substantially open top with the side wall having an outwardly extending rim disposed around at least a portion of the open top and with said cover adapted to engage with an opposed portion of the housing rim for securing the cover to the housing against the axial forces exerted on the assembly during deployment of the air bag wherein said assembly lacks a locking lip means of engagement between said housing and said cover.
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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) | 1999-05-28 | 1999-11-27 | 2000-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-28 | 2003-11-27 | 2004-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-28 | 2007-11-27 | 2008-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |