Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-27
2003-02-11
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S728300, C280S731000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06517099
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air bag device comprising a horn switch, and, more particularly, to an air bag device which is constructed so that, when a module cover is pushed, only a module cover moves so as to turn on the horn switch.
There is a type of driver-seat air bag device installed at the steering wheel of an automobile, which is constructed so that, when a module cover of the air bag device is pushed, a horn switch is turned on in order to blow a horn. In this case, when the air bag device is constructed so that only the module cover, and not the entire air bag device, moves to turn on the horn switch, only a small amount of pushing force is required to turn on the horn switch.
An airbag apparatus
100
having such a structure is shown in FIG.
7
. The airbag apparatus
100
comprises a retainer
102
, an airbag
106
attached to the retainer
102
with an airbag fitting ring
104
, an inflator
108
for inflating the airbag
106
, and a module cover
110
for covering the folded airbag
106
.
An integral leg section
112
protrudes from the back side of the module cover
110
, and hooks
116
of a side-wall section
114
which is bent forward from the retainer
102
are inserted through openings
118
in the leg section
112
. Each hook
116
outwardly protrudes from the sidewall section
114
in an L-shape.
The inflator
108
includes a flange
108
a.
Bolts
120
protruding from the ring
104
are inserted through the retainer
102
and the flange
108
a,
so that the inflator
108
is fixed to the retainer
102
together with the airbag
106
by tightening nuts
122
.
The shape of the folded airbag
106
is maintained by a shape holding member
124
. The shape holding member
124
allows the airbag
106
to expand by breaking-off or deforming when the airbag
106
is inflated.
A bracket
132
protrudes upwardly from a steering wheel
130
, and projecting pieces
134
protruding downward from the backside of the retainer
102
. The pieces
134
are fixed to the bracket
132
with bolts
136
and nuts
138
.
A predetermined sized gap is formed between the back face of the module cover
110
and the shape holding member
124
. A predetermined sized gap is also formed between the opening
118
formed on the leg section
112
of the module cover
110
and the hook
116
. As a result, the module cover
110
can be moved vertically. When the module cover
110
is pressed, a horn switch (not shown) is pressed so as to be turned on. The horn switch is integrally formed with the retainer
102
and attached to an extending portion extending from the retainer
102
.
In the driver-seat air bag device, when the inflator is actuated to inflate the airbag, the module cover is torn along a tear line due to the force applied from the inflating airbag. Then, a large force is exerted on the module cover in the direction in which the module cover is separated from the retainer.
In a conventional air bag device which has its module cover firmly secured to its retainer, the module cover does not separate away from the retainer. However, in an air bag device which is constructed so that the module cover moves in a direction in which it comes into contact with and separates from the retainer, the hook
116
may get dislodged from the opening
118
of the leg
112
of the module cover.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to overcoming or at least reducing the effects of one or more of the problems set forth above.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an air bag device which makes it possible to reliably retain a module cover by a retainer during the expansion of an air bag (that is, during the operation of an inflator), when the air bag device is of a type whose module cover can move in a direction in which it comes into contact with and separates from the retainer.
According to the present invention, there is provided an air bag device comprising an air bag; a retainer to which the air bag is mounted; a module cover which covers the air bag, the module cover being movable towards the retainer; a wall projected from the retainer; a leg projected downwardly from an underside of the module cover; an opening formed in the leg; and a hook protruded from the wall, the hook extending into the opening; wherein the opening and the hook are separated by a space which allows movement of the module cover; and wherein a restricting member for restricting the movement of the leg in a direction in which the leg separates away from the wall is provided at the retainer.
In such an air bag device, in the case where the module cover is torn followed by operating the inflator, even when the leg of the module cover tries to separate away from the wall of the retainer, the restricting member prevents the separation of the module cover away from the wall of the retainer. Therefore, the hook is not dislodged from the opening in the leg at all.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6199899 (2001-03-01), Krebs et al.
patent: 6244618 (2001-06-01), Yokota
patent: 11-297155 (1999-10-01), None
Abe Kazuhiro
Hasebe Masahiro
Igawa Tadahiro
Culbreth Eric
Foley & Lardner
Takata Corporation
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