Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Patent
1993-05-14
1997-12-02
Tyson, Karin L.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
B60R 2120
Patent
active
056927681
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an airbag assembly, in which an inflator and/or an airbag is coupled with a reaction device as the reaction device is being formed.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An airbag assembly is commonly installed in a vehicle to protect an occupant in the event of a crash or collision. A typical airbag assembly comprises a reaction device, an airbag coupled to the reaction device, and an inflator also coupled to the reaction device. The airbag assembly is generally installed in a vehicle by attaching the reaction device to a structural part of the vehicle.
In the past, various methods have been developed for assembling an airbag assembly. For example, to assemble the airbag assembly shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,410 to Bachelder, an airbag and a cover are secured to a reaction plate. Thereafter, an inflator is attached to the reaction plate to complete the airbag assembly. The attachment of the inflator particularly includes placing the inflator in a cradle formed in the reaction plate and securing the inflator in the cradle.
Additionally, to assemble the airbag assembly disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/684,664 filed Apr. 12, 1991, for "Air Bag Inflator and Method of Assembly" (assigned to the assignee of the present invention), an airbag is located within, and secured to, a reaction can. Thereafter, a portion of an inflator is inserted into a slot in the reaction can and the remaining portion of the inflator is secured to an outside surface of the reaction can.
Further, to assemble the airbag assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,273 to Risko, an airbag is initially arranged within the cavity of a reaction can. The inflator is then inserted into the cavity and coupled to the reaction can. The arrangement of the airbag within the Risko reaction can is such that the inflator traps a portion of the airbag to secure the airbag to the reaction can.
Still further, to assemble the airbag assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,300 to Ziomek, et al., an airbag is inserted into a reaction can and then coupled to the reaction can. The inflator is then inserted through a side opening in the reaction can and coupled to the reaction can.
In the foregoing airbag assemblies, the reaction device (i.e., the reaction plate or the reaction can) is initially formed as a complete unit and the inflator and the airbag are then coupled to the completed reaction device. In contrast, the present invention provides an airbag assembly in which the inflator and/or the airbag is coupled with the reaction device as the reaction device is being formed.
More particularly, the present invention provides an apparatus for use in forming a vehicle airbag assembly which includes an inflator and an airbag. The apparatus comprises a plurality of housing members adapted to be coupled together to form a reaction device defining an internal cavity. The housing members are configured to capture the inflator and/or the airbag in the cavity and to retain the inflator and/or the airbag in a predetermined orientation in the cavity as the housing members are coupled together.
In certain airbag assemblies according to the present invention, first and second housing members are configured to capture both a cylindrical inflator and an airbag in the cavity and to retain both the airbag and the inflator in respective predetermined orientations in the cavity as the housing members are coupled together. The inflator includes a plurality of nozzles arranged to ensure that inflation fluid is uniformly directed into the airbag. The airbag includes a folded inflatable bag and a retainer attached to a portion of the bag. The first and second housing members are essentially identical and each defines a cradle for receiving a portion of the inflator and a channel for receiving a selected part of the airbag retainer.
In one of these airbag assemblies, the inflator-receiving cradles include springs formed in one piece with the housing members. These springs are located so as to engage the
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Takata Corp. airbag module (photograph attached as Exhibit A).
Fischer Craig M.
Fischer Kurt F.
Mihm Joseph J.
Rhein John F.
Sparks Tracy S.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
Tyson Karin L.
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