Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-15
2001-06-26
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 2167)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S743100, C411S168000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250665
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, and particularly relates to an apparatus including an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag, is part of an apparatus which further includes a crash sensor and an inflator. The crash sensor senses vehicle conditions that indicate the occurrence of a crash. When the crash sensor senses a crash-indicating condition of at least a predetermined threshold level, the inflator is actuated. The inflator then emits inflation fluid which inflates the air bag into the vehicle occupant compartment to help restrain movement of an occupant of the vehicle.
An air bag and an inflator are typically assembled together as parts of an air bag module which is separate from the crash sensor. The air bag module is located in the vehicle adjacent to the vehicle occupant compartment. For example, a driver's side air bag module may be located on the vehicle steering column. A passenger side air bag module may be located in the vehicle instrument panel.
In addition to the air bag and the inflator, an air bag module typically includes a reaction structure, a retainer, and a cover. The reaction structure supports the inflator. The reaction structure may thus comprise, for example, a reaction canister which contains the inflator, or a reaction plate upon which the inflator is mounted. The reaction structure may alternatively comprise a structural portion of a vehicle part, such as a seat, door, or instrument panel, upon which the inflator is mounted. The retainer typically comprises a circular or rectangular ring surrounding the inflator. An edge portion of the air bag also surrounds the inflator. The edge portion of the air bag is clamped between the retainer and the reaction structure.
The cover includes a deployment door which extends over the air bag to conceal the air bag and the other parts of the module from view in the vehicle occupant compartment. When the inflation fluid emitted from the inflator begins to inflate the air bag, it moves the air bag outward against the deployment door on the cover. The cover ruptures under the force of the inflation fluid pressure acting on the air bag. The deployment door is then moved pivotally out of the path of the air bag as the inflation fluid continues to inflate the air bag outward from the cover and into the vehicle occupant compartment. In addition to rupturing the cover, the force of the inflation fluid pressure tends to pull the clamped edge portion of the air bag in a direction outward from between the retainer and the reaction structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a retainer ring and a mounting stud projecting from the retainer ring. The retainer ring is configured to overlie an edge portion of an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device adjacent to an opening defined by the edge portion of the protection device. In a first embodiment of the invention, the mounting stud has a central axis and a free end spaced from the retainer ring along the axis. The peripheral size and shape of the mounting stud are uniform fully between the retainer ring and the free end of the mounting stud. The mounting stud further has an axially extending bore configured to receive a screw-threaded fastener.
In accordance with a principal feature of the present invention, the first embodiment includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, an inflator, and a reaction structure. The inflator and the reaction structure comprise rigid clampable parts. The mounting stud projects from the retainer ring fully through an aperture in the protection device. The mounting stud further projects partially through an aperture in one of the rigid clampable parts.
The first embodiment further includes a fastener. A shaft portion of the fastener is received in the bore in the mounting stud. A head portion of the fastener is tightened against the rigid clampable part through which the mounting stud projects only partially.
An additional embodiment of the invention includes a differently configured mounting stud. In that embodiment, the mounting stud is receivable through an aperture in a reaction structure. The mounting stud and a key are configured to snap together into an interlocked condition in which the key blocks withdrawal of the mounting stud from the aperture in the reaction structure.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5064218 (1991-11-01), Hartmeyer
patent: 5152549 (1992-10-01), Aird
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patent: 5368327 (1994-11-01), Shiraki et al.
patent: 5518266 (1996-05-01), O'Docherty et al.
patent: 5727810 (1998-03-01), Elqadah et al.
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U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 08/923,621, filed Sep. 4, 1997, entitled “Air Bag Module.”
U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 08/974,985, filed Nov. 20, 1997, entitled “Vehicle Occupant Protection Apparatus.”
U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 08/144,136, filed Aug. 31, 1998, entitled “Fastening Structure for Interconnecting Parts of a Vehicle Occupant Protection Apparatus.”
Bombard Matthew G.
Bowers Paul A.
Sutherland Daniel R.
Jasmin Lynda
Olszewski Robert P.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
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