Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-12
2001-10-16
English, Peter C. (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S731000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302432
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle and, more particularly, 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 inflated upon the occurrence of a vehicle collision. The air bag is part of an apparatus which further includes a collision sensor and an inflator. The collision sensor senses vehicle conditions that indicate the occurrence of a collision. When the collision sensor senses a collision-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 protect an occupant of the vehicle from forcefully striking parts of the vehicle as a result of the collision.
An air bag and an inflator are typically assembled together as parts of an air bag module. The air bag module is located in the vehicle adjacent to the vehicle occupant compartment. For example, a passenger side air bag module is typically located in the vehicle instrument panel. A driver's side air bag module is typically located on the vehicle steering wheel. In addition to the air bag and the inflator, a driver's side air bag module typically includes a retainer and a cover. The retainer secures the air bag and the inflator together. The cover conceals airbag and inflator from the vehicle occupant compartment, and includes at least one deployment door which extends over the air bag.
When inflation fluid emitted from the inflator begins to inflate the air bag, it moves the air bag outward against the deployment door. The deployment door is ruptured by the force of the fluid pressure in the air bag, and is moved out of the path of the air bag as the inflation fluid continues to inflate the air bag outward into the vehicle occupant compartment. This inflation generates a force which requires the module to be mounted to the vehicle securely.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus for protecting a vehicle occupant includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, an inflator, a retainer, a reaction plate, and at least one fastener. The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device has a portion defining an inlet opening. The inflator has a housing and a mounting flange. The housing extends through the inlet opening into the vehicle occupant protection device. The mounting flange projects from the housing. The retainer is located in the vehicle occupant protection device and extends circumferentially around the housing. The reaction plate has a base portion and at least one spring finger attached to the base portion. The spring finger has a support surface for engaging a first side of the mounting flange. The fastener secures the retainer, the protection device, and the reaction plate together as an assembly. In the assembly, a first surface portion of the retainer clamps the portion defining the inlet opening against a second side of the mounting flange and a second surface portion of the retainer clamps the portion defining the inlet opening against the base portion of the reaction plate.
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Leonelli, Jr. Frank P.
Magoteaux David G.
Buchanan Christopher
English Peter C.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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