Airbag inflator retainers and related methods and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9682679-B2
Application number	US-201414455741-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2014
Priority date	Aug 8, 2014
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, and systems for retaining an airbag inflator within a vehicle airbag system, such as within an airbag module housing of a vehicle airbag system. In some embodiments, an inflator comprising an inflator base positioned at a first end of the inflator and a diffuser positioned at a second end of the inflator opposite from the first end may be inserted, or configured for insertion into, an opening in a housing. An inflator retainer comprising a retainer opening configured to receive the diffuser therethrough may be coupled with the inflator at the second end of the inflator and used to secure the inflator to the housing with the inflator base positioned through the housing opening and the diffuser positioned through the retainer opening.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle airbag assembly, comprising:
a housing comprising a housing opening and a plurality of tab openings;
an inflator comprising an inflator base positioned at a first end of the inflator and a diffuser positioned at a second end of the inflator opposite from the first end, wherein the inflator base is configured to be received in the housing opening, wherein the inflator base is configured to extend at least partially through the housing opening such that at least a portion of the inflator base extends out of the housing opening; and
a unitary retainer piece configured to fit over the inflator at the second end of the inflator and secure the inflator to the housing with the inflator base positioned through the housing opening, wherein the retainer piece comprises:
a retainer piece opening configured to receive the diffuser, wherein the retainer piece is configured to fit over the inflator at the second end of the inflator and secure the inflator to the housing with the inflator base positioned through the housing opening and the diffuser positioned through the retainer piece opening, and wherein the retainer piece opening is configured to allow the diffuser to pass therethrough such that the entire diffuser extends through and outside of the retainer piece; and
a plurality of tabs configured to be received in the tab openings to secure the inflator in place between the housing and the retainer piece.

2. The vehicle airbag assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inflator comprises a flangeless inflator.

3. The vehicle airbag assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tabs are configured to be bent against the housing after being received in the tab openings to secure the inflator between the housing and the retainer piece.

4. A vehicle airbag assembly, comprising:
a housing comprising a housing opening;
an airbag cushion positioned within the housing;
an inflator comprising an inflator base positioned at a first end of the inflator and a diffuser positioned at a second end of the inflator opposite from the first end, wherein the inflator base is configured to be received in the housing opening, wherein the inflator base is configured to extend at least partially through the housing opening such that at least a portion of the inflator base extends out of the housing opening; and
a retainer comprising a retainer opening configured to receive the diffuser therethrough, wherein the retainer is configured to fit over the inflator at the second end of the inflator and secure the inflator to the housing with the inflator base positioned through the housing opening and the diffuser positioned through the retainer opening, wherein the airbag cushion is positioned in between the inflator and the retainer such that a portion of the airbag cushion contacts the inflator on a first side of the airbag cushion and contacts the retainer on a second side of the airbag cushion opposite from the first side, and wherein the retainer is configured to secure the inflator to the housing without use of stud fasteners.

5. The vehicle airbag assembly of claim 4 , wherein the retainer comprises a fabric retainer.

6. The vehicle airbag assembly of claim 4 , wherein the retainer comprises a retainer piece made up of a rigid material.

7. The vehicle airbag assembly of claim 6 , wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of tab openings, and wherein the retainer piece further comprises a plurality of tabs configured to be received in the tab openings to secure the inflator in place between the housing and the retainer piece.

8. The vehicle airbag assembly of claim 4 , wherein the inflator base comprises a collar having an at least substantially cylindrical shape.

9. The vehicle airbag assembly of claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises an airbag module housing.

10. The vehicle airbag assembly of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser comprises a plurality of diffuser openings, and wherein the retainer piece opening is configured to receive the diffuser such that at least a portion of the diffuser openings are positioned through the retainer piece opening.

11. The vehicle airbag assembly of claim 10 , wherein the retainer piece opening is configured to receive the diffuser such that all of the diffuser openings are positioned through the retainer piece opening.

12. The vehicle airbag assembly of claim 4 , wherein the retainer is configured such that the entire diffuser can extend through the retainer opening.

13. The vehicle airbag assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inflator base comprises a collar, and wherein the collar is configured to extend fully through the housing opening such that the collar protrudes beyond a perimeter of the housing opening.

14. The vehicle airbag assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainer piece further comprises a shaped portion configured to receive and mate with a portion of the inflator, and wherein the shaped portion comprises a bowl shape configured to match the shape of the portion of the inflator.

Assignees

• Autoliv Asp Inc

Inventors

• Hatfield Mark S
• Maxfield Bradley Scott
• Staheli Derrick

Classifications

• B60R21/217 Primary

  Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together · CPC title