Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Andrew J Smydra

Scott A Kelley

Kurt F Fischer

Ahmad K Al-Amin

John P Wallner

Gary G Gordon

Roy C Turnbull

Kevin J Boxey

Craig M Fischer

James R Hocking

Xingyuan Sun

Rodger M Cherry

Annmarie McMillan

Mark M Klozik

Ramakrishnan Srinivasan

George T Hagen

Molly K Koenig

Timothy P Edwards

An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant () of a vehicle () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (). An inflator () provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (). A support member () supports the inflator () and the protection device (). A retainer () helps secure the protection device () to the support member (). At least one vent opening () formed in the retainer () enables flow of inflation fluid away from the protection device () through the support member ().

Air bag module vent

An apparatus ( ) for use in a vehicle comprises an air bag module ( ) including an inflatable air bag ( ) and an opening ( ) through which the air bag deploys when inflated. A deployment door ( ) covers the opening ( ). The deployment door ( ) includes a first edge ( ) and a hinge area ( ) extending parallel to the first edge. The hinge area ( ) has an attachment portion ( ) connected to the vehicle and a hinge portion ( ) at which the deployment door ( ) pivots to allow the air bag ( ) to deploy. The hinge portion ( ) has oppositely disposed first and second ends ( and ). The deployment door ( ) has a second edge ( ) disposed opposite the first edge ( ). The second edge ( ) includes a central portion ( ). The deployment door ( ) further includes first and second areas ( and ) of reduced stiffness. The first area ( ) of reduced stiffness extends from the first end ( ) of the hinge portion ( ) toward the central portion ( ) of the second edge ( ) and defines a first side section ( ) of the deployment door ( ). The second area ( ) of reduced stiffness extends from the second end ( ) of the hinge portion ( ) toward the central portion ( ) of the second edge ( ) and defines a second side section ( ) of the deployment door ( ). The first and second areas ( and ) of reduced stiffness enable the first and second side sections ( and ), respectively, of the deployment door ( ) to flex around parts ( ) of the vehicle occupant that may be blocking pivotal movement of the deployment door during deployment of the air bag ( ).

Deployment door for an air bag module

An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (20) is attached to a vehicle part (22). The protection device (20) is deployable, upon inflation, through a deployment opening (24) in the vehicle part (22). A cover (60) closes the deployment opening (24) prior to deployment of the protection device (20). The cover (60) moves away from the vehicle part (22) upon deployment of the protection device (20). Attachment devices (82, 300) releasably attach the cover (60) to the vehicle part (22) and comprise a clip (120, 302) which is attachable to one of the cover and the vehicle part. The one of the cover (60) and the vehicle part (22) has a mounting opening (86, 322) and a recess (88, 324) adjacent the mounting opening. The clip (120, 302) includes a retaining portion (152, 364) biased to be received in the recess (88, 324) to inhibit removal of the clip, an opening (162, 380) for alignment with the mounting opening (86, 322), and a resiliently deflectable portion (164, 382). The attachment devices (82, 300) also include a stud (122, 304) which is non-pivotally fixed to the other of the vehicle part (22) and the cover (60). The stud (122, 304) is releasably connectable with the clip (120, 302) and includes a body (180, 400) which is extendable through the mounting opening (86, 322) in the one of the cover (60) and the vehicle part (22). The clip (120, 302) is movable relative to the mounting opening (86, 322) in the one of the cover (60) and the vehicle part (22) to compensate for relative misalignment among the opening (162, 380) in the clip, the mounting opening and the stud (122, 304) during attachment of the cover to the vehicle part.

Releasable attachment for air bag deployment door

A deployment door assembly for use with an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag (14), includes a panel (40) for covering the air bag (14) in a vehicle. The panel (40) has layers including a scrim layer (68). The scrim layer (68) has an edge (98) defining a boundary (110) between first and second portions (42,44) of the panel (40) which have first and second shear strengths, respectively. The scrim layer (68) imparts a difference between the first and second shear strengths such that the panel (40) is rupturable along the boundary (110) under the influence of the air bag (14) as a result of the difference in shear strengths.

Deployment door assembly

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag (12), a reaction canister (20), and a rectangular retainer frame (74). The reaction canister (20) has four walls (50, 52, 54, 56) in a rectangular configuration surrounding an inlet portion (72) of the air bag (12). The retainer frame (74) is enclosed within the inlet portion (72) of the air bag (12). The length and width of the retainer frame (74) are defined by first, second, third, and fourth retainer strips (100, 102, 104, 106) which are separate parts. Fasteners (76) press each of the retainer strips (100-106) against a corresponding one of the four walls (50-56) so as to clamp the inlet portion (72) of the air bag (12) between the retainer frame (74) and the reaction canister (20). The first and second strips (100, 102) support the third and fourth strips (104, 106) for limited movement along the length and across the width of the retainer frame (74) under the influence of the fasteners (76) when the fasteners (76) are pressing the strips (100-106) against the walls (50-56).

Retainer for an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device

In one embodiment, an inflator module (10) includes an air bag (16), an inflator (14), and a reaction canister (12). The reaction canister (12) includes a first member (64), which has open axial ends, and second and third members (66 and 68) which are each adapted to mate with a respective one of the open ends of the first member (64). The first member (64) has an axially extending wall portion (98) which clamps the inflator (14) to prevent movement of the inflator (14) relative to the reaction canister (12). The inflator (14) is secured relative to the reaction canister (12) only by the clamping of the axially extending wall portion (98). The inflator (14) has an elongate housing (36) with inflation fluid openings (48) at one end portion (46). The axially extending wall portion (98) has projections (102) which engage the inflator (14) to space part of the wall portion (98) away from the inflator (14) and permit flow along the length of the inflator (14). The member (68) is located away from the vent openings (48) of the inflator (14) and has projections (148) to space part of the member (68) away from the inflator (14) and permit fluid flow around an end of the inflator (14). In another embodiment, an inflator (176) has a cylindrical shape. A first member (218) of a reaction canister (174) has a semi-cylindrical wall portion (236). An inner surface (238) engages the inflator (176) and clamps the inflator (176).

Inflatable restraint module with inflator clamping reaction canister

A deployment apparatus for use with an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, such as an air bag (18), includes a pivotal door panel (80). The apparatus further includes three couplings (124, 126, and 128) which secure the door panel (80) in a closed position by blocking pivotal movement of the door panel (80). The couplings (124, 126, and 128) include rigid members (118, 120, and 122) which rupture a rupturable member (84) upon relative movement of those members under the influence of the inflating air bag (18). The couplings (124, 126, and 128) are opened so as to release the door panel (80) for pivotal movement upon such rupturing by the rigid members (118, 120, and 122). One of the couplings (124) is located near the middle of the door panel (80). The other couplings (126 and 128) are located closer to the opposite ends of the door panel (80). The coupling (124) near the middle of the door panel (80) is opened before the other couplings (126 and 128) are opened. The couplings (124, 126, and 128) thus release the door panel (80) near the middle of the door panel (80) before releasing the door panel (80) near its opposite ends.

Deployment apparatus for an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint

A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus (10) includes an inflator (20), a reaction canister (22), and first and second brackets (150,152) for mounting the inflator (20) in the reaction canister (22). The inflator has an axis (82) and first and second axially opposite end portions (96,92). The reaction canister (22) has first and second canister walls (68,70) spaced from each other along the axis (82). The first and second brackets (150,152) are contained in the reaction canister (22) between the canister walls (68,70). The first bracket (150) is fixed to the first end portion (96) of the inflator (20) and to the first canister wall (68). The second bracket (152) is fixed to the second end portion (92) of the inflator (20) and to the second canister wall (70).

Inflator mounting structure

An apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12). The apparatus (10) further comprises a structure (30) including (i) opposed first and second walls (31, 32), (ii) opposed third and fourth walls (33, 34) connected to the first and second walls and (iii) a base wall (35) connected to the first, second, third, and fourth walls. The walls (31-35) define a chamber (38). An inflator (20) is located in the chamber (38) and includes a source of inflation fluid for inflating the vehicle occupant restraint (12). The inflator (20) has nozzles (23) at one end adjacent to one of the third and fourth walls (33, 34) for directing inflation fluid from the inflator to the vehicle occupant restraint (12). The structure has a pair of recessed portions (40, 50) for engaging and supporting the inflator (20) in the chamber (38). The recessed portions (40, 50) are spaced apart from the third and fourth walls (33, 34). A member (60) is secured to the recessed portions (40, 50) to secure the inflator (20) in the chamber (38). The nozzles (23) are located in the chamber (38) between the recessed portions (40, 50) and the one of the third and fourth walls (33, 34) when the inflator (20) is secured in the chamber.

Attachment structure for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint

A door assembly (40) for an air bag module (30) includes a door panel (42) supported for pivotal movement on a frame (46, 48) fixed to a vehicle (12). A body of foam material (50) includes a first portion (198) supported on the door panel (42) and a second portion (200, 202) supported on the frame (46, 48), interconnected by a frangible portion (206). A seamless skin (60) includes a first portion (214) covering the first foam portion (198) and a second portion (212) covering the second foam portion (200, 202). The first foam portion (198) moves with the door panel (42) when the deploying air bag (34) pivots the door panel open. The second foam portion (200, 202) remains on the frame (46, 48). The second portion (212) of the skin (60) peels away from the second foam portion (200, 202), without tearing, when the door panel (42) pivots open.

Seamless door for air bag module

An apparatus (10) includes an inflator (44) which provides a source of inflation fluid. A canister (20) has a chamber (34) for receiving the inflator (44). A support means (56) supports the inflator (44) in a fixed position within the chamber (34) of the canister (20). The support means (56) includes two clamp halves (94 and 96) which have a mating relationship to engage and surround a portion (68) of the inflator (44). A plurality of fasteners (136, 152 and 160) secure the clamp halves (94 and 96) in their matting relationship and secure the clamp halves (94 and 96) to the canister (20).

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Rochester, MI, United States of America

Andrew J Smydra