Trw Limited

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Trw Automotive U.S. LLC

Frank Paul Leonelli, Jr

David G Magoteaux

Wael S Elqadah

Robert R Debbs

Arnold M Stephens

Gregory D Rizzo

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 vent member () includes at least one vent opening () for venting the inflation fluid. A vent cover () has a closed condition for blocking fluid flow through the at least one vent opening () and an open condition for permitting fluid flow through the at least one vent opening. The vent cover () includes a side wall () that has at least one portion () that projects from the side wall into the vent member () to help maintain the vent cover in the closed condition.

Air bag module with vent cover

An apparatus () includes an inflatable device () for helping to protect a vehicle occupant, and an inflator () with inflation fluid outlets (). A vent member () connected with the inflator () has a vent wall () having at least one vent opening (). A vent cover () includes an outer wall () having first and second end portions (and). The vent cover () has a closed condition clamped on the vent wall () and covering the vent opening (), and an open condition enabling fluid flow through the vent opening. An actuatable device () has an unactuated condition connecting the first and second end portions (and) to maintain the vent cover in the closed condition, and an actuated condition releasing the end portions to release the vent cover to the open condition to vent inflation fluid from the apparatus ().

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus,includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device,, an inflator,, a retainer,, a reaction plate,, and a fastener,. The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device,has a portion,defining an inlet opening,. The inflator,has a housing,and a mounting flange,that projects from the housing,. The housing,extends through the inlet opening,into the vehicle occupant protection device,. The retainer,is located in said 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. A first surface portion,of the retainer,clamps the portion,defining the inlet opening,against a second side,of the mounting flange,. A second surface portion,of the retainer,clamps the portion,defining the inlet opening,against the base portion,of the reaction plate

Deflection tab baseplate for an airbag inflator

An apparatus (10) for covering an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (40) includes a cover (70) including a portion (82) movable upon inflation of the inflatable device from a closed condition to an open condition. A membrane switch (100) underlying the cover (70) is in an electric circuit for actuating an electrically actuatable device (102) of the vehicle. The cover (70) is engageable by the vehicle occupant to operate the membrane switch (100) and thereby to actuate the electrically actuatable device (102). The apparatus (10) includes a back plate (110) for the membrane switch (100). The back plate (110) has a plurality of fastener openings (120). The cover (70) has a plurality of projections (90) extending with an interference fit through the fastener openings (120) in the back plate (110) to secure the back plate to the cover.

Air bag cover with membrane type horn switch

An apparatus (10) for covering an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (40) includes a cover (70) including a portion (82) movable upon inflation of the inflatable device from a closed condition to an open condition. A retainer (50) supports the inflatable device (40) on a portion of the vehicle. A membrane switch (100) in an electric circuit for actuating an electrically actuatable device (102) of the vehicle is movable with the movable portion (82) of the cover (70) from the closed condition to the open condition. The cover (70) has a portion engageable by the vehicle occupant to operate the membrane switch (100) and thereby to actuate the electrically actuatable device (102). The apparatus (10) includes a rigid back plate (110) for the membrane switch (100), and fasteners (90, 120) for connecting the back plate with the movable portion of the cover (70). A flexible tether (130) connects the back plate (110) with the retainer (50) resist movement of the back plate away from the retainer beyond a predetermined amount.

Growing community of inventors

Gilbert, AZ, United States of America

Frank Paul Leonelli, Jr