Morton International, Inc.

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Avibank Mfg. Co., Inc.

Avibank Mfg., Inc.

Janiel Sorenson

Merle K Ricks

John A Duran

Jeffrey L Scharret

Kevin W Booth

Howard W Hambleton, Jr

Javier Vargas

A snap-on mounting attachment is provided for securing an airbag inflator module having a base plate to the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The mounting attachment includes two fastener studs extending rearwardly from the base plate, each fastener stud having a yieldable holding barb. Two capture brackets are mounted to the spokes of the steering wheel, and each capture bracket holds a snap receptor in floating encapturement therein, i.e., with a limited range of lateral and vertical movement. The snap receptors each have a metal ring embedded in a polymer shell and define a stud receiving opening therethrough with the metal ring defining a lip engaged by the holding barb of the fastener stud. Bias stops between the base plate and the steering wheel take up slack in the mounting attachment and eliminate rattles, and the polymer shell of the snap receptors also minimizes rattles. The steering wheel and airbag inflator module have complementary covers, and the floating encapturement permits alignment of the covers.

Airbag inflator with snap-on mounting attachment

Snap-on mounting attachment and fastener stud for mounting an airbag

A membrane horn switch wherein the two membranes sheets of the horn switch have first and second relatively large areas connected by a rupturable, strain relieving bridge member. The bridge members provide an area that is readily rupturable from a force provided by an inflating airbag cushion such that the bridge members can be appropriately placed over a tear seam of a cover of an airbag module in a motor vehicle. Each bridge member of the horn switch has a non-straight path so as to lessen strain fatigue and prolong the durability of the bridge member.

Rupturable strain relieving horn switch bridging member

An airbag module cover mounting arrangement. The module includes an inflator having a cushion mounted thereto. A cover partially surrounds and protects the cushion and inflator, and includes a decorative main panel and a hidden skirt. The skirt includes a plurality of mounting flaps extending therefrom. An inflator bracket is retained by the flaps, with the inflator held between the bracket and the cover main panel. A mounting flange is placed over the mounting bracket, and the flange includes flap hooks which hold the cover flaps in the mounted position, locked together with the inflator bracket. The flap hooks and mounting flaps include mating angled sections which force the flaps further into the locked position by camming action during normal assembly.

Cover mounting arrangement for airbag module

A new and improved air bag inflator module adapted for quick action, snap-on, permanent mounting on a steering wheel requires the use of no tools to install. The module is pre-positioned in front of the steering wheel and is thrust into place until locked. The inflator module includes a base facing and movable in one direction directly toward the steering wheel with a plurality of quick action, snap-on type fasteners carried thereby. Each fastener has a first portion extended into an opening in the steering wheel as the inflator module is pushed into place with a unidirectional thrust and a second portion for supporting the first portion projecting outwardly thereof. A snap-action, annular compressible and expandable holding skirt is provided on the first portion of each fastener for lockingly engaging a surface on the steering wheel when expanded after the first portion of the fastener is fully inserted through an aligned opening in the steering wheel. The holding skirt is initially compressed while passing through an opening and after passage automatically springs back and expands to engage a surface on the steering wheel for permanently retaining the fastener in interconnecting relation therebetween. First and second portions of each fastener are releasable from one another using an ordinary hand tool such as a screw driver for permitting the inflator module to be bodily removed from the steering wheel after installation. The hand tool may also be used for reassembling the first and second portions of each fastener so that the inflator module may be remounted on the steering wheel.

Air bag inflator for snap-on attachment to a steering wheel

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Janiel Sorenson