Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

John Clifford Hattery, Jr

John Paul Sparkman

Alex Scott Damman

Jeffrey Allen Logan

Mark Thomas Winters

Graham Thornton Spencer

Margaret Ann Fisher

David Allan Pray

An air bag module includes an inflator and an air bag for inflation. The air bag includes retainer bars for attachment of the air bag to the housing. The module further includes an axially elongated, open-ended, generally cylindrical extruded housing having a circular-shaped cross section defined by a single cylindrical wall having an internal wall surface and an external wall surface. The housing includes integrally extruded air bag channels directly disposed on the external wall surface. The integrally extruded air bag channels axially receive the retainer bars of the air bag therein for attachment of the air bag to the housing such that the cylindrical wall and the air bag channels form a generally cylindrical-shaped housing which is lightweight and compact. Preferably, the module includes exactly two integrally formed channels directly disposed on the housing and a cover having axially extending enlarged portions thereon. The enlarged portions are preferably hollow and sized and shaped for receiving the retainer bars and enlarged portions therein. Thus, exactly two channels on the housing advantageously mount both the air bag and the cover to the housing.

Air bag module with extruded housing

An air bag module includes an inflator for generating inflator gas, an air bag deployable upon generation of inflator gas and secured to the inflator, and a mounting bracket attached to the inflator. The mounting bracket is adapted to secure the inflator to the vehicle. The inflator preferably includes opposing ends and the mounting bracket has a central portion secured to the vehicle. The mounting bracket advantageously includes first and second cantilevered portions, each of the cantilevered portions extending outwardly from the central portion and engaging an end of the inflator. The cantilevered portions each having a predetermined strength such that the cantilevered portions each deform in the direction of the deploying air bag such that the mounting bracket absorbs energy during air bag inflation by predetermined deformation of the cantilevered portions.

Air bag module with energy absorbing mounting bracket

An air bag module includes an inflator for generating gas and an air bag deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator. The module further includes a container for housing the air bag and inflator therein. Preferably, the container is integrally molded as one piece and includes at least two spaced apart integral living hinges. Preferably, the container has a clamshell construction including a first half and a second half pivotally connected to each other by a closure hinge portion. The container preferably includes deployment end portions opposite the closure hinge portion which are releasably connected to each other. Preferably, at least one of the deployment end portions is pivotally connected to the container.

Air bag module

An air bag module in a vehicle includes a housing and an inflatable air bag having a mouth portion defining an air bag opening, the mouth portion including opposing axially extending side edges. The module further includes an air bag retainer for securing the air bag to the housing. The retainer includes a pair of axially elongated retainer bars each including an axially elongated main body portion and an axially elongated thin tail portion extending radially outward from the main body portion. The side edges of the air bag are each secured to a respective thin tail portion of the retainer bars such that movement of the air bag relative the retainer bars is prevented during assembly and during air bag inflation.

Growing community of inventors

Dublin, OH, United States of America

John Clifford Hattery, Jr