Alliedsignal Inc.

Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.

Robert B Rion

Gregory N Goestenkors

Darin J Turner

David B Figlioli

The present invention provides an air bag module (10) having a housing (24) with at least one connector (46a) and a cover (12) having a side wall (14) which surrounds the housing (24) to form a cavity between the panels for placement of an air bag and inflator therein. The cover (12) has at least one engagement member (56a) configured to operatively engage the connector (46a) of the housing (24) to secure the cover and housing to each other.

Fastenerless driver air bag cover and easy to assemble air bag module

An airbag module assembly includes an airbag, deployment housing, manifold, and inflator. The airbag has a plurality of apertures formed therethrough adjacent the airbag opening. The apertures of the airbag cooperate with tabs on the airbag deployment housing to secure the bag to the housing. The tabs of the airbag deployment housing snap into position between a pair of ears extending from the manifold. The ears are swaged and the manifold chamfered in order to hold the airbag deployment housing in position laterally along the manifold. Accordingly, for assembly, the airbag apertures are mated with the respective airbag deployment housing tabs, and the airbag deployment housing is snapped into position between the ears of the manifold. Alternatively, the ears are spaced sufficiently apart to allow the housing tabs to be placed therebetween, and the ears are then crimped, staked or swaged over the tabs.

Extruded manifold with plastic housing

A manifold (10) for holding a generally cylindrically shaped gas generator (12), the gas generator including inflation ports (84a, b) through which inflation gas exits to inflate an air bag. A wire track/seal assembly (200) is fitted between the gas generator and manifold to route and protect wires extending from the gas generator. The wire track/seal assembly is received in notches formed in ends of the gas generator and includes an integrally formed seal member.

Wire track with integral sealing mechanism and inflator

A manifold (10) for holding a generally cylindrically shaped gas generator (12), the gas generator including inflation ports (26a, b) through which inflation gas exits to inflate an air bag, the manifold being a hollow extruded structure (14) having a cylindrical middle portion (16) and first (32) and second (34) ends, the middle portion formed having a diameter section slightly larger than the diameter of the gas generator, a diameter of the first end being smaller relative to the diameter of the middle portion to provide an interference fit with a mating portion of the gas generator upon insertion of the gas generator; the middle portion further having two opposingly positioned outwardly flared portions (18a, b), the flared portions in cooperation with walls of the gas generator, defining open chambers to receive inflation gas from the gas generator, the flared portions each including at least an exit port (44a, d, 46a) to direct inflation gas out of the manifold.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Robert B Rion