Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Theodore J Bachelder

John P Wallner

John Francis Rhein

Russell E Stein

Steven W Maurer

Jeffrey C Synor

Thomas J Klena, Ii

James T Puckett

Ronald R Modlin

John E Stepnick

An apparatus for forming a vehicle airbag assembly includes a reaction device (12) and an airbag/retainer subassembly (14). The airbag/retainer subassembly (14) includes an airbag (16) and a retainer (18) which are joined together by airbag mating members (42) and complementary retainer mating members (62) in a predetermined alignment. In this predetermined alignment, apertures (38) formed in the airbag (16) are aligned with apertures (68) formed in the retainer (18). The reaction device (12) may include mating members (84) which form a cradle configured to engage the airbag/retainer subassembly (14) and to align the airbag/retainer subassembly (14) in a predetermined orientation. In this predetermined orientation, apertures (82) formed in the reaction device (12) will be aligned with the already aligned apertures (38, 68) of the airbag (16) and the retainer (18). In the completed airbag assembly, suitable fasteners, such as rivets, may be inserted through the aligned apertures (38, 68, 82) to couple the airbag (16 ) and the retainer (18) to the reaction device (12).

Vehicle airbag assembly

A vehicle air bag assembly includes an air bag container with a special orientation device for orienting and supporting an inflator in the container. The air bag container includes a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls. One of the pair of sidewalls has an opening which is dimensioned to receive an inflator. The orientation device comprises an orientation ring coupled to the one of the sidewalls and located at least partially within the opening in the one of the sidewalls. The inflator is loaded into the container through an opening in the orientation ring. The orientation ring has an internal configuration which (i) requires the inflator to be in an initial orientation as the inflator is loaded into the container, and (ii) engages a portion of the inflator to center and support the inflator in a predetermined final orientation when the inflator is coupled to the container.

Inflator mounting system

A vehicle air bag module includes a container for a folded air bag and structure for attaching an inflator to the container. The container is initially assembled with an air bag disposed therein. The inflator can be attached to an exterior side of the container after the container has been assembled with an air bag. Thus, the container can be formed as an initial assembly, and the inflator can be attached to the container as the final step in the assembly of the air bag module.

Vehicle air bag module and method of assembly

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Romeo, MI, United States of America

Theodore J Bachelder