초록 ▼

A motor vehicle modularized airbag assembly adapted for facilitating an aspirating flow of ambient atmosphere through the module and into the air bag to facilitate the inflation thereof and thereafter so as to vent the contents into the surrounding atmosphere. The assembly comprises a pyrotechnic in

A motor vehicle modularized airbag assembly adapted for facilitating an aspirating flow of ambient atmosphere through the module and into the air bag to facilitate the inflation thereof and thereafter so as to vent the contents into the surrounding atmosphere. The assembly comprises a pyrotechnic inflator device; an inflatable air cushion in contact relation thereto; a retainer member for facilitating a locking engagement between the air cushion and the inflator and a mounting plate comprising a plurality of stepped levels for receiving the inflator, the air cushion and the retainer member in operative association, as well as a plurality of projecting members formed integral with a lower surface thereof to facilitate the aspirating and venting effect. The assembly additionally comprises an elongated conduit extending rearwardly from the mounting plate, through the vehicle\s steering column at least to an aperture in the firewall thereof and optionally beyond, so as to direct the contents of the air bag out of the vehicle\s passenger compartment upon deflation of the bag.

대표청구항 ▼

An airbag module adapted for installation within a motor vehicle steering assembly, said module comprising: (a) means for mounting a pyrotechnic gas inflator device upon a steering wheel portion of said steering assembly, said inflator device capable of producing a sufficient amount of a gaseous com

An airbag module adapted for installation within a motor vehicle steering assembly, said module comprising: (a) means for mounting a pyrotechnic gas inflator device upon a steering wheel portion of said steering assembly, said inflator device capable of producing a sufficient amount of a gaseous combustion product within a sufficient time to substantially deploy an inflatable air cushion located in contact relation therewith within an interval between a primary collision between said motor vehicle and an object external thereto and a secondary collision between an operator of said motor vehicle and an interior portion thereof, said mounting means comprising open pan means for supporting said pyrotechnic inflator device, said pan means having several stepped levels extending rearwardly thereon, wherein each said level has a substantially unvarying depth at any point thereon and is positioned directly over a next rearward one of said levels, said levels correspondingly decreasing in volume from front to rear upon said mounting means; (b) first means, formed integral with a lower portion of said mounting means, for permitting a reciprocal flow of a quantity of surrounding ambient atmosphere from outside said motor vehicle through said mounting means and into said inflatable air cushion upon actuation of said inflator device to facilitate rapid inflation of said air cushion and to permit cooling of said gaseous combustion products produced by said inflator and, subsequent to said primary collision, to permit the contents of said air cushion to flow out of said interior portion of said motor vehicle to the surrounding atmosphere; (c) a pyrotechnic inflator device positioned within said mounting means, said inflator device comprising a housing formed of a diffuser member having a first open end and a second closed end, and a closure plate member sealing said open end thereof, said housing further comprising an arcuate surface extending along at least a portion of an exterior peripheral surface thereof, said arcuate surface having a relatively greater diameter then a remaining portion of said housing and wherein said surface is configured and adapted to permit a locking engagement of said inflator device within said mounting means; (d) means for retaining said inflatable air cushion in a contact relation with said inflator device, said retaining means having a first upper grooved portion and a second lower grooved portion extending along at least a portion of an outer surface thereof, wherein said retaining means is installed within said mounting means in surrounding relation to said diffuser member and configured to correspond to a portion of said arcuate surface thereof; and (e) an inflatable air cushion in contact relation with said diffuser member of said inflator device, said cushion configured and adapted for preventing injury to said vehicle operator due to contact with said interior portion of said vehicle upon the occurrence of said primary collision, said cushion comprising means located within a mouth portion thereof configured to facilitate a locking engagement between said cushion and a first grooved portion upon an outer surface of said retaining means upon assembly of said module, wherein at least a portion of said mounting means is lockingly engaged within said second grooved portion of said retaining means forming a structural seal therebetween such that said inflator device, said retaining means and said inflatable air cushion are all maintained together in locking engagement with one another within said mounting means without the use of any additional locking means.