Retention structure for a flange based inflator of an airbag restraint assembly

An airbag restraint inflator assembly comprising:

• a reaction can having an access opening in a first end wall of said reaction can, said access opening adapted to receive and position mounting means for retaining said inflator within a cavity of said reaction can;
• an inflator, shorter in dimension than the reaction can, having a generally cylindrical shaped housing with a base shroud terminating in a radially outwardly extending flanged base on a first end thereof;
• said mounting means positioned in said access opening of said reaction can, said mounting means having a generally open, right circular cylindrical shape formed by a circular sidewall, said sidewall terminating at one end thereof with a radially extending mounting flange having a diameter greater than a diameter of the access opening in said first end wall and having a formed joggle terminating in an inwardly tapered conical flange on the other end of said sidewall;
• said mounting means being mounted in said access opening in the first end wall of said reaction can with said inwardly tapered conical flange frictionally engaging and holding the base shroud of said inflator by biased radial compressive force in a manner whereby the flanged base of said first end of said inflator securely abuts the formed joggle, thereby providing an essentially squeak- and rattle-free retention of said flanged base inflator in said reaction can.

An airbag restraint inflator assembly comprising:

• a reaction can having an access opening in a first end wall of said reaction can, said access opening adapted to receive and position mounting means for retaining an inflator within a cavity of said reaction can;
• an inflator, shorter in dimension than the reaction can, having a generally cylindrical housing with a base shroud terminating in a radially outwardly extending flanged base on a first end thereof and a threaded stud and index key on the second end thereof;
• said mounting means positioned in said access opening of said reaction can, said mounting means having a generally open, right circular cylindrical shape formed by a circular sidewall, said sidewall terminating at one end thereof with a radially extending mounting flange having a diameter greater than a diameter of the access opening in said first end wall and having a formed joggle terminating in an inwardly tapered conical flange on the other end of said sidewall;
• said mounting means being mounted in said access opening in the first end wall of said reaction can with said inwardly tapered conical flange frictionally engaging and holding the base shroud of said inflator by biased radial compressive force in a manner whereby the flanged base of said first end of said inflator securely abuts the formed joggle, thereby providing an essentially squeak- and rattle-free retention of said flanged base inflator in said reaction can.

A reaction can adapted to mount an inflator of the type comprising a generally cylindrical housing having a flanged base at a first end thereof and a threaded stud at a second end thereof, the reaction can comprising:

• first and second end walls and first and second sidewalls defining a cavity adapted to receive an inflator;
• said first end wall having inflator mounting means provided therein, said inflator mounting means including a right circular cylindrical shaped tube formed by a circular sidewall, said circular sidewall extending from said first end wall into said cavity and terminating in an inwardly tapered conical flange sized to engage and hold a flange based first end of an inflator in said cavity by biased radial compression force;
• and
• support means in said second end wall for securing a second end of said inflator.