Air bag module with an off-center mounted tubular inflator

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates to an air bag module for use on the driver side of automotive and other vehicles wherein an inflatable air bag or cushion is inflated in the event of a collision to protect the driver from injury that could result from being forcibly thrown against the steering wheel, dashboard, etc. The air bag module uses an off-center positioned tubular inflator.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#With this summary of the invention, a detailed description follows with reference being made to the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification, of which:

#FIG. 1 is a top view of the air bag module housing according to the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the air bag module housing taken along the lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

#Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawing, an air bag module 10 according to the invention comprises a tubular inflator assembly 12, a module housing 14, a cushion retaining ring 16, a folded inflatable cushion 18, a module cover 20, and a tubular inflator retaining bracket 22.

#The tubular inflator assembly 12 includes an elongated sleeve or tube 24 and a diffuser 26. The diffuser 26, as best seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, projects laterally outwardly from a generally central position on the exterior tubular surface 28 of the sleeve 24 at substantially a 90.degree. angle. A plurality of gas exit ports or orifices 30 facing in different directions in the diffuser 26 dispense inflating gas in a thrust neutral manner so that upon initiation of the tubular inflator assembly 12 and flow of gas through ports 30 there are no forces that tend to cause disruptive movement of the inflator assembly 12 in the air bag module 10.

#The tubular inflator 12 is placed in a slotted section 32 having a concave wall that extends upwardly from flat base member 38 and 39 that comprise spaced portions of a bottom wall of the module housing 14. Slotted section 32, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, runs the width of the module housing 14 and is set off center of the module 10 closer to the top 34 of the module 10 than to the bottom 35 thereof, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.