Retention system for attachment of a connector to an air bag reaction canister

The retention system of claim 3, wherein said clip includes a pair of legs interconnected by a bridge, each of said legs having opposed ends.

A retention system securing an electrical accessory to a reaction canister of an inflatable restraint assembly, the reaction canister having attachment means formed integrally therewith, comprising:

• a retention clip having opposed ends, one of the ends of the clip mating with the attachment means and the other end being capable of receiving a coupling of the electrical accessory, the reaction canister having a trough-shaped body extruded from a continuous length of material, the attachment means comprising at least one screw retaining groove formed integrally with the body during the extrusion thereof, the at least one screw retaining groove including a pair of notched arms extending from an exterior surface of the reaction canister body;
• and
• said retention clip including a pair of legs interconnected by a bridge, each of said legs having opposed ends, one end of each of said pair of legs engaging said notched arms of said screw retaining groove to secure said clip on said groove, and said retention clip including a projection extending upwardly from the bridge, wherein when said clip is secured on the reaction canister said projection extends into said screw retaining groove, wherein said projection is barbed to secure said projection within said screw retaining groove.

A method of securing an accessory to a reaction canister of an inflatable restraint assembly, said reaction canister having opposed ends and including attachment means formed integrally therewith, the method of securing comprising the steps of:

• attaching a retention clip to said attachment means of said reaction canister, said retention clip having a first and second end, said first end of said clip mating with said attachment means and said second end of said clip being capable of receiving the accessory, wherein said reaction canister comprises a trough-shaped body extruded from a continuous length of material and said attachment means comprises at least one screw retaining groove formed integrally with said body during the extrusion thereof, said at least one screw retaining groove including a pair if notched arms extending from an exterior surface of said reaction canister body, said step of attaching comprising attaching said first end of said clip to said screw retaining groove;
• and
• securing the accessory to the second end of said clip.

A reaction canister of an inflatable restraint assembly and a retention system for securing an electrical accessory to the reaction canister, comprising:

• means formed integrally with said reaction canister for attaching an end plate to each end of said reaction canister, said reaction canister having a trough-shaped body extruded from a continuous length of material, attachment means comprising at least one screw retaining groove formed integrally with said body during the extrusion thereof, said at least one screw retaining groove including a pair of notched arms extending from an exterior surface of said reaction canister body;
• and
• a retention clip having opposed ends, one of said ends of said clip mating with said attachment means and said other end being capable of receiving the electrical accessory, said clip including a pair of legs interconnected by a bridge, each of said legs having opposed ends, one end of each of said pair of clip legs engaging the notched arms of said screw retaining groove to secure said clip on said groove, and the other end of each of said pairs of legs of said clip forming a cavity therebetween for receiving the electrical accessory, said retention clip including a projection extending upwardly from said bridge, wherein when said clip is secured on said reaction canister said projection extends into said screw retaining groove.