Airbag cushion retainer with annular sewing area

Abstract

A cushion retainer for mounting an airbag cushion, having an inner edge defining an open mouth, to an airbag module baseplate defining an inflator-receiving aperture, so that the open mouth of the airbag inflator is aligned with the inflator-receiving aperture of the module baseplate. The airbag cushion retainer includes a rigid annular plate sized to fit around the inflator receiving aperture, and an annular sewing area extending radially outwardly from the annular plate. The sewing area is securable to the airbag cushion with stitches. According to one embodiment, the annular sewing area has a thickness that decreases outwardly to an outer periphery that is thin enough to accept a sewing needle or other sewing tool. According to another embodiment, the annular sewing area defines a multiplicity of holes for receiving stitches. According to a further embodiment, an annular fabric ring is secured to a bottom surface of the annular plate and extends radially outwardly from the annular sewing area. Another cushion retainer according to the present invention includes an inwardly facing threaded mating surface for receiving a threaded sidewall of an airbag inflator to secure the airbag cushion retainer, an airbag cushion and the airbag inflator to a module baseplate. An airbag inflator having a threaded sidewall is also provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.