Airbag inflator with snap-on mounting attachment

A snap-on mounting attachment for securing an airbag inflator module having a base plate to a support provided on a motor vehicle, the snap-on mounting attachment comprising:

• A) two fastener studs secured at spaced apart locations on and extending from a base plate of an airbag inflator module, each fastener stud having at least one yieldable holding barb extending outwardly therefrom;
• B) two capture brackets respectively mounted to a support on a motor vehicle;
• C) two snap receptors, each comprising a metal ring embedded in a polymer shell and defining a stud receiving opening therethrough including a lip for engaging the at least one holding barb of one fastener stud, the snap receptors respectively mounted in the two capture brackets and spaced-apart for receiving the two spaced-apart fastener studs, each snap receptor having a limited range of lateral and vertical movement providing a floating encapturement for the snap receptor with respect to the support on the motor vehicle;
• and
• D) at least two resilient bias stops mounted on one of the airbag inflator module and vehicle support and engaged therebetween for biasing the snap-on mounting attachment into rattle free condition.

A driver's side passenger restraint system comprising:

• A) a steering wheel having a rim, hub, and connecting spokes, and also having a cover extending over the rim and a portion of the spokes extending inwardly from the rim;
• B) two capture brackets mounted at spaced apart locations on the spokes of the steering wheel;
• C) two snap-in receptors, each snap-in receptor having a metal ring embedded in a polymer shell and defining a stud receiving opening including a lip defined by the metal ring, each snap-in receptor respectively held in a corresponding capture bracket having a limited range of both lateral and vertical movement providing a floating encapturement for the snap-in receptor with respect to the capture bracket, the capture brackets exposing the stud receiving openings in the snap-in receptors in the range of movement afforded by the floating encapturement;
• D) an airbag inflator module including a base plate, inflator, airbag and cover, the cover shaped complementary to the cover of the steering wheel;
• and
• E) two fastening studs extending from spaced-apart locations on the base plate of the airbag inflator module, each fastener stud including at least one yieldable holding barb for engaging the lip of a corresponding snap-in receptor and the fastener studs being spaced on the module base plate for insertion through the snap-in receptors to mount the airbag inflator module to the steering wheel with the airbag inflator module cover and steering wheel cover in their complementary positions.