Airbag inflator attachment with snap-in sleeve related application

摘要

An airbag inflator assembly (10) including an airbag inflator (12) and an inflator attachment (17) having a sleeve (18). The inflator includes an elongated sidewall (15) and an end (13) having a flange stop (20) extending outwardly from the sidewall. The sleeve receives and supports the sidewall of the inflator with the flange stop butting against the sleeve. The sleeve has an inwardly extending resilient tab (22) that faces away from the flange stop and engages a gas exhaust port (24) defined by the sidewall to retain the inflator within the sleeve. At least one stud (26) extends transversely to and outwardly from the sleeve for mounting the inflator attachment and inflator within an airbag module. The inflator attachment further includes at least two spaced-apart pairs of diametrically opposed ribs (29) protruding inwardly from the sleeve and grippingly engaging the sidewall of the inflator. The sleeve also defines gas exhaust outlets (28), which on different versions of the sleeve may vary to accommodate different types of inflators. According to one alternative embodiment, the inflator does not include a flange stop. Instead, the sleeve includes an endwall that butts against the inflator, with the resilient tab facing the endwall. According to another embodiment, the inflator sidewall has a tapered neck, and the resilient tab engages the tapered neck instead of the gas exhaust port. According to an additional embodiment, the sleeve does not include the resilient tab but only includes the at least two spaced-apart pairs of diametrically opposed ribs for grippingly engaging and securing the inflator within the sleeve.