IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,863,301
Granted Patent B2
US 6,863,301 · App. 10/280,150 · Granted Mar 8, 2005

Driver side air bag module with annular air bag and centrally disposed control module

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,863,301
App. No.
10/280,150
Granted
Mar 8, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air bag module ( 20 ) having a base plate ( 30 ) and a toroidal air bag ( 80 ) is disclosed. The toroidal air bag ( 80 ) defines a pocket ( 120 ). The toroidal air bag ( 80 ) is coupled to the base plate ( 30 ). A control module ( 40 ) having a base plate portion ( 82 ) and a generally cylindrical portion ( 86 ) is coupled to the base and located within the toroidal air bag ( 80 ). The control module ( 40 ) has a control module cover ( 90 ) coupled to said generally cylindrical portion ( 86 ) disposed within said pocket ( 120 ).

Claims (25)

1. An air bag module ( 20 ) comprising:

a base plate ( 30 );

a toroidal air bag ( 80 ) having a pocket ( 120 ), said toroidal air bag ( 80 ) being coupled to the base plate ( 30 ); and

a control module ( 40 ) disposed within said pocket ( 120 ), the control module ( 40 ) including a base ( 82 ) and a control module cover ( 90 ) coupled to said generally cylindrical portion ( 86 );

wherein said base ( 82 ) includes an anti-rotation mechanism ( 102 ), said anti-rotation mechanism ( 102 ) comprises a retractable member ( 103 ) which is configured to couple with a notch ( 83 ) defined in the cover.

2. The module according to claim 1 wherein the notch ( 83 ) is configured as a ramp.

3. The module according to claim 1 wherein the retractable member ( 103 ) is spring biased in a locking position.

4. The module according to claim 1 wherein the cylindrical portion ( 86 ) includes a locking mechanism configured to couple the control module cover ( 90 ) to the cylindrical portion ( 86 ).

5. The module according to claim 1 including an inflator ( 62 ) disposed between the control module ( 40 ) and the base plate ( 30 ).

6. The module according to claim 1 further comprising a module cover ( 140 ), the module cover ( 140 ) having an aperture ( 146 ), said aperture being configured to receive the control module cover ( 90 ).

7. The module according to claim 1 wherein the control module cover includes a generally cylindrical portion ( 86 ) coupled to the base ( 82 ).

8. An air bag module ( 20 ) comprising:

a base plate ( 30 );

a toroidal air bag ( 80 ) defining a pocket ( 120 ), said toroidal air bag ( 80 ) being coupled to the base plate ( 30 ); and

a control module ( 40 ) disposed within said pocket ( 120 ), the control module ( 40 ) including a base ( 82 ) and generally cylindrical portion ( 86 ) coupled to the base ( 82 ), the control module ( 40 ) having a control module cover ( 90 ) coupled to said generally cylindrical portion ( 86 ); the cylindrical portion ( 86 ) including a locking mechanism configured to couple the control module cover ( 90 ) to the cylindrical portion ( 86 );

wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking flange ( 92 ), said locking flange ( 92 ) being configured to couple to a slot ( 94 ) defined in the cover ( 90 ).

9. The module according to claim 8 wherein the locking slot ( 94 ) is L-shaped.

10. An air bag module comprising:

a base plate ( 30 );

a toroidal air bag ( 80 ) defining a pocket, said toroidal air bag ( 80 ) being coupled to the base plate ( 30 );

a control module ( 40 ) having a base plate portion ( 82 ) and a generally cylindrical portion ( 86 ) coupled to the base plate portion ( 92 ), the control module ( 40 ) having a control module cover ( 90 ) coupled to said generally cylindrical portion ( 86 ), wherein the control module ( 40 ) defines an anti-rotation mechanism ( 102 ), said anti-rotation mechanism ( 102 ) comprises a retractable flange ( 103 ) which functions to prevent rotation of the control module cover ( 90 ), wherein the cylindrical portion ( 86 ) defines a locking mechanism configured to couple the control module cover ( 90 ) to the cylindrical portion ( 86 );

wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking flange ( 92 ), said locking flange ( 92 ) being configured to couple to a locking slot ( 94 ) defined in the cover ( 90 ).

11. The module according to claim 10 wherein the locking slot ( 94 ) is L-shaped.

12. The module according to claim 10 further comprising an electronics module ( 105 ) disposed within the control module.

13. The module defined in claim 12 wherein the electronics module ( 105 ) is selected from the group consisting of: a horn switch, a visual display, lights, a GPS, a cellular phone, vehicle gages, a radio, radio controls, an occupant sensor and an anti-theft device.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS SECURITY AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 057775/0771 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS SECURITY AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 057828/0461 →
RELEASE OF INTEREST IN PATENTS- RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 033673/0524 Recorded Apr 12, 2018
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE OF FLORIDA, LLC; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 045933/0563 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 045927/0330 →
RELEASE OF INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Sep 2, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; HAMLIN INCORPORATED; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE WEST, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE, LP; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY ELECTRONICS OF NEVADA, INC.; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS OF TEXAS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033666/0605 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 2, 2014
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 033673/0524 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE TO RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL AND THE RECEIVING PARTY NAMES PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 031327 FRAME 676. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL. SEE ALSO THE ATTACHED DECLARATION. Recorded Aug 12, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; HAMLIN INCORPORATED; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE, LP; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY ELECTRONICS OF NEVADA, INC.; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS OF TEXAS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033521/0223 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 031327/0676 →
RELEASE OF LIEN INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Jul 9, 2013
From: CITICORP USA, INC.
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 030821/0063 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 4, 2013
From: CITICORP USA, INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 029565/0125 →