Abstract: A method is provided for filling an enclosure with an ignitable mixture of gases. The enclosure has an outer wall comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a fill aperture extending therethrough. The method comprises delivering a predetermined amount of pressurized combustible gas into the enclosure through the fill aperture, delivering a first predetermined amount of pressurized inert gas into the enclosure through the fill aperture at a first pressurization rate, delivering a second predetermined amount of pressurized inert gas into the enclosure through the fill aperture at a second pressurization rate, welding a sealing member to the outer wall of the enclosure by a welding process to form a weld operable to seal the fill aperture and to permit the enclosure to store pressurized gas therein. The first pressurization rate allows the first predetermined amount of pressurized inert gas to mix with the predetermined amount of pressurized combustible gas to form an ignitable mixture.

Abstract: A method is provided for filling an enclosure with an ignitable mixture of gases. The enclosure has an outer wall comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a fill aperture extending therethrough. The method comprises delivering a predetermined amount of pressurized combustible gas into the enclosure through the fill aperture, delivering a first predetermined amount of pressurized inert gas into the enclosure through the fill aperture at a first pressurization rate, delivering a second predetermined amount of pressurized inert gas into the enclosure through the fill aperture at a second pressurization rate, welding a sealing member to the outer wall of the enclosure by a welding process to form a weld operable to seal the fill aperture and to permit the enclosure to store pressurized gas therein. The first pressurization rate allows the first predetermined amount of pressurized inert gas to mix with the predetermined amount of pressurized combustible gas to form an ignitable mixture.

Abstract: An airbag module is provided. The module includes a housing, an inflator, an inflatable cushion, a vent aperture defined in the housing, and a gas deflecting member. The vent aperture places the interior of the housing in fluid communication with the exterior of the housing. The vent aperture is offset from exhaust ports of the inflator. The gas deflecting member is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a first portion of the deflecting member deflects a first amount of the inflation gas to the exterior of the housing. In the second position, a second portion of the deflecting member deflects the inflation gas towards the inflatable cushion. A second amount of the inflation gas is ventable from the housing through the vent aperture when the deflecting member is in the second position.

Abstract: An airbag module is provided. The module includes a housing, an inflator, an inflatable cushion, a vent aperture defined in the housing, and a gas deflecting member. The vent aperture places the interior of the housing in fluid communication with the exterior of the housing. The vent aperture is offset from exhaust ports of the inflator. The gas deflecting member is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a first portion of the deflecting member deflects a first amount of the inflation gas to the exterior of the housing. In the second position, a second portion of the deflecting member deflects the inflation gas towards the inflatable cushion. A second amount of the inflation gas is ventable from the housing through the vent aperture when the deflecting member is in the second position.

Abstract: A supplemental restraint system including an air bag for use in a vehicle to restrain an occupant during a sudden deceleration or collision. The air bag is folded in a fashion to facilitate reducing lateral deployment until the air bag deploys a predetermined distance when inflated by the inflator.

Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel and air bag module assembly includes a steering wheel and an air bag module. The steering wheel has a hub portion and a rim portion and at least one spoke portion connecting the hub portion to the rim portion. The air bag module is mounted to the hub portion and includes an air bag, an inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag, and a bias apparatus. The bias apparatus is a flexible sheet of material attached to the air bag module and having an upper portion folded atop the air bag such that when the inflation of the deploying air bag is blocked, the upper portion of the bias apparatus biases the air bag partially underneath the rim portion of the steering wheel. In addition, when the inflation of the deploying air bag is unrestrained, the bias apparatus drops downwardly away from the deploying air bag permitting the air bag to freely deploy.

Abstract: An air bag module includes an inflator for generating gas and an air bag coupled to the inflator and deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator. A pouch is made of a fabric material and serves as both the housing and cover of the module. The pouch has wall portions surrounding the air bag and inflator and defining a pouch interior containing the inflator and the air bag substantially therein such that the inflator and the air bag are housed within the pouch. The pouch also is provided with a frangible seam being breakable to form a pouch deployment opening. Upon air bag deployment, the air bag breaks open the frangible seam of the pouch to permit deployment of the air bag out through the pouch deployment opening such that the pouch guides the air bag during deployment.

Abstract: A driver-side air bag module is mounted to a steering wheel assembly mounting bracket having three mounting apertures. The module comprises a cover, an inflator and a base plate, which are assembled without using fasteners. The base plate has a plurality of arcuately-spaced mounting apertures and mounts three studs. The cover includes a plurality of mating flexible tangs having locking shoulders. The inflator has a peripheral mounting flange which includes three arcuately-spaced locking blades and a plurality of locking tabs projecting from its surface. The base plate has three mating openings each having an adjacent locking abutment. The studs are first staked to the base plate. The cover is assembled by inserting the tangs through the base plate mounting apertures so that the shoulders snap over to engage the base plate. The inflator locking blades are pushed through the base plate mating openings and twisted to pass them over the locking abutments.