Steven A Stukenborg

US Patent:

54092566, Apr 25, 1995

Filed:

Jan 4, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/177565

Inventors:

John E. Gordon - Brookville OH
Robert E. Huffman - Tipp City OH
David P. Schenck - Miamisburg OH
John P. Sparkman - Dayton OH
Steven W. Stukenborg - Centerville OH
Robert E. Bowser - Brighton MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation

International Classification:

B60R 2120

US Classification:

280728A

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. This traps the base plate between the blades and the mounting flange and abuts the locking tabs with the cover tangs, preventing their removal.

US Patent:

56368585, Jun 10, 1997

Filed:

May 5, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/435600

Inventors:

Robert R. Niederman - Dayton OH
Steven W. Stukenborg - Centerville OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 2116

US Classification:

2807282

Abstract:

An air bag module includes an axially elongated first mounting member having an upper portion mounted to an air bag retainer and having a rearwardly extending portion extending through an air bag and an inflator flange. In addition, the module includes an axially elongated second mounting member having an internal axial bore therethrough for securely engaging the rearwardly extending portion of the first mounting member therein. The second mounting member securely traps the air bag and inflator flange when the second mounting member is fully engaged with the first mounting member. The second mounting member also is adapted for mounting the module to support portion of the vehicle.