Claims:We Claim:
1. An airbag assembly 100 for a vehicle, the airbag assembly 100 is having a chute10 and an airbag holder 20, the airbag assembly 100 comprising:
at least one tab 12a extending from the chute 10; and
wherein at least one engaging channel 22a is configured on at least one hook 24a, the at least one hook 24a is extending from the airbag holder 20 passing through at least one hooking window 14a in the chute 10 and the at least one tab 12a is extending towards the airbag holder 20 and directed towards the engaging channel 22a of the hook 24a for avoiding disengagement of the airbag holder 20 with the chute 10 when an airbag deployed.

2. The airbag assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hook 24a is perpendicularly extending from the airbag holder 20.

3. The airbag assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein if the airbag holder 20 is wobbled in a first direction 300a during airbag deployment, the tab 12a is latched to the hook 24a at a bottom 18a of a hooking window 14a of the chute 10 and when the airbag holder 20 is wobbled in a second direction 300b to the first direction 300a, the at least one tab 12a is slidable over the engaging channel 22a inside the airbag holder 20 thereby avoiding disengagement of the airbag holder 20 with the chute 10.

4. The airbag assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, 2 & 3, wherein the first direction 300a is an anti-clockwise rotation around a Y-axis of the vehicle and the second direction 300b is a clockwise rotation around the Y-axis of the vehicle.

5. The airbag assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of tabs are extending towards the airbag holder 20 and directed towards a respective plurality of engaging channels of a plurality of hooks extending from the airbag holder 20.

6. The airbag assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chute 10 is a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls surrounding the air bag holder 20.

7. The airbag assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1 & 5, wherein the front and the rear wall have the at least one hooking window 14a for engagement with the corresponding at least one hook 24a extending from the airbag holder 20.

8. The airbag assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, 6 & 7, wherein a plurality of windows of the chute 10 are engaged with the plurality of hooks extending from the airbag holder 20.

9. The airbag assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fit between the hook 24a and the tab 12a is an interference fit with a clearance of 0.8mm therebetween.
, Description:Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to an airbag assembly for a vehicle.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Generally, an airbag is arranged on an instrument panel of the vehicle. Specifically, the airbag is arranged in an airbag holder of an airbag assembly of a vehicle. The airbag assembly includes a chute housing configured beneath the instrument panel. The airbag is deployed into the vehicle interior, when the airbag is deployed from the airbag assembly. The chute housing guides the propagation of the airbag into the vehicle interior.

[0003] Presently, during the air bag deployment, the chute housing may completely disengage from the airbag holder. This disengagement can create hurdles in the deployment of the airbag in the vehicle or reduces efficient deployment of the airbag in the vehicle.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need of an airbag assembly, which overcomes few or all of the drawbacks of the existing airbag assemblies.

Objects of the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag assembly for a vehicle.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide an airbag assembly for a vehicle to prevent wobbling motion of the airbag holder.

[0007] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an airbag assembly for a vehicle which is reliable in operation and simple in construction.

Summary of the invention

[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided an airbag assembly a vehicle. The airbag assembly is having a chute and an airbag holder. Preferably, the chute is a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls surrounding the air bag holder. The airbag assembly includes at least one tab extending from a chute and at least one engaging channel configured on a hook.

[0009] The hook is extending from the airbag holder. The hook is passing through a window in the chute. In a preferred embodiment, the hook is perpendicularly extending from the airbag holder and passing through the window in the chute. The at least one tab is extending towards or inside the airbag holder and directed towards the at least one engaging channel of the hook, adapted to slide on the at least one engaging channel for avoiding complete disengagement of the airbag holder with the chute, thereby avoiding disengagement of the chute from the airbag holder and also avoiding the wobbling motion therebetween during the airbag deployment. The front and rear walls have the at least one window for engagement with the corresponding at least one hook extending from the airbag holder. In the present embodiment, a fit between the hook and the tab is an interference fit with a clearance of 0.8mm therebetween.

[0010] If the airbag holder is wobbled in a first direction preferably during airbag deployment, the tab may be latched to the hook. The first direction is an anti-clockwise rotation around a Y-axis of the vehicle. Similarly, when the airbag holder is wobbled in an opposite direction to the first direction, the at least one tab may slide over the engaging channel towards inside the airbag holder. The opposite direction is a clockwise rotation around the Y-axis of the vehicle.

[0011] In the present embodiment, a plurality of tabs are extending towards the airbag holder and directed towards a respective plurality of engaging channels of a plurality of hooks extending from the airbag holder. Further, a plurality of hooking windows of the chute are engaged with the plurality of hooks extending from the airbag holder.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] The advantages and features of the present invention will be understood better with reference to the following detailed description of some embodiments of the impact energy absorber and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which;

[0013] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an airbag assembly for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention is illustrated;

[0014] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of chute of the airbag assembly of figure 1; and

[0015] Figure 3 shows an isometric view of a tab of the chute engaging with a channel of a hook of the airbag holder of the airbag assembly shown in figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0016] An embodiment of this invention, illustrating its features, will now be described in detail. The words "comprising, "having, "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

[0017] The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “an” and “a” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

[0018] The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.

[0019] The present invention is to provide an airbag assembly for a vehicle. The airbag assembly latches an airbag holder of the airbag assembly with chute of the airbag holder for avoiding wobbling motion therebetween. The airbag assembly is reliable in operation and simple in construction.

[0020] Referring to figure 1, a perspective view of an airbag assembly 100 for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The airbag assembly 100 includes a chute 10 and an airbag holder 20. The chute 10 is arranged beneath an instrument panel 200 of the vehicle interior. The chute 10 is a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls surrounding the air bag holder 20. The chute 10 includes at least one hooking window 14a as shown in figure 2. The chute 10 includes at least one tab 12a. The at least one tab 12a is extending from the chute 10. More specifically, the at least one tab 12a is extending from an upper wall 16a of the hooking window 14.

[0021] In the present embodiment, the chute 10 are configured with a plurality of hooking windows 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h & 14i. Further, a plurality of tabs 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f, 12g, 12h, &12i are configured in the hooking windows 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h & 14i. The tabs12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f, 12g, 12h, &12i are configured in a “V” shape. In an alternative embodiment, the tabs 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f, 12g, 12h, &12i can be configured in many orientation and shapes, which is obvious to a person skilled in the art.

[0022] Further, at least one engaging channel 22g is configured on a hook 24g (figure 3). The hook 24g extends from the airbag holder 20. In the present embodiment, a plurality of hooks 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 24e, 24f, 24h &24i are configured from the airbag holder 20. Further, a plurality of engaging channels engaging channels 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, 22f, 22g, 22h &22i are configured on respective plurality of hooks 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 24e, 24f, 24h &24i. The hook 24g is perpendicularly extending from the airbag holder 20. Similarly all hooks 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 24e, 24f, 24h &24i are perpendicularly extending from the airbag holder 20.

[0023] Further, the plurality of tabs 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f, 12g, 12h, &12i are extending towards the airbag holder 20 and directed towards a respective plurality of engaging channels 22a, 22b,22c,22d,22e,22f,22g,22h &22i of the plurality of hooks 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 24e, 24f, 24h &24i extending from the airbag holder 20. More specifically, the hook 24g is extending perpendicularly from a sidewalls 20a of the airbag holder 20. The tabs 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f, 12g, 12h, &12i are extending inside the chute 10. The at least one hook 24a is extending from the airbag holder 20 passing through a hooking window 14a in the chute 10. The front and the rear wall of the chute 10 have the at least one hooking window 14a for engagement with the corresponding at least one hook 24a extending from the airbag holder 20. In the present embodiment , the plurality of hooking windows 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h & 14i of the chute 10 are engaged with the plurality of hooks 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 24e, 24f, 24h &24i extending from the airbag holder 20.

[0024] Further , the at least one tab 12a is extending towards the airbag holder 20 and directed towards the engaging channel 22a of the hook 24a for avoiding disengagement of the airbag holder 20 with the chute 10 when an airbag (not shown) is deployed. It also avoid the wobbling motion therebetween (the airbag holder 20 and the chute 10) during the airbag deployment.

[0025] The tab 12g is adapted to slide on the respective engaging channel 22g for latching the airbag holder 20 with the chute 10, thereby preventing wobbling motion of the airbag holder 20. In the present embodiment, a fit between the hook 24a and the tab 12g is an interference fit with a clearance of 0.8mm therebetween. It may be obvious to a person ordinarily skilled in the art for configuring the hook 24a and the tab 12g with the interference fit therebetween according to geometric dimensions and shapes of the hook 24a and the tab 12g.

[0026] Similarly, the tabs 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f, 12g, 12h, &12i engages with the plurality of engaging channels 22a, 22b,22c,22d,22e,22f,22g,22h &22i of the hooks 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 24f, 24g, 24h &24i through hooking windows 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h & 14i for avoiding disengagement of the airbag holder 20 with the chute 10 when an airbag deployed and preventing wobbling motion of the airbag holder 20. It may be obvious to a person skilled in the art to increase or decrease the number of tabs, hooking windows and hooks with engaging channels with an objective to prevent the wobbling motion of the airbag holder 20.

[0027] If the airbag holder 20 is wobbled in a first direction 300a during the airbag deployment, the tab 12g is latched to the hook 24g at a bottom 18g of a hooking window 14g of the chute 10. Simultaneously all other tabs 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f , 12h, &12i are latched to the respective hooks 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 24f, 24h &24i at the respective bottoms of the hooking windows 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h & 14i. The first direction 300a is an anti-clockwise rotation around a Y-axis 300 of the vehicle.
[0028] Similarly, when the airbag holder 20 is wobbled in a second direction 300b to the first direction 300a, the at least one tab 12g slides over the engaging channel 22g towards inside the airbag holder 20, thereby latching the airbag holder 20 with the chute 10. Simultaneously all other tabs 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f, 12h, &12i slide over the engaging channels 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, 22f, 22h & 22i towards inside the airbag holder 20, thereby latching the airbag holder 20 with the chute 10. The opposite direction 300b is a clockwise rotation around the Y-axis of the vehicle. The chute 10 and the airbag holder 20 are assembled beneath the instrument panel 200 for engaging of the tabs 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f, 12g, 12h, &12i with the hooks 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 24f, 24g, 24h &24i.

[0029] The present invention has an advantage of providing the airbag assembly 100 the vehicle. The airbag assembly 100 latches the airbag holder 20 of the airbag assembly 100 with chute 10 of the airbag holder 100 for preventing the wobbling motion of the airbag holder. Further, the airbag assembly 100 is reliable in operation and simple in construction 100. Furthermore, the airbag assembly 100 increases the efficiency of deployment of the airbag assembly 100.

[0030] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilise the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from scope of the claims of the present invention.