Janiel Sorenson
Land Surveyors in Salt Lake City, UT

5556125, Sep 17, 1996

Jul 21, 1995

8/505592

Merle K. Ricks - Layton UT
Janiel Sorenson - Salt Lake City UT
John A. Duran - Glendora CA
Javier Vargas - Montebello CA

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL
Avibank Mfg., Inc. - Burbank CA

B60R 2120

2807282

A new and improved air bag inflator module adapted for quick action, snap-on, permanent mounting on a steering wheel requires the use of no tools to install. The module is pre-positioned in front of the steering wheel and is thrust into place until locked. The inflator module includes a base facing and movable in one direction directly toward the steering wheel with a plurality of quick action, snap-on type fasteners carried thereby. Each fastener has a first portion extended into an opening in the steering wheel as the inflator module is pushed into place with a unidirectional thrust and a second portion for supporting the first portion projecting outwardly thereof. A snap-action, annular compressible and expandable holding skirt is provided on the first portion of each fastener for lockingly engaging a surface on the steering wheel when expanded after the first portion of the fastener is fully inserted through an aligned opening in the steering wheel. The holding skirt is initially compressed while passing through an opening and after passage automatically springs back and expands to engage a surface on the steering wheel for permanently retaining the fastener in interconnecting relation therebetween. First and second portions of each fastener are releasable from one another using an ordinary hand tool such as a screw driver for permitting the inflator module to be bodily removed from the steering wheel after installation.

5947509, Sep 7, 1999

Sep 24, 1996

8/721085

Merle K. Ricks - Layton UT
Janiel Sorenson - Salt Lake City UT
Jeffrey L. Scharret - Rochester Hills MI
John A. Duran - Glendora CA

Autoliv ASP, Inc. - Ogden UT
Avibank Mfg. Co., Inc. - Burbank CA

B60R 2116

2807282

A snap-on mounting attachment is provided for securing an airbag inflator module having a base plate to the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The mounting attachment includes two fastener studs extending rearwardly from the base plate, each fastener stud having a yieldable holding barb. Two capture brackets are mounted to the spokes of the steering wheel, and each capture bracket holds a snap receptor in floating encapturement therein, i. e. , with a limited range of lateral and vertical movement. The snap receptors each have a metal ring embedded in a polymer shell and define a stud receiving opening therethrough with the metal ring defining a lip engaged by the holding barb of the fastener stud. Bias stops between the base plate and the steering wheel take up slack in the mounting attachment and eliminate rattles, and the polymer shell of the snap receptors also minimizes rattles. The steering wheel and airbag inflator module have complementary covers, and the floating encapturement permits alignment of the covers.

5924831, Jul 20, 1999

Jul 1, 1998

9/108400

Merle K. Ricks - Layton UT
Janiel Sorenson - Salt Lake City UT
Jeffrey L. Scharret - Rochester Hills MI
John A. Duran - Glendora CA

Autoliv ASP, Inc. - Ogden UT
Avibank Mfg. Co., Inc. - Burbank CA

F16B 1900

411508

A snap-on mounting attachment is provided for securing an airbag inflator module having a base plate to the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The mounting attachment includes two fastener studs extending rearwardly from the base plate, each fastener stud having a yieldable holding barb. Two capture brackets are mounted to the spokes of the steering wheel, and each capture bracket holds a snap receptor in floating encapturement therein, i. e. , with a limited range of lateral and vertical movement. The snap receptors each have a metal ring embedded in a polymer shell and define a stud receiving opening therethrough with the metal ring defining a lip engaged by the holding barb of the fastener stud. Bias stops between the base plate and the steering wheel take up slack in the mounting attachment and eliminate rattles, and the polymer shell of the snap receptors also minimizes rattles. The steering wheel and airbag inflator module have complementary covers, and the floating encapturement permits alignment of the covers.

5678850, Oct 21, 1997

Aug 9, 1996

8/693651

Merle K. Ricks - Layton UT
Janiel Sorenson - Salt Lake City UT

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL

B60R 2120

2807282

An airbag module cover mounting arrangement. The module includes an inflator having a cushion mounted thereto. A cover partially surrounds and protects the cushion and inflator, and includes a decorative main panel and a hidden skirt. The skirt includes a plurality of mounting flaps extending therefrom. An inflator bracket is retained by the flaps, with the inflator held between the bracket and the cover main panel. A mounting flange is placed over the mounting bracket, and the flange includes flap hooks which hold the cover flaps in the mounted position, locked together with the inflator bracket. The flap hooks and mounting flaps include mating angled sections which force the flaps further into the locked position by camming action during normal assembly.

5684283, Nov 4, 1997

Jan 24, 1996

8/590501

Howard W. Hambleton - South Ogden UT
Kevin W. Booth - Riverdale UT
Merle K. Ricks - Layton UT
Janiel Sorenson - Salt Lake City UT

Morton International, Inc. - Chicago IL

H01H 3500, B60R 2109, B60R 2116

200 6108

A membrane horn switch wherein the two membranes sheets of the horn switch have first and second relatively large areas connected by a rupturable, strain relieving bridge member. The bridge members provide an area that is readily rupturable from a force provided by an inflating airbag cushion such that the bridge members can be appropriately placed over a tear seam of a cover of an airbag module in a motor vehicle. Each bridge member of the horn switch has a non-straight path so as to lessen strain fatigue and prolong the durability of the bridge member.