Mounting assembly for air bag

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with the present invention, a fastening assembly for an inflatable module includes a support structure arranged for securing the inflatable module to a vehicle component or the like, and a coupling member having a portion projecting from the support structure.
A locking member securable to the vehicle component is arranged for reception of the coupling member or pin which has a resilient lock element slidably carried on the projecting portion of the coupling member and arranged for snap-fit engagement into a locking position within the locking member to attain fastening of the module to the vehicle component.
In one embodiment, a resiliently compressible split-ring is slidably carried within a contoured recess on the coupling pin adjustably projecting from the housing of the inflatable module and a locking bushing mounted for example in the hub portion of a steering wheel is arranged to receive the coupling pin so that the split ring is inserted and locked into a locking cavity within the bushing to secure fastening of the module to the vehicle component such as the steering wheel hub.
In another aspect of the fastening system of the invention, the locking bushing which receives the coupling pin is carried on a movable mounting bracket to enable a floating realignment with the coupling projection to adjust for initial misalignment in the approach of the coupling projection, as when dimensional tolerances of the parts become cumulative.
In other embodiments of the invention, a threaded coupling can be provided by an internally threaded nut which is mounted or carried for movement on a mounting bracket so that the nut can be threaded onto a threaded fastener projecting from the module after the fastener initially engages and guides the realigning displacement of the floating nut.