Connector and a restraint assembly in a vehicle

• US 10,322,692 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2017
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ma, Qingsong, Yan, Sophie, Wang, Bob, Xu, Ivy
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Drew J
• Application Number:
  US15/492,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20170305378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/18 Anchoring devices

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a connector to attach an accessory member to a vehicle part. The connector includes a base including an assembling hole and a connecting hole positioned adjacent to a first end of the base to attach the accessory member, a first anchor positioned at a second end portion of the base opposite to the first end portion and a second anchor positioned adjacent to a side of the base between the first end portion and the second end portion. The assembling hole is used to receive a fastener to secure the connector to the vehicle part. The first anchor includes a first locking portion and a second anchor includes a second locking portion to facilitate alignment of the connector with the vehicle part during the assembling.

Claims

1. A connector to attach an accessory member to a vehicle part, comprising:

a base including an assembling hole and a connecting hole positioned adjacent to a first end portion of the base to attach the accessory member, wherein the assembling hole is used to receive a fastener that secures the connector to the vehicle part;

a first anchor positioned at a second end portion opposite to the first end portion of the base, the first anchor including a first locking portion; and

a second anchor positioned at a side of the base, wherein the side is located between the first end portion and the second end portion, and is next to and adjacent the second end portion, and wherein the second anchor includes a second locking portion.

2. The connector of the claim 1, wherein the base includes a first portion and a second portion extending at an angle relative to the first portion, and wherein the assembling hole is positioned on the first portion, wherein the connecting hole is positioned on the second portion, and wherein the accessory member is a side curtain airbag of a vehicle.

3. The connector of the claim 2, wherein the first anchor and the second anchor are positioned on the first portion.

4. The connector of the claim 1, wherein the connector is integrally formed of a metallic material or a material having a strength equivalent to the metallic material.

5. The connector of the claim 1, wherein the first locking portion includes a pair of locking wings symmetrically positioned at two sides of the first anchor.

6. The connector of the claim 1, wherein the base further includes an assembling surface, wherein the first anchor and the second anchor extend outwardly from the base in a direction perpendicular to the assembling surface, respectively.

7. The connector of the claim 1, wherein the first anchor and the second anchor contact the vehicle part such that the connector may be automatically aligned with the vehicle part at an assembled position.

8. A restraint assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle part having a first surface and a second surface, the vehicle part including a first assembling hole, a first slot and a second slot spaced apart from the first slot;

a connector to attach a side curtain airbag to the vehicle part, the connector including a base having an assembling surface and a second assembling hole, and a first anchor and a second anchor extending from the base away from the assembling surface, wherein the base includes a first side and a second side next to the first side, wherein the first and second anchors are positioned at the first and second sides of the base, respectively, and the assembling surface is opposite to the first surface of the vehicle part;

wherein the first anchor and the second anchor pass through the first slot and the second slot, respectively when the connector is at a first assembled position; and

during the movement of the connector from the first assembled position to a second assembled position, the first anchor contacts a wall of the first slot of the vehicle part and the second anchor contacts a wall of the second slot of the vehicle part such that the second assembling hole is aligned with the first assembling hole.

9. The restraint assembly of the claim 8, wherein the first slot includes a first cutout and a second cutout, and a width of the second cutout is less than a width of the first cutout.

10. The restraint assembly of the claim 9, wherein the first anchor includes a first locking portion at an end thereof, and wherein the first locking portion includes a pair of locking wings positioned at two sides of the first anchor, respectively, and the first anchor is received in the second cutout, and an upper surface of the first locking portion is opposite to the second surface of the vehicle part.

11. The restraint assembly of the claim 9, wherein the upper surface of the first locking portion contacts the second surface of the vehicle part at the second assembled position.

12. The restraint assembly of the claim 9, wherein the second slot may be substantial a rectangular slot with a width direction being different from a width direction of the first slot.

13. The restraint assembly of the claim 12, wherein the second anchor includes a second locking portion at an end thereof and wherein the second anchor is received in the second slot at a first assembled position, and an upper surface of the second locking portion is opposite to the second surface of the vehicle part at the second assembled position.

14. The restraint assembly of the claim 13, wherein the upper surface of the second locking portion contacts the second surface at the second assembled position.

15. The restraint assembly of the claim 8, wherein the vehicle part is an A-pillar or a rear pillar of a vehicle.

16. The restraint assembly of the claim 8, wherein the base includes a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion at an angle, the second assembling hole is positioned on the first portion, and the second portion includes a connecting hole to receive a tether of a side curtain airbag.

17. The restraint assembly of the claim 16, wherein the first side is at an end of the first portion opposite to the second portion, and the engagement of the first anchor with the vehicle part prevent the disengagement of the first anchor from the first slot during assembling process.

18. The restraint assembly of the claim 17, wherein the second anchor is positioned on the first portion and closer to the second portion relative to the first anchor.

19. A restraint assembly in a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle part having a first surface and a second surface, a first assembling hole, a first slot and a second slot;

a connector to attach a side curtain airbag to the vehicle part, the connector including;

a base including an assembling surface opposite to the first surface, a connecting hole to receive a tether of a side curtain airbag and a second assembling hole corresponding to the first assembling hole;

a first anchor positioned at a first side of the base opposite to the connecting hole; and

a second anchor positioned at a second side of the base, wherein the second side is adjacent to the first side;

wherein the first anchor and the second anchor correspond to the first slot and the second slot, respectively, the first and second anchors contact the first and second slots, respectively such that the first assembling hole aligns with the second assembling hole at an assembled position.

20. The restraint assembly of the claim 19, wherein the first anchor and the second anchor extend outwardly from the base and substantially perpendicular to the assembling surface, and wherein the first anchor includes a first locking portion, and the second anchor includes a second locking portion, wherein an upper surface of the first locking portion and an upper surface of the second locking portion contact the second surface of the vehicle part.