Mistake proof brackets for installation of seat trim cover airbag strip to a seat frame

• US 10,343,637 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2016
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Boshoku America, Inc. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Boshoku America, Inc. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Knoebel, Alice, Kinsman, Blair, Gaudreault, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Gooden, Jr., Barry
• Application Number:
  US15/201,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20170008476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment

Abstract

An airbag bracket assembly includes a seat frame including a stud hole, a first bracket, and a second bracket including a bracket hole. The first bracket is located on one side of the seat frame, and the second bracket is located on an opposing side of the seat frame. A fastener is attached to the first bracket. The fastener is received in the stud hole and the bracket hole. A method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An airbag bracket assembly comprising:

a seat frame including a stud hole;

a first airbag strap bracket that directly contacts the seat frame;

a second airbag strap bracket including a bracket hole, wherein the second airbag strap bracket directly contacts the seat frame, the first airbag strap bracket is located on one side of the seat frame, and the second airbag strap bracket is located on an opposing side of the seat frame; and

a fastener attached to the first airbag strap bracket, wherein the fastener is received in the stud hole and the bracket hole.

2. The airbag bracket assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the first airbag strap bracket and the second airbag strap bracket are made of metal.

3. The airbag bracket assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the seat frame includes a first hole and a second hole each located on opposing sides of the stud hole, the first airbag strap bracket includes a first tab and a second tab each on opposing sides of the fastener, and the first tab is received in the first hole of the seat frame and the second tab is received in the second hole of the seat frame to prevent rotation of the first airbag strap bracket.

4. The airbag bracket assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the first airbag strap bracket includes a first slot and the second airbag strap bracket includes a second slot that each receive a strap of an airbag.

5. The airbag bracket assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the fastener includes a threaded body and a head, and the threaded body of the fastener is received in another bracket hole of the first airbag strap bracket, the stud hole of the seat frame, and the bracket hole of the second airbag strap bracket, and the head contacts the first airbag strap bracket.

6. The airbag bracket assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein a threaded nut is attached to the threaded body of the fastener to secure the first airbag strap bracket and the second airbag strap bracket to the seat frame, and the threaded nut contacts the second airbag strap bracket.

7. An airbag bracket assembly comprising:

a seat frame including a stud hole;

a first airbag strap bracket;

a second airbag strap bracket including a bracket hole, wherein the first airbag strap bracket is located on one side of the seat frame, the second airbag strap bracket is located on an opposing side of the seat frame, the second airbag strap bracket includes a first recessed area and a second recessed area that provide stiffness and thickness to the second airbag strap bracket, and the first recessed area and the second recessed area are on opposing sides of the bracket hole; and

a fastener attached to the first airbag strap bracket, wherein the fastener is received in the stud hole and the bracket hole.

8. An airbag bracket assembly comprising:

a seat frame including a stud hole, and the seat frame includes a first hole and a second hole each located on opposing sides of the stud hole;

a first airbag strap bracket that directly contacts the seat frame, wherein the first airbag strap bracket includes a first tab and a second tab each on opposing sides of a fastener, and the first tab is received in the first hole of the seat frame and the second tab is received in the second hole of the seat frame to prevent rotation of the first airbag strap bracket;

a second airbag strap bracket that directly contacts the seat frame, wherein the second airbag strap bracket includes a bracket hole, wherein the first airbag strap bracket is located on one side of the seat frame, and the second airbag strap bracket is located on an opposing side of the seat frame;

the fastener attached to the first airbag strap bracket, wherein the fastener includes a threaded body and a head, and the threaded body of the fastener is received in the stud hole of the seat frame and the bracket hole of the second airbag strap bracket, and the head contacts the first airbag strap bracket; and

a threaded nut attached to the threaded body of the fastener to secure the first airbag strap bracket and the second airbag strap bracket to the seat frame, wherein the threaded nut contacts the second airbag strap bracket.

9. The airbag bracket assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein the first airbag strap bracket and the second airbag strap bracket are made of metal.

10. The airbag bracket assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein the first airbag strap bracket includes a first slot and the second airbag strap bracket includes a second slot that each receive a strap of an airbag.

11. An airbag bracket assembly comprising:

a seat frame including a stud hole, and the seat frame includes a first hole and a second hole each located on opposing sides of the stud hole;

a first airbag strap bracket including a first tab and a second tab each on opposing sides of a fastener, and the first tab is received in the first hole of the seat frame and the second tab is received in the second hole of the seat frame to prevent rotation of the first airbag strap bracket;

a second airbag strap bracket including a bracket hole, wherein the first airbag strap bracket is located on one side of the seat frame, and the second airbag strap bracket is located on an opposing side of the seat frame, wherein the second airbag strap bracket includes a first recessed area and a second recessed area that provide stiffness and thickness to the second airbag strap bracket, and the first recessed area and the second recessed area are on opposing sides of the airbag strap bracket hole;

the fastener attached to the first airbag strap bracket, wherein the fastener includes a threaded body and a head, and the threaded body of the fastener is received in the stud hole of the seat frame and the bracket hole of the second airbag strap bracket, and the head contacts the first airbag strap bracket; and

a threaded nut attached to the threaded body of the fastener to secure the first airbag strap bracket and the second airbag strap bracket to the seat frame, wherein the threaded nut contacts the second airbag strap bracket.

12. A method of determining if an airbag bracket assembly is assembled properly, the method comprising the steps of:

locating a first airbag strap bracket on a first side of a seat frame, wherein the first airbag strap bracket directly contacts the seat frame;

locating a second airbag strap bracket on a second opposing side of the seat frame, wherein the second airbag bracket directly contacts the seat frame;

positioning a fastener through a stud hole in the seat frame and an airbag strap bracket hole in the second airbag strap bracket; and

employing a socket to attach a threaded nut to the fastener to secure the airbag bracket assembly together.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 including the steps of inserting a first tab and a second tab of the first airbag strap bracket into a first hole and a second hole, respectively, of the seat frame, wherein the first hole and the second hole are each located on opposing sides of the stud hole.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the fastener includes a threaded body and a head, and the threaded body of the fastener is received in the stud hole of the seat frame and the bracket hole of the second airbag strap bracket, the head contacts the first airbag strap bracket, and the threaded nut contacts the second airbag strap bracket.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the socket includes a socket portion having a socket upper surface and socket walls and the threaded nut includes a nut upper surface and nut walls.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the socket upper surface of the socket engages or is proximate to the nut upper surface of the threaded nut, and the socket walls of the socket engage the nut walls of the threaded nut when the airbag bracket assembly is properly assembled, and rotation of the socket rotates the threaded nut to secure the airbag bracket assembly together.

17. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the socket upper surface of the socket engages a surface of a threaded body of the fastener when the airbag bracket assembly is improperly assembled, and the socket walls of the socket do not engage the nut walls of the threaded nut to prevent assembly of the airbag bracket assembly.