Apparatus and method for rapidly fastening an airbag apparatus
First Claim
1. An attachment assembly for attaching an airbag apparatus to a vehicle surface, the attachment assembly comprising:
- a rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the rod extending between a mounting portion of a cushion member and a vehicle surface;
a knob affixed to the distal end of the rod;
a washer disposed on the rod between the mounting portion and the vehicle surface; and
a keyhole shaped to receive the knob and to engage the knob to prevent withdrawal of the knob from the keyhole in an engaged configuration, wherein the knob is freely rotatable within the keyhole in the engaged configuration.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An attachment assembly for attaching a cushion member for an airbag apparatus to a vehicle surface is disclosed. The attachment assembly is particularly useful for attaching curtain type cushion members, as for a side impact airbag system. The attachment assembly may include a protrusion with a rod and a knob larger than the rod. A compressible spring washer is affixed to the rod. A hole formed in a mounting portion of the cushion member is then fitted around the rod, outside the washer. A cap is affixed to the rod to keep the cushion member in place. The protrusion, with the attached cushion member, may then be affixed to the vehicle surface through the use of a keyhole formed in the vehicle surface. The knob is pushed longitudinally into a larger, clearance portion of the keyhole, such that the spring washer is compressed. Then, the protrusion is moved transversely into an engaged configuration, in which the knob and the spring washer engage the interference portion. The protrusion can be locked in place to form a locked configuration by providing an arcuate slot intersecting the keyhole, into which the washer fits. Alternatively, upraised tabs may be formed around the keyhole, such that the spring washer slides over the upraised tabs and locks into place abutting them. As another alternative, a locking tab may be formed in the washer in such a position that the locking tab can rest within the clearance portion to resist motion of the protrusion into the clearance portion. The invention is thus inexpensive and easy to install, and enhances the reliability and safety of airbag systems.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An attachment assembly for attaching an airbag apparatus to a vehicle surface, the attachment assembly comprising:
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a rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the rod extending between a mounting portion of a cushion member and a vehicle surface;
a knob affixed to the distal end of the rod;
a washer disposed on the rod between the mounting portion and the vehicle surface; and
a keyhole shaped to receive the knob and to engage the knob to prevent withdrawal of the knob from the keyhole in an engaged configuration, wherein the knob is freely rotatable within the keyhole in the engaged configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An attachment assembly for attaching an airbag apparatus to a vehicle surface, the attachment assembly comprising:
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a cushion member comprising a mounting portion;
a protrusion comprising;
a proximal end configured to be anchored to the mounting portion; and
a distal end enlarged in relation to the proximal end;
a vehicle surface comprising an opening having a clearance portion and an interference portion, the clearance portion being sized to receive the distal end of the protrusion, the interference portion being sized to restrict motion of the distal end through the interference portion; and
wherein engagement of the protrusion within the opening occurs independent of a rotational orientation of the protrusion about an axis perpendicular to the opening. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An attachment assembly for attaching an airbag apparatus to a vehicle surface, the attachment assembly comprising:
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a rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the rod extending between a mounting portion of a cushion member and a vehicle surface;
a knob affixed to the distal end of the rod;
a keyhole shaped to receive the knob and to engage the knob to prevent withdrawal of the knob from the keyhole in an engaged configuration; and
a washer disposed on the rod between the mounting portion and the vehicle surface, the washer having a locking feature configured to lock the knob in the engaged configuration. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A washer configured to lock a protrusion within an opening of a vehicle surface, the washer comprising:
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a hole sized to receive the protrusion;
a locking tab extending from the washer such that the locking tab is insertable into the opening to lock the protrusion in an engaged configuration within the opening; and
a lift tab proximate the locking tab, wherein the lift tab is configured to be actuated by a user to remove the locking tab from the opening to permit removal of the protrusion from the engaged configuration. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method for attaching an airbag apparatus to a vehicle surface, the method comprising:
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providing a vehicle surface, a protrusion having a proximal end and a distal end, and a cushion member having a mounting portion;
forming an opening in the vehicle surface, the opening having a clearance portion sized to receive the distal end of the protrusion and an interference portion sized to restrain motion of the distal end;
anchoring the proximal end to the mounting portion;
inserting the distal end of the protrusion into the opening; and
moving the distal end of the protrusion into engagement with the interference portion, the engagement being independent of a rotational orientation of the protrusion about an axis perpendicular to the opening. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for attaching an airbag apparatus to a vehicle surface, the method comprising:
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providing a vehicle surface;
providing a protrusion having a proximal end and a distal end;
providing a cushion member having a mounting portion;
providing a washer having a locking feature;
forming an opening in the vehicle surface, the opening having a clearance portion sized to receive the distal end of the protrusion and an interference portion sized to restrain motion of the distal end;
anchoring the proximal end to the mounting portion;
inserting the distal end of the protrusion into the opening;
moving the distal end of the protrusion into engagement with the interference portion; and
rotationally aligning the washer with the opening such that the locking feature engages the opening to restrain motion of the distal end from the clearance portion. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for removing an attachment assembly from a vehicle surface having an opening with a clearance portion and an interference portion, the attachment assembly having a protrusion engaged within the interference portion and a washer positioned between the vehicle surface and a mounting portion of a cushion member, the washer having a locking feature extending into the opening to restrict motion of the protrusion into the clearance portion, the method comprising:
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moving the washer to remove the locking feature from the opening;
moving the protrusion from the interference portion to the clearance portion; and
withdrawing the protrusion from the opening. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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Specification