Mounting assembly for inflatable curtain

• US 20030042712A1
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Henderson, David, Petersen, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 6,851,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32975 Rotatable

Abstract

A novel mounting bracket for an inflatable curtain is described. The mounting bracket includes a pair of attachment plates for engaging respective sides of the inflatable curtain. One plate includes an opening through which a fastener may be positioned to secure the bracket and attached inflatable curtain to the interior of a vehicle. A bushing having an inner surface and an outer surface is positioned within the opening in the mounting plate. Flanges extending from an outer surface of the bushing maintain the bushing within the opening. The outer surface of the bushing is smaller than the opening which allows the bushing to rotate freely within the bracket when a fastener is used to secure the mounting bracket to the interior of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A mounting bracket for an inflatable curtain, comprising:

an attachment plate for engaging the inflatable curtain, the attachment plate defining an opening; and

a bushing having an inner surface and an outer surface, the bushing in rotatable communication with the attachment plate adjacent the opening, the bushing configured to receive a fastener.

2. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the bushing comprises a diameter smaller than the opening of the attachment plate.

3. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the bushing is deformable to facilitate positioning of the bushing within the opening.

4. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the bushing comprises a protrusion positioned at the inner surface to facilitate engagement of a fastener with the bushing.

5. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the bushing further comprises a flange extending radially from the outer surface of the bushing to facilitate retention of the bushing within the opening in the attachment plate.

6. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the bushing comprises a first piece rotatably engaged to a second piece.

7. The mounting bracket of claim 6, wherein the first piece is attached to the attachment plate.

8. The mounting bracket of claim 6, wherein the second piece is attached to a fastener.

9. The mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein the bushing comprises a snap having a male member and a female member.

10. The mounting bracket of claim 9, wherein the female member rotatably engages the attachment plate at the opening.

11. The mounting bracket of claim 9, wherein the male member comprises a protrusion positioned to facilitate engagement of a fastener with the bushing.

12. The mounting bracket of claim 1, further comprising a pair of attachment plates, each plate configured to engage a respective opposing surface of an inflatable curtain.

13. The mounting bracket of claim 12, wherein each plate defines an opening, the opening of each plate being substantially aligned with each other to permit the positioning of a fastener within each opening.

14. The mounting bracket of claim 12, wherein the bushing is positioned within at least one attachment plate.

15. The mounting bracket of claim 12, wherein a first attachment plate comprises a locking tab extending from an attachment surface of the first attachment plate.

16. The mounting bracket of claim 15, wherein a second attachment plate comprises a receiving orifice configured within the second attachment plate for receiving the locking tab.

17. The mounting bracket of claim 15, wherein a second attachment plate comprises a receiving notch configured within the second attachment plate for receiving the locking tab.

18. The mounting bracket of claim 12, wherein the attachment plates each comprise a first edge, the first edge of each attachment plate being connected to each other.

19. The mounting bracket of claim 18, wherein the first edge of each attachment plate is integral with each other.

20. The mounting bracket of claim 1, further comprising a fastener attached to the inner surface of the bushing.

21. The mounting bracket of claim 20, wherein the fastener comprises a head which is larger than the diameter of the inner surface of the bushing.

22. A mounting bracket for an inflatable curtain, comprising:

a pair of attachment plates for engaging the inflatable curtain, each plate configured to engage a respective opposing surface of an inflatable curtain, at least one plate defining an opening, to permit the positioning of a fastener within the opening; and

a bushing having an inner surface and an outer surface, the bushing in rotatable communication with at least one attachment plate adjacent the bushing configured to receive a fastener, the bushing comprising a flange extending radially from the outer surface of the bushing to facilitate retention of the bushing within the opening in the attachment plate.

23. The mounting bracket of claim 22, wherein the outer surface of the bushing comprises a diameter smaller than the opening of the attachment plate.

24. The mounting bracket of claim 23, wherein the bushing is deformable to facilitate positioning of the bushing within the opening.

25. The mounting bracket of claim 24, wherein the bushing comprises a protrusion positioned at the inner surface to facilitate engagement of a fastener with the bushing.

26. The mounting bracket of claim 25, wherein a first attachment plate comprises a locking tab extending from an attachment surface of the first attachment plate.

27. The mounting bracket of claim 26, wherein a second attachment plate comprises a receiving orifice configured within the second attachment plate for receiving the locking tab.

28. The mounting bracket of claim 26, wherein a second attachment plate comprises a notch configured within the second attachment plate for receiving the locking tab.

29. The mounting bracket of claim 27, further comprising a fastener attached to the inner surface of the bushing.

30. The mounting bracket of claim 29, wherein the fastener comprises a head which is larger than the diameter of the inner surface of the bushing.

31. The mounting bracket of claim 22, wherein the bushing comprises a first piece rotatably engaged to a second piece.

32. The mounting bracket of claim 31, wherein the first piece is attached to the attachment plate.

33. The mounting bracket of claim 32, further comprising a fastener attached to the second piece.

34. The mounting bracket of claim 33, wherein a first attachment plate comprises a locking tab extending from an attachment surface of the first attachment plate.

35. The mounting bracket of claim 34, wherein a second attachment plate comprises a receiving orifice configured within an attachment surface of the second attachment plate for receiving the locking tab.

36. The mounting bracket of claim 33, wherein the fastener comprises a head which is larger than the diameter of the inner surface of the bushing.

37. The mounting bracket of claim 22, wherein the bushing comprises a snap having a male member and a female member.

38. The mounting bracket of claim 37, wherein the female member rotatably engages the attachment plate at the opening.

39. The mounting bracket of claim 38, wherein the male member comprises a protrusion positioned to facilitate engagement of a fastener with the bushing.

40. The mounting bracket of claim 39, wherein a first attachment plate comprises a locking tab extending from an attachment surface of the first attachment plate.

41. The mounting bracket of claim 40, wherein a second attachment plate comprises a receiving orifice configured within an attachment surface of the second attachment plate for receiving the locking tab.

42. The mounting bracket of claim 41, further comprising a fastener attached to the inner surface of the bushing.

43. The mounting bracket of claim 42, wherein the fastener comprises a head which is larger than the diameter of the inner surface of the bushing.

44. The mounting bracket of claim 22, wherein the attachment plates each comprise a first edge, the first edge of each attachment plate being connected to each other.

45. The mounting bracket of claim 44, wherein the first edge of each attachment plate is integral with each other.

46. A mounting bracket for an inflatable curtain, comprising:

a first and second attachment plate, each configured to engage a respective opposing surface of an inflatable curtain, each plate further defining an opening, the opening of each plate being substantially aligned with each other to permit the positioning of a fastener within each opening, the pair of attachment plates being attached to each other at a first edge of each attachment plate; and

a deformable bushing having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface of the bushing comprising a diameter smaller than the opening of the attachment plate, the bushing being in rotatable communication with the attachment plate adjacent the opening;

a locking tab extending from an attachment surface of the first attachment plate; and

a receiving orifice configured within an attachment surface of the second attachment plate for receiving the locking tab.

47. An airbag device, comprising:

an inflatable curtain having a first edge and opposing surfaces;

a first and second attachment plate configured to engage a respective opposing surface of the inflatable curtain, at least one attachment plate defining an opening to facilitate receiving a fastener; and

a bushing having an inner surface and an outer surface, the bushing being positioned within the opening and in rotatable communication with at least one attachment plate, the bushing comprising a flange extending radially from the outer surface of the bushing to facilitate retention of the bushing within the opening in the attachment plate.