Devices for attaching an airbag to a vehicle

• US 20030222435A1
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hofmann, Volker, Schmidt, Bernhard, Richter, Markus, Morhard, Marko
• Granted Patent: US 6,802,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars

Abstract

A clamp for attaching a folded airbag constituting part of a vehicle occupant restraint system to a vehicle structure has a head for attachment to the vehicle structure and at least one arm adjoining the head for holding the airbag. To prevent an arm being broken away from a clamp, the clamp is of one-armed construction and the one arm is so shaped that the folded airbag, or a pouch containing it, is held at least partially between the single arm and the vehicle structure.

Claims

1. A device for attaching an airbag to a vehicle structure, the device comprising a head for attachment to the vehicle structure and at least one arm adjoining the head for holding the airbag, wherein the clamp is of one-armed construction and the one arm is so shaped that the folded airbag or a pouch containing the airbag is held at least partially between the single arm and the vehicle structure.

2. A device for attaching an airbag to a vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the head comprises first and second head portions, which are connected with a hinge portion and between which, in the folded-together state, there may be held a flap on the airbag or an airbag flap together with an additional flap on the pouch containing the folded airbag.

3. A device for attaching an airbag to a vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein a prefixing means, in particular a prefixing pin, is provided on the single arm for preliminary attachment of the device to the vehicle structure.

4. A device for attaching an airbag to a vehicle structure according to claim 2, wherein a prefixing means, in particular a prefixing pin, is provided on the single arm for preliminary attachment of the device to the vehicle structure.

5. A device for attaching an airbag to a vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein a hook for gripping part of the airbag or the pouch containing the folded airbag from behind is provided on the single arm.

6. A device for attaching an airbag to a vehicle structure according to claim 2, wherein a hook for gripping part of the airbag or the pouch containing the folded airbag from behind is provided on the single arm.

7. A device for attaching an airbag to a vehicle structure according to claim 3, wherein a hook for gripping part of the airbag or the pouch containing the folded airbag from behind is provided on the single arm.

8. A device for attaching an airbag to a vehicle structure according to claim 4, wherein a hook for gripping part of the airbag or the pouch containing the folded airbag from behind is provided on the single arm.

9. An assembly comprising an airbag and an attachment device for attaching the airbag to a vehicle structure, the airbag being contained in a pouch, the attachment device comprising a head for attachment to the vehicle structure and at least one arm adjoining the head for holding the airbag, wherein the attachment device is a clamp is of one-armed construction and the one arm is so shaped that the folded airbag or the pouch containing the airbag is held at least partially between the single arm and the vehicle structure.

10. The assembly according to claim 9 wherein the head of the attachment device comprises two retaining portions, which are connected with a hinge portion and between which, in the folded-together state, there may be held a flap on the airbag or an airbag flap together with an additional flap on the pouch containing the folded airbag.

11. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein a prefixing means, in particular a prefixing pin, is provided on the single arm for preliminary attachment of the device to the vehicle structure.

12. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein a prefixing means, in particular a prefixing pin, is provided on the single arm for preliminary attachment of the device to the vehicle structure.

13. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein a hook for gripping part of the airbag or the pouch containing the folded airbag from behind is provided on the single arm.

14. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein a hook for gripping part of the airbag or the pouch containing the folded airbag from behind is provided on the single arm.

15. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein a hook for gripping part of the airbag or the pouch containing the folded airbag from behind is provided on the single arm.

16. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein a hook for gripping part of the airbag or the pouch containing the folded airbag from behind is provided on the single arm.

17. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein an opening is formed in the airbag containing pouch at the flap, through which opening the single arm of the clamp projects into the pouch.

18. The assembly according to claim 17, wherein the opening at the flap is formed in the airbag containing pouch by cutting the flap out of the pouch.