Two-dimensional tether retainer with accompanying tooling assembly

• US 20050011057A1
• Filed: 07/16/2003
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dominssini, David L.
• Application Number:
  US10/621,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20050011057A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/570
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44983 formed from single rigid piece of material

Abstract

A tether retainer is provided which includes a base and a flap having a slot. The flap is attached to the base. A locking tab is positioned on the base and is constructed to pass through the slot and cause the retainer to enclose a portion of a tether. The retainer may also be nested within a tooling assembly. Preferably, the tooling assembly is designed such that when the retainer is nested in the tooling assembly, the retainer is positioned on a receiving portion. A positioning blade and a press may also be added to the tooling assembly. The positioning blade is designed to pass through the slot whereas the press is designed to contact and/or push against the flap.

Claims

1. A tether retainer comprising:

a base;

a flap attached to the base, the flap having a slot; and

a locking tab positioned on the base, the locking tab constructed to pass through the slot and cause the retainer to enclose a portion of a tether.

2. A retainer as in claim 1 wherein the retainer encloses the tether between the base and the flap.

3. A retainer as in claim 1 further comprising a tear seam.

4. A retainer as in claim 1 wherein the flap folds over the base.

5. A retainer as in claim 1 wherein the retainer is constructed to be mounted on an interior vehicle surface.

6. A retainer as in claim 1 further comprising a mounting portion having one or more bolt holes.

7. A retainer as in claim 6 wherein the retainer is mounted on an interior vehicle surface via one or more fasteners that pass through the bolt holes.

8. A retainer as in claim 1 further comprising a clearance hole.

9. A retainer as in claim 8 wherein the clearance hole is positioned proximate one or more gripping tabs.

10. A retainer as in claim 1 wherein the locking tab further comprises one or more tips.

11. The retainer of claim 1 wherein the locking tab may be raised into an extended position.

12. The retainer of claim 1 wherein a tooling assembly may mechanically enclose the tether within the retainer.

13. The tether as in claim 1 wherein the retainer is constructed such that it may be nested within a tooling assembly.

14. A retainer as in claim 13 wherein the tooling assembly comprises a positioning blade that may be passed through the slot.

15. A retainer as in claim 13 wherein the tooling assembly comprises an alignment pin.

16. A retainer as in claim 13 wherein the tooling assembly comprises a receiving portion that is designed such that when the retainer is nested in the tooling assembly, the retainer is positioned on the receiving portion.

17. A retainer as in claim 13 wherein the tooling assembly further comprises a press that is configured to contact the retainer.

18. A retainer as in claim 17 wherein the press contacts the retainer by pushing against the flap.

19. A tether retainer comprising:

a base;

a flap attached to the base, the flap having a slot; and

a locking tab positioned on the base, the locking tab constructed to pass through the slot and cause the retainer to enclose a portion of the tether between the base and the flap.

20. A retainer as in claim 19 further comprising a tear seam.

21. A retainer as in claim 19 wherein the retainer is constructed to be mounted on an interior vehicle surface.

22. A retainer as in claim 19 further comprising a mounting portion having one or more bolt holes.

23. A retainer as in claim 19 further comprising a clearance hole.

24. A retainer as in claim 19 wherein the locking tab further comprises one or more tips.

25. A retainer of claim 19 wherein the locking tab may be raised into an extended position.

26. A retainer as in claim 19 wherein the retainer is constructed such that it may be nested within a tooling assembly.

27. A retainer as in claim 19 wherein a tooling assembly may mechanically enclose the tether within the retainer.

28. A tooling assembly designed to nest a tether retainer having a base, a flap attached to the base, the flap having a slot, and a locking tab positioned on the base, the locking tab constructed to pass through the slot and cause the retainer to enclose a portion of a tether, the tooling assembly comprising:

a receiving portion constructed such that when the retainer is nested, the retainer is positioned on the receiving portion;

a positioning blade positioned on the receiving portion; and

a press constructed such that it may contact the retainer.

29. A tooling assembly as in claim 28 wherein the positioning blade raises the locking tab into an extended position.

30. A tooling assembly as in claim 28 wherein the positioning blade is designed to pass through the slot.

31. A tooling assembly as in claim 28 wherein the positioning blade extends upwards from the receiving portion.

32. A tooling assembly as in claim 28 further comprising an alignment pin.

33. A tooling assembly as in claim 32 wherein the alignment pin is constructed to pass through a clearance hole in the retainer.

34. A tooling assembly as in claim 32 wherein the alignment pin extends upwards from the receiving portion.

35. A tooling assembly as in claim 28 wherein the tooling assembly is made of metal.

36. A tooling assembly as in claim 28 wherein the retainer encloses a portion of the tether between the base and the flap.

37. A tooling assembly as in claim 28 wherein the press pushes against the flap and ensures that the positioning blade and the locking tab pass through the slot.

38. A tooling assembly as in claim 28 wherein the tooling assembly mechanically encloses the tether within the retainer.

39. A method for retaining a tether comprising the steps of:

obtaining a tether retainer, the retainer comprising a base, a flap attached to the base, the flap having a slot, and a locking tab positioned on the base, the locking tab constructed to pass through the slot and cause the retainer to enclose a portion of a tether;

placing the tether on the base; and

enclosing a portion of the tether within the retainer.

40. A method as in claim 39 wherein the enclosing step comprises passing the locking tab through the slot.

41. A method as in claim 39 further comprising the step of folding the flap over the base.

42. A method as in claim 39 wherein the portion of the tether is enclosed between the base and the flap.

43. A method for retaining a tether comprising the steps of:

obtaining a tether retainer, the retainer comprising a base, a flap attached to the base, the flap having a slot, and a locking tab positioned on the base, the locking tab constructed to pass through the slot and cause the retainer to enclose a portion of a tether;

nesting the tether retainer on a tooling assembly comprising a receiving portion, a positioning blade positioned on the receiving portion, and a press;

placing the tether on the base; and

enclosing a portion of the tether within the retainer.

44. A method as in claim 43 wherein the enclosing step comprises passing the locking tab through the slot.

45. A method as in claim 43 wherein the portion of the tether is enclosed between the base and the flap.

46. A method as in claim 43 wherein the locking tab is positioned into an extended position when the retainer is nested in the tooling assembly.

47. A method as in claim 43 comprises passing the positioning blade through the slot.

48. A method as in claim 43 wherein the tooling assembly further comprises an alignment pin.

49. A method as in claim 48 wherein alignment pin passes through a clearance hole in the retainer when the retainer is nested in the tooling assembly.

50. A method as in claim 43 wherein the enclosing step comprises folding the flap of the over the tether that has been placed on the base.

51. A method as in claim 50 wherein the enclosing step further comprises passing the locking tab through the slot.

52. A method as in claim 51 wherein the enclosing step further comprises the step of lowering the press onto the retainer.

53. A method as in claim 52 wherein the lowering step ensures that the locking tab passes through the slot.