Fastening device for curtain airbag tether

• US 20050023813A1
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2003
• 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: Biglino, Stefano
• Granted Patent: US 7,216,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/304 Resilient metal type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44026 for cooperating with aperture in supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/599 Spring biased manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/606 Leaf spring

Abstract

A device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure has a bracket provided with a slot to engage the airbag tether and with a resilient tongue to couple the bracket with the vehicle structure at an opening provided in the vehicle structure.

Claims

1. A device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure, comprising a bracket provided with a means for engaging a curtain airbag tether and with a means for engaging an opening in said vehicle structure, said means for engaging a vehicle structure comprising a tongue for attaching said bracket to said vehicle structure.

2. The device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein said tongue protrudes from said bracket.

3. The device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein said tongue is integral with said bracket.

4. The device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure according to claim 2, wherein said tongue is integral with said bracket.

5. The device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure according to claim 2, wherein said tongue comprises a distal portion that is spaced from said bracket and is shaped to engage a slot provided in said vehicle structure.

6. The device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure according to claim 3, wherein said tongue comprises a distal portion that is spaced from said bracket and is shaped to engage a slot provided in said vehicle structure.

7. The device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure according to claim 4, wherein said tongue comprises a distal portion that is spaced from said bracket and is shaped to engage a slot provided in said vehicle structure.

8. The device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure according to claim 5, wherein a minimum space between an upper surface of the bracket and said distal portion of the tongue is equal to or less than half the thickness of said vehicle structure adjacent to said slot.

9. The device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure according to claim 6, wherein a minimum space between an upper surface of the bracket and said distal portion of the tongue is equal to or less than half the thickness of said vehicle structure adjacent to said slot.

10. The device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure according to claim 7, wherein a minimum space between an upper surface of the bracket and said distal portion of the tongue is equal to or less than half the thickness of said vehicle structure adjacent to said slot.

11. The device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein said bracket is made of high carbon steel AISI 301 or any other material having the same, or similar, resilience.

12. The device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure according to claim 5, wherein said distal portion of said tongue is suitable to be coupled to a further opening in said vehicle structure to provide a snap coupling.

13. The device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure according to claim 6, wherein said distal portion of said tongue is suitable to be coupled to a further opening in said vehicle structure to provide a snap coupling.

14. The device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure according to claim 7, wherein said distal portion of said tongue is suitable to be coupled to a further opening in said vehicle structure to provide a snap coupling.

15. An assembly of a curtain airbag tether, a fastening device, and a vehicle structure comprising:

(a) a vehicle structure having an opening therethrough;

(b) a bracket provided with a slot therein for engaging a curtain airbag tether and with a tongue for engaging the opening in said vehicle structure; and

(c) a curtain airbag tether attached to said bracket using said slot in the bracket.

16. The assembly of a curtain airbag tether, a fastening device, and a vehicle structure according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle structure is provided, with first and second openings therethrough, said tongue of the bracket passing through the first opening and the second opening being spaced from the first opening by a length such as to allow a clamping portion of the tongue to enter the second opening due to a resiliency of the tongue.