Mounting bracket with fastener retention
First Claim
1. A mounting bracket capable of retaining a fastener, the bracket comprising:
- a front face;
a rear face positioned behind the front face;
a first opening located on the front face and a second opening located on the rear face, the first opening and the second opening constructed such that a fastener may pass through the bracket via the first opening and the second opening; and
a retaining member constructed such that when the fastener passes through the bracket, the fastener engages the retaining member and causes the bracket to retain the fastener.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mounting bracket capable of retaining a fastener that may be used to mount a curtain airbag and/or a tether to a vehicle is disclosed. The mounting bracket has a front face and a rear face positioned behind the front face. A first opening is added to the front face and a second opening is added to the second face. The first opening and the second opening are constructed such that a fastener may pass through the mounting bracket via the first opening and the second opening. The mounting bracket also has a retaining member that is constructed such that if the fastener passes through the mounting bracket, the fastener engages the retaining member and causes the mounting bracket to retain the fastener. The retaining member may additionally have retaining tabs and centering tabs positioned on the rear face proximate the second opening. An anti-rotation tab may additionally be added to the mounting bracket.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A mounting bracket capable of retaining a fastener, the bracket comprising:
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a front face;
a rear face positioned behind the front face;
a first opening located on the front face and a second opening located on the rear face, the first opening and the second opening constructed such that a fastener may pass through the bracket via the first opening and the second opening; and
a retaining member constructed such that when the fastener passes through the bracket, the fastener engages the retaining member and causes the bracket to retain the fastener. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An mounting bracket capable of retaining a fastener that may be used to mount an airbag or a tether to a vehicle, the mounting bracket comprising:
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a front face;
a rear face positioned behind the front face;
a first opening located on the front face and a second opening located on the rear face, the first opening and the second opening constructed such that a fastener may pass through the bracket via the first opening and the second opening; and
a retaining member comprising retaining tabs, the retaining tabs constructed such that when the fastener passes through the bracket, the fastener pushes apart the retaining tabs and causes the bracket to retain the fastener. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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- 18. The bracket as in claim 18 wherein the retaining member further comprises centering tabs.
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38. A method for installing an airbag to a vehicle comprising:
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obtaining a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket comprising a front face, a rear face positioned behind the front face, a first opening located on the front face and a second opening located on the rear face, the first opening and the second opening constructed such that a fastener may pass through the bracket via the first opening and the second opening, and a retaining member constructed such that when the fastener passes through the bracket, the fastener engages the retaining member and causes the bracket to retain the fastener;
securing the airbag to the bracket; and
mounting the bracket to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A method for installing a tether to a vehicle via comprising:
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obtaining a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket comprising a front face, a rear face positioned behind the front face, a first opening located on the front face and a second opening located on the rear face, the first opening and the second opening constructed such that a fastener may pass through the bracket via the first opening and the second opening, and a retaining member constructed such that when the fastener passes through the bracket, the fastener engages the retaining member and causes the bracket to retain the fastener;
securing the tether to the bracket; and
mounting the bracket to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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Specification