ATTACHMENT BRACKET AND FASTENING DEVICE FOR FASTENING AN AIRBAG TO A VEHICLE STRUCTURE

• US 20110316260A1
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Andersson, Stefan, Jaconelli, Håkan, Jakobsson, Börje, Kroll, Jack, Hendriksson, Ola
• Granted Patent: US 8,636,300 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 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together

Abstract

An attachment bracket for fastening an airbag to a vehicle structure includes an opening into which a strap connected to the airbag can be inserted, and a clamping surface provided for resting against the vehicle structure. The attachment bracket is formed from at least a first layer forming the clamping surface and a second layer spaced from the first layer in a spring elastic manner. The first and the second layers can be located on the same side of the vehicle structure. The attachment bracket can be fastened to the vehicle structure by a fastening means. The distance between the first and the second layer can be reduced by fastening the attachment bracket with the fastening means. A clamping force acting between the first layer and the vehicle structure can be generated by reducing the distance.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. An attachment bracket for fastening an airbag to a vehicle structure comprising:

an opening, into which a strap connected to the airbag can be inserted; and

a clamping surface provided for resting against the vehicle structure;

wherein the attachment bracket is formed from at least a first layer forming the clamping surface and a second layer spaced from the first layer in a spring elastic manner, the first and the second layer located on the same side of the vehicle structure, the attachment bracket adapted to be fastened to the vehicle structure by a fastening mechanism, a distance between the first and the second layer reducible by fastening the attachment bracket with the fastening mechanism, and a clamping force acting between the first layer and the vehicle structure is generated by reducing the distance.

15. The attachment bracket according to claim 14, wherein the first layer and the second layer are formed from one layer folded back upon itself.

16. The attachment bracket according to claim 14, wherein the first and the second layers are connected to each other on one side.

17. The attachment bracket according to claim 14, wherein the distance between the first and the second layers in the state of the attachment bracket, in which it is not fastened to the vehicle structure, increases starting from one side of the attachment bracket.

18. The attachment bracket according to claim 17, wherein the distance between the first and the second layer in the state of the attachment bracket, in which it is not fastened to the vehicle structure, is smaller in the area of the opening-than in the area of the fastening mechanism.

19. The attachment bracket according to claim 14, wherein the fastening mechanism is formed from a locking head connected to the attachment bracket via a connecting web, and that the attachment bracket can be fixed in a clamp-like manner at the vehicle structure by inserting the locking head into an opening located in the vehicle structure, and by performing a rotational movement.

20. The attachment bracket according to claim 19, the first layer as well as the second layer each comprises a locking head connected to the attachment bracket via a connecting web, and that the locking heads can be jointly inserted into the opening in the vehicle structure, and that the locking heads after having been inserted into the opening are positioned in such a way that they cause the first and the second layer to be pulled together when performing the rotational movement.

21. The attachment bracket according to claim 14, further comprising a bracket opening the attachment bracket into which the fastening mechanism is inserted, the attachment bracket fixed at the vehicle structure by the fastening means performing a rotational movement in relation to the attachment bracket.

22. The attachment bracket according to claim 21, further comprising a locking segment at the fastening means, which locking segment protects the fastening means against a backward rotational movement after performing the rotational movement.

23. The attachment bracket according to claim 21, further comprising a locking contour at the first layer protecting the attachment bracket against rotating in relation to the vehicle structure.

24. The attachment bracket of claim 14 in combination with a fastening device for an airbag, wherein the fastening means comprises a locking head insertable into the opening of the attachment bracket and into the opening of the vehicle structure, and that the fastening means clamps the vehicle structure between the locking head and the attachment bracket by performing the rotational movement, and thereby fixes the attachment bracket at the vehicle structure.

25. The attachment bracket in combination with a fastening device according to claim 24, wherein the opening is formed in the vehicle structure as a long hole, and that the attachment bracket is located in the long hole in a longitudinally displaceable manner.

26. The attachment bracket of claim 14, in combination with the airbag.

27. The attachment bracket of claim 14, in combination with a fastening device and an airbag.