Snap-on mounting attachment and fastener stud for mounting an airbag inflator to a vehicle support

• US 5,924,831 A
• Filed: 07/01/1998
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated), Avibank Manufacturing Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated), Avibank Manufacturing Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Scharret, Jeffrey L., Sorenson, Janiel, Ricks, Merle K., Duran, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Application Number:
  US09/108,400
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 411/508-510, 411/913, 411/525, 411/526
• US Class Current: 411/508
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2035 using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21656; assembling of modules B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/084 with a series of flexible ribs or fins extending laterally from the shank of the stud, pin or spigot, said ribs or fins deforming predominantly in a direction parallel to the direction of insertion of the shank
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/086 the shank of the stud, pin or spigot having elevations, ribs, fins or prongs intended for deformation or tilting predominantly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/088 the stud, pin or spigot being integrally formed with the component to be fastened, e.g. forming part of the sheet, plate or strip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/913 Self-expanding anchor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45775 having resiliently biased interlocking component or segment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45885 Allows bodily movement facilitating interlock

Abstract

A snap-on mounting attachment is provided for securing an airbag inflator module having a base plate to the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The mounting attachment includes two fastener studs extending rearwardly from the base plate, each fastener stud having a yieldable holding barb. Two capture brackets are mounted to the spokes of the steering wheel, and each capture bracket holds a snap receptor in floating encapturement therein, i.e., with a limited range of lateral and vertical movement. The snap receptors each have a metal ring embedded in a polymer shell and define a stud receiving opening therethrough with the metal ring defining a lip engaged by the holding barb of the fastener stud. Bias stops between the base plate and the steering wheel take up slack in the mounting attachment and eliminate rattles, and the polymer shell of the snap receptors also minimizes rattles. The steering wheel and airbag inflator module have complementary covers, and the floating encapturement permits alignment of the covers.

Claims

1. In a snap-on mounting attachment for securing an airbag inflator module having a base plate to a support provided on a motor vehicle, the snap-on mounting attachment including:

at least one fastener stud having a longitudinal axis and including a main body portion having securing means at one end adapted to secure said fastener stud to said base plate of the airbag module, said main body portion having mounted thereon a sleeve of generally cylindrical profile terminating in a reduced diameter end, and yieldable, outwardly-biased holding means normally extending angularly outwardly from said main body portion having distal tips adapted to engage a snap receptor on the support and to yieldably retract into the reduced diameter end of the sleeve when said holding means are moved inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said fastener stud.

2. A snap-on mounting attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing means includes an externally threaded shaft portion integral with said main body portion and adapted to threadably engage said base plate of the airbag module.

3. In the snap-on mounting attachment as defined in claim 2 wherein said fastener stud has an enlarged end integral with said main body portion and remote from said securing means, said enlarged end of the fastener stud having a socket therein configured for engagement by a tool to rotate the stud.

4. In the snap-on attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises at least one yieldable holding barb normally extending outwardly from said main body portion and terminating in a distal end.

5. In the snap-on attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises a plurality of spaced yieldable, outwardly-biased holding barbs normally extending angularly outwardly from said main body portion and terminating in distal tips.

6. In the snap-on attachment as defined in claim 5 wherein said fastener stud has a longitudinal axis and wherein said holding barbs are adapted to yieldably retract into the reduced diameter end of the sleeve when moved inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said fastener stud.

7. In the snap-on attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said attachment includes at least a pair of fastener studs spaced from one another.

8. In the snap-on attachment as defined in claim 1, said main body portion having an enlarged head at one end and a threaded shaft portion at the other end, said holding means including a ring portion mounted on said main body portion encircling the same and abutting against said enlarged head, said holding means including a plurality of barbs extending toward said threaded shaft portion, said generally cylindrical sleeve mounted on said main body portion abutting against said ring portion, and retaining means associated with said main body portion and said sleeve for retaining said sleeve in a fixed position on said main body portion.

9. In the snap-on attachment as defined in claim 8 wherein said sleeve has an interior wall and said retaining means includes a knurled portion on said main body portion gripping the interior wall of said sleeve.

10. In the snap-on attachment as defined in claim 8 wherein said sleeve has an interior wall, and retaining means includes mating threads on the interior wall of said sleeve and said main body portion.

11. In the snap-on attachment as defined in claim 8 wherein said threaded shaft portion has a terminal end, said sleeve has an inner threaded wall and is longer than a distance between said ring portion and the terminal end and said threaded shaft portion, said retaining means including threads on said main body portion threadably engaging said inner threaded wall of said sleeve whereby, when said sleeve and said ring portion are mounted on said main body portion, said sleeve has a threaded open end adapted to receive therein a like threaded shaft extending from the base plate of the airbag module.

12. A fastener stud having a longitudinal axis and comprising:

a main body portion terminating in a threaded shaft portion and having a sleeve of generally cylindrical profile terminating in a reduced diameter end mounted thereon; and

said main body portion having yieldable, outwardly-biased resilient means mounted thereon extending angularly outwardly therefrom terminating in distal tips movable from a first position normally extending away from said main body portion to a second position disposed adjacent said sleeve and wherein said resilient means are adapted to yieldably retract into the profile reduced diameter end of the sleeve when said resilient means are moved inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said stud.

13. In the stud as defined in claim 12 wherein opposite said threaded end of the fastener stud, the fastener stud is configured for engagement by a tool to rotate the fastener stud.

14. In the stud as defined in claim 12 wherein said resilient means comprises at least one yieldable resilient barb normally extending outwardly from said main body portion and terminating in a distal tip.

15. In the stud as defined in claim 12 wherein said resilient means comprises a plurality of spaced yieldable, outwardly-biased resilient barbs normally extending angularly outwardly from said main body portion.

16. In the stud as defined in claim 15 wherein said fastener stud has a longitudinal axis and wherein said barbs are adapted to yieldably retract into the reduced diameter end of the sleeve when the barbs are moved inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said fastener stud to said second position.

17. In the stud as defined in claim 12 wherein said stud includes an enlarged head at an end opposite the threaded shaft portion, holding means including a ring portion mounted on said main body portion encircling the main body portion and abutting against said enlarged head, said resilient means including a plurality of barbs extending toward said threaded shaft portion, said sleeve mounted on said main body portion abutting against said ring portion, and retaining means associated with said main body portion and said sleeve for retaining said sleeve in a fixed position on said main body portion.

18. In the stud as defined in claim 17 wherein said sleeve has an interior wall and said retaining means includes a knurled portion on said main body portion gripping the interior wall of said sleeve.

19. In the stud as defined in claim 17 wherein said sleeve has an interior wall and retaining means includes mating threads on the interior wall of said sleeve and said main body portion.

20. In the stud as defined in claim 17 wherein said threaded shaft portion has a terminal end and said sleeve has an inner threaded wall and is longer than a distance between said ring portion and the terminal end of said threaded shaft portion, said retaining means including threads on said main body portion threadably engaging said inner threaded wall of said sleeve whereby, when said sleeve and said ring portion are mounted on said main body portion, said sleeve has a threaded open end adapted to receive a like threaded shaft therein.