Dual stage fastener

• US 6,431,585 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Schwartz, Peter, Rickabus, Ted R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lerner, Avraham
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris, Joselynn Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/679,755
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.3, 280/732, 280/743.2, 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/749, 280/728.1, 241/144, 241/140.5, 244/70, 244/58, 24/16.PB, 246/63, 246/29, 242/97, 411/508, 411/509, 411/510, 411/913, 411/999
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/1081 fastened by a drive-pin F16B19/109 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/065 the plates being one on top of the other and distanced from each other, e.g. by using protrusions to keep contact and distance
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0657 at least one of the plates providing a raised structure, e.g. of the doghouse type, for connection with the clamps or clips of the other plate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/999 with retainer, e.g. tether
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3685 Button with shank for friction grip fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44026 for cooperating with aperture in supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45602 Receiving member includes either movable connection between interlocking components or variable configuration cavity

Abstract

A dual stage fastener for securing a vehicle interior trim component to a vehicle body component to cover an air curtain during storage. The fastener includes a pin tethered to a grommet. During deployment of the air curtain, the pin disengages from the grommet and the tether restrains the pin and the associated trim component to reduce the length of travel of the trim component within the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

an inflatable air curtain being deployed through a first opening in a vehicle part;

a cover securable to the vehicle part to close the first opening in the vehicle part; and

at least one fastener for releasably attaching said cover to the vehicle part, said fastener including;

a grommet attached to one of said cover and the vehicle part, said grommet having an aperture formed therein; and

a pin tethered to said grommet, said pin attached to the other one of said cover and the vehicle part, wherein said pin is releasably inserted through the aperture formed in said grommet to releasably secure said cover to the vehicle part.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pin is tethered to said grommet by a flexible strap.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the grommet, the pin, and the strap are integrally formed together as one part.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pin is fixed to said cover.

5. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein said pin has a circumferential outer surface, a first end, and a second end.

6. The fastener according to claim 5, wherein the outer surface of said pin includes an enlarged portion adjacent the first end of said pin.

7. The fastener according to claim 6, wherein said pin includes a radially outwardly extending annular head adjacent the second end of said pin.

8. The fastener according to claim 7, wherein said pin includes a radially outwardly extending annular flange spaced apart from the head of said pin.

9. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein said grommet includes an annular array of spaced apart outwardly extending detents.