Side airbag retention system and fastener

• US 6,540,251 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: LeVey, Kenneth R., Cisternino, Franco, Parker, Eric, Anderson, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US09/595,306
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/743.1, 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 411/301, 411/263
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/09 Releasable fastening devices with a stud engaging a keyhole slot

Abstract

A side airbag retention system for installation in a keyhole opening including a bolt with a generally conical head portion and a shaft disposed through an aperture of the air bag retainer, and a bolt retainer disposed about the bolt shaft between the bolt head and the air bag retainer. The bolt retainer preferably includes a spring washer having a pronged engagement member extending generally radially therefrom between anti-rotation tabs extending from a side thereof opposite the bolt head, and a compression limiting member disposed about and protruding from the washer opening toward the bolt head.

Claims

1. A side airbag retention system for use in conjunction with a panel member having a first side, a second side, and a hole therethrough, the system comprising:

an air bag retainer having an aperture;

a bolt having a shaft and a conical head portion, the bolt shaft disposed through the aperture of the air bag retainer; and

a bolt retainer disposed about the bolt shaft between the bolt head and the air bag retainer, such that the air bag retainer is secured to the panel member by passing the bolt head through the opening in the panel member so that the bolt head is positioned on the first side of the panel member and the bolt retainer is positioned on the second side of the panel member.

2. The system of claim 1, the bolt retainer comprising a spring washer portion having an opening and an engagement member extending from an end thereof, the engagement member having a prong protruding from a side thereof facing the bolt head portion, the prong extending away from the opening of the spring washer portion.

3. The system of claim 2, the spring washer portion having an annular member disposed about the opening thereof, the annular member protruding from a side of the spring washer portion facing the head portion of the bolt, the bolt coupled to the airbag retainer by a nut.

4. The system of claim 2, the spring washer portion having resilient portions biased toward the bolt head portion, the prong disposed on a portion of the engagement member extending generally radially beyond the bolt head portion.

5. The system of claim 2, the bolt retainer having an anti-rotation member extending therefrom toward the airbag retainer.

6. The system of claim 5, the aperture of the airbag retainer near an end portion thereof, the anti-rotation member comprising two tabs extending from a side of the spring washer portion facing the airbag retainer, the two tabs adjacent the end portion of the airbag retainer, the engagement member extending from the end of the spring washer portion between the two tabs.

7. A retention system comprising:

an article;

a bolt having a head and a shaft fastened to the article;

a spring washer disposed about the bolt shaft between the bolt head and the article;

an annular member disposed about the opening of the spring washer and protruding from a side thereof facing the bolt head, the annular member being adapted to seat against the head of the bolt to limit compression of the spring washer between the head of the bolt and the article;

an engagement member extending from the spring washer generally radially therefrom; and

a prong protruding from a side of the engagement member facing the bolt, the prong extending generally away from the bolt shaft.

8. The system of claim 7, the spring washer having a resilient portion biased toward the head portion of the bolt.

9. The system of claim 7, the spring washer having an anti-rotation member extending therefrom toward the article.

10. The system of claim 9, the article having an aperture near an end portion thereof, the anti-rotation member comprising two tabs extending from a side of the spring washer facing the article, the two tabs adjacent the end portion of the article.

11. The system of claim 7, the bolt having a wrenching surface and a generally conical head portion protruding axially therefrom.

12. The system of claim 7 further comprising a panel with an opening between first and second opposite sides thereof, the panel captured between the prong on one side of the panel and a portion of the engagement member on an opposite side thereof.

13. The system of claim 7,

the bolt head having a generally conical head portion,

the spring washer having a resilient portion biased toward the head portion of the bolt,

the prong disposed on a portion of the engagement member extending beyond the head portion of the bolt, the engagement member biased toward the bolt head,

two tabs extending from a side of the spring washer facing the article, the two tabs adjacent and engageable with the article.

14. The system of claim 7, the spring washer and engagement member constitute a unitary metal member.

15. A keyhole retention assembly comprising:

a bolt having a shaft and a generally conical head;

a spring washer disposed about the bolt shaft;

a protuberance disposed about the bolt shaft, the spring washer being captured between the bolt head and the protuberance;

an engagement member extending from the spring washer generally radially therefrom; and

a prong protruding from a side of the engagement member facing the bolt head, the prong extending away from the bolt shaft.

16. The assembly of claim 15, an annular member disposed about an opening of the spring washer, the annular member protruding from a side of the spring washer facing the bolt head.

17. The assembly of claim 15, the spring washer having a resilient portion biased toward the bolt head.

18. The assembly of claim 15, two tabs extending from a side of the spring washer opposite the bolt head, the engagement member extending between the two tabs.

19. The assembly of claim 18, an annular member disposed about an opening of the spring washer, the annular member protruding from a side of the spring washer facing the bolt head.

20. An airbag retention assembly comprising:

a panel member having a front side, a back side, and a keyhole that includes a first opening and a second opening which is generally smaller than the first opening;

an airbag retainer for holding an airbag until deployment of the airbag, the airbag retainer having a first portion for substantially surrounding the airbag, a second portion defined by a pair of generally parallel arm members extending outward from the first portion, and an aperture extending through the arm members;

a bolt member having a head and a shaft which is disposed through the aperture extending through the arm members of the retainer; and

a bolt retainer disposed about the bolt shaft between the bolt head and the airbag retainer, the bolt retainer having an opening for receiving the bolt shaft, and a protruding engagement member, such that the airbag retainer is secured to the panel member by passing the bolt head through the first opening of the panel member so that the bolt head is positioned on the front side of the panel member and the bolt retainer is positioned on the back side of the panel member, and laterally moving the bolt member from the first opening of the panel member to the second opening of the panel member, the second opening of the panel member being appropriately sized so that the bolt head, once positioned therein, cannot be moved through the panel member, and the bolt member being moved into the second opening of the panel member until the engagement member of the bolt retainer engages the front side of the panel member, thereby securely attaching the airbag retainer of the panel member.

21. The airbag retention assembly of claim 20, wherein the bolt head has a generally conical shape so that the bolt head is more easily received by the panel member.

22. The airbag retention assembly of claim 20, wherein the retention assembly further includes a nut threadably received by the bolt member so as to provide a clamp load to the airbag retainer to selectively hold the airbag within the airbag retainer.

23. The airbag retention assembly of claim 20, wherein the bolt retainer includes a springwasher which defines the bolt retainer opening, the spring washer including a first resilient portion and a second resilient portion both of which are curved toward the bolt head and positioned on opposite sides of the bolt retainer opening, the spring washer being adapted to provide an axial retention force toward the bolt head.

24. The airbag retention assembly of claim 20, wherein the engagement member of the bolt retainer includes a prong formed on an end portion and between a pair of opposite lateral side portions thereof, such that when the airbag retainer is securely attached to the panel member, the prong of the engagement member of the bolt retainer engages one of the front side and the back side of the panel member and the lateral side portions of the engagement member of the panel member engages the other of the front side and the back side of the panel member.

25. The airbag retention assembly of claim 20, wherein the engagement member of the bolt retainer is a resilient member and is biased toward the bolt head, such that during attachment of the airbag retainer to the panel member, the engagement member is adapted to provide an audible sound indicating that the airbag retainer has been securely attached to the panel member.

26. The airbag retention assembly of claim 20, wherein the bolt retainer includes an annular member which surrounds the bolt retainer opening, such that the annular member seats against the bolt head to limit the compression of the bolt retainer between the bolt head and the panel member.

27. The airbag retention assembly of claim 20, wherein the bolt retainer includes an antirotation device that prevents the rotation of the bolt retainer relative to the airbag retainer.

28. The airbag retention assembly of claim 27, wherein the anti-rotation device includes a pair of tabs extending from a side of the bolt retainer opposite the bolt head, the tabs being adapted to contact the airbag retainer for preventing the rotation of the bolt retainer relative to the airbag retainer.

29. The airbag retention assembly of claim 20, wherein the bolt member includes a generally annular protuberance disposed about the bolt shaft to capture the bolt retainer between the bolt head and the protuberance.