Mounting an inflatable element

• US 7,040,647 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Forrester Ketley & Company
• Inventors: Hinton, James, Short, Paul, Deligny, Yann
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US10/381,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 24293-295, 244/58
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/304 Resilient metal type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44026 for cooperating with aperture in supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured

Abstract

A clip (12) is provided to engage and retain an aperture formed in part of an inflatable element. The clip has means (25, 26) to engage an aperture region of the inflatable element, and also means (17, 18, 19) to engage an aperture formed in a vehicle body to retain the clip in position on the vehicle body.

Claims

1. An arrangement for fixing an inflatable element to part of a motor vehicle body the arrangement comprising a clip element, the clip element including a plate carrying a portion adapted to engage and retain an apertured region of the inflatable element, and the plate having means separated from said portion which are adapted to engage at least one aperture formed in a vehicle body to retain the clip in position on the vehicle body, wherein the plate is provided with a first finger to comprise the means to engage one aperture formed in the car body and being provided with a protruding lug adapted to engage an aperture formed in the car body, wherein the finger engages a first aperture and the lug engages a second aperture in the car body.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the first finger is a depending finger and the plate is provided, in addition to the first finger, with an upstanding finger also adapted to be entered into said one aperture in the car body.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the first finger is an extending finger, and has an upwardly directed snap action resilient lug to lock the finger to the aperture.

4. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said portion of the clip element includes a projecting portion having a stem and an enlarged head, the enlarged head being adapted to be inserted through the aperture formed in said apertured region of the inflatable element.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the width of the stem is approximately the same as the width of the aperture.

6. An arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the plate is a vertical plate, the vertical plate carrying a projecting horizontal flange, part of the edge of the flange extending away from the plate being cut-away, said portion being formed within the cut-away part of the flange.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein a slot is formed between the plate and the flange, the arrangement being such that the apertured region of the inflatable element engages the clip by passing through the slot and extending across part of the flange to engage the projection.

8. An arrangement according to claim 1 including a plurality of said clip elements.

9. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein at least some of the clip elements are provided with two sets of said fingers and lugs.

10. An arrangement according claim 1 wherein the inflatable element is in the form of an inflatable side curtain to be mounted to a car body above one or more door openings within the car body.

11. An arrangement for fixing an inflatable element to part of a motor vehicle body the arrangement comprising a clip element, the clip element including a plate carrying a portion adapted to engage and retain an apertured region of the inflatable element, and the plate having means separated from said portion which are adapted to engage at least one aperture formed in a vehicle body to retain the clip in position on the vehicle body, wherein said portion of the clip includes a projecting portion having a stem and an enlarged head, the enlarged head being adapted to be inserted through the aperture formed in said apertured region of the inflatable element, and wherein the width of the stem is approximately the same as the width of the aperture.

12. An arrangement according to claim 11 wherein the plate is provided with a first finger to comprise the means to engage one aperture formed in the car body and being provided with a protruding lug adapted to engage an aperture formed in the car body.

13. An arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the first finger is a depending finger and the plate is provided, in addition to the first finger, with an upstanding finger also adapted to be entered into said one aperture in the car body.

14. An arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the first finger is an extending finger, and has an upwardly directed snap action resilient lug to lock the finger to the aperture.

15. An arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the finger engages a first aperture and the lug engages a second aperture in the car body.

16. An arrangement according to claim 11 wherein the plate is a vertical plate, the vertical plate carrying a projecting horizontal flange, part of the edge of the flange extending away from the plate being cut-away, said portion being formed within the cut-away part of the flange.

17. An arrangement according to claim 16 wherein a slot is formed between the plate and the flange, the arrangement being such that the apertured region of the inflatable element engages the clip by passing through the slot and extending across part of the flange to engage the projection.

18. An arrangement according to claim 11 including a plurality of said clip elements.

19. An arrangement according to claim 16 wherein at least some of the clip elements are provided with two sets of said fingers and lugs.

20. An arrangement according claim 11 wherein the inflatable element is in the form of an inflatable side curtain to be mounted to a car body above one or more door openings within the car body.