Fastening device for curtain airbag tether

• US 7,216,891 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Biglino, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown; Drew J.
• Application Number:
  US10/872,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20050023813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/743.2, 280/730.2, 242/94, 242/95, 244/58, 242/93, 411/522, 411/523
• 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
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/599 Spring biased manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/606 Leaf spring

Abstract

A device for fastening a curtain airbag tether to a vehicle structure has a bracket provided with a slot to engage the airbag tether and with a resilient tongue to couple the bracket with the vehicle structure at an opening provided in the vehicle structure.

Claims

1. An assembly of a curtain airbag tether, a fastening device, and a vehicle structure comprising:

(a) a vehicle structure having a first opening and a second opening therethrough;

(b) a bracket provided with a slot therein for engaging a curtain airbag tether and with a tongue for engaging the first and second openings in said vehicle structure; and

(c) a curtain airbag tether attached to said bracket using said slot in the bracket;

wherein the vehicle structure has the first and second openings spaced apart by a length so as to pass the tongue of the bracket along with a clamping portion of the tongue through the first opening and to extend a distance along a surface of the vehicle structure to allow the clamping portion of the tongue to enter the second opening due to a resiliency of the tongue to provide a snap type engagement.

2. The assembly of a fastening device and a vehicle structure according to claim 1 wherein the tongue of the fastening device is integral with the bracket.

3. The assembly of a fastening device and a vehicle structure according to claim 1 wherein the fastening device is made of high carbon steel AISI 301.