Actuatable fastener

• US 7,240,917 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Stevens, Halley O., Debbs, Robert R., Fogle, Homer W. Jr., O'Loughlin, John P., Thomas, Keven D., Fischer, Craig M., Mcfarland, Eric R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown; Drew J.
• Application Number:
  US10/662,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20050057027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 280/739, 280/738, 280/742, 280/743.2, 411/391, 411/19, 411/20, 411/390
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26029 Ignitors
• 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: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

An actuatable fastener (50) includes a body (80) including a head (82) and a shank (84). The body (80) includes an interior chamber (120) partially defined by a side wall (132) extending from the head (82) into the shank (84) and an end wall (138) positioned in the shank. A member (140) is disposed in the chamber (120). An initiator (160) is actuatable to produce combustion products in the chamber (120) that act on the member (140) to move the member in a first direction in the chamber to strike the end wall (138). The member (140) strikes the end wall (138) creating a fracture (222) in the shank (84) separating at least a portion of the shank from a remainder (220) of the shank. The combustion products moving the member (150) beyond the fracture (222) at least a predetermined distance (226) to move the portion of the shank (84) at least the predetermined distance from the remainder (220) of the shank.

Claims

1. An actuatable fastener comprising:

a body including a head and a shank, said body including an interior chamber partially defined by a side wall extending from said head into said shank and an end wall positioned in said shank;

a member disposed in said chamber; and

an initiator actuatable to produce combustion products in said chamber that act on said member to move said member in a first direction in said chamber to strike said end wall, said member having portions that deform prior to striking said end wall when said member moves in said first direction, said member striking said end wall creating a fracture in said shank separating at least a portion of said shank from a remainder of said shank, said combustion products moving said member beyond said fracture at least a predetermined distance to move said at least a portion of said shank at least said predetermined distance from said remainder of said shank, wherein the member does not contact said end wall of said shank before said initiator is actuated.

2. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 1, wherein said shank includes a first shank portion opposite said head and a second shank portion positioned between said first shank portion and said head, said first shank portion being separated from said second shank portion when said shank is ruptured.

3. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 2, wherein said shank includes an annular groove separating said first shank portion from said second shank portion, said fracture occurring at said annular groove.

4. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 2, wherein said chamber comprises a sleeve portion having a first end located in said head and an opposite second end located in said shank, said sleeve portion being at least partially defined by a side wall extending from said first end of said sleeve portion to said second end of said sleeve portion, said side wall defining said sleeve portion having a first diameter at said first end of said of said sleeve portion and tapering to a second diameter smaller than said first diameter at said second end of said sleeve portion.

5. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 4, wherein said chamber further comprises a cylinder portion and said member includes a portion comprising a piston and a portion comprising a punch, said piston being disposed in and movable along said cylinder portion, said punch being disposed in and movable along said sleeve portion.

6. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 5, further comprising at least one annular ring projecting from and extending around an annular outer surface of said piston, said at least one ring engaging a side wall that at least partially defines said cylinder portion and providing a seal for helping to block said combustion products from escaping said chamber when said initiator is actuated.

7. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 6, wherein said at least one ring frictionally engages said side wall defining said cylinder portion, said at least one ring being deformable upon movement of said member in said chamber.

8. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 5, further comprising a spring for biasing said member against movement in said chamber prior to actuation of said initiator, said spring being deflectable by said member upon actuation of said initiator to permit movement of said member in said chamber.

9. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 2, wherein said shank further comprises a terminal shoulder portion, said first and second shank portions being positioned between said head and said terminal shoulder portion, said first and second shank portions each having a diameter smaller than said head and said shoulder portion.

10. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 9, wherein said first and second shank portions are insertable into respective slots of first and second structures to releasably connect said first and second structures, said slots having widths greater than the diameters of said first and second shank portions and smaller than the diameters of said head and said shoulder portion.

11. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 10, wherein said first and second structures are biased away from each other which causes a frictional engagement between said shoulder portion and said first structure and between said head and said second structure, said frictional engagement helping to connect said actuatable fastener to said first and second structures.

12. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 1, wherein said chamber has a cylindrical configuration and said member has a cylindrical side wall positioned in said chamber with a first end portion proximate said initiator and an opposite second end portion proximate said end wall of said chamber, said second end portion having a terminal end comprising an annular rim.

13. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 1, wherein said member has an interference fit with said side wall that forms a seal to block said combustion products from escaping said chamber.

14. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 1, wherein said combustion products comprise at least one of solids and luminous ignition flashes.

15. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 1, wherein said initiator is at least partially supported in said head.

16. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 1, wherein said body comprises a metal housing and a plastic portion molded onto said housing, said metal housing forming a portion of said head, said plastic portion forming said shank and a portion of said head.

17. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 1, wherein said shank has a first portion connectable with a first part and a second portion connectable with a second part, the first part being movable relative to the second part, said first portion of said shank being separated from said second portion of said shank when said member causes said fracture in said shank, said member moving said first portion of said shank and said first part at least said predetermined distance from said second portion of said shank and said second part.

18. An actuatable fastener comprising:

a body including a head and a shank, said body including an interior chamber partially defined by a side wall extending from said head into said shank and an end wall positioned in said shank;

a member disposed in said chamber; and

an initiator actuatable to produce combustion products in said chamber that act on said member to move said member in a first direction in said chamber to strike said end wall, said member striking said end wall creating a fracture in said shank separating at least a portion of said shank from a remainder of said shank, said combustion products moving said member beyond said fracture at least a predetermined distance to move said at least a portion of said shank at least said predetermined distance from said remainder of said shank, wherein the member does not contact said end wall of said shank before said initiator is actuated, said shank including a first shank portion opposite said head and a second shank portion positioned between said first shank portion and said head, said first shank portion being separated from said second shank portion when said shank is ruptured, wherein said first shank portion has an outer surface comprising first screw threads and said second shank portion has an outer surface comprising second screw threads.

19. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 18, wherein one of said first and second screw threads comprise right hand threads and the other of said first and second screw threads comprise left hand threads.

20. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 18, further comprising a first fastener that cooperates with said first screw threads to fixedly connect said first shank portion to a first part, and a second fastener that cooperates with said second screw threads to fixedly connect said second shank portion to a second part, said first and second parts thereby being releasably connected to each other.

21. An actuatable fastener comprising:

a body including a head and a shank, said body including an interior chamber partially defined by a side wall extending from said head into said shank and an end wall positioned in said shank;

a member disposed in said chamber; and

an initiator actuatable to produce combustion products in said chamber that act on said member to move said member in a first direction in said chamber to strike said end wall, said member striking said end wall creating a fracture in said shank separating at least a portion of said shank from a remainder of said shank, said combustion products moving said member beyond said fracture at least a predetermined distance to move said at least a portion of said shank at least said predetermined distance from said remainder of said shank, wherein said chamber has a cylindrical configuration and said member has a cylindrical side wall positioned in said chamber with an open first end portion proximate said initiator and an opposite closed second end portion proximate said end wall of said chamber, said second end portion including a domed end wall having a first surface presented concavely toward said end wall of said chamber and an opposite second surface presented convexly toward said initiator, said second end portion having a terminal end comprising an annular rim defined at an intersection of said side wall of said member and said domed end wall.

22. The actuatable fastener recited in claim 21, wherein said annular rim strikes said end wall of said chamber to create said fracture upon actuation of said initiator, said combustion products thereafter acting on said domed end wall and reversing said domed end wall such that said second surface is presented concavely toward said initiator and said first surface protrudes convexly at least said predetermined distance beyond said fracture.

23. Apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for helping to protect a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition;

an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;

a housing for helping to direct inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

a vent opening in said housing for venting inflation fluid from said housing;

a vent member movable a predetermined distance from a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid through said vent opening to an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid through said vent opening;

an actuatable fastener comprising a body having a shank with a first portion connectable with said vent member and a second portion connectable with said housing to hold said vent member in said closed position, said body of said actuatable fastener further comprising a head, said body including an interior chamber partially defined by a side wall extending from said head into said shank and an end wall positioned in said shank, said second portion being located closer to said head than said first portion;

a member disposed in said chamber;

an initiator actuatable to produce combustion products in said chamber that act on said member to move said member in a first direction in said chamber to strike said end wall, said member striking said end wall creating a fracture in said shank separating said first portion of said shank from said second portion of said shank and release said vent member for movement toward said open position, said combustion products moving said member beyond said fracture at least a predetermined distance to move said first portion of said shank at least said predetermined distance from said second portion to propel said vent member from said closed position to said open position, wherein said first portion is moveable with said vent member.

24. Apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for helping to protect a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition;

an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;

a housing for helping to direct inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

an actuatable fastener connected to said housing, said actuatable fastener comprising;

a body including a head and a shank, said body including an interior chamber partially defined by a side wall extending from said head into said shank and an end wall positioned in said shank;

a member disposed in said chamber; and

an initiator actuatable to produce combustion products in said chamber that act on said member to move said member in a first direction in said chamber to strike said end wall, said member striking said end wall creating a fracture in said shank separating at least a portion of said shank from a remainder of said shank, said combustion products moving said member beyond said fracture at least a predetermined distance to move said at least a portion of said shank at least said predetermined distance from said remainder of said shank, wherein said portion of said shank is moveable with a said vent member.

25. The apparatus recited in claim 24, wherein said member does not contact said end wall of said shank before said initiator is actuated.

26. Apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for helping to protect a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition;

an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;

a housing for helping to direct inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

a tether for restricting deployment of said inflatable occupant protection device, said tether having a first end fixed to said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for movement with the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and a second end fixed to said housing, a first actuatable fastener having a shank with a first portion connectable with said tether at a location between said first and second end and a second portion connectable with said housing to restrict movement of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device with respect to said location, said first actuatable fastener being actuatable to fracture said shank and release said tether for movement with the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to restrict movement of said inflatable occupant protection device with respect to said second end; and

a second actuatable fastener for releasing a vent member and allowing inflation fluid to flow away from said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.

27. The apparatus recited in claim 26 including a vent opening in said housing for venting inflation fluid from said housing, said vent member being movable a predetermined distance from a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid through said vent opening to an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid through said vent opening, said second actuatable fastener having a shank with a first portion connectable with said vent member and a second portion connectable with said housing to hold said vent member in said closed position, said second actuatable fastener being actuatable to fracture said shank and release said vent member for movement toward said open position, said second actuatable fastener further comprising means for displacing said first portion the predetermined distance from said second portion to propel said vent member the predetermined distance from said closed position to said open position.

28. Apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device for helping to protect a vehicle occupant, said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition;

an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;

a housing for helping to direct inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

a vent opening in said housing for venting inflation fluid from said housing;

a vent member having an aperture, said vent member movable a predetermined distance from a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid through said vent opening to an open position in which said aperture is in fluid communication with said vent opening to enable venting of inflation fluid through said vent opening; and

an actuatable fastener having a shank with a first portion connectable with said vent member and a second portion connectable with said housing to hold said vent member in said closed position, said actuatable fastener being actuatable to fracture said shank and release said vent member for movement toward said open position, said actuatable fastener further comprising means for displacing said first portion the predetermined distance from said second portion to propel said vent member the predetermined distance from said closed position to said open position.