Airbag fastener

• US 7,328,911 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chapman, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth; Eric
• Application Number:
  US10/878,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20050029789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.2, 280/730.2, 280/749, 280/728.2
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• 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 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An airbag device includes an airbag configured to inflate in an event of a vehicle emergency and a retention mechanism for securing the airbag in a folded storage position. The retention mechanism includes a strap wrapped around a portion of the airbag and a slit that engages a tab for securing the strap in position.

Claims

1. An airbag device, comprising:

an airbag configured to inflate in an event of a vehicle emergency;

a bracket for attaching the airbag to a vehicle structure; and

a retention mechanism for securing the airbag in a folded storage position,

wherein the retention mechanism comprises a strap including a slit, wherein the strap is wrapped around a portion of the airbag and the slit engages a tab thereby securing the strap in position.

2. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the retention mechanism is non-adhesive.

3. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag comprises a side curtain airbag.

4. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises fabric.

5. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the strap includes a tear seam.

6. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the tab is disposed on the airbag and is configured to be connected to the bracket with a fastener.

7. The airbag device of claim 6, wherein the strap includes first and second ends configured to engage the tab.

8. The airbag device of claim 7, wherein first end of the strap includes a first slit and the second end of the strap includes a second slit.

9. The airbag device of claim 8, wherein the first slit is engaged with the tab of the airbag, the strap is wrapped around the portion of the airbag, and the second slit is engaged with the tab of the airbag to thereby secure the strap around the portion of the airbag.

10. The airbag device of claim 9, wherein a protector cloth is disposed between the strap and the airbag.

11. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the tab is one of first and second connection tabs disposed on the airbag for connecting the airbag to the bracket, and the strap includes a first end configured to engage the first connection tab and a second end configured to engage the second connection tab.

12. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein the first end of the strap includes a first slit for receiving the first connection tab and the second end of the strap includes a second slit for receiving the second connection tab.

13. The airbag device of claim 12, wherein the first connection tab is received in the first slit and is connected to the bracket with a first fastener, the strap is wrapped around the airbag and the bracket, and the second connection tab is received in the second slit and is connected to the bracket with a second fastener to thereby secure the strap around the airbag and the bracket.

14. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein a protector cloth is disposed between the strap and the airbag.

15. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the strap includes a first leg having a first slit, a second leg having a second slit, and a central portion disposed between the first and second legs.

16. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein the airbag and the central portion of the strap are attached to the bracket with a fastener.

17. The airbag device of claim 16, wherein the fastener comprises a rivet.

18. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein the tab is disposed on the bracket and is one of a first tab received in the first slit and a second tab received in the second slit to thereby secure the strap around the portion of the airbag.

19. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein the strap is formed in a Y-shape.

20. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein a protector cloth is disposed between the strap and the airbag.

21. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag and a first end of the strap are attached to an upper portion of the bracket with a fastener.

22. The airbag device of claim 21, wherein the fastener comprises a rivet.

23. The airbag device of claim 21, wherein the tab comprises a lower portion of the bracket.

24. The airbag device of claim 23, wherein the slit is disposed on a second end of the strap and the lower portion of the bracket is received in the slit to thereby secure the strap around the portion of the airbag.

25. The airbag device of claim 21, wherein a protector cloth is disposed between the strap and the airbag.

26. An airbag device comprising:

an airbag configured to inflate in an event of a vehicle emergency; and

a retention mechanism for securing the airbag in a folded storage position,

wherein the retention mechanism comprises a strap including a slit, wherein the strap is wrapped around a portion of the airbag and the slit engages a tab thereby securing the strap in position, and

wherein the retention mechanism includes a fastening member, and the tab is disposed on the fastening member.

27. The airbag device of claim 26, wherein the airbag device includes a bracket for attaching the airbag to a vehicle structure.

28. The airbag device of claim 27, wherein the fastening member, a first end of the strap, and the airbag are connected to the bracket with a fastener.

29. The airbag device of claim 28, wherein the fastener comprises a rivet.

30. The airbag device of claim 28, wherein the slit is disposed on a second end of the strap and the tab is received in the slit to thereby secure the strap around the portion of the airbag.

31. The airbag device of claim 28, wherein a second end of the strap further includes a second slit, and the fastening member further includes a second tab, wherein the tab is received in the slit and the second tab is received in the second slit to thereby secure the strap around the portion of the airbag.

32. The airbag device of claim 26, wherein the fastening member comprises metal.

33. An airbag device, comprising:

an airbag configured to inflate in an event of a vehicle emergency;

a bracket for attaching the airbag to a vehicle structure; and

a retention mechanism for securing the airbag in a folded storage position,

wherein the retention mechanism includes a strap wrapped around a portion of the airbag and a portion of the bracket, and

wherein the retention mechanism includes a fastening member having a tab.

34. The airbag device of claim 33, wherein the retention mechanism is non-adhesive.

35. The airbag device of claim 33, wherein the airbag comprises a side curtain airbag.

36. The airbag device of claim 33, wherein the strap comprises fabric.

37. The airbag device of claim 33, wherein the strap includes a tear seam.

38. The airbag device of claim 33, wherein the fastening member, a first end of the strap, and the airbag are connected to the bracket with a fastener.

39. The airbag device of claim 38, wherein the fastener comprises a rivet.

40. The airbag device of claim 38, wherein a second end of the strap includes a slit and the tab is received in the slit to thereby secure the strap around the portion of the airbag and the portion of the bracket.

41. The airbag device of claim 38, wherein a second end of the strap includes a first slit and a second slit, and the fastening member further includes a second tab, wherein the tab is received in the first slit and the second tab is received in the second slit to thereby secure the strap around the portion of the airbag and the portion of the bracket.

42. The airbag device of claim 33, wherein the fastening member comprises metal.