Structure for attaching a fabric sheet to a vehicle body

• US 7,370,878 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2002
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakazawa, Wataru
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US10/064,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20030015859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,122 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/727, 280/730.2, 280/728.1, 280/749, 16/21, 16/25, 439/550, 439/557
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/00 Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts circlips F16B21/18; for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/02 by means of fastening members using screw-thread F16B5/0004 takes precedence; construction of screw-threaded connections F16B25/00 - F16B39/00

Abstract

A structure for attaching a fabric sheet to a vehicle body, wherein the fabric sheet may be prevented from being twisted together with the rotation of a threaded fastener such as a bolt during fixation of the fabric sheet to the vehicle body by the threaded fastener. A spacer which is generally cylindrical is fitted in a hole of a tab. The spacer comprises a cylindrical portion into which a bolt is inserted, and a pair of flanges radially overhanging from both axial ends of the cylindrical portion, respectively. The flanges, have an outer diameter which is sufficiently large in comparison to the inner diameter of the hole. The cylindrical portion is inserted into the hole. The head a of the bolt never touches the tab so that the tab is never twists together with the bolt when the bolt is screwed into the bolt hole.

Claims

1. An airbag and a structure for attaching the airbag to a vehicle body, comprising:

an airbag comprising a fabric sheet with a hole, wherein the fabric sheet is attached to the vehicle body by inserting a threaded fastener through the hole of the fabric sheet and screwing the fastener into a fastening hole formed in the vehicle body, and

a spacer positioned in the hole of the fabric sheet, the spacer having a cylindrical portion inserted in the hole of the fabric sheet, the diameter of the cylindrical portion being smaller than the inner diameter of the hole of the fabric sheet,

wherein the spacer comprises a plurality of hooks, wherein the hooks are arranged about an outer circumference of the cylindrical portion, wherein the cylindrical portion extends between the hooks in a longitudinal direction of the spacer,

wherein the threaded fastener is inserted into the cylindrical portion,

wherein an end of the spacer is in contact with the vehicle body and another end of the spacer is provided with a flange having a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the hole of the fabric sheet,

wherein the spacer is configured to rotate within the hole of the fabric sheet,

wherein the spacer comprises a spacer rear body and a spacer front body to be connected with the spacer rear body, wherein at least one of the spacer front body and the spacer rear body include a pair of said hooks, each hook being provided with a pawl.

2. The airbag and structure for attaching of claim 1, wherein the flange is integrally formed with the cylindrical portion.

3. The airbag and structure for attaching of claim 1,

wherein either the spacer front body or spacer rear body includes the flange, and the other of the spacer front body and spacer rear body includes an enlarged portion larger than the hole of the fabric sheet, the enlarged portion being located between the vehicle body and the fabric sheet.

4. The airbag and structure for attaching of claim 1, wherein at least one of the spacer rear body and the spacer front body include said cylindrical portion inserted in the hole of the fabric sheet, wherein the spacer front body includes a said flange having a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the hole of the fabric sheet, wherein the spacer rear body includes an enlarged portion larger than the hole of the fabric sheet, wherein the enlarged portion is located between the vehicle body and the fabric sheet,

wherein the spacer includes a tacking member for tacking the spacer to the vehicle body so that the tacking member engages with an engaging hole in the vehicle body, and the spacer is configured to rotate within the hole of the sheet prior to tacking the spacer to the vehicle body with the tacking member.

5. The airbag and structure for attaching of claim 1, wherein the hole in the fabric sheet is located in an edge portion of an airbag that is intended to protect a vehicle occupant'"'"'s head.

6. The airbag and structure for attaching of claim 1, wherein both of the spacer front body and the spacer rear body include a pair of said hooks, wherein the hooks are provided with a pawl,

wherein both of the spacer front body and the spacer rear body include receiving holes that are configured to engage with the pair of hooks of the other of the spacer front body and the spacer rear body.

7. The airbag and structure for attaching of claim 6, wherein both of the spacer front body and the spacer rear body comprise a flange, wherein the receiving holes are formed in the flanges.

8. The airbag and structure for attaching of claim 6, wherein the receiving holes comprise step portions formed for catching the pawls when the hooks are inserted into the receiving holes.

9. The airbag and structure for attaching of claim 1, wherein the spacer is configured to be separate from the threaded fastener so that the spacer and threaded fastener form separate pieces.

10. A spacer for attaching an airbag including a fabric sheet to a vehicle body, comprising:

a spacer, wherein the spacer is adapted to be positioned in a hole of the fabric sheet, the spacer including a cylindrical portion inserted in the hole of the fabric sheet, the diameter of the cylindrical portion being smaller than the inner diameter of the hole of the fabric sheet,

wherein the spacer includes a plurality of hooks, wherein the hooks are arranged about an outer circumference of the cylindrical portion, wherein the cylindrical portion extends between the hooks in a longitudinal direction of the spacer,

wherein the fabric sheet is attached to the vehicle body by inserting a threaded fastener through a hole of the fabric sheet and screwing the fastener into a fastening hole formed in the vehicle body,

wherein the threaded fastener is inserted into the cylindrical portion,

wherein an end of the spacer is in contact with the vehicle body and another end of the spacer is provided with a flange having a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the hole of the fabric sheet,

wherein the spacer is configured to rotate within the hole of the fabric sheet,

wherein the spacer comprises a spacer rear body and a spacer front body to be connected with the spacer rear body, wherein at least one of the spacer front body and the spacer rear body include a pair of said hooks, each hook being provided with a pawl.

11. The spacer of claim 10, wherein both of the spacer front body and the spacer rear body include a pair of said hooks, wherein the hooks are provided with a pawl,

wherein both of the spacer front body and the spacer rear body include receiving holes that are configured to engage with the pair of hooks of the other of the spacer front body and the spacer rear body.

12. The spacer of claim 11, wherein both of the spacer front body and the spacer rear body comprise a flange, wherein the receiving holes are formed in the flanges.

13. The spacer of claim 11, wherein the receiving holes comprise step portions formed for catching the pawls when the hooks are inserted into the receiving holes.