Bracket for securing side airbag for automotive vehicle

• US 7,523,958 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Choi, Kyun-soon, Lee, Dong-jun, Oh, Eun-hwan, Jang, Myung-ryun, Kim, Tae-woo, Yoo, Byoung-sun
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; John Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROCCA, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US11/717,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20070241539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/749, 242/89, 242/91, 242/92, 242/97
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/30 Trim molding fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/47 Strap-end-attaching devices

Abstract

There is provided a bracket for securing a side airbag for an automotive vehicle. The bracket fixes a path such that a connection strap connecting the side airbag to the bracket is secured to an A-pillar and removes any interference when the side airbag is assembled, to make it easy to assemble the side airbag in a manufacturing site. The bracket has a through aperture through which a bolt is fastened, and a mounting plate secures the side airbag to the vehicle. Protrusions are each formed on each of both side ends of the bracket, and a bracket clip is installed on the external surface of the bracket. The bracket clip comprises: a bending part formed in the middle of the bracket clip; a plurality of support plates formed at either side of the bending part; and through apertures formed on the support plates, corresponding to the through aperture of the bracket. In the present invention, the path of the connection strap connecting the side airbag to the bracket is fixed by the bracket, and there is no interference when the bracket is assembled to install the side airbag in the A-pillar. Therefore, the assembling efficiency is improved, time is save, and productivity is improved in the manufacturing site.

Claims

1. A bracket for securing a side airbag for an automotive vehicle, comprising a lower plate having a lower plate installation aperture passing therethrough, and an upper plate having an upper plate installation aperture passing therethrough, in which when the upper plate is coupled to the lower plate, the upper plate installation aperture is communicated with the lower plate installation aperture, characterized in that one side of the upper plate is connected to one side of the lower plate by a joint strap,

an extension plate extends downwardly from the lower plate,

connection hooks are formed to protrude from one surface of the lower plate and disposed at the right and left of the lower plate installation aperture, hook apertures are formed in the lower plate and adjacent to the connection hooks, and insertion apertures pass through the upper plate and is disposed at the right and left of the upper plate installation aperture, and

a movable plate extends towards an inner end of the insertion apertures from an outer end of the insertion aperture and the inner end, a lower end and an upper end of the insertion apertures are separated from the movable plate,

wherein when the upper plate is coupled to the lower plate, the connection hooks are resiliently inserted and hooked between the inner end of the insertion aperture and the free end of the movable plate.

2. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein hooking protrusions are formed to protrude from the other surface of the lower plate opposite to the surface of the lower plate, on which the connection hooks are disposed.

3. The bracket according to claim 2, wherein the extension plate is bent towards a roof side panel, and an obtuse angle is formed between the lower plate and the extension plate.

4. The bracket according to claim 3, wherein a reinforcement protrusion are formed around each of the installation apertures, and disposed on the upper plate and the lower plate.