Airbag installation structure

• US 7,631,889 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan K.K.
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US11/276,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20060197316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.2
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An airbag module installation system includes an airbag module with an airbag and a case configured to hold the airbag module prior to and during installation of the airbag module into a vehicle. The installation system may include a “one-touch” clip configured to fasten the airbag module to a vehicle body. The installation system can be permanently fastened to the vehicle body and control deployment direction of an airbag. The installation system can also provide temporary fixing of the airbag module to a vehicle body.

Claims

1. An airbag module installation system comprising:

an airbag module with an airbag; and

a case configured to hold the airbag module during installation of the airbag module into a vehicle, the case including an opening for a tab of the airbag to extend through; and

a hook extending from a wall of the case, the hook configured to temporarily attach the case to a vehicle body,

wherein the airbag in a folded state includes a top side facing a roof of a vehicle, an inner side facing a vehicle compartment, an outer side opposite the inner side and facing a vehicle window, and a bottom side opposite the top side, and wherein one of the sides of the folded airbag is uncovered by the case when installed in the vehicle.

2. The airbag module installation system of claim 1, wherein the case is made of plastic.

3. The airbag module installation system of claim 1, wherein the case is configured to be permanently mounted on a vehicle body.

4. The airbag module installation system of claim 3, wherein the case is configured to control a deployment direction of the airbag.

5. The airbag module installation system of claim 1, wherein a top wall of the case includes the opening, and the case includes a side wall depending from the top wall and a bottom wall opposing the top wall.

6. The airbag module installation system of claim 1, wherein a top wall of the case includes the opening, and the case includes opposing side walls depending from the top wall.

7. The airbag module installation system of claim 1, wherein the case is configured to temporarily hold the airbag module, the case being removable after the airbag module is mounted on a vehicle body.

8. The airbag module installation system of claim 7, wherein the case further includes a connector tab configured to connect the case and module to a vehicle body.

9. An airbag module installation system comprising:

an airbag module with an airbag; and

a case configured to hold the airbag module during installation of the airbag module into a vehicle,

wherein the airbag in a folded state includes a top side facing a roof of a vehicle, an inner side facing a vehicle compartment, an outer side opposite the inner side and facing a vehicle window, and a bottom side opposite the top side, and wherein one of the sides of the folded airbag is uncovered by the case when installed in the vehicle, and

wherein the case is configured to be removable from the airbag module.

10. An airbag module installation system comprising:

an airbag module with an airbag;

a case configured to hold the airbag module during installation of the airbag module into a vehicle; and

a clip, the clip is configured to fasten a bracket of the airbag module to a vehicle body, and

wherein the airbag in a folded state includes a top side facing a roof of a vehicle, an inner side facing a vehicle compartment, an outer side opposite the inner side and facing a vehicle window, and a bottom side opposite the top side, and wherein one of the sides of the folded airbag is uncovered by the case when installed in the vehicle.

11. The airbag module installation system of claim 10, wherein the clip includes a head portion with a diameter larger than a diameter of an opening in a vehicle body and an opening in the bracket;

the head portion is configured to extend through bracket and opening in a vehicle body.

12. The airbag module installation system of claim 11, wherein the clip includes a tail portion, the tail portion is configured to be movable prior to fixing of the clip to a vehicle body and is configured to be immovable after fixing to a vehicle body.

13. The airbag module installation system of claim 12, further comprising a tool configured to unlock the clip to remove the airbag module from a vehicle body.

14. The airbag module installation system of claim 10, wherein the clip is made of a flexible material.

15. The airbag module installation system of claim 10, wherein the case is configured to be permanently mounted on a vehicle body.

16. The airbag module installation system of claim 15, wherein the case is configured to control a deployment direction of the airbag.

17. The airbag module installation system of claim 10, wherein the case is Configured to temporarily hold the airbag module, the case being removable after the airbag module is mounted on a vehicle body.

18. A method of installing an airbag module, comprising:

providing an airbag module with an airbag;

temporarily attaching a case around a portion of the airbag module to hold the airbag module during installation of the airbag module into a vehicle;

fixing the attached airbag module and case to a vehicle body component; and

removing the case from the airbag module after the airbag module is mounted onto the vehicle body component and prior to deployment of the airbag.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein fixing the attached airbag module and case to the vehicle body component includes inserting a clip through aligned openings in the airbag module and case and into the vehicle body component.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the case includes a connector tab, the connector tab includes the opening for the clip.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the opening in the case extends up to an edge of the connector tab such that the connector tab is removable from the clip.