Anti-rotation clip for moon roof drain tube

• US 7,815,252 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Huelke, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder; Dennis H
• Application Number:
  US12/328,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20100140983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 296/213, 29621606-21608, 248/68.1, 248/69.1, 248/222.12, 248/226.11, 243/36, 243/39, 245/55, 245/45, 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 296/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/07 Water drainage or guide means not integral with roof structure B60R13/06, B60J10/25 take precedence; integral with roof structure B62D25/07; drainage openings having movable or removable closures B62D25/24
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like

Abstract

A vehicle comprising a vehicle frame having a moon roof channel, a structural panel and a pillar. The vehicle also includes a side curtain air bag canister holding a side curtain air bag, a bracket engaged with the canister and connecting the side curtain air bag canister to the vehicle frame, a drain tube being connected to the moon roof channel, with the drain tube being configured to route drain fluid from the moon roof channel down the pillar, and a clip for connecting the drain tube to the side curtain air bag canister. The clip has a first section for engaging the canister and a second section for engaging the drain tube, with the clip having a wing abutting the bracket for preventing the clip from rotating on the canister.

Claims

1. A vehicle assembly comprising:

a side curtain air bag canister holding a side curtain air bag;

at least one bracket engaged with the side curtain air bag canister, the at least one bracket being configured to connect the side curtain air bag canister to a frame of the vehicle;

a drain tube being configured to have drain fluid from a moon roof of the vehicle drain therethrough; and

a clip for connecting the drain tube to the side curtain air bag canister, the clip having a first section for engaging the side curtain air bag canister and a second section for engaging the drain tube, the clip having at least one wing abutting the at least one bracket for preventing the clip from rotating on the side curtain air bag canister.

2. The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the clip is made of resilient and flexible material.

3. The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first section of the clip comprises a semi-circular canister grasping portion surrounding a portion of the side curtain air bag canister and gripping the side curtain air bag canister.

4. The vehicle assembly of claim 3, wherein:

the second section of the clip comprises a semi-circular drain tube grasping portion surrounding a portion of the drain tube and gripping the drain tube.

5. The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the second section of the clip comprises a semi-circular drain tube grasping portion surrounding a portion of the drain tube and gripping the drain tube.

6. The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the clip further comprises a spanning section extending between and connecting the first section and the second section.

7. The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one bracket comprises at least two brackets;

the brackets surround the side curtain air bag canister; and

the first section of the clip surrounds a portion of the side curtain air bag canister between two of the brackets.

8. The vehicle assembly of claim 7, wherein:

the at least one wing comprises two wings; and

each wing overlies one bracket such that friction between the wings and the bracket prevent the clip from rotating on the side curtain air bag canister.

9. The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein:

each at least one wing overlies one bracket such that friction between the at least one wing and the at least one bracket prevents the clip from rotating on the side curtain air bag canister.

10. The vehicle assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first section of the clip includes a first open slot for accepting the side curtain air bag canister therein; and

the second section of the clip includes a second open slot for accepting the drain tube therein.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle frame having a moon roof channel, a structural panel and a pillar;

a side curtain air bag canister holding a side curtain air bag;

at least one bracket engaged with the side curtain air bag canister, the at least one bracket connecting the side curtain air bag canister to the structural panel of the vehicle frame of the vehicle;

a drain tube connected to the moon roof channel, the drain tube being configured to route drain fluid from the moon roof channel down the pillar; and

a clip for connecting the drain tube to the side curtain air bag canister, the clip having a first section for engaging the side curtain air bag canister and a second section for engaging the drain tube, the clip having at least one wing abutting the at least one bracket for preventing the clip from rotating on the side curtain air bag canister.

12. The vehicle assembly of claim 11, wherein:

the clip is made of resilient and flexible material.

13. The vehicle assembly of claim 11, wherein:

the first section of the clip comprises a semi-circular canister grasping portion surrounding a portion of the side curtain air bag canister and gripping the side curtain air bag canister.

14. The vehicle assembly of claim 13, wherein:

the second section of the clip comprises a semi-circular drain tube grasping portion surrounding a portion of the drain tube and gripping the drain tube.

15. The vehicle assembly of claim 11, wherein:

the second section of the clip comprises a semi-circular drain tube grasping portion surrounding a portion of the drain tube and gripping the drain tube.

16. The vehicle assembly of claim 11, wherein:

the clip further comprises a spanning section extending between and connecting the first section and the second section.

17. The vehicle assembly of claim 11, wherein:

the at least one bracket comprises at least two brackets;

the brackets surround the side curtain air bag canister; and

the first section of the clip surrounds a portion of the side curtain air bag canister between two of the brackets.

18. The vehicle assembly of claim 17, wherein:

the at least one wing comprises two wings; and

each wing overlies one bracket such that friction between the wings and the bracket prevent the clip from rotating on the side curtain air bag canister.

19. The vehicle assembly of claim 11, wherein:

each at least one wing overlies one bracket such that friction between the at least one wing and the at least one bracket prevents the clip from rotating on the side curtain air bag canister.

20. The vehicle assembly of claim 11, wherein:

the first section of the clip includes a first open slot for accepting the side curtain air bag canister therein; and

the second section of the clip includes a second open slot for accepting the drain tube therein.

21. An assembly comprising:

a canister holding a side curtain airbag and a bracket engaged therewith, the bracket connecting the canister to a frame of a vehicle;

a tube for draining fluid from a moon roof drain; and

a clip connecting the tube to the canister and having a first section engaging the canister and a second section engaging the tube, the clip having a wing abutting the bracket for preventing the clip from rotating on the canister.