Airbag fastener assembly

• US 7,837,225 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2009
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Otte, Frank, Gosis, Anatoly, Cooley, Brock T., Kirchen, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rocca; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US12/409,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20090285648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 242/97, 244/53, 244/58
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 31/00 Hand tools for applying fasteners nailing or stapling tools B25C
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0206 Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings devices for fastening or securing F16B
• 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 21/213 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
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/1081 fastened by a drive-pin F16B19/109 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44026 for cooperating with aperture in supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured

Abstract

A fastener for securing an airbag assembly in a motor vehicle includes first and second body components held one against another with a fastening tab of an airbag there between. A flexible collet from the body of the fastener is secured in a hole of a supporting component in a vehicle roof, and a pin pushed into the collet secures the installation. Tools and fastener structures for verification testing are disclosed.

Claims

1. An airbag fastener assembly, comprising:

a body having first and second body components holdable one against another, via a hinge, for capturing a portion of an airbag assembly therebetween;

a collet affixed to one of said body components and extendable through the other of said body components when said body components are folded together;

means for securing said collet to a vehicle;

wherein a pin is inserted into said collet;

said pin being configured to rotate within said collet upon application of a torque, and

wherein a torque required to rotate said pin is greater when said pin is fully inserted into said collet in comparison to when said pin is not fully inserted into said collet.

2. The airbag fastener assembly of claim 1, said collet extending from an inner face of one of said body components through a slot in the other of said body components.

3. The airbag fastener assembly of claim 1, including interlocking structure between said first and second body components.

4. The airbag fastener assembly of claim 3, said interlocking structure including legs on one of said body components engaging apertures in the other of said body components.

5. The airbag fastener assembly of claim 1, said collet including deflectable collet segments for insertion through a hole in the vehicle.

6. The airbag fastener assembly of claim 5, wherein said pin in said collet inhibits inward deflection of said collet segments.

7. The airbag fastener assembly of claim 6, said body defining a face surface and said pin defining a flattened surface for confronting said face surface with said pin inserted in said collet.

8. The airbag fastener assembly of claim 6, said one of said body components defining spaced pedestals having face surfaces thereon and said pin having a head and flattened ends on said head, said head disposed between said pedestals and said flattened ends confronting said face surfaces.

9. The airbag fastener assembly of claim 6, said collet segments having a waist of greatest girth and inwardly angled surfaces of said collet segments extending axially from said waist.

10. An airbag assembly installation in an automobile having a roof component with a hole, said airbag assembly installation comprising:

an airbag assembly including a fastening tab and an airbag connected to said fastening tab; and

a fastener assembly securing said airbag assembly to the automobile roof component, said fastener assembly including;

a body having first and second body components holdable one against another, via a hinge, with said fastening tab therebetween;

a collet affixed to one of said body components and extendable through the other of said body components when said body components are held one against another;

said collet extending into the hole of the roof component; and

said collet being secured in the hole of the roof component;

wherein a pin is inserted into said collet;

said pin being configured to rotate within said collet upon application of a torque, and

wherein a torque required to rotate said pin is greater when said pin is fully inserted into said collet in comparison to when said pin is not fully inserted into said collet.

11. The airbag assembly installation of claim 10, said collet extending from an inner face of one of said body components through a slot in the other of said body components.

12. The airbag assembly installation of claim 11, including legs on one of said body components engaging apertures in the other of said body components.

13. The airbag assembly installation of claim 10, said collet including collet segments deflectable for the hole in the vehicle roof component.

14. The airbag assembly installation of claim 13, wherein said pin in said collet inhibits inward deflection of said collet segments.

15. The airbag assembly installation of claim 14, said body defining a face surface and said pin defining a flattened surface for confronting said face surface with said pin inserted in said collet.

16. The airbag assembly installation of claim 14, said pin having a head including deformable segments yielding to installation application testing equipment.

17. The airbag assembly installation of claim 14, said body having spaced pedestals with face surfaces, and said pin having a head with flattened end surfaces confronting said face surfaces.

18. The airbag assembly installation of claim 17, said pedestals having ledges overlapping portions of said head.

19. The airbag assembly installation of claim 17, said pin head having deformable tool engaging extensions extending therefrom.

20. A fastener assembly, comprising:

a body having first and second body components connected via a hinge that allows said first and second components to be foldable one against another for capturing therebetween an article to be held by said fastener assembly;

a flexible collet including a plurality of collet segments affixed to one of said body components and extendable through the other of said body components when said body components are folded together;

said collet having a waist of greatest girth and progressively narrow portions extend on either side of said waist; and

a pin inserted into said collet to inhibit inward flexing of said collet segments;

said pin configured to rotate within said collet upon application of a torque,

wherein a torque required to rotate said pin is greater when said pin is fully inserted into said collet in comparison to when said pin is not fully inserted into said collet; and

means for securing said collet to a vehicle.

21. The fastener assembly of claim 20, said pin including a head and said body including a protrusion engaging said head to inhibit rotation of said pin.

22. The fastener assembly of claim 20, said body including first and second spaced protrusions, and said pin including a head held between said protrusions.

23. The fastener assembly of claim 20, said pin including a head and features extending outwardly of said head for engaging a tool for verifying installation correctness, said features being modifiable by said tool during said testing to indicate completion of testing on the fastener.

24. A fastener assembly, comprising:

a body having first and second body components holdable one against another thereof for capturing an article to be held by said fastener assembly;

an anchoring structure connected to one of said body components and extendable through the other of said body components when said body components are held together;

a rotatable element associated with operation of said anchoring structure, said rotatable element configured to be inserted into said anchoring structure; and

a feature on said rotatable element, said feature having a structural relationship to said rotatable element that is altered upon rotation of said rotatable element at a torque greater than a specified torque,

wherein said body includes a hinge connecting said first and second body components to one another;

wherein a torque required to rotate said rotatable element is greater when said rotatable element is fully inserted into said anchoring structure in comparison to when said rotatable element is not fully inserted into said anchoring structure; and

means for securing said anchoring structure to a vehicle.

25. The fastener assembly of claim 24, said feature being deformed upon rotation of said rotatable element at a torque greater than said specified torque.

26. The fastener assembly of claim 24, said feature being sheared from said rotatable element upon rotation of said rotatable element at a torque greater than said specified torque.

27. The fastener assembly of claim 24, including a tool for applying torque to said rotatable element, said tool being operable against said feature before said feature is altered, and said tool being inoperable against said feature after said feature is altered.

28. The fastener assembly of claim 24, including a tool for applying torque to said rotatable element, said tool being operable against said rotatable element before said feature is altered, and said tool being inoperable against said rotatable element after said feature is altered.