Airbag arrangement and tools

• US 7,861,384 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Baumgartner, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder; Jack W.
• Application Number:
  US11/611,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20070158931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 242/95, 242/93, 242/97, 244/53, 411508-510, 403/408.1, 527/167, 527/180.6, 527/165, 527/166, 527/168, 527/180.3, 527/04
• US Class Current: 24/293
• 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 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/08 in which the stud, pin, or spigot has a resilient part F16B21/065, F16B21/125, F16B21/165, F16B37/043 take precedence; wall-dowels F16B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/303 having laterally extending biasing appendage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/304 Resilient metal type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/42 Independent, headed, aperture pass-through fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44026 for cooperating with aperture in supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/553 Laterally inserted section

Abstract

A fixing element fixes a part to a support wall. When the fixing element is inserted into an opening in the support wall and reaches a predetermined end position, the fixing element locks to the support wall. The fixing element includes a stop element, a snap-on element, and an unlocking element. The stop element bears against a side of the support wall when the fixing element is locked to the support wall. The snap-on element is positioned on an inner side of the support wall when the fixing element is locked to the support wall. The unlocking element is connected to the snap-on element. The unlocking element is configured to permit the snap-on element to be unlocked and the fixing element to be removed from the opening. An installation tool and a testing tool may be used in conjunction with the fixing element.

Claims

1. A fixing element to fix a part to a support wall by inserting the fixing element into an opening in the support wall,

wherein the fixing element is configured such that when the fixing element is inserted into the opening and reaches a predetermined end position, the fixing element locks to the support wall such that the fixing element is prevented from being pulled out of the opening, the fixing element comprising:

a stop element, the stop element bears against an outer side of the support wall when the fixing element is locked to the support wall;

a snap-on element, the snap-on element is positioned on an inner side of the support wall when the fixing element is locked to the support wall, the inner side facing away from the part to be fixed, the snap-on element comprising a base plate positioned on an inner side of the support wall when the fixing element is in its end position; and

an unlocking element connected to the snap-on element, the unlocking element being accessible from the outer side of the support wall, the unlocking element configured to permit the snap-on element to be unlocked and the fixing element to be removed from the opening,

wherein the stop element comprises two connecting plates attached to two side edges of the base plate.

2. The fixing element according to claim 1, wherein the unlocking element reaches through the opening.

3. The fixing element according to claim 1, wherein the baseplate comprises two further side edges that are parallel or at least approximately parallel to each other, and in that a retaining plate is attached in each case to each of these two further side edges and is used to retain the fixing element on the support wall.

4. The fixing element according to claim 3, wherein the distance of the two retaining plates from each other increases with increasing distance from the baseplate, the distance between the retaining plates at their end facing away from the baseplate being greater than the distance between the associated opening edges of the opening in the support wall.

5. The fixing element according to of claim 3, wherein the retaining plates are of resilient design and can be pressed together in such a manner that, when the fixing element is introduced into the opening, the distance between the retaining plates can be reduced by the effect of the opening edges of the opening in such a manner that said distance corresponds to the distance between the opening edges.

6. The fixing element according to claim 3, wherein there are two unlocking elements of which one interacts with the one retaining plate and the other interacts with the other retaining plate.

7. The fixing element according to claim 6, wherein the unlocking elements are in each case attached to that end of the respective retaining plate which faces away from the baseplate.

8. The fixing element according to claim 6, wherein the unlocking elements are connected integrally to their respectively assigned retaining plate.

9. The fixing element according to claim 3, wherein the baseplate is of square or rectangular, or at least of substantially square or substantially rectangular, design, and wherein the two side edges are in each case perpendicular to the two further side edges with the retaining plates originating therefrom, and which run parallel to each other.

10. The fixing element according to claim 1, wherein the unlocking elements are actuated by being pressed together in relation to each other.

11. The fixing element according to claim 1, wherein the stop element has two stop plates of which one is connected to one connecting plate and the other is connected to the other connecting plate.

12. The fixing element according to claim 11, wherein the connecting plates are in each case connected integrally to the associated stop plate.

13. The fixing element according to claim 12, wherein the stop plates are angled in such a manner that they bear resiliently against the outside of the support wall when the fixing element is retained in place.

14. The fixing element according to claim 13, wherein the stop plates each have a partial plate which runs parallel to the support wall, and have a further partial plate which is angled in relation to the parallel partial plate.

15. The fixing element according to claim 14, wherein the parallel partial plate in each case connects the angled partial plate to the associated connecting plate.

16. The fixing element according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element is formed as a single piece.

17. The fixing element according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element is formed of metal or plastic.