Method and device for fastening an airbag in a motor vehicle

• US 8,220,825 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2007
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Bonarens, Frank, Breidert, Dietmar, Brunner, Matthias, De Buysscher, Benjamin, Diehl, Johannes, Medla, Waldemar, Grube, Mathias
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US12/438,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20100230936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/749, 411/173, 411/175, 411/182, 411508-510, 411/913, 242/90, 242/91, 242/95, 242/97, 244/53
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/043 with snap action
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

A method is provided for fastening an airbag to a motor vehicle, that includes, but is not limited to the steps of fastening an airbag, which can be filled with a gas and which has a fastening tab, to a fastening device which comprises a plate and a clip device fastened to the plate and the plate comprises a first plate section with a first opening having a screw thread and a second plate section, and the clip device is fastened on the first plate section, and the airbag is fastened to the fastening device by bending the second plate section in such a manner that the first plate section and the second plate section at least partially enclose the fastening tab on both sides. A fastening device is also provided for an airbag, an airbag, and a motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for fastening an airbag in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

fastening the airbag, which can be filled with a gas and which has a fastening tab, to a fastening device which comprises a plate and a clip device fastened to the plate and the plate comprises a first plate section with a first opening having a screw thread and a second plate section; and

bending the second plate section in such a manner that the first plate section and the second plate section at least partially enclose the fastening tab on both sides.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of clipping the fastening device on which the airbag is fastened to a bodywork of the motor vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps:

tilting up the second plate section of the fastening device clipped to the bodywork to release the airbag from the fastening device which remains clipped to the bodywork;

positioning a fastening tab of a replacement airbag onto the fastening device; and

bending the second plate section in such a manner that the first plate section and the second plate section at least partially enclose the fastening tab of the replacement airbag on both sides.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of an additional screwing of the fastening tab to the fastening device clipped to the bodywork with a screw and the first opening of the first plate section having the screw thread.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps:

loosening the screw;

tiling up the second plate section of the fastening device clipped to the bodywork to release the airbag from the fastening device which remains clipped to the bodywork;

attaching and screwing a fastening tab of a replacement airbag onto the fastening device; and

bending the second plate section in such a manner that the first plate section and the second plate section at least partially enclose the fastening tab of the replacement airbag on both sides.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fastening tab comprises a reinforcing plate having at least a second opening, which is substantially congruent with the first opening of the first plate section, when the airbag is fastened to the fastening device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the reinforcing plate comprises a first reinforcing plate section and a second reinforcing plate section, which each have the second opening and at least partially enclose the fastening tab on both sides in such a manner that the two second openings of the two reinforcing plate sections lie substantially congruently above one another.

8. The method for fastening an airbag to a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

fastening the airbag, which can be filled with a gas and which has a fastening tab, to a fastening device which comprises a plate with a first opening having a screw thread and a clip device fastened to the plate;

screwing the fastening tab with a screw to the plate having the screw thread; and

thereafter, clipping the fastening device, to which the airbag is fastened, to a bodywork of the motor vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps:

loosening the screw to release the airbag from the fastening device which remains clipped to the bodywork; and

screwing a replacement airbag to the fastening device clipped to the bodywork, whereby the airbag may be replaced without removing the fastening device from the bodywork.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the fastening tab has a reinforcing plate with at least one second opening through which the screw for fastening the airbag to the fastening device is guided.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the reinforcing plate comprises a first reinforcing plate section and a second reinforcing plate section, which each have a second opening and at least partially enclose the fastening tab on both sides in such a manner that the two second openings of the two reinforcing plate sections lie substantially congruently one above the other.

12. The method according claim 8, further comprising the step of clipping the clip device with the plate having the screw thread.

13. A fastening device for an airbag, comprising:

a plate with a first opening having a screw thread; and

a clip device fastened to the plate,

wherein the first opening with the screw thread is clipped to the plate and configured to accommodate a screw for fastening a fastening tab of the airbag which can be filled with a gas, and

wherein the clip device is configured to be clipped to a motor vehicle for fastening the airbag.

14. An airbag module for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an airbag which can be filled with a gas, which has at least one fastening tab; and

at least one fastening device comprising;

a plate with a first opening having a screw thread; and

a clip device fastened to the plate,

wherein the first opening with the screw thread is configured to accommodate a screw for fastening a fastening tab of the airbag, and

wherein the clip device is configured to be clipped to the motor vehicle for fastening the airbag.

15. The airbag module according to claim 14, wherein a reinforcing plate disposed on the fastening tab is provided, which has at least a second opening, through which the screw for fastening the airbag on the at least one fastening device is guided.

16. The airbag module according to claim 15, wherein the reinforcing plate comprises a first reinforcing plate section and a second reinforcing plate section, which each have the second opening and at least partly enclose the fastening tab on both sides in such a manner that the two second openings of the two reinforcing plate sections lie substantially congruently above one another.

17. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a bodywork;

an inner lining for lining the bodywork; and

an airbag clipped with a fastening device which has at least one fastening tab, the fastening device comprising;

a plate with a first opening having a screw thread; and

a clip device fastened to the plate,

wherein the first opening with the screw thread is configured to accommodate a screw for fastening a fastening tab of the airbag which can be filled with a gas, and

wherein the clip device is configured to be clipped to the motor vehicle for fastening the airbag.