Airbag arrangement and tools

• US 8,959,724 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Baumgartner, Peter, Gutmann, Ralf, Glckler, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack W
• Application Number:
  US12/232,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20090020986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,349 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, 280/728.2
• 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 mounting element configured to fit into a through-hole in a surface in order to secure an airbag to a motor vehicle by contacting both sides of the surface, the mounting element comprising:

an essentially rectangular base plate with four sides,

wherein two first arms extend from a first pair of opposing sides of said base plate facing each other, both first arms have a first contact section having a first surface substantially parallel to the base plate and located a first distance from the base plate, two second arms extend from a second pair of opposing sides of said base plate facing each other, both second arms have a second contact section having a second surface substantially parallel to the base plate and located a second distance from the base plate, said second distance being larger than the first distance, whereby at least the first arms extend from the base plate to their first contact section such that their distance from one another increases,

wherein the first arms extend beyond the first contact sections,

wherein each one of the first arms comprises a retaining plate, the retaining plates being connected to side edges of the first pair of opposing sides of the base plate;

wherein each one of the second arms comprises a connecting plate, the connecting plates being connected to side edges of the second pair of opposing sides of the base plate, and

wherein the side edges of the first pair of opposing sides of the base plate are orientated perpendicular to the side edges of the second pair of opposing sides of the base plate.

2. The mounting element according to claim 1, wherein the first contact sections are planar.

3. The mounting element according to claim 1, wherein the first and second contact sections are parallel to one another.

4. The mounting element according to claim 1, wherein the first arms extend from the base plate to the first contact sections, form an inward step at this point inwardly and extend further after the step.

5. The mounting element according to claim 4, wherein the first arms further include actuation sections located a third distance from the base plate wherein the third distance is greater than the second distance of the second contact sections of the second arms from the base plate.

6. The mounting element according to claim 5, wherein the actuation sections further comprise a surface having an eye.

7. The mounting element according to claim 1, wherein the mounting element is formed from a single piece of metal.

8. A fixing element configured to fit into an opening in a support wall in order to secure an airbag to a motor vehicle by contacting both sides of the support wall, the fixing element comprising:

an essentially rectangular baseplate with four sides,

wherein two snap-on elements extend from a first pair of opposing sides of said baseplate facing each other, both snap-on elements have a first contact section having a first surface substantially parallel to the baseplate and located a first distance from the baseplate, two stop elements extend from a second pair of opposing sides of said baseplate facing each other, both stop elements have a second contact section having a second surface substantially parallel to the baseplate and located a second distance from the baseplate, said second distance being larger than the first distance, whereby at least the snap-on elements extend from the baseplate to their first contact section such that their distance from one another increases,

wherein the snap-on elements include unlocking elements,

wherein the unlocking elements further comprise a surface having an eye.

9. The fixing element according to claim 8, wherein the first contact sections are planar.

10. The fixing element according to claim 8, wherein the first and second contact sections are parallel to one another.

11. The fixing element according to claim 8, wherein the snap-on elements extend beyond the first contact sections.

12. The fixing element according to claim 11, wherein the snap-on elements extend from the baseplate to the first contact sections, form an inward step at this point inwardly and extend further after the step.

13. The fixing element according to claim 11, wherein the unlocking elements are located a third distance from the baseplate, and wherein the third distance is greater than the second distance of the second contact sections of the stop elements from the baseplate.

14. The fixing element according to claim 8, wherein the fixing element is formed from a single piece of metal.

15. A mounting element configured to fit into a through-hole in a surface in order to secure an airbag to a motor vehicle by contacting both sides of the surface, the mounting element comprising:

an essentially rectangular base plate with four sides,

wherein two first arms extend from a first pair of opposing sides of said base plate facing each other, both first arms have a first contact section having a first surface substantially parallel to the base plate and located a first distance from the base plate, two second arms extend from a second pair of opposing sides of said base plate facing each other, both second arms have a second contact section having a second surface substantially parallel to the base plate and located a second distance from the base plate, said second distance being larger than the first distance, whereby at least the first arms extend from the base plate to their first contact section such that their distance from one another increases,

wherein the first arms include actuating sections comprising a surface having an eye.

16. The mounting element according to claim 15, wherein the first contact sections are planar.

17. The mounting element according to claim 15, wherein the first and second contact sections are parallel to one another.

18. The mounting element according to claim 15, wherein the first arms extend beyond the first contact sections.

19. The mounting element according to claim 15, wherein the first arms extend from the base plate to the first contact sections, form an inward step at this point inwardly and extend further after the step.

20. The mounting element according to claim 19, wherein the actuation sections are located a third distance from the base plate wherein the third distance is greater than the second distance of the second contact sections of the second arms from the base plate.

21. The mounting element according to claim 15, wherein the mounting element is formed from a single piece of metal.

22. A mounting element configured to fit into a through-hole in a surface in order to secure an airbag to a motor vehicle by contacting both sides of the surface, the mounting element comprising:

an essentially rectangular base plate with four sides,

wherein two first arms extend from a first pair of opposing sides of said base plate facing each other, both first arms have a first contact section having a first surface substantially parallel to the base plate and located a first distance from the base plate, two second arms extend from a second pair of opposing sides of said base plate facing each other, both second arms have a second contact section having a second surface substantially parallel to the base plate and located a second distance from the base plate, said second distance being larger than the first distance, whereby at least the first arms extend from the base plate to their first contact section such that their distance from one another increases,

wherein the first arms extend beyond the first contact sections,

wherein the first arms extend from the base plate to the first contact sections, form an inward step at this point inwardly and extend further after the step,

wherein the first arms further include actuation sections located a third distance from the base plate wherein the third distance is greater than the second distance of the second contact sections of the second arms from the base plate.