Jump bracket tempset clip for vehicle

• US 9,676,359 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Arellano, Nora
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Drew
• Application Number:
  US15/008,692
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45105 for upholstery, panel, trim strip, etc. [e.g., spring biased]

Abstract

A clip that can be attached to a jump bracket to align the jump bracket and the associated curtain side airbag (CSA) relative to the vehicle for attachment thereto. The clip is configured to be attached to an existing alignment member on the jump bracket and provide more restrained positioning in an alignment opening in the vehicle panel. The more restrained positioning facilitates the alignment of both first and second fastening features on the jump bracket with the associated fastening locations on the vehicle thereby providing a greater and more reliable ease of installation of the CSA. The clip can be configured to provide a datum for the proper alignment of the jump bracket relative to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for attaching an inflatable restraint to a vehicle, the system comprising:

a bracket having an alignment member extending therefrom and configured to be loosely inserted into an alignment opening in a vehicle, the bracket having at least one mounting opening spaced apart from the alignment member;

an inflatable restraint operatively connected to the bracket;

a clip operatively connected to the alignment member, the clip configured to be inserted into the alignment opening along with the alignment member, the clip having at least one resilient body member that resiliently deforms when passing through the alignment opening, the body member inhibiting removal of the alignment member from the alignment opening and inhibiting rotation of the bracket relative to the alignment opening prior to fixedly attaching the bracket to the vehicle; and

at least one fastener operable to fixedly attach the bracket to the vehicle through the at least one mounting opening,

wherein the at least one fastener fixedly attaches the bracket to the vehicle subsequent to the insertion of the alignment member and clip into the alignment opening.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one body member is a pair of body members that resiliently deform during insertion into the alignment opening.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the body members extend from a head toward a base, the body members taper away from one another and then toward one another as they extend from the head toward the base, the body members having a maximum relaxed width at a transition area between tapering away and tapering toward, the maximum width being greater than a diameter of the alignment openings.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein engagement of the body members with the alignment opening provides a directional datum for the bracket relative to the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the body members have a second width adjacent the base, the second width being less than the maximum width and being larger than or the same size as the diameter of the alignment opening.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein

the at least one mounting opening includes first and second mounting openings spaced apart from the alignment member and from one another,

the at least one fastener includes first and second fasteners operable to fixedly attach the bracket to the vehicle through the respective first and second mounting openings, and

the first and second fasteners fixedly attach the bracket to the vehicle subsequent to the insertion of the alignment member and clip into the alignment opening.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the clip is clinched onto the alignment member.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment of the at least one fastener sets a vertical position of the bracket relative to the vehicle.

9. A vehicle, comprising:

a body having an alignment opening and at least two attachment openings;

a bracket having an alignment member extending therefrom and configured to be loosely inserted into the alignment opening, the bracket having first and second mounting openings spaced apart from the alignment member and from one another;

an inflatable restraint operatively connected to the bracket;

a clip operatively connected to the alignment member, the clip configured to be inserted into the alignment opening along with the alignment member, the clip having at least one resilient body member that resiliently deforms when passing through the alignment opening, the body member inhibiting removal of the alignment member from the alignment opening and inhibiting rotation of the bracket relative to the alignment opening prior to fixedly attaching the bracket to the vehicle, the engagement between the clip and the alignment opening allowing the bracket to be oriented relative to the vehicle such that the mounting openings are aligned with the attachment openings; and

first and second fasteners operable to fixedly attach the bracket to the vehicle through the respective first and second mounting openings,

wherein the first and second fasteners fixedly attach the bracket to the vehicle subsequent to the insertion of the alignment member and clip into the alignment opening.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the at least one body member is a pair of body members that resiliently deform during insertion into the alignment opening.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the body members extend from a head toward a base, the body members taper away from one another and then toward one another as they extend from the head toward the base, the body members having a maximum relaxed width at a transition area between tapering away and tapering toward, the maximum width being greater than a diameter of the alignment openings.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein engagement of the body members with the alignment opening provides a datum for the bracket relative to the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the datum is a datum relative to a fore and aft length of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the body members have a second width adjacent the base, the second width being less than the maximum width and being larger than or the same size as the diameter of the alignment opening.

15. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the clip is clinched onto the alignment member.

16. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the attachment of the first fastener sets a vertical position of the bracket relative to the vehicle.

17. A method of attaching an inflatable restraint to a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a bracket having an alignment member extending therefrom and configured to be loosely inserted into an alignment opening in the vehicle, the bracket having at least one mounting opening spaced apart from the alignment member;

operatively connecting an inflatable restraint to the bracket;

operatively attaching a clip to the alignment member, the clip having at least one resilient body member;

inserting the clip and alignment member into the alignment opening;

resiliently deforming the body member when passing through the alignment opening;

inhibiting removal of the alignment member from the alignment opening and inhibiting rotation of the bracket relative to the alignment opening with the engagement between the clip and the alignment opening;

aligning the at least one mounting opening with an attachment opening; and

fixedly attaching the bracket to the vehicle with a fastener and the at least one mounting opening.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprises providing a directional datum for the bracket relative to the vehicle with engagement between the clip and the alignment opening.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein providing a directional datum includes providing a directional datum relative to a fore and aft length of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein attachment of the fastener sets a fixed vertical position of the bracket relative to the vehicle.