Tethered fastener and related methods
First Claim
1. A motor vehicle airbag occupant restraint system tethered fastener comprising:
- a first plastic connector end coupled to a second plastic connector end via an elongate plastic tether having a longitudinal length extending completely from and between the first and second connector ends;
a frangible strap extending from a first point along the longitudinal length of the plastic tether to a second point along the longitudinal length of the plastic tether;
a metal clip non-releasably coupled to the second connector end;
wherein the first and second connector ends are releasably adjacently coupled together with the frangible strap in a non-extended configuration when the first connector end is non-releasably coupled to a first of an associated automobile portion and an associated trim component and the second connector end is non-releasably coupled to a second of the associated automobile portion and associated trim component via the metal clip; and
wherein the frangible strap has a longitudinal strap length that is less than a distance between the first and second points along the longitudinal length of the plastic tether, and wherein the frangible strap deforms, separates, or both, as a result of a tensile force acting on the frangible strap as the plastic tether moves from the non-extended configuration to an extended configuration when an associated airbag deploys separating the associated automobile portion and trim component and the first and second connector ends, and wherein the frangible strap comprises a pair of frangible straps extending from opposing lateral sides of the plastic tether.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plastic body includes first and second connector ends coupled together via an elongate tether. A frangible strap can extend from a first to a second point along the longitudinal length of the tether. The length of the frangible strap can be less than the tether length between the first and second points. A metal clip can be non-releasably coupled to the second connector end by being retained within a cage housing. The connector ends can be releasably coupled to each other by cooperating elongate rails, and with the frangible strap in a non-extended configuration with the first and second connector ends non-releasably coupled associated automobile components. The frangible strap can deform or separate as a result of a tensile force acting on the frangible strap as the tether extends when an airbag deploys separating the automobile components and the connector ends.
72 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A motor vehicle airbag occupant restraint system tethered fastener comprising:
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a first plastic connector end coupled to a second plastic connector end via an elongate plastic tether having a longitudinal length extending completely from and between the first and second connector ends; a frangible strap extending from a first point along the longitudinal length of the plastic tether to a second point along the longitudinal length of the plastic tether; a metal clip non-releasably coupled to the second connector end; wherein the first and second connector ends are releasably adjacently coupled together with the frangible strap in a non-extended configuration when the first connector end is non-releasably coupled to a first of an associated automobile portion and an associated trim component and the second connector end is non-releasably coupled to a second of the associated automobile portion and associated trim component via the metal clip; and wherein the frangible strap has a longitudinal strap length that is less than a distance between the first and second points along the longitudinal length of the plastic tether, and wherein the frangible strap deforms, separates, or both, as a result of a tensile force acting on the frangible strap as the plastic tether moves from the non-extended configuration to an extended configuration when an associated airbag deploys separating the associated automobile portion and trim component and the first and second connector ends, and wherein the frangible strap comprises a pair of frangible straps extending from opposing lateral sides of the plastic tether. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A motor vehicle airbag occupant restraint system tethered fastener comprising:
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a metal clip; a first plastic connector end having a releasable coupling member a second plastic connector end having a cooperating releasable coupling member and having a cage housing retaining the metal clip; an elongate plastic tether extending completely from and between the first and second connector ends to couple the first and second connector ends together; wherein the first and second connector ends are releasably coupled together via the releasable coupling members when the first connector ends is non-releasably coupled to a first of an associated automobile portion and an associated trim component, and when the metal clip is non-releasably retained within the cage housing and the second connector end is non-releasably coupled to a second of the associated automobile portion and the associated trim component via the metal clip, and wherein the metal clip non-releasably remains within the cage housing and non-releasably coupled to the second of the associated automobile portion and the associated trim component during deployment of the occupant restraint system when an associated airbag deploys uncoupling the releasable coupling members and separating the associated automobile portion and trim component and the first and second connector ends, and wherein the metal clip comprises a U-shaped end supporting at least one retention wing member, and the cage housing comprises a recess that receives at least a portion of the metal clip. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A motor vehicle airbag occupant restraint system tethered fastener comprising:
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a first plastic connector end coupled to a second plastic connector end via an elongate plastic tether having a longitudinal length extending completely from and between the first and second connector ends; a frangible strap extending from a first point along the longitudinal length of the plastic tether to a second point along the longitudinal length of the plastic tether; a metal clip non-releasably coupled to the second connector end; wherein the first and second connector ends are releasably adjacently coupled together with the frangible strap in a non-extended configuration when the first connector end is non-releasably coupled to a first of an associated automobile portion and an associated trim component and the second connector end is non-releasably coupled to a second of the associated automobile portion and associated trim component via the metal clip; and wherein the frangible strap has a longitudinal strap length that is less than a distance between the first and second points along the longitudinal length of the plastic tether, and wherein the frangible strap deforms, separates, or both, as a result of a tensile force acting on the frangible strap as the plastic tether moves from the non-extended configuration to an extended configuration when an associated airbag deploys separating the associated automobile portion and trim component and the first and second connector ends, and wherein the first and second connector ends are releasably adjacently coupled together via a pair of parallel coupling elongate rail members of the first connector end engaging a cooperating pair of parallel coupling elongate rail members of the second connector end. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification