Dual purpose temporary clip for vehicle

• US 9,896,054 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• 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): English, James A
• Application Number:
  US15/008,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20170217398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• 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

Abstract

Clips that can be used to temporarily hold a curtain side airbag (CSA) to a bracket on a vehicle rail are disclosed. The clips can be integrated into the CSA and allow the CSA to be positioned on the brackets temporarily until such time as a more secure means is utilized, such as a threaded fastener. The clips allow access to an opening in the bracket that is configured to receive a fastener that can be used to secure both the grip assist and the CSA to the bracket. The clip thereby allows the CSA to be positioned on the vehicle rail without interfering with the subsequent attachment of a grip assist to the same bracket. The fastener that attaches the grip assist to the bracket also serves to secure the CSA to the bracket. The clip remains attached to the bracket and to the CSA.

Claims

1. A system for attaching components to a vehicle, the system comprising:

a fastener;

an inflatable restraint;

a clip operatively connected to the restraint, the clip having a retention feature and an opening, the retention feature comprising a first hook portion and a second hook portion;

a bracket operatively connected to a vehicle side rail, the bracket having an opening and an engagement feature, wherein the engagement feature is configured to engage the retention feature with the first hook portion on the clip in an open recess on a leg of the bracket and to engage the second hook portion on the clip with a projection on an upper surface of the bracket;

wherein the retention feature engages with the engagement feature and retains the restraint coupled to the bracket with the openings aligned with one another without the use of the fastener; and

wherein the fastener is subsequently inserted into the aligned openings and secures the restraint to the bracket along with the clip.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the engagement feature is a second opening in the bracket and the retention feature engages with the engagement feature by insertion into the second opening.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first hook portion or the second hook portion which comprises a free end that is inserted into the second opening to retain the restraint coupled to the bracket without the use of the fastener.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the retention feature comprises a connector with at least one resilient wing that deforms during insertion into the second opening to retain the restraint coupled to the bracket without the use of the fastener.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the bracket further comprises an upper surface, the second opening is in the leg and the opening is in the upper surface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a first engagement feature and a second engagement features, the first engagement feature is an open recess along a leg of the bracket, the second engagement feature is a projection along an upper surface of the bracket, the retention feature engages with the first engagement feature and inhibits rotation of the restraint relative to the bracket, the retention feature engages with the second engagement feature, and engagement of the retention feature with the engagement features retains the restraint coupled to the bracket with the openings aligned with one another without the use of the fastener.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising another vehicle component having an opening therein, the component being positioned on the bracket above the clip with component opening aligned with the clip opening and the bracket opening and wherein the fastener is inserted into the aligned openings and secures the component and the restraint to the bracket along with the clip.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

at least one side rail;

a bracket operatively connected to the side rail, the bracket having an opening and an engagement feature;

a vehicle component having an opening;

a fastener;

an inflatable restraint;

a clip operatively connected to the restraint, the clip having a retention feature and an opening, the retention feature comprising a first hook portion and a second hook portion;

wherein the retention feature engages with the engagement feature and retains the restraint operatively coupled to the side rail with the clip and mounting openings aligned with one another without the use of the fastener;

wherein the component opening is subsequently aligned with the clip and the mounting openings and the fastener is inserted into the aligned openings and secures the component and restraint to relative to the side rail along with the clip; and

wherein the engagement feature is configured to engage the retention feature with the first hook portion on the clip in an open recess on a leg of the bracket and to engage a second hook portion on the clip with a projection on an upper surface of the bracket.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one bracket operatively connected to the side rail, the mounting opening and engagement feature being in the bracket; and

wherein the engagement feature is a second opening in the bracket and the retention feature engages with the engagement feature by insertion into the second opening.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first hook portion or the second hook portion which comprises a free end that is inserted into the second opening to retain the restraint coupled to the bracket without the use of the fastener.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the retention feature comprises a connector with at least one resilient wing that deforms during insertion into the second opening to retain the restraint coupled to the bracket without the use of the fastener.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the bracket further comprises an upper surface, the second opening is in the leg and the opening is in the upper surface.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one bracket operatively connected to the side rail, the mounting opening and engagement feature being in the bracket; and

wherein the bracket includes a first engagement feature and a second engagement features, the first engagement feature is an open recess along a leg of the bracket, the second engagement feature is a projection along an upper surface of the bracket, the retention feature engages with the first engagement feature and inhibits rotation of the restraint relative to the bracket, the retention feature engages with the second engagement feature, and engagement of the retention feature with the engagement features retains the restraint coupled to the bracket with the openings aligned with one another without the use of the fastener.

14. A method of attaching multiple components to a vehicle, the method comprising:

operatively connecting a bracket to a side rail, the bracket having an opening and an engagement feature;

operatively connecting a clip of an inflatable restraint to the bracket with an opening in the clip aligned with an opening in the bracket, the clip further having a retention feature, the retention feature comprising a first hook portion and a second hook portion, wherein the engagement feature of the bracket is configured to engage the retention feature with the first hook portion on the clip in an open recess on a leg of the bracket and to engage a second hook portion on the clip with a projection on an upper surface of the bracket;

maintaining the connection of the clip to the bracket without the use of a fastener;

aligning an opening in another vehicle component with the aligned openings in the clip and bracket;

inserting a fastener through the aligned openings; and

securing the component, the clip and the restraint to the bracket with the fastener.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein connecting the clip to the bracket includes engaging the retention feature of the clip with the engagement feature of the bracket, the engaging retaining the clip and the restraint on the bracket with the openings aligned and without the use of the fastener.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein engaging the retention feature with the engagement feature includes positioning the first hook portion or the second hook portion on the clip in a second opening in the leg of the bracket and retaining the clip and restraint on the bracket through gravity and the engagement of the retaining and engagement features.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising inhibiting rotation of the dip and restraint relative to the bracket through the engagement of the first hook portion with the open recess.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein engaging the retention feature with the engagement feature includes inserting a connector having at least one deformable wing through a second opening in the bracket.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the other vehicle component is a grip assist.