Airbag mounting bracket

• US 9,981,625 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2016
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Witt, Jr., John F, Schneider, David W., Reschke, Matthew R., Low, Jeffrey E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Condra, Darlene P
• Application Number:
  US15/053,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20170247008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars

Abstract

Methods for making an airbag mounting bracket for use with an attachment component of an associated airbag cushion are provided. An opening in a mounting bracket precursor formed of a bracket precursor material is extruded. A rounded surface of the bracket precursor material adjacent the extruded opening is formed. The mounting bracket precursor with the rounded surface is subsequently finalized to form the airbag cushion mounting bracket, wherein the extruded opening provides an airbag attachment engagement opening for passage of the attachment component and the rounded surface provides a load bearing surface of increased area for the attachment component. Also provided are corresponding or associated airbag mounting brackets.

Claims

1. A method for making an airbag mounting bracket for use with an attachment component of an associated airbag cushion, the method comprising:

extruding and rolling a slot opening in a mounting bracket precursor formed of a bracket precursor material to form an extruded and rolled opening;

wherein the mounting bracket precursor with the extruded and rolled opening forms the airbag cushion mounting bracket, and

wherein the extruded and rolled opening provides an airbag attachment engagement opening for passage of the attachment component of the associated airbag cushion and the extruded and rolled opening provides a smooth continuous surface providing an enlarged load bearing surface of increased area for the attachment component.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the airbag mounting bracket comprises an airbag hanger bracket.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the airbag mounting bracket comprises an airbag tether anchor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein airbag attachment engagement opening is non-coined.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the associated airbag cushion comprises a side airbag inflatable cushion.

6. An airbag mounting bracket made by the method of claim 1.

7. A combination comprising:

an airbag mounting bracket made by the method of claim 1 and

an airbag cushion wherein the attachment component comprises a fabric tab for passage through the airbag attachment engagement opening of the airbag mounting bracket.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the airbag mounting bracket comprises an airbag hanger bracket and the fabric tab is of no more than 10.5 mm thick when compressed.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein the airbag mounting bracket comprises an airbag tether anchor and the fabric tab is of no more than 10.5 mm thick when compressed.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the attachment component comprises a fabric.

11. A method for making a side airbag inflatable curtain mounting bracket for use with a fabric attachment component of an associated airbag cushion, the method comprising:

extruding and rolling a slot opening in a mounting bracket precursor formed of a bracket precursor material to form an extruded and rolled opening;

wherein the mounting bracket precursor with the extruded and rolled opening forms the side airbag inflatable curtain mounting bracket, and wherein the extruded and rolled opening provides a side airbag attachment engagement opening for passage of the fabric attachment component and the extruded and rolled opening provides a smooth continuous surface providing an enlarged load bearing surface of increased area for the attachment component;

wherein the side airbag inflatable curtain mounting bracket comprises a side airbag inflatable curtain hanger bracket or a side airbag inflatable curtain tether anchor.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the airbag mounting bracket comprises an airbag hanger bracket.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the airbag mounting bracket comprises an airbag tether anchor.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein airbag attachment engagement opening is non-coined.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the associated airbag cushion comprises a side airbag inflatable cushion.

16. An airbag mounting bracket made by the method of claim 11.

17. A combination comprising:

an airbag mounting bracket made by the method of claim 11 and

an airbag cushion wherein the attachment component comprises a fabric tab for passage through the airbag attachment engagement opening of the airbag mounting bracket.

18. The combination of claim 17 wherein the airbag mounting bracket comprises an airbag hanger bracket and the fabric tab is of no more than 10.5 mm thick when compressed.

19. The combination of claim 17 wherein the airbag mounting bracket comprises an airbag tether anchor and the fabric tab is of no more than 10.5 mm thick when compressed.

20. A method for making an airbag mounting bracket for use with an attachment component of an associated airbag cushion, the method comprising:

extruding and rolling a slot opening in a mounting bracket precursor formed of a bracket precursor material to form an extruded and rolled opening, wherein the extruded and rolling opening provides an airbag attachment engagement opening for passage of an attachment portion of an associated airbag cushion and the extruded and rolled opening provides a smooth continuous surface providing an enlarged load bearing surface of increased area for the attachment component; and

finalizing the mounting bracket precursor having the extruded and rolled opening to form the airbag cushion mounting bracket.