Fastener for air-bag curtain

• US 7,963,548 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2007
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Itw Sverige AB (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Itw Sverige AB (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Oestergren, Kristian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECK, KAREN JANE AMORES
• Application Number:
  US11/750,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20070296184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/086 the shank of the stud, pin or spigot having elevations, ribs, fins or prongs intended for deformation or tilting predominantly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/00 Hooks; Eyes if the attaching parts or means are concerned, groups F16B13/00, F16B15/00, F16B19/00, F16B25/00, F16B35/00, F16B47/00 take precedence; for hanging pictures or the like A47G1/16; towing hooks for ships B63B21/58; for hoisting or hauling purposes B66C; hooks or eyes with integral parts designed to facilitate quick attachment to cables or ropes at any point F16G11/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/005 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type

Abstract

In a fastener and a fastening system for fixing a curtain airbag in a vehicle, the fastener is fixed to a mounting hole in a body frame or the like of the vehicle by inserting an attachment portion of the fastener into the mounting hole while a head portion securing the attachment of the airbag curtain to the fastener and the vehicle. The fastener is formed as one single piece made from polymeric material.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag fastener configured to fasten an airbag curtain to a frame of a vehicle by fixing the fastener to a mounting hole in the frame of the vehicle, the fastener comprising:

a snap-in attachment portion to be inserted into the mounting hole; and

a head portion configured to securely attach the airbag curtain to the fastener;

wherein the fastener is formed as one single piece made from polymeric material;

wherein the attachment portion includes a hook having two side portions connected at a front end and a resilient flange extending from a recessed backside of the hook between said two side portions, the resilient flange having a stepped shoulder at an end thereof oppositely facing said hook;

wherein the attachment portion is configured to snap into the mounting hole, whereby the hook engages a lower edge of the mounting hole by hooking the lower edge and the stepped shoulder is configured to engage an upper and inside edge of the mounting hole on an opposite side of the hole than the hook; and

wherein the fastener is configured to absorb a larger force in a downward and outward direction with respect to the frame than a force in an upward and outward direction.

2. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is molded integrally in its entirety and is able to secure the attachment to the mounting hole without any further component.

3. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the material used for the fastener has a modulus of elasticity of 3500 -8000 MPa.

4. A fastener according to claim 3, wherein the material used for the fastener has an elongation at break of 2-4%.

5. A fastener according to claim 3, wherein the material used for the fastener has a notched impact strength of 7-12 kJ/m2 when tested at minus 30 degrees Celsius.

6. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the material used for the fastener comprises a polyamide as the main polymer of the material for the fastener.

7. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the material used for the fastener comprises a reinforcement additive, in an amount of 20-40%.

8. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the material used for the fastener comprises a plasticizer as an additive.

9. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is configured to withstand a force of 300-700 Newtons in an outward direction when mounted in an airbag curtain vehicle mounting hole.

10. A method of fastening an airbag curtain to a vehicle, the method comprising:

snap inserting a hook portion of a fastener into a locked position within a mounting hole in a body frame of a vehicle, wherein the fastener includes an oppositely facing flange extending from a central backside portion of the hook portion between two side portions thereof, the resilient flange having a stepped shoulder at an end of the resilient flange oppositely facing the hook portion; and

engaging a lower edge of the mounting hole with the hook portion by hooking the lower edge and engaging an upper and opposite edge of the mounting hole with the flange and stepped shoulder, whereby the fastener is snapped into the mounting hole, thereby fixing the fastener at the hole;

wherein the fastener is configured to absorb a larger force in a downward and outward direction with respect to the body frame than in an upward and outward direction.

11. A curtain airbag system, comprising:

a curtain airbag having a main body portion and airbag-anchor portions, the airbag-anchor portions configured to be affixed to a body panel of a vehicle at a plurality of preformed mounting holes; and

a plurality of snap fasteners each configured to fasten one of the airbag-anchor portions to a respective preformed mounting hole in the plurality of preformed mounting holes, each fastener comprising;

an attachment portion to be inserted into the mounting hole; and

a head portion configured to secure the attachment of the airbag curtain to the fastener;

wherein the snap fastener is formed as one single piece made from polymeric material;

wherein the attachment portion includes a single hook having two side portions connected at a front end and a single resilient flange extending from a recessed backside of the hook between said two side portions, the resilient flange having a stepped shoulder at an end thereof oppositely facing said hook;

wherein the attachment portion is configured to snap in the mounting hole whereby the hook engages a lower edge of the mounting hole by hooking the lower edge and the stepped shoulder is configured to engage an upper and inside edge of the mounting hole on an opposite side of the hole than the hook; and

wherein the fastener is configured to absorb a larger force in a downward and outward direction in respect to the body panel than a force in an upward and outward direction.