Abstract:
An attachment structure for connecting an airbag to a vehicle body. The structure may include a pair of reinforcing plates configured to retain a portion of the airbag therebetween. The structure may further include a clip configured to pass through the plates, a first opening in the airbag, and a second opening in the vehicle body to connect the airbag to the vehicle body. The structure may be configured so that one of the reinforcing plates includes a hook portion that passes through the first and second openings to retaining the airbag in position along the vehicle body.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/658,593, filed on Mar. 7, 2005. The aforementioned provisional application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
         [0002]     The application refers to a system, device and method for installing an airbag and/or an airbag module in a motor vehicle. For example, the application discloses side curtain type airbags (e.g., Head Side Airbags or HSABs), which are typically installed along the side of a vehicle. The curtain type airbags are typically designed to unfold or unroll downward to inflate between a vehicle occupant and a side of the vehicle. The side curtain airbag is contained in a module that is typically attached to a portion of the vehicle body such as, for example, a roof rail.  
         [0003]     The present application discloses an improved structure for attaching an airbag to a vehicle body.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     An embodiment of an attachment structure for connecting an airbag to a vehicle body is disclosed. The structure includes a pair of reinforcing plates configured to retain a portion of the airbag therebetween. The structure further includes a clip configured to pass through the plates, a first opening in the airbag, and a second opening in the vehicle body to connect the airbag to the vehicle body. The structure is configured so that one of the reinforcing plates includes a hook portion that passes through the first and second openings to retaining the airbag in position along the vehicle body.  
         [0005]     In another embodiment, an attachment structure for connecting a side curtain airbag module to a vehicle body is disclosed. The airbag module includes an inflator and an airbag, and the structure includes a pair of reinforcing plates configured to retain a portion of the airbag therebetween. The structure may also include a clip including an internal fastener. The clip is configured to pass through the plates and the first and second openings so that a protruding portion of the clip is located on an opposite side of a portion of the vehicle body from the airbag to thereby fasten the clip to the vehicle body. The fastener is configured to be movable within the clip and to expand the protruding portion of the clip.  
         [0006]     According to yet another disclosed embodiment a vehicle safety system is provided. The system includes a side airbag configured to deploy as a curtain along an interior side of a vehicle compartment, and an inflator configured to produce inflation gas for the airbag. The system may also include a mounting structure for connecting the airbag to the vehicle. The mounting structure may include a pair of reinforcing plates configured to retain a tab portion of the airbag therebetween, and a clip configured to pass through the plates, the tab portion, and a portion of the vehicle body. One of the reinforcing plates may include a hook portion that passes through the other reinforcing plate, the airbag and the vehicle body to retain the airbag in position along the vehicle body.  
         [0007]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, appended claims, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are briefly described below.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a side curtain type airbag module in a deployed configuration.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded schematic view of a side airbag module including an attachment structure and inflator assembly.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a close-up exploded view of the attachment structure shown in  FIG. 2   
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the attachment structure shown in  FIG. 2  in an assembled state.  
         [0013]      FIGS. 5   a - 5   c  are cross sectional views of the attachment structure shown in  FIG. 2  during the process of attaching an airbag module to a vehicle body.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a clip portion of an airbag attachment structure.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view a clip and fastener arrangement of an airbag attachment structure. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     The present application relates to a simplified system for installing an airbag or airbag module in a vehicle. In particular, the present application discloses simplified system for installing a side curtain type airbag, or a head side curtain type airbag (HSAB) or module in a vehicle.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  discloses an exemplary airbag arrangement. The airbag  100  may include several inflatable compartments or chambers  140 . The border for the chambers  140  is formed by stitching  150 . The stitching  150  connects two airbag panels together to form an inflatable airbag. Although, the airbag  100  may be formed from two fabric panels, in another embodiment the airbag is formed from a single fabric or material panel or layer. The arrangement of the chambers  140  shown in  FIG. 1  is for exemplary purposes only. The airbag chambers  140  may be positioned as appropriate depending on the design of the vehichle.  
         [0018]     The airbag  100  may include connecting tabs  110  provided to facilitate attachment of the airbag  100  to the vehicle structure. The connecting tabs  100  are positioned to attach to the vehicle body and are preferably formed from one of the two fabric panels forming the airbag. The airbag  100  may also include a inflator opening and conduit  130  for carrying inflation gas from an inflator  200  to the inflatable chambers of the airbag. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the conduit  130  may be positioned at a central location of the bags however in an alternative embodiment, the inflation gas carrying conduit may be positioned at an end of the airbag or along the entire top portion of the bag, for example, as appropriate.  
         [0019]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the inflator assembly  200  includes a housing  240  for storing propellant and a tube  210  for carrying inflation gas to the airbag. In another embodiment, either the tube  210  or the housing  240  or both could be arranged inside the airbag to provide a compact design and to more reliably provide inflation gas to the airbag chambers. As shown, the inflator assembly is exemplary only. According to another embodiment, an airbag module may include a side curtain airbag including a cascade type inflator extending along substantially the entire length of the airbag.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  also discloses an exemplary attachment structure for the airbag. The attachment structure includes an inner reinforcing plate  320  and an outer reinforcing plate  310 . The plates are arranged to sandwich the connecting tab  110 . The tab  110  may be integrally formed with one or both the fabric panels for forming the airbag. The attachment structure also includes a fastening device  350  for connecting the plates  310 ,  320  and connecting tab  110  to a portion of the vehicle body. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the attachment structure may be employed at multiple locations along the perimeter of the airbag.  FIG. 3  provides a close up view of the attachment structure.  
         [0021]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the fastening device  350  may include two portions, a clip  354  and an insertable fastener  352 . The fastening device  350  is configured to pass through an opening  114  in the connecting tab  110  and openings  317  in the inner and outer reinforcing plates  320 ,  310 . The inner reinforcing plates  320  also may include an optional hook portion  322 , which is more clearly shown in  FIG. 4 . Also, each of the reinforcing plates  310 ,  320  may include raised protrusions  315 . Each protrusion in the outer plate  310  is configured to pass through an opening  112  in the connecting tab  110  and fit within a corresponding protrusion  315  in the inner plate  320 . The fitted protrusions serve to reduce relative movement between the connecting tab  110 , the inner plate  320  and the outer plate  310 .  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the attachment structure is connected to a portion of the vehicle body  400 . In certain embodiments, the portion of the vehicle body  400  corresponds to the roof side rail portion of the vehicle frame. The attachment structure may also include another reinforcement plate  330  located in the vehicle body on an opposite side from the airbag module. When finally arranged, the fastening device  350  is inserted through the vehicle body  400  to hold the airbag module in position. The clip portion  356  of the fastening device includes protrusions that engage the vehicle body and the hook portion  322  of the inner plate  320  to firmly attach the airbag structure to the vehicle body  400 . Also, the clip portion  356  includes an inner cavity  356  which is configured to receive the fastener  352 . As the fastener  352  moves into the clip  356 , the protruding portions of the clip  356  are forced outward creating a secure engagement with the vehicle body  400  and preventing the fastening device  350  from being separated from the vehicle body  400 .  
         [0023]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show an exemplary embodiment for the fastening device  340 .  FIG. 6  shows an exemplary arrangement for the clip portion  354 . As shown in  FIG. 6  the clip may include bendable or flexible leg portions that may be forced outward by the insertable fastener. The leg portions may be separated by slots along the longitudinal axis of the hook portion  354 .  FIG. 7  discloses an exemplary embodiment for the fastener portion  352  and clip portion  354 . The fastener portion  352  may be any suitable type of fastener such as, for example, a screw type threaded fastener. A washer may also be provided between the fastener and clip portions.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 5   a - 5   c  disclose the process for attaching the airbag module to the vehicle body. As shown in  Fig. 5   a,  the assembled module is positioned alongside a portion of the vehicle body  400 . The airbag connecting tab  110  may be folded over and arranged between the reinforcing plates  320 ,  310 . As shown in  FIG. 5   a,  the hook portion  322  of the inner reinforcing plate extends through an opening in the connecting tab  110 .  
         [0025]     As shown in  FIG. 5   b,  the airbag module may be connected to the vehicle body, by placing the hook portion  322  through the opening in the vehicle body and over the reinforcement plate  322  located on the opposite side. The connection of the hook portion  322  serves to temporarily join the airbag module to the vehicle body. After insertion of the clip portion  354  of the fastening device  350 , as shown in  Fig. 5   c,  the hook portion  322  more securely retains the module in position. Also,  FIG. 5   c  depicts the fastening device  350  with the fastener  352  fully inserted into the clip portion  354 . When the clip  354  is initially inserted into the vehicle body  400 , the fastener portion  352  remains extended out of the clip  354 , as shown in  FIG. 5   b.    
         [0026]     Given the disclosure of the present invention, one versed in the art would appreciate that there may be other embodiments and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, all modifications attainable by one versed in the art from the present disclosure within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is to be defined as set forth in the following claims.