Method for fastening a retainer of an airbag

The invention concerns a method for fastening a retainer of an airbag, in particular of a window bag, to a body of a motor vehicle. The method for fastening including the steps of: arranging the retainer on the body by inserting a hollow pin in a corresponding bodyshell opening; positioning a tool on the retainer; and pressing a pin into an opening of the hollow pin to radially expand the hollow pin, and thereby securing the hollow pin in the corresponding bodyshell opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from German Patent Application No. 10 2009 022 322.3, filed on May 22, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a method for fastening a retainer of an airbag, in particular of a window bag, to a body of a motor vehicle.

In fastening window bags, it has heretofore been customary to use a retainer with a T-stud, which is welded to the body of the motor vehicle by means of a stud welding system. In this process, costly measures are required to avoid quality problems resulting from crooked T-studs. Fastenings for window bags are class A items, and must be documented 100%. In fastening methods currently in use, this is done by a second worker. This means that it is absolutely essential to ensure that optimal attachment of the window bag to the body is achieved.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is consequently the object of the present invention to create a method of the aforementioned type which simplifies fastening of a retainer of an airbag.

In order to attain the object of the invention, a method for fastening a retainer of an airbag, in particular of a window bag, to a body of a motor vehicle, having the following steps, is proposed:

arranging the retainer on the body by inserting a hollow pin in a corresponding bodyshell opening;

positioning a tool;

pressing a pin into an opening of the hollow pin, and thereby securing the hollow pin in the corresponding bodyshell opening.

In other words, the retainer, for example with a premounted airbag, is positioned on the body of the motor vehicle in a location that has been prepared with a bodyshell opening. In order to facilitate correct positioning, a hollow pin is formed on the retainer for insertion in the bodyshell opening. Then, the retainer is fastened to the body by pressing a pin into an opening of the hollow pin by means of a tool, causing the hollow pin to be anchored in the bodyshell opening. It is evident that in this way a method is created with which the retainer can be attached to the body of the motor vehicle without welding.

In a useful development of the invention, provision is made that a setting travel is sensed when the pin is pressed into the opening of the hollow pin. In this way it is possible to monitor whether the hollow pin, and thus the retainer, is/are properly secured.

In this regard, it has proven to be especially advantageous in another embodiment of the invention for the setting travel of the pin in question to be ascertained in a central computer. This reduces the amount of effort for quality control. As a result, it is no longer necessary to have a second worker perform an inspection after fastening of the retainer.

In additional embodiments of the invention, it has also proven advantageous for the number of pins set in each case to be ascertained. This can be used, for example, in quality control to more rapidly find pins that are not properly pressed in.

It has also proven to be advantageous for the specific number of pins to be set for each vehicle to be queried by means of a counter. This simplifies the work of the worker who must fasten airbags to the body using different numbers of retainers.

Additional advantages, features, and particulars of the invention are evident from the description below of a preferred exemplary embodiment, and with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1ato1deach show a perspective view of a window bag10, partially shown, and a retainer12at least partially installed thereon. The retainer12is designed as a clip with a first wing14and a second wing16that may be hinged and folded together and hooked or attached to one another.

It is evident inFIG. 1athat the retainer12is arranged in an unclipped condition with an inner side of the second wing16in an opening18of the window bag10.FIG. 1aalso shows that the first wing14has a first opening20and second wing16has an opening22. It is evident inFIG. 1bthat a pin24is slidably mounted in the first opening20on an outer side of the first wing14, and that a hollow pin26is formed at the opening22on an outer side of the second wing16.

FIGS. 1cand1dshow, from both sides, the retainer12installed on the window bag10with wings14and16folded together in a clipped condition with a portion of the bag10securely sandwiched between the wings. The window bag10can then be fastened to the corresponding auto body28by means of the retainer12. To this end, the retainer12is first arranged on the body28by inserting the hollow pin26of the retainer12in a bodyshell opening (not shown) of the body28.

FIG. 2ashows the retainer12, which is arranged as described above on a body28that is partially shown. InFIG. 2a, pin24is shown in a first or unlocked position.

In order to fasten the window bag10via retainer12to the body28, a tool30is then positioned on the pin24, and the pin24is pressed transversely through the openings20and22of the wings14and16into a bore of the hollow pin26. By means of the resulting radial expansion of hollow pin26, the retainer12and bag10are secured in the corresponding bodyshell opening.FIG. 2bshows a perspective view of the partially shown window bag10, which is fastened to the body28by means of the retainer12as described above. In comparison withFIG. 2a, it is evident that the pin24here is already pressed through wings14and16into a second or locked position.

FIG. 3shows a perspective view of a tool30for pressing the pin24into the opening of the hollow pin26. This tool30has a convenient pistol shape, with a grip32on which is arranged at least one trigger34for pressing in the pin24, and a barrel-like tube36in the end of which the pin24fits. The pin24can be pressed in by, e.g., a piston movably arranged in the tube36that is moved toward the end of the tube36by, e.g., compressed air or a lever mechanism.

To monitor that the hollow pin26, and hence the retainer2, is properly secured, in the present case the setting travel during pressing of the pin24into the opening of the hollow pin26is sensed.

In addition, the setting travel of the particular pin24can be ascertained in a central computer so as to thereby document the quality of the fastening of each individual retainer12.

Similarly, the number of pins24that are set in each case can be ascertained, and the number of pins24to be set for each vehicle can be queried through a counter. In this way the work of the worker, who must fasten airbags to the body using different numbers of retainers, can be simplified.