Adjustable snap away fastener
AssigneeMorton International, Inc.
InventorsMark Rogers, Larry D. Rose, Donald R. Lauritzen, Melinda M. Newhouse
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The deployable door of a passenger-side vehicle airbag restraint system is simultaneously fastened into an instrument panel opening and into engagement with the airbag module reaction canister. A spring clip on the canister receives a probe which is secured to the door through a pivoted breakaway connection. The probe is easily inserted into the clip but can be withdrawn only with difficulty. Airbag inflation thereafter separates the breakaway connection preferentially to the spring clip connection.
Claims20
A system for fastening an instrument panel deployment door of an automotive airbag restraint system simultaneously into an instrument panel opening and into engagement with an airbag containing-airbag module reaction canister which comprises:
- a spring clip mounted on one of said reaction canister and deployment door, said clip defining an opening adapted to receive an elongated probe member inserted therethrough but resistant to subsequent withdrawal of said probe member upon airbag inflation;
- a base member mounted to the other of said reaction canister and deployment door, said base member pivotally receiving an end of an elongated probe member;
- and
- the elongated probe member having a first end pivotally engaging said base member but forcibly detachable therefrom upon subsequent airbag inflation and a second end received in the opening of said clip upon positioning of said deployment door into said instrument panel opening.
In an automotive airbag restraint system including an airbag containing-airbag module reaction canister positioned behind an instrument panel deployment door, the improvement which comprises:
- at least one spring clip mounted on said reaction canister, said clip defining an opening deformable upon insertion of an elongated probe therethrough to resist subsequent withdrawal of said probe upon inflation of the airbag;
- at least one substantially cylindrical socket carried by said deployment door;
- and
- an elongated locking member having a first end defining a bifurcated cylinder seated in said cylindrical socket and a second end forming an elongated probe received into the opening of said spring clip,
- whereby, upon inflation of the airbag of said restraint system the bifurcated cylinder is separable from the socket to permit the instrument panel deployment door to deploy.
A system for fastening an instrument panel deployment door of an automotive airbag restraint system into an instrument panel opening and into engagement with an airbag containing-airbag module reaction canister which comprises:
- a spring clip mounted on said reaction canister, said clip defining an opening adapted to receive an elongated probe member inserted therethrough but resistant to subsequent withdrawal of said elongated probe member upon airbag inflation;
- a base member mounted to said reaction deployment door;
- and
- said spring clip and said base member being interconnected by an elongated probe member having a first end pivotally engaging said base member but forcibly detachable therefrom upon subsequent airbag inflation and a second end received in the opening of said clip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.