# US 8,769,778 B2 · Tether clip > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,769,778 B2 - Document ID: US8769778B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/595,874 - Filed: 2012-08-27 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation - Applicants: Hyun Kim; Hee Sang Park; June Kyu Park; Jun Mo Ku - Inventors: Hyun Kim; Hee Sang Park; June Kyu Park; Jun Mo Ku - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8769778B2 ## CPC - B60R 21/216: comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment - B60R 13/0206: {Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings (devices for fastening or securing F16B)} - B60R 21/213: in vehicle roof frames or pillars - F16B 21/075: {the socket having resilient parts on its inside and outside} - Y10T 24/30: Trim molding fastener - Y10T 24/309: Plastic type - Y10T 24/42: Independent, headed, aperture pass-through fastener - Y10T 24/44017: with specific mounting means for attaching to rigid or semirigid supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured - Y10T 24/45105: for upholstery, panel, trim strip, etc. [e.g., spring biased] - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A tether clip apparatus preventing an A pillar from completely separating from a car body at the time of deploying an airbag, may include a pillar fixing clip fixed to the A pillar, a car body fixing clip configured to be fixed to a car body panel, inserted with the pillar fixing clip, and preventing the A pillar from completely separating from the car body panel while moving within the pillar fixing clip at the time of deploying the airbag, and a metal clip elastically supporting the pillar fixing clip and the car body fixing clip so as not to separate from each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tether clip apparatus preventing an A pillar from completely seperating from a car body at a time of deploying an airbag, the tether clip comprising: a pillar fixing clip fixed to the A pillar; a car body fixing clip configured to be fixed to a car body panel, inserted with the pillar fixing clip, and preventing the A pillar from completely separating from the car body panel while moving within the pillar fixing clip at the time of deploying the airbag; and a metal clip elastically supporting the pillar fixing clip and the car body fixing clip so as not to separate from each other; wherein the pillar fixing clip includes: a pillar fixing part provided at an end of the pillar fixing clip and fixed to the A pillar; a first pre-assembling part provided at a middle portion of the pillar fixing clip and extending from the pillar fixing part, wherein the first pre-assembling part is pre-assembled with a second pre-assembling part of the car body fixing clip to regulate a deploying force of the airbag; and a separation preventing part provided at an other end of the pillar fixing clip, wherein the separation preventing part is coupled to a hook of the car body fixing clip at the time of deploying the airbag to prevent the pillar fixing clip from being drawn out after the pillar fixing clip is drawn out by a predetermined distance from the car body fixing clip. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tether clip apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the car body fixing clip includes: the second pre-assembling part provided at an end thereof and fitted in the first pre-assembling part; the hook provided at the other end thereof and interfering with the separating preventing part of the pillar fixing clip at the time of deploying the airbag to stop a movement of the separation preventing part; and a car body fixing part provided at an outer surface thereof and fixed to the car body panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tether clip apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the metal clip elastically supports the first pre-assembling part and the second pre-assembling part so as not to separate from each other, such that the first pre-assembling part and the second pre-assembling part are fixed to each other by elasticity of the metal clip and the first pre-assembling part and the second pre-assembling part are separated from each other when an airbag deploying force is larger than the elasticity of the metal clip at the time of deploying the airbag so as to draw out the pillar fixing clip from the car body fixing clip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tether clip apparatus according to claim 3, wherein both lateral sides of the second pre-assembling part are provided with slits, such that the second pre-assembling part is provided in a cantilever shape toward an end of the car body fixing clip; wherein an end of the cantilever shape is provided with an inclined surface inclined in a drawing out direction of the pillar fixing clip; and wherein the first pre-assembling part is provided with an inclined surface corresponding to the inclined surface of the second pre-assembling part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The tether clip apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first pre-assembling part is recessed to form a groove, and the second pre-assembling part is provided with a protrusion so as to be coupled with the groove of the first pre-assembling part. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The tether clip apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an outer surface of the car body fixing clip is provided with a protrusion, and the metal clip is provided with a fixing hole so as to fit the protrusion therein. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The tether clip apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first pre-assembling part is disposed at an inside of the second pre-assembling part, wherein an outer surface of the second pre-assembling part is fitted with an inner surface of the metal clip having a “C”-letter shape; and wherein the metal clip is fixed to the car body fixing clip by fitting a fixing hole provided at the other surface thereof on a protrusion provided at the car body fixing clip. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The tether clip apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a top portion of the car body fixing clip is provided with the slits at a left and right thereof so as to form the second pre-assembling part having an upward cantilever shape.