Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Christopher James Bartos

Albert James Dapoz

Barry J Hughes

Daniel Cornelius Bach

Martin Arthur Trapp

Richard Joseph Rozmus

A threaded screw has a first segment adjacent the screw head (10) with nontapered sides for engaging metal automotive fastener clip nuts (30) and a second segment with tapered sides for engaging plastic bosses (24). The second segment is adjacent the first segment but distant from the screw head (10). A single set of threads (36) is used for both the metal clip nut (30) and the plastic boss (24). The threads (36) have a helical pitch angle (P) of about nine degrees and form a flank angle (.beta.) of about thirty degrees relative to a horizontal axis (20) of the screw. The screw taper matches the taper of the boss opening (22) to promote even stress distribution.

Multiple use screw with tapered threads

An inflatable occupant restraint system for an automotive vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a body structure having a laterally extending beam and an instrument panel carried with the body structure. The occupant restraint system includes an air bag module, an aperture formed in the instrument panel which receives the air bag module, and a trim portion of the instrument panel fixedly secured to the air bag module in overlying relationship thereto for closing the aperture. The occupant restraint system further includes a latch assembly having a portion thereof directly connected to the laterally extending beam and another portion thereof directly connected to the air bag module. The latch assembly releasably secures the air bag module to the beam.

Inflatable occupant restraint system

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Christopher James Bartos