Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Magna International Inc.

Marc R Risdale

James T Kirchen

Lawrence W Johnson

Brock T Cooley

Robert A Murawski

James R Roll

Matthew C Patterson

Stephen M Everard

Faisal Sultan

Kenneth G Besedich

Michael E Williamson

Alain Pelchat

Alcino Oliveira

Shaun Jalbert

A system is disclosed for verification of the installation of a component such as a side curtain air bag into a vehicle passenger compartment where energy absorbing quarter-turn fasteners attached to the air bag are employed to affix hanger brackets to structural base plates in the vehicle. The system includes an image capturing camera, stored data in a machine readable form of an acceptable installation, a central processing unit to compare the captured images to the stored machine readable data and an output generator to create an output signal based on the results of the comparison.

Rotatable fastener verification

An energy absorbing rotatable fastener to attach curtain air bags to a vehicle body includes a metal clip with a rectangular central aperture and inward flanges on opposing sides of the aperture. A molded pin includes a manipulation portion and an energy absorption portion supported on the clip with a biasing element urging the pin outward. The pin and clip connect an air bag tab and body plate and the pin is rotatable in an arc of 45&#xb0; to place the energy absorption portion in an energy absorbing position between the tab and body plate. The pin and clip each provide energy absorption on air bag deployment. In one form, the manipulation portion of the pin includes a drive cap that provides ninety degrees (90&#xb0;) of lost motion.

Energy absorption rotatable fastener

A fastening clip assembly is configured to securely connect a first panel to a second panel. The fastening clip assembly may include a collar, a securing support extending from the collar, and deflectable beams connected to the securing support. The deflectable beams are configured to move in first and second directions when the deflectable beams are mated with one or both of the first and second panels. The first direction differs from the second direction.

Fastening clip assembly

An anchoring clip assembly is configured to securely anchor to a structure. The assembly may include a main body, a plurality of anchoring members extending from the main body, wherein the plurality of anchoring members are configured to securely anchor to the structure, and at least one verification member configured to provide verification when the plurality of anchoring members are securely anchored to the structure. The verification member(s) may provide visual verification when the plurality of anchoring members are securely anchored to the structure, and/or may include at least one separable portion that is configured to separate from the main body after the plurality of anchoring members are securely anchored to the structure.

Airbag anchoring clip assembly

A one piece snap-in retainer of multi-shot molded construction adapted to separate along a molded-in fracture line upon application of axial tensioning force. The retainer includes a base clip portion of molded polymer with a proximal barrel segment and a distal snap-in element projecting outwardly away from the barrel segment. The retainer also includes a head portion of molded polymer at least partially surrounding the proximal barrel segment. The molded-in fracture line includes a protuberance molded into the proximal barrel segment or the head portion at the interface in combination with an opposing complimentary mating depression molded into the other of the proximal barrel segment or the head portion.

Serviceable snap-in fastener

A tethering clip assembly is configured to tether first and second panels of a vehicle together. The assembly includes first and second plates, a mechanical fuse connecting the first plate to the second plate in a compressed state, and at least one spring member connected between the first and second plates. The at least one spring member is compressed in the compressed state. The mechanical fuse is configured to break upon exertion of a predetermined force. The at least one spring member extends when the mechanical fuse breaks, thereby forcing the first and second plates to extend away from one another in an extended state.

Airbag tethering clip assembly

A window surround molding is secured on a vehicle door flange with a retainer clip. The molding extends in a longitudinal direction and has a cross-section including first and second channels separated by a Dutch bend. The flange is disposed in the second channel on one side of the Dutch bend. The clip is disposed in the first channel on an opposite side of the Dutch bend. An arm extends in the longitudinal direction away from first and second ends of the clip and engages the molding to secure the clip within the first channel. The clip also includes a lower edge that engages the Dutch bend. A flex tab protrudes from a front face of the clip and engages the flange to secure the molding on the flange and to prevent rotation of the molding relative to the flange.

DLO molding with dutch bend feature and clip retention feature

An auger clip assembly configured to be secured to a foam panel may include a main body having a cylindrical main wall that define a central chamber, a first set of opposed threads radially extending from the main wall and a connection stud secured to the main body. Each of the threads includes a leading edge connected to a trailing end, which is in turn connected to a stop flap that outwardly extends from the main wall. The connection stud is configured to securely mate into a reciprocal hole of a structure, such as a vehicle frame. The main body securely connects within a mating hole of the foam panel through a quarter turn.

Auger clip assembly

A panel fastener for assembling a panel structure to a substructure is herein disclosed. The fastener comprises a body having a pair of offset flanges connected by a hollow support structure having a bore formed therethrough that is connected to a head having a third flange and a shank extending therefrom, by at least one flexible member that is connected between the body and the head of the fastener. The shaft of the head further having at least one retaining mechanism formed therein such that when the shaft of the head is inserted through the bore formed through the hollow support structure of the body of the fastener, the retaining mechanism can engage a bore formed through the substructure so as to secure the panel structure thereto.

Growing community of inventors

Dundas, Canada

Marc R Risdale