Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Rachel E Thomas

Samuel Wong

Jamie Rawlings

Hung Sung Wong

An anchoring apparatus eliminates the need for an anchor plate and an anti-rattle member. The anchoring apparatus includes a flexible connector member which may be embodied as a strip of fabric material. An end of the connector member is disposed to form a loop and then attach to the remaining body of the connector member. The loop defines an anchor aperture which is configured to receive and retain an anchor bolt. The loop may further be configured with one or more twists to consolidate the connector member around the aperture. The twists allow the aperture to better engage and retain the anchor bolt due to the higher concentration of material. The attachment of the end to the connector member ensures retention of the twists in the loop. Attachment of the end is achieved by use of a fastener which may be embodied as stitches, adhesives, rivets, clips, staples and so forth.

Anchoring attachment apparatus

Attachment assemblies are provided for attaching airbag components, such as inflatable curtain modules and tethers, to surfaces inside a vehicle. The attachment assemblies may include a clip with a tapered stud having a circular or rectangular cross-sectional shape that can be pressed into a corresponding opening of the vehicle surface. Each of the tapered studs may have a plurality of branches designed to reduce the force required to insert the tapered stud into the corresponding opening. Additionally, each clip may have a flange with a contoured shape designed to fit closely to its associated vehicle surface and to position the airbag component properly for deployment. A tether may be routed, or removably attached to ensure positioning for proper deployment, through the use of one or more attachment assemblies that permit breakaway of the tether from each attachment assembly. Curtain modules may be more permanently affixed to the attachment assemblies.

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Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Rachel E Thomas