IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,932,192
Granted Patent B2
US 11,932,192 · App. 17/962,890 · Granted Mar 19, 2024

Fastening strap clamp assembly

Inventors: Jiahui He (Shanghai, CN); Mengli Sun (Shanghai, CN)
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
B60R21/216B60R2021/2163
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,932,192
App. No.
17/962,890
Granted
Mar 19, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides a fastening strap clamp assembly configured to fasten a first component and a second component of a vehicle together before and during deployment of a safety airbag of the vehicle. The fastening strap clamp assembly comprises a fastening strap housing and a fixing pin. The fastening strap housing comprises a fixing seat, a holder, and a fastening strap that connects the tightening seat to the holder. The fixing seat is configured to be fixed to the first component. The fixing pin locks the holder in a hole of the second component at a locked position. The fixing pin comprises a torsion bar extending along an extension axis, the torsion bar being elastically deformable by twisting around the extension axis, and the torsion bar engaging with the holder at a distal end of the torsion bar. The fixing pin further comprises an actuator that comprises a cam surface and a release surface connected to the cam surface. The cam surface fits with an edge of the hole of the second component to drive the torsion bar to twist so as to lock the holder in the hole of the second component by means of the fixing pin.

Claims (27)

1. A fastening strap clamp assembly configured to fasten a first component and a second component of a vehicle together before and during deployment of a safety airbag of the vehicle, the fastening strap clamp assembly comprising:

a fastening strap housing comprising a fixing seat, a holder, and a fastening strap that connects the fixing seat to the holder, wherein the fixing seat is configured to be fixed to the first component, and the holder is configured to be at least partially inserted into a hole of the second component; and

a fixing pin, the fixing pin having a locked position, the fixing pin being configured to lock the holder in the hole of the second component at the locked position, and the fixing pin comprising:

a torsion bar extending along an extension axis, the torsion bar being elastically deformable by twisting around the extension axis, and the torsion bar engaging with the holder at a distal end of the torsion bar; and

an actuator, the actuator being connected to a proximal end of the torsion bar, the actuator comprising at least one cam surface and at least one release surface connected to the at least one cam surface, wherein the at least one cam surface spirally extends around the extension axis and is configured to fit with an edge of the hole of the second component to drive the torsion bar to twist to enable the fixing pin to be inserted into the hole of the second component; wherein the at least one release surface is configured to fit with the edge of the hole of the second component, so that at the end of the process of inserting the fixing pin into the hole of the second component, the torsion bar restores to a substantially undeformed state to lock the holder in the hole of the second component; and wherein the fixing pin is configured to be capable of being released from the locked position by torsion of the torsion bar to enable the holder to be removed from the second component.

2. The fastening strap clamp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

the fixing pin further comprises a head portion, the torsion bar and the actuator are connected to the head portion from the same side, and the head portion is configured to enable the fixing pin to be released from the locked position by means of manipulating the head portion.

3. The fastening strap clamp assembly according to claim 2 , wherein

the holder comprises a support portion and a holding portion, the support portion being connected to the fastening strap, and the holding portion extending around at least a part of the fixing pin and being capable of being inserted into the hole of the second component,

wherein the holding portion is connected to the support portion at a proximal end of the holding portion, and the holding portion engages with the distal end of the torsion bar at a distal end of the holding portion and holds the distal end of the torsion bar, so as to enable the proximal end of the torsion bar to be twisted relative to the distal end of the torsion bar.

4. The fastening strap clamp assembly according to claim 3 , wherein

the holding portion comprises a pair of legs extending parallel to each other and a foot portion connected between distal ends of the pair of legs, the torsion bar and the actuator of the fixing pin are located between the pair of legs, and the distal end of the torsion bar engages with the foot portion in a shape fitting manner.

5. The fastening strap clamp assembly according to claim 4 , wherein

the foot portion is provided with a slot and a pair of protruding portions extending toward each other from two opposite slot walls of the slot; and

two opposite sides of the distal end of the torsion bar are provided with a pair of recessed portions, wherein the distal end of the torsion bar is capable of being inserted into the slot of the foot portion, and the pair of protruding portions of the slot are respectively engageable with the pair of recessed portions.

6. The fastening strap clamp assembly according to claim 3 , wherein

the support portion comprises an accommodating cavity for accommodating the head portion and a flange for supporting the head portion, the flange protruding from an inner surface of the accommodating cavity and defining a passage for the fixing pin to pass therethrough.

7. The fastening strap clamp assembly according to claim 6 , wherein

the head portion of the fixing pin comprises a blocking device, wherein the blocking device cooperates with the accommodating cavity to limit a torsion angle of the torsion bar.

8. The fastening strap clamp assembly according to claim 2 , wherein

the at least one cam surface extends gradually away from the extension axis in a direction toward the head portion; and

the at least one release surface is formed at the top of the actuator that is close to the head portion, and obliquely extends downward gradually away from the head portion in a direction toward the corresponding cam surface.

9. The fastening strap clamp assembly according to claim 2 , wherein

the actuator comprises a pair of actuating arms, and at least a part of the torsion bar is located between the pair of actuating arms; and

the at least one cam surface includes a pair of cam surfaces, the pair of cam surfaces being respectively formed on the pair of actuating arms, and the at least one release surface includes a pair of release surfaces, the pair of release surfaces being respectively connected to the pair of cam surfaces.

10. The fastening strap clamp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

the support portion of the holder and the fixing seat are engageable with each other in a hook fitting manner.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2024
From: HE, JIAHUI; SUN, MENGLI; SHANGHAI ITW PLASTIC & METAL CO., LTD.
To: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
Reel/Frame 066639/0179 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202111218442.X · Oct 19, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230118668A1 · Apr 20, 2023