method of mounting a part into a structural element using a clip

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for mounting a part (2) in a wall (11) having an opening (10) in a structural element (7), by means of at least one clip (100) having elastically deformable lateral inserts (104). According to the invention, the method comprises: - a step of attaching a flexible RFID element (14) having a receiver and covering at least partially the opening (10); - a step of translating the clip (100) within the opening (10), accompanied by a deformation of the RFID element (14); - a step of breaking the RFID element (14) when the deformable inserts (104) have protruded beyond the wall (11); - a step of verifying the structural condition of the RFID element (14), whether broken or intact, by means of an RFID transmitter (16) intended to interact with the RFID element (14). Figure 7

Description

Title of the invention: method of mounting a part in a structural element using a clip

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of mounting a part in a structural element by means of a clip. Such a method is particularly but not exclusively suitable for fixing curtain airbags in a vehicle.

[0002] For all passages concerning a vehicle, and in order to clearly understand the positioning of the different parts involved in said vehicle, the description is carried out with reference to a direct orthonormal reference frame XYZ in which X is a front-rear longitudinal axis of the vehicle oriented towards the rear, Y is a transverse axis oriented towards the right of the vehicle and Z is a vertical axis directed upwards.

[0003] Certain parts, such as for example a vehicle curtain airbag, are to be fixed to a structural element of said vehicle by means of at least one clip. Schematically, this clip has an elongated shape and is provided with lateral inserts, elastically deformable and projecting from said clip. The clip, which is secured to the part to be fixed, is introduced into an opening in a wall of the structural element, then is translated into said opening until the lateral inserts deploy behind said wall, after having been deformed during their passage through this opening.

[0004] However, for this type of attachment, it may happen that an operator, particularly when working blindly, has the feeling of having correctly inserted the clip into the opening, whereas in reality the deformable inserts have not yet reached behind the wall. Thus, by seeing the clip remaining in the opening of the wall of the structural element, this operator will be deceived because he will undoubtedly think that the clip is correctly placed in the opening. In the case, for example, of the attachment of a curtain airbag in a vehicle, if the clip is not correctly inserted into the opening of the wall of the structural element, the curtain airbag risks deploying in an anarchic manner in the vehicle in the event of the vehicle impacting an external obstacle. Such uncontrolled deployment of the curtain airbag risks causing serious injuries to the occupants of the vehicle, whereas its main role is to protect them.It will therefore no longer play its protective role, but will act as a hostile element, risking increasing the effects of the shock on the occupants.

[0005] A mounting method according to the invention makes it possible to fix a part in a structural element by means of a clip, making it possible to ensure in a safe and reliable manner that the clip has been correctly inserted into the opening in the wall of the structural element.

[0006] The subject of the invention is a method of mounting a part in a wall of a structural element separating an exterior space and an interior space, said mounting being produced by means of at least one clip having elastically deformable lateral inserts, said clip being secured to the part and being intended to be inserted into an opening of said wall from the exterior space until the lateral inserts have reached the interior space.

[0007] According to the invention, the assembly method comprises the following steps: - a step of fixing a flexible RFID element comprising a receiver, on an interior surface of the wall delimiting the interior space, so that said RFID element at least partially covers the opening, - a step of inserting the clip into the opening from the exterior space, - a step of translating the clip into the opening towards the interior space accompanied by a deformation of the RFID element, - a stage of rupture of the RFID element when the deformable inserts have exceeded the wall and reached the interior space, indicating satisfactory insertion of the clip into the opening, - a step of verifying the structural state of the RFID element by means of a transmitter intended to interact with the RFID element to determine whether the clip has been correctly inserted into the opening.

[0008] The RFID element can also be designated by the term "antenna (RFID)". The principle of a mounting method according to the invention is to dimension the RFID element as precisely as possible so that it breaks as soon as the clip has been correctly inserted into the opening, that is to say as soon as the lateral inserts have passed to the other side of the wall into the internal space. In this way, two scenarios are to be considered: - the clip is correctly inserted into the opening and the signal emitted by the transmitter will then be poorly detected or not detected by the RFID element, which will have previously broken under the effect of the thrust of the clip, -the clip is not pushed far enough into the opening, to the point that the deformable side inserts have not reached behind the wall into the internal space. In this case, the RFID element, although deformed, retains its structural integrity and will be able to detect the signal emitted by the transmitter under good conditions, in a normal way.

[0009] In this way, the operator no longer has to struggle to try to visualize the state of insertion of the clip into the opening, the diagnosis of the correct positioning of said clip in the opening being given indisputably by the structural state of the RFID element, intact or broken, which will or will not detect the signal emitted by the transmitter. It is therefore sufficient to read or not the signal received by the RFID element to know whether the clip is correctly inserted or not in the opening of the wall. Advantageously, the lateral inserts which naturally protrude from the clip, deform elastically by occupying a retracted position as soon as they are in contact with the edges delimiting the opening of the wall of the structural element. Once they have reached the internal space after passing through the wall, these deformable inserts suddenly relax, returning to their natural protruding position on the clip. To avoid any ambiguity, the structural state of the RFID element is binary: it is either intact or broken. It is assumed that the RFID element is flexible so that it can deform without breaking when the clip is translated into the opening before occupying its final position in the wall.

[0010] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the step of verifying the structural state of the RFID element consists of verifying whether the RFID element has broken or not, said RFID element emitting a first signal if it has broken and a second signal if it remains intact. When the RFID element retains its initial structure without being broken, it receives a clear signal from the RFID transmitter, which an operator will immediately identify. If the RFID element has broken, the signal it receives is no longer detectable or barely detectable, indicating very clearly to an operator that the RFID element has broken and therefore that the clip is correctly inserted into the opening.

[0011] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the RFID element is a wire element passing through the opening. This is an embodiment which is perfectly suited to a mounting method according to the invention, but which is not limiting.

[0012] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the RFID element is a flat and thin element completely closing the opening. This is an embodiment which is perfectly suited to a mounting method according to the invention, but which is not limiting.

[0013] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the clip is metallic.

[0014] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the clip has a widened head and an elongated body extending said widened head and ending in a pointed free end, said clip comprising at least two elastically deformable inserts projecting outwards from said elongated body while being diametrically opposed. The widened head will allow an operator to easily manipulate the clip to push it into the opening from the external space. The deformable inserts which project laterally from the elongated body of the clip, deform by crushing somewhat at the moment of their passage against the edges delimiting the opening, then suddenly relax by projecting again from the body, once they have passed said edges to find themselves in the internal space. The pointed free end represents the part of the clip by which said clip will be introduced into the opening from the external space.The term "diametrically opposed" means that they are aligned along the same axis passing through a central and longitudinal axis of said elongated body.

[0015] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, when the part is mounted in the wall of the structural element by means of several identical clips, the step of verifying This system allows the structural condition of each RFID element to be detected. In other words, an operator is able to unmistakably detect which clips have been incorrectly inserted into the openings in the wall. This way, there is no need to check, at the cost of several manipulations, which clips have been incorrectly inserted.

[0016] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the step of verifying the structural state of the RFID element is carried out by means of an electronic device having a screen, the signal received by the RFID element being materialized on said screen by a distinctive pattern. This distinctive pattern may for example appear in the form of a color, for example green if the RFID element has broken, reflecting the fact that the clip has been correctly inserted into the opening, and red if said RFID element has only deformed without breaking.

[0017] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the structural element is constituted by an upper segment on one side of the body extending horizontally, the part to be fixed being constituted by a curtain airbag. A mounting method according to the invention is particularly but not exclusively suitable for mounting a curtain airbag on an upper segment on one side of the body.

[0018] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the curtain airbag is fixed to the upper segment of the body side by means of four clips regularly distributed along said upper segment.

[0019] An assembly method according to the invention has the advantage of offering an indisputable diagnosis on the quality of the assembly of the clip in the corresponding opening. In this way, an operator does not remain in the uncertainty of a bad assembly, and therefore does not have to carry out additional manipulations to ensure that the clip is correctly assembled, said manipulations being able to prove hazardous and restrictive. As a result, the diagnosis of the assembly of the clip is instantaneous, without causing a loss of time which is costly and which could slow down the assembly process of the vehicle. It also has the advantage of implementing RFID elements, which are inexpensive, light and compact elements, which can take a multiplicity of forms depending on the needs encountered.

[0020] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a mounting method according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures:

[0021] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a side view of a body side of a vehicle on which a curtain airbag is mounted by means of a method according to the invention,

[0022] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a side view of a vehicle body side and an airbag curtain mounted on said body side by means of a method according to the invention,

[0023] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic perspective view of a clip by means of which a curtain airbag is mounted on one side of the body by means of a method according to the invention,

[0024] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a side view of a clip secured to a curtain airbag and a wall of one side of a vehicle body, illustrating a first step of a method according to the invention,

[0025] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a side view of a clip secured to a curtain airbag and a wall of one side of a vehicle body, illustrating a second step of a method according to the invention,

[0026] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a side view of a clip secured to a curtain airbag and a wall of one side of a vehicle body, illustrating a third step of a method according to the invention,

[0027] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a schematic view of an RFID transmitter used for the rea implementation of an assembly method according to the invention.

[0028] Although a mounting method according to the invention is particularly but not exclusively suitable for fixing a curtain airbag 2 inside a vehicle 1, the detailed description which follows will nevertheless focus on the fixing of such a curtain airbag in a vehicle.

[0029] A motor vehicle 1 generally comprises two parallel body sides 3, each extending in a longitudinal and vertical plane XZ of said vehicle 1.

[0030] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a body side 3 comprises a front pillar 4, a middle pillar 5 and a rear pillar 6 which are three pieces extending upwards. This body side 3 also comprises a horizontal upper segment 7, extending along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle and connecting together upper ends of the three above-mentioned pillars 4, 5, 6. The front pillar 4, the middle pillar 5 and a front part of the upper segment 7 delimit a first opening 8, while the middle pillar 5, the rear pillar 6 and a rear part of the upper segment 7 delimit a second opening 9. The first opening 8 and the second opening 9 are each intended to be closed by a door, which is mounted to rotate about a vertical axis secured respectively to the front pillar 4 and to the middle pillar 5.In this way, each of said doors can rotate around the vertical axis on which it is mounted, from a closed position for which it closes the corresponding opening 8, 9 while being in continuity with the body side 3, to an open position for which it projects towards the outside of said body side 3.

[0031] Referring to [Fig. 2], a curtain airbag 2 is fixed to the upper segment 7 of the body side 3 by means of several clips 100, so that said curtain airbag 2 is positioned inside the vehicle 1. When it is fixed to the upper segment 7, the curtain airbag 2 is rolled up on itself and can thus be likened to an elongated tubular piece, extending over almost the entire length of said upper segment 7. In the example considered, the curtain airbag 2 is secured to the upper segment 7 on the body side 3 by means of four identical clips 100 which are regularly spaced along the curtain airbag 2.

[0032] Referring to [Fig. 3], the clip 100 has an enlarged head 101 and an elongated body 102 extending said enlarged head 101, said enlarged head 101 and said elongated body 102 each being delimited by continuous walls. The enlarged head 101 extends in a plane and the elongated body 102 extends along an axis which is perpendicular to the plane in which the enlarged head 101 is inscribed. A free end 103 of the elongated body 102 ends in a point. The elongated body 102 has two deformable lateral inserts 104 placed diametrically opposite on the elongated body 102 and projecting therefrom towards the outside.

[0033] The clips 100 are secured to the curtain airbag 2 and are each intended to be inserted into an opening 10 of a wall 11 of the upper segment 7, said wall 11 separating an exterior space 12 and an interior space 13.

[0034] In principle, each 100 clip is inserted into the opening 10 of the wall 11 of the upper segment 7, from the external space 12 by first presenting its free end 103 at the point of said opening 10. The clip 100 is then translated into the opening 10 until the deformable lateral inserts 104 reach the edges of the wall 11 delimiting said opening 10. A slight pushing force on the clip 100 allows the translation to continue in the same direction, causing a slight crushing of these deformable lateral inserts 104 as they pass through said edges, this crushing being made possible by the elastic deformation properties of said lateral inserts 104. The translation of the clip 100 continues in the same direction, until the deformable inserts 104 have reached the interior space 13 located behind the wall 11.No longer being held by the edges delimiting the opening 10, the deformable lateral inserts 104 suddenly relax, returning to their initial position in which they protrude towards the outside of the elongated body 102 of the clip 100. When the deformable lateral inserts 104 have relaxed after reaching the interior space 13, it can be considered that the clip 100 has been correctly inserted into the opening 10 of the wall 11 of the upper segment 7.

[0035] However, it may happen, in particular when operators are working blind, that the clips 100 are not correctly inserted into the corresponding openings 10, so that the deformable lateral inserts 104 have not reached the interior space 13 located behind the wall 11. The clip 100 which remains in the opening 10, can thus give the appearance of a clip 100 which is correctly inserted into said opening 10, whereas this is not the case. The consequences of a clip 100 incorrectly inserted into the corresponding opening 10, are that the curtain airbag 2 can deploy in an anarchic manner in the vehicle in the event of an accidental impact of the latter against an external obstacle, with a significant risk of serious injuries to the occupants of the vehicle. Not only does the curtain airbag 2 no longer play its protective role with respect to the occupants of the vehicle, but it also becomes a dangerous element which risks increasing the injuries caused to the occupants of the vehicle 1, in the event of the latter hitting an external obstacle.

[0036] Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7, in order to remedy this problem of poor insertion of the clip 100 into the opening 10, an RFID element 14 comprising a receiver is fixed to an interior surface 15 of the wall 11 delimiting the interior space 13, so that said RFID element at least partially obscures the opening 10 of said wall 11 into which the clip 100 is intended to be inserted. This RFID element 14, which is similar to an RFID antenna, is fixed to the interior surface 15 of the wall 11, for example by gluing, and has a certain flexibility, which can cause it to deform in the event of external stress before possibly breaking.

[0037] Referring to [Fig.7], an RFID transmitter 16 is placed close to the RFID elements 14 so that the signal emitted by said RFID transmitter 16 is received by said RFID elements 14. A screen associated with the RFID transmitter 16 allows an operator to view on said screen the different RFID elements 14, and the quality of reception of the signal emitted by the RFID transmitter 16. This quality of reception can for example be evaluated visually on the screen, with the appearance of a specific symbol on said screen, which can for example be a color: -green for good signal reception by the RFID element 14, -red for a total absence of signal reception by the RFID element 14, -orange for poor signal reception by the RFID element 14.

[0038] Thus, when several RFID elements 14 are implemented, an operator will immediately identify precisely which one or ones of these RFID elements 14 do not pick up any signal.

[0039] A mounting method according to the invention involves an RFID element 14 and an RFID transmitter 16 as mentioned above. In this way, referring to [Fig. 5], the clip 100 which is secured to the curtain airbag 2, is first inserted into the opening 10 of the wall from the external space 12, first presenting its free end 103 ending in a point. Referring to [Fig. 6], the clip 100 is then translated in the opening 10 towards the interior space 13 located behind the wall 11, and when the free end 103 comes into contact with the RFID element 14, the continuation of the translation of the clip 100 in the same direction causes a deformation of the RFID element 14. Referring to [Fig. 7], the translation of the clip 100 in the opening 10 and in the same direction, ends when the deformable lateral inserts 104 of the clip 100 have reached the interior space 13 located behind the wall 11, and when these have been able to relax.The RFID elements 14 are dimensioned such that the passage of the deformable lateral inserts 104 in the interior space. 13 located behind the wall 11, causes a rupture of the RFID element 14 concerned. In this way: -as long as the RFID element 14 has not broken, the clip 100 is incorrectly positioned in the opening 10. This RFID element 14 then correctly receives the signal emitted by the RFID transmitter 16, this good reception of the signal being read on the screen, -when the RFID element 14 breaks, this means that the clip 100 is correctly inserted in the opening 10. This broken RFID element 14 then no longer receives or only very weakly receives the signal emitted by the RFID transmitter 16, this bad or non-reception of the signal by the RFID element 14 being read on the screen.

[0040] To summarize, as long as the deformable inserts 104 of the clip 100 have not passed to the other side of the wall 11 into the interior space 13, the RFID element 14 certainly deforms, but retains its structural integrity. It can then clearly receive the signal emitted by the RFID transmitter 16. On the other hand, once said deformable inserts 104 have passed to the other side of the wall 11 into the interior space 13, thus reflecting a satisfactory insertion of the clip 100 into the opening 10, the RFID element 14 has broken and no longer has the capacity to correctly receive the signal emitted by the RFID transmitter 16.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for mounting a part (2) in a wall (11) of a structural element (7) separating an exterior space (12) and an interior space (13), said mounting being carried out by means of at least one clip (100) having elastically deformable lateral inserts (104), said clip (104) being secured to the part (2) and being intended to be inserted into an opening (10) of said wall (10) from the exterior space (12) until the lateral inserts (104) have reached the interior space (13), characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - a step of fixing a flexible RFID element (14) comprising a receiver, on an interior surface (15) of the wall (11) delimiting the interior space (13), so that said RFID element (14) at least partially covers the opening (10), - a step of inserting the clip (100) into the opening (10) from the outer space (12),-a step of translating the clip (100) in the opening (10) towards the interior space (13) accompanied by a deformation of the RFID element (14), -a step of breaking the RFID element (14) when the deformable inserts (104) have passed beyond the wall (11) and have reached the interior space (13), testifying to a satisfactory insertion of the clip (100) in the opening (10), -a step of verifying the structural state of the RFID element (14) by means of an RFID transmitter (16) intended to interact with the RFID element (14) to know if the clip (100) has been correctly inserted in the opening (10).,

2. Mounting method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of verifying the structural state of the RFID element (14) consists of verifying whether the RFID element (14) has broken or not, and in that said RFID element (14) emits a first signal if it has broken and a second signal if it remains intact.

3. Mounting method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the RFID element (14) is a wire element passing through the opening (10).

4. Mounting method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the RFID element (14) is a flat and thin element completely closing the opening (10).

5. Mounting method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the clip (100) is metallic.

6. Mounting method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the clip (100) has an enlarged head (101) and an elongated body (102) extending said enlarged head (101) and ending in a free end (103) at a point, and in that said clip (100) comprises at least two elastically deformable inserts (104) projecting from said elongated body (102) outwards while being diametrically opposed.

7. Mounting method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that when the part (2) is mounted in the wall (11) of the structural element (7) by means of several identical clips (100), and in that the verification step makes it possible to detect the structural state of each RFID element (14).

8. Mounting method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the step of verifying the structural state of the RFID element (14) is carried out by means of an electronic device having a screen and in that the signal received by the RFID element (14) is materialized on said screen by a distinctive pattern.

9. Mounting method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the structural element consists of an upper segment (7) of a body side (3) extending horizontally, and in that the part to be fixed consists of a curtain airbag (2).

10. Mounting method according to claim 9, characterized in that the curtain airbag (2) is fixed to the upper segment (7) of the body side (3) by means of four clips (100) regularly distributed along said upper segment (7).

Images