Actuatable fastener

US7461859B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS INC. · US

Inventors

• Homer W. Fogle, Jr. · Mesa, US
• Eric R. McFarland · Mesa, US
• Robert R. Debbs · Yale, US
• Craig M. Fischer · Mesa, US
• John P. O'Loughlin · Mesa, US
• Halley O. Stevens · Mesa, US
• Keven Thomas · Mesa, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 24, 2007
• Grant date: Dec 9, 2008
• Expiry date: May 24, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R2021/26029
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An actuatable fastener (50) includes a body (80) including a head (82) and a shank (84). The body (80) includes an interior chamber (120) partially defined by a side wall (132) extending from the head (82) into the shank (84) and an end wall (138) positioned in the shank. A member (140) is disposed in the chamber (120). An initiator (160) is actuatable to produce combustion products in the chamber (120) that act on the member (140) to move the member in a first direction in the chamber to strike the end wall (138). The member (140) strikes the end wall (138) creating a fracture (222) in the shank (84) separating at least a portion of the shank from a remainder (220) of the shank. The combustion products moving the member (150) beyond the fracture (222) at least a predetermined distance (226) to move the portion of the shank (84) at least the predetermined distance from the remainder (220) of the shank.