Linchpin verification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10787143-B2
Application number	US-201816013026-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2018
Priority date	Jun 20, 2018
Publication date	Sep 29, 2020
Grant date	Sep 29, 2020

Abstract

An assembly includes a base. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the base. The assembly includes an airbag guide supported by the base. The assembly includes a linchpin securing the airbag guide to the base. The linchpin includes a first marking and one of the base or the airbag guide includes a second marking, the first marking and the second marking align to collectively be a readable indicium.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly, comprising:
a seat frame;
a base fixed to the seat frame;
an airbag supported by the base;
an airbag guide supported by the base;
the base between the airbag guide and the seat frame;
a linchpin securing the airbag guide to the base;
the linchpin including a first marking and one of the base or the airbag guide including a second marking, the first marking and the second marking aligning to collectively be a readable indicium;
a covering that covers the seat frame, the airbag, and the airbag guide; and
the airbag guide between the base and the covering.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the readable indicium is a barcode.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the linchpin includes a circumferential surface, and the first marking is on the circumferential surface.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the linchpin includes a distal end and a surface on the distal end, wherein the first marking is on the surface of the distal end.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first marking includes a first line, and the second marking includes a second line that is parallel to the first line.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first marking includes a first line, and the second marking includes a second line and a third line spaced from the second line, the first line being between the second line and the third line.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first line, the second line, and the third line are parallel.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the linchpin, the base, and the airbag guide each include an alignment surface, the alignment surfaces collectively positioning the linchpin, the base, and the airbag guide relative to each other.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the alignment surface of the linchpin abuts the alignment surfaces of the base and the airbag guide.

10. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the linchpin includes a shaft and the alignment surface of the linchpin is planar and elongated along the shaft.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the readable indicium is visually readable.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve separate from the airbag guide and disposed between the linchpin and one of the base or the airbag guide.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an airbag housing supporting the airbag, the airbag housing fixed to the base.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the airbag guide partially surrounds the airbag housing.

15. A method of installing an airbag assembly, comprising:
fixing a base to a seat frame;
after fixing the base to the seat frame, positioning an airbag guide relative to the base, one of the airbag guide or the base including a first marking;
inserting a linchpin to fix the airbag guide to the base, the linchpin including a second marking; and
confirming the first marking is aligned with the second marking to collectively be a readable indicium.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein confirming the first marking is aligned with the second marking includes scanning a barcode as the readable indicium.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein confirming the first marking is aligned with the second marking includes confirming the first marking is parallel with the second marking.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein confirming the first marking is aligned with the second marking includes confirming the second marking is within a window defined by the first marking.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising installing a covering over the seat frame, base, and airbag guide after confirming the first marking is aligned with the second marking.

20. An assembly, comprising:
a base;
an airbag supported by the base;
an airbag guide supported by the base;
a linchpin securing the airbag guide to the base; and
the linchpin including a first marking and one of the base or the airbag guide including a second marking, the first marking and the second marking aligning to collectively be a readable indicium, the second marking defining a window, and the first marking located in the window.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Vo Jeffrey Tien
• Spahn Brian Robert
• Hamlin Timothy Owen

Classifications

• B60R21/207 Primary

  in vehicle seats · CPC title

• G06K19/06037

  multi-dimensional coding · CPC title

• B60R21/217

  Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together · CPC title

• B60N2/42

  the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats (for protecting children B60N2/26; arm-rests B60N2/75; head-rests B60N2/888) · CPC title