Abstract: A sun visor assembly for a vehicle to be used in conjunction with an overhead airbag is disclosed. The sun visor assembly includes a visor panel, a pivot rod, and a mount for securing the sun visor assembly to the vehicle. The sun visor assembly also has a deflecting element for allowing the visor panel to be deflected out of the path of an inflating overhead airbag. The deflecting element could be a detachable catch mechanism that holds the visor panel in an operational position until the airbag deploys. The deflecting element could also be a spring loaded pivot or crease disposed within the body of the visor panel. The deflecting element could further be a tear seam or flexible fabric for channeling the trajectory of the overhead airbag.

Abstract: A sun visor attachment for mounting a sun visor is disclosed. The sun visor attachment enables a sun visor assembly to be attached out of a trajectory of an overhead airbag. A sun visor assembly can be rigidly attached either on the overhead airbag module housing containing mounting brackets rearward of the deployment door, or it can be rigidly attached to a resilient substrate affixed between a headliner and the overhead airbag module behind the airbag outlet.

Abstract: A mounting bracket capable of retaining a fastener that may be used to mount a curtain airbag and/or a tether to a vehicle is disclosed. The mounting bracket has a front face and a rear face positioned behind the front face. A first opening is added to the front face and a second opening is added to the second face. The first opening and the second opening are constructed such that a fastener may pass through the mounting bracket via the first opening and the second opening. The mounting bracket also has a retaining member that is constructed such that if the fastener passes through the mounting bracket, the fastener engages the retaining member and causes the mounting bracket to retain the fastener. The retaining member may additionally have retaining tabs and centering tabs positioned on the rear face proximate the second opening. An anti-rotation tab may additionally be added to the mounting bracket.

Abstract: A tether retainer is provided which includes a base and a flap having a slot. The flap is attached to the base. A locking tab is positioned on the base and is constructed to pass through the slot and cause the retainer to enclose a portion of a tether. The retainer may also be nested within a tooling assembly. Preferably, the tooling assembly is designed such that when the retainer is nested in the tooling assembly, the retainer is positioned on a receiving portion. A positioning blade and a press may also be added to the tooling assembly. The positioning blade is designed to pass through the slot whereas the press is designed to contact and/or push against the flap.