Fastener structure assembly

Details Fastener structure assembly Fastener structure assembly

2000-09-12

2001-11-20

Sakran, Victor N. (Department: 3626)

Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.

Trim molding fastener

Plastic type

C024S289000, C024S295000, C411S508000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06317937

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clip or fastener used for removably mounting an instrument cluster, a center cluster or other members (which will be referred to as a “cluster” hereinafter) to an instrument panel of an automobile.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, a fastener of this type is made of a spring metal plate. As shown in
FIG. 15
, the conventional fastener
200
is constituted of a substantially V-shaped fastener body
201
and a pair of opposed gripper tongues
202
inwardly stamped out from the fastener body
201
. The fastener body
201
has opposed shoulder portions
206
each of which is designed to engage an inner edge of a mounting aperture
242
formed in an instrument panel
240
on which a cluster
230
having an insertion rib
232
is to be mounted. Further, one of the gripper tongues
202
is formed with an engagement lip
204
which may engage a thin slot
234
formed in the insertion rib
232
of the cluster
230
when the fastener
200
is fitted to the insertion rib
232
by engaging the gripper tongues
202
with the insertion rib
232
.
The fastener
200
is previously fitted to the insertion rib
232
of the cluster
230
by engaging the gripper tongues
202
with the insertion rib
232
. The insertion rib
232
of the cluster
230
with the fastener
200
is pressed into the mounting aperture
242
of the instrument panel
240
until seating surfaces
237
of the cluster
230
contact an outer surface of the instrument panel
240
. At this time, as shown in
FIG. 15
, the fastener
200
is inserted into the mounting aperture
242
with the insertion rib
232
of the cluster
230
, so that the shoulder portions
206
of the fastener body
201
securely engages the inner edge of the mounting aperture
242
. As a result, the insertion rib
232
is fixed In the mounting aperture
242
of the instrument panel
240
. Thus, the cluster
230
is mounted on the instrument panel
240
.
However, the conventional fastener
200
, when fitted to the insertion rib
232
of the cluster
230
, may easily incline or loosen since the gripper tongues
202
of the fastener
200
cannot be sufficiently stabilized on the insertion rib
232
. This is because each gripper tongue
202
is of the point-contact type, which provides a very small area of contact with the insertion rib
232
. As a result, troublesome work is required to mount the cluster
230
onto the instrument panel
240
. Further, in a worse case, the fastener
200
fitted to the insertion rib
232
may accidentally fall off from the insertion rib
232
during handling of the cluster
230
before the cluster
230
is mounted on the instrument panel
240
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fastener which may be sufficiently stabilized on an insertion rib of a cluster or mounting object when it is fitted thereto, thereby facilitating work to mount the mounting object onto an instrument panel or support body and preventing accidental falling off of the fastener from the insertion rib.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fastener which may steadily mount a mounting object on a support body without producing looseness therebetween if there is a variation in thickness of the instrument panel.
The present invention provides a fastener used for mounting a mounting object having an insertion rib onto a support body having a mounting aperture. The fastener is previously fitted to the Insertion rib of the mounting object and then inserted into the mounting aperture of the support body by pressing the insertion rib thereinto, thereby removably mounting the mounting object on the support body. The fastener includes a fastener body having a shoulder portion. The shoulder portion is adapted to elastically engage an inner edge of the mounting aperture of the support body when the fastener is inserted into the mounting aperture with the insertion rib. The fastener further includes a gripper portion provided on the fastener body and having at least one gripper surface and at least one engagement projection formed thereon. The gripper surface is adapted to contact the insertion rib of the mounting object when the fastener is fitted to the insertion rib. The engagement projection is adapted to engage a slot formed in the insertion rib of the mounting object when the fastener is fitted to the insertion rib.
With the fastener of the present invention, the gripper surface of the gripper portion contacts the insertion rib of the mounting object when the fastener is fitted to the insertion rib of the mounting object. Further, the engagement projection engages the slot formed in the rib of the mounting object when the fastener is fitted to the insertion rib of the mounting object. Thus, the fastener is sufficiently stabilized on the insertion rib of the mounting object when it is fitted thereto. Therefore, the mounting object can be easily mounted on the support body. Additionally, the fastener can be effectively prevented from accidental falling off from the insertion rib of the mounting object.
The fastener may have a stabilizer provided on the fastener body. The stabilizer is adapted to elastically engage an outer surface of the support body when the fastener is inserted into the mounting aperture of the support body.
With the fastener thus constructed, when the fastener is inserted into the mounting aperture of the support body, the shoulder portion elastically engages the inner edge of the mounting aperture of the support body, and simultaneously, the stabilizer elastically engages the outer surface of the support body. Thus, the mounting object can be steadily mounted on the support body without producing looseness therebetween if there is a variation in thickness of the support body. Therefore, the mounting object can be effectively prevented from shaking on the support body if the support body vibrates. This may lead to elimination of noise due to vibration of the support body.
Further, the fastener body may be designed so that the shoulder portion engages the inner edge of the mounting aperture of the support body when the insertion rib of the mounting object is pressed into the mounting aperture of the support body until a seating surface formed on the mounting object contacts an outer surface of the support body.
With the fastener thus constructed, the mounting object can be steadily mounted on the support body without producing looseness therebetween.
The present invention will become more fully apparent from the claims and the description as it proceeds in connection with the drawings.


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patent: 2/076211 (1990-06-01), None
patent: 6/049928 (1990-07-01), None
patent: 7/035115 (1995-02-01), None
patent: 7/293521 (1995-11-01), None

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