Expanded – threaded – driven – headed – tool-deformed – or locked-thr – Having separate expander means – Including sleeve and distinct tapered expander
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-24
2001-01-23
Saether, Flemming (Department: 3627)
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-thr
Having separate expander means
Including sleeve and distinct tapered expander
C411S041000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176660
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is directed toward the fastener art and, more particularly, to blind push-in type fasteners that can be released and reused.
The invention is especially well suited for incorporation into motor vehicle interior components and will be described with particular reference thereto; however, the invention is capable of broader application and can be used for a wide variety of purposes in many environments.
Push-in, molded plastic fasteners are commonly used in the automotive industry for mounting various types of components to body panels and frame members. In commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,545, there is disclosed a fastener assembly that can be integrally incorporated into an associated component for providing releasable mounting of the component to a body panel. The preferred form of the fastener assembly comprises spaced resilient latch legs that extend from the component to be mounted. The legs can be deflected toward and away from one another to allow their positioning in a mounting opening in a body panel or frame. After the latch legs are in the panel, a rigid pin is inserted between the legs to maintain them locked in the mounting opening. Components such as sun visor clips, coat hooks, and assist straps or handles can be mounted using this type of fastener.
These types of components are generally mounted at locations wherein they overlie a layer of resilient headliner material. Thus, the locking legs extend through aligned openings in both the headliner and the body panel. Installation of the headliner is typically effected prior to installation of the associated components. Installation of the fastener into blind panel openings, however, requires precise alignment of the locking legs with respect to the opening. It is critical to maintain alignment in order to prevent the legs from deflecting away from one another and not entering the opening properly.
In commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,098, a fastener assembly is provided to facilitate installation of the headliner and the associated components by allowing the component and the fastener to be preassembled into the headliner so that both the headliner and the component can be installed in the vehicle simultaneously as a unit. The fastener assembly taught there includes resilient latch legs that extend from the fastener body and are adapted to engage in a panel opening. The legs include resilient spring fingers that permit the assembly to be preassembled to a headliner prior to the time that the vehicle component and the headliner are joined to the panel.
The preconnection of the fastener assembly to the headliner makes it extremely difficult to align the latch legs with the panel opening because the bulky nature of the headliner prevents, in most cases, a clear and unobstructed view of the opening therebehind. In the event that an assembler attempts to insert the latch legs of the above fastener assembly into a panel opening while the two are misaligned, it is common that only one or neither of the latch legs actually penetrate through the opening in the panel. The remaining legs are typically deflected away from the other and bent into an ineffective position between the headliner and the vehicle body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention provides a fastener assembly which facilitates installation of motor vehicle headliners and associated components by allowing the component and fastener to be preassembled into the headliner so that both the headliner and the component can be carried together as a single sub-assembly during shipping and then installed in the vehicle simultaneously as a unit.
The fastener assembly further facilitates installation by providing a fastener insertion guide on the terminal end of a set of fastener legs adapted to engage behind a hole provided in the motor vehicle body. The fastener insertion guide prevents the legs from spreading apart during insertion through the hole. Lateral stabilizing brace members extending from the body of the fastener assembly adjacent the latch legs enable the fastener assembly to be used in applications where the fastener is likely to experience high torque loads such as, for example, in motor vehicle pull handles, assist straps, and the like.
In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, there is provided a fastener assembly particularly intended for joining a first component to a panel. The assembly generally comprises a fastener body having a central opening extending therethrough from an outer first end of the main body to an inner second end thereof. A pair of spaced-apart legs extend axially from the second end of the main body on opposite sides of the central opening and terminate at an insertion guide region whereat the first pair of legs are interengaged. The pair of legs are adapted to be received in a hole in the panel and at least one of the legs is radially resilient and carries a locking member for engagement with the panel to retain the fastener body joined to the panel. A slidable pin member is disposed in the central opening of the main body for selected axial movement between and outer first position and an inner second position whereat the pin member prevents the deflection of the pair of legs in a direction toward one another to maintain the locking member engaged with the opening formed in the panel. At least one rigid brace member extends from the main body adjacent the pair of legs and is adapted to be received in a hole provided in the first component for holding the fastener assembly to the first component in a preassembled configuration. When the fastener assembly together with the first component is connected to the panel, the brace member engages the outer surface of the panel for providing relative lateral support between the fastener assembly and the panel.
In its preferred form, the fastener body can be an integrated part of a second motor vehicle component such as an assist strap, coat hook, visor clip, or the like.
Preferably, and in accordance with a more limited aspect of the invention, a pair of elongate spaced-apart resilient latch legs are provided extending axially from the second end of the main body and each carrying locking members for engagement with the panel to retain the fastener body joined to the panel. A pair of brace members are also provided on opposite sides of the central opening for holding the fastener assembly to the first component from behind, such as, for example, a motor vehicle headliner. The pair of brace members are arranged on the main body to provide relative lateral support between the fastener assembly and the panel when the fastener is connected to the panel in a final assembled state.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the pair of resilient latch legs are connected together at the insertion guide region in a manner to prevent the latch legs from deflecting away from one another while the latch legs are advanced through the openings provided in the headliner and the motor vehicle panel. Preferably, the latch legs integrally connected at the insertion guide region to form a rounded guide surface between the pair of latch legs for directing the latch legs through the panel openings.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention, the pair of brace members define opposite first and second laterally disposed shoulder surfaces. The first shoulder surface is adapted to engage the outer surface surrounding the hole in the motor vehicle panel for providing relative lateral support between the fastener assembly and the panel. The second shoulder surface is adapted to engage a rear surface of the first component, such as, for example, a headliner, for holding the first component to the fastener assembly when the pair of brace members are extending through an opening in the first component.
A primary object of the invention is the provision of the fastener assembly of the type described which includes an insertion guide region for preventing the latch legs from deflecting away from one another while
Fleck James F.
Lewis Jeffrey C.
Stevenson Jordan M.
Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee LLP
Saether Flemming
TRW Inc.
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