Multiple engagement joint tethered fastener

• US 20060032029A1
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Benedetti, Steven M., Slobodecki, Jeff A., Nessel, Rosalind A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,178,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/289
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0206 Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings devices for fastening or securing F16B
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/065 the plates being one on top of the other and distanced from each other, e.g. by using protrusions to keep contact and distance
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0657 at least one of the plates providing a raised structure, e.g. of the doghouse type, for connection with the clamps or clips of the other plate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/30 Trim molding fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/31 Plural fasteners having intermediate flaccid connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/318 Strap connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44017 with specific mounting means for attaching to rigid or semirigid supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44026 for cooperating with aperture in supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45215 Slot and tab or tongue
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49876 by snap fit

Abstract

A fastener first member connects to a second member by a flexible tether. A third member having multiple deflectable wings slides onto the second member. A first member male pin extends through a third member aperture to engage second member biasing elements, joining the first, second and third members.

Claims

1. A releasable fastener, comprising:

a first member having a male pin extending therefrom;

a second member having a receiving aperture and at least one biasing element operable to releasably engage the male pin; and

a third member releasably engageable with the second member, the third member having a clearance aperture alignable with the receiving aperture of the second member;

wherein the male pin is displaceable through the clearance aperture and into the receiving aperture to releasably join the first, second and third members.

2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the male pin further comprises:

a bulbous head; and

a stem joining the bulbous head to the first member;

wherein the bulbous head is operable to elastically displace the biasing element during insertion of the male pin into the receiving aperture, the biasing element subsequently engaging the stem to releasably retain the male pin.

3. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the second member further comprises:

a shoulder operable to engage the third member; and

a deflectable end operable to releasably receive the third member.

4. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the third member further comprises a plurality of deflectable wings.

5. The fastener of claim 4, wherein the plurality of deflectable wings comprises a first, a second and a third deflectable wing, the first deflectable wing opposing both the second and the third deflectable wings.

6. The fastener of claim 5, wherein the third member further comprises:

a first frame having the first deflectable wing extending therefrom;

a second frame having the second and the third deflectable wings extending therefrom; and

a receiving channel defined between the first frame and the second frame operable to receive the second member.

7. The fastener of claim 6, further comprising:

a first cross member of the first frame; and

a second cross member of the second frame mechanically connectable to the first cross member.

8. The fastener of claim 1., wherein the third member comprises a metallic material.

9. The fastener of claim 1., comprising a flexible element integrally connecting the second member to the first member.

10. The fastener of claim 9, wherein each of the first member, the second member and the flexible element comprise a polymeric material.

11. The fastener of claim 10, wherein the polymeric material comprises a polyamide material.

12. The fastener of claim 9, comprising an integrally connected subassembly including the first member, the second member and the flexible element.

13. The fastener of claim 9, wherein the flexible element comprises a strap having a plurality of strap widths.

14. The fastener of claim 2, wherein the male pin further comprises a lead-in element operable to align the male pin with the receiving aperture.

15. The fastener of claim 3, wherein the second member further comprises first and second posts separated by a post separation width, wherein the first member is non-rotatably receivable between the first and second posts.

16. The fastener of claim 3, wherein the second member further comprises a deflectable tab, wherein the deflectable tab is elastically deflectable to receive the third member and returns by spring force to retain the third member.

17. A releasable fastener, comprising:

a first member having a male pin extending therefrom;

a second member having a receiving aperture and at least one biasing element operable to releasably engage the male pin;

a flexible element integrally connecting the second member to the first member; and

a third member releasably engageable with the second member, the third member having a clearance aperture alignable with the receiving aperture of the second member and a plurality of deflectable wings including a first, a second and a third deflectable wing, the first deflectable wing opposing both the second and the third deflectable wings;

wherein the male pin is displaceable through the clearance aperture and into the receiving aperture to releasably join the first, second and third members.

18. The fastener of claim 17, wherein the third member comprises a metallic material.

19. The fastener of claim 17, wherein each of the first member, the second member and the flexible element comprise a polymeric material.

20. The fastener of claim 17, wherein the second member further comprises a deflectable extension portion having a deflectable end.

21. The fastener of claim 20, further comprising an inclined portion connecting the deflectable extension and the deflectable end, the inclined portion operable to releasably engage the third member.

22. A fastener system, comprising:

a fastener, including;

a substantially U-shaped first member having a pin;

a second member having a deflectable end; and

a third member defining a channel and an extending portion, the channel slidably engageable with the second member via the deflectable end;

a vehicle component engageable with the U-shaped member;

a vehicle panel having an aperture operable to receive the extending portion of the third member; and

a plurality of connections releasable in a sequential order.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of connections further comprises:

a first connection operatively created between the pin and a receiving aperture of the second member;

a second connection operably created between the third member and the second member; and

a third connection operably created between the third member and the vehicle panel upon insertion of the third member into the aperture of the vehicle panel;

wherein the sequential order defines in sequence the first connection, the second connection and the third connection.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein a joint strength of each of the first, the second and the third connections increases in an ascending order defining in sequence the first connection, the second connection and the third connection.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the pin comprises a pin axis extending substantially transverse to a plane of the first member.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the receiving aperture further comprises a plurality of stepped deflecting members biased to engage the pin.

27. The system of claim 23, comprising:

a fourth connection operatively created between the U-shaped first member and the vehicle component;

wherein the fourth connection is positionable within the sequential order defines between the first connection and the second connection.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the extending portion of the third member comprises a plurality of deflectable wings biased into engagement with the vehicle panel when the extending portion is operably received in the aperture of the vehicle panel.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the U-shaped first member further comprises:

a first planar portion;

a second planar portion opposed and substantially parallel to the first planar portion; and

a column operably separating the first and second planar portions.

30. The system of claim 29, comprising:

a doghouse connectable to the vehicle component; and

a key slot created in the doghouse operable to receive and releasably engage the column.

31. A method for fastening component parts of an automobile assembly using a multiple part fastener, the multiple part fastener including a first part, a second part connected to the first part by a flexible element, and a third part having a plurality of deflectable wings, the method comprising:

inserting a male pin of the first part into a receiving aperture of the second part to releasably engage the first and second parts operably creating a first releasable joint;

releasably engaging the third part to the second part operably creating a second releasable joint;

connecting the first part to a vehicle trim component; and

engaging the deflectable wings of the third part with a vehicle body panel to operably create a third releasable joint;

wherein each of the first, second and third releasable joints are releasable in a sequential order defining the first releasable joint, the second releasable joint, and the third releasable joint.

32. The method of claim 31, comprising:

inserting the deflectable wings of the third part into a vehicle body panel aperture; and

biasing the deflectable wings to operably extend beyond the aperture after the inserting step.

33. The method of claim 31, comprising engaging a column of the first part in an aperture of the vehicle trim component to operably create a fourth releasable joint.

34. The method of claim 33, comprising biasing the fourth releasable joint to operably release within the sequential order between the first and second releasable joints.

35. The method of claim 31, comprising deflecting a portion of the second part prior to releasably engaging the third part to the second part.

36. The method of claim 31, comprising deflecting a plurality of stepped deflecting members of the second part during insertion of the male pin.

37. The method of claim 31, comprising manually deflecting the plurality of deflectable wings to operably release the third part from the vehicle body panel.

38. A method for manufacturing a fastener assembly, the fastener assembly including a first part having a male extending pin;

the first part integrally connectable to a second part using a tether element, the second part having a receiving aperture; and

a third part having plurality of deflectable members, the method comprising;

creating a subassembly including the first part, the second part and the tether element;

configuring the receiving aperture as a deflectable joint operable to receive and releasably engage the male extending pin of the first part;

integrally molding a deflectable end of the second part operable to releasably engage the third part;

forming a channel within the third part operable to releasably receive the second part; and

inserting the deflectable end into the channel to releasably engage the second part and the third part.

39. The method of claim 38, comprising injection molding the subassembly from at least one polymeric material.

40. The method of claim 38, comprising stamping the third part including the deflectable members prior to forming the channel.

41. The method of claim 38, comprising creating an inclined junction adjacent the deflectable end of the second part operable to engage the third part.

42. The method-of claim 38, comprising creating an abutment end of the second part positionable opposite to the deflectable end operable to retain the third part between the abutment end and the deflectable end.

43. The method of claim 38, comprising creating the first part as an opposed pair of planar portions.

44. The method of claim 43, comprising integrally connecting a column between the planar portions to fixedly separate the planar portions.

45. The method of claim 38, comprising oppositely positioning at least two of the plurality of deflectable members of the third part such that the oppositely positioned deflectable members are deflectable towards each other.