Multiple engagement joint tethered fastener

• US 20060032030A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newfery LLC
• Original Assignee: Newfery LLC
• Inventors: Giddings, Joshua J., Fischer, Charles K., Benedetti, Steven M., Slobodecki, Jeff A., Nessel, Rosalind A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,155,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/289
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• 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 24/307 Sheet metal formed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type

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. The first member also includes a hooked end.

Claims

1. A releasable fastener, comprising:

a first member having first and second substantially planar portions, the first planar portion having a male pin and the second planar portion having a hooked end;

a second member having a receptacle 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 receptacle of the second member;

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

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

3. The fastener of claim 2, 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.

4. The fastener of claim 3, 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.

5. The fastener of claim 4, 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.

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

7. The fastener of claim 6, wherein each of the first member, the second member and the flexible element comprise a polymeric material.

8. The fastener of claim 7, wherein the polymeric material comprises a polyamide material.

9. The fastener of claim 6, wherein the flexible element comprises a strap having a plurality of strap widths.

10. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the second member further comprises a deflectable tab operable to releasably engage the third member, wherein the deflectable tab is elastically deflectable to receive the third member and returns by spring force to retain the third member.

11. The fastener of claim 10, 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.

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

a bulbous head;

a curved lead-in member extending from the bulbous head; and

a stem oppositely positioned from the curved lead-in member, the stem operably 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 receptacle, the biasing element then operable to engage the stem to releasably retain the male pin.

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

14. A releasable fastener, comprising:

a first member having first and second portions, the first portion having an elongated member and the second portion having a hook-shaped end;

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

a flexible strap 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 elongated member is displaceable through the clearance aperture and into the receiving aperture to releasably join the first, second and third members.

15. The fastener of claim 14, wherein the third member comprises a metallic material.

16. The fastener of claim 14, wherein each of the first member, the second member and the flexible element comprise a polymeric material.

17. A fastener system, comprising:

a fastener, including;

a substantially U-shaped first member having first and second planar portions, the first planar portion having a male pin and the second planar portion having a hooked end;

a second member having a deflectable tab; and

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

a vehicle component engageable with the U-shaped member and releasably retainable by the hooked end;

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.

18. The system of claim 17, 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.

19. The system of claim 18, 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.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the receiving aperture further comprises a plurality of stepped deflecting members biased to engage the pin.

21. The system of claim 18, further 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 between the second connection and the third connection.

22. The system of claim 17, 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.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the U-shaped first member further comprises a solid portion operably connecting the first and second planar portions.

24. The system of claim 17, comprising:

a doghouse connectable to the vehicle component; and

a flat wall of the doghouse having an aperture operable to receive and releasably engage the hooked end.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the pin comprises a pin axis extending substantially transverse to a plane of the first planar portion.

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

inserting the male pin of the first part into the 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; and

connecting 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.

27. The method of claim 26, comprising:

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

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

28. The method of claim 26, comprising interlocking the hooked end of the first part with a vehicle trim component to operably create a fourth releasable joint.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising biasing the fourth releasable joint to operably release within the sequential order between the second and third releasable joints.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising deflecting a portion of the second part prior to releasably engaging the third part to the second part.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising deflecting a plurality of stepped deflecting members of the second part during insertion of the male pin.

32. The method of claim 28, comprising manually deflecting the plurality of deflectable wings to operably release the third part from the vehicle body panel.

33. A method for manufacturing a fastener assembly, the fastener assembly including a first part having a male extending pin and a hooked end;

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 a plurality of deflectable members, the method comprising;

molding 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 tab and a pair of posts of the second part operable to releasably engage the third part between the deflectable tab and the posts;

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

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

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising integrally connecting the male extending pin to a first planar portion of the first part.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising integrally connecting the hooked end to a second planar portion of the first part.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising integrally joining the first and second planar portions with a solid portion to fixedly separate the planar portions.

37. The method of claim 33, comprising stamping the third part including the deflectable members prior to forming the channel.

38. The method of claim 33, further 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.

39. The method of claim 33, comprising injection molding the subassembly from at least one polymeric material.