Positive hold weld stud

• US 20060093456A1
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Delcourt, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US10/980,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20060093456A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/171
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/061 by means of welding

Abstract

The present invention provides a weld stud that includes a base, a shank that has a thread and that is smaller in diameter than the base, a head that is on the opposite end to the base, and a neck located between the shaft and the head wherein the neck has a smaller diameter than either the head or the shank. Another aspect of the present invention includes a retention angle that is located between the head and the neck of the stud.

Claims

1. A weld stud comprising:

a base;

a shank having a thread with an outer diameter smaller than an enlarged base;

a head located distal from the base; and

a neck located between the shank and the head wherein the diameter of the neck is smaller than a diameter of the head and a diameter of the shank.

2. A weld stud according to claim 1 further comprising a welding pedestal projecting from the base opposite the shank, the pedestal being coaxially aligned with the base and the shank, and the pedestal having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the base and larger than the diameter of the shank.

3. A weld stud according to claim 1, wherein the head and neck are substantially free of threads.

4. A weld stud according to claim 1 further comprising a retention angle located between the head and the neck, wherein the retention angle is greater than 90°

.

5. A weld stud according to claim 4, wherein the retention angle is at least 125°

.

6. A weld stud according to claim 5, wherein the retention angle is about 135°

.

7. A weld stud according to claim 8, wherein the stud is welded to a body panel of a motor vehicle.

8. A weld stud according to claim 1, wherein the thread is a M6X1 thread.

9. A weld stud according to claim 1, wherein the shank has a length of less than 25 mm.

10. A weld stud according to claim 1 further comprising a fastener removably attached to the stud.

12. A fastening system comprising:

a stud comprising a threaded body, a head, and a neck the neck being located between the head and the body, wherein a diameter of the neck is less than a diameter of the body and a diameter of the head; and

a fastener comprising first members removably fastening to the body and second members removably fastening to the neck.

11. A weld stud according to claim 13, wherein the fastener is part of an interior trim piece of an automotive vehicle.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the stud further comprises a base at an end opposite to the head.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the base having a diameter larger than the diameter of the body.

15. A system according to claim 13 further comprising a welding pedestal projecting from the base opposite the body, the pedestal being coaxially aligned with the base and the body and the pedestal having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the base and larger than the diameter of the body.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein the head is substantially free of threads.

17. A system according to claim 12, wherein the neck is substantially free of threads.

18. A system according to claim 12, wherein the fastener is made of a plastic like material.

19. A system according to claim 12 further comprising a retention angle between head and the neck, wherein the retention angle is greater than 90°

.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the retention angle is at least 125°

.

21. A system according to claim 19, wherein the retention angle is about 145°

.

22. A system according to claim 19, wherein the second members are locked into place by the retention angle.

23. A system according to claim 12, further comprising threading on the first members.

24. A system according to claim 12, wherein the thread is an M6X1 thread.

25. A system according to claim 12, wherein the stud is welded to a body panel of a motor vehicle.

26. A system according to claim 12 further comprising unlocking the second members by unscrewing the fastener on the threads of the body.

27. A system according to claim 12, wherein the body has a length of less than 25 mm.

28. A system according to claim 12 further comprising the fastener attached to the stud.

29. A system according to claim 12, wherein the fastener is part of a trim piece of a motor vehicle.

30. A system according to claim 12 further comprising a recess in a top exterior surface of the fastener wherein the recess is designed for the engagement of a tool.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein the recess is from the group consisting of a Phillips head pattern, a Torex head pattern, a slotted head pattern, and an Allen keyed head pattern.

32. A weld stud comprising:

a base;

a shank including an exterior pattern with a diameter smaller than a diameter of the base;

a welding pedestal projecting from the base opposite the shank;

a head located at an opposite end from the base;

a neck defining a recess located between the shank and the head; and

a retention angle located in the recess between the head and the neck;

wherein the retention angle is greater than 90°

.

33. A weld stud according to claim 32, wherein the retention angle is at least 125°

.

34. A weld stud according to claim 32, wherein the retention angle is about 135°

.

35. A weld stud according to claim 32, wherein the stud is welded to a body panel of a motor vehicle.

36. A weld stud according to claim 32 further comprising a fastener attached to the stud.

37. A method of attaching a fastener to a stud, the stud comprising a retention angle and a thread, the method comprising:

pushing the fastener onto the stud;

engaging at least two clips inside the fastener to the thread; and

removably attaching at least two tabs inside the fastener onto the retention angle.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the stud is welded to a body panel of a motor vehicle.

39. A method according to claim 37 further comprising engaging at least one member inside the fastener to the threads.

40. A method according to claim 37 further comprising unscrewing the fastener to detach the fastener from the stud.

41. A method according to claim 37, wherein a retention angle is greater than 90°

.

42. A method according to claim 37 further comprising attaching an interior trim panel to the fastener.

43. A method according to claim 37 further comprising attaching a fluid line to the fastener.

44. A method according to claim 37 further comprising coating the stud with paint.

45. A method of attaching a fastener to a metal sheet, the method comprising:

welding a stud comprising a thread and a retention angle to the sheet;

pushing the fastener onto the stud;

engaging at least one fastener tab with the thread; and

removably attaching at least one fastener clip on the retention angle;

wherein the retention angle is greater than 90°

.

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein the metal sheet is a body panel of a motor vehicle.

47. A method according to claim 45 further comprising unscrewing the fastener to detach the fastener from the stud.

48. A method according to claim 45, wherein a retention angle is at least 125°

.

49. A method according to claim 45 further comprising attaching an interior trim panel to the fastener.

50. A method according to claim 45 further comprising attaching a fluid line to the fastener.

51. A method according to claim 45 further comprising coating the fastener with paint.