FASTENER ASSEMBLY

• US 20080181745A1
• Filed: 01/29/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: North American Toyota Design and Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Naik, Umesh, Kano, Yoshinori
• Granted Patent: US 7,784,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/107
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/09 Releasable fastening devices with a stud engaging a keyhole slot
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0241 with the possibility for the connection to absorb deformation, e.g. thermal or vibrational

Abstract

A retaining structure and fastener assembly for securing a resin panel to a vehicle body. The panel has an inner surface and a retaining structure extending outwardly from the inner surface. The retaining structure has a retaining wall with a slot for receiving a shoulder of a bolt therethrough, so that a head of the bolt is retained between the inner surface and a washer for securing the panel to the body of the vehicle. The slot is oversized relative to the shoulder of the bolt so as to define a predetermined gap therebetween to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the panel, thereby preventing building of the panel relative to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a body having a hole;

a fastener assembly comprising a bolt, a nut and a washer,

the bolt having a head and a threaded portion formed at opposite ends thereof the bolt having an annular shoulder formed adjacent the head, the bolt having a reduced diameter portion disposed between the shoulder and the threaded portion;

the nut being assembled to the threaded portion of the bolt;

the washer being axially retained between the shoulder and the threaded portion of the bolt;

a panel having an inner surface and a retaining structure extending outwardly from the inner surface, the retaining structure having a retaining wall with a slot for receiving the shoulder of the bolt therethrough during assembly of the panel to the body, the head of the bolt being retained between the inner surface of the panel and washer, the slot being oversized relative to the shoulder of the bolt to define a predetermined gap therebetween to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the panel.

2. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retaining structure includes a connecting wall extending between the inner surface and the retaining wail.

3. A vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein the head of the bolt has a flat edge engaging the connecting wall of the retaining structure to prevent rotation of the bolt relative to the panel about a longitudinal axis of the bolt.

4. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the slot includes generally parallel side edges that are spaced apart to receive the shoulder of the bolt therethrough, the side edges having inwardly extending tabs spaced apart to define a press fit with the shoulder of the bolt during insertion therethrough.

5. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the slot has a generally circular shaped edge that extends between generally parallel and spaced apart side edges, the circular shaped edge defining a generally circular aperture for supporting the shoulder of the bolt therein.

6. A vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein the diameter of the shoulder is less than the diameter of the circular aperture in the retaining wall to define a gap of at least 0.1 mm for accommodating the expansion and contraction of the panel, thereby preventing building of the panel relative to the vehicle.

7. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the height of the shoulder is greater than the thickness of the retainer wall so as to allow a predetermined amount of axial displacement of the retaining structure relative to the fastener assembly to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the panel.

8. A vehicle as set forth in claim 7, wherein the predetermined amount of axial displacement is at least 0.3 mm.

9. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the panel extends longitudinally between opposite and spaced apart sides, the panel having at least two retaining structures disposed at respective sides of the panel.

10. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the panel is a radiator grill.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a body having a hole;

a fastener assembly comprising a bolt, a nut and a washer,

the bolt having a head and a threaded portion formed at opposite ends thereof, the bolt having an annular shoulder formed adjacent the head, the bolt having a reduced diameter portion disposed between the shoulder and the threaded portion;

the nut being assembled to the threaded portion of the bolt;

the washer being axially retained between the shoulder and the threaded portion of the bolt;

a panel having a retaining structure extending outwardly from an inner surface thereof the retaining structure being configured to retain the head of the bolt and allow a predetermined amount of relative movement between the bolt and the panel to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the panel.

12. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein the retaining structure includes a retaining wall spaced apart from the inner surface of the panel for retaining the head of the bolt therebetween and allowing at least 0.3 mm of relative axial movement between the bolt and the panel to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the panel.

13. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein the retaining structure includes a retaining wall spaced apart from the inner surface of the panel, the retaining wall having a circular aperture for receiving the shoulder of the bolt therethrough.

14. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein the shoulder has a smaller diameter than the aperture in the retaining wall to allow at least 0.1 mm of relative radial movement between the bolt and the panel to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the panel.

15. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein the retaining wall includes a slot that extends between an open edge of the retaining wall and the aperture allowing insertion of the bolt into retaining structure during assembly of the panel to the vehicle.

16. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein the slot includes generally parallel side edges that are spaced apart to receive the shoulder of the bolt therethrough.

17. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein the side edges have inwardly extending tabs that are spaced apart to allow a press fit with the shoulder of the bolt during insertion therethrough.

18. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein the panel extends longitudinally between opposite and spaced apart sides, the panel having at least two retaining structures disposed at respective sides of the panel.

19. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein the panel is a radiator grill.

20. A fastener assembly for coupling a panel to a wall of a vehicle, wherein the wall includes a hole for receiving the fastener assembly therethrough, said fastener assembly comprising:

a bolt having a head and a threaded portion, the bolt having an annular shoulder adjacent the head, the shoulder having a diameter that is smaller than the hole in the wall of the vehicle, the bolt further having a reduced diameter portion disposed between the shoulder and the threaded portion;

a nut assembled to the threaded portion of the bolt; and

a washer having a diameter that is larger than the hole in the wall of the vehicle, the washer being seated on the reduced diameter portion of the nut and retained axially between the shoulder and the threaded portion of the bolt, opposing and spaced apart first and second bearing surfaces being defined on the washer and nut, respectively, for retaining the wall of the vehicle therebetween.