FASTENER HOUSING FOR SECURING A BUMPER FASCIA TO A FENDER PANEL OF AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE

• US 20130017033A1
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Brown, Bernard Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,807,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/112
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/24 Arrangements for mounting bumpers on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/247 Fastening of bumpers' side ends
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/043 with snap action
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/02 with special provisions for engaging surfaces which are not perpendicular to a bolt axis or do not surround the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/30 Trim molding fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45105 for upholstery, panel, trim strip, etc. [e.g., spring biased]

Abstract

A fastener housing for securing a bumper fascia to a fender panel includes a shank portion, a skirt portion, and an arm portion. The shank portion includes a first end and an opposite second end and a throughbore extending from the first end to the second end. The shank portion has a widened cross sectional shape which avoids rotation upon insertion into the connection portion of the bumper fascia or fender panel. The skirt portion extends radially from the first end of the shank portion. The arm portion includes a proximate end connected to the skirt portion and a distal end having a protrusion extending generally normal from the arm portion.

Claims

1. A fastener housing for receiving a fastener to secure bumper to a fender panel, said fastener housing comprising:

a shank portion having a first end and an opposite second end, a throughbore extends from said first end to said second end, said shank portion having a widened cross sectional shape;

a skirt portion extending radially from said first end of said shank portion; and

an arm portion having a proximate end and a distal end, said proximate end connected to said skirt portion and said distal end having an end portion extending generally normal from said arm portion.

2. The fastener housing of claim 1, wherein the fender panel includes a fender flange having a widened aperture and a distal edge, and wherein when said shank portion is received within said widened aperture said end portion extends beyond the distal edge portion of the fender panel.

3. The fastener housing of claim 2, wherein said arm portion extends generally coplanar with said skirt portion, and wherein said skirt portion and said arm portion are disposed at an angled orientation relative to said throughbore

4. The fastener housing of claim 3, further comprising:

a collar extending outwardly from a first surface of said skirt portion, said collar at least partially surrounds said throughbore, said collar abuts a flange portion of the fastener to space the flange portion of the fastener a predetermined distance from said first surface of said skirt portion.

5. The fastener housing of claim 4, wherein said shank portion includes a pair of opposing side walls, and wherein said shank portion includes a snap tab formed integrally with at least one of said pair of opposing side walls.

6. The fastener housing of claim 5, wherein said snap tab includes a tab portion having a proximate end and a distal end, said proximate end connected to said at least one of said pair of opposing side walls, said distal end having a ramped surface formed thereon, and wherein a generally U-shaped cutout extends along a pair of sides of said tab portion and between said distal end and a second surface of said skirt portion.

7. An attachment assembly comprising:

a first vehicle body component having a first inwardly extending flange having a distal edge and a widened aperture formed therein;

a second vehicle body component having a second inwardly extending flange having a shaped aperture formed therein; and

a fastener housing for receiving a fastener to secure said first body component to said second body component, said fastener housing having a shank portion having a first end and an opposite second end, a throughbore extending from said first end to said second end, said shank portion having a widened cross sectional shape, a skirt portion extending radially from said first end of said shank portion, and an arm portion having a proximate end and a distal end, said proximate end connected to said skirt portion and said distal end having an end portion extending generally normal from said arm portion;

said shank portion received within said widened aperture of said first body component and said skirt portion positioned between said first body component and said second body component, said protrusion of said arm portion extending beyond said distal edge of said first flange to properly orient said fastener housing with respect to said first body component.

8. The attachment assembly of claim 7, wherein, said skirt portion being disposed at an angled orientation relative to said throughbore.

9. The attachment assembly of claim 8, wherein said arm portion extends generally coplanar with said skirt portion.

10. The attachment assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

a collar extending outwardly from a first surface of said skirt portion, said collar at least partially surrounds said throughbore, said collar abuts a flange portion of the fastener to space the flange portion of the fastener a predetermined distance from said first surface of said skirt portion.

11. The attachment assembly of claim 10, wherein said shank portion includes a pair of opposing side walls, and wherein said shank portion includes a snap tab formed integrally with at least one of said pair of opposing side walls.

12. The attachment assembly of claim 11, wherein said snap tab includes a tab portion having a proximate end and a distal end, said proximate end connected to said at least one of said pair of opposing side walls, said distal end having a ramped surface formed thereon, and wherein a generally U-shaped cutout extends along a pair of sides of said tab portion and between said distal end and a second surface of said skirt portion.

13. The attachment assembly of claim 7, wherein said first component is a fender of an automotive vehicle.

14. The attachment assembly of claim 13, wherein said second component is a bumper fascia of an automotive vehicle.