Retaining clip and gasket for engine subassembly

• US 4,784,396 A
• Filed: 06/01/1987
• Issued: 11/15/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Crocco, Frank V., Scott, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/056,071
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 277/166, 277/235 B, 277/235 R, 411/105, 411/107, 411/111, 411/112, 411/177, 411/180, 411/181, 411/182, 411/512, 411/999
• US Class Current: 277/598
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/0062 Gaskets
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 41/002 Measures against loss of bolts, nuts or pins devices for fastening nuts to surfaces F16B37/04
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/061 with positioning means F16J15/0831 takes precedence

Abstract

A plastic one-piece tubular clip has a base portion embedded in the bolt mounting hole of each of the holes of an engine oil pan gasket, and a tubular shaft portion that projects through the aligned holes of an oil pan rail and an oil pan reinforcing plate, and through which the oil pan mounting bolts are inserted, the tubular portion having internal ridges or teeth to grip the shank of the bolt with its head portion butting up against the bottom of the reinforcing plate to resiliently lock all the pieces together as a subassembly so that the oil pan can be easily assembled to the engine merely by raising the oil pan up against the crankcase with one hand and then pushing each one of the bolts up into their mounting holes and tightening the same with the other hand.

Claims

1. A gasket subassembly removably securing an engine gasket part to engine fastener and other parts prior to attachment of the subassembly to a portion of the engine, comprising, a gasket part overlying and contiguous to one side of an engine part to be attached to the engine, and a fastener screw or bolt part for attachment of the subassembly to the engine, the gasket and engine part having a screw or bolt hole thereon, the gasket having integrally formed in the hole a retaining clip having a washer-like base fixedly mounted to the gasket in the hole and a pliable tubular portion projecting therefrom through the engine part hole, and the fastening screw or bolt part having a shaft insertable through the tubular portion and base for attachment to the engine and a head part engageable with the opposite side of the engine part for resiliently securing the subassembly together, the clip having formed internally thereof a plurality of axially spaced teeth of an internal diameter less than the outside diameter of the shaft for releasably gripping the shaft with an interference fit upon insertion of the shaft through the clip to resiliently lock the parts together as a subassembly.

2. A retaining clip for resiliently securing a plurality of parts of an engine subassembly together prior to attachment of the subassembly to the engine comprising, an engine part and a gasket overlying a portion of the top side of the engine part and each having at least one hole therein, the holes being aligned with one another for insertion therethrough of a fastening screw or bolt for attachment of the subassembly to the engine, the clip including a tubular member having a base portion anchored to the gasket in the gasket hole and a pliable sleeve portion extending from the base portion through the engine part, a fastening screw or bolt having a head portion and a shank portion, the shank portion being insertable through the clip sleeve and base portions to a position abutting the head portion with the underside of the engine part, the clip sleeve portion having formed internally thereof axially spaced tooth means for gripping the shaft and retaining the latter in place to resiliently lock the gasket and engine and screw or bolt parts together, the tooth means being of a diameter providing an interference fit with the shaft for maintaining the shaft in place while permitting relative movement therebetween for removal or insertion of the shaft.

3. A clip as in claim 2, wherein the engine part comprises an oil pan rail and an oil pan reinforcing plate between the gasket part and head portion.

4. A clip as in claim 2, the base portion being formed integral with the gasket, the sleeve portion tooth means comprising annular axially spaced ridges formed on the internal diameter of the sleeve portion.