Retainer device and keyhole attaching arrangement

• US 5,114,203 A
• Filed: 12/24/1990
• Issued: 05/19/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Carnes, Vince S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Neill R.
• Application Number:
  US07/632,828
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 411/84, 411/85, 411/104, 411/107, 411/174, 411/175, 411/182, 411/970, 411/999, 296/50, 296/57.1, 296/191
• US Class Current: 296/50
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/00 Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/09 Releasable fastening devices with a stud engaging a keyhole slot
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/123 Auxiliary fasteners specially designed for this purpose
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/97 Resilient retainer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/999 with retainer, e.g. tether

Abstract

A one-piece plastic retainer device is provided for snap-in blind attachment in a keyhole-shaped apertured panel. The retainer device comprises a flat rectangular base having a push-in fastener shank adjacent one transverse edge. The shank extends from the base inner face while a fastener head and subjacent spacer collar extend from the base outer face in coaxial alignment with the shank. An integral wedge-shaped locking cam projects from the base outer face and is aligned on the base major axis of symmetry adjacent the base other transverse edge. The locking cam has a raised outboard facet and an inboard ramp sloped toward the fastener head with the facet spaced a predetermined longitudinal distance from a transverse outboard collar stop shoulder. The panel keyhole-shaped aperture is configured and dimensioned enabling the head to be initially inserted in the circular opening thereof. Upon the retainer being moved longitudinally into the slot the retainer is captured in a snap-in manner by virtue of the collar stop shoulder and the cam facet being positioned juxtaposed associated longitudinally opposed ends of the keyhole-shaped aperture.

Claims

1. In combination with a vehicle tailgate outer sheet metal skin:

a rectangular applique panel having a vertically extending return flange at each end, each said return flange having a plurality of attaching keyhole-shaped apertures therein, each said keyhole-shaped aperture defined by a slot portion having one closed end and an opposed open end terminating in a circular opening defining a pair of cusps at the juncture between said slot portion and said circular opening, said sheet metal skin having a plurality of mounting holes therein;

a one-piece plastic blind attachment retainer device for each said mounting hole, each said retainer device comprising a flat rectangular elongated base having a bottom side, an upper side, and leading and trailing edges disposed transversely to a major axis defining a longitudinally extending vertically disposed plane of symmetry, an integral fastener pine-tree type shank projecting outwardly from said bottom side with its principal axis intersecting said major axis at right angles, each said pine-tree type shank adapted for push-in axial insertion in an associated one of said sheet metal skin mounting holes about said principal axis;

an integral fastener collar extending outwardly from said upper side symmetrically disposed on said major axis, a fastener circular head extending radially outwardly from said collar and having its center aligned on said principal axis, said head having an undersurface thereof formed with a C-shaped continuous chamfer having a half-circle segment terminating in a pair of parallel trailing segments;

an integral locking cam extending outwardly from said base upper side symmetrically disposed on said major axis adjacent said trailing edge, said locking cam having a ramp and an arcuate facet in opposite longitudinal relation with said ramp, said ramp sloped toward said fastener head and said arcuate facet spaced a predetermined distance from said collar outboard shoulder, said arcuate facet having a predetermined radius of curvature with its center located on said major axis;

each said panel return flange keyhole-shaped aperture circular opening having a predetermined diameter slightly larger than said head, said keyhole-shaped aperture predetermined maximum longitudinal dimension from said slot one closed end to a diametrically opposite arcuate portion of said circular opening slightly larger than the longitudinal dimension along said major axis between said cam arcuate facet and the diametrically opposite collar stop shoulder;

each said base having the trailing portion thereof aft of said collar canted outwardly from said base inner surface by a slight acute angle whereby said base trailing portion upper surface is adapted to be resiliently biased into contact with said sheet metal skin opposed surface thereof;

upon each said retainer device head being initially inserted in an associated one of said keyhole-shaped aperture circular openings with said base leading transverse edge spaced a predetermined longitudinal dimension from the slot closed one end, wherein said chamfer half-circle segment engaging said keyhole-shaped aperture pair of cusps allowing guided smooth lead-in insertion of each said retainer device therein, such that moving each said retaining longitudinally toward its associated slot one closed end causes each said pair of chamfer parallel trailing segments to engage their associated slot parallel side edges and said collar leading stop edge to engage its associated slot one closed end; and

wherein said locking cam snaps into its associated keyhole-shaped aperture circular opening with said arcuate facet providing line contact with its associated circular opening at a point of intersection thereof with its associated major axis, whereby each said retainer is snugly captured in its associated keyhole-shaped aperture with each said pine-tree type shank principal axis exactly aligned with its associated sheet metal skin mounting hole so as to be axially received in a push-in manner therein readily securing each said panel return flange to said sheet metal skin.