Fastener assembly for roof marker lamp

• US 6,357,900 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Vince, Thomas A., Grossman, Vitaly, Skubik, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US09/675,104
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 362/493, 362/549, 362/496, 362/546, 362/368, 362/457, 247/033, 247/041, 247/042
• US Class Current: 362/493
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle

Abstract

A fastener assembly for securing a roof marker lamp to a vehicle includes a plurality of fasteners extending through the roof marker lamp. The fastener assembly also includes a plurality of retainers disposed adjacent the roof marker lamp to receive the fasteners for preventing the fasteners from exiting the roof marker lamp and adapted to be snapped into apertures in the roof to secure the roof marker lamp to the roof. The fastener assembly further includes a plurality of slides cooperating with the fasteners and the retainers to pre-assemble the fasteners and the retainers to the roof marker lamp prior to securing the roof marker lamp to the roof.

Claims

1. A fastener assembly for securing a roof marker lamp to a vehicle comprising:

a plurality of fasteners extending through the roof marker lamp;

a plurality of retainers disposed adjacent the roof marker lamp to receive said fasteners for preventing said fasteners from exiting the roof marker lamp and adapted to be snapped into apertures in the roof to secure the roof marker lamp to the roof; and

a plurality of slides cooperating with said fasteners and said retainers to pre-assemble said fasteners and said retainers to the roof marker lamp prior to securing the roof marker lamp to the roof.

2. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said slides includes an extension for aligning one of said fasteners with one of said retainers.

3. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said slides has a flange extending outwardly from opposed sides of said extension.

4. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said slides has a leg extending perpendicularly from said flange and an arm extending perpendicularly from said leg to form a recess therebetween to receive a portion of said retainer.

5. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said extension has an aperture extending therethrough and communicating with said recess.

6. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said extension, said flange, said leg, and said arm are integral, unitary, and one-piece.

7. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said each of said retainers has a flange extending outwardly on opposed sides thereof to be received in said recess.

8. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said retainers has at least one leg extending perpendicularly to said flange and an arm extending perpendicularly to said at least one leg.

9. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said at least one arm includes a second recess for engagement with one of said fasteners.

10. A fastener assembly as set forth in claim 8 each of said fasteners comprises a head and a threaded shaft extending axially from said head to extend through one of said slides and engage one of said retainers.

11. A fastener and roof marker lamp assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a roof marker lamp disposed adjacent a roof of a vehicle;

a plurality of fasteners extending through said roof marker lamp;

a plurality of retainers disposed adjacent said roof marker lamp to receive said fasteners for preventing said fasteners from exiting said roof marker lamp and snapped into apertures in the roof to secure said roof marker lamp to the roof; and

a plurality of slides cooperating with said fasteners and said retainers to pre-assemble said fasteners and said retainers to said roof marker lamp prior to securing said roof marker lamp to the roof.

12. A fastener and roof marker lamp assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said roof marker lamp comprises a base and a lens disposed over said base.

13. A fastener and roof marker lamp assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein lens has a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and aligned with the apertures in the roof.

14. A fastener and roof marker lamp assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said apertures in said lens have an enlarged portion adjacent said base.

15. A fastener and roof marker lamp assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said slides includes an extension disposed in said enlarged portion for aligning one of said fasteners with one of said retainers.

16. A fastener and roof marker lamp assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein each of said slides has a flange extending outwardly from opposed sides of said extension.

17. A fastener and roof marker lamp assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein each of said slides has a leg extending perpendicularly from said flange and an arm extending perpendicularly from said leg to form a recess therebetween to receive a portion of said retainer.

18. A fastener and roof marker lamp assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said extension has an aperture extending therethrough and communicating with said recess.

19. A fastener and roof marker lamp assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said extension, said flange, said leg, and said arm are integral, unitary, and one-piece.

20. A roof assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a roof having a plurality of first apertures extending therethrough;

a roof marker lamp comprising a base disposed adjacent said roof and a lens disposed over said base;

said lens includes a plurality of recesses having a bottom surface and a plurality of second apertures, one of said second apertures extending through said bottom surface;

a plurality of fasteners extending through said second apertures;

a plurality of retainers disposed adjacent said roof marker lamp to receive said fasteners for preventing said fasteners from exiting said roof marker lamp and snapped into said first apertures in said roof to secure said roof marker lamp to said roof; and

a plurality of slides cooperating with said fasteners and said retainers to pre-assemble said fasteners and said retainers to said roof marker lamp prior to securing said roof marker lamp to said roof.