Method of manufacturing multiple engagement joint tethered fastener

• US 7,454,826 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Benedetti, Steven M., Slobodecki, Jeff A., Nessel, Rosalind A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; John C
• Application Number:
  US11/656,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20070113382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 294/53, 294/69, 294/28, 242/89, 242/98, 242/97, 244/57, 244/58
• US Class Current: 29/453
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0206 Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings devices for fastening or securing F16B
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/065 the plates being one on top of the other and distanced from each other, e.g. by using protrusions to keep contact and distance
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0657 at least one of the plates providing a raised structure, e.g. of the doghouse type, for connection with the clamps or clips of the other plate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/30 Trim molding fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/31 Plural fasteners having intermediate flaccid connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/318 Strap connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44017 with specific mounting means for attaching to rigid or semirigid supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44026 for cooperating with aperture in supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45215 Slot and tab or tongue
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49876 by snap fit

Abstract

A fastener first member connects to a second member by a flexible tether. A third member having multiple deflectable wings slides onto the second member. A first member male pin extends through a third member aperture to engage second member biasing elements, joining the first, second and third members.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a fastener assembly, the fastener assembly including a first part having a male extending pin;

the first part integrally connectable to a second part using a tether element, the second part having a receiving aperture; and

a third part having a plurality of deflectable members, the method comprising;

forming the first part in a U-shape having first and second planar portions homogenously connected by a joining end, and a column integrally connecting the first and second planar portions independent of the joining end, the column operating to fixedly separate the planar portions;

creating a subassembly including the first part, the second part and the tether element;

configuring the receiving aperture as a deflectable joint operable to receive and releasably engage the male extending pin of the first part;

integrally molding a deflectable end of the second part operable to releasably engage the third part;

forming a channel within the third part operable to releasably receive the second part; and

inserting the deflectable end into the channel to releasably engage the second part and the third part.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising injection molding the subassembly from at least one polymeric material.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

stamping the third part including the deflectable members prior to forming the channel; and

deforming a first retaining tab of a first cross member and a second retaining tab of a second cross member to interlock the first and second retaining tabs with opposite ones of the first and second cross members of the third part.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising creating an inclined junction adjacent the deflectable end of the second part operable to engage the third part.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising creating an abutment end of the second part positionable opposite to the deflectable end operable to retain the third part between the abutment end and the deflectable end.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising oppositely positioning at least two of the plurality of deflectable members of the third part such that the oppositely positioned deflectable members are positioned transverse to and outside of the second part when the deflectable end is inserted into the channel and are deflectable towards each other.

7. A method for manufacturing a fastener assembly, the fastener assembly including a first part having a male extending pin;

the first part having first and second planar shaped portions, the first part homogenously connected to a second part using a tether element, the second part having a receiving aperture; and

a third part having a plurality of deflectable members, the method comprising;

homogenously connecting the first and second planar shaped portions at a distal end by a joining end;

transversely extending the male pin from the first portion;

creating at least two first and at least two second areas of the tether, the at least two first areas having a first width and the at least two second areas having a second width wider than the first width;

creating a subassembly including the first part, the second part and the tether element;

configuring the receiving aperture as a deflectable joint operable to receive and releasably engage the male extending pin of the first part;

integrally molding a deflectable end of the second part operable to releasably engage the third part;

forming a channel within the third part operable to releasably receive the second part; and

inserting the deflectable end into the channel to releasably engage the second part and the third part.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising homogenously connecting the first and second portions with a column spatially separated from the joining end.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising creating an aperture in the third part co-axially alignable with the receiving aperture, the head co-axially alignable with and engageable to the second part when received within both the receiving aperture and the aperture of the third part.

10. A method for manufacturing a fastener assembly, the fastener assembly including a first part having a male extending pin;

the first part having first and second planar shaped portions, the first part homogenously connected to a second part using a tether element, the second part having a receiving aperture; and

a third part having a plurality of deflectable members, the method comprising;

homogenously connecting the first and second planar shaped portions at a distal end by a joining end;

transversely extending the male pin from the first portion;

creating a subassembly including the first part, the second part and the tether element;

configuring the receiving aperture as a deflectable joint operable to receive and releasably engage the male extending pin of the first part;

integrally molding a deflectable end of the second part operable to releasably engage the third part;

forming a channel within the third part operable to releasably receive the second part;

homogenously connecting the first and second portions with a column spatially separated from the joining end;

varying a width of the tether element in at least two locations;

extending opposed posts from the second part operable to define both an anti-rotational feature to prevent rotation of the first part with respect to the second part and as a stop for the third part when the second part and the third part are releasably engaged; and

inserting the deflectable end into the channel to releasably engage the second part and the third part.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising creating the pin as a bulbous shaped head extending from a stem.

12. A method for manufacturing a fastener assembly, the fastener assembly including a first part having a male extending member joined to a second part having a receiving aperture by a tether element;

and a third part having a plurality of deflectable members, the method comprising;

molding a polymeric subassembly having the first part homogenously connected to the second part by the tether element;

engaging the third part to the second part so that an aperture of the third part is aligned with the receiving aperture of the second part and the plurality of deflectable members are positioned entirely outwardly of and freely extend away from the second part;

flexibly bending the tether element to align the male extending member with both the aperture of the third part and the receiving aperture of the second part; and

inserting the male extending member through both the aperture of the third part and the receiving aperture of the second part to releasably couple the first part to both the second and third parts.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising creating the third part having a metal planar portion with the aperture of the third part created in the planar portion.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising extending the plurality of deflectable members from the metal planar portion.