Multiple engagement joint tethered fastener

• US 7,832,064 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• 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: Slobodecki, Jeff A., Nessel, Rosalind A., Benedetti, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US12/275,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20090133233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 242/89, 242/97, 242/95, 242/98, 244/57, 244/58, 243/02, 280/728.2
• US Class Current: 24/297
• 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 fastener system, comprising:

a first member having first and second planar portions connected at a joining end, the first planar portion further having a male pin member extending substantially transversely therefrom;

a second member having a receiving aperture and at least one biasing element adapted to releasably engage the male pin;

a column extending from at least one of the first and second planar-portions, the column creating a standoff distance between the first and second members;

a flexible element integrally connecting the second member to the first member, the flexible element operating to allow the male pin to be co-axially aligned with and inserted into the receiving aperture; and

the male pin being displaceable into the receiving aperture to engage the at least one biasing element in a fastener engaged position to releasably connect the first and second members.

2. The fastener system of claim 1, wherein the male pin further comprises:

a stem; and

an extending member connected to the stem;

wherein the extending member operates to elastically displace the biasing element during insertion of the male pin into the receiving aperture, the biasing element elastically deflecting to releasably retain the male pin in the receiving aperture.

3. The fastener system of claim 1, wherein each of the first member, the second member, and the flexible element comprise a single polymeric material.

4. The fastener system of claim 3, wherein the polymeric material comprises a polyamide material.

5. The fastener system of claim 1, comprising an integrally connected subassembly including the first member, the second member and the flexible element created as a single molded part.

6. The fastener system of claim 1, wherein the male pin further comprises a lead-in portion operating to align the male pin with the receiving aperture.

7. A fastener system, comprising:

a fastener, including;

a substantially U-shaped first member including opposed first and second planar portions connected by a joining end, the first planar portion having a transversely extending male pin;

a second member homogeneously connected to the first member, the second member having a receiving aperture and at least one biasing element adapted to releasably engage the male pin;

a column extending from at least one of the first and second planar portions, the column creating a standoff space between the first and second members; and

a vehicle component received within the standoff space between the first and second planar portions and releasably engaged with the column.

8. The fastener of claim 7, further comprising:

a flexible tether homogeneously connecting the second member to the first member to permit the male pin of the first member to align with the receiving aperture of the second member;

wherein the first and second members and the flexible element are a co-molding created from a polymeric material.

9. The fastener of claim 7, further comprising an extending member having flexible wings connected to the second member.

10. The fastener system of claim 9, further including a vehicle panel having an aperture, the extending member and the flexible wings received in the aperture of the vehicle panel, the flexible wings being elastically deflectable when inserted into the aperture, and outwardly biased to releasably engage the second member to the vehicle panel.

11. A fastener system, comprising:

a fastener, including;

a first member including opposed first and second planar portions connected by a joining end, the first planar portion having a transversely extending male pin;

a column extending from at least one of the first and second planar portions, the column creating a standoff space between the first and second members;

a second member homogeneously connected to the first member, the second member having a receiving aperture adapted to releasably engage the male pin;

a flexible tether homogeneously connecting the second member to the first member, the first and second members and the flexible element tether being a co-molding created from a polymeric material; and

a vehicle component received within the standoff space between the first and second planar portions and releasably engaged with the column.

12. The system of claim 11, further including a plurality of connections created by the fastener and between the fastener and the vehicle component, including:

a first connection created between the male pin and the receiving aperture of the second member, the first connection defining a first retention strength; and

a second connection created between the vehicle component and column upon insertion of the vehicle component between the first and second members, the second connection defining a second retention strength greater than the first retention strength.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first and second connections are releasable in an ascending order defining in sequence the first connection and the second connection.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the male pin further comprises a deflecting member biased to engage the second member when received in the receiving aperture.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle component includes a doghouse having a flat wall of the doghouse including an aperture to receive and releasably engage the column.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the pin is aligned on a pin axis extending substantially transverse to a plane of the first planar portion.

17. A fastener system, comprising:

a fastener, including;

a first member including opposed first and second planar portions connected by a joining end, the first planar portion having a transversely extending male pin;

a column extending from at least one of the first and second planar portions spatially separated from the joining end, the column creating a standoff space between the first and second members;

a second member homogeneously connected to the first member, the second member having a receiving aperture and at least one biasing element adapted to releasably engage the male pin;

an extending member having flexible wings connected to the second member; and

a vehicle component received within the standoff space between the first and second planar portions and releasably engaged with the column.

18. The fastener system of claim 17, further including a vehicle panel having an aperture, the extending member and the flexible wings received in the aperture of the vehicle panel, the flexible wings being elastically deflectable when inserted into the aperture, and outwardly biased to releasably engage the second member to the vehicle panel.

19. A fastener system, comprising:

a fastener, including;

a first member including a body having first and second portions, and a male member;

a second member;

a column and a joining end connecting the first and second planar portions, the column creating a standoff space between the first and second members;

a flexible tether homogeneously connecting the second member to the first member, the first and second members and the flexible tether being a co-molding created from a polymeric material;

an extending member having flexible wings connected to the second member;

a vehicle panel having an aperture, the extending member and the flexible wings received in the aperture of the vehicle panel, the flexible wings being elastically deflectable when inserted into the aperture and outwardly biased to releasably engage the second member to the vehicle panel; and

a vehicle component including an extending structure having an aperture sized to receive and engage the male member of the first member, the fastener operating to releasably connect the vehicle component and the vehicle panel.