Cushion clip

• US 8,407,857 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2011
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daiwa Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Daiwa Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Sugiyama, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, William L.
• Application Number:
  US13/110,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20110283490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 16/82, 16/85, 16/86.R, 16/86.A, 16/86.B, 16D/IG.21, 296/37.12, 296/1.03, 296/207, 24457-458, 245/70, 245/911, 293/104, 293/132, 293/136, 267/136, 267/141
• US Class Current: 16/86.R
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/022 specially adapted for vehicles, e.g. for hoods or trunks
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/086 the shank of the stud, pin or spigot having elevations, ribs, fins or prongs intended for deformation or tilting predominantly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/371 characterised by inserts or auxiliary extension or exterior elements, e.g. for rigidification F16F1/387 takes precedence; non-embedded reinforcing elements for flexibly-walled air springs F16F9/0436
• 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

Abstract

A cushion clip may include a cushioning portion made of a soft material and capable of being elastically deformed when a compression force is applied thereto, an attachment portion made of a hard material, and a connecting portion integrally formed with the attachment portion. The connecting portion is embedded in the cushioning portion such that the cushioning portion can be integrated with the attachment portion. A portion of the cushioning portion surrounding an outer circumferential periphery of an end surface of the connecting portion has a lateral thickness that is varied in a direction in which the compression force is applied to the cushioning portion.

Claims

1. A cushion clip, comprising:

a cushioning portion made of a soft material and capable of being elastically deformed when a compression force is applied thereto,

an attachment portion made of a hard material, and

a connecting portion integrally formed with the attachment portion,

wherein the connecting portion is embedded in the cushioning portion such that the cushioning portion is integrated with the attachment portion,

wherein the connecting portion is shaped such that an elastic deformation of the cushioning portion in a compressing direction can substantially be received by an end surface of the connecting portion when the compression force is applied to the cushioning portion, and

wherein the connecting portion defines an outer circumferential surface, the outer circumferential surface including a corner portion extending from the end surface, a first tapered portion extending from the corner portion, and a second portion extending from the first tapered portion, the first tapered portion having a taper angle different from a taper angle of the second portion, such that a portion of the cushioning portion surrounding the first tapered portion of the outer circumferential surface of the connecting portion has a lateral thickness that is varied in a direction in which the compression force is applied to the cushioning portion.

2. The cushion clip as defined in claim 1, wherein the connecting portion includes a depressed portion that is formed in a substantially central portion of the end surface thereof so that a central portion of the cushioning portion is vertically thickened.

3. The cushion clip as defined in claim 1, wherein the connecting portion includes a plurality of open-ended vertical hollow portions that are positioned along the outer circumferential surface thereof.

4. The cushion clip as defined in claim 1 wherein the cushioning portion includes a cylindrical projected portion that is integrally formed in a central portion of an upper surface thereof.

5. A cushion clip, comprising:

a cushioning portion made of a soft material and capable of being elastically deformed when a compression force is applied thereto,

an attachment portion made of a hard material, and

a connecting portion integrally formed with the attachment portion,

wherein the connecting portion is embedded in the cushioning portion such that the cushioning portion is integrated with the attachment portion,

wherein the connecting portion is shaped such that an elastic deformation of the cushioning portion in a compressing direction can substantially be received by an end surface of the connecting portion when the compression force is applied to the cushioning portion,

wherein a portion of the cushioning portion surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the end surface of the connecting portion has a lateral thickness that is varied in a direction in which the compression force is applied to the cushioning portion, and

wherein the connecting portion includes a depressed portion that is formed in a substantially central portion of the end surface thereof so that a central portion of the cushioning portion is vertically thickened.

6. A cushion clip, comprising:

a cushioning portion made of a soft material and capable of being elastically deformed when a compression force is applied thereto,

an attachment portion made of a hard material, and

a connecting portion integrally formed with the attachment portion,

wherein the connecting portion is embedded in the cushioning portion such that the cushioning portion is integrated with the attachment portion,

wherein the connecting portion is shaped such that an elastic deformation of the cushioning portion in a compressing direction can substantially be received by an end surface of the connecting portion when the compression force is applied to the cushioning portion,

wherein a portion of the cushioning portion surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the end surface of the connecting portion has a lateral thickness that is varied in a direction in which the compression force is applied to the cushioning portion, and

wherein the connecting portion includes a plurality of open-ended vertical hollow portions that are positioned along the outer circumferential surface thereof.