Collapsible retainer
First Claim
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1. A press-in fastener for joining a first component to a second component, said fastener comprising:
- a head adapted to engage the first component; and
a base clip portion disposed below the head and adapted for insertion into an acceptance opening in the second component, the base clip portion including a pair of flexible wing elements and a post structure of substantially incompressible construction disposed along an axial travel path between the wing elements, the wing elements extending upwardly at acute angles relative to the post structure travel path, the post structure being operatively connected to the head such that linear movement of the head is translated to the post structure, at least one collapsible leg operatively connecting each of the wing elements to the post structure such that said at least one collapsible leg collapses into a folded condition upon application of axial compression as the head is pressed towards the second component and the post structure moves axially between the wing elements following insertion of the base clip portion into the acceptance opening.
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Abstract
A press-in fastener adapted to join a first component to a second component. The fastener includes a proximal head and a distal base clip portion below the head. The base clip portion includes an axially displaceable post structure and a pair of opposing wings extending in upwardly angled relation away from the travel path defined by the post structure. Collapsible legs engage the wings in operative connection to the post structure. As the fastener is pressed inwardly, upon encountering resistance from the second component, the legs collapse in folded relation as the post structure travels axially between the wings.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A press-in fastener for joining a first component to a second component, said fastener comprising:
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a head adapted to engage the first component; and a base clip portion disposed below the head and adapted for insertion into an acceptance opening in the second component, the base clip portion including a pair of flexible wing elements and a post structure of substantially incompressible construction disposed along an axial travel path between the wing elements, the wing elements extending upwardly at acute angles relative to the post structure travel path, the post structure being operatively connected to the head such that linear movement of the head is translated to the post structure, at least one collapsible leg operatively connecting each of the wing elements to the post structure such that said at least one collapsible leg collapses into a folded condition upon application of axial compression as the head is pressed towards the second component and the post structure moves axially between the wing elements following insertion of the base clip portion into the acceptance opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A press-in fastener for joining a first component to a second component, said fastener comprising a unitary molded polymer structure including:
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a head adapted to engage the first component; a neck extending downwardly from the head, the neck having an effective diameter less than the head; a support platform disposed below the neck, the support platform projecting outwardly away from the neck in transverse orientation to the head; and a base clip portion disposed below the head and adapted for insertion into an acceptance opening in the second component, the base clip portion including a pair of flexible wing elements and a post structure disposed along an axial travel path between the wing elements, the wing elements extending upwardly at acute angles relative to the post structure travel path, the post structure extending downwardly from the support platform in operative connection to the head such that linear movement of the head is translated to the post structure, at least one collapsible leg extending between an upper portion of each wing element and the support platform to operatively connect each of the wing elements to the post structure such that said at least one collapsible leg collapses into a folded condition upon application of axial compression as the head is pressed towards the second component and the post structure moves axially between the wing elements following insertion of the base clip portion into the acceptance opening, wherein a pair of upwardly angled flexible arm elements extend away from opposing sides of the post structure, and wherein each of the wing elements includes an inboard ledge adapted to engage an opposing one of the flexible arm elements as the head is pressed towards the second component following insertion of the base clip portion into the acceptance opening and wherein the wing elements cooperatively form a distal cusp disposed below a molded-in bridge connection between the wing elements with a pair of spaced-apart detents projects upwardly away from the bridge connection, the post structure including a downwardly projecting distal tab portion sized and shaped for receipt between the detents when the post structure has moved axially between the wing elements. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of joining a first component to a second component, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a press-in fastener, said fastener comprising a head adapted to engage the first component and a base clip portion disposed below the head and adapted for insertion into an acceptance opening in the second component, the base clip portion including a pair of flexible wing elements and a post structure of substantially incompressible construction disposed along an axial travel path between the wing elements, the wing elements extending upwardly at acute angles relative to the post structure travel path, the post structure being operatively connected to the head such that linear movement of the head is translated to the post structure, at least one collapsible leg operatively connecting each of the wing elements to the post structure such that said at least one collapsible leg collapses into a folded condition upon application of axial compression as the head is pressed towards the second component and the post structure moves axially between the wing elements following insertion of the base clip portion into the acceptance opening; and pressing the base clip portion into an acceptance opening in the second component, such that the collapsible legs collapse into a folded condition preferentially to the post structure upon application of axial compression as the head is pressed towards the second component following insertion of the base clip portion into the acceptance opening. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification