Fastener assembly

• US RE36,351 E
• Filed: 06/03/1996
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fairchild Holding Corp. (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fairchild Holding Corp. (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Potter, James R., Yamamoto, Albert K., Cosenza, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Application Number:
  US08/656,903
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 411/347, 411/348, 411/552, 411/549, 280/728.2, 280/731, 280/728.1, 403/328, 403/325, 403/19, 403/20, 24/453, 24/606, 24/607, 24/628, 292/252
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2035 using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21656; assembling of modules B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/165 with balls or rollers for connections of rods or tubes engaged telescopically F16B7/1409
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/42 Independent, headed, aperture pass-through fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/14 Ball

Abstract

A fastener assembly for securing a first panel member to a second panel member in a spaced-apart relationship. The fastener comprises a tubular shank portion having first and second end portions, a cavity being formed in the shank portion. A first spring member is secured on the outside of the shank portion and has openings near the first end of the shank portion to enable steel ball members to protrude therefrom. Inside the shank portion cavity is a stepped pin member that is spring loaded and held in place by a combination of the shank portion spring ball retention feature and step angles formed on the pin member.

Claims

1. A push button type fastener comprising:

an elongated shank having a first end terminating in a second end spaced from said first end;

means defining an aperture extending inwardly from said second end of said elongated shank along the longitudinal axis of said elongated shank;

means defining an opening in said elongated shank that connects said aperture to the outside surface of said elongated shank;

a retention member, having first and second surface portion, positioned in said opening;

a first spring positioned about the outside surface of said elongated shank, wherein said first spring has a first portion positioned in contact with said first surface portion of said retention member;

a pin positioned within said aperture;

a second spring applying a compressive force to said pin, wherein said pin has an end facing said second end of said elongated shank and is in contact with said second surface portion of said retention member.

2. The fastener as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pin comprises a plurality of cylindrical portions of differing diameters, each cylindrical potion being separated by an angled surface.

3. The fastener as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first portion of said first spring that is in contact with the first surface portion of said retention member forces said pin into a retracted position wherein first surface portion of said retention member is substantially coextensive with the surface of said shank.

4. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the first surface portion of said retention member protrudes from said opening when the first portion of said first spring is removed from contact with the first surface portion of said retention member.

5. The fastener of claim 4 wherein the second surface portion of said retention member is in contact with the surface of one of the cylindrical portions of said pin after installation of the fastener in a panel.

6. The fastener of claim 5 wherein the second surface portion of said retention member is in contact with an angled surface of said pin when the first portion of said first spring is removed from contact with the first surface portion of said retention member, the largest diameter of the second angled surface being greater than the largest diameter of first angled surface.

7. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said retention member comprises a spherical ball.

8. The fastener of claim 7 wherein the diameter of said opening adjacent the surface of said elongated shank is less than the diameter of the spherical ball.

9. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said pin has a recessed end accessible through said aperture for receiving a fastener release tool.

10. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the diameter of said opening adjacent the surface of said elongated shank is less than the diameter of said opening adjacent said aperture.

11. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the first portion of said first spring is in contact with said retention member after the fastener is released from a panel.

12. A push button type fastener comprising:

an elongated shank having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and means defining an aperture extending into said elongated shank from the second end along the longitudinal axis of said elongated shank,

means defining an opening in said elongated shank, near the second end of said elongated shank, that extends through said elongated shank to the aperture;

a retention member positioned in said opening, wherein said retention member is movable between a locked position and retracted position;

first spring means encircling said elongated shank and having a first portion disposed adjacent to the second end of said elongated shank and a second portion opposite the first portion, wherein said first spring means is movable between a compressed position and an expanded position;

holding means disposed adjacent to the first portion of said first spring means for holding said retention member in the retracted position when said first spring means is in the expanded position;

a pin axially positioned within the aperture in contact with said retention member, wherein said pin is axially movable between a retracted position in which said first spring means is in the expanded position and said holding means is holding said retention member in the retracted position, and a forward position in which said first spring means is in the compressed position and said retention member is in the locked position; and

second spring means for biasing said pin to the forward position and wherein said holding means and said first spring means is a single coil spring.

13. The fastener of claim 12 wherein the diameter of the aperture at the second end of said elongated shaft is less than the diameter of that portion of said pin accessible through the aperture.

14. The fastener of claim 12 wherein said pin has a recessed end accessible through said aperture for receiving a fastener release tool.

15. The fastener of claim 14 wherein the fastener is released when the retention member assumes its retracted position upon application of sufficient force to said pin by a fastener release tool.

16. The fastener of claim 12 wherein the first end of said elongated shank terminates in a spring retainer.

17. The fastener of claim 16 wherein said first spring means applies force to the spring retainer to assist in the release of the fastener from a panel.

18. The fastener of claim 12 wherein said holding means is a plurality of coils in close proximity with one another that extend from the first portion of said first spring means. .Iadd.

19. In combination with an automobile air bag module, an air bag fastener assembly comprising:

an air bag support plate having opposing front and rear faces and an aperture therethrough;

an elongated shank attached to the air bag module, the elongated shank being formed with an interior and including a probe end movable through the aperture in a first direction past said front face of said support plate, and the probe end of said elongated shank being formed with openings extending through said elongated shank to said interior;

opposing first and second retention members located within the interior of said shank; and

a resilient device acting to bias said retention members to extend through said openings to locations outside of said elongated shank, for engaging said rear face of said support plate, whereby said probe end is prevented from moving through said support plate in a second direction, opposite to said first direction. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. The fastener assembly of claim 19 wherein each of said first and second retention members is a spherical ball. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. The fastener assembly of claim 19 wherein movement of said elongated shank in the first direction past said front face of said support plate causes said first and second retention members to be disposed to engage said rear face of said support plate, to prevent passage of said probe end through said support plate in the second

20. direction, opposite to the first direction. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. The fastener assembly of claim 21 wherein:

said shank further includes a sprint retainer at an end opposite the probe end;

said fastener assembly further comprises a coil spring retained against the spring retainer and encircling said shank, extending toward the probe end;

the coil spring is movable between a compressed position and an expanded position; and

the coil spring applies a force to the spring retainer as the fastener assembly is released, to thereby assist in the release of the fastener assembly from the air bag support plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. The fastener assembly of claim 19 wherein;

said elongated shank defines a longitudinal axis;

said resilient device includes a spring device located within the interior of said elongated shank;

said first and second retention members are biased radially outward by said resilient device to extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said elongated shank, through said openings to locations exterior of said elongated shank; and

wherein movement of said shank in the first direction past said front face of said support plate causes said retention members to be disposed adjacent to said rear face of said support plate, to prevent passage of said probe ends through said support plate, in the second direction,

21. opposite to the first direction. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. The fastener assembly of claim 19 wherein said resilient device is a spring. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. The fastener assembly of claim 19 wherein said openings are two in number, and are arranged diametrically opposite each other. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. The fastener assembly of claim 19 wherein:

said elongated shank includes a spring retainer that is positioned adjacent to a head end of the shank, opposite the probe end; and

said fastener assembly further comprises a coil spring that is compressed between the support plate and the head end upon insertion of said elongated shank through said support plate, the retention members preventing the bias of the coil spring from removing the elongated shank from said aperture until said retention members are compressed radially inward by a predetermined amount. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. The fastener assembly of claim 26, wherein;

the coil spring also normally biases the first and second retention members radially inward, such that they together fit through the aperture; and

the coil spring can be selectively compressed to cause the first and second retention members to be urged radially outward, such that they do not

22. together fit through the aperture. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. In combination with an automobile air bag module, an air bag fastener assembly comprising:

an air bag support plate having first and second sides and an aperture therein with a predefined radial dimension;

a shank having a length in an axial dimension, a head at one end of its axial dimension, and a probe end at the other end of its axial dimension attached to the air bag module, the probe end being axially inserted through the aperture at the first side of the support plate, the probe end having radial dimensions such that it fits into the aperture;

a coil spring that is coaxial to the shank, and that has a larger radial dimension than the aperture, such that the coil spring does not fit through the aperture, but is compressed between the support plate and the head end of the shank as the probe end is selectively inserted through the aperture;

a resilient device; and

a retention mechanism that is urged by the resilient device to radially expand once the probe end has been inserted through the aperture, to thereby contact the second side of the support plate and prevent removal of the probe end through the aperture;

wherein the retention mechanism has a retracted position, in which it is radially constricted such that the retention mechanism fits into the aperture, and a locked position in which the retention mechanism is radially expanded and does not fit through the aperture. .Iaddend.