Trim fastener clip employing multiple lines-of-contact stabilization

• US 6,449,814 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Summit Polymers Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Summit Polymers Incorporated
• Inventors: Dinsmore, Michael A., Rhea, Robert V., Kubinski, Kristie A., Schultheiss, Benjamin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Ruth C.
• Application Number:
  US09/682,518
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 242/89, 244/58, 242/92--97, 245/46, 245/70, 245/731, 245/811.1, 245/781.3, 527/170.5, 527/180.3, 527/180.4, 527/180.6, 293/115, 293/128, 296/214, 411/508, 411/509, 411/510, 411/913
• US Class Current: 24/297
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/075 the socket having resilient parts on its inside and outside
• 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: F16B 5/0664 at least one of the sheets or plates having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/30 Trim molding fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/303 having laterally extending biasing appendage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type

Abstract

A fastener is provided for mounting a first structure having an insertion rib with a retention slot to a second structure having a mounting opening. The fastener comprises a U-shaped body having a bight portion at an upper portion thereof with a pair of outer legs depending therefrom. Each of the pair of outer legs has an outer surface adapted to receive an edge of the mounting opening to removably mount the outer legs to the second structure, and a pair of inner legs between the pair of outer legs. The pair of inner legs cooperate to define at least in part an elongated channel therebetween having opposing inner surfaces adapted to receive the insertion rib. Each of the inner legs has, at a lower portion thereof, a retainer adapted to be received within the retention slot.

Claims

1. In a fastener for mounting a first structure having an insertion rib with a retention slot to a second structure having a mounting opening comprising a U-shaped body having:

a bight portion at an upper portion thereof with a pair of outer legs depending therefrom, each of the pair of outer legs having an outer surface adapted to receive an edge of the mounting opening to removably mount the outer legs to the second structure; and

a pair of inner legs between the pair of outer legs, the pair of inner legs cooperating to define at least in part an elongated channel therebetween having opposing inner surfaces adapted to receive the insertion rib, each of the inner legs having, at a lower portion thereof, a retainer adapted to be received within the retention slot;

the improvement comprising;

at least one of the inner surfaces of the elongated channel having a variable curvature thereon defining at least two lines of contact with the insertion rib separated by at least one non-contact portion, wherein the variable curvature is undulating with a first radius of curvature, a second radius of curvature, a third radius of curvature and a fourth radius of curvature in alternating convex/concave relationship.

2. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the second radius of curvature is approximately ten times as large as the first radius of curvature.

3. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the third radius of curvature is approximately two times as large as the second radius of curvature.

4. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the fourth radius of curvature is approximately four times as large as the third radius of curvature.

5. The fastener of claim 1 wherein both inner surfaces have the variable curvature.

6. The fastener of claim 5 wherein the variable curvature on one of the inner surfaces mirrors that on the other inner surface.

7. The fastener of claim 6 wherein the second and fourth radii of curvature define the at least two points of contact.

8. The fastener of claim 7 wherein the second radius of curvature is approximately ten times as large as the first radius of curvature.

9. The fastener of claim 8 wherein the third radius of curvature is approximately two times as large as the second radius of curvature.

10. The fastener of claim 9 wherein the fourth radius of curvature is approximately four times as large as the third radius of curvature.

11. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the pair of outer legs extend downwardly to a greater extent than the pair of inner legs;

and further comprising guide members extending from the lower portion of the inner legs downwardly to the outer legs and forming a guide for aligning the insertion rib with the elongated channel as the insertion rib is inserted between the pair of outer legs.

12. The fastener of claim 11 wherein the guide members are flexible and flex with the flexure of the inner and outer legs.

13. The fastener of claim 12 wherein the retainer has a leading edge thereon for camming the inner legs apart during mounting of the fastener onto the insertion rib.

14. The fastener of claim 13 wherein the guide member has a leading edge in planar alignment with the retainer leading edge.

15. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the pair of outer legs has a shoulder adapted to receive an upper edge of the mounting opening.

16. The fastener of claim 15 wherein a lower portion of at least one of the outer legs terminates in an outwardly extending flange that is adapted to abut an underside of the second structure during mounting of the fastener to the second structure.

17. The fastener of claim 16 wherein the outwardly-extending flange has an upwardly-extending tensioning rib thereon adapted to abut the underside of the second structure to bias the second structure against the shoulder whereby the fastener can be used with second structures of varying thickness and tolerances.

18. The fastener of claim 17 wherein the tensioning rib is generally semi-circular in cross section.

19. The fastener of claim 17 wherein the tensioning rib is located at an outer portion of the outwardly-extending flange.

20. The fastener of claim 19 wherein the tensioning rib is generally semi-circular in cross section.

21. The fastener of claim 1 wherein a lower portion of at least one of the pair of outer legs further comprises a stand-off protrusion extending inwardly a sufficient extent to maintain contact with the insertion rib when the insertion rib is positioned within the elongated channel to prevent inward flexing of the lower portion of the at least one of the pair of outer legs during mounting of the fastener to the second structure and inadvertent overtravel of the fastener relative to the mounting opening thereof.

22. The fastener of claim 21 wherein the outer legs have a thin-walled portion between the guide member and the stand-off protrusion to facilitate flexure of the outer legs therebetween.

23. The fastener of claim 21 wherein the stand-off protrusions form a fulcrum for flexure of the pair of outer legs during mounting of the fastener to the second structure.

24. The fastener of claim 21 wherein each of the pair of outer legs have a standoff protrusion thereon.

25. The fastener of claim 21 wherein the lower portion of the at least one of the pair of the outer legs terminates in an outwardly extending flange that is adapted to abut an underside of the second structure when the fastener is mounted to the second structure.

26. The fastener of claim 25 wherein the outwardly extending flange is spaced downwardly from the stand-off protrusion.

27. The fastener of claim 26 wherein the guide member is spaced upwardly from the stand-off protrusion to permit flexure of the outer legs therebetween.

28. In a fastener for mounting a first structure having an insertion rib with a retention slot to a second structure having a mounting opening comprising a U-shaped body having:

a bight portion at an upper portion thereof with a pair of outer legs depending therefrom, each of the pair of outer legs having an outer surface adapted to receive an edge of the mounting opening to removably mount the outer legs to the second structure; and

a pair of inner legs between the pair of outer legs, the pair of inner legs cooperating to define at least in part an elongated channel therebetween having opposing inner surfaces adapted to receive the insertion rib, each of the inner legs having, at a lower portion thereof, a retainer adapted to be received within the retention slot;

the improvement comprising;

a lower portion of at least one of the pair of outer legs further comprises a stand-off protrusion extending inwardly a sufficient extent to maintain contact with the insertion rib when the insertion rib is positioned within the elongated channel to prevent inward flexing of the lower portion of the at least one of the pair of outer legs during mounting of the fastener to the second structure and inadvertent overtravel of the fastener relative to the mounting opening thereof.

29. The fastener of claim 28 wherein the stand-off protrusions form a fulcrum for flexure of the pair of outer legs during mounting of the fastener to the second structure.

30. The fastener of claim 28 wherein each of the pair of outer legs have a stand-off protrusion thereon.

31. The fastener of claim 28 wherein the lower portion of the at least one of the pair of the outer legs terminates in an outwardly extending flange that is adapted to abut an underside of the second structure when the fastener is mounted to the second structure.

32. The fastener of claim 31 wherein the outwardly extending flange is spaced downwardly from the stand-off protrusion.

33. The fastener of claim 32 and further comprising guide members extending from the lower portion of the inner legs downwardly to the outer legs and forming a guide for aligning the insertion rib with the elongated channel as the insertion rib is inserted between the pair of outer legs.

34. The fastener of claim 33 wherein each guide member is spaced upwardly from the stand-off protrusion to permit flexure of the outer legs therebetween.

35. The fastener of claim 34 wherein the outer legs have a thin-walled portion between the guide member and the stand-off protrusion to facilitate flexure of the outer legs therebetween.

36. The fastener of claim 35 wherein the stand-off protrusions form a fulcrum for flexure of the pair of outer legs during mounting of the fastener to the second structure.

37. The fastener of claim 36 wherein each of the pair of outer legs have a stand-off protrusion thereon.

38. The fastener of claim 28 and further comprising guide members extending from the lower portion of the inner legs downwardly to the outer legs and forming a guide for aligning the insertion rib with the elongated channel as the insertion rib is inserted between the pair of outer legs.

39. The fastener of claim 38 wherein each guide member is spaced upwardly from the stand-off protrusion to permit flexure of the outer legs therebetween.

40. The fastener of claim 38 wherein the outer legs have a thin-walled portion between the guide member and the stand-off protrusion to facilitate flexure of the outer legs therebetween.

41. In a fastener for mounting a first structure having an insertion rib with a retention slot to a second structure having a mounting opening comprising a U-shaped body having:

a bight portion at an upper portion thereof with a pair of outer legs depending therefrom, each of the pair of outer legs having an outer surface with a shoulder adapted to receive an edge of the mounting opening to removably mount the outer legs to the second structure, wherein a lower portion of at least one of the outer legs terminates in an outwardly extending flange that is adapted to abut an underside of the second structure during mounting of the fastener to the second structure; and

a pair of inner legs between the pair of outer legs, the pair of inner legs cooperating to define at least in part an elongated channel therebetween having opposing inner surfaces adapted to receive the insertion rib, each of the inner legs having, at a lower portion thereof, a retainer adapted to be received within the retention slot;

the improvement comprising;

the outwardly-extending flange having an upwardly-extending tensioning rib thereon adapted to abut the underside of the second structure to bias the second structure against the shoulder whereby the fastener can be used with second structures of varying thickness and tolerances.

42. The fastener of claim 41 wherein the tensioning rib is generally semi-circular in cross section.

43. The fastener of claim 41 wherein the tensioning rib is located at an outer portion of the outwardly-extending flange.

44. The fastener of claim 43 wherein the tensioning rib is generally semi-circular in cross section.

45. The fastener of claim 41 wherein the pair of outer legs extend downwardly to a greater extent than the pair of inner legs;

and further comprising guide members extending from the lower portion of the inner legs downwardly to the outer legs and forming a guide for aligning the insertion rib with the elongated channel as the insertion rib is inserted between the pair of outer legs.

46. The fastener of claim 45 wherein the guide members are flexible and flex with the flexure of the inner and outer legs.

47. The fastener of claim 46 wherein the retainer has a leading edge thereon for camming the inner legs apart during mounting of the fastener onto the insertion rib.

48. The fastener of claim 47 wherein the guide member has a leading edge in planar alignment with the retainer leading edge.

49. In a fastener for mounting a first structure having an insertion rib with a retention slot to a second structure having a mounting opening comprising a U-shaped body having:

a bight portion at an upper portion thereof with a pair of outer legs depending therefrom, each of the pair of outer legs having an outer surface adapted to receive an edge of the mounting opening to removably mount the outer legs to the second structure; and

a pair of inner legs between the pair of outer legs, the pair of inner legs cooperating to define at least in part an elongated channel therebetween having opposing inner surfaces adapted to receive the insertion rib, each of the inner legs having, at a lower portion thereof, a retainer adapted to be received within the retention slot;

the improvement comprising;

at least one of the inner surfaces of the elongated channel having a variable curvature thereon defining at least two lines of contact with the insertion fib in a spaced vertical relationship; and

wherein a lower portion of at least one of the pair of outer legs further comprises a stand-off protrusion extending inwardly a sufficient extent to maintain contact with the insertion rib when the insertion rib is positioned within the elongated channel to prevent inward flexing of the lower portion of the at least one of the pair of outer legs during mounting of the fastener to the second structure and inadvertent overtravel of the fastener relative to the mounting opening thereof.

50. The fastener of claim 49 wherein the outer legs have a thin-walled portion between the guide member and the stand-off protrusion to facilitate flexure of the outer legs therebetween.

51. The fastener of claim 49 wherein the stand-off protrusions form a fulcrun for flexure of the pair of outer legs during mounting of the fastener to the second structure.

52. The fastener of claim 49 wherein each of the pair of outer legs have a stand-off protrusion thereon.

53. The fastener of claim 49 wherein the lower portion of the at least one of the pair of the outer legs terminates in an outwardly extending flange that is adapted to abut an underside of the second structure when the fastener is mounted to the second structure.

54. The fastener of claim 53 wherein the outwardly extending flange is spaced downwardly from the stand-off protrusion.

55. The fastener of claim 54 wherein the guide member is spaced upwardly from the stand-off protrusion to permit flexure of the outer legs therebetween.

56. In a fastener for mounting a first structure having an insertion rib with a retention slot to a second structure having a mounting opening comprising a U-shaped body having:

a bight portion at an upper portion thereof with a pair of outer legs depending therefrom, each of the pair of outer legs having an outer surface adapted to receive an edge of the mounting opening to removably mount the outer legs to the second structure; and

a pair of inner legs between the pair of outer legs, the pair of inner legs cooperating to define at least in part an elongated channel therebetween having opposing inner surfaces adapted to receive the insertion rib, each of the inner legs having, at a lower portion thereof, a retainer adapted to be received within the retention slot;

the improvement comprising;

the pair of outer legs extend downwardly to a greater extent than the pair of inner legs;

further comprising guide members extending from the lower portion of the inner legs downwardly to the outer legs and forming a guide for aligning the insertion rib with the elongated channel as the insertion rib is inserted between the pair of outer legs; and

wherein a lower portion of at least one of the pair of outer legs further comprises a stand-off protrusion extending inwardly a sufficient extent to maintain contact with the insertion rib when the insertion rib is positioned within the elongated channel to prevent inward flexing of the lower portion of the at least one of the pair of outer legs during mounting of the fastener to the second structure and inadvertent overtravel of the fastener relative to the mounting opening thereof.

57. The fastener of claim 56 wherein the guide member is spaced upwardly from the stand-off protrusion to permit flexure of the outer legs therebetween.

58. The fastener of claim 56 wherein the outer legs have a thin-walled portion between the guide member and the stand-off protrusion to facilitate flexure of the outer legs therebetween.

59. The fastener of claim 56 wherein the stand-off protrusions form a fulcrum for flexure of the pair of outer legs during mounting of the fastener to the second structure.

60. The fastener of claim 56 wherein each of the pair of outer legs have a stand-off protrusion thereon.

61. The fastener of claim 56 wherein the outwardly-extending flange having an upwardly-extending tensioning rib thereon adapted to abut the underside of the second structure to bias the second structure against the shoulder whereby the fastener can be used with second structures of varying thickness and tolerances.

62. The fastener of claim 56 wherein the lower portion of the at least one of the pair of the outer legs terminates in an outwardly extending flange that is adapted to abut an underside of the second structure when the fastener is mounted to the second structure.

63. The fastener of claim 62 wherein the outwardly extending flange is spaced downwardly from the stand-off protrusion.

64. The fastener of claim 63 wherein the guide member is spaced upwardly from the stand-off protrusion to permit flexure of the outer legs therebetween.