CHANNEL FASTENER
A channel fastener is described. The channel fastener may secure molding to a vehicle roof ditch and includes a retainer clip and a fastener. The retainer clip includes a body having an opening for receiving a pin, an attachment feature located on an end of the body, a clamp feature located on either side of the opening, and wings extending from the body. The attachment feature secures the molding to the channel fastener. The wings center and align the channel fastener within the roof ditch. The fastener includes an aperture for receiving the pin, wherein the fastener may be slidably secured within the body. The fastener may slide laterally and longitudinally from a center of the retainer clip toward either wall of the roof ditch.
This application claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/205,247, entitled “Channel Fastener,” filed on Jan. 16, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to fasteners and, more particularly, to channel fasteners.
BACKGROUNDMotor vehicles, such as automobiles and trucks, have metal joints and seams that must be sealed to prevent potential seepage of water and other external substances.
Generally, it is necessary to seal the joint 100 to prevent water seepage. It may often, however, be difficult to obtain a good seal, as the joint 100 may be overlapping rather than planar. Therefore, the motor vehicle industry has utilized various types of sealants and systems, such as molding, to fill voids and to block the passage of dirt, moisture, and other undesirable substances. Typically, such sealants may be secured in the ditch 130 with fasteners.
During installation of the molding, and periodically after the molding installation has been completed, the fasteners may experience a variety of complications that often result in defective seals. For example, during installation, fasteners may become misaligned within the ditch 130. In addition, the pins typically used to secure the fasteners in the ditch 130 may not be uniformly aligned in the ditch 130.
Moreover, loads exerted on the fasteners due to temperature fluctuations may cause the panels 110, 120 and molding to expand and contract. Such constant thermal expansion and contraction may cause misalignment of the fasteners and, in some cases, may even bend or break the fasteners. Further, the width of the roof ditch 130 may typically vary along its length, further compromising the effective use of a common fastener. Common fasteners may also not be capable of cross-car positioning to accommodate a variety of pin locations in the ditch 130.
SUMMARYA channel fastener is described. The channel fastener may secure molding to a vehicle roof ditch. The channel fastener may include a retainer clip and a fastener. The retainer clip may include a body having an opening capable of receiving a pin, an attachment feature located on an end of the body, a clamp feature located on either side of the opening, and a wing extending from the body. The attachment feature may include a post extending outward from the body, a canopy located on an end of the post, and a tension wing located at an opposite end of the post. The attachment feature may secure the molding to the channel fastener. The wings may be capable of centering and aligning the channel fastener within the roof ditch. The fastener may have an aperture for receiving the pin, wherein the fastener may be capable of being slidably secured within the body. The fastener may slide laterally and longitudinally from a center of the retainer clip toward either wall of the roof ditch.
Objects and advantages, together with the operation of the invention, may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein:
Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the invention. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention.
The insert or fastener 14 may be of any appropriate type, such as a pushnut fastener 14 (
The fastener 14 may generally include a body 16 having an aperture 18 (
The flaps 20 may be located at any appropriate position on the body 16, such as along the outer perimeter of the aperture 18, whereby the flaps 20 may be capable of securing the channel fastener 10 to the pin 60 (
The molding retainer clip 12 may be constructed or fabricated out of any appropriate type of material, such as nylon (
The molding retainer clip 12 may be of any appropriate shape or size, such as a generally square or rectangular shape. For example, the retainer clip 12 may include a bottom 22 and at least one sidewall, such as four general sidewalls 24, 26, 28, 30 (
The sidewalls 24, 26, 28, 30 may be of any appropriate shape or size, such as a generally square or rectangular shape. The sidewalls 24, 26, 28, 30 may be located at any appropriate position on the retainer clip 12, such that the sidewalls 24, 26, 28, 30 may generally form a square or rectangular shape. This generally square or rectangular shape formed by the sidewalls 24, 26, 28, 30 may be of a similar shape to that of the fastener 14, whereby the fastener 14 may generally fit within the sidewalls 24, 26, 28, 30 (
The bottom 22 may include an opening 38 (
The bottom 22 may support the fastener 14 in a substantially coplanar arrangement, such as between the sidewalls 24, 26, 28, 30 (
The molding retainer clip 12 may be configured to allow for selective lateral positioning of the fastener 14 relative to the ditch 130. This selective lateral position of the fastener 14 may accommodate a variety of cross-car pin 60 locations, such as where the pins 60 may not be aligned in the center of the ditch 130. Space may be provided between the walls 24, 28 and the fastener 14, such that the fastener 14 may be selectively positioned toward either wall 24, 28 to accommodate the pin 60 location, such as by sliding. Space may also be provided between the walls 26, 30, to accommodate the pin 60 location, such as by sliding.
The retainer 12 may also include at least one leg 32, at least one wing 34 and at least one attachment feature 36 (
The legs 32 may be of any appropriate shape or size, such as a generally rectangular, triangular, square shape or the like. The legs 32 may be located at any appropriate position on the retainer clip 12, such as located on either side of the opening 38 (
The retainer clip 12 may include a clamp feature having retention member or tab 42 and a projection 44 (
The projection 44 may be of any appropriate shape or size, such as a generally triangular, rectangular, hooked shape or the like (
The fastener 14 may be capable of sliding laterally or cross-car +/− about 2 mm from the center of the molding retainer clip 12 toward either wall 24, 28. The fastener 14 may be slideably secured to the bottom 22 via the retention member or tab 42 and the projection 44. The clamp feature may be made from the same materials as the molding retainer clip 12. Although the clamp feature is described as including a projection 44 and a tab 42, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that alternative features may be employed to facilitate slidingly securing the fastener 14 to the molding retainer clip 12.
The retainer clip 12 may also include at least one structural member 46, such as four structural members 46 (
The structural members 46 may add to the structural integrity of the retainer clip 12 or add additional strength or rigidity to the retainer clip 12. The retainer clip 12 may also include structural ribs 40 (
The retainer clip 12 may include a one or more wings 34, such as a pair of wings 34 (
The wings 34 may be constructed or fabricated from the same material as the molding retainer clip 12, and the wings 34 may be integrally formed with the molding retainer clip 12. The wings 34 may be flexible so as to withstand the expansion and contraction of the panels 110, 120. While the wings 34 may be shown and described as having a certain configuration and being located at a particular position, it is to be understood that the location and configuration of the wings 34 should not be limited to that shown and disclosed herein and may include alternative features.
The retainer clip 12 may include one or more attachment features 36, such as a pair of attachment features 36 (
The attachment features 36 may include a trunk or post 48, a tree top or canopy 50, and at least one tension wing 52 (
The canopy 50 may be of any appropriate shape or size, such as a generally triangular or curved shape (
There may be one or more tension wings 52, such as two tension wings (
The attachment features 36 may also include an alignment rib 54 (
The attachment features 36 may be located at any appropriate position on the retainer clip 12, such as located adjacent either end of the legs 32 on the retainer clip 12. For example, the attachment features 36 may be positioned away from the opening 38 on either end of the retainer clip 12 (
The channel fastener 10 may be secured in the ditch 130 by positioning the channel fastener 10 over the pin 60, such that the pin 60 may extend through the opening 38 and the aperture 18 in the fastener 14 (
The wings 34 are capable of bending, whereby the wings 34 may allow for the channel fastener 10 to be used in a ditch 130 having varying widths. When the channel fastener 10 is inserted into a narrower section of a ditch 130 or when the channel fastener 10 may be subjected to expansion and contraction forces from the panels 110, 120 and/or molding 160, the wings 34 may bend to prevent damage or misalignment of the fastener 10. Next, the molding 160 may be secured to the channel fastener 10 via the attachment feature 36, thereby effectively sealing the joint 100 (
Accordingly, the channel fastener 10 may allow for longitudinal movement, as well as lateral positioning, during installation. Lateral movement of the fastener 14 relative to the ditch 130 may enable the channel fastener 10 to be secured to a variety of cross-car pin 60 locations. Such cross-car capability may also maintain proper positioning of the attachment feature 36 and the molding 160 in the ditch 130.
The construction material for the molding retainer clip 12 and wings 34 may allow the channel fastener 10 to withstand forces caused by the expansion and contraction of the roofing panels 110, 120 and the molding 160. Additionally, the wings 34 may provide for proper alignment of the channel fastener 10 and allow the channel fastener 10 to be employed in a variety of ditch 130 widths, thereby allowing for the use of a common channel fastener 10 along the entire length of the ditch 130.
Although the embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to merely the embodiments disclosed but that the invention described herein is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the scope of the claims hereafter.
Claims
1. A channel fastener for securing molding to a vehicle roof ditch, said channel fastener comprising:
- a retainer clip comprising: a body having an opening capable of receiving a pin; at least one attachment feature located on an end of said body; a clamp feature located on either side of said opening;
- a fastener having an aperture capable of receiving the pin, wherein said fastener is capable of being slidably secured within said body via said clamp feature.
2. The channel fastener of claim 1, wherein said opening and said aperture are shaped to allow for adjustment of said channel fastener in the roof ditch about the pin.
3. The channel fastener of claim 2, wherein said fastener is capable of sliding laterally from a center of said retainer clip toward either wall of the roof ditch.
4. The channel fastener of claim 2, wherein said fastener is capable of sliding longitudinally from a center of said retainer clip toward either wall of the roof ditch.
5. The channel fastener of claim 1, wherein said clamp feature includes a tab and a projection.
6. The channel fastener of claim 1, wherein said wings align said channel fastener within the roof ditch.
7. The channel fastener of claim 1, wherein said attachment feature secures the molding to said channel fastener.
8. The channel fastener of claim 7, wherein said attachment feature includes a post, a canopy, and at least one tension wing.
9. The clamp fastener of claim 1 further including at least one structural member.
10. The channel fastener of claim 1, wherein said fastener is a pushnut.
11. A channel fastener for securing molding to a vehicle roof ditch, said channel fastener comprising:
- a body having an opening capable of receiving a pin;
- at least one attachment feature located on an end of said body;
- a clamp feature located on either side of said opening;
- at least one wing extending from said body, wherein said wing is capable of centering said channel fastener within the roof ditch; and
- a fastener having an aperture, wherein said fastener is capable of being secured within said body.
12. The channel fastener of claim 11, wherein said channel fastener includes a pair of wings.
13. The channel fastener of claim 11, wherein said at least one wing is flexible to allow said channel fastener to be used in a roof ditch having varying widths.
14. The channel fastener of claim 11, wherein said at least one wing extends laterally from said body to prevent misalignment of said channel fastener in the roof ditch.
15. The channel fastener of claim 11, wherein said at least one wing is flexible to withstand any expansion and contraction of the roof ditch and the molding.
16. A channel fastener for securing molding to a vehicle roof ditch, said channel fastener comprising:
- a body having an opening capable of receiving a pin;
- at least one attachment feature located on an end of said body, said attachment feature comprising: a post extending outward from said body; a canopy located on an end of said post; and at least one tension wing located at an opposite end of said post;
- a clamp feature located on either side of said opening;
- a fastener having an aperture, wherein said fastener is capable of being secured within said body.
17. The channel fastener of claim 16, wherein said attachment feature includes a pair of tension wings.
18. The channel fastener of claim 16, wherein the molding is secured between said canopy and said at least one tension wing.
19. The channel fastener of claim 18, wherein said opening and said aperture are shaped to allow for adjustment of said channel fastener in the roof ditch about the pin.
20. The channel fastener of claim 18, wherein said channel fastener is capable of longitudinal and lateral movement during installation.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 18, 2010
Publication Date: Jul 22, 2010
Inventor: Jason Reznar (Redford, MI)
Application Number: 12/689,045
International Classification: E04C 2/38 (20060101);