Sheet Metal Formed Patents (Class 24/295)
  • Patent number: 11808296
    Abstract: A system includes a first vehicle component and a second vehicle component. The first vehicle component includes a first panel, a T-shaped projection protruding from a mating surface of the first panel, and a locking projection protruding from the mating surface of the first panel. The second vehicle component includes a second panel and a pair of ramped ribs projecting from a non-mating surface of the second panel. The second panel defines a slot that extends through the non-mating surface thereof. The slot includes a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width that is less than the first width. The ramped ribs are disposed on opposite sides of the second portion of the slot. The first vehicle component is configured to be fastened to the second vehicle component and located relative to the second vehicle component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Longo, Dennis L. Arnold
  • Patent number: 11603050
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fastener comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side is connected to the second side thereby forming a U-shaped structure. The fastener further comprises a bottom portion wherein the first side and the second side are connected, and a top portion opposite the bottom portion. The first side comprises a first engagement spring. The first engagement spring is connected to the first side in the vicinity of the bottom portion. The engagement springs have inward facing gussets connected to the bottom portion. The second side comprises a second engagement spring. The second engagement spring is connected to the second side in the vicinity of the bottom portion. A cavity is formed between the first side and the second side as will be described below. The engagement springs include an engagement region operable to adapt to variations or movement of a slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Termax Company
    Inventors: Daniel James Dickinson, Michael Walter Smith
  • Patent number: 11585358
    Abstract: Provided are attachment devices including a fastener (102) and a clip (104) coupled to the fastener, along with methods related thereof. The clip has first and second members (110, 112) with respective first and second engagement surfaces (116, 118) that oppose each other and define a gap (120) sized to receive a portion of the rail. The clip further includes a bridging member (114) that connects the first and second members to each other. The bridging member can have at least one opening (130) aligned with the gap and providing access for a prying tool to resiliently deflect the first and/or second engagement surface and facilitate detachment of the clip from the rail. Optionally, the bridging member includes a third engagement surface (122) with a configuration that enables a rigid coupling between the clip and the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Matthew Kyle Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11557272
    Abstract: A flexible sound barrier and rigid mounting assembly, and a method of attaching to a vehicle. The sound barrier assembly includes a rigid substrate, and flexible noise barrier and decoupling layers. The decoupling and noise barrier layers are bonded, and an adhesive bonds the decoupling layer to the substrate. The decoupling and noise barrier layers are fixedly held in place by the substrate. The substrate can include slots that fit over mounting studs on the vehicle wall. The noise barrier and decoupling layers can include mounting holes that extend through both layers, where the mounting holes line up with the slots, and fit over the mounting studs. The assembly can be mounted on the mounting studs and stud fasteners can fit through a mounting hole without compressing the noise barrier and decoupling layers and sandwich the rigid substrate surrounding a slot between the stud fastener and the vehicle wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Dean A. Boyce, Kerry M. Cone
  • Patent number: 11450242
    Abstract: A pop-out flag for use along a retail shelf edge is printed on a sheet, with information on the front and back sides of the flag being printed without having to duplex the sheet through the printer. When the flag is removed from the sheet it folds onto itself so that an adhesive trim portion of the front and back sides of the flag come into contact with one another. The pop-out design also allows the liner to remain with the face stock to add necessary stiffness to the flag. A pair of concave, arcuate-shaped reliefs along the fold line permit the flag to fold flat onto itself so that the adhesive trim portion contains no voids or bubbles where the two sides of the flag contact one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Elite Creative Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: John Foegelle
  • Patent number: 11400871
    Abstract: A retention clip is configured to securely connect a first component to a second component. The retention clip includes a first frame connected to an opposed second frame by a central beam. An interior of the clip is defined between the first and second frames. Each of the first and second frames includes lateral legs that fold inwardly at upper bends, thereby forming flanges that are disposed within the interior. The flanges on respective sides of the clip are integrally connected by a bridging member, and the flanges further include distal ends that extend below a bottom edge of the bridging member. The clip further includes a flexible wing for securing the clip within the interior of a panel opening. Some embodiments of a retention clip include protrusions that extend inwardly from the bridging members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory George Buczynski
  • Patent number: 11267523
    Abstract: A method of installing an overhead panel to another panel is provided. The method includes connecting a base of a positioning structure to a surface of the overhead panel. The positioning structure includes the base, a stem that extends outwardly from the base and an enlarged head that extends outwardly from the stem and overhangs the base. The enlarged head of the positioning structure is moved against a ledge of the another panel. The ledge contacts the enlarged head and moves the enlarged head from a catch configuration to an insertion configuration where the enlarged head reduces in dimension. The enlarged head is passed by the ledge such that the enlarged head moves from the insertion configuration to the catch configuration of increased dimension. The enlarged head is hung on the ledge such that the positioning structure supports the overhead panel in a pre-installation position that is different from an installed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Logan R. Astrike
  • Patent number: 11209034
    Abstract: In order to provide a spring device which is of simple construction and enables achieving high spring forces and long spring paths, it is proposed that the spring device comprises the following: a spring element which is able to be brought from an initial state into a deflected state by elastic deformation; an abutment element against which the spring element is able to abut for reaching a deflected state of the spring element, wherein at least one end of the spring element is moveable relative to the abutment element by elastic deformation of the spring element, wherein the spring element in the initial state thereof has an increasing distance from the abutment element in the direction of the end of the spring element which is moveable relative to the abutment element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignees: Lamello AG
    Inventors: Franz Josef Haser, Franz Baur, Patrick Jeker, Philipp Seiler
  • Patent number: 11094348
    Abstract: A disc library storage system and a disc cartridge thereof are provided. The disc library storage system includes a disc library, a disc drive tower, a disc transport device and a disc changing device. The disc library accommodates multiple discs. The disc drive tower accommodates multiple disc drives. The disc drives read data of the discs. The disc transport device moves the discs from the disc library to the disc drive tower and to the disc library. The disc changing device places a disc cartridge including an outer casing and a disc tray. The disc tray accommodates at least one replacement disc. The disc changing device has a pull-out state, in which the disc tray is received in the outer casing, and a close state, in which the disc tray is drawn from the outer casing and the disc transport device unloads the replacement disc from the disc tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Inventor: Cheng-Wen Huang
  • Patent number: 11021868
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a finishing panel fixing device, and more particularly, to a finishing panel fixing device that fixes a finishing panel so that the finishing panel can be stably fixed when installing the finishing panel for finishing an indoor or outdoor wall surface or a floor. The finishing panel fixing device according to the present invention is extremely simple to assemble and install, and thus can reduce the time required for assembly, installation, and disassembly. The finishing panel fixing device also enhances fixability with respect to the finishing panel so that movement of the finishing panel due to an external force is prevented, and thus can also be applied to the finishing of an outdoor wall. The finishing panel fixing device can also facilitate maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: JOEUN-DECO CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jung Kang Shin
  • Patent number: 11006540
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit board (1), preferably for a circuit for operating a lighting means, comprising a retaining bow (2), which is arranged on a planar top side (11) of the circuit board (1) and mechanically connected to the circuit board (1); and comprising a through-bore (3), which is arranged at least partially below the retaining bow (2); wherein the through-bore (3) has at least one taper (31) and wherein a housing (5) for protecting the circuit board (1) can be mechanically fastened by means of the retaining bow (2) and the taper (31). The retaining bow (2) is arranged on the circuit board (1) by means of a solder joint (32). The invention further relates to a system for a circuit for operating a lighting means and to a method for fastening a housing (5) to a circuit board (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: TRIDONIC GMBH & CO KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Weber
  • Patent number: 11002383
    Abstract: A combination securing clip is provided that includes at least two different connectors each securable to a desired surface and a region securable to a conduit. The region can be directly and/or indirectly secured to the conduit. In some embodiments, the at least two connectors include two different types of connectors—and include a push-in connector and a slide-on connector. Thus, the combination securing clip can include a slide-on connector configured to slide on to a surface to secure the clip to the surface, a push-in connector configured to push in to an opening in the surface to secure the clip to the surface, and a directly and/or indirectly region securable to a conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Kurt Leslie Gray Naugler
  • Patent number: 10960480
    Abstract: The invention refers to a chuck pallet (1.3) with solid groove-sidewalls (2.3) for clamping chucks (1.1), whereby the x-y-references (2.5) of the chuck pallet (1.3) are allocated in the same plane (2.1) as the z-references (2.1) and the x-y-references (2.5) are also allocated at the solid groove-sidewalls (2.3). The solid groove-sidewalls (2.3) have thereby a tapered profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: System 3R International AB
    Inventor: Håkan Dahlquist
  • Patent number: 10857954
    Abstract: A clip assembly includes a mating component that includes including a mating opening. The clip assembly may also include an attachment component that includes a base wall, a clip body, a pair of sidewalls, an end wall, and a base aperture formed in the base wall. The end walls extend between the pair of sidewalls such that the pair of sidewalls and the end wall at least partially bound the base aperture. The clip body connects with the pair of sidewalls, and the clip body includes an engagement member configured to engage with the mating opening of the mating component to releasably couple the attachment component with the mating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Praveen Kumar, Joshua S. Lynch
  • Patent number: 10717317
    Abstract: An animal skull mount clip system comprising a base, flexible legs extending from the base, and a mounting stud configured to attach the base to a mounting surface, where the flexible legs are configured to be inserted into a brain cavity of an animal skull through a foramen magnum of the animal skull by being flexed toward each other to clear the foramen magnum before expanding back to their original positions, thereby allowing the animal skull to be attached to the mounting surface by the flexible legs within the animal skull and the mounting stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventor: John Nobi
  • Patent number: 10634176
    Abstract: A system and method including a a fastener clip assembly including a tub configured to engage and be secured to a slot in a chassis. The tub is configured to be secured to the slot bases at least upon the tub comprising two or more tabs. The tabs are attached to the tub along a top portion of each of the tabs, and each of the tabs are configured to bend along the top portion of the tabs. Each of the tabs are configured to bend in response to the tub being inserted into the slot and to bend back to original positions of each of the tabs. Bottom portions of each the tabs secure the tub to the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TERMAX LLC
    Inventor: Daniel James Dickinson
  • Patent number: 10442329
    Abstract: Dress cover attachment clips and methods for attaching and tensioning seat dress covers. A dress cover attachment system including a dress cover having a fabric conduit, a rod disposed in the fabric conduit, and a dress cover clip secured around the rod at a location of a break in the fabric conduit, the dress cover clip including a rod holder and a clamp adapted to receive a rigid seat part therein. A dress cover attachment clip including a clamp adapted to receive a rigid seat part therein, a free end adapted to be attached to a dress cover, and an integral hinge interconnecting the clamp and the free end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace Fischer GmbH
    Inventors: Arthur Dumler, Andreas R. Glöckner
  • Patent number: 10434957
    Abstract: To prevent a vehicle body member from being damaged when an interior component is attached. In a vehicle interior structure, an interior component is fastened to a vehicle body member provided interior of a vehicle by an engagement portion. The engagement portion includes a hole formed in the vehicle body member, a claw portion provided in the interior component, and a pedestal provided in a base part of the claw portion. A guide portion is provided in the vehicle body member to guide the pedestal before the claw portion is fitted into the hole to engage with the hole, so as to prevent an end portion of the interior component from contacting the vehicle body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Toriumi, Kazuhiro Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10391945
    Abstract: A ramp bracket assembly for selectively storing a ramp in a rear of the vehicle is disclosed. The ramp bracket includes a mounting plate, a support plate, and a retaining channel. The mounting plate is spaced away from and fixedly connected to the support plate. The mounting plate further includes a key member that engages with a mounting bracket connectable to the vehicle sidewall. The retaining channel, which selectively receives a ramp, is fixedly connected to the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy George, Kurt John Jaeckle, Mark Higgins, Matthew Naumann, Jeffrey Gerard Fortin, John Robert Dryden, John Jeffrey Steslicki
  • Patent number: 10280958
    Abstract: A tapered clip comprises a base; and a clip body connected to the base and moveable relative to the base. The clip body includes a clipping member, and the clipping member includes a clip surface having a first clip edge and a second clip edge next to the first clip edge. The first clip edge forms a first angle with a plane that is perpendicular to a clip engagement direction and the second clip edge forms a second angle with the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Job, Dale Travis Huggan
  • Patent number: 9982403
    Abstract: A vehicle barrier apparatus includes a horizontal barrier component, a vertical barrier component, at least one rigid stabilizer beam having two end surfaces and at least one elongated side surface. One end of the stabilizer beam is affixed to the vertical barrier component. The elongated side surface of the stabilizer beam is affixed to the horizontal barrier component to prevent rotational movement of the vertical barrier component. A lower surface of the horizontal barrier component is a friction-enhanced surface which creates a sliding friction interface upon contact of a moving vehicle with the vertical barrier component. The horizontal barrier is made up of panel components interconnected by link components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by The Secretary of The Army
    Inventor: Christopher G. Price
  • Patent number: 9868348
    Abstract: A fixing structure includes: a first member having a locked portion; a second member which is formed of a material having lower stiffness than that of the first member and includes a locking claw to be locked onto the locked portion; and a reinforcing member which is configured to limit bending of the locking claw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: FALTEC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Watari
  • Patent number: 9835240
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gear reducer (1) for an assisted-steering module, including a casing (3), a worm (4) which meshes with a worm wheel (6), and a spring (10) for taking up gear play, which presses said worm (4) radially against the worm wheel (6), the wall of the casing (3) being bored, away from of the axis (XX?) of the worm, with an opening (14) sealed by a plug (15), the spring (10) for taking up gear play including at least one retaining lug (17, 18) which projects radially to the axis (XX?) of the worm (4), and the hub (20) of the plug (15) having a guiding wall (21) that is substantially transverse to the axis (XX?) of the worm (4), which is designed to be placed axially opposite said at least one retaining lug (17, 18), in order to prevent the axial movement of the spring (10) beyond a predetermined functional travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Philippe Chauvrat, Caroline Gex
  • Patent number: 9656585
    Abstract: A trim cap with a tether. The trim cap includes a cap with a tether. The tether has a distal end with a living hinge and a J-shaped hook extending from the living hinge. An assist grip with an attachment section having a tether aperture is also included. The J-shaped hook and the living hinge allow for the J-shaped hook to lay directly against the tether in an install position such that the distal end and J-shaped hook can pass through the tether aperture of the attachment section. The J-shaped hook and the living hinge spring into a release position after the J-shaped hook has passed through the tether aperture. Also, the J-shaped hook is spaced apart from the tether and cannot pass back through the tether aperture. In this manner the trim cap is tethered to the level one part during installation of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Logan R. Astrike
  • Patent number: 9651072
    Abstract: A clip securing device has a receiving part provided with an opening. A bridge portion of an insert part can be inserted into the opening, said bridge portion having a detent with a slanted surface which deflects the bridge portion when the bridge portion is inserted into the opening such that said bridge portion is elastically expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Berthold
  • Patent number: 9580114
    Abstract: A coupling assembly includes a panel and a clip. The panel has a panel hole, and the clip is partly inserted through the panel hole. The clip is a one-way clip because, once it is partly inserted through the panel hole, it cannot be decoupled from the panel. In an embodiment, the clip includes a clip base and a plurality of retainers coupled along the clip base. Once the coupling assembly is fully assembled, the retainers extend through the panel hole. Each retainer includes a frame coupled to the clip base and an overhang rotatably coupled to the frame. Each retainer also includes a restrictor coupled to the overhang. The restrictor can rotate relative to the frame between a first restrictor position and a second restrictor position. In the second restrictor position, the restrictor inhibits the clip from decoupling from the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Todd E. Allen, Seung H. Lee, Paul W. Kenyon
  • Patent number: 9510477
    Abstract: A server includes a chassis, a protecting component and at least one power supply. The chassis includes a case, a cover and a lid. The cover is disposed on the case to form at least one accommodating space, and the lid is detachably disposed on the case and covers the cover. The protecting component is assembled on the cover and includes a pressed sheet spring and a first blocking sheet spring. Both the pressed sheet spring and the first blocking sheet spring includes a bending section, and the bending sections are separated apart. The two sheet springs are fastened to the cover to form a fastening part, and the two sheet springs are connected to each other to form a movable part. The two sheet springs move simultaneously when the movable part is moved relative to the cover. The power supply is removably disposed in the accommodating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: WISTRON CORP.
    Inventors: Zhi-Peng Zou, Zhong-Hui Mao
  • Patent number: 9500210
    Abstract: An anchoring clip assembly is configured to securely anchor to a structure. The assembly may include a main body, a plurality of anchoring members extending from the main body, wherein the plurality of anchoring members are configured to securely anchor to the structure, and at least one verification member configured to provide verification when the plurality of anchoring members are securely anchored to the structure. The verification member(s) may provide visual verification when the plurality of anchoring members are securely anchored to the structure, and/or may include at least one separable portion that is configured to separate from the main body after the plurality of anchoring members are securely anchored to the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence W. Johnson, Marc R. Risdale, James T. Kirchen
  • Patent number: 9469991
    Abstract: A lattice comprising two intersecting laths and a pivoting connector locating at the intersection between the laths that includes a male retainer and a female retainer that interlock so as to connect the laths together. The male and female retainers interlock such that the laths may pivot about the connector from an expanded framework configuration to a collapsed framework configuration of the lattice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventor: Daniel J. Milanowski
  • Patent number: 9452715
    Abstract: In one aspect, a coupling system is provided. The coupling system includes a first component comprising a body, a second component comprising an inner wall defining at least one receiving aperture, wherein a notch is formed in the inner wall, and at least one tab extending outwardly from the body. The at least one tab is biased in a direction away from the body, and a retention feature is formed on the at least one tab and configured to interferingly engage the notch. When the at least one tab is inserted into a corresponding receiving aperture of the at least one receiving aperture, the at least one tab is biased against the inner wall and the retention feature interferingly engages the notch to facilitate coupling the first component to the second component in a desired orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Rodolfo De La Mora Ramirez, Alberto Soto Pineda
  • Patent number: 9434323
    Abstract: A method of fitting an attachment, or a trim, onto a portion of a profiled strip, or onto a portion of a profiled strip fastened to a periphery of a glazing pane, a fitting operation being carried out by an intermediate fastening device. The intermediate fastening device includes at least one clip including having at least one upstream cooperating part configured to cooperate with the profiled strip and a downstream cooperating part configured to cooperate with the attachment. The method includes fastening the intermediate fastening device onto the profiled strip. The intermediate fastening device includes an upstream cooperating part having a plurality of deformable catching tabs, the tabs being deformed by applying a force to the ends of the tabs toward the material of the profiled strip in two opposed directions so as to penetrate the material of the profiled strip during the fastening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Gerard Huchet, Ricardo Garcia
  • Patent number: 9341535
    Abstract: A pressure belt comprising a flexible belt, and a flat pack assembly removably attached to the flexible belt, wherein each flat pack assembly comprises at least one sensing element. Further, each flat pack assembly also comprises a memory component associated with the sensing element thereon, wherein the memory component houses data specific to the corresponding sensing element. Unlike prior art structures, each flat pack assembly is individually removable. Therefore, if one sensing element malfunctions, it may be replaced by removing the flat pack assembly comprising the malfunctioning sensing element and swapping it out for a flat pack assembly comprising an operable sensing element. This is an improvement over the prior art as it eliminates the need for replacing and recalibrating the entire pressure belt when one sensing element malfunctions, which can be both time consuming and costly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Gardner, Louis DeRosa, Joseph VanDeWeert, Richard Martin
  • Patent number: 9341204
    Abstract: A fastening clip (10) for mounting a component part (28), especially an airbag or an airbag module, on a support (30) includes a head portion (12), a clip body (14) and retaining elements (16) laterally projecting from the clip body (14) which are elastically deflectable. The clip body (14) defines an interior and includes windows (20) through which the retaining elements (16) protrude outwardly from the interior. An assembly having such fastening clip (10) furthermore includes a support (30) having a mounting aperture (34) matching with the dimensions of the clip body (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Fischer
  • Publication number: 20150107060
    Abstract: A QUICK FASTENING DEVICE FOR PANELS, of the type containing two elements that interact with one another by virtue of the moving parts thereof and which is used to provide an anchoring point for the fastening of an application to the hole in a panel, being formed from a clip and a pin, said clip incorporating tabs descending downwards from the base, and having elastic ability in order to move closer toward the center of said clip through the sliding action of elbows or hooks on said tabs, acting on the inclined profile of cavities provided in said pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Raúl Ortega Dona, Jaume Arisa Busquets
  • Patent number: 9009928
    Abstract: A fastening device for connecting an attachment to a support part has a cover plate and side walls which are integrally formed on the cover plate and form a U-shaped profile. Mutually opposite edge wings and supporting cheeks supported on supporting edges are present on shaft arms. This results in a highly rigid, block-like construction of the fastening device which is highly resistant to very high pull-out forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: A. Raymond et Cie
    Inventor: Sven Binkert
  • Patent number: 8961092
    Abstract: A device for retaining an attached part on a carrier part, including a clip part and an unlocking part displaceably supported in the clip part. In a release position of the unlocking part, latching legs of the clip part engage behind the carrier part while, in a dismantling position of the unlocking part, the latching legs are not engaged with the carrier part so that the attached part can be removed from the carrier part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventors: Michael De Jong, Jens Breitenfeld
  • Patent number: 8950042
    Abstract: A fastener clip includes a base plate and a first and second pair of laterally offset legs extending from the base plate. At least one first wing extends from the first pair of laterally offset legs. The at least one first wing has an engagement region. At least one second wing extending from the second pair of laterally offset legs. The at least one second wing has an engagement region, such that a distance between the engagement regions and the base plate is operative to vary continuously according to a slot thickness. The fastener clip is operative for insertion into the slot defined in a first engagement structure, such as a vehicle chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Termax Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Walter Smith, Daniel James Dickinson
  • Patent number: 8944733
    Abstract: A device for holding an add-on part on a support part in an assembly position and in a pull-out position. The device includes an insertion clip and a plug-in part. In an assembly position of the add-on part on the support part, the plug-in part is in engagement with the insertion clip whereas, after the add-on part has been spaced apart from the support part, the plug-in part can be disengaged from the insertion clip by displacement in the direction of a foot end of the insertion clip and can be removed together with the add-on part, which is connected to the plug-in part, from the insertion clip which remains in the support part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: A. Raymond et Cie
    Inventors: Thomas Podsadny, René Spanier
  • Patent number: 8904607
    Abstract: A fastening device includes a clip and a retaining element. The clip has a head from which lateral wings for fastening to a panel and resilient lugs for fastening the retaining element to the clip extend laterally. The retaining element temporarily fastened inside the clip is inserted in this state inside a mounting hole or opening where final fastening of the device to the panel is performed. The retaining element has an internal cavity for disassembling the clip. The resilient lugs have a fold from which they extend so as to form inner wings which are provided with an opening. Upon insertion of the retaining element, projections of the retaining element engage inside the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Victor Diez Herrera
  • Patent number: 8882180
    Abstract: A door hooking arrangement for a motor vehicle for protecting against an impact on a vehicle door (1) including a catch hook (5) and a receiver (6) for the catch hook (5), the catch hook (5) and receiver (6) being correspondingly arranged on the vehicle door (1) and a door frame (4) in the vehicle. The catch hook (5) includes at least one barb (9). Thus, with plastic deformation of the vehicle door, the catch hook (5) is hooked very firmly in the receiver (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Dirk van Oirschot
  • Patent number: 8850671
    Abstract: A clip includes first and second clamping pieces provided to clamp a member to be fixed. The first clamping piece includes an insertion part to be inserted into a thorough hole of a fixed member. The insertion part includes a pair of strip member, each including a smaller width portion, a larger width portion and a stepped portion provided therebetween. In a course of the insertion part being inserted into the through hole, the larger width portions of the strip members pass the through hole while the strip members are flexed in the direction approaching to each other, and subsequently when the smaller width portions are inserted into the through hole, the strip members are allowed to be deformed in a direction separating from each other to return to an original state, whereby the stepped portions are locked to a region to be locked in the fixed member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoaki Nagata
  • Patent number: 8832907
    Abstract: A fastening device having spring legs formed onto a cover plate, including support flanges, which are disposed in support flange recesses. The fastening element thereby has a very high pull-out force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: A. Raymond et Cie
    Inventors: Michael De Jong, Jens Breitenfeld, Thomas Podsadny
  • Patent number: 8833830
    Abstract: A vehicular accessory retention clip is used to attach a vehicular accessory, such as vehicular trim, to a vehicle. The vehicular accessory may have a substrate component that has at least one reinforcement post, and the vehicle may have a vehicular base component that has at least one corresponding opening configured to receive the reinforcement post. The retention clip has at least two walls that extend from an edge of a platform, each wall having an exterior tab and an interior tab configured to engage with the walls of the opening and the reinforcement post, respectively. The retention clip is slid onto the reinforcement post until the interior tabs engage with the reinforcement post, and the combination of the retention clip and reinforcement post is inserted until the exterior tabs engage with the walls of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David T. Renke, Paul W. Renius
  • Patent number: 8827110
    Abstract: The handle end portions are attached to the tray by separate connectors. The tray has spaced openings to receive the connectors. Each connector has an anchor-shaped section which is received in a tray opening and a section which engages a handle end portion. The anchor-shaped section has arms which flex to permit the connector to be received in the tray opening and thereafter return to their extended position to cooperate with the tray to securely attach the connector to the tray and prevent free rotation of the connector. The handle engaging section includes a hook-shaped member which is received an opening in the handle end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Texpak, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Franzone, Jr., John Sperling
  • Publication number: 20140225355
    Abstract: A tethering clip assembly is configured to tether first and second panels of a vehicle together. The assembly includes first and second plates, a mechanical fuse connecting the first plate to the second plate in a compressed state, and at least one spring member connected between the first and second plates. The at least one spring member is compressed in the compressed state. The mechanical fuse is configured to break upon exertion of a predetermined force. The at least one spring member extends when the mechanical fuse breaks, thereby forcing the first and second plates to extend away from one another in an extended state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Marc R. Risdale
  • Patent number: 8800120
    Abstract: A retention fastener includes a body panel and first and second leg members connected to the body panel by first leg member portions. Both leg members co-extend away from a body panel first panel face and have a second portion directed back toward the body panel. The first and second leg members include at least one retention feature connected to the second leg member portion, including: a single tooth wing having a smooth curved surface extending to a single wing retention tooth, and a multiple tooth wing positioned beside the single tooth wing. The multiple tooth wing has individual teeth on a curved surface sequentially increasing in height with respect to the curved surface. The multiple tooth wing is oriented in a superimposed position with respect to the single tooth wing so the individual teeth extend outwardly with respect to the smooth curved surface of the single tooth wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Steven M. Benedetti
  • Patent number: 8794887
    Abstract: Insertion force for installing a clip to a body panel, and retaining force of the clip after installation, are obtained by an engagement leg section. A click sensation when the clip is installed to the body panel is obtained by a click leg section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Masaaki Nishino
  • Patent number: 8714630
    Abstract: A flat vehicle body component made of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic has at least one interconnecting web that protrudes from the flat vehicle body component and that is made entirely of the matrix material epoxy resin. A mounting part at least partially envelops the interconnecting web in a force locking manner, so that the mounting part is clamped securely on the interconnecting web. The mounting part has at least one hole that can be used for fastening another component. An additional component may be fastened in the hole in a conventional manner, so that the carbon fiber reinforced plastic component does not need corresponding holes. The interconnecting web may be integrally molded on the vehicle body component during its manufacture so that practically no additional engineering effort is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Philipp Schmied, Carsten Mueller, Rastislav Takacs, Thomas Schnaufer, Siegfried Stoeckl
  • Patent number: 8646155
    Abstract: A clip for fastening accessories to vehicle panels includes a rectangular reinforcement case which is formed by the end contact of its opposite mid parts, by means of the fitted-together join of a single finger per side of each mid part, by means of a shape approximately of a double fold in the form of a zig-zag against the edge of the opposite part, which extends in parallel to the walls of the case and in the interior of the case. The remainder of this opposite part has a symmetrical finger with a similar arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Oscar Ribes Marti
  • Patent number: 8636454
    Abstract: There is provided a fastener which can be brought into firm engagement with a mounting hole without being affected by a change in thickness of a member in which the mounting hole is provided or a larger or smaller inside diameter of the mounting hole. This fastener 1 includes a pin 10, a metal plate spring member 30 and a grommet 50. The plate spring member 30 has a base portion 31 and a pair of elastic engagement pieces 35, 35 which are opened in their free state and which are closed when pressed against their elastic restoring force. The elastic engagement pieces 35 have engagement shoulder portions 37 which are brought into engagement with the mounting hole, and distal ends thereof are folded to constitute folded portions 40. The folded portions 40 are offset widthwise from each other, and engagement projecting pieces 43 are formed on inner sides thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Piolax Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeo Okada, Takeshi Nakajima, Kouichi Kato