Nonmetallic Nut, Resiliently Deformed During Assembly Patents (Class 411/182)
  • Patent number: 11680593
    Abstract: A retaining clamp of a quick release fastening device, which is latchable in a component opening and in which a fastening bolt is lockable, comprising the following features: two spring legs arranged opposite to each other in a V-shape, the arrangement of which comprises a tapered open end at which the V-shaped spring legs are not connected to each other, and the arrangement of which comprises a widened end, at which the V-shaped arranged spring legs are connected to each other via a connection web with a central passage opening, and each of the two spring legs arranged in a V-shape comprises a central window with a spring web arranged therein, which is fastened at one side and is at least once angled in its course in the direction of the widened end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Michaela Muecke, Heinrich Heinrichs, Jan Norman Kratzsch
  • Patent number: 11549538
    Abstract: In implementations of a pressure lock retention fastener, the fastener assembly includes an insert sized for insertion into a fastener hole in a first panel. The fastener assembly has a threaded collet sized to slide in the insert and has expandable flanges that extend below the insert. The expandable flanges are sized for insertion into an aligned hole in a second panel. The fastener assembly also includes a screw installable through the insert to engage the threaded collet. The screw exerts a force that pushes the expandable flanges outward as screw rotation drives the screw into the threaded collet, and ridge locks of the expandable flanges seat up against the second panel effective to fasten the panels together. In implementations, a plate is installable between the panels with slotted holes having anti-rotation tabs that prevent a fastener assembly from spinning in the panel holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Stephen M. Hill
  • Patent number: 11472183
    Abstract: A liquid discharge head configured to discharge a liquid, the liquid discharge head includes a thin film member including a first layer, a second layer bonded with the first layer, and a through hole penetrating through the first layer and the second layer. The through hole includes the first opening in the first layer and the second opening in the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Toichiro Tomiya
  • Patent number: 11149779
    Abstract: A nut fastening clip comprises a substrate, and a sleeve. The substrate has an upper surface, a lower surface, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side. The substrate defines an upper opening. The first lateral side is opposite the second lateral side. The sleeve extends from the substrate. The sleeve defines a lower opening in communication with the upper opening. The sleeve has an outer face and a first anti-rotation plane disposed on the outer side face, adjacent to the first lateral side, and connected to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Zhilin Li, Bo Li
  • Patent number: 11009058
    Abstract: An anchoring part, comprising: an anchoring rod that has a plurality of side walls, and a plug hole extending along a height direction of the anchoring rod; a head portion that surrounds the anchoring rod and is disposed at an upper end of the anchoring rod; at least one elastic fin that is formed by extending outwardly obliquely from at least one of the sidewalls; wherein the anchoring rod further comprises a plurality of corner portions connecting adjacent sidewalls, the plurality of corner portions being provided with locking notches at the positions adjacent to a lower surface of the head portion, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Weibin Liu
  • Patent number: 10927871
    Abstract: The affixing device for pieces includes an affixing element (1) that can be positioned through an opening (6) in each one of the pieces (7, 8) that are affixed to each other, that also comprises a first and second retaining elements (2, 3), which, when they are in their affixing positions, are in contact with the pieces (7, 8) that are affixed to each other, with the affixing element (1) passing through the first and second retaining elements (2, 3), and with the first retaining element (2) including an accommodation space for a tool. This configuration allows for faster and simpler assembly of the affixing device, also avoiding problems of misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Francisco Criado del Pino, Jorge Gustavo Barcelo, Javier Arteta Unanua
  • Patent number: 10851819
    Abstract: An adjustable positioning element (1) enabling a component (7) to be positioned and fastened in three dimensions is provided. The element comprises a bolt (2) with which the component (7) can be positioned in an axial direction (z) of the bolt (2), a hollow body (4) presenting an annular end wall through which the bolt passes, and a fastener element (5) with a washer (25) surrounding the bolt and arranged to be movable sideways against the end wall of the hollow body (4). The washer (25) is designed to be pressed against the end wall of the hollow body when the fastener element is attached to the bolt so as to fix the lateral (xy) position of the bolt (2) in the hollow body (4). The fastener element (5) and the bolt (2) are arranged to attach to each other by reversible snap-fastening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: A. RAYMOND ET CIE
    Inventors: Yves-Marie Depail, Mathieu Cochard
  • Patent number: 10808744
    Abstract: A method for producing and installing a fastener, including the steps of forming an engaging portion having a projecting stem which is interiorly hollowed over at least an intermediate extending range, the stem including a solid end most extending portion, and forming a receiving portion having a surface, within which is configured an inner rim defined edge, a diameter of an aperture between said rim edge being less than a diameter of the stem. Additional steps include pressing the solid end most extending portion of the engaging portion through the inner rim edge of the receiving portion and aligning with the inner rim edge a location of the interiorly hollowed portion of the stem, causing inward collapsing of the aligned location by the rim edge to secure the engaging portion to the receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: U.S. Farathane Corporation
    Inventor: Steve Porter
  • Patent number: 10590969
    Abstract: The invention includes a clip having a head and at least one clip surface for abutment against the component or an element on which the component is to be held. The at least one clip surface faces the head and is spaced apart therefrom. The head exhibits a head-side surface and is joined with one or more arms designed for abutment against the opposite side of the component provided for the at least one clip surface to abut against or the element on which the component is to be held. The head-side surface has a head-bending section joined with an arm, wherein a connection between the head bending section and arm encompasses another bending section which runs at an angle in excess of 0° relative to the bending axis of the head bending section, and/or the head-side surface is joined with a leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: A. Raymond et Cie
    Inventor: Sven Binkert
  • Patent number: 10508827
    Abstract: A ventilating device includes a frame forming an outer contour, an airflow path formed by a flowing of air inside the frame, and a plurality of orifices configured to measure a static pressure in a chamber where the airflow path is located, wherein at least one orifice of the plurality of orifices is further configured to drain water out of the frame. In the present disclosure, the orifice for static pressure measurement is provided in the air supply path and/or the air discharge path at a position where the dew is dominantly accumulated, the drainage function and the function of measuring the static pressure may be realized simultaneously, reducing the cost and ensuring air tightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: PANASONIC ECOLOGY SYSTEMS GUANGDONG CO., LTD., PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunran Wu, Junjie Ma, Kouji Iio
  • Patent number: 10473141
    Abstract: A self-fastening threaded insert is described, with respect to a slab of building material, comprising a bearing element with respect to the slab, a deformation element adapted to interact with the slab, and a supporting element cooperating with the bearing element. The deformation element is deformed due to the effect of an external load transmitted by the supporting element, and is adapted to transmit to the slab forces which are perpendicular to an application force of the external load to be able to fasten the threaded insert to the slab. A process for assembling such threaded insert is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Specialinsert s.r.l.
    Inventor: Piero Arduini
  • Patent number: 10383491
    Abstract: A sitting toilet cover plate support capable of being quickly released and assembled comprising a cover plate support, a rotating shaft, a first hinge, a second hinge, a support cover, a screw rod, a lining ring and an opening nut; an isosceles trapezoid hole is formed in the cover plate support, and a guide groove limiting hole is formed in the top edge of the isosceles trapezoid hole; the rotating shaft is provided with ribs capable of limiting the cover plate support, and an annular groove capable of limiting the hinge is formed in the guide groove limiting hole; the first hinge and the second hinge are respectively arranged on the two sides of the guide groove limiting hole; the first hinge and the second hinge are both 6-shaped hinges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Zhejiang Hengyuan Sanitary Ware Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xiao Feng Xu
  • Patent number: 9849851
    Abstract: A front section for a motor vehicle includes a bumper cladding and a bumper stiffening which extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction between the bumper cladding and a supporting body part. A connecting unit including a blind nut and a threaded fastener is inserted from below into an opening of the body part to fix a rear edge region of the bumper stiffening on an underside of the body part. The blind nut has flexible legs which are reversibly splayed apart above the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Marco Nickel, Martin Likar
  • Patent number: 9482322
    Abstract: In the field of a slide rail for tensioning and guiding an endless drive member, comprising at least one bore and a screw captively held in the bore, permitting the captive mounting of screws even in thin-walled slide rails is provided. A sleeve is mounted in the bore and the sleeve comprises engagement elements at its end facing the rail, said engagement elements being engaged with the wall of the bore, and a stop collar lying against a stop surface formed at the slide rail, and lock elements are embodied in the sleeve which engage the thread of the screw and lock the screw at least in an assembly position, wherein said slide rail is thin-walled. Furthermore, an assembly method is provided for manufacturing the slide rail with a captively held screw and to the loss prevention device per se.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: IWIS MOTORSYSTEME GMBH & CO., KG
    Inventors: Michael Weikert, Ralph Schneider, Sandra Ketterl, Pia Gruler
  • Patent number: 9457734
    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 extends from the second pair of laterally offset legs. The at least one second wing also has an engagement region. The engagement regions include a depressed portion operable to adapt to variations or movement of a slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TERMAX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Walter Smith, Daniel James Dickenson
  • Patent number: 9440596
    Abstract: A retention clip for an interior vehicle component may include a base and a pair of frame members extending from the base. Each of the frame members may include a primary wing arranged with the base to secure the clip to a sheet metal portion and may have a body including a flared portion partially cutout from the body. The flared portion may define a secondary wing extending from the primary wing and may be configured to contact the metal when the primary wing is dislodged from an installed position. The secondary wings may define distal ends spaced apart from one another at a distance greater than a width of a slot defined by the sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Huelke, Mike Popovski
  • Patent number: 9151319
    Abstract: A mounting structure includes a resin member that includes a mounting portion having a mounting hole, and a reinforcing member that has a insertion hole through which a fastening member is inserted for mounting the resin member on a bearing surface of a mounting target member. A mounting surface of the resin member is inclined so that the axis direction of the insertion hole of the reinforcing member coincides with a fastening direction of the fastening member to the mounting target member. The mounting hole of the mounting portion has a polygonal shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Gotou, Takanori Kawai, Yoshiyuki Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9056593
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Marc R. Risdale
  • Patent number: 9033632
    Abstract: Panel fasteners, panel assemblies, methods of assembly and installation of panel assemblies and panel fasteners, anchor systems, anchor systems with captive fasteners and assemblies are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: THE MONADNOCK COMPANY
    Inventors: Igor Komsitsky, Javier Torres, Steve Misias, Florent Verdier
  • Patent number: 9011061
    Abstract: A holding dowel (10) for fastening a fastening means to a component (22), in particular to a vehicle body part, is adapted to be inserted into and arrested in an opening (20) of the component (22) and has a mount (26) for the fastening means. The holding dowel (10) has a base body (12) made from a hard material, which protrudes into the opening (20) and is adapted to fix the holding dowel (10) in place in the opening (20), and further has a sealing member (18) made from a flexible plastic material, which includes a surrounding sealing lip (38). In the installed condition of the holding dowel (10), the sealing lip (38) rests against the component (22) and seals the opening (20) of the component (22). The sealing member (18) is produced at least partly from a material which under the influence of heat establishes a substance-to-substance bond with the component (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Hofmann, Michael Demerath
  • Patent number: 8979456
    Abstract: A retention clip assembly is for attachment to a stud. The assembly includes a base plate and a cover plate. The base plate includes a base rim and a locking finger extending from the base rim. The cover plate includes a cover rim and a flange. The cover rim defines a lock opening configured for receiving the locking finger therein to retain the cover plate to the base plate. The flange extends inwardly from the cover rim at an angle which is acute such that the flange overlays the cover opening and is configured for engaging the external teeth on the stud. The cover plate attached to the base plate with a sheet of material therebetween. The cover plate and base plate are positioned such that the flange engages the external teeth of the stud to prevent removal of the retention clip assembly from the stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Alpha Stamping Company
    Inventors: Israel Solano Soriano, Robert Stewart, Nick Strumbos, Carlos Ahlai Ruiz Avendaño
  • Patent number: 8939690
    Abstract: An attachment device having a nut member, flange member, and tabs connecting the flange member to the nut member. The nut member extends along an axis and has an axial thread-engaging bore. The flange member extends transversely to the axis and has an opening, with the flange member being spaced axially from nut member. The tabs connect the flange member to the nut member, with each tab having a first end connected to the nut member and a second end connected to the flange. The nut member includes blocks having abutment faces defining a polygonal outline with side faces, with each tab extending alongside an abutment face on a side face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventors: Michel Kuhm, Jean-Luc Klein, Dominique Duchet, Frédéric Lard
  • Patent number: 8939425
    Abstract: A mounting device for mounting a fan includes a base board and two fixing assemblies. The fan includes two opposite boards. The base board forms four rods. Each fixing assembly includes a receiving member and an engaging member. The receiving member includes a first pole capable of extending through a corresponding one of the boards and a first block abutting against an outer surface of the board. The engaging member includes a second pole capable of extending though the other one of the boards to be engaged in the first pole, and a second block abutting against an outer surface of the other board. Each of the first and second blocks defines a fixing hole through which a corresponding one of the rods is capable of extending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: ScienBiziP Consulting (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zheng-Heng Sun
  • Patent number: 8870131
    Abstract: A wiring clip 1 includes: an attaching portion 10 configured to be overlapped with a wiring harness; a locking portion 11 extended vertically from the attaching portion 10 and configured to be locked in a hole provided on a panel; and a pressing portion 12 configured to press the panel in a direction away from the attaching portion 10 when the locking portion 11 is locked in the hole. The pressing portion 12 includes: an inclined portion 19 continued to the attaching portion 10 and inclined with respect to both a vertically extending direction of the locking portion 11 from the attaching portion 10 and a longitudinal direction of the wiring harness overlapped with the attaching portion 10; and a parallel portion 20 continued to the inclined portion 19 and extended parallel to the locking portion 11 from the inclined portion 19.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Gotou, Takashi Nomoto
  • Patent number: 8753055
    Abstract: A device for connecting two components, comprising: an anchoring element (12) with an elongated anchoring section (14) with an elongated hollow space (16) and a head section (18), a fastening element (38) with a head (44) and a pin section (40) with an outer thread, at least four elastic locking feet (22, 24) being provided on the anchoring section, wherein two locking feet are provided on opposing sides of the anchoring section, respectively and the locking feet (22, 24) each have at least two locking shoulders (28, 30) arranged offset in the longitudinal direction of the anchoring section, for locking on openings of components of different thicknesses, and wherein opposing locking feet each have identically designed locking shoulders, which are however offset with respect to the locking shoulders of other opposing locking feet in the longitudinal direction of the anchoring section, and in the elongated hollow space of the anchoring section at least two diametrically opposed rows are provided, each with a pl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Ruckel
  • Patent number: 8695201
    Abstract: An elastic tube alignment system for the mating of components utilizing the principle of elastic averaging. A plurality of geometrically separated elastic tube (male) alignment features are disposed on a first component, while a plurality of one-to-one corresponding aperture (female) alignment features are provided on a second component. During the mating of the components, each elastic tube and its respective aperture provide elastic deformation, which, on average, precisely aligns the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Steven E. Morris
  • Patent number: 8348569
    Abstract: The one-piece cage for fixing device to an object by screwing blind to a plate or the like perforated by a square mounting hole, of the kind including that cage and, therein, a threaded part adapted to cooperate screw-fashion with a complementary threaded part to assure the required fixing, and comprising four identical radial lugs extending in two orthogonal diametral directions and whose profile is such that the resulting cross-shape can be inserted with a small clearance into the square hole, which cage is adapted to be inserted with a small clearance into the mounting hole and to bear on the edges of that hole at the end of the introduction of the cage therein, and is characterized in that it takes the general form of an elastically deformable U-shape having four lugs angularly offset at 90° to each other and adapted to receive contiguously between them the four lugs of the threaded part, the lugs being connected in pairs by two symmetrical bridges adapted to bear on the edges of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: ITW Fastex France
    Inventor: Ludovic Tournier
  • Patent number: 8240964
    Abstract: A sheet metal nut including a cage part (1) that is fitted with a bottom plate (2), supporting edge sections, and opposite side plates (4, 5). Contacting final sections (15, 16) are disposed across from the supporting edge sections and grip the peripheral zones of a hole along with the supporting edge sections in a mounted arrangement of the sheet metal nut. The supporting edge sections are molded onto the bottom plate (2) while a separate securing part (10) is joined to the side plates (4, 5) and is equipped with two leg plates (11, 12) that are located between the side plates (4, 5) and extend from a base region (13) towards the supporting edge sections (24, 25) at an increasing distance from each other. The contacting final sections (15, 16) are molded onto one respective free end of a leg plate (11, 12), are aligned with their front sides directed towards one another, and lie across from the supporting edge sections (24, 25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: A. Raymond et Cie
    Inventors: Uwe Motsch, Klaus Hullmann
  • Patent number: 8162579
    Abstract: A plastic, undetachable anchor (10) to affix a component (52) to a support (54), comprising a rectangular affixing aperture (56), the anchor comprising a resilient, flange-like head (12), a hollow shank (16) subtending an axis and connected at one end to the head (12) and receiving an affixation screw (20), further resilient detent arms (40,42) connected to the shank end away from the head (14), where the detent arms (40,42) running obliquely outward toward the head (14) are fitted at their free ends with a detent shoulder (44) engaging {in the assembled state—an edge of an affixation aperture (56) facing them in order to secure the anchor (10) against being pulled out of the affixation aperture (56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Rueckel
  • Patent number: 8046879
    Abstract: A fastener with a shank and, arranged at one end of the shank, a head intended for welding to a workpiece, has multiple detent pawls formed on the shank that extend radially outward from the shank toward the head and that are elastically resilient in the radially inward direction. On the outside, each detent pawl has an engagement recess with support surfaces. The shank has a longitudinal hole, in which is located a stud, wherein one end of the stud projects out of the longitudinal hole and forms the head for welding. Also formed on the shank is a flange that is elastically resilient in the axial direction, whose outermost edge region is located opposite the engagement recess of the detent pawls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Wolfgang Werner, Mario Stigler, Michael Schneider, Johann-Adalbert Reindl, Thomas Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8016530
    Abstract: A nut fastener adapted for insertion into an opening in a panel. The nut fastener includes a platform including an upper face and a lower face. A sleeve defining a sleeve axis extends through the platform. The sleeve includes a sleeve inlet opening at the upper face adapted to receive an elongate fastening member along the sleeve axis. A first retention arm extends downwardly from a first position on the platform. At least a second retention arm extends downwardly from a second position on the platform. The first position and the second position are disposed on substantially opposing sides of the sleeve axis. The first retention arm and the second retention arm are adapted to rotate to outboard locking positions upon insertion of the elongate fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence W. Johnson, William S. Pippine
  • Patent number: 7870648
    Abstract: A disk-shaped object of synthetic thermoplastic material has contact surfaces on opposite sides that possess a rough texture. In a method for production of the disk-shaped object, synthetic material is injected under pressure in a plasticized state into a cooled molding tool and removed therefrom after a cooling phase, the molding tool having correspondingly rough molding surfaces to form the rough contact surfaces of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Harald Schäty
  • Patent number: 7789606
    Abstract: A self-locking panel nut fastener having a nut for being received within an opening in a panel which self-locks and upon receiving a threaded screw or bolt enhances the locking relationship with the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Kosidlo, IV, Bradley J. Jacobs, Lawrence W. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100119325
    Abstract: A fastener assembly adapted to facilitate the secure placement of an overlay structure of rigid or flexible character in juxtaposed relation to a support panel by engagement with one or more studs projecting outwardly from the support panel. The fastener assembly includes a body portion with an axial through hole and with one or more rotatable legs. The leg members are adapted to rotate outwardly to a spread condition across a surface of the overlay structure facing away from the support panel. The fastener assembly further includes a pin member adapted for retention within the body portion. The pin member includes an axially oriented stud acceptance cavity adapted to receive a stud projecting outwardly from the support panel. One or more flexible stud retention arms are disposed radially at least partially about the stud acceptance cavity. Distal edges of the stud retention arms engage the surface of the stud and block withdrawal of the stud from the stud acceptance cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventor: David W. Edland
  • Patent number: 7638712
    Abstract: In a protector, a lock mechanism for a stay is provided at a protector body. The lock mechanism includes a stay abutment plate which is perpendicular to a direction of a normal line of the protector body, a boss for passing through a boss passage hole in the stay, and a lock piece portion for locking the stay. With this construction, the amount of retaining engagement of the lock piece portion can be increased without adversely affecting the moldability of a mold. As a result, the force of retaining of the protector can be enhanced, thereby avoiding a situation in which the protector is disengaged from the stay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignees: Yazaki Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Suzuki, Shinji Sonda, Yuuji Ishimura, Takashi Ihara
  • Patent number: 7621707
    Abstract: A fastener, for connecting a first component having a first hole to a second component having a second hole, includes a cage which is fitted at its end with a radial flange and further a cross-sectionally rectangular or square shank segment. This shank segment is insertable into the second hole of the second component, for resting against the associated side of the second component. A nut is at least partly axially received in the cage and is rotatable from a first rotational position in the cage into a second rotational position. The nut has an axial borehole to receive an affixation screw and also comprises at its outside the diametrically opposite wing elements, where, upon rotation of the nut from the first into the second rotational position, the wing elements will be pulled on account of the affixation screw's rotation in the nut against the other side of the second component, with a head of the affixation screw resting against the first component and compressing latter against the cage flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Albert Sbongk
  • Patent number: 7600735
    Abstract: A bracket and nut assembly includes a first bracket, a second bracket and a captured nut. The first bracket includes a body with first end having with an aperture extending therethrough. The second bracket includes a first end with an elongated aperture and a second end moveably attached to the body portion of the first bracket. A captured nut is retained within the elongated aperture. The nut includes a first piece coupled to a second piece and is axially translatable and rotatable within the elongated aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Vaandrager, Richard K. Marsh, Alan E. Rice
  • Patent number: 7572089
    Abstract: The present invention pertains fasteners with critical configuration of the barbs, which allows the fasteners to be used in slots of various widths and panels of various thicknesses, and prevents rattling, which would take place in the case of fasteners of the present state of the art. The critical configuration is based on the special dimensions and special shape of the barbs with regard to the parts and the slots involved in assemblies of the fasteners and the parts. The present invention also pertains assemblies of miscellaneous parts connected together by means of the fasteners, as well as vehicles comprising such assemblies. In addition, the present invention comprises fasteners providing a combination of low barbs and high bent barbs, which combination prevents rattling of the fastener and allows secure attachment on a part, such as a sheet metal, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Termax Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph William Lowry, Eustathios Vassiliou
  • Publication number: 20080286067
    Abstract: A fastener for mounting an automobile body accessory to an automobile body. The fastener includes a doghouse formed in the accessory. The doghouse includes a first wall having a slot formed therein forming two opposing slot faces. A second wall extends transversely from the first wall at an intersection. A bolt includes a shaft and means, such as threads and a nut, at a first shaft end for fastening to the automobile body. A bolt head is formed near an opposite, second shaft end. A washer is mounted to the shaft and spaced from the head to form a recessed collar between the washer and the head. The collar has at least first and second opposing collar faces for disposing adjacent the slot faces. The contact between the faces prevents rotation of the bolt during installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: Andrew K. Swayne
  • Publication number: 20080031702
    Abstract: A fast nail plug includes an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. The outer sleeve is a cylinder having a through hole and comprises axial slots extending from one end of the outer sleeve toward its middle section to provide flexibility and a plurality of ribs externally disposed on the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve is a cylinder having a through hole and comprises a first end and a second end respectively provided with a locking wall and a retaining wall. The outer diameter of each of the locking wall and the retaining wall is larger than the inner diameter of the through hole of the outer sleeve. The locking wall is flexible by extending from the first end axial slots towards its middle section of the inner sleeve, and a beveled guide surface is provided on the locking wall to penetrate in and lock up the outer sleeve by the locking wall and the retaining wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Ken-Ching Chen, Ting-Tsai Huang, Chun-Chiang Wang
  • Patent number: 7226260
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fastener mounting clip for use in securing a fastener to sheet material having a bore hole formed therein. The fastener mounting clip is preferably formed of a single sheet of thin spring steel. The mounting clip includes a rectilinear planar surface having opposing retainer arms extending beneath its outer edge at obtuse angles. The retaining arms are resiliently flexible and compress and expand during insertion wherein a top end of the retaining arm abuts against the sheet material when the fastener mounting clip is fully seated within the bore hole. The planar surface includes support tabs for supporting the planar surface in the plane of the sheet material and also includes a recessed aperture for receiving and retaining a fastener therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: A. Raymond, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Jackson, Jr., Rene Dreiocker, Michael Osswald
  • Patent number: 7222394
    Abstract: A one piece plastic stud bushing having a body forming an opening through the bushing, a flange at one end, flexible holding tabs on opposite sides of the opening, the holding tabs having shoulders spaced from the flange a distance sufficient to receive a range of metal thicknesses, and spring tabs on opposite sides of the opening angled away from the flange to engage the stud surface opposite to the surface next to the holding tab shoulders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Halex/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Gardner
  • Patent number: 7210886
    Abstract: A fastener for fixing a curtain airbag to a body panel of an automobile comprises a screw grommet having a shank to be inserted into mounting holes of an airbag-anchor portion and a body panel, and a flange to press the airbag-anchor portion against the body panel. The flange has an opening and the shank has a shank hole continuous to the opening into which a tapping screw is driven. The shank has resilient fingers protruding outward from sides of the shank to engage edge regions of mounting holes in a temporary fixing state. The fingers are held in a permanent fixing state by screwing the tapping screw into the shank hole, preventing the fingers from being bent inward. The flange has an edge with an upstanding partition to allow a central region of the flange to be partitioned from a main body of the curtain airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kawai, Yoshiharu Kawasaki, Shuichi Okinaka, Mitsuo Nogami
  • Patent number: 7159894
    Abstract: A roof rail air bag assembly includes an air bag module having an air bag inflator and an air bag with a plurality of cushion retention tabs. Also included in the assembly are an inflator bracket and a plurality of snap-in clips. The bracket is attached to the air bag inflator; the snap-in clips are attached to the cushion retention tabs and to the bracket with threaded fasteners. The air bag assembly is positioned within the vehicle by an operator standing outside the vehicle, and each of the snap-in clips are inserted into openings in the vehicle roof rail. Removing the air bag module for service is accomplished by removing each of the threaded fasteners while the snap-in clips remain permanently attached to the vehicle roof rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W Ronne, Jeffrey J Schultz
  • Patent number: 7147419
    Abstract: An element for fastening accessories to metal window and door frames includes a monolithic metal body with a cylindrical central portion having a threaded inner hole. An insertion portion has a cone frustum shape with decreasing diameter from the diameter of the cylindrical central portion towards one end. A stop portion includes a circumferential throat delimited by a shoulder whose outer diameter is greater than the diameter of the cylindrical central portion. The outer diameter of the shoulder is joined to the cylindrical central section by a cone frustum shaped segment. A first series of through longitudinal grooves extends on a part of the length of the cylindrical central portion and on the insertion portion and defines a first section deformable radially inwardly relative to a non-deformed resting configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Savio S.p.A.
    Inventor: Aimone Balbo Di Vinadio
  • Patent number: 7128512
    Abstract: A fastener system for mounting to a panel includes a twist-in fastener that rotatably engages an opening in the panel. The fastener includes a fastener body defining an opening extending through the fastener body for receiving a mating fastener, a plurality of facets positioned around the fastener body opening for facilitating the mounting of the fastener onto the panel, and a fastener base. Panel-engaging members extend outwardly from the fastener base to rotatably mount the fastener through the panel opening and onto the panel. At least one anti-rotation member also extends outwardly from the fastener base to prevent the mounted fastener from backing out of the panel opening upon the removal of the mating fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence W. Johnson, John M. Kosidlo
  • Patent number: 7128734
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for tunneling a distal portion of a multilumen catheter tube in a patient is disclosed. The apparatus includes a connector having a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end includes a first coupling portion for selective connection to a distal end of the multilumen catheter tube, and the distal end of the connector includes a second coupling portion. A trocar is provided having a first end and a second end. The second end of the trocar is configured for selective connection to the coupling portion of the connector. The connector and the second end of trocar are configured such that they are substantially coaxially aligned with the multilumen catheter tube when the first coupling portion of the connector is selectively joined with the distal end of the multilumen catheter tube and the second end of the trocar is selectively engaged with the second coupling portion of the connector. A method of reverse tunneling a multilumen catheter tube using such an apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Arrow International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon S. Wilson, Kenneth T. Cassidy, Mark C. Martel
  • Patent number: 7059815
    Abstract: An elastic fastener 1 comprises a hollow tubular portion 7, an internally threaded portion 2 provided at one of the ends of the tubular portion 7, and a flange 9 formed at the other end of the tubular portion 7. The tubular portion 7 and the flange 9 are integrally formed of an elastomeric material, such as a styrene-based elastomer, a polyamide-based elastomer and a polyester-based elastomer. The internally threaded portion 2 is formed of a rigid resin material such as a polycarbonate resin. The internally threaded portion 2 is integrally fixed to the tubular portion 7 in a hole of the tubular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Toshio Ando, Hiroyuki Masugata
  • Patent number: 7018153
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic nut to be fitted to a component having an aperture, which, with a nut piece serving to hold a screw, can be plugged into the aperture and which, in order to bear on one side of the component, is provided with a flange which has a through hole for the screw and, on its side facing the component, has a sealing washer and, in order to bear on the other side of the component, is provided with snap-action hooks which, after insertion, spread out as the screw is tightened in the accommodation hole in the plastic nut and therefore secure the plastic nut to the component. The sealing washer has at its outer rim a shoulder which encloses the flange and projects beyond the thickness of the latter and, from its inner rim, merges into a collar which projects into the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: EJOT GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Behle, Gottfried Koenig, Günter Welik
  • Patent number: 7014405
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic nut for mounting on a component having a penetration, said plastic nut being insertable into the penetration with a nut piece having a receiving hole for a screw and being provided with a flange for contact with one side of the component and with snap-on hooks for contact with the other side of the component, said snap-on hooks securing the plastic nut to the component, wherein, when in the relaxed position, said snap-on hooks on the one hand conform in their radial extent to the internal dimension of the penetration and on the other hand cover the receiving hole and spread apart when the screw is inserted and position themselves opposite the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: EJOT GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Behle, Gottfried Koenig, Günter Welik