Abstract: A holding element 1, for fastening a component 18 to a carrier 4 having an opening 3, includes an insertion piece 2 made of a soft elastic plastics material, and a thrust part 11 made of a rigid plastics material. The insertion piece 2 is formed with a bevelled or cone shaped thrust face 12, which is held in interfacing engagement with a complimentarily bevelled or conically shaped thrust face 7 of the thrust part 11 by elastically deformable ribs 13 and 14. When a screw 15 is inserted through a longitudinal bore 8 of the insertion piece 2 and into an axially aligned bore 10 of the thrust part 11, and is tightened, the insertion piece is compressed to expand radially to anchor the holding element 1 within the opening 3 of the carrier 4.

Abstract: A footrest assembly (15) comprises a footrest (17) and a clip (18). The clip (18) has a shank (27) to be inserted into and fixed to a hollow tubular support (22, 23) extending from a rear surface (21) of a step of the footrest (17), and a resilient engagement pawl (29), which serves as a vehicle body panel fixing portion, formed in a shank portion from protruded from the end of the support. A protrusion (33) for defining the height of the footrest is provided at the intermediate region of the side surface of the shank (27) of the clip (18), and is arranged to engage with an end face of a notch (26) formed at the end of the support so as to prevent the shank from being further inserted. The protrusion (33) is formed at the side surface of the shank of predetermined strength which allows the protrusion to be shorn by the end of the support when a vehicle collision of a predetermined impact force causes the shank to be pressed to the support of the footrest.

Abstract: A tool for installing a helical coil insert in a tapped hole formed in a workpiece includes a tubular body having a bore extending along its axis, a mandrel coaxially disposed in the bore of the tubular body, a punch coaxially disposed in a bore of the mandrel, a motor for rotating the mandrel, and an air cylinder for applying an axial force to the punch. The tubular body includes a recess at one end for carrying a helical coil insert in alignment with the bore. An opening in the tubular body allows a user access to the recess. The mandrel is movable from a position retracted from the helical coil insert, to a position engaging the helical coil insert, and to a position installing the helical coil insert a selected depth in the tapped hole of the workpiece. The punch slides axially in the bore of the mandrel to remove the tang from the helical coil insert upon installation of the helical coil insert in the tapped hole.