Abstract: Described is a sealed fastener assembly for attaching a first component to a second component via a male fastener having a head and a shank. The sealed fastener assembly includes a seal and a retainer clip. The seal has a generally planar surface and a seal opening. The retainer clip has a body portion comprising a first plate that is resiliently connected to a second plate via a clip sidewall to define a channel. The second plate comprises a recessed seal pocket configured to receive at least a portion of the seal. The retainer clip is configured to receive at least a portion of the first component via the channel.

Abstract: Described is a retainer assembly for attaching a first component having a first opening relative to a second component having a second opening. The retainer assembly includes a nut insert and a stamped-metal retainer clip. The nut insert includes a collar and a flange where the collar defines a bore that engages a shank of a fastener. The nut insert may be a non-hardened ferrous nut insert. The stamped-metal retainer clip includes a nut recess that receives and retains the nut insert. The stamped-metal retainer clip includes first planar portion and a second planar portion that are resiliently connected via a sidewall to define a channel, a nut base plate resiliently connected to the first planar portion and extending into the channel, and a tongue resiliently coupled to the first planar portion and configured to secure a least a portion of the nut insert between the tongue and the base plate. The tongue can include a tongue opening configured to receive a portion of the collar.

Abstract: Disclosed is a push-on fastener to couple a first component to a second component via a post associated with the second component. The push-on fastener includes an annular body, a retention flange, and a release tab. The annular body defines a topside surface, an underside surface, and a retainer opening configured to receive at least a portion of the post. The retention flange is resiliently coupled to the annular body and arranged to engage the post. The retention flange is oriented toward a center of the retainer opening and canted away from the topside surface at a first angle. The release tab is coupled to the retention flange and flexes or to biases the retention flange away from the post to enable removal of the push-on fastener from the post.

Abstract: Described is a modular retainer assembly for attaching a first component having a first opening relative to a second component having a second opening. The modular retainer assembly includes a nut insert and a stamped-metal retainer clip. The nut insert includes a collar and a flange where the collar defines a bore that engages a shank of a fastener. The stamped-metal retainer clip includes a nut recess that receives and retains the nut insert. The stamped-metal retainer clip includes first planar portion and a second planar portion that are resiliently connected via a bend to define a channel, a nut base plate resiliently connected to the first planar portion and extending into the channel, and a tongue resiliently coupled to the first planar portion and configured to secure a least a portion of the nut insert between the tongue and the base plate, wherein the tongue comprises a tongue opening configured to receive a portion of the collar.

Abstract: Disclosed is a push-on fastener assembly to couple a first component to a second component via a post associated with the second component. The push-on fastener assembly is a multi-component push-on fastener assembly having a first retainer and a second retainer. The first retainer has a first annular body with a first topside surface and a first underside surface. The first annular body defines a first opening and a first plurality of retainer fingers coupled to the first annular body and canted upwardly away from the first topside surface at a first angle. The second retainer has a second annular body with a second topside surface and a second underside surface. The second annular body defines a second opening, a second plurality of retainer fingers coupled to the second annular body and canted upwardly away from the second topside surface at a second angle, and one or more retainer legs to secure the first retainer relative to the second retainer.

Abstract: Described is a stamped-metal ergonomic retainer clip for attaching a first component having a first opening relative to a second component having a second opening. The retainer clip having a first planar portion and a second planar portion, fastener plate, and a guide lip. The first planar portion and the second planar portion are resiliently connected via a bend to define a channel. The fastener plate is resiliently connected to the first planar portion and extends into the channel and configured to couple with the male fastener, while the second planar portion defines a fastener hole to receive the shank. The channel is configured to receive and secure the first component between the fastener plate and the second planar portion. The guide lip is positioned adjacent an opening to the channel and is configured to guide the first component into the channel and to provide a bearing area for manipulation during assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clip assembly to couple a first component to a second component having a rib. The clip assembly includes an inner clip and an outer clip. The inner clip includes a pair of rigid legs defining an inner-clip channel. The inner-clip channel receives at least a portion of the rib. The outer clip includes a pair of opposing legs resiliently connected via a connecting portion and defines an outer-clip channel, one or more spring tabs, and one or more barbed tabs. The outer-clip channel receives at least a portion of the inner clip. The one or more spring tabs engage and secure the inner clip relative to the outer clip. The one or more barbed tabs engage and secure the rib relative to the outer clip.

Abstract: A bracket assembly for an integrated LIDAR and camera-based sensing system is provided. The bracket assembly can be mounted to a LIDAR sensor and includes a camera housing. The bracket assembly also includes a plurality of liquid spray nozzles and a plurality of air blower ducts. The plurality of liquid spray nozzles discharge a cleaning liquid (e.g., washer fluid) toward the exterior surface of the LIDAR sensor and the camera sensor, and the plurality of air ducts discharge compressed air toward the exterior surface of the LIDAR sensor and the camera sensor. The liquid spray nozzles and the air ducts cooperate to clear foreign matter from the LIDAR sensor and the camera sensor despite being close to the edge of each such sensor.

Abstract: A fluid nozzle assembly (10) for cleaning a LIDAR sensor is provided. The nozzle assembly includes a plurality of spray nozzles (14) that are interchangeably received within press-fit openings of a nozzle manifold. At least one of the spray nozzles provides a flat fan spray pattern and another one of the spray nozzles provides a narrow jet, collectively creating a multi-functional spray pattern. In another embodiment, a blower bracket is provided. The blower bracket includes a blower box and a plurality of selectable air nozzle adaptors. The air nozzle adaptors are joined to the blower box along a periphery of the blower box sidewall. The air nozzle adaptors include at least one barbed fitting for attachment to an air hose. The blower bracket provides a variety of configurations for use in specific locations in an overhead or rear tiara.

Abstract: A camera nozzle assembly (100) for cleaning a camera lens is provided. The camera nozzle assembly includes a bracket mount (110) and a nozzle assembly (120). The bracket mount includes a camera aperture (146) for the camera lens and can be mounted to a vehicle. The nozzle assembly is joined to the bracket mount and includes a spray nozzle (160) and an air duct (154). The spray nozzle discharges a cleaning liquid, and the air duct discharges compressed air, each being discharged at a shallow angle relative to a camera lens. The cleaning liquid and the compressed air cooperate to remove foreign matter from the exterior surface of the camera lens, optionally for front-bumper cameras, side-view cameras, rear-bumper cameras, and cameras for semi-autonomous and autonomous operation of passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, and commercial vehicles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a retainer to couple a first component to a second component having a rib via a male fastener. The retainer includes a body portion, one or more tabs coupled to the body portion; and retention clips resiliently coupled to the body portion. The body portion includes or defines a female fastener to receive the male fastener. The one or more tabs and at least one of the plurality of retention clips cooperate to define a cavity to receive the rib. The plurality of retention clips is arranged to engage and retain the rib within the cavity. In some examples, the retainer is a stamped retainer clip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a push-in fastener assembly for attaching a first component having a first opening relative to a second component having a second opening. The push-in fastener assembly includes a fastener and a push-in retainer. The fastener has a head and a threaded shank. The push-in retainer has a cross member having a female fastener portion configured to engage the threaded shank. A pair of retaining legs are resiliently connected to the cross member. The pair of retaining legs includes a first retaining leg and a second retaining leg. One or more downturn flanges coupled to the cross member and extending downwardly from cross member to engage a portion of the first retaining leg or the second retaining leg. Each of the first retaining leg and the second retaining leg includes a shelf that biases a respective one of the first retaining leg and the second retaining leg outwardly once the threaded shank passes through the female fastener portion.

Abstract: Described is a fastener assembly to secure a first component having a first opening to a second component having a second opening via a threaded fastener. The fastener assembly may be a two-piece assemble having a first retainer and a second retainer. The first retainer includes a body portion and a sleeve extending into a recess of the body portion. The body portion includes one or more outer retaining legs resiliently coupled to a sidewall of the body portion to engage the first opening or the second opening. The second retainer includes a base and a sleeve extending from the base. The sleeve defines a threaded cavity that is sized and shaped to receive and threadedly engage the threaded fastener. The second retainer is configured to rotate within the recess about an axis of rotation from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: A tube conveyor including a tube and a conveyor belt. The tube has a bore extending therethrough. The conveyor belt is movable through the tube bore. The conveyor belt includes a base and at least one first longitudinal cog. The base has a first edge and a surface. The at least one first longitudinal cog extends from the base surface. The at least one first longitudinal cog is oriented substantially parallel to the first edge.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for retaining system coupling a component to a panel via a retainer. The retainer can couple a component with panels of different thicknesses. The retainer comprising a body portion and at least one panel-engagement feature coupled to the body portion. The body portion having a pair of legs spaced apart and flexibly connected to one another to define a channel. The channel is sized and shaped to receive a tower associated with the component. The at least one panel-engagement feature is coupled to one of the pair of legs to engages an opening of a panel having a thickness ranging from a first thickness (T1) to a second thickness (T2) that is greater than the first thickness (T1).

Abstract: Described is a compression-limiting fastener assembly for attaching a first component having a first opening relative to a second component having a second opening. The compression-limiting fastener assembly includes a male fastener, a retainer clip, and a female fastener. The male fastener includes a head and a shank. The retainer clip includes a recessed pocket with a fastener hole formed therein. The retainer clip includes a body portion having a pair of generally parallel legs that are resiliently connected to define a channel. The recessed pocket maintains a first distance (D1) between the pair of generally parallel legs. The retainer clip engages the first component via the first opening and the channel. The female fastener includes a bore to receive the shank is via the fastener hole and the second opening.

Abstract: An improved fastener clip for a side curtain airbag is provided. The fastener clip includes a head portion and a body portion having first and second expansion legs. During installation, the fastener clip is manually inserted through aligned openings in an airbag attachment member and a body panel. When a bolt is threaded into the fastener clip, the head portion engages an upper surface of the airbag attachment member and the expansion legs flex laterally outward and engage an underside of the body panel. Spring tabs extend from the head portion and absorb vibrations to provide a secure attachment over the life of the fastener clip.

Abstract: A battery terminal includes a post clamp for connecting to a battery post. The post clamp includes a post connector having a first connector end and a second connector end with an opening therebetween. The post connector is configured to substantially enclose a first surface of the battery post. A mounting clamp is provided for reducing the opening between the first connector end and the second connector end. A fastener is disposed vertically above the mounting clamp and the post connector. The fastener is configured to be provided vertically above the second surface of the battery post for fastening the mounting clamp to the post clamp.

Abstract: A tube conveyor including a tube and a conveyor belt. The tube has a bore extending therethrough. The conveyor belt is movable through the tube bore. The conveyor belt includes a base and at least one first longitudinal cog. The base has a first edge and a surface. The at least one first longitudinal cog extends from the base surface. The at least one first longitudinal cog is oriented substantially parallel to the first edge.