Abstract: A pin and grommet fastener includes a grommet and a pin. The grommet includes a base, panel locking fingers, and pin locking fingers. The locking fingers project from the base and cooperate with one another to define a pin receptacle therebetween. The pin includes a pin head, a driving beam connected to the pin head, and protrusions. When the pin head is inserted through an opening in the base and into the pin receptacle, the pin locking fingers engage the pin and thereby retain the pin head in the pin receptable. When the fastener is inserted in one direction into a hole in a panel, the panel engages the driving beam and thereby moves the pin relative to the grommet in the opposite direction, which causes the panel locking fingers to flex away from one another and thereby inhibits withdrawal of the fastener from the hole in the panel.

Abstract: An outer component has an opening therein defining an outer component mating wall, and a collar is configured to be inserted into the opening in the outer component. The collar has a collar mating wall with an outer surface and including a number of protrusions. A recess can surround each protrusion so that an overall protrusion height between a base of the protrusion and a distal end thereof is greater than a protruding distance between an outermost portion of the outer surface of the collar mating wall and the distal end of the protrusion. The configuration of the protrusions, including the number thereof, can be designed to provide a press-fit insertion force of 50 Newtons or less, and to provide a friction retention force sufficient to retain the collar within the opening of the outer component under its own weight, throughout relevant tolerance ranges for the mating walls.

Abstract: An outer component and an annular collar can be formed of materials having a Rockwell R hardness of at least 120. The outer component can have a recess, including an outer component mating wall. The annular collar can include an annular collar mating wall, including at least three protrusions. A recess can surround each protrusion so that an overall protrusion height between a base of the protrusion and a distal end thereof is greater than a protruding distance between an outer diameter of a cylindrical outer surface of the annular collar mating wall and the distal end of the protrusion. The number and configuration of the protrusions can be designed to provide a press-fit insertion force of 50 Newtons or less, and to provide a friction retention force sufficient to retain the annular collar within the recess under its own weight, throughout relevant tolerance ranges for the mating walls.

Abstract: Aperture retention arms can extend outwardly away from an aperture shaft. An insertion end can be positioned below the aperture retention arms and can have an overall conical shape. The insertion end can include an opening having a closed interior terminal end separating a portion of a first lateral half of the insertion end and leaving another portion of the first lateral half as a connecting bridge below one of the aperture retention arms. The opening can include a channel extending from the closed interior terminal end to an open exterior terminal end to separate a second lateral half of the insertion end below another of the aperture retention arms. The insertion end below the open exterior terminal end of the channel can extend laterally outwardly beyond a straight exterior line defined by laterally outermost points of an outer longitudinal side of the second aperture retention arm.

Abstract: A bathtub component includes a structural plastic part and a plurality of separate flexible seal parts integrated together. Each of two tub side walls of a structural plastic part can have an aperture retention tab extending exteriorly therefrom. Openings in the structural plastic part on lateral sides of the aperture retention tabs are each sealed with a separate flexible seal part. Another separate flexible seal part can form an umbrella seal. A U-base clip component includes a rib retention protrusion and can extend interiorly from clip side walls into a rib receiving cavity the U-base clip component. The U-base clip component is received in an interior clip receiving cavity of the bathtub component. Clip retention protrusions can extend from the structural plastic part into a clip receiving cavity to engage apertures in the clip side walls to releasably couple the bathtub and U-base clip components together.

Abstract: Aperture retention arms can extend outwardly away from an aperture shaft. An insertion end can be positioned below the aperture retention arms and can have an overall conical shape. The insertion end can include an opening having a closed interior terminal end separating a portion of a first lateral half of the insertion end and leaving another portion of the first lateral half as a connecting bridge below one of the aperture retention arms. The opening can include a channel extending from the closed interior terminal end to an open exterior terminal end to separate a second lateral half of the insertion end below another of the aperture retention arms. The insertion end below the open exterior terminal end of the channel can extend laterally outwardly beyond a straight exterior line defined by laterally outermost points of an outer longitudinal side of the second aperture retention arm.

Abstract: An aperture fastener piece has an intermediate head and an aperture shaft, including aperture retention arms extending from a side of the intermediate head. A receiver includes an annular wall extending from a base, and a plurality of plate retention surfaces supported by and positioned inwardly of the annular wall. A coupling plate can be engaged and retained by the plurality of plate retention surfaces within the receiver to couple the doghouse fastener piece and the aperture fastener piece together. Each of the receiver and the coupling plate extends from different ones of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener piece and the doghouse shaft as part of the doghouse fastener piece. The coupling plate can extend from a second of the opposite side of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener piece, and the doghouse shaft as part of the doghouse fastener piece.

Abstract: A U-base clip component can include two opposing side walls joined together at an insertion end with a rib receiving cavity between the two opposing side walls. Aperture retention arms can extend outwardly from the two opposing side walls, respectively. Rib coupling arms can extend inwardly from the two opposing side walls. A seal component can include a central wall having a clip aperture therethrough. A first component annular seal can extend in a first direction away from a first side of the central wall. A second component annular seal can extend in a second, opposite direction away from a second, opposite side of the central wall. The seal component and the U-base clip component can have a shipping configuration in which the U-base clip component extends through the clip aperture with the seal component coupled between the trailing end and the aperture retention arms of the U-base clip component.

Abstract: A bathtub component includes a structural plastic part and a plurality of separate flexible seal parts integrated together. Each of two tub side walls of a structural plastic part can have an aperture retention tab extending exteriorly therefrom. Openings in the structural plastic part on lateral sides of the aperture retention tabs are each sealed with a separate flexible seal part. Another separate flexible seal part can form an umbrella seal. A U-base clip component includes a rib retention protrusion and can extend interiorly from clip side walls into a rib receiving cavity the U-base clip component. The U-base clip component is received in an interior clip receiving cavity of the bathtub component. Clip retention protrusions can extend from the structural plastic part into a clip receiving cavity to engage apertures in the clip side walls to releasably couple the bathtub and U-base clip components together.

Abstract: A U-base clip component can include two opposing side walls joined together at an insertion end with a rib receiving cavity between the two opposing side walls. Aperture retention arms can extend outwardly from the two opposing side walls, respectively. Rib coupling arms can extend inwardly from the two opposing side walls. A seal component can include a central wall having a clip aperture therethrough. A first component annular seal can extend in a first direction away from a first side of the central wall. A second component annular seal can extend in a second, opposite direction away from a second, opposite side of the central wall. The seal component and the U-base clip component can have a shipping configuration in which the U-base clip component extends through the clip aperture with the seal component coupled between the trailing end and the aperture retention arms of the U-base clip component.

Abstract: An aperture fastener piece has an intermediate head and an aperture shaft, including aperture retention arms extending from a side of the intermediate head. A receiver includes an annular wall extending from a base, and a plurality of plate retention surfaces supported by and positioned inwardly of the annular wall. A coupling plate can be engaged and retained by the plurality of plate retention surfaces within the receiver to couple the doghouse fastener piece and the aperture fastener piece together. Each of the receiver and the coupling plate extends from different ones of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener piece and the doghouse shaft as part of the doghouse fastener piece. The coupling plate can extend from a second of the opposite side of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener piece, and the doghouse shaft as part of the doghouse fastener piece.

Abstract: An outer component and an annular collar can be formed of materials having a Rockwell R hardness of at least 120. The outer component can have a recess, including an outer component mating wall. The annular collar can include an annular collar mating wall, including at least three protrusions. A recess can surround each protrusion so that an overall protrusion height between a base of the protrusion and a distal end thereof is greater than a protruding distance between an outer diameter of a cylindrical outer surface of the annular collar mating wall and the distal end of the protrusion. The number and configuration of the protrusions can be designed to provide a press-fit insertion force of 50 Newtons or less, and to provide a friction retention force sufficient to retain the annular collar within the recess under its own weight, throughout relevant tolerance ranges for the mating walls.

Abstract: A pin and grommet fastener includes a grommet that defines a central aperture and includes at least two adjacent longitudinally extending leg members that each include a frame, a knuckle and a tether. The knuckle is connected to the frame at a hinge region that is designed to permit the knuckle to move relative to the frame. The tether connects the knuckle to a base surface of grommet in order to limit movement of the knuckle relative to the frame. The fastener includes a pin that has a first locking member to retain the pin in a first position relative to the grommet in which the longitudinally extending leg members are in a laterally unexpanded state. The pin also has a second locking member to retain the pin in a second position relative to the grommet in which the longitudinally extending leg members are in a laterally expanded state.

Abstract: An aperture fastener piece has an intermediate head and an aperture shaft, including aperture retention arms extending from a side of the intermediate head. A receiver includes an annular wall extending from a base, and a plurality of plate retention surfaces supported by and positioned inwardly of the annular wall. A coupling plate can be engaged and retained by the plurality of plate retention surfaces within the receiver to couple the doghouse fastener piece and the aperture fastener piece together. Each of the receiver and the coupling plate extends from different ones of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener piece and the doghouse shaft as part of the doghouse fastener piece. The coupling plate can extend from a second of the opposite side of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener piece, and the doghouse shaft as part of the doghouse fastener piece.

Abstract: An aperture fastener piece has an intermediate head and an aperture shaft, including aperture retention arms extending from a side of the intermediate head. A receiver includes an annular wall extending from a base, and a plurality of plate retention surfaces supported by and positioned inwardly of the annular wall. A coupling plate can be engaged and retained by the plurality of plate retention surfaces within the receiver to couple the doghouse fastener piece and the aperture fastener piece together. Each of the receiver and the coupling plate extends from different ones of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener piece and the doghouse shaft as part of the doghouse fastener piece. The coupling plate can extend from a second of the opposite side of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener piece, and the doghouse shaft as part of the doghouse fastener piece.

Abstract: A pin and grommet fastener includes a grommet that defines a central aperture and includes at least two adjacent longitudinally extending leg members that each include a frame, a knuckle and a tether. The knuckle is connected to the frame at a hinge region that is designed to permit the knuckle to move relative to the frame. The tether connects the knuckle to a base surface of grommet in order to limit movement of the knuckle relative to the frame. The fastener includes a pin that has a first locking member to retain the pin in a first position relative to the grommet in which the longitudinally extending leg members are in a laterally unexpanded state. The pin also has a second locking member to retain the pin in a second position relative to the grommet in which the longitudinally extending leg members are in a laterally expanded state.

Abstract: An inner housing defines a pin retaining receptacle elongated in an X-direction with entry ramps extending parallel to the X-direction. The inner housing is slidably coupled to an outer housing for movement in a Y-direction. The outer housing has an enclosed interior defined by outer housing walls extending from an outer housing flange. Resilient retention wings can extend outwardly from the outer housing walls without providing adjacent openings therethrough to facilitate water resistance. A water resistant seal is positionable between an outer housing flange and a first component to seal therebetween when the outer housing is coupled to the first component by the retention wings. Centering blades extend between the inner and outer housings to initially locate the pin retaining receptacle in a central position within the interior in a Y-direction and the centering blades are movable during insertion of the pin into the pin retaining receptacle.