Abstract: An elastic convex wall alignment and retention system includes a first component, second component, a plurality of elastic convex walls disposed on at least one of the first component and second component each having a convex wall surface, non-convex wall surface and a longitudinal axis and a pair of spaced-apart, retention features that oppose one another about the axis, each retention feature extending outwardly from the convex wall surface; and a plurality of apertures formed in at least one of the first component and second component, each aperture having an aperture wall, the plurality of apertures configured and arranged such that each elastic convex wall is receivable into a respective aperture, wherein each elastic convex wall is configured to elastically deform at an interface between the convex wall and the aperture wall upon insertion to establish an elastically averaged position of the first component to the second component.

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 and attachment features are disposed on a first component, while a plurality of one-to-one corresponding aperture (female) alignment and attachment 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 and attaches the components.