Projecting Outwardly From Head Patents (Class 411/41)
  • Patent number: 11933337
    Abstract: A clip includes a male member having a head part and a rod-shaped pin part; and a female member having a cylindrical part into which the pin part is inserted, a first engaging hook on the cylindrical part engaging the pin part at a first inserting position of the pin part and a second inserting position on a back side in an inserting direction, and a second engaging hook engaging an edge of the attaching hole when the cylindrical part is inserted into the attaching hole. The pin part includes a tolerance part allowing elastic deformation of the second engaging hook when the pin part is in the first inserting position, and a stopping part positioned on the head part side supporting the second engaging hook from inside the cylindrical part and stopping elastic deformation of the second engaging hook when the pin part is in the second inserting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Kota Sawano
  • Patent number: 11920623
    Abstract: A fastener assembly of the present disclosure includes a grommet including a head having a through-hole formed therein and at least one leg extending downward from the head; and a pin configured with a head and a shaft inserted into the grommet. The grommet and the pin are integrally formed by a connection tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Danbee Lee
  • Patent number: 11824416
    Abstract: A linear actuator, comprising: a base; a fixed part support mechanism attached to the base; a fixed part elastically supported by the fixed part support mechanism; and a movable part driven to reciprocate in a predetermined drive direction with respect to the fixed part, wherein the fixed part support mechanism comprises: a movable block attached to the fixed part; a linear guide that couples the movable block with the base to be slidable in the predetermined drive direction; and an elastic member that is disposed between the base and the movable block and prevents transmission of a high frequency component of vibration in the predetermined drive direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: KOKUSAI KEISOKUKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sigeru Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11585364
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fastener that includes a nut with a threaded bore that includes a head on one end having three recesses, a cylindrical outer surface and a tapered ramp on the other end, a bolt that includes a head, a threaded portion engaged with the threaded bore, a recess next to the bolt head and an enlarged shank between the threads and the recess, where the outer diameter of the recess is smaller than a major diameter of the threaded bore of the nut and where an outer diameter of the shank is larger than a major diameter of the bolt threads, and a sleeve with a unthreaded bore positioned between the tapered ramp and the bolt head with one end crimped into the recess such that the internal diameter of the crimped sleeve bore is smaller than the major diameter of the threads on the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: MONOGRAM AEROSPACE FASTENERS, INC.
    Inventors: Elaine Koontz, Emory K. Tamashiro, James Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11519471
    Abstract: A brake disc includes a friction ring consisting at least partially of a first material and a brake rotor hat consisting at least partially of a second material that is different from the first material. The friction ring includes a flange formed in the axial direction, wherein the flange is connected to the brake rotor hat by means of at least one connection element. An intermediate piece is provided between the surface of the brake rotor hat in contact with the connection element and the connection element. In this way, a stable mechanical connection is created between the flange of the friction ring and the brake rotor hat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ilija Bozovic, Roland Raab, Laurent Le Barzic
  • Patent number: 11300147
    Abstract: An expandable sleeve for an interference fastener has a hollow elongate stem extending axially between an insertion end and a head portion. The elongate stem has an inside surface and an outside surface. A portion of the stem has a fluted shape and/or has a cylindrical shape with a conical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Roller Bearing Company of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hartnett, Curtis M. Swartley, Charles Houle, Phil Smith, Giovanni C. Albini
  • Patent number: 11253069
    Abstract: A hanging rack assembly may include a mounting rail having a mounting base. The mounting base has a first end, a second end, a first edge that extends between the first and the second end, and a second edge that extends between the first end and the second end, the mounting base having opposite faces that extend between the first end, the second end, the first edge, and the second edge; and a mounting lip, wherein the mounting base comprises one or more non-circular openings sized to receive an anchor for mounting the mounting rail to a surface. A method of installing a mounting rail may include mounting the mounting rail on a surface; drilling through one or more non-circular openings located on a mounting base of the mounting rail; and inserting an anchor into one or more of the non-circular openings and the surface in order to secure the mounting rail to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Organized Living, Inc.
    Inventor: John Kokenge
  • Patent number: 11174886
    Abstract: A fastening system for fastening in a receptacle of a carrier component includes a fastening element with a guide portion insertable into the receptacle along a direction of insertion, and a clip element which is plugged onto the guide portion and which, to hold the fastening element and clip element in the receptacle, has retaining edges which interact with an inner surface of the receptacle, wherein the guide portion and clip element have interacting latching portions formed in such a way that an axial pulling force to release the fastening element and clip element from the receptacle produces a radially outwardly acting force on the retaining edges of the clip element, wherein the fastening element and the clip element further have interacting stop portions which counteract release of the clip element from the fastening element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Roland Classen, Thiemo Ammann
  • Patent number: 10967809
    Abstract: An airbag device attached to a vehicle body frame member and covered by a garnish is configured such that when a bag body is deployed, the airbag device pushes out the garnish to create a gap between the garnish and the vehicle body frame member to allow the bag body to be inflated out of the gap. A clip for securing the garnish to the vehicle body frame member includes a first member configured to be fixed to the vehicle body frame member, a second member configured to be fixed to the garnish, and a connecting member for keeping the first member and the second member connected when the airbag is deployed. The first member and the second member are provided with a first inclined planar surface and a second inclined planar surface, respectively, that are slidable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Hajime Naoi
  • Patent number: 10941795
    Abstract: A bushing device includes a cap end shaped to engage a first surface of a first component having a first hole, and a slotted barrel body coupled with the cap end and elongated along a center axis. The slotted barrel body includes plural first cantilevered beam legs extending away from the cap end in directions that are parallel to the center axis. One or more of the first cantilevered beam legs has a hook at a distal end of the one or more first cantilevered beam legs. The slotted barrel body is shaped to fit inside the first hole in the first component and into a concentric second hole in a second component. The hook of the one or more first cantilevered beam legs is positioned to engage the second component to secure the first component and the second component together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn G. Heavens, Ronald Carter Owens, Chad Michael Clark
  • Patent number: 10865938
    Abstract: Spacer parts carrying element provided for being mounted on a pedestal, which carrying element comprises a plate having an upper face and a lower face, said lower face being provided with a set of legs provided for gripping into an opening applied in a carrying surface of the pedestal, said legs of said set being applied around a perforation extending from the upper towards the lower face, each leg comprises a base part and a head part connected among each other by an intermediate part, the head part having a width inferior to the one of the base part, the head part having a width superior to the one of the intermediate part, the head part extending along a border of a space extending in an extension of the perforation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Buzon Pedestal International
    Inventors: Laurent Buzon, Claude Buzon, Patrick Felten
  • Patent number: 10821615
    Abstract: The device is combination of a fastener and a splicing piece suited with the fastener. The fastener includes a post, a plurality of outer bosses, an outer slab, a first hole and a second inner flange. The plurality of outer bosses are provided in an upper portion of the post. The plurality of outer bosses include a first outer boss, a second outer boss and a third outer boss. The first outer boss is located under the second outer boss. At least a local portion of the splicing piece is a platy portion. Connecting through holes are provided in the platy portion. The connecting through holes include a first through hole. A first inner flange used for being clamped by a lower surface of the first outer boss and an upper surface of the second outer boss is provided on an inner wall of the first through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: ROBOTTIME (BEIJING) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shijie Zheng, Xiangao Yao
  • Patent number: 10634178
    Abstract: An arrangement for a tool-less locking connector to secure relative motion between two or more structural elements. The connector comprises a user interface that can be toggled between at least two positions including a retracted and an engaged position. The interface may be a button, thumb wheel, slider, twist knob, or any other structure that can be manipulated without the use of tools. The connector will also have a locking element which is controlled by the user interface. There will be at least two structural elements that this connector will be used to lock together. One of these structural elements will have a male fitting and another will have a female fitting. When the locking element of the connector is toggled to the retracted position, the structural element with the male fitting can move independently from the structural element with the female fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventor: Timothy Harold Webb
  • Patent number: 10539171
    Abstract: An anchor fastener is described. The anchor fastener includes a head, a generally cylindrical shaft extending from the head, a base at a distal end of the shaft, and at least one frangible portion configured to frangibly connect the shaft to the base. The shaft includes a helical thread that extends along an outer surface of the shaft towards the distal end of the shaft. The frangible portions are separable from the base and the shaft under application of a force to the shaft. The base includes a distal surface and an engagement portion configured to engage an object to be anchored to a mounting surface and configured to hold the anchor fastener to the object before installation of the shaft through the object and into the mounting surface. The base includes a thread guide configured to support the helical thread during installation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: GOOD EARTH LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Kowalenko, Christopher J. Serak
  • Patent number: 10273830
    Abstract: An annular bushing includes an annular cylindrical portion with a flange that defines a fastener aperture along an axis. A multiple of spacers extend from an outer surface of the annular cylindrical portion and the flange. The multiple of spacers are operable to control a bond line thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian K. Holland, Jeffrey Denton, William Bogue
  • Patent number: 10197836
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of display, particularly to a spliced display and a display system. The spliced display includes clips and a number of display modules. The display modules can be spliced into an image display area, and adjacent two display modules can be connected by clips. By connecting adjacent two display modules by clips into the spliced display, the assembling time can be reduced, the assembling process can be simplified, and this is advantageous to mass production of products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhihong Du
  • Patent number: 10113577
    Abstract: A fastener assembly, which may be configured to be removably secured within an opening of a component, may include a pin including a plurality of locking members, and a grommet including a plurality of reciprocal retaining features configured to snapably retain the plurality of the locking members in a locked state in which the fastener assembly is configured to be inserted into the opening of the component. The plurality of locking members are removed from the reciprocal retaining features in a securing state in which the fastener assembly is secured within the opening formed through the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Hideki Kanie
  • Patent number: 10052207
    Abstract: Fastener systems and methods for attaching two or more parts are disclosed. A fastener can include a nut component configured to extend into at least a portion of an aperture in a first part and at least a portion of an aperture in a second part. The fastener can further include a compression body configured to fit into an enlarged portion of the aperture in the second part, and a screw component having a head portion configured to engage with a top notch formed in the compression body and an elongated portion configured to engage with the nut component. A diameter of the head portion of the screw component can be less than a diameter of the top notch in the compression body such that the screw component can move in a radial direction relative to the compression body during placement of the fastener to attach two or more parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: John Chernosky, Keith A. Roby, Ray Zubok
  • Patent number: 10018214
    Abstract: A fastener includes a head and snap-engaging portion that includes: —a shank projecting from the head and having a proximal end connected to the head and a distal end spaced from the head, and—two elastic arms in the form of a V, with respective first ends connected to the distal end and respective second ends arranged in the proximity of the head and spaced in the transverse direction on opposite sides of the shank, so as to form an arrow head shape, wherein the snap-engaging portion includes a substantially U-shaped retaining structure having two open ends connected integrally to the respective second ends of the elastic arms and a rounded portion which surrounds without contact the distal end of the shank, wherein the retaining structure has two snap-engaging seats which are open outwards, each being situated between the rounded portion and a respective open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Fulvio Pacifico Yon, Massimo Savi
  • Patent number: 9850933
    Abstract: A clip includes a grommet having a projecting portion and a plurality of leg portions extending from the projecting portion, and a shaft member including a head portion, and a shaft portion extending from the head portion, and inserted into an inside of the leg portions to laterally expand the leg portions. The clip is switchable between a lock position to expand the leg portions laterally, and an unlock position where the shaft member is further pushed to return the leg portions to an original condition. Each leg portion includes a leg-side convex portion, a convex-portion wall face, and a guide portion. The shaft portion includes a shaft-side convex portion engaging the leg-side convex portion, a concave portion provided between the shaft-side convex portion and the head portion, and engaging the leg-side convex portion to return the leg portion to the original condition, an abutment portion, and a release portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Sohei Miura
  • Patent number: 9814288
    Abstract: The present invention provides a unit-expandable communication device case that can achieve various functions. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the unit-expandable mobile communication device case includes a case, couplers, and a unit. The case has a flat plate which has a plurality of coupling holes formed with regular intervals in any one of a column direction and a row direction, and is detachably attached to a mobile communication device. The couplers are coupled to the coupling holes. The unit has one or more coupling holes and detachably attached to the case by being coupled to the couplers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: ROBOTIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byoung Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9780547
    Abstract: Fixture including a band and a holding member enables a long-size object to be held on a mounting member regardless of the holding member thickness. With the locking member on one side of the mounting member, one end of the band extends through a slot in the mounting member and through a first through-slot of the holding member, a contact surface of the holding member abuting the mounting member. The band extends around the long-size object held on a holding member holding surface, and through a second through-slot to a surface away from the holding surface and the abutting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar SARL
    Inventors: Eiji Akahane, Kunitomo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9709085
    Abstract: Fasteners and related systems according to the invention include a collet body having a first part of a two part anti-rotation arrangement and a cylinder body having a second part of the two part anti-rotation arrangement wherein the collet body and the cylinder body are matably axially translatable with respect to each other, and have the same or similar outer diameter in some embodiments or not in others. A threaded member rotationally engages the collet body and compressively contacts the cylinder body during operation of the fastener to creating a clamping effect. Rotational interference between the first and second parts of the anti-rotation arrangement preferably occurs at sectional face portions of at least the collet body. Resistance to induced rotation of the cylinder body relative to a work piece rotation of the threaded member is preferably provided by a tool engaging a tool interface present on the cylinder body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: CENTRIX, INC.
    Inventor: Travis McClure
  • Patent number: 9631653
    Abstract: A re-usable push-in fastener includes a fastener grommet including a plurality of deflectable legs and a fastener pin which is inserted into the fastener grommet. The grommet and pin have a pre-installation relative position in which the pin is held in the grommet, with the legs of the grommet in relaxed positions. A full installation relative position for the grommet and pin includes the pin urging the legs outwardly against the surface of a hole in an object in which the grommet is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
    Inventors: Gregory S. Flynn, Jason M. Zander
  • Patent number: 9610661
    Abstract: A fastener for a vehicle lamp assembly has an adjustable stud and grommet. Positioning grooves on the stud interact with positioning fingers on the grommet in a ratcheting fashion to allow more accurate alignment of the lamp assembly prior to securing the lamp assembly to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Burton Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Burton
  • Patent number: 9366283
    Abstract: Blind rivet nut with a rivet shank and method for forming blind rivet nut. The blind rivet nut includes a set head. a threaded section having a thread, and a deformation section arranged between the set head and the threaded section, having at least one reinforcement region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: GESIPA BLINDNIETTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Ilka Boerner, Johannes Gross, Richard Gaertner
  • Patent number: 9360033
    Abstract: A device for detachable fastening of an assembly part on a receptacle, the device including a base having a contact flange, at least one clamping arm formed on the contact flange, which snaps resiliently into a clamping position in a radial latching direction. An axial insertion opening is formed in the contact flange. A mandrel is removably inserted into the insertion opening. The mandrel extends as far as a blocking actuation section in a blocking position accommodated in the insertion opening to limit a displacement of the clamping arm from the clamping position or widen the clamping arm in the latching direction into the clamping position. The clamping arm includes an actuation release section which can be actuated by an actuating pin inserted via the insertion opening to urge the clamping arm resiliently from the clamping position opposite to the latching direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Anvis Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Gromes, Sabine Protzmann
  • Patent number: 9347474
    Abstract: A clip for attaching a mounting component to a base component, and the clip comprises: a pin including a head portion for engaging the mounting component, and a shaft portion which is contiguous to the head portion, and a lock pins which extends downward from the head portion; and a grommet including a flange and a shank contiguous to the flange and partially defining an aperture operable to receive the pin in one of a temporary fitted position and a permanent fitted position; and wherein the temporary fitted position, the lock pin abuts a recessed portion in the grommet for maintaining the temporary fitted position, and wherein in the permanent fitted position, the lock pin collapses on the inside, and is contained on the inside of the shank portion of the grommet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignees: NEWFREY LLC, HONDA GIKEN KOGYO CO, LTD
    Inventors: Suguru Mizukoshi, Mii Miyazaki, Toshiya Ohba
  • Patent number: 9181968
    Abstract: An axis body includes a first abutting portion abutting against an abutted portion of a leg portion by pushing-in; and a second abutting portion which is positioned on a pushing-in backward side more than the first abutting portion. After a part of the leg portion is spread by the first abutting portion, the axis body is pushed in further, so that the other one part of the leg portion is spread. A temporary attaching device, which temporarily attaches the axis body and a main body at a position before the above pushing-in wherein one portion of the axis body is housed inside the main body, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuya Handa, Mitsuhide Dempo
  • Patent number: 9011058
    Abstract: A fastening element includes a holding part with a support plate and expanding cheeks, and a locking part guidingly received in the holding part. The expanding cheeks include cantilevered walls formed adjacent the support plate, which are offset radially outwardly with respect to a guide wall of the support plate which guides the locking part. The locking part can be pushed through the support plate substantially without force until it reaches inwardly protruding ramp projections formed on the expanding cheeks, which provide a better lever ratio for spreading the expanding cheeks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: A. Raymond et Cie
    Inventors: Martin Busch, Friedrich Silbereisen
  • Patent number: 9003633
    Abstract: A method for attaching an article to a hardened concrete body includes a tool that has a slotted base plate and a downwardly depending slotted guide cylinder having at the lower end thereof a circular end plate which has a central aperture, insertable into a bore hole to support a rotatably driven shaft disposed through the slot, guide cylinder, and central aperture through said end plate and having at its lower end a cutting head, the shaft being pushed downwardly into the bore and rocked back and forth in the slot, causing the cutting head to form an oval enlargement at the base of the bore hole. An anchor bolt fastener according to the invention is then inserted into the bore hole, the fastener including an elongated shank which has a central shaft bore slidably holding a shaft having at its lower end an expander wedge forcible upwards into a slot extending into a lower end face of the shank to thus expand bolt legs on opposite sides of the slot into the oval bore hole enlargement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Agostino Difante
  • Patent number: 8950043
    Abstract: A connecting assembly (10) for fastening a mount-on part (12) to a carrier part (14), having a clip (16) which includes a deformable locking section (18) for fastening the clip (16) to the carrier part (14), and a separate locking pin (20) which is adapted to be received by the clip (16) by a movement in a mounting direction (22) along a mounting axis (A), the clip (16) and the locking pin (20) including cooperating latching members (24, 26) which form snap connections in a preassembly position and a locking position to fix the locking pin (20) axially on the clip (16). In the preassembly position the locking pin (20) and the clip (16) form a preassembled connecting assembly which is insertable into mounting openings (28, 30) of the mount-on part (12) and of the carrier part (14) by a movement along the mounting axis (A) and is movable to a fastening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Hofmann, Markus Elsner, Hubert Loewe
  • Patent number: 8627553
    Abstract: A fastening clip for fastening a component to a carrier, has a holding member, the holding member being adapted to be inserted into an opening of the carrier in an insertion direction and the holding member includes a plurality of expansion arms adapted to engage behind the opening of the carrier, and an expansion member adapted to be inserted into a recess of the holding member contrary to the insertion direction so that the expansion arms are transferred from an initial position to an expanded position, wherein the holding member and the expansion member are integrally connected with each other in a preassembly position by connecting webs which each constitute a predetermined breaking point and which are provided in particular between the front end of the holding member viewed in the insertion direction and the rear end of the expansion member viewed in the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Michel Kuhm, Jerome Maurer, Susanne Balluch
  • Patent number: 8449234
    Abstract: A blind rivet design has an exposed mandrel portion modified from the conventional and standardized mandrel to reduce amount and cost of materials required to produce the mandrel, while also minimizing costs related to production, use, and spent mandrel disposal, all while still making use of conventional riveting tools for rivet setting and maintaining rivet performance. The blind rivet also facilitates feeding of a shortened spent mandrel through conventional riveting tools and into mandrel collection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventor: Harry E. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8348567
    Abstract: A molded plastic rivet for affixing two parts to each other when the rivet is inserted through two mutually aligned apertures in the parts. The rivet includes a pin having a pin head, a pin shank and first and second pin latching offsets at the distal end of the pin shank. The latching elements include at least first latching offsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Nikolaus Schwarzkopf
  • Patent number: 7862272
    Abstract: A clip which is easily removed from an object to be fixed is provided. The clip includes: two parts including a first member 1 and a second member 2, the first member having a head portion 4 and a shaft portion 5, and the second member having a flange portion 11 and a leg portion 12, wherein an opening 13 is formed in the flange portion of the second member, and the leg portion of the second member is split into two split leg portions 16 to form a gap 17, which communicates with the opening and into which the shaft portion of the first member is inserted between the split leg portions 16, and wherein elastic blades 18 projecting radially are provided in multiple stages along a vertical direction on outer peripheral surfaces of the split leg portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Piolax Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7841817
    Abstract: A fastener comprising a bush and a pin is used to mount an airbag on a vehicle body panel. The pin has a head with legs depending therefrom, and the bush has a flange with a shank depending therefrom. The shank supports resilient pawls moveable in slots. The legs of the pin are inserted into the slots to a temporary connection position at which the resilient pawls are free to move inward of the slots, and to a permanent connection position at which such movement is blocked. The bush shank has a rigid axial column between the slots. The flange has a pair of spaced upright walls defining a space for receiving the pin and for preventing the head of the pin from being pressed inadvertently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kawai
  • Patent number: 7736107
    Abstract: A clipping device including a pin and a grommet, the pin including an engaging groove, an enlarging groove, the grommet including a flange part and a body part, the body part being divided into a plurality of divisional leg portions interposing slits, inwardly directed projections being formed on respective inner faces of the divisional leg portions, wherein the pin is provided with a stepped part on its upper end edge, and a swinging piece which is connected to a side face of the divisional leg portion so as to swing in a horizontal direction is provided in the slit of the grommet, the swinging piece being projected outwardly from the body part of the grommet while it is in a free state, and adapted to be pressed by inner peripheral faces of panel holes when inserted into the panel holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Piolax, Inc.
    Inventor: Shigeo Okada
  • Patent number: 7722303
    Abstract: A blind rivet is provided that is operable for insertion into a workpiece. The blind rivet can include a body portion having a first end and second end. The body portion can include a radial flange formed at the first end and can define a bore extending through the body portion. The rivet can include a mandrel with a mandrel head operable to engage the second end of the body portion. The mandrel head can be larger than the bore and can be coupled to a stem. The stem can be configured to pass through the bore and the flange to enable the body portion to engage the workpiece. The radial flange can also include a plurality of bearing surfaces adapted to be coupled to at least one tool for receipt of a predetermined torsional load at the radial flange to cause failure of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Michael K Williams
  • Patent number: 7652886
    Abstract: A heat sink assembly for dissipating heat from an electronic component (12) mounted on a printed circuit board (10) includes a heat sink (20) resting on the electronic component, and a fastener assembly (30) for securing the heat sink to the electronic component. The fastener assembly includes a hollow post (36) having a threaded hole (360) defined therein, a screw (32) threadedly engaged in the threaded hole, a coil spring (34) compressibly disposed between the heat sink and a top portion of the screw, and a latch (38) pivotably engaging with a bottom portion of the post. When the screw moves downwardly towards the printed circuit board, the latch is pushed by the screw to rotate and press the heat sink towards the printed circuit board, thus securing the heat sink to the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Li, Lei Cao
  • Patent number: 7607875
    Abstract: A fastener including a pin, a grommet and a pinching member, wherein the pin includes a head portion and a shaft portion, the grommet includes a flange portion and a barrel portion, and the pinching member includes an inward directed support arm and an outward directed pinching piece, the head portion includes a support portion for supporting the inward directed support arm of the pinching member, a containing chamber for containing a side of the outward directed pinching piece of the pinching member to direct in a direction of a center of the shaft portion and a press face for pressing outward the outward directed pinching piece of the pinching member at the shaft portion of the pin and forming an opening window for putting in and out the outward directed pinching piece of the pinching member at the barrel portion of the grommet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignees: Piolax Inc., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuya Shinozaki, Hirofumi Tanaka, Akihiro Shibuya, Yasuo Mochioka
  • Patent number: 7553116
    Abstract: The fastener comprises a first part having a stem and a head attached to one end of the stem, and a second part having two elastic feet and a plate from which the elastic feet project transversely, the stem being adapted to slide in an opening formed in the plate, the fastener being adapted to assume a waiting position in which the first part is held in the second part by means of the stem passing through the opening and clamping said plate between a stop surface and a tooth; a locking position; and an unlocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: ITW de France
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Lesecq
  • Patent number: 7484919
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a fastener assembly that includes a grommet and a pin. The grommet may include a collar integrally formed with a plurality of legs, wherein an opening is formed through the collar. The pin is moveable through the opening between pre-driven and driven positions. The pin may include a plurality of flexible pin compression members connected to a ramp. The plurality of flexible pin compression members and the ramp spread the legs open in the driven position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne M. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7430122
    Abstract: An electronic device assembly includes a PCB (10), a heat sink (30) mounted on the PCB, a back plate (20) attached below the PCB, a fan holder (40) mounted on a top of the heat sink and a fan mounted on the fan holder. The fan holder has a plurality of sleeves (46). A plurality of clips (50) is assembled on the fan holder. Each clip includes a locking column (52) received in a corresponding sleeve of the fan holder, a shank (56) extending through the column, a spring (54) mounted around the column and sandwiched between a top of the column and a bottom of the shank, and an operating member (58) pivotably connected to the shank. The back plate forms a plurality of studs snappingly engaging with the locking columns to securely mount the heat sink on the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-Yun Li
  • Patent number: 7249922
    Abstract: A jointing member has a grommet and a pin. The grommet includes a flange portion and a leg portion capable of being opened, in which an insertion hole is formed from the center of the flange portion to the inner portion of the leg portion, and an engagement portion is formed at the inner surface of the leg portion. The pin includes a head portion and a shaft portion to be inserted into the insertion hole, in which an engagement surface and a lock surface each engaging with the engagement portions are formed at the shaft portion. In the jointed and fixed state of panel members, when an unexpected external force is applied to the tip end of the shaft portion of the pin, the engagement portion engages with the lock surface of the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Piolax, Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Yoneoka
  • Publication number: 20070172327
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a fastener assembly that includes a grommet and a pin. The grommet may include a collar integrally formed with a plurality of legs, wherein an opening is formed through the collar. The pin is moveable through the opening between pre-driven and driven positions. The pin may include a plurality of flexible pin compression members connected to a ramp. The plurality of flexible pin compression members and the ramp spread the legs open in the driven position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventor: Wayne M. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7243401
    Abstract: A clip includes an insertion member whose cross-sectional shape is in a T-shape, having a head portion and a shaft portion connected downwardly from the head portion; a latch member in a V-shape disposed on an outer side of the shaft portion; and a hinge member connecting the shaft portion and the latch member. Split flanges, mated in a flange-shape by surrounding the shaft portion when both side leg portions are closed, are provided to be continued from upper end portions of the both side leg portions. One side of an abutting surface of each split flange protrudes to form an L-shape in a plan view and abuts against a corresponding side portion of the shaft portion. A retaining protruding piece extending from a side portion opposite to a protruding portion and engaging with corresponding side portion of the shaft portion is formed on each both side leg portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Piolax, Inc.
    Inventor: Seiji Sawatani
  • Patent number: 7237995
    Abstract: A device, for attaching a panel to a support, incorporates a body with an elongated lower sector having a lower segment, an intermediate segment and an upper segment in which incuts are made to operatively engage and locate a retention bushing. The retention bushing has an annular head and alternated elongate and short legs that are configured to engage the lower and intermediate segments respectively when the retention bushing is at a lower position on the elongated lower sector, and configured so that the elongate legs are deflected outwardly by engagement with vertical ribs on the elongate lower sector while the short legs engage the upper segment, when the bushing is a high position on the elongate lower sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: ITW Espana, S.A.
    Inventors: Jesus Randez Perez, Josep Ventallo Sabater
  • Patent number: 7207759
    Abstract: A fastener comprises a pin and a bushing having a hollow shank that is inserted into holes in a plurality of members being attached. A pin shank is inserted into the bushing shank to effect a widened-diameter coupling condition in which the diameter of the bushing shank is widened, and the members being attached are coupled between the diameter-widened bushing shank and a bushing flange. On the bushing shank are pawls for maintaining a non-widened-diameter coupling condition in which the pin and the bushing are coupled with the pin shank partially inserted into the bushing shank, and the diameter of the bushing shank is not widened. On the pin shank there is a groove for engaging the pawls, which normally extend out beyond the diameter of the attachment holes, but can bend inward. The groove has a depth that will accept the pawls when they are bent inward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 7198444
    Abstract: A multi-grip blind rivet 74 includes a rivet body 82, adapted to receive a portion of a mandrel 76. A plurality of indentations 88 are formed in an outer surface 86 of the rivet body 82 in each of three axially spaced transaxial planes. Each indentation 88 is formed with a work hardened base surface 90 having a convex portion, which is formed with axially spaced first and second transaxial edges 106 and 108 having nonlinear portions. Adjacent indentations 88 are separated by ribs 89. A flared intermediate surface 122 extends between the base surface 90 and the outer surface 86. The rivet 74 is assembled within aligned holes 128 and 130 of workpieces 124 and 126, respectively, where, upon setting of the rivet, the indentations 88 collapse and the outer surface 86 bulges against walls of the holes to retain the workpieces together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Newfrey LLC
    Inventors: Frank Piacenti, Jerry W. Robertson