IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0496008
(2006-07-28)
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등록번호 |
US-7419206
(2008-09-02)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Slobodecki,Jeffrey A.
- Benedetti,Steven M.
- Fischer,Charles K.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
10 인용 특허 :
52 |
초록
▼
A quick connect fastener system is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, a snap-in fastener is used for retaining an automotive vehicle interior trim member. A further aspect of the present invention employs a base and a resilient retainer, one of which includes a metallic portion an
A quick connect fastener system is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, a snap-in fastener is used for retaining an automotive vehicle interior trim member. A further aspect of the present invention employs a base and a resilient retainer, one of which includes a metallic portion and the other of which includes a polymeric portion. Moreover, a generally rigid polymeric base employs a channel operably receiving a metallic retainer in a laterally sliding manner to ease in assembly of the retainer to the base in an adhesive and screw-free manner.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. An automotive vehicle, interior trim fastener comprising: a base section being laterally enlarged, wherein at least a segment of the base section is metallic; a body section centrally attached to and projecting from the base section, the body section including a central hollo
What is claimed is: 1. An automotive vehicle, interior trim fastener comprising: a base section being laterally enlarged, wherein at least a segment of the base section is metallic; a body section centrally attached to and projecting from the base section, the body section including a central hollow chamber openly accessible through the base, the body section being polymeric; at least three flexible tabs outwardly and laterally projecting from the body in a substantially equidistant manner; and externally tapered ribs projecting from a lead-in portion of the body section. 2. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the tabs are polymeric. 3. The fastener of claim 1 wherein there are at least three threaded fastener-receiving holes in the base. 4. The fastener of claim 1 further comprising at least six externally tapered ribs projecting from a lead-in end of the body section opposite the base section. 5. The fastener of claim 1 wherein a peripheral edge of the base section is circular, and the base section is permanently attached to the body section and the tabs. 6. The fastener of claim 1 in combination with at least an automotive vehicle sunvisor, an appearance bezel and a headliner trim panel; the bezel and at least one of the sections sandwiching the headliner trim panel therebetween; and the bezel coupling the sunvisor to at least one of the sections. 7. An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising: a sunvisor assembly including an elbow, a sunvisor blade rotatably coupled to the elbow, and a bezel substantially surrounding a portion of the elbow and being visible from inside the vehicle; a fastener comprising resilient vehicular body-engaging tabs and a laterally enlarged base secured to the tabs, one of the tabs and base including a polymeric material, and the other of the tabs and base including a metallic material; and a headliner sandwiched between the bezel and the base with a segment of the elbow extending through the headliner; the sunvisor assembly being removably secured to the fastener. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the polymeric material is integrally molded to the metallic material of the fastener as a single and permanently attached piece. 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the base includes a metallic section and the tabs are polymeric. 10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the base is polymeric and the tabs are metallic. 11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the tabs are removably secured to the base in a snap-fit manner free of adhesive and free of threaded fasteners. 12. A fastener comprising: a polymeric member including a laterally enlarged surface with at least one integrally formed rib upstanding therefrom; at least two metallic members being removably coupled to the polymeric member by a snap-fit coupling, the metallic members including at least two snap-in panel-engaging tabs which are flexibly movable relative to the polymeric member; the snap-fit coupling comprising a flexible member coupled to one of: (a) the polymeric member and (b) the metallic members, the other of the polymeric member and the metallic members including an aperture, the flexible member being movable into the aperture to at least partially couple the polymeric member and the metallic members; all of the members being hidden from view when installed; and a central metallic section integrally connecting the metallic members and the metallic members being spaced away from each other. 13. The fastener of claim 12 wherein the polymeric member further comprises a channel defined at least in part by upstanding walls with inwardly facing ledges, wherein the flexible member is connected to the polymeric member and is located adjacent the channel, wherein at least one of the metallic members includes the aperture and is slidably engageable into the channel in a lateral direction such that the flexible member moves into the aperture so as to be secured therein at least in part by the snap-fit coupling. 14. The fastener of claim 12 wherein the metallic members are secured to the polymeric member in a removable and quick-connect manner free of a separate connector between the metallic and polymeric members. 15. A fastener comprising: a polymeric member including a laterally enlarged surface with at least one integrally formed rib upstanding therefrom; and a metallic member being removably coupled to the polymeric member by a snap-fit coupling, the metallic member including at least two snap-in panel-engaging tabs which are flexibly movable relative to the polymeric member; the snap-fit coupling comprising a flexible member coupled to one of the polymeric member and the metallic member, the other of the polymeric member and the metallic member including an aperture, the flexible member being movable into the aperture to at least partially couple the polymeric member and the metallic member; all of the members being hidden from view when installed; wherein the polymeric member further comprises a channel defined at least in part by upstanding walls with inwardly facing ledges, wherein the flexible member is connected to the polymeric member and is located adiacent the channel; wherein the metallic member includes the aperture and is slidably engageable into the channel in a lateral direction such that the flexible member moves into the aperture so as to be secured therein at least in part by the snap-fit coupling; wherein each of the tabs of the metallic member is substantially flat and further comprises an offset wing, each of the tabs being substantially U-shaped, and each pair of the tabs being inwardly angled toward each other opposite the polymeric member; and a threaded fastener being removably inserted through a hole in the metallic member and extending between the tabs of the metallic member. 16. The fastener of claim 15 wherein the polymeric member further comprises a substantially flat interior trim-facing surface including a central aperture and a substantially oval-shaped periphery, the metallic member projecting from a second surface of the polymeric member opposite from the interior trim-facing surface. 17. The fastener of claim 15 wherein the polymeric member further comprises a wire-receiving channel leading from a periphery of the polymeric member to an aperture through the polymeric member. 18. The fastener of claim 15 in combination with at least an automotive vehicle sunvisor, an appearance bezel and a headliner trim panel; the bezel and polymeric member sandwiching the headliner trim panel therebetween; and the bezel coupling the sunvisor to the base. 19. An automotive vehicle interior trim assembly comprising: (a) a fastener comprising: a laterally enlarged base including an elongated channel; and a vehicular body-engaging retainer laterally and linearly sliding in the channel to a position where the retainer is secured to the base by a snap-fit coupling, the retainer comprising a snap-in engagement tab, the snap-fit coupling comprising a flexible member coupled to at least one of the base and the retainer, the other of the base and the retainer including an aperture, the flexible member moveable into the aperture during sliding of the retainer in the channel to secure the retainer to the base; (b) an appearance bezel attached to the base; and (c) an interior trim panel sandwiched between the bezel and the base. 20. The fastener assembly of claim 19 wherein the retainer further comprises a second substantially flat engagement tab with offset wing members, each of the engagement tabs being substantially U-shaped, and the engagement tabs being inwardly angled toward each other opposite the base. 21. The fastener assembly of claim 20 further comprising an elongated member being removably inserted through a hole in a flange of the retainer and extending between the engagement tabs of the retainer. 22. The fastener assembly of claim 19 wherein the retainer is metallic and the base is polymeric. 23. The fastener assembly of claim 19 wherein the base further comprises a substantially flat interior trim-facing surface including a central aperture and a substantially oval-shaped periphery, the retainer projecting from a second surface of the base opposite from the interior trim-facing surface. 24. The fastener assembly of claim 19 wherein the base further comprises an elongated second channel extending from a periphery of the base to an aperture through the base. 25. The fastener assembly of claim 19 wherein the channel of the base is defined at least in part by upstanding walls with inwardly facing ledges, wherein the base includes the flexible member and the flexible member includes a snap-fit projection located adjacent the channel; and wherein a flange of the retainer includes the aperture and slidably engages into the channel in a lateral direction such that the snap-fit projection moves into the aperture such that the retainer is secured therein at least in part by the snap-fit projection. 26. The fastener assembly of claim 19 further comprising a second metallic snap-in retainer secured to the base and being spaced away from the first snap-in retainer. 27. The fastener assembly of claim 19 further comprising an automotive vehicle sunvisor, the interior trim panel being and a headliner trim panel, the bezel coupling the sunvisor to the base, and the retainer, base, headliner, bezel and sunvisor all being preassembled together as a modularized unit prior to vehicular installation.
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