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DE-102025146549-A1 - FASTENING ELEMENT

DE102025146549A1DE 102025146549 A1DE102025146549 A1DE 102025146549A1DE-102025146549-A1

Abstract

A plastic fastener for coupling a first component to a second component is disclosed. The fastener comprises a body section, a pair of tower legs, and at least one counterfeit. The body section extends along a longitudinal axis and defines a first end and a second end. The pair of tower legs extends from the body section at the second end, and each tower leg is elastically deflectable with respect to the longitudinal axis. The at least one counterfeit is positioned on an inwardly facing surface of each tower leg and is designed to engage with a corresponding seat section of a rib tower of the second component. The counterfeit is designed to facilitate insertion of the rib tower between the pair of tower legs and to elastically engage in the seat section to mechanically retain the fastener on the rib tower.

Inventors

  • Logan Irvine
  • David Edland
  • Jeremy Berres

Assignees

  • ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251111
Priority Date
20251107

Claims (10)

  1. Fastener for coupling a first component and a second component, the fastener comprising: a body section extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a first end and a second end; a pair of tower legs extending from the body section at the second end, each tower leg being elastically deflectable with respect to the longitudinal axis; and at least one counterfeit positioned on an inwardly facing surface of each tower leg and designed to engage with a corresponding seat section of a rib tower of the second component, the counterfeit being designed to facilitate insertion of the rib tower between the pair of tower legs and to elastically engage in the seat section to mechanically hold the fastener to the rib tower.
  2. Fastening element according to Claim 1 , wherein each counterfeit has a generally wedge-shaped projection with an oblique front surface designed to guide the rib tower during insertion, and optionally, wherein the generally wedge-shaped projection further defines a rear surface designed to engage with an edge of the seat section to prevent pull-out.
  3. Fastening element according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one locking projection arranged on an outwardly facing surface of each tower leg, and optionally, wherein each locking projection is designed to engage in an edge of an opening formed in the first component when the fastening element is installed through it, and optionally, wherein each locking projection extends outwards from the tower leg in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and is designed to deflect inwards during insertion.
  4. Fastening element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the tower legs are coupled by a bridge at the second end of the body section, wherein the bridge provides structural support and elasticity during insertion, wherein the bridge is dimensioned to improve the flexibility of the tower legs while preventing breakage during repeated insertion and removal cycles.
  5. Fastening element according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a head section connected to the body section at the first end, wherein the head section comprises a plurality of cantilever arms connected by a connecting element, wherein the connecting element comprises a wing feature extending outwards from the longitudinal axis to provide a manual engagement surface.
  6. Fastening element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the tower legs and the counterfeits are formed in one piece as a single molded unit, and optionally, wherein the fastening element is formed from a polymeric material.
  7. Fastening element according to one of the Claims 3 until 6 , wherein the counter-features and locking projections are arranged on opposite sides of each tower leg.
  8. Fastening element according to one of the Claims 3 until 7 , wherein the tower legs are biased towards each other to provide a self-centering effect during engagement with the rib tower, and optionally, wherein the rear surface of each counterfeit is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis when the fastener is in an installed position, and optionally, wherein the counterfeits and the locking projections cooperate to secure the fastener simultaneously to the rib tower of the second component and to the first component, and optionally, wherein engagement of the counterfeits with the seat section prevents the fastener from being pulled forward out of the rib tower, and engagement of the locking projections with the first component prevents the fastener from being pulled backward out of the opening.
  9. Fastener assembly comprising: a fastener comprising: a body section extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a first end and a second end, a pair of tower legs extending from the body section at the second end, each tower leg being elastically deflectable with respect to the longitudinal axis, and at least one counterfeit positioned on an inwardly facing surface of each tower leg and designed to engage with a corresponding seat section of a rib tower of the second component; a rib tower forming part of a second component, the rib tower having a seat a section comprising which is designed to receive the mating features of the fastener; and a first component defining an opening designed to receive the fastener and engage with the locking projections, wherein the fastener is designed to mechanically couple the first and second components by the engagement of the mating features with the rib tower and the engagement of the locking projections with the first component, and optionally, wherein the fastener is formed from a synthetic polymer or a semi-synthetic polymer.
  10. A plastic fastener for coupling a first component and a second component, the plastic fastener comprising: a body section extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a first end and a second end; a pair of tower legs extending from the body section at the second end, each tower leg being elastically deflectable with respect to the longitudinal axis; and at least one counterfeit positioned on an inwardly facing surface of each tower leg and designed to engage with a corresponding seat section of a rib tower of the second component, the counterfeit being designed to facilitate insertion of the rib tower between the pair of tower legs and to elastically engage in the seat section to mechanically retain the plastic fastener on the rib.

Description

RELATED REGISTRATIONS The present application claims priority over the preliminary application filed on 12 November 2024. US Patent Application No. 63/719,191 with the title “Riblok for Metal”, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. BACKGROUND Automotive components require fastening techniques that are easy to manufacture and assemble. Furthermore, these fastening techniques should be reliable and efficient. To attach a secondary panel to a primary panel, a fastener such as a pin and grommet closure can be used. Various types of fasteners are used to secure components. For example, on a vehicle's instrument panel, fasteners can be used to join adjacent panels together or to secure one or more objects to the panels. These fasteners can incorporate openings of varying types, sizes, and shapes in the components to be fastened. This means that with such a fastener, at least one component has an opening. One component is mounted to the fastener, and the other component with the opening accommodates the fastener. Therefore, despite various advances made so far, it would still be desirable to provide a plastic fastening element that can also be used with metal, for example. SUMMARY The present disclosure relates in general to a fastening system for forming a blind connection between the panels, such as automotive panels, substantially as illustrated and described by at least one of the figures, as fully set out in the claims. FIGURES The aforementioned and other tasks, features, and advantages of the devices, systems, and methods described herein will become apparent from the following description of specific examples as illustrated in the accompanying figures; where identical or similar reference numbers refer to identical or similar structures. The figures are not necessarily to scale; rather, the focus is on illustrating the principles of the devices, systems, and methods described herein. 1 illustrates an isometric mounting view of a fastening system according to one aspect of this disclosure. The 2a to 2c Side views of the fastening system are shown at different stages of assembly. 2d illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the fastening system in a mounted position, taken along section line AA, as shown in 1 depicted. 3a to 3c Each figure illustrates an isometric view of the top, the first bottom, and the second bottom of the fastener. 3D illustrates a side elevation view of the fastener. 3e and 3f Front and rear side elevation views of the fastener are shown. 3g and 3h Each image shows top and bottom views of the fastener. 4a and 4b Illustrating isometric cross-sectional views of the fastener, taken along section lines BB and CC, as shown in Figure 1. 3e and 3g depicted. 4c Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional plan view of the fastener, taken along section line CC, as shown in Figure 2. 3e depicted. 4d illustrates a cross-sectional front elevation view of the fastener, taken along section line DD, as shown in 3g depicted. DESCRIPTION References to singular elements should be understood to include plural elements and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise or evident from the text. Grammatical conjunctions are interpreted to express all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations of connected clauses, sentences, words, and the like. Unless otherwise stated or evident from the context, the mention of value ranges herein is not to be construed as limiting and instead refers individually to all values falling within and/or including the range, unless otherwise stated herein, and each individual value within such range is included in the patent specification as if it were individually mentioned herein. In the following description, it is understood that terms such as "first,""second,""above,""below,""sideways,""front,""back," and the like are used only for the sake of simplicity and are not to be understood as limiting terms. While in some examples, for instance, a first page is arranged adjacent to or near a second page, the terms "first page" and "second page" do not imply any particular order in which the pages are arranged. When the terms "approximately," "about," "essentially," or the like are used in conjunction with a numerical value, they are to be understood as indicating a deviation that a person with normal technical knowledge might consider satisfactory for the intended purpose. Ranges of values and/or numerical values are provided herein only as examples and do not constitute a limitation of the scope of disclosure. The use of any examples or illustrative expressions provided herein ("e.g.," "such as," or the like) is solely for the purpose of better illustrating the disclosed examples and does not constitute a limitation of the scope of disclosure. The terms "e.g.," "for example," and "for instance" set off lists of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations. Nothing in the patent specification should be interpreted as designating an unclaimed elemen