Chrysler Corporation

Chrysler Motors Corporation

Carol P Pavur

James F Norkus

Martin W Schnurr

Steven W Bonnell

Dennis Harper

William F Hartery

Lawrence W Galloway

An improved snap-in metal plug for closing either a flat or flanged opening in a sheet metal panel or the like. The plug, in one embodiment, includes a circular disc formed with three co-planar tongues extending radially outwardly from the plug principal axis, with each tongue disposed about a radial center line of symmetry. Each tongue terminates in a radially outer fold line, disposed normal to its associated center line, formed by an underlying reverse folded ply. The ply terminates in a radially inner right angle bend juncture from which projects a single downstanding finger defining opposite vertical side edges. Each side edge has an upper tang struck outwardly and upwardly therefrom defining an upper tang free end. Upon the plug being seated in a flat opening, each upper tang has its upper end locked, in a snap-in manner, juxtaposed the panel interior surface. A lower prong, struck outwardly and upwardly from each finger and symmetrically disposed about a radial plane of symmetry, includes its associated tongue center line. Upon the plug being seated in the panel flanged opening, each finger has its upper tang biased into contact with the flanged opening interior wall, and whereby each lower tang upper free end is locked, in a snap-in manner, juxtaposed the downstanding flange under-edge.

Universal snap-in metal plug

A U-shaped stud mounting clip adapted for securing an projecting stud to a panel by means of an edge thereof formed with an upstanding flange. The resilient clip is stamped from sheet metal and has an elongate, generally U-shaped bifurcated configuration defining an upper contoured leg and a lower planar leg having their proximate ends joined by a bight wall. The upper leg has a first proximate sloped portion, a second angled portion, a third platform means, and a fourth lead-in distal portion. The platform means fixedly supports a projection stud thereon. The clip is flexed over the panel upstanding flange enabling a retaining tongue, struck from the clip upper leg sloped portion, to capture the clip on the panel flange while allowing the clip stud to be moved along the panel upstanding flange in a predetermined adjustable manner.

Stud mounting clip for panel

A one-piece resilient plug having an elongated body comprising a head, formed with an axially extending sealing lip, and a shank separated from the head by a continuous locking groove. The plug shank includes a frusto-conical surface intermediate a shoulder area and a pair of interconnected cap portions at its free end. A pair of elongated sockets symmetrically disposed adjacent either end of a central reverse cavity are provided with their openings in the head and their closed ends each defined by an elongated cap portion. A hand installation tool includes a bifurcated configured blade providing a pair of blade prongs adapted to be received in the sockets. Upon axial force being exerted by the tool on the cap portions the blade prongs deform the plug such that the shank is effectively drawn through a conforming vehicle body panel elongated slot-shaped aperture with the plug groove sealingly locked to the panel aperture upon removal of the tool.

Sealing plug and installation tool therefore

A one-piece grommet having a central elongated tubular portion surrounded by a cylindrical rim portion. One end of the rim portion is formed with a continuous laterally extending mounting flange spaced from an annular detent shoulder defining an annular groove for securing the grommet in a panel opening. A thin-walled resilient frusto-conical web portion connects the rim portion to the tubular portion. The web small diameter end forms a juncture with one end of the rim portion in the transverse plane of the annular groove while the web large diameter end forms a juncture with the rim portion other end at a predetermined axial distance from the transverse plane. This offset web arrangement allows the tubular portion to be positioned at any desired angle relative to the panel while maintaining the grommet annular groove in sealed engagement with the panel opening.

Growing community of inventors

Warren, MI, United States of America

Carol P Pavur