Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Mark T Leuthe

Wayne Matthew Hansen

Hideki Kanie

Jeffrey J Steltz

Bryan D Smith

A hole plug assembly is configured to be secured within a hole of a panel, and may include a main body having at least a portion that is configured to be secured in the hole of the panel, and an expandable layer connected to the main body. The expandable layer is configured to expand into the hole to form a fluid-tight barrier.

Expandable hole plug assembly

A fastening assembly is configured to secure a first component to a second component through a range of connection angles. The fastening assembly may include a female fastening member having at least one retention stud, and a male fastening member having an internal opening configured to pivotally retain the at least one retention stud. The retention stud(s) is configured to be pivotally adjusted within the internal opening in order to securely connect the female fastening member to the male fastening member through the range of connection angles.

Adaptable mating fastener assembly

A fastening clip with a flexible tether for use with a vehicle includes a first fastener attached to a component such as a vehicle body, and a second fastener attached to a removable component such as a vehicle trim panel. The first and second fasteners may be connected by generally rigid arms joined by an integral hinge and by at least one flexible tether capable of elongating and contracting. The hinged arms and tether provide multiple means to prevent the trim section from freely detaching from the vehicle body and becoming a projectile following deployment of an air bag from behind the trim panel. In addition, the rigid arms cause the trim panel to move in a controlled arc. A further aspect of the invention provides a tether that is capable of stretching to allow unimpeded air bag deployment followed by contracting to pull the trim panel back towards its original position on the vehicle body.

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Chippewa Falls, WI, United States of America

Mark T Leuthe