Trw Limited

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Melvyn J Clough

Jeffrey C Lewis

Mary Teresa Bell

Joseph G Fucci

Willard R Lewis

Stephen P Mackowiak

An automotive vehicle cowl cover assembly has a body cowl surface made of a material with a first coefficient of thermal expansion and an elongated ventilation screen covering the air intake opening with ventilation slots therein made from a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The body cowl surface has a plurality of laterally spaced, rectangularly shaped body apertures and the screen has a plurality of circular mounting apertures formed therethrough registerable with the plurality of body mounting apertures. A plurality of fasteners engage with the ventilation screen to the body cowl surface, each of the fasteners including a rectangularly shaped nut member fitted in one of the plurality of body apertures and a toothed push-pin insertable through one of the plurality of apertures in axially fast relationship with the nut member to clampingly engaging the ventilation screen against the body cowl surface, the push-pin laterally slidingly received in the first slot and received in axially locking relationship with the ribs of the second slot such that the push-pin slides laterally with respect to the nut member to compensate for lateral relative movement between the ventilation screen and the body cowl surface in response to changes in temperature therearound.

Automotive cowl screen assembly

A valve for use in ventilation of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprises a housing defining a plurality of through flow passages with separate flap valve elements pivotally mounted adjacent each through flow passage. The valve elements are adapted in a first position to overlie the associated through flow passage for blocking flow, but when pivoted toward a second position, they open to permit flow. The flap valve elements are each pivotally mounted by separate hinges which act to bias the valve elements toward the first position with a preselected force. The hinges on separate ones of the flap valve elements are arranged to provide different preselected biasing forces such that the number of valve elements moving toward the open position at any point in time depends upon the then current level of pressure of fluid on the upstream side of the valve.

Body relief valve flap

A molded plastic, push-on fastener for connection to threaded studs or the like comprises first and second cylindrical collar members. The first collar has a resilient side wall and threads are formed on the interior thereof in a form and size for positive engagement with the threads on the associated threaded stud. The second collar member has a relatively rigid side wall with an open interior diameter which is greater than the diameter of the first collar member to permit the second member to be received over and surround the first member. A thin frangible, connecting web is provided for temporarily connecting the collar members in axial alignment. Cooperating interengaging thread forms are formed on the exterior of the first collar member and the interior of the second collar member. These interengaging thread forms act to inhibit radial expansion of the first collar member while simultaneously preventing axial withdrawal of the second member in a direction off the first member after the second member has been moved from the temporarily connected position to an installed position received over and surrounding the first collar member.

Push-on fastener

Disclosed is a plastic fastener component adapted to be molded into a gasket to provide means for securing the gasket to an associated structure while retaining a threaded fastener in an operative position. The component comprises a generally cylindrical body terminating in first and second axially spaced ends and having an axial opening of uniform transverse cross-section extending between the ends and adapted to receive the threaded fastener. The inner surface of the opening has axially extending ribs formed thereon. A circumferential flange extends radially outward about the first end of the body. The flange has a relatively thick and rigid portion adjacent the body and terminates in a relatively thin outer periphery. A plurality of flexible and resilient legs terminating in free end portions extend axially outward from the second end of the body. The legs are spaced circumferentially about the opening and each has a radially inward facing surface which forms a continuation of the ribs on the inner surface of the opening. Retaining elements are carried on the free end portions of the legs. The retaining elements including hook sections extending radially outward substantially beyond the maximum radial extent of the cylindrical body.

Fastener

A molded plastic female fastener component including an aperture having an entrance end for receiving a threaded stud or bolt. Within the aperture are retaining means in the form of an axially spaced series of flexible legs each of which extends about at least a portion of the inner circumference of the aperture to generally define a helical thread form. The legs have a cross-section which tapers from a relatively thick base to a thin outer end inclined in a direction away from the entrance of the aperture. The spacing between adjacent legs in the series is equal to the pitch of the threads of the associated stud. The resilient nature of the shape of the legs allows them to deflect over the threads during an axial 'push-on' engagement but to latch under the threads to prevent axial disconnection except by an unthreading operation.

Growing community of inventors

Acton, MA, United States of America

Melvyn J Clough