Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Michelle E Bozinovski

Derek Scroggie

Robert A Murawski

Mark Owen Lepper

Robert Osterland

Jason Mikeal Zander

Jesse L Jensen

Tim Hutson

A press-in retainer includes a retainer head having a collar and a seal disposed at least partially about the collar. A clip portion projects from the collar. The seal includes a main body engaging the collar and a sealing foot disposed entirely outboard from the collar. The sealing foot is configured to hinge about an intersection of the sealing foot and body portion while remaining entirely outboard from the main body. In a substantially flattened condition of the sealing foot, an angle between the sealing foot and a distal surface of the main body approaches a flat contiguous surface.

Push through retainer connection with integrated hinging seal

A connection assembly adapted to join a surface element to an underlying support structure while maintaining a substantially zero gap abutting relation between the surface element and the support structure. The connection assembly includes a press-in retainer with a circumferential seal having a sealing foot. The sealing foot flexes about a living hinge while maintaining continuous sliding contact with the support panel without interfering with downward movement of the retainer.

Fastener

A tethering clip assembly is configured to tether first and second components of a vehicle together before and during deployment of an airbag. The tethering clip assembly may include a securing base configured to secure to the first component, a retainer configured to secure to the second component, and one or more tethers that couple the securing base to the retainer. The securing base, the retainer, and the tether(s) are integrally formed together.

Airbag tethering clip assembly

A multi-piece molding retainer assembly including a female stud engagement latch which is held in floating snap-fit relation within a molding engagement clip adapted to engage and retain the overlying molding. The stud engagement latch and the molding engagement clip are moveable in relation to one another in both the longitudinal and lateral directions after attachment. The retainer assembly accommodates variations in stud position and height such that the attached molding may be properly positioned despite variations in the studs.

Roof ditch molding retainer assembly

A press-in fastener adapted to join a first component to a second component. The fastener includes a proximal head and a distal base clip portion below the head. The base clip portion includes an axially displaceable post structure and a pair of opposing wings extending in upwardly angled relation away from the travel path defined by the post structure. Collapsible legs engage the wings in operative connection to the post structure. As the fastener is pressed inwardly, upon encountering resistance from the second component, the legs collapse in folded relation as the post structure travels axially between the wings.

Growing community of inventors

Oakland Charter Township, MI, United States of America

Michelle E Bozinovski