Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Emhart Inc.

Robert Osterland

Derek Scroggie

Aaron M Jagoda

Michelle E Bozinovski

Robert A Murawski

David Derek Scroggie

Keith Morris

Randall J Gronau

A retainer adapted for disposition within a vehicle roof ditch between a first sidewall and a second sidewall to hold an elongate molding strip in covering relation to the vehicle roof ditch. The retainer includes at least one body portion adapted for disposition within the roof ditch in operative connection to a base portion of the roof ditch. The body portion has a length dimension adapted for orientation along a length segment of the roof ditch between a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The body portion includes an arrangement of molding attachment elements adapted to engage an underside of the elongate molding strip and at least one spring biasing leg disposed at an elevation below the molding attachment elements, which extends an operative length away from one side of the body portion.

Compensating position roof ditch molding retainer

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.

Collapsible retainer

A multi-piece snap-in fastener adapted to adjoin a surface element to a backing panel. The fastener includes a docking base of tray-like construction including a pair of opposing lateral sidewalls including at least one inboard protuberance element projecting in overlying relation to the interior surface. A displaceable clip head including at least one male projection element extending outwardly from one side of a support platform is configured for insertion in nesting relation between the lateral sidewalls. The support platform includes outboard protuberance elements projecting outwardly from lateral sides of the support platform such that upon insertion of the support platform between the lateral sidewalls, the outboard protuberance elements are disposed in underlapping relation to opposing inboard protuberance elements projecting from the lateral sidewalls.

Multi-piece snap clip fastener

A retainer adapted for disposition within a vehicle roof ditch between a first sidewall and a second sidewall to hold an elongate molding strip in covering relation to the vehicle roof ditch. The retainer includes at least one body portion adapted for disposition within the roof ditch in operative connection to a base portion of the roof ditch. The body portion has a length dimension adapted for orientation along a length segment of the roof ditch between a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The body portion includes an arrangement of molding attachment elements adapted to engage an underside of the elongate molding strip. The body portion further includes at least one spring biasing leg disposed at an elevation below the molding attachment elements, the spring biasing leg extends an operative length away from one side of the body portion for contacting, flexing relation with the first sidewall. The spring biasing leg continuously urges the body portion away from the first sidewall and towards the second sidewall.

A fastener adapted to join a first component to a second component. The fastener includes a first connecting end adapted to engage a slot opening in the first component, and a second connecting end adapted for press-fit insertion into an opening in the second component. The first connecting end includes a raised edge collar defining a concave surface facing away from the second connecting end and an opposing platform surface disposed above the raised edge collar in spaced relation to the raised edge collar with a post member extending between the raised edge collar and the opposing platform surface. The first connecting end is adapted to hold the first component in sandwiched relation between the raised edge collar and the opposing platform surface. The raised edge collar includes a segmented perimeter wall including a plurality of cut-outs defining substantially independently flexible segments between the cut-outs.

Fastener assembly

A molding retainer is provided for securing a molding to a return flange in a roof ditch. The retainer generally includes a throat, a stop, a molding seat and a molding clip. In the case of a discontinuous flange having individual flange coupons, the throat may define a through-hole that fits over each flange coupon. The throat may include a plurality of fingers adapted to snap fit into windows in the flange coupons, with the fingers being mounted at different heights to accommodate variations in the placement of the windows. In the case of a continuous flange, the throat may define a channel that fits over the flange. The stop engages the floor of the roof ditch to provide a reference point for the height of the molding, and the molding clip engages and holds the molding.

Roof ditch molding retainer

A fastener assembly configured to secure a first panel to a second panel includes a pin and a grommet. The pin includes a shaft connected to a tip. The grommet is configured to snapably secure into a hole of a panel. The grommet includes a central passage. The shaft is adjustably secured within the central passage, such that the shaft is allowed to shift a fixed distance within the central passage in a first direction, but is locked in place in the central passage with respect to a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

Pin and grommet fastener assembly

A w-base fastener includes multiple legs that compress towards a common member, to which the legs are attached, during the installation through an opening of a structure. These legs then engage the backside of the structure to which the fastener is mounted to hold the fastener in a mounted position within the opening. The fastener also includes a head or similar structure that permits items to be mounted to the fastener. The w-base fastener described herein also includes opposite flex arm features for thermal expansion for assembling moldings to a panel. Embodiments of the invention are used to provide for the ease of assembly, proper fit, and functional retention of moldings to structural panels, while also providing for the thermal expansion of the moldings. Aspects of the invention may be advantageously employed on automotive body side moldings including doors, rockers, wheel flares and other areas.

Fastener

A w-base retainer that may be used in many applications, including numerous applications throughout the automotive industry, includes two-stage double-snap-over w-base features with opposite w-base features for assembling moldings to a sheet metal or substrate panel. The w-base retainer will improve the ease of assembly of parts, provide a proper fit, and provide a functional retention of moldings to structural panels. The w-base retainer may be used on, for example, automotive body side moldings, including, for example, doors, pillars, green house moldings and other moldings.

W-base retainer

A w-based panel fastener for securing a molding to a panel includes a nose and a pair of offset wings extending from the nose. The nose has a longitudinal length, an outer surface, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The wings are spaced from each other along the longitudinal length of the nose, and each of the wings includes a guide portion extending from the outer surface of the nose and a retainer portion extending generally from the inner surface of the nose. The spaced apart guide portions of the wings form a surface for initial insertion into the opening in the panel. The retainer portion of the wings is adapted to interfit with the opening in the panel to secure the fastener to the panel.

Panel fastener

A fastener grommet assembly of soft or flexible plastic material which forms a non-porous 'bathtub' enclosure that fits into an aperture in the body panel part of the automobile. A depending lug from an interior part of the automobile is provided with a metal retainer member that forms a pliable prong that can be pushed into a snap-fit relationship with the flexible grommet member and thus cause opposing wall portions of the grommet to expand into a seal-tight engagement with the rim of the aperture of the exterior body panel part of the automobile.

Growing community of inventors

East China, MI, United States of America

Robert Osterland