Newfrey Lcc

Steven Michael Benedetti

Rosalind A Nessel

Jeff A Slobodecki

Jason Aaron Meyers

Roger E Pilon

Charles K Fischer

Tien T Diep

Oday Amer Safry

Jeffrey A Slobodecki

Girishsingh A Mokashi

Lawrence John Higgins

Najwan Rassam

Patricia Patt

Andrew Cornell Heidacker

Wayne Robert Boylan

Ryan Ostach

Grant Gerbasi Garrett

Daniel J Lubera

Jeffrey C Lewis

Matthew L Kosiara

Joshua J Giddings

Aperture retention arms can extend outwardly away from an aperture shaft. An insertion end can be positioned below the aperture retention arms and can have an overall conical shape. The insertion end can include an opening having a closed interior terminal end separating a portion of a first lateral half of the insertion end and leaving another portion of the first lateral half as a connecting bridge below one of the aperture retention arms. The opening can include a channel extending from the closed interior terminal end to an open exterior terminal end to separate a second lateral half of the insertion end below another of the aperture retention arms. The insertion end below the open exterior terminal end of the channel can extend laterally outwardly beyond a straight exterior line defined by laterally outermost points of an outer longitudinal side of the second aperture retention arm.

Single-piece fastener

A u-shaped metal portion and a u-shaped plastic portion can be coupled together to define an interior rib receiving cavity between both the metal sides and the plastic sides. The u-shaped metal portion can include a first metal rib retention barb extending interiorly of the plastic portion in the interior rib receiving cavity and can be designed to engage the rib to couple the dual material U-base fastener to a first component rib with the rib received within the interior rib receiving cavity. The u-shaped plastic portion can include a first plastic aperture retention wing extending exteriorly of the metal portion and designed to engage a second component aperture to couple the dual material U-base fastener to the aperture with the inner plastic and outer metal insertion ends extending through the aperture.

Dual material U-base fastener

An aperture fastener piece has an intermediate head and an aperture shaft, including aperture retention arms extending from a side of the intermediate head. A receiver includes an annular wall extending from a base, and a plurality of plate retention surfaces supported by and positioned inwardly of the annular wall. A coupling plate can be engaged and retained by the plurality of plate retention surfaces within the receiver to couple the doghouse fastener piece and the aperture fastener piece together. Each of the receiver and the coupling plate extends from different ones of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener piece and the doghouse shaft as part of the doghouse fastener piece. The coupling plate can extend from a second of the opposite side of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener piece, and the doghouse shaft as part of the doghouse fastener piece.

Two-piece fastener assembly

A resilient U-base fastener includes a U-shaped body defining a central body cavity between a first side and a second side. The first side is connected to the second side at an insertion end. The U-base fastener also includes a first spring arm connected to the first side of the body that bends outwardly and away from the central body cavity at a first bend and a second spring arm connected to the first side of the body adjacent the first spring arm. The second spring arm bends outwardly and away from the central body cavity at a second bend. The first spring arm and the second spring arm are laterally spaced apart from one another and are separated by a gap in the first side of the body. The gap extends toward the insertion end past the first bend and past the second bend.

U-base fastener with folded barb and multiple spring arms

A resilient U-base fastener includes a U-shaped body defining a central cavity between first and second sides. The fastener has an insertion end with the first and second sides extending therefrom to a trailing end. The fastener includes a first barb extension extending outwardly from one of the lateral side edges of the first side. The first barb extension is bent to support a first barb in the central cavity. The fastener also includes a second barb extension extending outwardly from a lateral side edge of the first side opposite the first barb extension. The second barb extension is bent to support a second barb in the central cavity.

U-base fastener with folded barb

A u-shaped outer component includes at least one rib retention barb, and a u-shaped inner component includes at least one aperture retention wing. The outer component and the inner component are separate and are coupled together to create an assembled unit defining an interior rib receiving cavity with the at least one rib retention barb extending into the interior rib receiving cavity and the at least one aperture retention wing of the inner component extending exteriorly from the outer component.

Dual component U-base fastener

In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a motor vehicle airbag occupant restraint system fastener includes a metal clip, a first thermoplastic connector, a second thermoplastic connector, and a thermoplastic tether. The thermoplastic tether extends between the first and second thermoplastic connectors. Opposing ends of the thermoplastic tether are seamlessly integrated into the first and second thermoplastic connectors, respectively. The first and second thermoplastic connectors are formed of a first material and the thermoplastic tether is formed of a second material that is different from the first.

Insert molded tethered fastener

A plastic body includes first and second connector ends coupled together via an elongate tether. A frangible strap can extend from a first to a second point along the longitudinal length of the tether. The length of the frangible strap can be less than the tether length between the first and second points. A metal clip can be non-releasably coupled to the second connector end by being retained within a cage housing. The connector ends can be releasably coupled to each other by cooperating elongate rails, and with the frangible strap in a non-extended configuration with the first and second connector ends non-releasably coupled associated automobile components. The frangible strap can deform or separate as a result of a tensile force acting on the frangible strap as the tether extends when an airbag deploys separating the automobile components and the connector ends.

Tethered fastener and related methods

A resilient fastener is provided and is usable with a panel having either a first thickness or a second thickness. The fastener includes a main body member, a first spring arm and a second spring arm. The main body member includes an anterior side and a posterior side. The first spring arm is disposed on the anterior side of the main body member. The first spring arm includes a first shoulder portion positioned to engage against a surface of a first panel having the first thickness. The second spring arm is disposed on the anterior side of the main body member. The second spring arm includes a second shoulder portion positioned to engage against a surface of a second panel. The second panel includes the second thickness which is less than the first thickness.

U-based fastener with improved rib attachment

A tethered fastener assembly includes a first connector portion, a second connector portion, and a tether portion. The tether portion couples the first connector portion to the second connector portion and includes a first releasable holding feature, a first cooperating releasable holding feature, a second releasable holding feature, and a second cooperating releasable holding feature. The first releasable holding feature is engageable with the first cooperating releasable holding feature. The second releasable holding feature is engageable with the second cooperating releasable holding feature. The first releasable holding feature engages the first cooperating releasable holding feature, and the second releasable holding feature engages the second cooperating releasable holding feature, to retain the tether portion in a folded configuration.

Tethered fastener

Method of manufacturing a tethered fastener assembly

A polymeric fastener includes a body having multiple sides adapted to accept a tool for applying torque to the body to axially rotate the body with respect to a body longitudinal axis. A flange integrally connected to the body extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A wave-shaped washer integrally connected to the flange has multiple valleys interposed between multiple oppositely directed peaks. Multiple triangular shaped frangible connectors integrally join the flange to the wave-shaped washer. Each frangible connector is integrally connected at a first end to the flange, and is integrally connected at an opposite connecting tip to an individual one of the peaks. The connecting tip has a reduced thickness compared to the first end to induce fracture of each frangible connector at the connecting tip.

Plastic high heat fastener

A single-piece fastener includes a relatively hard clip and a relatively soft seal. The seal can be overmolded onto the clip. A thermal bond is formed between the seal and the clip to inhibit removal of the seal from the clip. The flexible nature of the umbrella of the clip and the seal can accommodate sealing openings in panels of varying thicknesses.

Method of manufacturing a fastener clip with seal

A system for coupling a trim component to a body component having two generally perpendicular surfaces. A rotatable fastener is coupled to the trim component. The rotatable fastener has a plurality of force transmitting surfaces.

Fascia bracket with quarter turn locking nut

A retention fastener includes a body panel and first and second leg members connected to the body panel by first leg member portions. Both leg members co-extend away from a body panel first panel face and have a second portion directed back toward the body panel. The first and second leg members include at least one retention feature connected to the second leg member portion, including: a single tooth wing having a smooth curved surface extending to a single wing retention tooth, and a multiple tooth wing positioned beside the single tooth wing. The multiple tooth wing has individual teeth on a curved surface sequentially increasing in height with respect to the curved surface. The multiple tooth wing is oriented in a superimposed position with respect to the single tooth wing so the individual teeth extend outwardly with respect to the smooth curved surface of the single tooth wing.

Growing community of inventors

Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Steven Michael Benedetti