Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Steven Morris

Jennifer P Lawall

Joel Colombo

Diane K McQueen

Nancy L Johnson

Alan L Browne

Paul W Alexander

Nilesh D Mankame

Scott David Thomas

Adrian B Chernoff

Michael D Richardson

Gordan N Noll

Peter J Gareau

Robert R Kubiak

Lawrence C Maugh

Toure D Lee

Brian K Latouf

Alejandro Perez-Ruiz

Gary Lee Jones

Michael McGuire

Kevin G Kolpasky

James Thomas Embach

Robert Dallos, Jr

David J Gorman

Kenneth A Strom

Kenton L West

Timothy A Kiester

Janet S Goings

Andrew J Hanzel

Adrian Oana

Scott J Fast

Marc J Tahnoose

Joseph W Cobble, Iii

Thomas F Bowles

Victoria L Enyedy

Christopher J Georgi

Michel E Haddad

Paul B Stambaugh

Laura Nathaly Zaldivar Ortiz

Ashish M Gollapalli

Fausto Eleazar Vazquez Flores

Michael J Wightman

Frederick I Johnson

Piotr J Ogonek

Gary R Edwards

Jeffrey M Gace

Kurt A Galazka

Lawrence E Sully

William A Sheere, Iii

Joel Mejia Arriaga

Randy A Johnson

Marcos Rodriguez Lopez

Evan Phillips

James M Kushner

A method of aligning a first component and a second component with elastic averaging includes offsetting a first part and a second part of the first component and creating a shut-off slot between the first part and the second part of the first component by offsetting the first part and the second part. The shut-off slot has a slot vector that is not parallel to a main die vector.

Elastic averaging shut-off slot

A clip assembly includes a support defining an opening and a clip attachable to the support. The clip includes a body configured to retain a conduit and a retention member extending from the body and having a first portion inserted through the opening to attach the clip to the support and a second portion engaging the support inside the opening to prevent rotation of the clip relative to the support. The retention member is movable between an initial position from which the first portion of the retention member elastically deforms as the first portion is inserted into the opening and a final position at which the first portion of the retention member has elastically deformed back toward an original configuration once the first portion has passed beyond the opening such that the second portion engages the support inside the opening to prevent rotation of the clip relative to the support.

Assembly, a clip assembly for retaining a conduit and a vehicle

An elastically averaged alignment system includes a threaded alignment member, a first component comprising a first inner wall defining a first alignment aperture, and a second component comprising a second inner wall defining a second alignment aperture. The first and second alignment apertures are configured to receive the threaded alignment member to couple the first component and the second component. The threaded alignment member is an elastically deformable material such that when the threaded alignment member is interferingly inserted into the first and second alignment apertures, the threaded alignment member elastically deforms to an elastically averaged final configuration to facilitate coupling and aligning the first component and the second component in a desired orientation.

Elastically averaged alignment systems and methods

A vehicle fuel door assembly includes a cover comprising a plurality of alignment features fixedly disposed relative to the cover, the plurality of alignment features formed of an elastically deformable material. The assembly also includes a hinge comprising a plurality of alignment elements fixedly disposed relative to the hinge, each of the alignment features interferingly, deformably and matingly engageable with a respective alignment element, the alignment features elastically deforming to an elastically averaged final configuration that aligns the cover relative to the hinge in six planar orthogonal directions by averaging the elastic deformation of the respective alignment features.

Elastically averaged vehicle door assembly

An elastically averaging alignment and retention system for a sealable compartment includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a first alignment member and an elastically deformable alignment element fixedly disposed with respect to the first alignment member, the elastically deformable alignment element having an elongated hollow tube. The second component includes a second alignment member and an alignment feature fixedly disposed with respect to the second alignment member, the alignment feature having a blind-end pocket. The elastically deformable alignment element is configured and disposed to interferingly, deformably and matingly engage the alignment feature. Portions of the elastically deformable alignment element when inserted into the alignment feature elastically deform to an elastically averaged final configuration that aligns the first component relative to the second component in at least two of four planar orthogonal directions.

Alignment system for providing precise alignment and retention of components of a sealable compartment

A coupling system comprises a receiving component, an opening in the receiving component defined by a receiving wall and a mating component, configured to be placed into the opening in the receiving component and comprising a mating wall. A plurality of spaced receiving protrusions extends radially from one of the receiving wall or the mating wall, and are located serially to define a retaining groove. A locating rib is formed on, and extends about, the other of the receiving wall or the mating wall such that the mating component is pressed into the receiving component until the locating rib contacts the receiving protrusions. As additional insertion force is exerted upon the mating component the receiving protrusions yield in a radial direction, allowing the locating rib to enter the retaining groove for retention of the mating component relative to the receiving component.

Coupling system

An elastic averaging system for mated components comprises an inner panel and an outer panel disposed in a spaced configuration. An elastically deformable stand is fixed to and extends from the first panel towards the second panel. The elastically deformable stand comprises a side wall that forms a partial enclosure having a closure surface defining a top surface that faces the outer panel. A flexible wing extends outwardly from the sidewall. A receiver member extends outwardly from the outer panel towards the corresponding inner panel and comprises side walls extending forming a partial enclosure that is configured to receive the elastically deformable stand. The elastically deformable stand is configured to elastically deform as said stand enters the partial enclosure of the receiver member and moves toward a fully engaged position.

System for elastically averaging assembly of components

A semi-circular male alignment feature elastic averaging alignment system utilizing a plurality of semi-circular male alignment features which interface by elastic averaging with a plurality of female alignment features, wherein semi-circular male alignment features of a first component are received during a mating process by respective female alignment features formed in a second component, whereby precise alignment of the first and second components and stiffness are provided by elastic averaging of the male and female alignment features.

Semi-circular alignment features of an elastic averaging alignment system

Module installation assembly including a base structure having a base portion, a first and second bracket, the base portion disposed in a base plane, the first bracket extending perpendicularly from the base portion, the second bracket extending perpendicularly from the base portion, wherein the first bracket is a T-shaped member having a main portion, a pair of wing portions and a pair of recesses defined by the pair of wing portions and a segment of the main portion. Also included is a module to be mated with the base structure, the module including a first module end and a second module end, wherein the first module end includes a first pair of protrusions formed of an elastically deformable material and configured to be rotated into an interference condition with the first bracket.

Elastically deformable module installation assembly

An elastic alignment assembly includes a first component having a first engagement surface. Also included is a second component having a second engagement surface and is configured to be mated with the first component. Further included is a receiving feature formed in at least one of the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface. Yet further included is a protrusion comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the protrusion extending away from at least one of the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface, the protrusion formed of an elastically deformable material to elastically deform at a first interface and a second interface upon contact with the receiving feature, wherein the first interface is located proximate the first sidewall and the receiving feature, and wherein the second interface is located proximate the second sidewall and the receiving feature.

Elastic alignment assembly for aligning mated components and method of reducing positional variation

In one aspect, a component for an elastically averaged alignment system is provided. The component includes a body, an inner wall formed in the body and defining an alignment aperture, and an alignment member. The alignment member includes a pair of tabs extending from the body, and the alignment member is an elastically deformable material such that when the alignment member is inserted into another alignment aperture of another component, the alignment member elastically deforms to an elastically averaged configuration to facilitate aligning the component relative to the another component of the elastically averaged alignment system. The alignment aperture is configured to receive another alignment member of another component of the elastically averaged alignment system.

In one aspect, an elastically averaged alignment system is provided. The alignment system includes a first component including at least one corner region having an alignment member, and a second component including at least one corner region having an inner wall defining an alignment aperture. The alignment aperture is configured to receive at least a portion of the alignment member to couple the first component and the second component. The alignment member is an elastically deformable material such that when the alignment member is inserted into the alignment aperture, the alignment member elastically deforms to an elastically averaged final configuration to facilitate aligning the corner regions of the first and second components in a desired orientation.

An alignment arrangement for mated components includes a first component having a first and second elastically deformable protrusion. Also included is a second component operatively coupled to the first component, the second component comprising a first and second slot, each of the slots defined by a first slot sidewall segment, a second slot sidewall segment, an inner slot wall segment and an outer slot wall segment, the first and second slot disposed in a substantially coaxial alignment. The elastically deformable protrusions are each disposed in a contact interference condition with the inner slot wall segment or the outer slot wall segment of the respective first slot and second slot, thereby reducing relative movement between the first and second components, wherein the elastically deformable protrusions are each formed of an elastically deformable material and configured to elastically deform upon engagement with the inner or outer slot wall segment.

Alignment arrangement for mated components and method

An elastically deformable clip includes a first and second outer wall arranged substantially parallel to each other, each of the first outer wall and the second outer wall having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first edge and a second edge arranged substantially parallel, and a third edge and a fourth edge arranged substantially parallel. The clip also includes at least one inner wall extending between the inner surfaces of the first and second outer walls, the at least one inner wall having at least one slot, wherein the first outer wall, the second outer wall and the at least one inner wall are formed of an elastically deformable material. The clip further includes a rib protruding from the outer surface of at least one of the first and second outer walls, the rib arranged substantially parallel to the first edge and the second edge.

Elastically deformable clip and method

An alignment system for aligning components includes a first component, a second component, upstanding, elongated tabs connected to at least one of the components, each elongated tab having a tab wall, and deformable elongated tab apertures formed in at least one of the components, each deformable tab aperture comprising opposing deformable aperture walls. The apertures are geometrically distributed in coordinated relationship to a geometrical distribution of the elongated tabs such that each elongated tab is receivable into a respective aperture and each tab has a width larger than a cross-sectional width of its respective aperture measured in a same direction. Each aperture is configured to elastically deform upon disposition of each elongated tab into its respective tab aperture at an interface between the tab wall and the aperture wall.

Alignment system and method thereof

Growing community of inventors

Fair Haven, MI, United States of America

Steven Morris