The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 23, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 24, 1998
Jeffrey C. Lewis, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
James F. Fleck, Warren, MI (US);
Jordan M. Stevenson, Walled Lake, MI (US);
TRW Inc., Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A fastener assembly is integrated with a motor vehicle component such as an assist strap handle in a manner to allow the assist strap to be releasably mounted to overhead or other structural vehicle body panels. The fastener assembly includes a first set of resilient latch legs that extend from a main body of the fastener and are adapted to engage in a motor vehicle body panel opening. The latch legs are interengaged at their respective termini opposite the fastener body to facilitate insertion into the panel opening by preventing the latch legs from deflecting away from one another during movement through the opening. A second set of semi-rigid lateral support legs carried on the main body permit the fastener construction to be preassembled to another vehicle component, such as a headliner, prior to the time that the assist strap component and the headliner component are joined to the vehicle body panel. When assembled, the support legs engage the body panel to provide relative lateral support between the fastener assembly and the panel to prevent assist strap rocking when tugged by an occupant of the vehicle.