Articulating locating and retention member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11318817-B2
Application number	US-202016857718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2020
Priority date	Apr 24, 2020
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

An alignment member includes a first body member having a first end and a second end longitudinally opposite the first end, a second body member having a first end and a second end longitudinally opposite the first end, the second body member coupled to the first body member such that the first and second body members define a longitudinal axis of the alignment member, a first base member coupled to the second body member, a second base member rotatably coupled to the first base member, and a locking mechanism configured to engage with the first base member. The first base member rotates relative to the second base member to position the alignment member from a first position to a second position and the locking mechanism engages with the first base member to retain the alignment member in the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An alignment member, comprising:
a first body member having a first end and a second end longitudinally opposite the first end;
a second body member having a first end and a second end longitudinally opposite the first end, the second body member removably coupled to the first body member such that the first and second body members define a longitudinal axis of the alignment member;
a first base member coupled to the second body member;
a second base member rotatably coupled to the first base member; and
a locking mechanism configured to engage with the first base member;
wherein the first base member rotates relative to the second base member to orient the alignment member from a first position to a second position and the locking mechanism engages with the first base member to retain the alignment member in the second position and the alignment member is configured to align a first component with a second component.

2. The alignment member of claim 1 , wherein the first body member and the second body member form a cylindrical alignment pin.

3. The alignment member of claim 1 , wherein the first body member is separable from the second body member.

4. The alignment member of claim 1 , wherein the first position is a collapsed position in which the first and second body members are oriented parallel to the second base member.

5. The alignment member of claim 1 , wherein the second position is an extended position in which the first and second body members are oriented perpendicular to the second base member.

6. The alignment member of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking member configured to engage with an upper surface of the first base member to retain the alignment member in the second position.

7. The alignment member of claim 6 , wherein the locking mechanism is coupled to the second base member and the locking member is one of a locking tab, a wing lock, and a flexible cap.

8. The alignment member of claim 6 , wherein the locking member is separable from the locking mechanism and comprises one of a mechanical fastener and a clip.

9. The alignment member of claim 1 further comprising at least one retention member flexibly coupled to the second body member.

10. The alignment member of claim 9 , wherein the at least one retention member is an angled tab extending from the second body member and flexes between an unflexed position, a flexed position, and the unflexed position during an installation operation.

11. An alignment member, comprising:
a first body member having a first end and a second end longitudinally opposite the first end;
a second body member having a first end and a second end longitudinally opposite the first end, the first body member removably coupled to the second body member and the first and second body members defining a longitudinal axis of the alignment member;
a retention member flexibly coupled to the second body member;
a first base member coupled to the second body member;
a second base member rotatably coupled to the first base member via a hinge member; and
a locking mechanism coupled to the second base member and including a locking member configured to engage with the first base member;
wherein the first base member rotates relative to the second base member to position the alignment member from a first position to a second position and the locking mechanism engages with the first base member to retain the alignment member in the second position.

12. The alignment member of claim 11 , wherein the first body member and the second body member form a cylindrical alignment pin.

13. The alignment member of claim 11 , wherein the first position is a collapsed position in which the first and second body members are oriented parallel to the second base member.

14. The alignment member of claim 11 , wherein the second position is an extended position in which the first and second body members are oriented perpendicular to the second base member.

15. The alignment member of claim 11 , wherein the retention member is an angled tab extending from the second body member and the retention member flexes between an unflexed position and a flexed position during an installation operation.

16. The alignment member of claim 11 , wherein the locking member is one of a locking tab, a wing lock, and a flexible cap.

17. A vehicle assembly, comprising:
a component assembly including a first vehicle component, a second vehicle component, and an alignment member coupled to the first vehicle component and configured to align the first vehicle component with the second vehicle component, the alignment member comprising:
a first body member having a first end and a second end longitudinally opposite the first end;
a second body member having a first end and a second end longitudinally opposite the first end, the first body member removably coupled to the second body member and the first and second body members defining a longitudinal axis of the alignment member;
a first base member coupled to the second body member;
a second base member rotatably coupled to the first base member via a hinge member; and
a locking mechanism coupled to the second base member and including a locking member configured to engage with the first base member;

wherein the first base member of the alignment member rotates relative to the second base member to position the alignment member from a first position to a second position, the locking mechanism engages with the first base member to retain the alignment member in the second position, and the alignment member engages with the second vehicle component to couple the first vehicle component with the second vehicle component.

18. The vehicle assembly of claim 17 , wherein the alignment member further comprises a retention member flexibly coupled to the second body member.

19. The vehicle assembly of claim 17 , wherein the first position is a collapsed position in which the first and second body members are oriented parallel to the second base member and the second position is an extended position in which the first and second body members are oriented perpendicular to the second base member.

20. The vehicle assembly of claim 17 , wherein the locking member is one of a locking tab, a wing lock, and a flexible cap.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc
• Agc Automotive Americas R&D Inc

Inventors

• Renke David T
• Hiltunen Lee N

Classifications

• B60Y2304/07

  Facilitating assembling or mounting · CPC title

• B62D65/026 Primary

  by using a jig or the like; Positioning of the jig · CPC title

• F16B5/10 Primary

  by means of bayonet connections ({F16B5/0092 takes precedence}; fastening devices locking by rotation F16B21/02) · CPC title

• B60J1/10

  fixedly mounted {(B60J1/085 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60J1/005 Primary

  using positioning means during mounting · CPC title