Compression Limiter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023349413-A1
Application number	US-202318137218-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 20, 2023
Priority date	May 2, 2022
Publication date	Nov 2, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described is a compression-limiting fastener assembly for attaching a first component having a first opening relative to a second component having a second opening. The compression-limiting fastener assembly includes a male fastener, a retainer clip, and a female fastener. The male fastener includes a head and a shank. The retainer clip includes a recessed pocket with a fastener hole formed therein. The retainer clip includes a body portion having a pair of generally parallel legs that are resiliently connected to define a channel. The recessed pocket maintains a first distance (D 1 ) between the pair of generally parallel legs. The retainer clip engages the first component via the first opening and the channel. The female fastener includes a bore to receive the shank is via the fastener hole and the second opening.

First claim

1 . A compression-limiting fastener assembly for attaching a first component having a first opening relative to a second component having a second opening, the compression-limiting fastener assembly comprising:
a male fastener having a head and a shank; a retainer clip having a recessed pocket with a fastener hole formed therein,
wherein the retainer clip comprises a body portion having a pair of generally parallel legs that are resiliently connected to define a channel,
wherein the recessed pocket is configured to maintain a first distance (D 1 ) between the pair of generally parallel legs, and
wherein the retainer clip is configured to engage the first component via the first opening and the channel; and
a female fastener having a bore, wherein the shank is configured to pass through the fastener hole and the second opening to engage the bore.

2 . The compression-limiting fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the recessed pocket is formed in one of the pair of generally parallel legs and is configured to contact the other one of the pair of generally parallel legs.

3 . The compression-limiting fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the recessed pocket is sized and shaped to receive the head of the male fastener and to mitigate rotation of the head.

4 . The compression-limiting fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body portion defines a guide lip at an entrance to the channel.

5 . The compression-limiting fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body portion comprises a retainer tab configured to retain the head of the male fastener within the recessed pocket prior to assembly.

6 . The compression-limiting fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body portion comprises one or more clip tabs configured to secure the retainer clip to the first component via an interference fit.

7 . The compression-limiting fastener assembly of claim 6 , wherein each of the one or more clip tabs extends into the channel from one of the pair of generally parallel legs.

8 . The compression-limiting fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shank comprises a shoulder adjacent the head that is configured to pass through the fastener hole and the second opening to maintain a second distance (D 2 ) between the body portion and the female fastener.

9 . The compression-limiting fastener assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainer clip is a stamped-metal component.

10 . The compression-limiting fastener assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a limiter configured to pass at least partially into the second opening to maintain a second distance (D 2 ) between the body portion and the female fastener.

11 . A retainer clip of a compression-limiting fastener assembly for attaching a first component having a first opening relative to a second component having a second opening, the retainer clip comprising:
a body portion having a pair of generally parallel legs that are resiliently connected to define a channel, wherein the body portion is configured to engage the first component via the first opening and the channel; a recessed pocket formed in one of said pair of generally parallel legs, wherein the recessed pocket configured to maintain a first distance (D 1 ) between the pair of generally parallel legs; and a fastener hole formed in said recessed pocket.

12 . The retainer clip of claim 11 , wherein the recessed pocket is configured to contact the other one of the pair of generally parallel legs.

13 . The retainer clip of claim 11 , wherein the recessed pocket is sized and shaped to receive a head of a male fastener and to mitigate rotation of the head.

14 . The retainer clip of claim 11 , wherein the body portion defines a guide lip at an entrance to the channel.

15 . The retainer clip of claim 13 , wherein the body portion comprises a retainer tab configured to retain the head of the male fastener within the recessed pocket prior to assembly.

16 . The retainer clip of claim 11 , wherein the body portion comprises one or more clip tabs configured to secure the retainer clip to the first component via an interference fit.

17 . The compression-limiting fastener assembly of claim 16 , wherein each of the one or more clip tabs extends into the channel from one of the pair of generally parallel legs.

18 . The retainer clip of claim 11 , wherein the body portion is a stamped-metal component.

19 . A compression-limiting fastener assembly for attaching a first component having a doghouse structure relative to a second component having an opening, the compression-limiting fastener assembly comprising:
a male fastener having a head and a shank, wherein the shank comprises a shoulder adjacent the head; a limiter configured to pass at least partially into the opening and defines a through hole, wherein the shoulder is configured to maintain a first distance (D 1 ) between the head and the limiter; and a female fastener having a bore, wherein the shank is configured to pass through the through hole and the opening to engage the bore, wherein the limiter is configured to maintain a second distance (D 2 ) between the shoulder and the female fastener.

20 . The compression-limiting fastener assembly of claim 19 , wherein the male fastener is configured to engage the first component via the doghouse structure and the head.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Beyer Mark
• Buczynski Gregory G
• Clark Chad M

Classifications

• F16B39/105 Primary

  locking the bold head or nut into a hole or cavity, e.g. with the cup washer, ring or sleeve deformed into a dimple in the cavity · CPC title

• F16B35/06

  Specially-shaped heads (special shape in order to rotate the bolt F16B23/00 {; separate hook adaptors for bolts F16B43/025}) · CPC title