Thermoplastic article for mounting to a support structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9227376-B2
Application number	US-201414295877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2014
Priority date	Jun 6, 2013
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

A thermoplastic article can be mounted to a support structure by a fastener. The article includes a molded body having a length. The molded body also has an attachment surface configured to face the support structure and a show surface opposite the attachment surface. The molded body defines an interior channel separating the attachment surface and the show surface. The article also includes a attachment boss coupled to and extending from the attachment surface for receiving the fastener to mount the article to the support structure. The attachment boss extends through the attachment surface and into the interior channel of the molded body for reinforcing the attachment boss at the attachment surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article for mounting to a support structure by a fastener, said article comprising:
a molded body extending along a body axis, with said molded body having an attachment surface and a show surface opposite said attachment surface and with said molded body defining an interior channel separating said attachment surface and said show surface;
an attachment boss coupled to and extending from said attachment surface for receiving the fastener to mount said article to the support structure;
wherein said attachment boss extends through said attachment surface and into said interior channel of said molded body for reinforcing said attachment boss at said attachment surface.

2. An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said attachment boss includes a longitudinal axis extending substantial parallel with said body axis of said molded body and bisecting said attachment boss and said attachment boss includes a lateral axis transverse to said longitudinal axis and bisecting said attachment boss such that said longitudinal axis and said lateral axis divides said attachment boss into quadrants with said attachment boss including gussets extending from each quadrant of said attachment boss and interconnecting said attachment boss and said attachment surface.

3. An article as set forth in claim 2 wherein said gussets have a curvilinear profile along said attachment surface such that said gussets curve toward said longitudinal axis of said attachment boss as said gussets extend from said attachment boss.

4. An article as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said gussets have a length and said length of at least two of said gussets is greater than said length of at least one of said gussets.

5. An article as set forth in claim 4 wherein said attachment boss extends from said attachment surface and terminates at an external end with a height of said attachment boss defined between said attachment surface and said external end of said attachment boss and with said length of said gussets greater than said height of said attachment boss.

6. An article as set forth in claim 4 wherein said attachment boss including a pair of axial gussets extending from said attachment boss in opposite directions relative to each other along said longitudinal axis and spaced from said gussets.

7. An article as set forth in claim 6 wherein said axial gussets have a length and said length of one of said axial gussets is greater than said length of another one of said axial gussets.

8. An article as set forth in claim 7 wherein said molded body has an end and said length of said gussets and said axial gusset proximate said end of said molded body is greater than said length of said gussets and said axial gusset distal said end of said molded body.

9. An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said attachment boss further includes an exterior fillet interconnecting said attachment boss and said attachment surface for increasing a cross-sectional area of said attachment boss at said attachment surface to prevent said attachment boss from failing at said attachment surface.

10. An article as set forth in claim 9 wherein said exterior fillet has a radius of from about 0.5 to about 0.75 millimeters.

11. An article as set forth in claim 9 wherein said molded body includes an interior surface defining said interior channel and said attachment boss further includes an interior fillet interconnecting said attachment boss within said interior channel and said interior surface of said molded body for increasing a cross-sectional area of said attachment boss at said interior surface to prevent said attachment boss from failing at said interior surface.

12. An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said molded body includes a recess wall and said attachment surface of said molded body and said recess wall defines a recess with said attachment boss disposed within said recess and with said attachment boss spaced from said recess wall.

13. An article as set forth in claim 12 wherein said attachment boss further includes at least one gusset interconnecting said fasting boss and said recess wall within said recess.

14. An article as set forth in claim 12 wherein said recesses presents an ovular configuration.

15. An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said attachment boss further includes at least eight gussets interconnecting said attachment boss and said attachment surface with said gussets evenly spaced about said attachment boss.

16. An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said molded body comprises a thermoplastic material selected from the group of polyester, nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl butyral, and combinations thereof.

17. An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said attachment boss terminates at an internal end with said internal end of said attachment boss disposed within said interior channel such that said internal end of said attachment boss also defines said interior channel.

18. An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said molded body defines an injection port for introducing a substance into said molded body to form said interior channel with said injection port spaced from said attachment boss.

19. An article as set forth in claim 1 wherein said article is a handle for appliances.

Assignees

• Basf Se

Inventors

• Mcmaster William J
• Fleck Randy E
• Serna Stephen P
• Caughey Edward C

Classifications

• B32B3/06 Primary

  for securing layers together; for attaching the product to another member, e.g. to a support {, or to another product, e.g. groove/tongue, interlocking} · CPC title

• Y10T428/24008

  including fastener for attaching to external surface · CPC title

• E05B1/0015 Primary

  Knobs or handles which do not operate the bolt or lock, e.g. non-movable; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• A47B2095/023

  having blind holes at both end sections · CPC title

• F25D23/028

  Details · CPC title