Compression limiting clip for a bracket assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9352707-B2
Application number	US-201514843041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2015
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A bracket assembly includes a polymer bracket that has a first side, a second side, and an opening that extends between the first and second sides. A compression limiting clip includes a plate portion coupled with the second side. A member borders at least a portion of the opening and extends orthogonally from the plate portion through the opening for receiving compression from a fastener engaging the polymer bracket.

First claim

We claim:

1. A bracket assembly, comprising:
a bracket having an open-ended slot;
a compression limiting clip including:
a spanning member coupled with a first side of the bracket and extending between opposing side parts of an edge portion of the bracket; and
a member bordering the open-ended slot and extending from an outer edge of the spanning member along the open-ended slot for receiving compression from a fastener engaging the bracket.

2. The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the open-ended slot is positioned on an end portion of the bracket defining a first leg and a second leg of the bracket.

3. The bracket assembly of claim 2 , wherein the open-ended slot has a U-shape and the member includes a curvature following the U-shape of the open-ended slot between the first and second legs.

4. The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bracket is a polymer bracket.

5. The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compression limiting clip includes a flange extending from the spanning member over a distal part of the edge portion of the bracket that connects between the first side and a second side of the bracket.

6. The bracket assembly of claim 5 , wherein the compression limiting clip includes an attachment feature operably coupled with at least one of the opposing side parts of the edge portion of the bracket.

7. The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fastener includes a stud extending from a mounting surface and a threaded nut coupled with the stud, and wherein the bracket and the member are disposed between the mounting surface and the threaded nut.

8. The bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the compression limiting clip includes a metallic material having a material strength greater than the bracket.

9. A clip for limiting compression of a non-metallic bracket having an open-ended slot, the clip comprising:
first and second plates for extending over first and second sides of the bracket;
a flange extending between the first and second plates for engaging the bracket proximate the open-ended slot; and
a rigid member extending orthogonally from the second plate and bordering a portion of the open-ended slot for engaging a fastener extending through the open-ended slot.

10. The clip of claim 9 , wherein the flange extends over an edge portion of the bracket that connects between the first and second sides of the bracket.

11. The clip of claim 10 , wherein the rigid member is a U-shaped flange that at least partially follows a curvature of the open-ended slot.

12. The clip of claim 11 , further comprising:
an attachment feature extending from the second plate and operably coupled with an edge portion of the bracket on at least one of first and second legs of the bracket.

13. The clip of claim 12 , wherein the attachment features are biased inward toward the rigid member.

14. The clip of claim 9 , wherein the rigid member extends adjacent to the fastener to a distal end of the rigid member that abuts a perpendicular retention surface of the fastener.

15. A bracket assembly, comprising:
a bracket having a first side, a second side, and an open-ended slot extending between the first and second sides;
a compression limiting clip including:
a plate portion coupled with and extending over the second side; and
a member bordering at least a portion of the open-ended slot and extending orthogonally from the plate portion through the open-ended slot for receiving compression from a fastener engaging the bracket.

16. The bracket assembly of claim 15 , wherein the member receives compressive force between a nut and a mounting surface for reducing compression of the bracket.

17. The bracket assembly of claim 15 , wherein the open-ended slot has a U-shape defining a first leg and a second leg of the bracket, and wherein the member is a rigid member and includes a curvature following the U-shape of the open-ended slot between the first and second legs.

18. The bracket assembly of claim 17 , wherein the clip includes an attachment feature operably coupled with an edge portion of the bracket on at least one of the first and second legs of the bracket.

19. The bracket assembly of claim 15 , wherein the member is a rigid member and includes a U-shaped cross-section that surrounds a stud portion of the fastener and extends continuously from the plate portion to a nut.

20. The bracket assembly of claim 15 , wherein the compression limiting clip includes a metallic material having a material strength greater than the bracket.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Schaffer Scott Allen
• Deangelis Dean Joseph

Classifications

• F16M13/02

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title

• F02B77/00

  Component parts, details or accessories, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F16B2/24

  of metal · CPC title

• F16B5/02

  by means of fastening members using screw-thread ({F16B5/0004 takes precedence}; construction of screw-threaded connections F16B25/00 - F16B39/00) · CPC title

• B60R16/00 Primary

  Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for {(devices for protecting vehicle occupants in case of accidents B60R21/00; safety belts B60R22/00; central door locking E05B49/00, E05B77/50)} · CPC title