Elastic averaging alignment member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9446722-B2
Application number	US-201314134622-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2013
Priority date	Dec 19, 2013
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

An elastic averaging alignment member includes a base portion, a first elastic averaging member including a first end portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portion to a second end portion and a second elastic averaging member spaced from the first elastic averaging member. The second elastic averaging member includes a first end section extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portion to a second end section. At least one elastic averaging element arranged between the first and second elastic averaging members. At least one of the first and second elastic averaging members and the at least one elastic averaging element is configured and disposed to deform when the elastic averaging alignment member is passed into an alignment member receiver to establish an elastically average position of one component to another component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An elastic averaging alignment member comprising:
a base portion;
a first elastic averaging member including a first end portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portion to a second end portion;
a second elastic averaging member spaced from the first elastic averaging member, the second elastic averaging member including a first end section extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portion to a second end section; and
at least one elastic averaging element arranged between the first and second elastic averaging members,
wherein, when the elastic averaging alignment member is passed into an alignment member receiver to establish an elastically averaged position of one component to another component, at least one of the first and second elastic averaging members deforms toward the other of the first and second elastic averaging members and the at least one elastic averaging element deforms within a plane thereof.

2. The elastic averaging alignment member according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one elastic averaging element defines a web extending between the first and second elastic averaging members, the web including a first end arranged at the base portion that extends to a second end.

3. The elastic averaging alignment member according to claim 2 , further comprising a retaining clip operably disposed on the web.

4. The elastic averaging alignment member according to claim 2 , wherein web is formed to define a plurality of openings.

5. The elastic averaging alignment member according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of openings extend between the first end and the second end of the web.

6. The elastic averaging alignment member according to claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of openings is substantially rectangular.

7. The elastic averaging alignment member according to claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of openings extends along the web through the second end to define at least one strain relief section and at least one V-shaped notch terminating at the strain relief section.

8. The elastic averaging alignment member according to claim 1 , wherein the first elastic averaging member includes a first surface and an opposing second surface, the first surface including at least two ribs defining lead-ins facilitating insertion of the first and second elastic averaging alignment members into the alignment member receiver.

9. The elastic averaging alignment member according to claim 8 , wherein each of the at least two ribs extends substantially perpendicularly from the first surface.

10. The elastic averaging alignment member according to claim 9 , wherein each of the at least two ribs includes a first rib extending substantially perpendicularly from the first surface and a second rib extending substantially perpendicularly from the first surface and being spaced from the first rib.

11. A method of aligning a first substrate to a second substrate with elastic averaging alignment members, the method comprising:
positioning the first substrate including a plurality of elastic averaging alignment members having at least two elastic averaging members joined by at least one elastic averaging element relative to the second substrate including a plurality of alignment member receivers;
initially aligning the plurality of elastic averaging alignment members with respective ones of the plurality of alignment member receivers;
inserting the at least two elastic averaging members into one of the alignment member receivers; and
deforming at least one of the at least two elastic averaging members the other of the at least two elastic averaging members and the at least one elastic averaging element within a plane thereof to establish a desired final alignment of the first substrate relative to the second substrate.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein deforming at least one of the at least two elastic averaging members and the at least one elastic averaging element comprises compressing at least one of elastic averaging elements to close at least one of notches formed in a web extending between first and second elastic averaging members.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein deforming at least one of the at least two elastic averaging members and the at least one elastic averaging element comprises compressing a plurality of elastic averaging elements to close a plurality of openings having a generally rectangular cross-section formed in a web extending between first and second elastic averaging members.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein inserting the plurality of elastic averaging alignment members into one of the plurality of alignment member receivers includes bending the at least two elastic averaging members about the at least one elastic averaging element.

15. A motor vehicle comprising:
a body having a trim component receiving portion provided with a plurality of alignment member receivers; and
a trim component having a base portion provided with a plurality of elastically averaging alignment members; each of the plurality of elastic averaging alignment members comprising:
a first elastic averaging member including a first end portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portion to a second end portion;
a second elastic averaging member spaced from the first elastic averaging member, the second elastic averaging member including a first end portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portion to a second end portion; and
at least one elastic averaging element arranged between the first and second elastic averaging members,
wherein, when each of the plurality of alignment members are passed into corresponding ones of the plurality of alignment member receivers to establish an elastically average position of the trim component relative to the body, at least one of the first and second elastic averaging members deforms toward the other of the first and second elastic averaging members and the at least one elastic averaging element deforms within a plane thereof.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one elastic averaging element defines a web extending between the first and second elastic averaging members, the web including a first end coupled to the base portion that extends to a second end.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one elastic averaging element comprises a plurality of elastic averaging elements defined by a plurality of openings formed in the web, the plurality of openings extending between the first end and the second end of the web.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein the plurality of openings are substantially rectangular.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein the plurality of openings extend along the web through the second end to define a plurality of strain relief sections and a plurality of V-shaped notches terminating at the plurality of strain relief sections.

20. The motor vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the first elastic averaging member includes a first surface and an opposing second surface coupled to the at least one elastic averaging element, the first surface including a lead-in defining first rib extending substantially perpendicularly from a first end of the first surface and a lead-in defining second rib extending substantially perpendicularly from a second, opposing end of the first surface.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Morris Steven E
• Lawall Jennifer P

Classifications

• F16B5/065

  the plates being one on top of the other and distanced from each other, e.g. by using protrusions to keep contact and distance · CPC title

• Y10T29/49876

  by snap fit · CPC title

• F16B19/02 Primary

  Bolts or sleeves for positioning of machine parts, e.g. notched taper pins, fitting pins, sleeves, eccentric positioning rings · CPC title

• B60R13/0206 Primary

  Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings (devices for fastening or securing F16B) · CPC title

• F16B19/002

  Resiliently deformable pins (F16B21/06 takes precedence) · CPC title