Patent ID: 9061715
Filing Date: 2015-06-23
Classification: B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An elastic cantilever beam alignment system for aligning and pulling together a pair of components relative to each other, said system comprising: a first component having a first component first side, an oppositely disposed first component second side, and a forward end; a second component having a second component first side, an oppositely disposed second component second side, and a foot connected to said second component first side; a first male alignment feature comprising a first elastic cantilever beam connected to said forward end in substantially parallel relation to said first component first side; a second male alignment feature connected to said first component first side in substantially perpendicular relation thereto; a first female alignment feature comprising: a second female alignment feature formed in said foot; a substantially non-deformable arm disposed on one side of a slot formed in said first elastic cantilever beam; and an elastically deformable arm disposed on an opposite side of the slot from the one side of the slot; wherein the elastically over-constrained relation of said first male alignment feature with respect to said first and second alignment walls comprises said elastically deformable arm being elastically bent into the slot due to said first wedge cam over constraining said first male alignment feature in relation to said first alignment wall; wherein in a fully mated state of said first and second components, said first male alignment feature is elastically aligned with respect to said first female alignment feature by said first elastic cantilever beam abutting said floor and being in an elastically over-constrained relation with respect to said first and second alignment walls, and said second male alignment feature is elastically aligned with respect to said second female alignment feature.