Patent ID: 7784857
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: F16B

Abstract:
1. A vehicle comprising: a body having a hole; a fastener assembly comprising a bolt, a nut and a washer, the bolt having a head having a flat edge and a threaded portion formed at opposite ends thereof, the bolt having an annular shoulder formed adjacent the head, the bolt having a reduced diameter portion disposed between the shoulder and the threaded portion; the nut being assembled to the threaded portion of the bolt; the washer being axially retained between the shoulder and the threaded portion of the bolt; a panel having an inner surface and a retaining structure extending outwardly from the inner surface, the retaining structure having a retaining wall with a slot for receiving the shoulder of the bolt therethrough during assembly of the panel to the body, the head of the bolt being retained between the inner surface of the panel and the retaining wall, the shoulder contacting the washer and the reduced diameter portion passing through the washer and partially into the hole of the body, the washer retained between the shoulder and the body, the slot including tabs separated from each other less than a diameter of the shoulder, wherein the height of the shoulder is greater than the thickness of the retainer wall so as to allow a predetermined amount of axial displacement of the retaining structure relative to the fastener assembly to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the panel.