Patent ID: 6374468
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: F16B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A retention mechanism, comprising:a body having a body attachment feature that is adapted to secure a first component to the body, a protrusion extending from the body, and a tip on a distal end of the protrusion; a base having a base attachment feature that is adapted to secure a second component to the base, and an opening for receiving the tip on the protrusion of the body; wherein the retention mechanism has a released position wherein the body is separated from the base, a transition phase wherein the tip is inserted into the opening in the base such that at least one of the base and the tip is temporarily and elastically deformed, and an engaged position wherein the body joins the first component to the second component via the base while the body and the base are free of elastic deformation; and further comprising: a neck on the body located between the protrusion and the tip; a throat in the opening in the base; and wherein when the body is joined to the base, the neck and the throat substantially register such that the tip of the body is located beyond the opening and the throat in the base.