Snap fit fastener

A snap fit fastener includes a base, a holder, and a plurality of snap fit arms. The holder extends from the base and includes a holder wall defining a fastener hole. The fastener hole is sized to receive a finger. The snap fit arms are cantilevered from the base. Each snap fit arm includes a beam and an overhang protruding from the beam in a direction away from the holder. Each overhang is configured to engage a panel to couple the snap fit fastener to the panel.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to fasteners, assemblies, and methods of attaching two parts together.

BACKGROUND

Many assembly operations use fasteners, such as bolts or screws, to couple two separate parts together. In many assembly operations, it is desirable to secure the fastener to one of the parts to be joined prior to assembly in order to more quickly and efficiently couple the parts together. It is also desirable to develop fasteners capable of being used in areas hard to manually reach during assembly.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to snap fit fasteners for coupling parts together. In an embodiment, the snap fit fastener includes a base, a holder, and a plurality of snap fit arms. The holder extends from the base and includes a holder wall defining a fastener hole. The fastener hole is sized to receive a finger. The snap fit arms are cantilevered from the base. Each snap fit arm includes a beam and an overhang protruding from the beam in a direction away from the holder. Each overhang is configured to engage a panel to couple the snap fit fastener to the panel.

In an embodiment, the snap fit arms are disposed around the holder. The snap fit fastener may include ribs disposed between the base and the holder. The base may have a substantially planar shape. The snap fit arms may be resiliently coupled to the base. The snap fit arms may be directly connected to the base. The holder may include an arch-shaped wall portion.

The present disclosure also relates to vehicles such as cars and trucks. In an embodiment, the vehicle includes a first panel and a second panel. The second panel includes a first panel surface and a second panel surface opposite the first panel surface. The second panel defines a panel hole extending through the first panel surface and the second panel surface. The vehicle further includes a snap fit fastener including a base attached to the first panel. The snap fit fastener includes a holder extending from the base and defining a fastener hole. The snap fit fastener also includes a plurality of snap fit arms cantilevered from the base. The holder is configured to be received through the panel hole. The fastener hole is configured to receive a human finger. Each snap fit arm partially extends through the panel hole and includes an overhang having an abutment surface. The abutment surfaces of each overhang contact the second panel surface to couple the first panel to the second panel.

In an embodiment, the holder may have a substantially U-shape. The base defines an edge, and the snap fit arms may be disposed along the edge of the base. The snap fit arms may be directly connected to the base. Each snap fit arm includes a beam and the overhang protrudes from the beam in a direction away from the holder. The base may have a planar configuration. The holder includes a holder wall having an arch-shaped wall portion. The snap fit arms may be resiliently coupled to the base. The snap fit arms are disposed around the holder. The vehicle may further include ribs disposed between the base and the holder.

The present disclosure also relates to method of manufacturing a vehicle. In an embodiment, the method includes a step of inserting a holder and snap fit arms of a snap fit fastener attached to a first vehicle member through a vehicle member hole of a second vehicle member. The snap fit fastener includes a base. The holder extends from the base. The snap fit arms are supported by the base. The holder defines a fastener hole. The method further includes advancing the snap fit arms through the vehicle member hole by applying a force to the snap fit fastener via the holder until the snap fit arms engage the second vehicle member to couple the first member to the second member.

In an embodiment, the method further includes attaching the base of the snap fit fastener to the first vehicle member before inserting the holder and the snap fit arms through the vehicle member hole. The advancing step includes pulling the snap fit arms through the vehicle member hole via the holder using a finger.

The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages, of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the invention, as defined in the appended claims, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to identify like or identical components in the various views,FIG. 1schematically illustrates a snap fit fastener10for coupling at least two components. The snap fit fastener10generally includes base12, a holder14extending from the base12, and one or more snap fit arms16supported by the base12. The snap fit arms16may partially surround the holder14. In other words, the snap fit arms16are disposed around the holder14. In the depicted embodiment, the snap fit fastener10includes four snap fit arms16; however, it is contemplated that the snap fit fastener10may include more or fewer snap fit arms16. Irrespective of the number of snap fit arms16, the snap fit fastener10is configured to couple two components together.

During assembly of a machine, such as a vehicle, it might be difficult to manually reach different areas of the partially assembled machine to install a conventional fastener in order to connect two or more parts of the machine together. It is therefore desirable to develop a fastener that is easy to install even in areas of the partially assembled machine that are hard to reach. The snap fit fastener10can connect two parts together and can be easily reached by a user via the holder14as described in detail below.

With continued reference toFIG. 1, the snap fit fastener10may be wholly or partly made of a substantially rigid material, such as a metal or plastic, and includes a base10, which may be elongated along a first direction indicated by arrow18. The base10may have a substantially thin, planar configuration and may therefore extend along a plane P defined along the first direction indicated by arrow18and a second direction indication by arrow20. The first direction indicated by arrow18may be substantially perpendicular to the second direction indicated by arrow20. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 1, the base10includes a first or central base portion22, a second base portion or extension24, and a third base portion or extension26. The first base portion22is disposed between the second base portion24and the third base portion26and may have a substantially circular shape. Moreover, the first base portion22includes a first base edge54and a second base edge56opposite to the first base edge54. The second base edge56is spaced from the first base edge54along the second direction indicated by arrow20. The second base portion24and the third base portion26extend from the first base portion22in opposite directions and each may have a substantially rectangular shape. The base12can be attached a first body100(FIG. 3), such as a first vehicle member102, using any suitable coupling means such as adhesives or welding. The first body100(FIG. 3) of may be a first panel104of a vehicle98or any other machine or assembly.

With continued reference toFIG. 1, the holder14of the snap fit fastener10allows a user to pull the snap fit fastener10using a finger and extends from the base14in a third direction indicated by arrow28. The third direction indicated by arrow28may be substantially perpendicular to the first direction indicated by arrow18and the second direction indicated by arrow20. The holder14extends from the first base portion22of the base12and may have a substantially U-shape.

The holder14may include a holder wall30having an inner holder surface32and an outer holder surface34opposite to the inner holder surface32. The inner holder surface32defines a fastener hole38configured, sized, and shaped to receive an adult human finger or at least a portion of a holding instrument such as a hook. The holder wall30further includes a first holder edge44and a second holder edge46opposite to the first holder edge44. The second holder edge46is spaced from the first holder edge44along the second direction indicated by arrow20.

The holder wall30may have a substantially U-shape and includes a first wall portion36attached to the base12, a second wall portion40attached to the base12, and a third wall portion42interconnecting the first wall portion36and the second wall portion40. The first wall portion36and the second wall portion40may be attached to the same portion of the base12, such as the first base portion22, but are spaced apart from each other along the first direction indicated by arrow18. Furthermore, the first wall portion36and the second wall portion40may be elongated along the third direction indicated by arrow28and may have a substantially planar configuration. The third wall portion42may be disposed between the first wall portion36and the second wall portion40and have a substantially arch or semi-circular shape. The third wall portion42may therefore be referred to as the arch-shaped wall portion. The first wall portion36, the second wall portion40, and third wall portion42collectively define the fastener hole38. During use, the user may insert a human finger or a holding instrument, such as a hook, through the fastener hole38to hold and move the snap fit fastener10in a desired direction.

The snap fit fastener10additionally includes a first support wall48coupled between the base12and the first holder edge44and a second support wall50coupled between the base12and the second holder edge46. The first support wall48and the second support wall50helps maintain the holder14in a fixed position relative to the base12and each may be elongated along the first direction indicated by arrow18. Each of the first support wall48and the second support wall50extends from a portion of the base12, such as the first base portion22, in the third direction indicated by arrow28.

In addition to the first and second support walls48,50, the snap fit fastener10includes a plurality of ribs52to help maintain the holder14in a fixed position relative to the base12. It is envisioned, however, that the snap fit fastener10may include only one rib52. The ribs52may be located in different parts of the snap fit fastener10. For instance, the ribs52may be disposed between the base12and the holder14. The ribs52may be coupled between the first support wall48and the base12. The ribs52may be coupled between the second support wall50and the base12. The ribs52may be coupled between the first wall portion36and the base12. The ribs52may be coupled between the second wall portion40and the base12. Although the ribs52shown in the drawings have a substantially triangular shape, it is envisioned that the snap fit fastener10may include ribs having other suitable shapes. Irrespective of their shape or number, the ribs52can enhance the structural integrity of the snap fit fastener10.

With reference toFIG. 3, the snap fit fastener10also includes one or more snap fit arms16extending from a portion of the base12, such as the first base portion22, in the third direction indicated by arrow28. Each of the snap fit arms16is configured to engage a second body106(FIG. 3), such as a second vehicle member108, in order to couple the first body100to the second body106when the base12is attached to the first body100(FIG. 3) as described in detail below. The second body106may be a second panel109of the vehicle98(FIG. 3). The first body100and the second body106may be wholly or partly made of a substantially rigid material such as metal or plastic.

Returning toFIG. 1, the snap fit arms16may be configured as snap fit hooks58and are cantilevered from a portion of the base12such as the first base portion22. Specifically, the snap fit arms16are resiliently coupled to the base12. Accordingly, each snap fit arm16can deflect or flex upon application of a force; however, each snap fit arm16returns to its original position relative to the base12when it is no longer subjected to said force. The snap fit arms16may be arranged annularly along the first base portion22. For example, one snap fit arm16may be disposed along the first base edge54adjacent the intersection between the first base portion22and the second base portion24. Another snap fit arm16may be disposed along the first base edge54adjacent the intersection between the first base portion22and the third base portion26. Another snap fit arm16may be disposed along the second base edge56adjacent the intersection between the first base portion22and the second base portion24. Another snap fit arm16may be disposed along the second base edge56adjacent the intersection between the first base portion22and the third base portion26.

With reference toFIG. 2, each snap fit arm16may include a cantilever beam60elongated along a beam axis62. The cantilever beam60may be directly or indirectly connected to the base12(FIG. 1) and is configured to deflect or flex when subjected to a force. Thus, the snap fit arms16may be directly or indirectly connected to the base12. Furthermore, the cantilever beam60includes a first beam end portion64(FIG. 1) coupled to the base12and a second beam end portion66opposite to the first beam end portion64. Each cantilever beam60may have a beam depth D1.

With continued reference toFIG. 2, each snap fit arm16includes an overhang68extending from the second beam end portion66of the cantilever beam60. The overhangs68of each snap fit arm16may protrude from the second beam end portion66in a direction away from the holder14(seeFIG. 1). The overhang68includes a ramp70obliquely angled relative to the beam axis62and an abutment surface72, which may be angled substantially perpendicular relative to the beam axis62. As described in detail below, the ramp70facilitates connecting the snap fit fastener10to the second body106(FIG. 3), while the abutment surface72is configured to abut the second body106to prevent, or at least inhibit, the snap fit fastener10from decoupling from the second body106. The overhang68defines an overhang depth D2that may be larger or smaller than the beam depth D1.

With reference toFIG. 3, the snap fit fastener10may be part of a fastening assembly74that also includes the first body100and the second body106. In turn, the fastening assembly74may be part of a vehicle98such as a car or truck. As discussed above, the base12of the snap fit fastener10is attached to the first body100using any suitable means such as welding, soldering, brazing, and adhesives. The second body106includes an inner body surface111defining a body hole110, which may have a substantially circular shape. Because the second body106may be the second vehicle member108or a second panel109, the body hole110may also be referred to as a vehicle member hole or panel hole. The second body106may include a first or inner body surface112(e.g., first vehicle member surface or first panel surface) and a second or outer body surface114(e.g., second vehicle member surface or second panel surface) opposite the first body surface112. The body hole110extends through the first body surface112and the second body surface114and is configured, shaped, and sized to receive at least a portion of the holder14and the snap fit arms16(FIG. 1).

With reference toFIGS. 3-6, the present disclosure also relates to methods of fastening the first body100to the second body106using the snap fit fastener10. The presently disclosed fastening method may be part of a method of manufacturing the vehicle98. First, the base12of the snap fit fastener12is attached to the first body100using welding, adhesives or any other suitable coupling means or methods as seen inFIG. 3before performing other steps. The fastening method may also include forming the body hole110in the second body106using any suitable tool or means such as a drilling. Then, the snap fit fastener10along with the attached first body100are advanced toward the body hole110until at least the holder14is partially extending through the body hole110as seen inFIG. 4. To do so, the user may insert his or her finger (e.g. a human finger) or a tool (e.g., hook) through the fastener hole38(FIG. 1) defined by the holder14and then apply a force in the direction indicated by arrow F. This force may be applied by pulling the snap fit fastener10via the holder14with the finger or a tool such as a hook. The user continues to apply the force in the direction indicated by arrow F to move the snap fit arms16through the body hole110. In doing so, the ramps70(FIG. 2) of the snap fit arms16slide along the inner body surface111, thereby facilitating entry of the snap fit arms16into the body hole110. As the ramps70of the snap fit arms16slide along the inner body surface111, the cantilever beams60deflect inwardly (i.e., toward the holder14) to allow at least a portion of the snap fit arms16to move through the body hole110. The continued application of the force to the snap fit fastener10via the holder14in the direction indicated by arrow F eventually causes the overhangs68of each snap fit arm16to engage the second body106, thereby coupling the first body100to the second body106via the snap fit fastener10as shown inFIG. 5. At this juncture, the abutments surfaces72(FIG. 2) of each overhang68contacts the second body surface114of the second body106and therefore prevents, or at least hinders, the snap fit fastener10from being decoupled from the second body106as shown inFIG. 6.