# Patent

## Title
Coupling system

## Abstract

A coupling system comprises a receiving component, an opening in the receiving component defined by a receiving wall and a mating component, configured to be placed into the opening in the receiving component and comprising a mating wall. A plurality of spaced receiving protrusions extends radially from one of the receiving wall or the mating wall, and are located serially to define a retaining groove. A locating rib is formed on, and extends about, the other of the receiving wall or the mating wall such that the mating component is pressed into the receiving component until the locating rib contacts the receiving protrusions. As additional insertion force is exerted upon the mating component the receiving protrusions yield in a radial direction, allowing the locating rib to enter the retaining groove for retention of the mating component relative to the receiving component.

## Background
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention relates to matable components and, more specifically, to matable vehicle components.
BACKGROUND
Components, in particular vehicular components used in automotive vehicles, may be coupled to each other with one or more fasteners such as screws or nuts and bolts. However, the use of fastener systems results in increased parts, increased cost, increased assembly time, and may lead to relative motion between the components and fasteners, which can cause misalignment between components and undesirable noise such as squeaking and rattling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an embodiment a coupling system comprises a receiving component, an opening in the receiving component defined by a receiving wall and a plurality of spaced receiving protrusions extending radially inwardly from the receiving wall and located serially about the receiving wall to define a retaining groove. A mating component is configured to be placed into the opening in the receiving component and comprises a mating wall and a locating rib formed on and extending about the mating wall such that the mating component is pressed into the receiving component until the locating rib contacts the receiving protrusions and, as additional insertion force is exerted upon the mating component, the receiving protrusions yield in an outwardly radial direction, allowing the locating rib to enter the retaining groove for retention of the mating component relative to the receiving component.
In another embodiment a coupling system comprises a receiving component, an opening in the receiving component defined by a receiving wall and a mating component, configured to be placed into the opening in the receiving component and comprising a mating wall. A plurality of spaced receiving protrusions extends radially from the one of the receiving wall or the mating wall and are located serially to define a retaining groove. A locating rib is formed on, and extends about, the other of the one of the receiving wall or the mating wall such that the mating component is pressed into the receiving component until the locating rib contacts the receiving protrusions and as additional insertion force is exerted upon the mating component the receiving protrusions yield in a radial direction, allowing the locating rib to enter the retaining groove for retention of the mating component relative to the receiving component.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description of embodiments, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a disassembled perspective view of a coupling system embodying features of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along Line 2-2 of FIG. 1 of the assembled coupling system;
FIG. 3 is a disassembled perspective view of another embodiment of a coupling system embodying features of the invention; and
FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along Line 4-4 of FIG. 3 of the assembled coupling system.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. For example, the embodiments shown are applicable to vehicle components, but the system disclosed herein may be used with any suitable components to provide securement and retention of mating components and component applications, including many industrial, consumer product (e.g., consumer electronics, various appliances and the like), transportation, energy and aerospace applications, and particularly including many other types of vehicular components and applications, such as various interior, exterior, electrical and under-hood vehicular components and applications. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
Any suitable material may be used for the mating components and their features disclosed herein and discussed further below. This includes various metals, polymers, ceramics, inorganic materials or glasses, or composites of any of the aforementioned materials, or any other combinations thereof suitable for a purpose disclosed herein. Many composite materials are envisioned, including various filled polymers, including glass, ceramic, metal and inorganic material filled polymers, particularly glass, metal, ceramic, inorganic or carbon fiber filled polymers. Any suitable filler morphology may be employed, including all shapes and sizes of particulates or fibers. More particularly any suitable type of fiber may be used, including continuous and discontinuous fibers, woven and unwoven cloths, felts or tows, or a combination thereof. Any suitable metal may be used, including various grades and alloys of steel, cast iron, aluminum, magnesium or titanium, or composites thereof, or any other combinations thereof. Polymers may include both thermoplastic polymers or thermoset polymers, or composites thereof, or any other combinations thereof, including a wide variety of co-polymers and polymer blends.
As used herein, the term vehicle is not limited to just an automobile, truck, van or sport utility vehicle, but includes any self-propelled or towed conveyance suitable for transporting a burden.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in an exemplary embodiment, a coupling system 10 is illustrated. The coupling system comprises a first, receiving component 12 such as an instrument cluster and a second, mating component 14 such as an instrument or gage to be located in the instrument cluster. The receiving component includes an opening 16 in which the mating component 14 will be fixedly inserted during assembly thereof. The opening is defined by a receiving wall 18 extending inwardly from and about the opening 16. Located serially about the receiving wall 18 are a plurality of circumferentially spaced receiving protrusions 20 that extend radially inwardly from the receiving wall. The receiving protrusions 20 are constructed to have a degree of flexibility and, therefore, may be hollow as well as being constructed of a flexible material that will deform elastically when a force is applied thereto in an outwardly radial direction. Axially spaced from the receiving protrusions 20, a plurality of circumferentially spaced locating protrusions 22 are located serially about the receiving wall 18 and extend radially inwardly from the receiving wall. The receiving protrusions 20 are constructed to have a degree of flexibility and, therefore, may be hollow as well as being constructed of a flexible material that will deform elastically when a force is applied thereto in an outwardly radial direction. The receiving protrusions 20 and the locating protrusions 22 on the receiving wall 18 define an axial space therebetween referred to as a retaining groove 24.
The mating component 14 has external dimensions that allow it to be placed into the opening 16 of the receiving component 12. The mating component may include a face 30, in the case of a gage, and a mating wall 32 extending therefrom. The circumference or perimeter of the mating wall 32 is configured to fit with a predetermined spacing from the receiving wall 18 when the components are mated. A locating rib 34 is formed on and extends circumferentially about the mating wall 32 intermediate of a first end 36 and a second end 38 thereof. The locating rib 34 extends radially outwardly from the mating wall 32 and is configured to fit closely with that of the receiving wall 18 when the components are mated; but not in an interference fit. Additionally, in an embodiment, the axial length “l” of the locating rib 34 is greater than the axial length “L” of the retaining groove 24; in an interference fit.
Assembly of the mating component 14 into the receiving component 12 comprises inserting the second end 38 of the receiving component into the opening 16 of the mating component 14. The mating component is pressed into the receiving component until the locating rib 34 contacts the series of receiving protrusions 20 extending about the inner circumference of the receiving wall 18. As additional insertion force is exerted upon the mating component 14, the receiving protrusions 20 yield in an outwardly radial direction, allowing the locating rib 34 to enter the retaining groove 24. As illustrated in FIG. 2, in an embodiment, the retaining groove 24 has an axial length “L” that is less than the axial length “l” of the locating rib 34. As such, when the locating rib is positioned in the retaining groove 24, the receiving protrusions 20 and the axially spaced locating protrusions 22 remain partially elastically deformed in the outwardly radial direction by the presence of the locating rib 34. The result is a snug, elastically averaged precision fit of the mating component 14 within the opening 16 of the receiving component 12 in multiple directions (i.e. cross-car, fore/aft and up/down).
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in an alternative embodiment, a coupling system 10 is illustrated. The coupling system comprises a first, receiving component 12 such as an instrument cluster and a second, mating component 14 such as an instrument or gage to be located in the instrument cluster. The receiving component includes an opening 16 in which the mating component 14 will be fixedly inserted during assembly thereof. The opening is defined by a receiving wall 18 extending inwardly from and about the opening 16. Located serially about the receiving wall 18 are a plurality of circumferentially spaced receiving protrusions 20 that extend radially inwardly from the receiving wall. The receiving protrusions 20 are constructed to have a degree of flexibility and, therefore, may be hollow as well as being constructed of a flexible material that will deform elastically when a force is applied thereto in an outwardly radial direction. Axially spaced from the receiving protrusions 20, at least one stop member 40 extends radially inwardly from the receiving wall. The stop member 40 may be constructed such that it is configured as an inwardly extending tab 44, FIG. 4, may be the closed bottom 46 of the opening 16 in the receiving component 12 or may comprise a plurality of rigid spaced locating protrusions 22 located serially about the receiving wall 18. The receiving protrusions 20 and the stop member 40 define an axial space therebetween, referred to as a retaining groove 24.
Assembly of the mating component 14 into the receiving component 12 comprises inserting the second end 38 of the mating component 14 into the opening 16 of the receiving component 12. The mating component is pressed into the receiving component until the locating rib 34 contacts the series of receiving protrusions 20 that extend about the inner circumference or perimeter of the receiving wall 18. As additional insertion force is exerted upon the mating component 14, the receiving protrusions 20 yield in an outwardly radial direction, allowing the locating rib 34 to enter the retaining groove 24. As illustrated in FIG. 4, in an embodiment, the retaining groove 24 has an axial length “L” such that an interference fit in the axial direction is established between the locating rib 34 and the series of receiving protrusions 20 when the second end 38 of the mating component contacts the stop member 40. The result is a snug, elastically averaged precision fit of the mating component 14 within the opening 16 of the receiving component 12 in multiple directions (i.e. cross-car, fore/aft and up/down).
It is contemplated that the invention has applications to assemblies of virtually any configuration such as, for instance, square, rectangular, etc. Such configurations may be expected to be used in applications such as storage bins and housings, for instance. Additionally, in the examples described above the receiving and locating protrusions 20 and 22 are placed about the circumference of the receiving component while the locating rib 34 extends about the mating wall 32 of the mating component 14. It is contemplated that the locations of the protrusions and the rib may be reversed with the protrusions being located on the mating component 14 and the locating rib 34 extending about the receiving component. In an embodiment, it is contemplated that the number of locating ribs 34 may be greater than a single rib as described thus far herein. Multiple locating ribs may be utilized to trap a series of locating protrusions, for example, in a contemplated embodiment.
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation of material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the application.

## Claims

1. A coupling system comprising:
a receiving component;
an opening in the receiving component defined by a receiving wall;
a plurality of spaced receiving protrusions extending radially inwardly from the receiving wall and located serially about the receiving wall;
a plurality of spaced locating protrusions, axially spaced from the receiving protrusions extending radially inwardly from the receiving wall and located serially about the receiving wall, the plurality of spaced receiving protrusions and the plurality of locating protrusions define a retaining groove, the retaining groove having an axial length (L) that is less than the axial length (l) of the locating rib; and
a mating component, configured to be placed into the opening in the receiving component, comprising a mating wall and a locating rib formed on and extending about the mating wall configured for elastic retention in the retaining groove such that the mating component is pressed into the receiving component until the locating rib contacts the receiving protrusions and, as additional insertion force is exerted upon the mating component the receiving protrusions yield in an outwardly radial direction, allowing the locating rib to enter the retaining groove for retention of the mating component relative to the receiving component.

2. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the receiving protrusions are hollow.

3. The coupling system of claim 2, wherein one or both of the receiving protrusions and the locating protrusions are partially elastically deformed in the outwardly radial direction by the locating rib.

4. The coupling system of claim 1, further comprising at least one stop member, axially spaced from the receiving protrusions and extending radially inwardly from the receiving wall to define the retaining groove with the receiving protrusions.

5. The coupling system of claim 4, the stop member configured as an inwardly extending tab.

6. The coupling system of claim 4, the stop member comprising a closed bottom of the opening in the receiving component.

7. The coupling system of claim 4, the stop member comprising a plurality of rigid spaced locating protrusions located serially about the receiving wall.

8. The coupling system of claim 4, the retaining groove having an axial length “L” such that an interference fit in the axial direction is established between the locating rib and the series of receiving protrusions when the mating component contacts the stop member.

9. A coupling system comprising:
a receiving component;
an opening in the receiving component defined by a receiving wall;
a mating component, configured to be placed into the opening in the receiving component, comprising a mating wall;
a plurality of spaced receiving protrusions extending radially from the one of the receiving wall or the mating wall and located serially to define a retaining groove; and
a locating rib formed on and extending about the other of the one of the receiving wall or the mating wall configured for elastic retention in the retaining groove such that the mating component is pressed into the receiving component until the locating rib contacts the receiving protrusions and as additional insertion force is exerted upon the mating component the receiving protrusions yield in a radial direction, allowing the locating rib to enter the retaining groove for retention of the mating component relative to the receiving component,
wherein the retaining groove has an axial length (L) that is less than the axial length (l) of the locating rib.

10. The coupling system of claim 9, wherein the receiving protrusions are hollow.

11. The coupling system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of spaced locating protrusions, axially spaced from the receiving protrusions extending radially from the one of the receiving wall or the mating wall to define the retaining groove with the receiving protrusions.

12. The coupling system of claim 11, one or both of the receiving protrusions and the locating protrusions are partially elastically deformed in the radial direction by the locating rib.

13. The coupling system of claim 9, further comprising at least one stop member, axially spaced from the receiving protrusions and extending radially from the receiving wall to define the retaining groove with the receiving protrusions.

14. The coupling system of claim 13, the stop member comprising a plurality of rigid spaced locating protrusions located serially about the receiving wall.