Abstract:
A fastening device for securing a first component to a second component includes a latch coupled with the first component and a catch coupled with the second component. The fastening device further includes a convex portion formed with one of the latch and the catch and a concave portion formed with the other of the latch and the catch. The catch is configured to engage with the latch when the concave portion receives the convex portion.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a fastening device that secures two components together. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    An example of a fastening device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,874 B2. The fastening device is coupled with a pressure sensor casing that consists of an upper casing and a lower casing. The upper casing and the lower casing of the pressure sensor casing are assembled to contain an electric circuit inside. These casings are secured together with the fastening device that employs a latch and catch mechanism. The lower casing has the latch designed to engage the catch that is formed on the upper casing. Such latch-and-catch engagement is commonly used in assembling parts. However, it is strictly required for workers to ensure a proper alignment in assembling such that the latch engages the catch in a desired position. Otherwise, the engagement is not established or easy to disengage even if once it is established. 
         [0003]    For the above reason, another example of such fastening device is presented with an HVAC casing that consists of two halves similar to the previous one. See  FIG. 5  of the present disclosure. In addition to the fastening device, an alignment device, which includes a guide pin and a guide hole, is provided adjacent left to the fastening device. The lower casing has the guide hole being capable to receive the guide pin formed on the upper casing to ensure the proper alignment in assembling of the casings. Furthermore, a backup device, which includes a screw and a thread hole, is provided adjacent right to the fastening device. The backup device keeps the two halves of casing secured even if the latch and/or the catch is broken or released. Despite the advantage of the alignment device and the backup device, however, such additional features may cause not only a die complication in designing and a cycle time increasing in manufacturing, but also a spatial restriction of the casing itself. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a fastening device integrated with an alignment feature that ensures a proper alignment in assembling. 
         [0005]    It is therefore an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a fastening device for securing a first component to a second component includes a latch coupled with the first component and a catch coupled with the second component. The fastening device further includes a convex portion formed with one of the latch and the catch and a concave portion formed with the other of the latch and the catch. The catch is configured to engage with the latch when the concave portion receives the convex portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a view showing a fastening device  1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view showing the fastening device  1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is another exploded view showing the fastening device  1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a view showing a prior art of a fastening device provided with an aligning feature and a backup feature. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    An embodiment of the present disclosure is described referring to the drawings. An outline view of  FIG. 1  shows a fastening device  1  including a latch  11  coupled with an upper half  10  of a casing, a catch  21  coupled with a lower half  20  of the casing, and a screw  30  for securing the upper half  10  and the lower half  20  of the casing. 
         [0013]    The latch  11  is designed to engage the catch  21  when the upper half  10  and the lower half  20  are assembled into one casing. Once the latch  11  engages the catch  21 , combined, they keep the casing secured unless the engagement is intentionally released. 
         [0014]    The upper half  10  of the casing has a groove  12  along its opening edge. On the other hand, the lower half  20  of the casing has a lip  22  along its opening edge. The upper half  10  and the lower half  20  of the casing are aligned by fitting the groove  12  and the lip  22  together. The casing seals automotive components, such as HVAC internal components, from the outside environment. The casing is made of resin, for example. 
         [0015]    A further structural aspect of the fastening device  1  will be now described more in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 through 4 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the latch  11  includes a U-shaped clip  111  and a clip base  112 . The clip base  112  is also explained as a main body  112  of the latch  11 . The U-shaped clip  111  is extended perpendicularly from two opposing sides of the clip base  112  which is integrally molded as a part of the upper half  10  of the casing. The U-shaped clip  111  has elastic property and is slightly bendable outwardly from an original position that makes right angle with the clip base  112 . A through hole  113  is formed to penetrate through the clip base  112  in the direction of thickness thereof. 
         [0016]    The catch  21  includes a barb  211  and a screw boss  212 . The screw boss  212  is also explained as a main body  112  of the catch  21 . On a far side from the latch  11 , the barb  211  protrudes from an outer surface of the screw boss  212  which is integrally molded as a part of the lower half  20  of the casing. The tip portion of the barb  211  and the outer surface of the screw boss  212  are smoothly bridged over with a slope portion  213 . The screw boss  212  has a flange  214  on a near side to the latch  11 . A guide pin  215  protrudes towards the latch  11  from the flange  214  with a self-tapping hole  216  formed inside. The self-tapping hole  216  is designed to be slightly undersized to the screw  30 . Instead of the self-tapping hole  216 , it also may be replaced with a threaded hole that is tapped in advance. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the clip base  112  has an inner surface  114  facing to a surface of the flange  214 . The inner surface  114  has a guide hole  115  with a bottom portion  116  which has an opening corresponding to an end of the through hole  113 . In other words, the through hole  113  and the guide hole  115  constitute a cylindrical hole which has two different diameter inner surface with the bottom portion  116  therebetween. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the guide pin  215  has an outer diameter D 1  substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter D 2  of the guide hole  115 . More specifically, the inner diameter D 2  of the guide hole  115  is less than an outer diameter D 3  of the flange  214 . It make the guide pin  215  possible to be inserted into the guide hole  115  until when the bottom portion  116  substantially contacts with or approaches close to an upper end of the guide pin  215 . At the same time, the flange  214  substantially contacts with or approaches close to a surface of the clip base  112 . 
         [0019]    A fastening process with the use of the fastening device  1  will be now described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 . Firstly, two openings of the upper half  10  and the lower half  20  of the casing are put together such that the guide pin  215  inserts into the guide hole  115 . Secondly, the clip  111  starts to be elastically bent outwardly along the slope portion  213  and eventually gets over the tip portion of the barb  211 . The clip  111  returns to an original shape with spring back force inwardly and engages with the barb  211  rigidly. The guide pin  215  and the guide hole  115  ensure a proper engaging alignment of the clip  111  and the barb  211 . Thirdly, the screw  30  is inserted through the through hole  113  and screwed into the self-tapping hole  216  to secure the upper half  10  and the lower half  20  of the casing closed. The screw  30  guarantees to keep the casing closed in case the clip  111  and/or the barb  211  is accidently released or broken. 
         [0020]    According to above disclosure, the fastening device  1  integrally contains three features as following: a fastening feature performed by the latch  11  and the catch  21 ; an alignment feature performed by the guide pin  215  and the guide hole  115 ; and a backup feature performed by the screw  30 . This integrated design enables the fastening device  1  to be assembled easier, to be produced cheaper, and to perform durable. 
         [0021]    It should be appreciated that while the processes of the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein as including a specific sequence of steps, further alternative embodiments including various other sequences of these steps and/or additional steps not disclosed herein are intended to be within the steps of the present disclosure. 
         [0022]    While the present disclosure has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiments and constructions. The present disclosure is intended to cover various modification and equivalent arrangements. In addition, while the various combinations and configurations, which are preferred, other combinations and configurations, including more, less or only a single element, are also within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.