Patent Publication Number: US-2021190123-A1

Title: Hinged retainer assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/952,904, which was filed on Dec. 23, 2019 and is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a retainer for securing a structure relative to a mounting surface. 
     Structures, such as housing for electronics or mechanical components have generally be secured using a threaded stud attached to a mounting surface that is accepted in a stud opening in the structure. A nut is then threaded onto the threaded stud to secure the structure to the mounting surface. However, overtime it is possible for the stud and/or nut to develop corrosion that could make separating the nut from the stud difficult. This is particularly true if the structure is used in an environment where it is subjected to salt exposure, such as on a vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one exemplary embodiment, an assembly includes a clip portion which includes a first flexible flange and a second flexible flange that each at least partially define a central retainer passage. A flexible hinge connects the clip portion to a structure. A tab is located adjacent an opposite end of the clip portion from the flexible hinge. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, the central retainer passage includes a contoured surface. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, the contoured surface defines a threaded surface. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, a first distal end of the first flexible flange and a second distal end of the second flexible flange each flair outward and away from the central retainer passage. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, a lock portion is located adjacent a second end of the central retainer passage opposite the flexible hinge located adjacent a first end of the central retainer passage. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, the lock portion includes a ring which has a central opening. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, the central opening of the ring is at least partially aligned with the central retainer passage. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, the ring includes a radially inner mounting stud contact surface. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, a neck segment surrounds less than 50% of the central retainer passage and connects the clip portion to the lock portion. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, the neck segment surrounds less than 25% of the central retainer passage. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, the neck portion flexibly connects the clip portion and the lock portion. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, the clip, the flexible hinge, and the structure are a single piece unitary component. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, the structure includes a flange which has a stud opening. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, a mounting stud extends through the stud opening and is located in the central retainer passage and is in engagement with the first flexible flange and the second flexible flange. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a method of retaining a structure relative to a mounting surface includes locating a structure relative to a mounting surface with a mounting stud fixed relative to the mounting surface and extending through a stud opening on a flange of the structure. A retainer assembly is moved about a flexible hinge connected to the structure. The mounting stud is engaged with a first flexible flange and a second flexible flange on the retainer assembly. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, a distal end of the mounting stud is engaged with a lock portion of the retainer assembly. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, the first and second flexible flanges are located on a clip portion. The lock portion is connected to the clip portion by a neck segment. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, a tab is located on an opposite side of the lock portion from the first and second flexible flanges. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, the lock portion includes a lock ring which has an inner surface for engaging the mounting stud. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the above, the retainer assembly, the flexible hinge, and the structure are a single piece unitary component. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example structure attached to a mounting surface with at least one retainer assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the retainer assembly of  FIG. 1  in a disengaged configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the retainer assembly in an engaged configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the retainer assembly in an engaged configuration. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another example retainer assembly in a disengaged configuration. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the retainer assembly of  FIG. 6  is an engaged configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example structure  20  attached to a mounting surface  22 . In the illustrated example, the structure  20  fits flush against the mounting surface  22  and is fixed relative to the mounting surface  22  with a retainer assembly  24 . The retainer assembly  24  is attached to a flange  26  on the structure  20  with a hinge  28 , such as a flexible hinge. However, the retainer assembly  24  could be attached to a separate portion of the structure  20 , such as a central portion of the structure  20 . The structure  20  could include a housing, such as a housing for an electronic device, a mechanical device, or any other type of structure that is attachable to the mounting surface  22 . In the illustrated example, the mounting surface  22  is a piece of sheet metal. However, the mounting surface  22  could include another type of surface or structure. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the retainer assembly  24  includes a clip portion  32 , a lock portion  34 , and a distal portion  36 . In the illustrated example, the retainer assembly  24  is a single unitary piece of material with the structure  20 . For example, the retainer assembly  24  and the hinge  28  could be cast or injection molded together with the structure  20 . Alternatively, the retainer assembly  24  could be separately formed from the hinge  28  and the flange  26  and attached by a welding process or an adhesive. One feature of this configuration is a reduced number of components that can be separated and lost during assembly or disassembly of the structure  20  relative to the mounting surface  22 . Additionally, because the pieces are a single piece, the hinge  28  flexes or elastically deforms to allow for movement of the retainer assembly  24  instead of having multiple components that pivot. Also, the retainer assembly  24  reduces the need for costly installation equipment during assembly and reduces the total number of parts needed to inventory related to the structure  20 . 
     The retainer assembly  24  is pivotable relative to the flange  26  such that the retainer assembly  24  can move into and out of engagement with a mounting stud  30 . In the illustrated example, the mounting stud  30  includes a head portion  30 A in engagement with a first side  22 A of the mounting surface  22 , a threaded shaft portion  30 B extending from the head portion  30 A, and an unthreaded shaft portion  30 C distal of the threaded shaft portion  30 B. The structure  20  is located on a second side  22 B of the mounting surface  22  opposite the first side  22 A. 
     The mounting stud  30  extends through a stud opening  38  in the flange  26  on the structure  20  with the stud opening  38  being adjacent to the retainer assembly  24  and the hinge  28 . One feature of utilizing the retainer assembly  24  in place of a traditional nut on the mounting stud  30  is a reduction in corrosion that can result over time between the mounting stud  30  and the nut making separating the two components more difficult when servicing or repairing the structure  20 . 
     The clip portion  32  of the retainer assembly  24  includes a body portion  40  having a first flexible flange  42  and a second flexible flange  44  at least partially defining a central retainer passage  46 . The central retainer passage  46  is generally cylindrical and can be of a smaller diameter than the mounting stud  30  when in an uninstalled position. A first distal end of the first flexible flange  42  and a second distal end of the second flexible flange  44  includes a first flared portion  42 A and a second flared portion  44 A, respectively. The first and second flared portions  42 A,  44 A extend outward and away from the central retainer passage  46 . The first and second flared portions  42 A and  44 A, help to guide the mounting stud  30  towards the central retainer passage  46 . 
     As the retainer assembly  24  is being pivoted from a disengaged position ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ), into an engaged position ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), the first and second flexible flanges  42 ,  44  expand outward to increase a diameter of the central retainer passage  46  to allow the mounting stud  30  to pass through a stud opening  50  defined between the first and second flexible flanges  42 ,  44 . In the illustrated example, the stud opening  50  extends a length of the central retainer passage  46  between opposing longitudinal ends the first and second flexible flanges  42 ,  44 . 
     An inner surface of the central retainer passage  46  defined by the first and second flexible flanges  42 ,  44 , includes a contoured surface  48 , such as a threaded or ribbed surface. Because the first and second flexible flanges  42  and  44  only extend partially around the central retainer passage  46  to allow the stud opening  50  to accept the mounting stud  30 , the contoured surface  48  is segmented. Additionally, in the illustrated example, the contoured surface  48  does not extend onto the first or second flared portions  42 A,  44 A. 
     The lock portion  34  is located on an opposite axial end of the clip portion  32  from the hinge  28 . In this disclosure, axial or axially, radial or radially, and longitudinal or longitudinally is relative to a longitudinal axis A ( FIG. 3 ) of the central retainer passage  46  unless stated otherwise. The lock portion  34  includes a ring  52  having a central opening that is coaxial with the central retainer passage  46 . An inner surface  52 A of the ring is configured to contact the unthreaded shaft portion  30 C of the mounting stud  30 . A neck portion  54  connects the clip portion  32  to the lock portion  34 . The neck portion  54  allows the lock portion  34  to flex relative to the clip portion  32 . In the illustrated example, the neck portion  54  extends less than 50% around the central retainer passage  46  and in another example, the neck portion  54  extends less than 25% around the central retainer passage  46 . 
     The ability of the lock portion  34  to flex relative to the clip portion  32  allows the ring  52  to be located around the distal end  30 C of the mounting stud  30 . The ring  52  provides a locking function in addition to the compressive force from the first and second flexible flanges  42 ,  44 . 
     The distal portion  36  includes a tab  56  fixed relative to the lock portion  34 . The tab  56  provides leverage to disengage the lock portion  34  from distal end  30 C of the mounting stud  30 . For example, applying force in the direction D 2  to the tab  56  deflects the lock portion  34  relative to the clip portion  32  to move the ring  52  off of the distal end  30 C of the mounting stud  30 . Once the ring  52  has been moved off of the distal end  30 C of the mounting stud  30 , the first and second clip portions  42 ,  44  can be released from the mounting stud  30  with the application of additional force. In the illustrated example, the tab  56  includes a recess forming a groove at least partially aligned with the longitudinal axis A of the central retainer passage  46 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate another example retainer assembly  124  similar to the retainer assembly  24  except where described below or shown in the Figures. The retainer assembly  124  includes a clip portion  132  and a distal portion  136 . The retainer assembly  124  does not include the lock portion  34  as with the retainer assembly  24 . 
     The retainer assembly  124  is pivotable relative to the flange  26  with a hinge  128  such that the retainer assembly  124  can move into and out of engagement with the mounting stud  30 . The clip portion  132  of the retainer assembly  124  includes a body portion  140  having a first flexible flange  142  and a second flexible flange  144  at least partially defining a central retainer passage  146 . A first distal end of the first flexible flange  142  and a second distal end of the second flexible flange  144  includes a first flared portion  142 A and a second flared portion  144 A, respectively. The first and second flared portions  142 A,  144 A extend outward and away from the central retainer passage  146 . The first and second flared portions  142 A and  144 A, help to guide the mounting stud  30  towards the central retainer passage  146 . 
     As the retainer assembly  124  is being pivoted from a disengaged position ( FIG. 6 ), into an engaged position ( FIG. 7 ), the first and second flexible flanges  142 ,  144  expand outward to increase a diameter of the central retainer passage  146  to allow the mounting stud  30  to pass through a stud opening  150  defined between the first and second flexible flanges  142 ,  144 . In the illustrated example, the stub opening  150  extends a length of the central retainer passage  146  between the first and second flexible flanges  142 ,  144 . 
     An inner surface of the central retainer passage  146  defined by the first and second flexible flanges  142 ,  144 , includes a contoured surface  148 , such as a threaded or ribbed surface. Because the first and second flexible flanges  142  and  144  only extend partially around the central retainer passage  146  to allow the stud opening  150  to accept the mounting stud  30 , the contoured surface  148  is segmented. Additionally, the contoured surface  148  does not extend onto the first or second flared portions  142 A,  144 A. 
     The distal portion  136  includes a tab  156  fixed relative to the clip portion  32 . The tab  156  provides leverage to disengage the first and second flexible flanges  142 ,  144  from the mounting stud  30 . For example, apply force in the direction D 2  to the tab  156  deflects the first and second flexible flanges  142 ,  144  of the clip portion  32  to allow the mounting stud  30  to pass through the stud opening  150  and release the structure  120  from the mounting stud  30 . 
     Although the different non-limiting examples are illustrated as having specific components, the examples of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the non-limiting examples in combination with features or components from any of the other non-limiting examples. 
     It should be understood that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should also be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed and illustrated in these exemplary embodiments, other arrangements could also benefit from the teachings of this disclosure. 
     The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would understand that certain modifications could come within the scope of this disclosure. For these reasons, the following claim should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.