Patent Publication Number: US-2021164506-A1

Title: Fastening device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a fastening device. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a fastening device for fastening a panel to a wall with a high resistance to pulling off. 
     INTRODUCTION 
     It is known that such a device is for example useful in an automotive vehicle, in case of shock, in order for the panel, for example an inside trim panel of a door, to continue being held by the wall, for example the inside sheet metal of the door, at least in certain critical zones, in particular in the deployment zone of an airbag. 
     Such a device is already known comprising a lining of plastics material which is engaged on a lateral rim of the wall and a screw which is made to engage with an extension of the panel passing in front of the rim of the wall, the screw being engaged in a bore in the lining. 
     The invention aims to provide a device capable of both, providing a biasing force and locking the individual components together. 
     For example, US2014/0255089 discloses a fastening devices for fastening a panel to a wall with a high resistance to pulling off. The assembly including a tool capable of insertion between the wall and the panel to reach an actuating part of a female member. 
     Also, WO2016/207531 discloses a fastening device for joining a first part to a second part. The fastening device including a retaining means in the form of a U-shaped clip which is inserted into a housing of a female element. The U-shaped clip passing transversely through the axial cavity, so as to pinch a male element and lock it in axial position in the cavity of the female element, the retaining means being provided with anti-twist means for the U in the event that the male element is pulled out of the female element. 
     Consequently, an additional doghouse is required on a car door when using a crash clip as described above in the prior art. One doghouse is required for the crash clip and a further doghouse is needed to input tension of door assembly on to the door. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved crash clip overcoming one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fastening device for fastening a panel to a wall, comprising: 
     a male member, having a head portion provided at a proximal end along a first central axis and an impact retention stem protruding from said head portion along said first central axis towards a distal end, said male member further comprising a tooth portion extending away from said first central axis of said head portion; 
     a female member, comprising a first cavity, extending in a direction along a second central axis and adapted to guidingly receive said impact retention stem, a periphery of said female member having a lip portion extending towards said second central axis and adapted to lockably engage with said tooth portion, and a second cavity, extending in a direction perpendicular to and intersecting with said second central axis; 
     a locking member, configured to be guidingly received by said second cavity and adapted to retainingly receive said impact retention stem and provide a biasing force along said first central axis towards said head portion in cooperation with said tooth portion operably engaged with said lip portion, during use. 
     This provides the advantage of a fastening device that is crash resistant, but also capable of providing tension between a door panel and a door. 
     Suitably, wherein the locking member may further comprise: 
     an elastically deformable clamping member, provided substantially centrally along a longitudinal axis and adapted to retainingly receive said impact retention stem, and 
     a release recess, provided adjacent to said clamping member along said longitudinal axis; 
     wherein said locking member is adapted to slidably move within said second cavity between a locking position, axially aligning said clamping member with said first cavity, and a release position, axially aligning said release recess with said first cavity. 
     Suitably, said impact retention stem may be adapted to execute a push-force perpendicular to said central axis on said clamping member, during use. 
     Suitably, said clamping member may be adapted to execute a push-force in a direction parallel to said central axis on said impact retention stem. 
     Suitably, said impact retention stem may further comprise a tapered surface portion, provided adjacent to said head portion and converging towards said distal end, configured to cooperatingly engage with said clamp member so as to push said clamping member apart when moved towards said first cavity of said female member during use. 
     Suitably, the fastening device may further comprise a sealing ring adapted to provide a seal between said female member and the wall. 
     Suitably, said clamping member may comprise two resilient arms arranged in a V-shape configuration and adapted to biasingly move apart. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1A-1B  illustrate a perspective view of an example of a male member of a fastening device,  1 A, a perspective bottom view and  1 B, a perspective top view; 
         FIGS. 2A-2B  illustrate an example of a female member of the fastening device,  FIG. 2A  being a perspective view and  FIG. 2B  being a top view; 
         FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate an example of a locking member of the fastening device,  FIG. 3A  being a perspective view and  FIG. 3B  being a plan view; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an example of a sealing ring for the fastening device; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective bottom view of an example of an assembled fastening device; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a cross sectional view of the assembled fastening device of  FIG. 5  when the head portion of the male member is locked into the female member; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a cross sectional plan view of the locking member within the female member; 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  illustrate an example embodiment of an alternative locking member of an alternative fastening device,  FIG. 8A  in a perspective top view,  FIG. 8B  in a perspective bottom view and  FIG. 8C  in a top view; 
         FIGS. 9A-9E  illustrate an example embodiment of an alternative female member of the alternative fastening device,  FIG. 9A  in a perspective top view,  FIG. 9B  a top view,  FIG. 9C  a side view,  FIG. 9D  a front view, and  FIG. 9E  a perspective cross sectional top view along A-A; 
         FIGS. 10A-10 -C illustrate an example embodiment of an alternative sealing ring of the alternative fastening device  FIG. 10A  in a perspective front view,  FIG. 10B  perspective rear view, and  FIG. 10C  a side view; 
         FIGS. 11A-11C  illustrate the assembled alternative female member and the alternative locking member of  FIGS. 8 and 9 ,  FIG. 11A  in a perspective front view,  FIG. 11B  in a perspective rear view, and  FIG. 11C  in a cross-sectional plan view; 
         FIGS. 12A-12B  illustrate the assembled fastening device, in situ,  FIG. 12A  in a perspective view and  FIG. 12B  in a cross-sectional side view; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a perspective view of the assembled fastening device and a suitable tool. 
     
    
    
     In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     In this example, a fastening device  50  is formed of a male member  100 , a female member  200  and a locking member  300 . Each member will be described in detail below. 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words ‘right’, ‘left’, ‘lower’, ‘upper’, ‘front’, ‘rear’, ‘upward’, ‘down’ and ‘downward’ designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made and are with respect to the described component when assembled and mounted. The words ‘inner’, ‘inwardly’ and ‘outer’, ‘outwardly’ refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, a designated centreline or a geometric centre of an element being described (e.g. central axis), the particular meaning being readily apparent from the context of the description. 
     Further, as used herein, the terms ‘connected’, ‘attached’, ‘coupled’, ‘mounted’ are intended to include direct connections between two members without any other members interposed therebetween, as well as, indirect connections between members in which one or more other members are interposed therebetween. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. 
     Further, unless otherwise specified, the use of ordinal adjectives, such as, ‘first’, ‘second’, ‘third’ etc. merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. Like reference numerals are used to depict like features throughout. 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  show the male member  100  of the fastening device  50  in different orientations. The male member  100  includes a head portion  110  at a proximal end of the male member. The male member  100  further includes an impact retention stem  120  protruding from the head portion  110  toward a distal end of the male member  100 . In this example, the impact retention stem  120  protrudes from the head portion  110  along a central axis  170 . That is, the impact retention stem  120  protrudes perpendicularly from the centre point of the longitudinal plane of the head portion  110 . 
     Further, the impact retention stem  120  includes a flared end  122 . The flared end  122  is adjacent the distal end of the male member  100 . In this example the flared end  122  forms a lip  124  which protrudes from the impact retention stem  120 . For example, the impact retention stem  120  may be described as substantially mushroom shaped. However, it is understood by the person skilled in the art, that any other suitable shapes may be used for the flared end  122 . 
     The impact retention stem  120  further includes a tapered surface portion  140  (see  FIG. 6 ). The tapered surface portion  140  is provided adjacent to the head portion  120  and converges towards the distal end of the impact retention stem  120 . The tapered surface portion  140  may be a conical surface for example. 
     As shown best in  FIG. 6  the head portion  110  may include a first flange  132 . The head portion  110  further includes a second flange  134 . The second flange  134  is spaced apart from the first flange  132  in a direction toward the distal end of the male member  100 . The second flange member is of cylindrical shape having a proximal end  610  and a distal end  620 . The proximal end  610  may comprise a stepped portion extending radially outward. The distal end  620  comprises a tooth portion  130  extending radially away from the central axis. The phased front face of the tooth portion  130  faces towards the distal end of the male member  100 . The tooth portion  130  extending away from the central axis  170  of the male member. In this example the tooth portion  130  is formed integrally with the second flange  134 . 
     In this particular example the first flange  132  of the head portion  110  includes a self-centring segment  115  disposed opposed the impact retention stem  120 . In some example the first flange may be a self-centring segment  115 . The self-centring segment  115  may be formed of a plurality of protrusions  112   a ,  112   b . The protrusions  112   a  may extend laterally from the central axis  170  of the male member  100 . In this example the protrusions  112   a ,  112   b  extend to form a planar spiral pattern. Other examples may include spoke shaped patterns or any other suitable shape. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate an example female member  200 . The female member  200  is configured so as to receive the male member  100  and the locking member  200 . Once assembled together the male member  100  is retained at least partially within in the female member  200  by the locking member  300 . 
     In particular, the female member  200  includes a first cavity  210 . The first cavity  210  extends in a direction along a second central axis  270 . That is the central axis  170  of the male member  100  is separate and distinct from the central axis  270  of the female member  200 . The central axis  270  of the female member  200  runs longitudinally through the centre line of the female member&#39;s  200  first cavity  210 . 
     The first cavity  210  extends at least partially through the female member  200 . The first cavity  210  is adapted to receive the impact retention stem  120 . In this way the first cavity  210  is shaped to at least partially correspond to the shape of the impact retention stem  120 . For example, the first cavity  210  may be shaped so as to receive and accommodate the impact retention stem. 
     The male member  100  is configured to engage with the female member  200 . That is, the impact retention stem  120  of the male member  100  is received into the first cavity  210 . The first cavity  210  is configured such that the impact retention stem  120  is guidingly received by the female member  200 , i.e. the opening of the first cavity  210  may be provided with a phased rim so as to funnel the impact retention stem  120  into the first cavity  210 . 
     The female member  200  further includes a second cavity  220 . The second cavity  220  extends in a direction that is perpendicular to, and intersecting with, the central axis  270  of the female member  200 . The second cavity  220  defines a receiving area configured to accept the locking member  300 . The second cavity  220  is arranged so as to intersect with the first cavity  210 . That is, the first and second cavities  210 ,  220  are spatially linked. 
     Further, the female member  200  includes a peripheral wall section  212  surrounding at least part of the second cavity  220 . The peripheral wall  212  extends from a proximal end of the first cavity  210  and away from the first cavity  210  so as to form a cylindrical recess adapted to receive at least a portion of the male member  100  head portion  110 . A lip portion  240  is provided at an inner surface at the rim of the peripheral wall  212  extending from the inner surface of the peripheral wall  212  towards the central axis  270  of the female member  200 . Further the lip portion  240  has phased front surface facing towards the proximal end and stepped back surface facing towards the distal end. 
     In use, the lip portion  240  of the female member  200  lockingly engages with the tooth portion  130  of the male member  100 . This will be described in further detail with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     The female member  200  may include a clipping portion  250 . The clipping portion  250  is situated at the distal end of the female member  200  and is adapted to attachingly couple with a suitable recess of the panel (e.g. a ¼ turn fastener mechanism). The clipping portion  250  further includes adjustable tabs  260  configured to allow the fastening device  50  to accommodate various wall thicknesses. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , an example embodiment of the locking member  300  is shown. The locking member  300  is configured to be guidingly received by the second cavity  220 . In other words, the shape of the locking member  300  is complementary to the second cavity  220  of the female portion  200 , so that the locking member  300  can be inserted into the second cavity  220  and longitudinally move therein. The locking member  300  is adapted to be slidingly moved within the second cavity between a locking position and a releasing position. The locking position being the position where the male member  100  is retained in position within the first cavity  210  of the female member  200 . 
     The locking member  300  is shaped so as to retainingly receive the impact retention stem  120  of the male member  100 . The locking member  300  is configured to cooperate with the impact retention stem  120  so as to provide a biasing force towards the proximal end of the impact retention stem  120 . In this way the locking member  300  provides a biasing force along the central axis  170  towards the head portion  110  of the male member  100 . 
     In particular, the locking member  300  comprises an elastically deformable clamping member  310 . The clamping member  310  includes a holding recess  314 . The holding recess  314  is shaped so as to receive and retain the impact retention stem  120  therein. The holding recess  314  is sized such that the flared end  122  of the impact retention stem  120  cannot move through. Lateral movement of the male member  100  is prevented by the lip  124  of the flared end  122  abutting the walls  316   a ,  316   b  of the clamping member  310  when the locking member  300  is in the locked position. 
     The clamping member  310  is substantially central along a longitudinal axis  370  on the locking member  300 . In this way, the clamping member  310  is provided under the first cavity  210  of the female member when in normal use (locking position). 
     The flared end  122  of the impact retention stem  120  may push the clamping member  310  apart when moved towards the first cavity  210  of the female member  200 . 
     In use, the tapered surface portion  140  of the impact retention stem  120  executes a push-force that translates into a force onto the lateral arms of the clamping member  310 . This force translate from the tapered surface is acting in a direction perpendicular to the central axis  170  of the male member  100 . The counteracting biasing force provided by the resilient clamping member  310  acts to keep the fastening device  50  under tension when lip portion  240  and tooth portion  130  are in locking engagement. 
     The holding recess  314  may include a protrusion  330  at the head of the clamping member  310 . This protrusion allows the clamping member  310  to elastically stretch to accommodate the impact retention stem  120 . Therefore, the protrusion  330  forms an anti-loss mechanism. 
     The locking member  300  includes a release recess  320 . The release recess  320  is adjacent the clamping member  310  along its longitudinal axis  370 . The release recess  320  is sized to be substantially larger than the flared end  122  of the impact retention stem  120  so as to allow movement therethrough. In use, when the release recess  320  is moved to the impact retention stem  120 , the male member  100  may be moved out of the first cavity  210  of the female member  200 . 
     The clamping member  310  may comprise resilient arms  312   a ,  312   b . The resilient arms  312   a ,  312   b  may be in a V-shaped configuration, so as to form a conduit  322  between the holding recess  314  and the release recess  320  along the longitudinal axis  370 . The conduit  322  tapers toward the protrusion  330 , so as to provide a tight clamp when in a locking position. The resilient arms  312   a ,  312   b  are adapted to biasingly move apart when the impact retention stem  120  pushes through. The resilient arms  312   a ,  312   b  may be elastically linked with the frame of the locking member  300 . 
     As discussed above, the locking member  300  is slidable within the second cavity  220  of the female member  200  between a locking position and a release position. In the locking position, the holding recess  314  is axially aligned with the first cavity  210  of the female member  200  and the impact retention stem  120  is retained by the clamping member  310 . 
     In order to remove the male member  100  from the female member  200 , an external push force is provided on an abutment wall  340  of the locking member  300  to slide the locking member  300  longitudinally such that the impact retention stem  120  passes through the cavity  322  and into the release recess  320 . In the releasing position the release recess  320  is axially aligned with the first cavity  210  of the female member  200 . The impact retention stem  120  may therefore be released from the locking member  300 , and then the female member  200 . 
     The locking member  300  may optionally include retention protrusions  350  on the outer periphery of the locking member  300 . The retention protrusions  350  are configured to abuttingly engage with a step portion of the second cavity  220  of the female member  200  forming an anti-loss system. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a sealing ring  400 . The sealing ring  400  may be fitted to the exterior of the female member  200 , so as to allow a tight seal between the fastening device  50 , panel and wall when in use. The sealing ring  400  may be shaped so as to clip on to a bottom portion of the female member  200 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the fastening device  50  in an assembled configuration.  FIG. 6  illustrates a lateral cross-sectional view of the fastening device  50  of  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 7  shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a locking member  300  within a female member  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the lip portion  240  of the female member  200  engages with the tooth portion  130  of the male member  100 . In this way, the female member  200  lockingly engages with the male member  100 . Further, the biasing force provided by the locking member  300  engaging with the tapered surface portion  140  of the impact retention stem  120  creates a tension between the male member  100  and the female member  200 . 
     The male member  100  is further configured to attach to a door panel and the female member  200  is configured to attach to the door assembly (e.g. via the ¼ turn clipping portion  250 ). In this way the fastening device  50  provides a tensioned coupling between the door panel and door assembly. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8 to 13 , a different, alternative, example embodiment of the fastening device  500  of the present invention is shown. As with the previous example embodiment of the fastening device  50 , the assembly comprises a male member  600 , a female member  700 , a locking member  800  and a sealing member  900 . Each one of the component parts  600 ,  700 ,  800  and  900  is similar and functionally likewise to its equivalent component part (i.e.  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ) of the previous example embodiment (see  FIGS. 1 to 7 ) and only relevant structural differences between the two example embodiments of the fastening device  50  and  500  will be described in more detail. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the alternative locking member  800  comprises an elastically deformable clamping member  810 . The clamping member  310  defines a holding recess  814  that is shaped so as to receive and retain the impact retention stem  620  of the male member  600  during assembly. Further a passage  816  is formed so as to cooperatingly engage with a partial central wall  722  within the second cavity  720  of the female member  700 , i.e. so as to allow predetermined longitudinal sliding movement of the locking member  800  within the second cavity  720  of the female member  700 . Retention protrusions  850  (e.g. retention tines) are provided on the outer wall of the locking member  800  adapted to lockingly engage with a respective shoulder portion  724  within the second cavity  720  of the female member  700 , so as to limit the longitudinal sliding movement of the locking member  800  within the second cavity  720  of the female member  700  and, together with the central wall  722 , confine the locking member  800  within the second cavity  720  of the female member, once assembled. Further, two protrusion  832  are provided on the bottom surface of the proximal end of the locking member  812  configured to slidingly engage with respective recesses  732  in the second cavity  720  of the female member  700  so as to limit the longitudinal movement of the locking member  800  within the second cavity  720  of the female member  700 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9A-9D , the alternative female member  700  further comprises a peripheral wall section  712  that is divided into four wall sections, two opposing longitudinally arranged first wall sections  712   a  and two opposing laterally arranged second wall sections  712   b . The opposing first wall sections  712   a  are separated from the opposing lateral wall section  712   b  by respective apertures  728 . Additional spaced apart recesses  730  are provided on the inner lip  740  of the second wall sections  712   b . Both, respective apertures  728  between first and second wall sections  712   a ,  712   b  and recesses  730  on the inner lip  740  are configured to reduce the extraction force between the male member  600  and the female member  700 . Each one of the first wall sections  712   a  may comprise a plurality of spaced apart ribs  726  adapted to structurally strengthen the first wall section  712   a.    
       FIGS. 10A-10C  show an example embodiment of the alternative sealing member  900  adapted to couplingly engage with the female member  200 . 
       FIGS. 11A-11B  show a perspective front and rear view of an assembled female member  700 , locking member  800  and sealing member (i.e. without the male member  600 ) with the locking member  800  full inserted into the second cavity  720  of the female member  700 .  FIG. 11C  provides and “inside” view into the second cavity  720  with the inserted locking member via a planar sectional view (along the longitudinal axis of the second cavity  720  and normal to the central axis of the first cavity  710 ) of the second cavity  720  of the female member  700  and inserted locking member  800 . In particular, the sectional view clearly shows the engagement between the retention protrusions (or tines)  850  of the locking member  800  and the shoulder portion  724  inside the second cavity  720  of the female member  700 , as well as, the arrangement between the partial central wall  722  of the second cavity  720  and the passage  816  of the locking member  800 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 12A-12B , the example embodiment of the alternative fastening device  500  is shown, in situ, i.e. fully assembled and coupled to component structures  1000  and  1002 . 
     Here, the female member  700  is lockingly coupled through an aperture of a first component structure  1000 , wherein the male member  600  is inserted through the first cavity  710  and lockingly engaged with the inserted locking member  800 . The head portion of the male member  800  is coupled to the second component structure  1002 , wherein the tooth portion  630  of the male member  800  is lockingly engaged with the inner lip  740  of the second wall sections  712   b.    
       FIG. 13  illustrates the use of a tool  1100  when applied to the proximal end of the locking member  800  so as to push the locking member  800  into the second cavity  720  and axially align the release recess  820  with the impact retention stem  620  of the male member  600 , allowing the male member to be removed from the female member  700 . 
     It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that features described in relation to any of the embodiments described above can be applicable interchangeably between the different embodiments. The embodiments described above are examples to illustrate various features of the invention. 
     Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise. 
     Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. 
     The reader&#39;s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.