Patent Publication Number: US-2004049894-A1

Title: Sheet metal fastening clip

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/390,946 filed Jun. 24, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates to mounting clips for securing fasteners to sheet metal and more particularly to a fastener mounting clip that can be inserted into a bore hole formed in sheet metal material.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Sheet metal nuts or mounting clips are used in the automobile industry as well as in the household appliances industry for fastening trim work or other components to the sheet metal body. Many conventional sheet metal nuts are designed to be pushed onto the edge of a sheet material work-piece having a hole adjacent thereto until a hole of the sheet metal nut and the work-piece coincide.  
       [0004] However, many motor vehicle construction processes require that trim work or other components be fastened to the interior vehicle chassis, exterior body panels or other fastening points which do not lie at the edge of the sheet material or work-piece but in other areas of the work-piece surface, such as the middle. For this case, the present invention provides a sheet material mounting clip that may be received into a bore hole formed in the sheet material and operative to be easily inserted while providing a substantial resistance to pullout forces.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The present invention provides a fastener mounting clip for securing a fastener in a bore hole formed in sheet materials such as sheet metal or the like. The fastener mounting clip includes a planar surface having an outside edge and a recessed aperture formed central to the planar surface. The aperture is operative to receive and retain a conventional fastener therein for securing various objects such as trim material to the sheet material.  
       [0006] Two elongated guide arms are formed on the outside edge of the planar surface. The guide arms stand spaced apart in an opposing fashion and extend beneath the planar surface at an obtuse angle. The guide arms are operative to guide the mounting clip into the borehole formed in the sheet material.  
       [0007] Two resilient retaining arms are also formed in opposing fashion on the outside edge of the planar surface. The arms stand spaced apart in an opposing fashion and also extend beneath the planar surface at an obtuse angle that is preferably equivalent to the obtuse angle of the guide arms. The retaining arms are operative to compress and expand upon insertion of the fastener mounting clip into the borehole formed in the sheet material. After insertion of the fastener mounting clip into the bore hole, the top sides of the expanded retaining arms abut against a surface of the sheet metal and provide resistance to pull-out forces.  
       [0008] At least two support tabs extend outwardly from the outside edge of the planar surface preferably in opposing directions such that the two tabs would be spaced apart substantially at 180 degrees. The tabs are operative to abut against an opposing surface of the sheet metal relative to the surface in contact with the retaining arms after the fastener mounting clip has been fully inserted into a bore hole of the sheet metal. The tabs are operative to prevent the mounting clip from passing through the borehole during insertion and to stabilize the mounting in the sheet material. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009] A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts are given like reference numerals and wherein:  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the fastener mounting clip for sheet material;  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fastener mounting clip of FIG. 1;  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is a side view of the fastener mounting clip illustrating the retaining arms as according to the invention;  
     [0013]FIG. 4 is a side view of the fastener mounting clip illustrating the guide arms as according to the invention;  
     [0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the fastener mounting clip comprised of a two-piece assembly;  
     [0015]FIG. 6 is a side view of the fastener mounting clip assembly disposed in a bore hole formed in a piece of sheet material;  
     [0016]FIG. 7 is an end view of the fastener mounting clip assembly as according to the invention; and  
     [0017]FIG. 8 is a top view of the fastener mounting clip assembly as according to the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0018] The present invention provides a novel fastening clip for use in providing a mounting for fasteners used to fasten objects to sheet material bodies having boreholes formed therein. The fastener mounting clips are operative to require low insertion force and to provide high retention force. Thus, the inventive fastener mounting clips are easily installed and mount securely to sheet materials having boreholes formed therein.  
     [0019] As shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 , the preferred embodiment of a fastener mounting clip  10  is formed from a single sheet of metal such as spring steel, aluminum, tin or copper.  
     [0020] The fastener mounting clip  10  includes a planar surface  12  preferably formed in a rectilinear shape. However, it is appreciated that various other shapes may be suitable for the intended purpose without exceeding the scope of the invention.  
     [0021] The planar surface  12  includes a recessed aperture  14  formed central thereto that is dimensioned to receive and retain a complementary fastener therein. The aperture  14  may be threaded, barded, or provide any other complementary engagement means for securing a conventional fastener.  
     [0022] At least two elongated guide arms  18  extend from and beneath an outside edge  16  of the planar surface  12 . Each guide arm  18  includes a U-shaped free end  20  operative to guide the fastener mounting clip  10  into a bore hole formed in the sheet material. The free end  20  of each guide arm  18  may alternatively be formed into a V shape or truncated V shape or any other shape that would provide the benefit of minimizing the amount of insertion force required for installing the fastener mounting clip  10  into a bore hole formed in the sheet material. Preferably, the guide arms  18  are spaced apart at approximately 180 degrees in an opposing fashion. Although two guide arms  18  are preferable, the inventive fastener mounting clip  12  could be made operable with at least one guide arm  18 .  
     [0023] At least two resilient retaining arms  22  are also formed on the outside edge  16  of the planar surface  12 . The retaining arms  22  extend beneath the planar surface  12  similar to the guide arms  18 . Preferably, the retaining arms  22  include a top end  24  and a bottom end  26  which are essentially the extreme ends of the retaining arms  22  that are preferably formed to resemble elongated loops. The retaining arms  22  are operative to compress and expand upon insertion of the fastener mounting clip  10  into the bore hole formed in the sheet material wherein the top ends  24  of the retaining arms  22  abut against a bottom surface of the sheet material when the fastener mounting clip  10  is fully inserted into the bore hole.  
     [0024] The bottom end  26  of the retaining arms  22  are shrouded by the U-shaped free ends  20  of the guide arms  18 . In this fashion, the retaining arms  22  of the fastener mounting clip  10  are protected against being deformed by insertion forces acting on the bottom end  26  during insertion. It is appreciated that although the preferred embodiment employs two retaining arms  22 , the inventive fastener mounting clip  10  could be made operative with at least one retaining arm. The retaining arms  22  are preferably arranged in opposing fashion and complementary to the guide arms  18  such that the retaining arms  22  also stand substantially 180 degrees apart.  
     [0025] At least two support tabs  30  extend outwardly from the outside edge  16  of the planar surface  12 . Preferably, the tabs  30  are arranged in an opposing fashion such that they extend outwardly from the planar surface  12  at substantially  180  degrees. The support tabs  30  are operative to abut against a top surface of the sheet material when the fastener mounting clip  10  is fully inserted into a bore hole formed in the sheet material. As such, the fastener mounting clip  10  is securely retained in the bore hole formed in the sheet material wherein the top ends  24  of the retaining arms  22  abut against the bottom surface of the sheet material and wherein the support tabs  30  abut against the top surface of the sheet material. In this fashion, the fastener mounting clip  10  is resistant to pull-out forces as well as push-through forces experienced during insertion. The tabs also serve to stabilize the fastener mounting clip  10  within the borehole.  
     [0026] It is appreciated that the fastener mounting clip  10  includes a spaced distance D between the support tabs  30  and the top ends  24  of the retaining arms  22  wherein the distance D approximates the thickness of the sheet material for which the fastener mounting clip  10  is to be used. This distance D and the resiliency of the support tabs  30  are operative to compensate for surface inconsistencies as well as to ensure that the sheet material will be snugly sandwiched between the top ends  24  of the retaining arms  22  and the support tabs  30  after the fastener mounting clip  10  has been inserted into the bore hole.  
     [0027] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the side views of the fastener mounting clip  10  illustrate the retaining arms  22  and guide arms  18 , respectively, extending beneath the planar surface  12  at obtuse angles. Preferably, the obtuse angles range between 90 and 120 degrees. Most preferably, the angles range between 95 and 105 degrees. It is appreciated that other angles that exceed these ranges may be suitable, however, without exceeding the scope of the invention.  
     [0028] FIGS.  5 - 8  illustrate a fastener mounting clip assembly  10 ′ as an alternative embodiment to the above fastener mounting clip  10  that is formed of a single piece of sheet material.  
     [0029] The fastener mounting clip assembly  10 ′ also has utility for securing a fastener to sheet material having a borehole formed therein. As best illustrated in FIG. 5, the fastener mounting clip assembly  10 ′ includes a U-shaped retainer portion  50  and a U-shaped carrier portion  64 .  
     [0030] The U-shaped retainer portion  50  includes a U-base  52  having an aperture  54  formed at its center. Extending upwardly from the U-base  52  are opposing spring arms  56 . Each spring arm  56  includes a U-shaped notch  58  formed between two retaining wedges  60  that extend along the outer edges of the spring arms  56 . Each of the retaining wedges  60  has a tapered end adjacent to the U-base  52 . The U-base  52  of the U-shaped retainer portion  50  preferably includes at least one stabilizer tab  80  disposed adjacent the aperture  54  formed therein for the purpose to be described hereinafter.  
     [0031] The U-shaped carrier portion  64  is dimensioned to engage the U-shaped retainer portion  50  in a complementary fashion wherein the U-base  52  of the U-shaped retainer portion  50  seats within the carrier base portion  66  of the U-shaped carrier portion  64 .  
     [0032] Extending upwardly from the carrier base  66  is a protruding cylindrical aperture  68  formed central thereto. The cylindrical aperture  68  is dimensioned to be received through the aperture  54  formed in the U-base  52  of the U-shaped retainer portion  50 . The protruding cylindrical aperture  68  is operative to receive and retain a fastener in complementary therein.  
     [0033] As described above, at least one stabilizer tab  80  is disposed at the center aperture  54  of the U-base  52  of the U-shaped retainer portion  50 . The stabilizer tabs  80  are operative to retain and stabilize the protruding cylindrical aperture  68  of the U-shaped carrier portion  64  upon assembly of the fastener mounting clip assembly  10 ′ as according to the invention.  
     [0034] The U-shaped carrier portion  64  includes opposing inverted L-shaped arms  70  having a body portion  72  and a base portion  74 . The body portion  72  of the opposing inverted L-shaped arms  70  extends upwardly from the carrier base  66  while the base portions  74  extend outwardly from the carrier base  66  in a winged fashion.  
     [0035] The body portion  72  of the inverted L-shaped arms  70  each include bilateral notches  76  such that the body portion  72  appears to have an I-beam shape. The bilateral notches  76  are dimensioned to interlockingly engage the retaining wedges  60  of the spring arms  56  after assembly. In this manner, the U-shaped retainer portion  50  and the U-shaped carrier portion  64  form the fastener mounting clip assembly  10 ′ as according to the invention.  
     [0036] The fastener mounting clip assembly  10 ′ is dimensioned to be received in the bore hole formed in the sheet material such that the retaining wedges  60  compress and expand during insertion and abut against a bottom surface of the sheet material when the fastener mounting clip assembly  10 ′ is properly seated within the bore hole.  
     [0037] Additionally, the base portion  74  of the inverted L-shaped arms  70  abut against a top surface of the sheet material after proper insertion of the fastener mounting clip assembly  10 ′ as according to the invention. It is appreciated that a distance D′ exists between the top surface of the retaining wedges  60  and the base portion  74  of the inverted L-shaped arms  70  such that the sheet material having a thickness approximately equal to the distance D′ may be snugly positioned therebetween. The resiliency of the base portion  74  of the inverted L-shaped arms  70  allows for inconsistencies in the thickness of sheet materials for which the fastener mounting clip assembly  10 ′ is to be used.  
     [0038] Preferably, the fastener mounting clip assembly  10 ′ is formed of spring steel, aluminum or copper. However, it is appreciated that other materials such as resiliently rigid plastic materials may be constructed and made suitable for the intended purpose as according to the invention.  
     [0039] From the foregoing it can be seen that the above embodiments provide a fastener mounting clip for use in securing a fastener in a bore hole formed in sheet material or a body formed thereof. Having described the invention, however, many modifications thereto may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.