Patent ID: 8485752

Claim:
A mounting assembly comprising: an outer component, the outer component including an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, and further including a generally cylindrical through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface, the through hole defining a first diameter; an inner component, the inner component comprising an elongate, substantially cylindrical rod, and including an upper mounting portion and an opposing lower mounting portion formed at a distal end of the inner component, the lower mounting portion being disposed at a first axial distance from the upper mounting portion, the upper and lower mounting portions each defining a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, the inner component further including a radially recessed portion extending axially between the upper and lower mounting portions, the radially recessed portion defining a third diameter smaller than the second diameter; and a generally cylindrical tolerance ring, the tolerance ring comprising cylindrical wall including an upper interference portion and an opposing lower interference portion disposed at a second axial distance from the upper interference portion, the second axial distance being substantially equal to the first axial distance of the inner component, the upper and lower interference portions each having a maximum outer diameter substantially equal to the first diameter, and a minimum inner diameter substantially equal to the second diameter; wherein the upper and lower interference portions comprise a plurality of inwardly facing projections extending from the cylindrical wall of the tolerance ring, the projections defining the minimum inner diameter of each of the respective upper and lower interference portions; wherein the mounting assembly is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration, whereby: in the first configuration: the tolerance ring is at least partially axially inserted into the through hole of the outer component such that at least the lower interference portion is axially between the upper and lower surfaces of the outer component, and the inner component is partially inserted into the tolerance ring such that the lower mounting portion is axially between the upper and lower interference portions, and the upper mounting portion is axially outside the upper interference portion, such that the tolerance ring does not contact the distal end of the inner component; and in the second configuration: the inner component and tolerance ring are both fully axially inserted into the through hole of the outer component, such that the upper and lower mounting portions axially align with the upper and lower interference portions of the tolerance ring, respectively, thereby creating an interference fit between the outer component, the tolerance ring, and the inner component.