Patent ID: 7178206

Claim:
A fastener element for connecting a structural part to a support part having a fastening hole, comprising: a fastener body integrally formed of plastic material, the fastener body having a head for the attachment of the structural part, a shank connected to the head, and a sealing flange between the head and the shank; and a locking part adapted to be connected to the shank through a releasable snapping connection and having snapping portions which cooperate with an edge of the fastening hole when the shank is introduced in the fastening hole in order to secure the fastener element on the support part; wherein the shank has two approximately parallel spaced outer webs which are interconnected by a transverse web; the transverse web being spaced from free ends of the outer webs, and having a tapered portion tapering to a lower end thereof; the outer webs each having a surface, the surfaces facing each other, and each said surface having thereon a projection adjacent to the free end of the respective outer web, said projection including upper and lower ramp surfaces; the lower ramp surfaces converging to the free end of the respective outer web and the upper ramp surfaces converging towards the head; wherein said locking part is formed of plastic material and comprises an approximately rectangular aperture having first and second pairs of opposing edges; and holding portions approximately L-shaped in cross-section and being linked to the opposing edges of the first pair, respectively; each of the holding portions having a first web portion which is linked to the respective one of the opposing edges of the first pair, and a second web portion which extends from an upper side of the locking part into the aperture towards a lower side of the locking part; wherein a slot is formed between each of the opposing edges of the second pair and both said holding portions, each said slot being adapted to accommodate the respective one of said outer webs which is approximately matched to the slot; when the outer webs of the shank are introduced into the respective slots from the upper side of the locking part, the lower ramp surfaces of the projections move the holding portions away from each other and lower sides of the second web portions engage the upper ramp surfaces from above; and the lower end of the transverse web and associated facing surfaces of the first web portions of the holding portions are formed such that, if the shank is introduced in the fastening hole while the locking part engages the support part, the holding portions are further pivoted away from each other and the second web portions grip the edge of the fastening hole.