Patent ID: 7698787

Claim:
A w-base fastener comprising: a head with a first flex arm and a second flex arm disposed opposite of each other, the first flex arm including a first thermal expansion ramp with a snap pad disposed on the underside and at the end of the first ramp and the second flex arm including a second thermal expansion ramp with a snap rail disposed at the end extending downward from the second ramp, the rail having an anti-load face; a neck extending downwardly from the head; a collar disposed below the neck, the collar having a length; a center post extending downwardly from the collar and defining a lower end; and a first leg and a second leg, the legs attached on opposing sides of the lower end of the center post and each extending upwardly at an acute angle with respect to the center post; wherein the first flex arm and the second flex arm maintain a connected position of the fastener with respect to a flange and a panel during thermal expansion, and wherein the flange has a flange length that is less than a second length defined as a distance between the snap pad and the snap rail, the second length also being greater than the length of the collar, such that a difference between the flange length and the second length defines an approximate amount of float between the fastener, the flange and the panel, and such that during thermal expansion in one direction beyond the approximate amount of float, the first flex arm flexes and the snap pad disengages from a mating member, and such that during thermal expansion in an opposite direction beyond the approximate amount of float, the second flex arm flexes and the snap rail disengages from another mating member.