Patent Application
20240409042
The subject disclosure relates to the art of fasteners and, more particularly, to an externally threaded push-on-post fastener.
Vehicles include a plethora of components. The components are joined, one to another, through a variety of fastener systems. Components that experience high stresses, such as engine components, suspension components, and the like are joined with hardened fasteners. Body components may be joined with pins, metal bolts or the like depending upon location on the vehicle. Interior trim components are often joined with clips, pins, or other fasteners designed for low stress applications.
In some cases, the component may be formed with a portion of the fastener. For example, a panel may include an opening that is machined to include internal threads or a pin that is machined to include external threads. While machining small parts may be a rather simple operation, applying threads to multiple pins projecting from a surface of a larger component is a time consuming and costly process. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an easily produced and cost effective system for providing a threaded interface on a pin.
A push-on-post fastener, in accordance with a non-limiting example, includes a base section and a sleeve section connected with the base section. The sleeve section includes a central passage having an inner surface. A pin section projects outwardly from the sleeve section. The pin includes an outer annular surface section having a first diameter. The inner surface of the central passage includes a plurality of striations.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein the outer surface of the pin section includes a plurality of threads.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein the pin includes a first end joined with the sleeve section and a second end that is cantilevered from the sleeve section.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein the sleeve section includes a first end portion joined to the base section and a second end portion joined to the pin section, the sleeve section including an outer annular surface portion having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein the base section, sleeve section, and pin section are integrally formed.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein the base section, sleeve section, and pin section are formed from metal.
A vehicle, in accordance with a non-limiting example, includes a body defining a passenger compartment and a component system secured to the body. The component system includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a post having an outer annular surface and the second component includes an opening that received the pin. A push-on-post fastener is secured to the outer surface of the post. The push-on-post fastener includes a base section and a sleeve section connected with the base section. The sleeve section includes a central passage having an inner surface. The pin extends into the passage. A pin section projects outwardly from the sleeve section through the opening in the second component. The pin section includes an outer annular surface section having a first diameter, wherein the inner surface of the central passage includes a plurality of striations that engage the outer annular surface of the pin.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein the outer annular surface section of the pin section includes a plurality of threads.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein the second component is joined to the first component with a fastener engaging the plurality of threads on the pin section.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein the pin section includes a first end joined with the sleeve section and a second end that is cantilevered from the sleeve section.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein the sleeve section includes a first end portion joined to the base and a second end portion joined to the pin section, the sleeve section including an outer annular surface portion having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein the base section, the sleeve section, and the pin section are integrally formed.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein the base section, the sleeve section, and the pin section are formed from metal.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein the outer annular surface of the post is smooth.
A method off fastening vehicle components, in accordance with a non-limiting example, includes pushing a sleeve section of a push-on-post fastener over a post on a first vehicle component, securing the push-on-post fastener to the post, positioning a second vehicle component having an opening over the first vehicle component, passing a pin section of push-on-post fastener through the opening, and engaging a fastener onto the pin section of the push-on-post fastener to secure the first vehicle component to the second vehicle component.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein securing the push-on-post fastener to the post includes engaging a plurality of striations formed on an inner surface of the sleeve section with an outer surface of the post.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein engaging the fastener onto the pin section of the push-on-post fastener includes threading the fastener onto threads formed on the pin section.
In addition to one or more of the features described herein also includes determining that a failure exists in the push-on-post fastener, removing the push-on-post fastener from the post, and attaching a new push-on-post fastener to the post to re-secure the first vehicle component with the second vehicle component.
The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which:
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
A vehicle, in accordance with a non-limiting example, is indicated generally at 10 in
At this point it should be understood that while shown and described in terms of a trim support and a trim piece, the first and second components of the component system may take on a wide variety of forms and need not be limited to dashboard 22 or components for automotive use. In a non-limiting example, first component 28 includes a first surface 34 supporting a plurality of posts, one of which is indicated at 38,
The plurality of openings 44 may align with one or more of the plurality of posts 38. In a non-limiting example, shown in
In a non-limiting example shown in
In a non-limiting example, inner annular surface portion 94 defines a central passage 96. A plurality of striations 98 project from inner annular surface portion into central passage 96. As will be detailed herein, striations 98 “bite” into outer annular surface 48 of post 38 when sleeve section 76 is placed over and engaged with post 38 as shown in
In a non-limiting example, pin section 78 includes an outer annular surface section 108 having a first diameter and outer annular surface portion 92 of sleeve section 76 includes a second diameter. In the non-limiting example shown, the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter. In this manner, sleeve section 76 includes a shoulder 110 that may serve as a localized support surface for second component 32. In a non-limiting example, pin section 78 includes a first end 112 extending from shoulder 110 of sleeve section 76, a second end 114, and an intermediate portion 116. Intermediate portion 116 extends between first end 112 and second end 114. Second end 114 is cantilevered from shoulder 110.
A plurality of threads 118 are formed in intermediate portion 116. Threads 118 may be engaged by a threaded fastener 120 such as a nut, a sleeve, a post, or the like used to secure second component 32 to first component 28 with threaded fastener 120. At this point it should be understood that POP fastener 70 provides an easy to manufacture, cost effective alternative to machining pins directly on a component.
The terms “a” and “an” do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. The term “or” means “and/or” unless clearly indicated otherwise by context. Reference throughout the specification to “an aspect”, means that a particular element (e.g., feature, structure, step, or characteristic) described in connection with the aspect is included in at least one aspect described herein, and may or may not be present in other aspects. In addition, it is to be understood that the described elements may be combined in any suitable manner in the various aspects.
When an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present.
Unless specified to the contrary herein, all test standards are the most recent standard in effect as of the filing date of this application, or, if priority is claimed, the filing date of the earliest priority application in which the test standard appears.
Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.
While the above disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from its scope. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but will include all embodiments falling within the scope thereof.
