Light module fastening assembly having a snap wedge assembly with ball stud and insert
AssigneeBurton Technologies, LLC
InventorJohn E. Burton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle headlight assembly includes a plurality of snap wedge assemblies with at least one of the snap wedge assemblies including a ball stud configured for engagement with a light module and an insert coupled with the ball stud, the insert including a plurality of wedges and a plurality of snap fingers. The assembly further includes a plurality of carrier receptacles for matingly receiving and securing the snap wedge assemblies.
Claims14
A fastening assembly for securing a light module to a carrier bracket of a vehicle headlamp assembly, the fastening assembly comprising:
- a snap wedge assembly comprising:
- a ball stud having a ball end configured for engagement with a light module;
- and
- an insert coupled with the ball stud, the insert comprising:
- an insert first end and an insert second end;
- a plurality of wedges each having wedge side surfaces and a wedge top surface that extends longitudinally from the insert first end towards the insert second end;
- and
- a plurality of snap fingers, the snap fingers each including an elongated flexible portion and a latching portion;
- and
- a carrier receptacle for matingly receiving and securing the snap wedge assembly, wherein the carrier receptacle is at least one of formed integrally with or secured to a carrier bracket, the carrier receptacle comprising:
- a receptacle front wall and a receptacle rear wall;
- a receptacle passage extending between the receptacle front wall and the receptacle rear wall, and having a receptacle interior surface;
- and
- a plurality of wedge pockets situated along the receptacle interior surface for matingly receiving the wedges, the wedge pockets including a top pocket wall and side pocket walls.
A vehicle headlight assembly comprising:
- a plurality of snap wedge assemblies, at least one of the snap wedge assemblies comprising:
- a ball stud having a ball end configured for engagement with a light module;
- and
- an insert coupled with the ball stud, the insert comprising:
- an insert first end and an insert second end;
- a plurality of wedges each having wedge side surfaces and a wedge top surface that extends longitudinally from the insert first end towards the insert second end;
- and
- a plurality of snap fingers, the snap fingers each including an elongated flexible portion and a latching portion;
- and
- a plurality of carrier receptacles for matingly receiving and securing the snap wedge assemblies, wherein the carrier receptacles are at least one of formed integrally with or secured to a carrier bracket, at least one of the carrier receptacles comprising:
- a receptacle front wall and a receptacle rear wall;
- a receptacle passage extending between the receptacle front wall and the receptacle rear wall, and having a receptacle interior surface;
- and
- a plurality of wedge pockets situated along the receptacle interior surface for matingly receiving the wedges, the wedge pockets including a top pocket wall and side pocket walls,
- wherein the ball ends of the plurality of snap wedge assemblies are coupled to a single light module.
A fastening assembly for securing a light module to a carrier bracket of a vehicle headlamp assembly, the fastening assembly comprising:
- a snap wedge assembly comprising:
- a ball stud having a ball end configured for engagement with a light module;
- and
- an insert coupled with the ball stud, the insert comprising:
- an insert front wall and an insert rear wall;
- a plurality of rotation stops that extend longitudinally from the insert front wall towards the insert rear wall;
- and
- a plurality of snap fingers, the snap fingers each including an elongated flexible portion and a latching portion;
- and
- a carrier receptacle for matingly receiving and securing the snap wedge assembly, wherein the carrier receptacle is at least one of formed integrally with or secured to a carrier bracket, the carrier receptacle comprising:
- a receptacle passage having a receptacle interior surface;
- and
- a plurality of beveled corners situated along the receptacle interior surface complementarily shaped to matingly engage the rotation stops.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.