Retention feature for snap-in attachments
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsTodd N. Clark, Robert A. Chanko, Stacey H. Raines, Anne Dirkes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupling system includes a glovebox panel having inner and outer surfaces and a keyhole slot disposed therethrough having an enlarged portion leading to a narrowed portion. A ramped flange is disposed on the outer surface of the glovebox panel. A damper mechanism includes an abutment plate with a post and head member. The head member is received through an enlarged portion of the keyhole slot when the damper mechanism is in a pre-load position. The abutment plate engages the ramped flange to progressively drive the head member into engagement with the inner surface of the glovebox panel as the damper mechanism moves from the pre-load position to a seated position.
Claims20
A coupling system, comprising:
- a panel including inner and outer surfaces;
- a keyhole slot disposed through the panel, wherein the keyhole slot includes an enlarged portion and a narrowed portion;
- a ramped flange extending outwardly from the outer surface of the panel, wherein the ramped flange includes a first material thickness at a first end thereof and a second material thickness at a second end thereof, wherein the ramped flange is disposed around and spaced-apart from the narrowed portion of the keyhole slot, and further wherein the second material thickness is greater than the first material thickness;
- and
- a fastener configured to couple to the panel at the keyhole slot, the fastener including an abutment plate having an outer surface with a post outwardly extending therefrom, and a head member disposed on a distal end of the post, wherein the head member is releasably received through the enlarged portion of the keyhole slot, such that the post is received in the keyhole slot, and the abutment plate abuts the ramped flange to draw the head member towards the inner surface of the panel as the post moves along the keyhole slot from the enlarged portion to the narrowed portion to a seated position.
A coupling system, comprising:
- a panel having inner and outer surfaces and a keyhole slot;
- a ramped flange extending outwardly from the outer surface;
- and
- a damper mechanism having an abutment plate with an outwardly extending post and head member configured to be received through an enlarged portion of the keyhole slot, wherein the head member abuts the inner surface of the panel when the abutment plate engages the ramped flange.
A coupling system, comprising:
- a glovebox panel having inner and outer surfaces and a keyhole slot having an enlarged portion leading to a narrowed portion;
- a ramped flange extending outwardly from the outer surface of the glovebox panel, and spaced-apart from the narrowed portion of the keyhole slot;
- and
- a damper mechanism having an elongate rail with a carriage slideably coupled thereto, and an abutment plate with a post and head member, wherein the head member is received through the enlarged portion of the keyhole slot when the damper mechanism is in a pre-load position, and further wherein the abutment plate engages the ramped flange to progressively drive the head member into engagement with the inner surface of the glovebox panel as the damper mechanism moves from the pre-load position to a seated position along the narrowed portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.