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US 11,578,740 B2Granted
Push through retainer connection with integrated hinging seal
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsDerek Scroggie, Michelle E. Bozinovski, Robert A. Murawski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connection assembly adapted to join a surface element to an underlying support structure while maintaining a substantially zero gap abutting relation between the surface element and the support structure. The connection assembly includes a press-in retainer with a circumferential seal having a sealing foot. The sealing foot flexes about a living hinge while maintaining continuous sliding contact with the support panel without interfering with downward movement of the retainer.
Claims20
A press-in retainer, comprising:
- a retainer head including a collar and a seal disposed at least partially about the collar;
- and
- a clip portion projecting from the collar,
- wherein the seal includes a main body engaging the collar and a sealing foot projecting at an obtuse angle from a distal surface of the main body to a free edge when in an unstressed condition such that the sealing foot is disposed entirely outboard from the collar, wherein the sealing foot is contiguous with the main body, the obtuse angle facing the clip portion, wherein the sealing foot is configured to flex from the unstressed condition toward a substantially flattened condition about a living hinge located at an intersection of the sealing foot and body portion while remaining entirely outboard from the main body, and wherein, in the substantially flattened condition, the obtuse angle between the sealing foot and the distal surface of the main body approaches a flat contiguous surface.
1 more element
A retainer assembly configured to join a surface element to a support structure so that the surface element assumes a contacting abutting relation with the support structure, the support structure having an acceptance opening, the retainer assembly comprising:
- a retainer head including a collar, a platform, and a neck disposed between the collar and the platform, the retainer head being configured for placement into a channel defined by the surface element;
- a seal disposed about a perimeter of the collar and comprising an annular main body and a sealing foot, the sealing foot being connected to the main body by a living hinge extending along a perimeter of the main body and being disposed entirely outboard from the collar, and the sealing foot extending from the living hinge to a free edge, wherein an inner diameter of the main body at least partially contacts an outer diameter of the collar, wherein a contacting surface of the sealing foot is contiguous with a distal surface of the main body, the contacting surface and the distal surface both facing away from the retainer head, and wherein the contacting surface forms an obtuse angle with the distal surface when the seal is in an unstressed condition;
- and
- a clip portion extending from the collar of the retainer head, the clip portion being configured for insertion into the acceptance opening of the support structure, and the clip portion comprising at least one surface that is configured to press against an interior surface of the acceptance opening to urge the retainer assembly further into the acceptance opening,
- wherein the seal is configured to flex from the unstressed condition toward a fully flexed condition to bring the surface element closer to the support structure, and wherein, in the fully flexed condition, the free edge of the sealing foot is disposed radially outwardly and closer to the retainer head such that the contacting surface of the sealing foot and the distal surface of the main body form an angle greater than the obtuse angle of the unstressed condition.
2 more elements
A retainer assembly configured to join a surface element to a support structure, the support structure having an acceptance opening, the retainer assembly comprising:
- a retainer head including a collar, a platform, and a neck disposed between the collar and the platform, the retainer head being configured for placement into a channel defined by the surface element;
- a seal disposed about a perimeter of the collar and comprising an annular main body and a sealing foot, the sealing foot being connected to the main body by a living hinge extending along a perimeter of the main body and being disposed entirely outboard from the collar, and the sealing foot extending from the living hinge to a free edge that is disposed radially outwardly from the living hinge, wherein an inner diameter of the main body at least partially contacts an outer diameter of the collar, wherein a contacting surface of the sealing foot is contiguous with a distal surface of the main body, the contacting surface and the distal surface both facing away from the retainer head, and wherein the contacting surface forms an obtuse angle with the distal surface when the seal is in an unstressed condition;
- and
- a clip portion extending from the collar of the retainer head,
- wherein the collar includes an interior collar portion and a reduced thickness outer annular lip disposed circumferentially about the interior collar portion such that a step is disposed at an intersection of the interior collar portion and the outer annular lip, the outer annular lip extending radially outwardly from a perimeter of the interior collar portion, and
- wherein the main body of the seal further includes a circumferential acceptance slot that extends circumferentially along the inner diameter of the main body and is configured to receive the annular lip of the collar.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.