Push through retainer connection with integrated hinging seal
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsDerek Scroggie, Michelle E. Bozinovski, Robert A. Murawski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A press-in retainer includes a retainer head having a collar and a seal disposed at least partially about the collar. A clip portion projects from the collar. The seal includes a main body engaging the collar and a sealing foot disposed entirely outboard from the collar. The sealing foot is configured to hinge about an intersection of the sealing foot and body portion while remaining entirely outboard from the main body. In a substantially flattened condition of the sealing foot, an angle between the sealing foot and a distal surface of the main body approaches a flat contiguous surface.
Claims20
A press-in retainer, comprising:
- a retainer head defining a central axis and including a collar and a seal disposed at least partially about the collar, the collar being perpendicular with respect to the central axis and defining an annularly continuous step at an outer end thereof;
- and
- a clip portion projecting from the collar,
- wherein the seal includes a main body engaging the collar and a sealing foot disposed entirely outboard from the collar,
- wherein the sealing foot is configured to hinge about an intersection of the sealing foot and main body while remaining entirely outboard from the main body,
- wherein, in a substantially flattened condition of the sealing foot, an angle between the sealing foot and a distal surface of the main body approaches a flat contiguous surface, and
- wherein, in an insertion condition of the press-in retainer, the entire seal is disposed radially farther from the central axis than the entire clip portion.
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 defining a central axis and 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, and the collar being perpendicular with respect to the central axis and defining an annularly continuous step at an outer end thereof;
- 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;
- 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 an inner diameter of the main body and is configured to receive the annular lip of the collar, and
- wherein, in an insertion condition of the press-in retainer, the entire seal is disposed radially farther from the central axis than the entire clip portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.