# US 12,006,966 B2 · Fastener clip assembly with locking arms > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,006,966 B2 - Document ID: US12006966B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/106,991 - Filed: 2023-02-07 - Published: 2023-07-13 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-13 - Assignees: Termax Corporation - Applicants: Termax Company - Inventors: Daniel James Dickinson; David Friesorger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006966B2 ## CPC - F16B 5/0657: {at least one of the plates providing a raised structure, e.g. of the doghouse type, for connection with the clamps or clips of the other plate} - F16B 5/065: {the plates being one on top of the other and distanced from each other, e.g. by using protrusions to keep contact and distance} - F16B 21/065: {with an additional locking element} - F16B 21/086: {the shank of the stud, pin or spigot having elevations, ribs, fins or prongs intended for deformation or tilting predominantly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion} - B60R 13/0206: {Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings (devices for fastening or securing F16B)} - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A system and method including a fastener clip including a top portion and a bottom portion. The bottom portion includes a platform, a pair of locking arms and a pair of feet. The pair of locking arms is coupled to the platform via a pair of hinges. The pair of feet is coupled to the locking arms and is being configured to rotate with the locking arms. The feet are configured to be partially inserted into a slot in a doghouse and, based at least on the locking arms being rotated, the feet are configured to rotate into the slot in the doghouse and to couple the bottom portion to the doghouse. The locking arms are configured to be coupled to the platform at the end of the rotation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fastener clip comprising: a top portion, wherein the top portion is configured to be coupled to a chassis, a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion comprises: a platform; at least a pair of locking arms coupled to the platform via a pair of hinges, wherein the hinges are configured to facilitate a relative rotation between the locking arms and the platform; at least a pair of feet coupled to the locking arms and being configured to rotate with the locking arms, wherein the feet are configured to be partially inserted into a slot in a doghouse and, based at least on the locking arms being rotated, the feet are configured to rotate into the slot in the doghouse and to couple the bottom portion to the doghouse, wherein the locking arms are configured to be rotated based at least on the locking arms engaging a top surface of the doghouse as the fastener clip is pushed into the slot in the doghouse, wherein the locking arms are configured to be coupled to the platform at the end of the rotation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fastener clip of claim 1, wherein the pair of hinges are a pair of living hinges. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fastener clip of claim 2, wherein the pair of living hinges is made of a same material as the platform and the pair of locking arms. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fastener clip of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion comprises a pair of spring fingers between the pair of locking arms and the pair of feet, wherein the pair of spring fingers is configured to maintain the fastener clip centered over the slot in the doghouse based at least upon the pair of spring fingers being configured to spring-push against the sides of the slot in the doghouse. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fastener clip of claim 4, wherein the spring fingers are configured to facilitate a certain amount of float between the fastener clip and the doghouse based at least upon a spring action of the spring fingers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fastener clip of claim 1, wherein the pair of locking arms comprises a pair of hooks configured to lock the locking arms to the platform based at least upon the pair of hooks being configured to engage a corresponding pair of lips on the platform. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fastener clip of claim 6, wherein the pair of locking arms and the corresponding pair of lips extend across a width of the platform. ### Claim 8 A fastener clip assembly comprising: a chassis; a doghouse comprising a slot; a fastener clip comprising: a top portion, wherein the top portion is configured to be coupled to the chassis, a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion comprises: a platform; at least a pair of locking arms coupled to the platform via a pair of hinges, wherein the hinges are configured to facilitate a relative rotation between the locking arms and the platform; at least a pair of feet coupled to the locking arms and being configured to rotate with the locking arms, wherein the feet are configured to be partially inserted into the slot in the doghouse and, based at least upon the locking arms being rotated, the feet are configured to rotate into the slot in the doghouse and to couple the bottom portion to the doghouse, wherein the locking arms are configured to be rotated based at least on the locking arms engaging a top surface of the doghouse as the fastener clip is pushed into the slot in the doghouse, wherein the locking arms are configured to be coupled to the platform at the end of the rotation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fastener clip assembly of claim 8, wherein the pair of hinges are a pair of living hinges. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fastener clip assembly of claim 9, wherein the pair of living hinges is made of a same material as the platform and the pair of locking arms. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The fastener clip assembly of claim 8, wherein the bottom portion comprises a pair of spring fingers between the pair of locking arms and the pair of feet, wherein the pair of spring fingers is configured to maintain the fastener clip centered over the slot in the doghouse based at least upon the pair of spring fingers being configured to spring-push against the sides of the slot in the doghouse. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The fastener clip assembly of claim 8, wherein the spring fingers are configured to facilitate a certain amount of float between the fastener clip and the doghouse based at least upon a spring action of the spring fingers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The fastener clip assembly of claim 8, wherein the pair of locking arms comprises a pair of hooks configured to lock the locking arms to the platform based at least upon the pair of hooks being configured to engage a corresponding pair of lips on the platform. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fastener clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the pair of locking arms and the corresponding pair of lips extend across a width of the platform.