# US 12,214,678 B2 · Overmolded mechanical fastener with integrated sealing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,678 B2 - Document ID: US12214678B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/812,677 - Filed: 2022-07-14 - Published: 2024-01-18 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-07-14 - Assignees: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC - Applicants: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC - Inventors: Samuel Wesley Cox; Christopher M. Cook; John Bruzewski; Michael Kevin Nanney - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214678B2 ## CPC - B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles - H01R 4/64: Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail - B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries} - H01R 4/34: Conductive members located under head of screw - H01R 4/56: one conductor screwing into another - H01R 43/24: Assembling by moulding on contact members - H01R 2201/26: for vehicles - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A method and system are provided for a fastening system comprising: an electrically conductive continuous unitary structure, such as an electrically conductive stud, overmolded into an enclosure, the electrically conductive stud extending from an interior of the enclosure to an exterior of the enclosure. The fastening system may act as a structural member transferring mechanical forces away from the battery enclosure, secure the battery enclosure to a mount, aid in sealing the battery enclosure, and act as an electrical grounding path for the battery through an enclosure formed of a non-electrically conductive composite material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fastening system comprising: an electrically conductive stud overmolded into an enclosure, the electrically conductive stud extending from an interior of the enclosure to an exterior of the enclosure to provide an electrical grounding path through the enclosure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fastening system of claim 1, further comprising a stud frame circumferentially surrounding a first portion of the electrically conductive stud, the first portion located within the enclosure, an electrically conductive bolt inserted into a bore of the first portion of the electrically, and a nut coupled to a second portion of the electrically conductive stud, the second portion located outside of the enclosure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fastening system of claim 2, wherein the enclosure is formed of a non-conductive, composite material, and wherein the electrically conductive stud is overmolded at an opening in the enclosure and protrudes through the opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fastening system of claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive stud has a base that is inserted through the opening in the enclosure and abuts a surface of a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket positioned below the enclosure, and wherein a diameter of the base is similar to a diameter of the opening in the enclosure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fastening system of claim 4, wherein the second portion of the electrically conductive stud has a threaded surface that engages with threading of the nut, and wherein the second portion extends through an opening in the mounting bracket in addition to the opening in the enclosure, the opening in the mounting bracket aligned with the opening in the enclosure and having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the opening in the enclosure and the diameter of the base. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The fastening system of claim 4, wherein the bore of the first portion of the electrically conductive stud extends from a top of the first portion through at least a portion of a length of the first portion towards the base of the electrically conductive stud, and wherein an outer diameter of the first portion is smaller than the diameter of the base of the electrically conductive stud. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fastening system of claim 6, wherein an inner surface of the first portion of the electrically conductive stud, the inner surface surrounding the bore, is threaded to engage with a threading of the bolt. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The fastening system of claim 4, wherein the electrically conductive bolt extends through an opening of a metal structure arranged above the stud frame, relative to a vertical axis of the enclosure, through an upper end of the stud frame, and into the bore of the electrically conductive stud, and wherein a head of the bolt abuts the metal structure when the bolt is tightened. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fastening system of claim 8, wherein the metal structure abuts a top of a first, hollow portion of the stud frame and a bottom of the first, hollow portion of the stud frame abut a gasket arranged between the bottom of the first, hollow portion of the stud frame and the base of the electrically conductive stud. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The fastening system of claim 2, wherein the electrically conductive stud, the stud frame, the electrically conductive bolt, and the nut are aligned along a central axis of rotation of the fastening system.