Attachment devices
AssigneeNeo-Ex Lab, Inc.
InventorTakashi Asai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Attachment devices are taught that preferably include a main body, a first engagement means provided on the main body, and a second engagement means provided on the main body. The attachment device is attached to a panel lining sheet by engaging the first engagement means with a receiving hole, to thereby produce a panel lining sheet assembly. After the panel lining sheet assembly is overlaid on a vehicle panel, the attachment device is attached to the vehicle panel by engaging the second engagement means with a mounting hole of the vehicle panel. Thus, the attachment device can be secured to the vehicle panel with the panel lining sheet interleaved between the attachment device and the vehicle panel.
Claims21
An attachment device adapted to attach a lining sheet to a panel comprising:
- a main body,
- a first engagement means extending from the main body, wherein the first engagement means is adapted to selectively engage a receiving hole of the lining sheet, but does not engage a mounting hole of the panel and
- a second engagement means extending from the main body, wherein the second engagement means is adapted to engage the mounting hole of the panel.
A method of attaching a lining sheet to a panel comprising:
- engaging a first engagement means provided on a main body of an attachment device with a receiving hole of the lining sheet, thereby forming a lining sheet assembly that comprises the lining sheet and the attachment device,
- placing the lining sheet assembly proximal to the panel and
- engaging a second engagement means provided on the main body with a mounting hole of the panel, wherein the lining sheet is interleaved between the attachment device and the panel.
An apparatus adapted to connect an accessory to a panel with a lining sheet interleaved between the accessory and the panel comprising:
- a main body comprising a base having at least one hole,
- at least one cantilevered engagement strip radially extending from the main body comprising a lip adapted to selectively engage a peripheral edge of a hole in the lining sheet, the engagement strip comprising an acute angled-portion adapted to radially flex when the apparatus is inserted into the lining sheet hole,
- at least one engagement member extending substantially perpendicularly from the base, the engagement member comprising a pair of elongated engagement bars forming a space between the engagement bars, wherein the engagement bars are arranged to enter the base hole, wherein at least one engagement bar comprises a shoulder portion adapted to engage a mounting hole in the panel and
- wherein the engagement strip and the main body are adapted to first engage the lining sheet and thereafter engagement member and main body are adapted to engage the panel, wherein the engagement strip does not engage the mounting hole in the panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.