Fastener with Wear Surface
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsJason Zander, Emily Wunsch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a fastener for coupling a first component to a second component. The fastener includes a body portion and a head portion that extends from the body portion. The body portion includes a plurality of ribs connected to one another via a bridge at a bend section to define a clip channel that is to receive a clip tower. The head portion includes a plurality of arms. Each of the plurality of arms is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of ribs at a connection point. An engagement-wear region is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one of the arms or ribs, the engagement-wear region comprising a core surface region, a double-tapered engagement surface region, and an edge region.
Claims20
A plastic fastener comprising:
- a fastener body having at least one exterior surface configured to contact a component during installation or removal;
- and
- at least one engagement-wear region formed on the exterior surface,
- wherein the engagement-wear region is shaped such that material removal from the engagement-wear region during use increases a contact surface area configured to engage the component.
A fastener comprising:
- a body portion having a pair of ribs extending along a length of the fastener;
- a head portion having a pair of arms, each arm extending from a corresponding rib;
- and
- an engagement-wear region disposed on an exterior surface of at least one of the arms or ribs,
- wherein the engagement-wear region is configured to engage a component surface during insertion or extraction of the fastener, and
- wherein material removal from the engagement-wear region during use increases a contact surface area between the fastener and the component.
A fastener for attached to a component, the fastener comprising:
- a body portion having a pair of ribs extending along a length of the fastener;
- a head portion having a pair of arms, each arm extending from a corresponding rib;
- and
- an engagement-wear region disposed on an exterior surface of at least one of the arms or ribs, the engagement-wear region comprising a core surface region, a double-tapered engagement surface region, and an edge region,
- wherein the double-tapered engagement surface region includes a first taper in a widthwise direction of the fastener and a second taper in a lengthwise direction of the fastener,
- wherein the engagement-wear region extends along at least a portion of a length of the arm or leg, and
- wherein material removal from the engagement-wear region during insertion or extraction increases a contact surface area between the fastener and the component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.