CN115853874A - Fastening clip assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a fastening clip assembly for connecting a first component to a second component. The fastening clip assembly includes an engagement member and a base. The engagement member includes an engagement portion configured to engage with the first component and an insertion portion connected with the engagement portion. The base includes a housing configured to engage with the second component and a receiving member configured to receive an insert portion of the engaging member, the housing defining a cavity and having a longitudinal central axis, the receiving member being located in the cavity of the housing and configured to be movable relative to the housing in a direction perpendicular to the central axis, the base further including a limiting structure configured to limit movement of the receiving member relative to the housing along the central axis.

Description

Fastening clip assembly

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to fastening clip assemblies, and more particularly to fastening clip assemblies for securing an accessory to a roof panel.

Background

Interior trim panels for vehicle roofs need to be secured to the roof panel by a fastener clip assembly. The roof plate is provided with a plurality of mounting points, the roof sheet metal is correspondingly provided with a plurality of mounting holes, the mounting points on the roof plate are in one-to-one correspondence with the mounting holes on the roof sheet metal, and each mounting point is provided with a fastening clamp so as to connect the roof plate with the roof sheet metal at the mounting point. In the installation process, the roof sheet metal and the roof interior trim panel are both positioned above an operator, and the roof interior trim panel is positioned below the roof sheet metal, so that the installation point of the roof interior trim panel and the installation hole of the roof sheet metal can be shielded by the roof interior trim panel, and the operator cannot see the roof interior trim panel. The process of securing the trim panel of the vehicle headliner to the roof sheet metal with the fastener clip assembly is therefore a blind operation for the operator.

Disclosure of Invention

The present disclosure provides a fastening clip assembly for connecting a first component to a second component. The fastening clip assembly includes an engagement member and a base. The engagement member includes an engagement portion configured to engage with the first component and an insertion portion connected with the engagement portion. The base includes a housing configured to engage with the second component and a receiving member configured to receive an insert portion of the engaging member, the housing defining a cavity and having a longitudinal central axis, the receiving member being located in the cavity of the housing and configured to be movable relative to the housing in a direction perpendicular to the central axis, the base further including a limiting structure configured to limit movement of the receiving member relative to the housing along the central axis.

According to the fastening clip assembly, the limiting structure comprises a receiving element limiting part and a housing limiting part, the receiving element limiting part and the housing limiting part are respectively arranged on the receiving member and the housing limiting part, and the receiving element limiting part is matched with the housing limiting part to limit the receiving member to move along the central axis relative to the housing, but not limit the receiving member to move along the direction perpendicular to the central axis relative to the housing.

According to the fastening clip assembly described above, the receiving member comprises a cylindrical body comprising an axially extending receiving channel and an elastic receiving element located in the receiving channel, the elastic receiving element being configured to receive and fasten the insertion portion of the engagement member. The receiving element limiting part is arranged on the cylindrical main body.

According to the fastening clip assembly, the receiving element limiting part comprises a pair of limiting protrusions extending from the outer surface of the cylindrical main body, the shell limiting part comprises a pair of limiting holes penetrating through the shell, and the pair of limiting protrusions are respectively inserted into the pair of limiting holes.

According to the above-mentioned fastening clip assembly, the size of the limiting hole and the limiting projection are configured such that the limiting hole and the limiting projection can limit the receiving member from moving relative to the housing along the central axis, but do not limit the receiving member from moving relative to the housing in a direction perpendicular to the central axis, and the limiting projection is held in the limiting hole during the movement of the receiving member relative to the housing.

According to the above fastening clip assembly, the proximal end of the insertion portion of the engagement member is connected to the engagement portion, the insertion portion including a head portion disposed at a distal end thereof, and a neck portion located between the proximal and distal ends and adjacent to the head portion, the neck portion being recessed relative to the head portion. The resilient receiving element is configured to engage with a neck portion of the insert portion.

According to the above fastening clip assembly, the elastic receiving member includes a plurality of elastic legs extending obliquely with respect to the cylindrical body and arranged at annular intervals, and the head portion of the insertion portion can pass between the plurality of elastic legs by pushing the top surfaces of the plurality of elastic legs so that the plurality of elastic legs can be engaged with the neck portion of the insertion portion.

According to the above described clip assembly, the top surfaces of the plurality of resilient legs form a concave spherical or conical surface.

According to the above fastening clip assembly, the distal end of each of the plurality of resilient legs is bent outward to form a bent portion protruding toward the axis of the cylindrical body, the bent portion matching the shape of the neck portion of the insertion portion and engaging with the neck portion of the insertion portion.

According to the fastening clip assembly described above, the receiving member further comprises a stopper portion located in the receiving channel of the cylindrical body and comprising a first direction stop face configured to block the head portion of the insertion portion from continuing to move downwards when the insertion portion is inserted in place in the resilient receiving element and a second direction stop face configured to block the head portion of the insertion portion from moving in a direction perpendicular to the central axis X1 when the insertion portion is inserted in place in the resilient receiving element.

According to the above fastening clip assembly, the stopper portion includes two ribs intersecting at the axis of the cylindrical body, the ribs being connected to the inner wall of the cylindrical body, the ribs forming the first direction stopper face and the second direction stopper face.

In accordance with the above-described fastener clip assembly, the housing further includes a pair of engagement legs extending from the housing on opposite sides of the housing and configured to be movable toward and away from each other.

According to the fastening clip assembly, the housing is in a square tube shape and comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are opposite to each other, the proximal ends of the pair of engaging legs are connected to the first side wall and the second side wall respectively, and the housing limiting part is arranged on the third side wall and the fourth side wall.

In accordance with the above fastening clip assembly, the engagement portion of the engagement member includes a support ledge, a central post projecting outwardly from the support ledge, and a pair of resilient wings extending downwardly from a top end of the central post, wherein the support ledge is located between the central post and the insertion portion, the resilient wings extending at an angle relative to the central post.

According to the fastening clip assembly described above, the housing and the receiving member of the base are integrally injection-molded from plastic. The base further includes a pair of flexible components formed by injection molding, the flexible components being positioned between and connecting the housing and the receiving member.

Drawings

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a fastening clip assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is an exploded view of the fastening clip assembly shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view from above of an engagement member of the fastening clip assembly shown in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view, looking down and up, of the engagement member of the fastening clip assembly shown in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 2C is a side view of the engagement member of the fastening clip assembly shown in FIG. 1B, taken along arrow A;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view from above looking down on the base of the fastening clip assembly shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the base shown in FIG. 3A looking up from below;

FIG. 3C is a side view of the base shown in FIG. 3A along arrow B;

FIG. 3D is a top view of the base shown in FIG. 3B, taken along arrow C;

FIG. 3E is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 3D;

FIG. 3F is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 3D;

FIG. 4A is a top view of the fastening clip assembly shown in FIG. 1A, taken along arrow D;

FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a schematic view of the fastening clip assembly shown in FIG. 1A in a use state;

FIG. 5B is an enlarged partial view of the first component of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is an enlarged partial view of the second component of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5D is an enlarged partial view of the top view of FIG. 5A taken along arrow D;

FIG. 5E is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 5D;

FIG. 5F is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5D;

FIG. 6 is a close-up view showing a portion of the step of connecting the first and second components with the fastening clip assembly.

Detailed Description

Various embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. It should be understood that although directional terms such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "top," "bottom," and the like may be used in the present disclosure to describe various example structural portions and elements of the disclosure, these terms are used herein for convenience of description only and are to be determined based on the example orientations shown in the figures. Because the disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure can be arranged in a variety of orientations, these directional terms are used for purposes of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fastening clip assembly for connecting a first component (e.g., a roof panel) and a second component (e.g., an interior trim panel of a vehicle headliner).

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a fastening clip assembly 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and fig. 1B is an exploded view of the fastening clip assembly 100 shown in fig. 1A. As shown in fig. 1A, the fastening clip assembly 100 includes two separate components, namely an engagement member 110 and a base 120, wherein the engagement member 110 is for engaging with a first component (e.g., component 510 in fig. 5A) and the base 120 is for engaging with a second component (e.g., component 520 in fig. 5A). The engagement member 110 can be coupled to the base 120 so that the first and second components can be coupled by the fastening clip assembly 100.

Fig. 2A to 2C show a specific structure of the joint member 110 in fig. 1B, in which fig. 2A is a perspective view of the joint member 110 as viewed from above, fig. 2B is a perspective view of the joint member 110 as viewed from below, and fig. 2C is a side view of the joint member 110 along an arrow a shown in fig. 1B. As shown in fig. 2A-2C, the joint member 110 includes a joint portion 210 and an insertion portion 220 connected to each other, the insertion portion 220 extending from the joint portion 210. The engaging portion 210 is for engaging with a first component and the inserting portion 220 is for connecting with the base 120.

The interface 210 includes a support table 212 and a center post 214 projecting outwardly from the support table 212. The center post 214 and the insert 220 are connected to opposite sides of the support table 212, respectively, that is, the support table 212 is located between the center post 214 and the insert 220. The support base 212 has a substantially disk shape with a constant thickness. The central column 214 is generally plate-shaped with a thickness. The center post 214 extends generally perpendicular to the support table 212 and is centrally disposed on the support table 212. The top end (distal end) of the central column 214 has a width less than the width of its bottom end (proximal end), and the width of the central column 214 tapers from the bottom end to the top end.

The engaging portion 210 further includes a pair of resilient wings 216 extending downwardly from a top end (free end) of the central post 214, the pair of resilient wings 216 being symmetrically disposed with respect to the central post 214. Each flexible wing 216 extends downwardly toward the support table 212 at an angle relative to the central post 214 so as to be at an acute angle relative to the central post 214. Thus, the pair of resilient wings 216 and the central column 214 together form a "W" shaped clip. The pair of elastic wings 216 can contract toward each other under an external force and can expand away from each other when the external force is removed, which enables the pair of elastic wings 216 to be inserted into a hole (e.g., hole 515 shown in fig. 5B) of the first component. The free end of the elastic wing 216 is provided with an extension 219, the thickness of the extension 219 being much smaller than the thickness of the rest of the elastic wing 216 and extending continuously with the inner surface of the rest of the elastic wing 216, whereby the extension 219 forms a hook-like shape together with the rest of the elastic wing 216. The extensions 219 of the two elastic wings 216 are able to hold the elastic wings 216 in the holes of the first part. The support table 212 is provided with a plurality of ribs 218 on its top surface 217 facing the central column 214, the ribs 218 extending generally parallel to the central column 214. In its free state, the lowest point of the free end of the flexible wing 216 is higher than the top surface 217 of the support platform 212, and is substantially the same height as the highest point of the top of the rib 218.

The insert 220 is generally hollow pin-shaped and includes a body 226, a head 222, and a neck 224. A head 222 is formed at a distal end 223 of the insert 220 and a body 226 is formed at a proximal end 221 of the insert 220, the insert 220 being connected to the support table 212 by its proximal end 221. The neck 224 connects the head 222 with the body 226. As shown in detail in fig. 2B, the neck 224 is recessed relative to the head 222 toward the axis X1. The neck portion 224 includes an upper tapered section 251 and a lower tapered section 253 which are connected in sequence, the upper tapered section 251 is tapered from top to bottom, the lower tapered section 253 is opposite to the upper tapered section 251 and is tapered from bottom to top, and the outer diameter of the bottom end of the upper tapered section 251 and the outer diameter of the top end of the lower tapered section 253 are substantially the same. The head 222 includes a cylindrical section 261 connected to the neck 224, and a tapered section 263 connected to the cylindrical section 261. The conical section 263 is tapered from top to bottom, with the tip having the same outer diameter as the cylindrical section 261. The bottom surface 257 of the tapered section 263 is generally planar. The body 226 is cylindrical, and the outer diameters of the body 226, the top end of the upper tapered section 251 of the neck 224, the bottom end of the lower tapered section 253 of the neck 224, and the cylindrical section 261 of the head 222 are approximately equal. The head 222 and neck 224 cooperate with the base 120 to effect the connection of the engagement member 110 to the base 120.

Fig. 3A to 3F show a specific structure of the base 120 in fig. 1B, wherein fig. 3A is a perspective view of the base 120 as viewed from top to bottom, fig. 3B is a perspective view of the base 120 as viewed from bottom to top, fig. 3C is a side view of the base 120 as viewed along an arrow B in fig. 3A, fig. 3D is a top view of the base 120 as viewed along an arrow C in fig. 3B, fig. 3E is a sectional view as viewed along the line I-I in fig. 3D, and fig. 3F is a sectional view as viewed along the line II-II in fig. 3D. As shown in fig. 3A-3E, the base 120 includes a housing 310 and a receiving member 320. The housing 310 has a cavity 318 and the receiving member 320 is located in the cavity 318 of the housing 310. The housing 310 has a central axis X0. For convenience of description, as shown in fig. 3A, the direction of the central axis X0 is defined as the Y-axis direction of the coordinate system. The receiving member 320 is movable relative to the housing 310 in a direction perpendicular to the central axis X0 (i.e., in the XZ plane), but the direction of the receiving member 320 relative to the housing 310 along the central axis X0 is restricted. That is, the receiving member 320 is movable in the XZ plane with respect to the housing 310, but movement in the Y-axis direction is limited.

Specifically, housing 310 is generally square tubular and includes opposing first 311 and second 312 sidewalls, and opposing third 313 and fourth 314 sidewalls, which collectively define a receptacle 318. The receiving member 320 includes a cylindrical body 340 and an elastic receiving element 360. The cylindrical body 340 has an axis X1 and defines a receiving channel 341 extending in the axial direction, and an elastic receiving element 360 is located in the receiving channel 341 and connected to the cylindrical body 340. The resilient receiving element 360 is configured to receive and secure the insertion portion 220 of the engagement member 110, thereby connecting the engagement member 110 with the base 120. The cylindrical main body 340 is cylindrical, the housing 310 is cylindrical with a square cross section, and the outer diameter of the cylindrical main body 340 is smaller than the side length of the cavity 318 of the housing 310, so that the cylindrical main body 340 (together with the elastic receiving member 360) can move in the cavity 318 relative to the housing 310 in a direction perpendicular to the central axis X0 (i.e., on the XZ plane in fig. 3A). In fig. 3A-3F, the cylindrical body 340 is centrally disposed in the housing 310, and thus, the axis X1 of the cylindrical body 340 coincides with the central axis X0 of the housing 310. In a free state where the cylindrical main body 340 is not subjected to a force, the position of the cylindrical main body 340 with respect to the housing 310 is a position where the axis X1 of the cylindrical main body 340 coincides with the central axis X0 of the housing 310 as shown in fig. 3A. In a state corresponding to this position, the entire outer surface of the cylindrical body 340 is spaced apart from the surface of the receptacle 318 (i.e., the inner surface of the housing 310) (see fig. 3D), so that the receiving member 320 can move relative to the housing 310 in both the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction on a plane perpendicular to the central axis X0 (i.e., the XZ plane). The range of movement of the receiving member 320 relative to the housing 310 in a direction perpendicular to the central axis X0 may be achieved by setting the relative dimensions of the outer profile of the cylindrical body 340 and the receptacle 318 of the housing 310 to be larger if a larger range of movement is desired and smaller if a smaller range of movement is desired.

The base 120 further includes a limiting structure 330, the limiting structure 330 being configured to limit movement of the receiving member 320 relative to the housing 310 in a direction along the central axis X0, but not to limit movement of the receiving member 320 relative to the housing 310 in a direction perpendicular to the central axis X0. Specifically, the pair of stopper projections 332 are provided on the outer surface of the tubular main body 340, the stopper projections 332 extend from the outer surface of the tubular main body 340, and the pair of stopper projections 332 are provided symmetrically with respect to the tubular main body 340. The housing 310 is provided with a pair of stopper holes 334 penetrating the third side wall 313 and the fourth side wall 314, respectively, and the pair of stopper holes 334 are symmetrically disposed with respect to the central axis X0. The limiting protrusion 332 forms a receiving element limiting portion, the limiting hole 334 forms a housing limiting portion, and the receiving element limiting portion and the housing limiting portion together form a limiting structure 330 of the base 120.

In the cross section (i.e., the XY plane shown in fig. 3C) of the stopper protrusion 332 and the stopper hole 334, both the stopper protrusion 332 and the stopper hole 334 have dimensions in two directions, i.e., a longitudinal dimension in a direction along the central axis X0 (the Y direction in fig. 3C) and a lateral dimension in a direction perpendicular to the central axis X0 (the X direction in fig. 3C). Wherein the longitudinal dimension of the limiting hole 334 is slightly larger than the longitudinal dimension of the limiting protrusion 332, but the transverse dimension of the limiting hole 334 is much larger than the transverse dimension of the limiting protrusion 332, such that the limiting hole 334 can accommodate the limiting protrusion 332 and can limit the receiving member 320 from moving relative to the housing 310 along the direction of the central axis X0, but does not affect the receiving member 320 from moving relative to the housing 310 along the direction perpendicular to the central axis X0. Also, the stopper projection 332 also has a length dimension protruding from the outer surface of the cylindrical body 340, and the length dimension of the stopper projection 332 is set so that the stopper projection 332 can be held in the stopper hole 334 without being pulled out when the receiving member 320 moves in the direction perpendicular to the central axis X0 with respect to the housing 310.

As clearly shown in fig. 3a,3d and 3F, the elastic receiving member 360 accommodated in the tubular main body 340 includes four elastic legs 362, the four elastic legs 362 extending obliquely with respect to the tubular main body 340 and being arranged at annular intervals. The proximal end of the elastic leg 362 is connected to the top of the cylindrical body 340, and the elastic leg 362 extends obliquely toward the axis X1 from the proximal end to the distal end thereof. The top surfaces 363 of the four resilient legs 362 together form a concave conical or spherical shape. Distal ends of the four resilient legs 362 are bent outward to form bent portions 365 projecting toward the axis X1 of the cylindrical main body 340, and the bent portions 365 are fitted to the shape of the neck portion 224 of the insertion portion 220 and engaged with the neck portion 224.

When the four resilient legs 362 are in an unstressed free state, the passages defined between the four resilient legs 362 are smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the head 222 of the insert 220 (i.e., the outer diameter of the cylindrical section 261 of the head 222). When the insertion portion 220 of the engagement member 110 is inserted into the receiving member 320 of the base 120, the head portion 222 of the insertion portion 220 applies a pressing force to the top surfaces 363 of the elastic legs 362, so that the four elastic legs 362 expand relative to each other, thereby enlarging the passage defined between the four elastic legs 362 until the head portion 222 of the insertion portion 220 can pass between the four elastic legs 362 to reach below the elastic legs 362. Subsequently, the bent portion 365 formed by the resilient legs 362 and the resilient feet 364 engages the neck portion 224 above the head portion 222 of the insertion portion 220 to retain the insertion portion 220 in the receiving member 320 of the base 120.

As best shown in fig. 3a,3D and 3E, the receiving member 320 further includes a stop 370 (identified in fig. 3D), the stop 370 being located in the receiving channel 341 of the cylindrical body 340 for limiting the insertion portion 220 when the insertion portion 220 is inserted into position in the receiving member 320. The stopper 370 includes two ribs 371, 373 intersecting at the axis X1 of the cylindrical body 340, the ribs 371, 373 being connected to the inner wall of the cylindrical body 340. As shown in fig. 3E, the rib 371 has a notch 375 recessed downward from the top thereof. The lower portion of the recess 375 is U-shaped and the upper portion of the recess 275 is figure-eight shaped. More specifically, the U-shaped lower portion of the recess 375 has a bottom surface forming a first direction stop surface 372, the first direction stop surface 372 serving to prevent the insertion portion 220 from continuing to move downward along the axis X1 after the receiving member 320 is inserted into position, and a pair of second direction stop surfaces 376 located on opposite sides of the bottom surface, the pair of second direction stop surfaces 376 serving to prevent the insertion portion 220 from moving in a direction perpendicular to the axis X1 after the insertion portion 220 is inserted into position in the receiving member 320. The upper part of the figure-eight shape of the recess 375 has a pair of oppositely disposed inclined surfaces 378, the inclined surfaces 378 are inclined from bottom to top away from the axis X1, and the inclined surfaces 378 are lower than the elastic legs 362, whereby the inclined surfaces 378 form a relief space for the elastic legs 362 without interfering with the operation of the elastic legs 362. The rib 373 has the same structure as the rib 371, which is not described herein. As shown in fig. 3D, in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body 340, the two ribs 371, 373 are disposed at intervals from the elastic leg 362, that is, the two ribs 371, 373 are not located directly below the elastic leg 362, so that the two ribs 371, 373 do not affect the elastic leg 362 to elastically expand or contract while providing the first direction stop surface 372 and the second direction stop surface 376.

The housing 310 further includes a pair of engaging legs 315, the pair of engaging legs 315 obliquely protruding from the first and second opposite side walls 311 and 312 of the housing 310 and being symmetrically disposed with respect to the central axis X0. A pair of engagement legs 315 are configured to be movable toward and away from each other for engaging the housing 310 with the second member 520. As shown in fig. 3B, the first side wall 311 and the second side wall 312 (the second side wall 312 is blocked and not visible in fig. 3B) are respectively provided with a window 317, and the engaging legs 315 extend obliquely upward and outward from the lower edge of the window 317. When a pair of engagement legs 315 are forced toward each other, the engagement legs 315 are able to enter the window 317, and when the force is removed, the engagement legs 315 spring outward from the window 317, causing a pair of engagement legs 315 to move away from each other.

The base 120 according to the present disclosure is integrally injection molded from a plastic material, and the housing 310 and the receiving member 320 are connected by a pair of flexible parts 350 formed through an injection molding process. The flexible member 350 is located between the housing 310 and the receiving member 320 and is symmetrically disposed with respect to the central axis X0. The flexible member 350 is a plastic sheet.

Fig. 4A-4C show details of an assembly view of the fastening clip assembly 100 shown in fig. 1A, wherein fig. 4A is a top view taken along arrow D in fig. 1A, fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in fig. 4A, and fig. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in fig. 4A. As shown in fig. 4C, when the insertion portion 220 of the engagement member 110 is inserted into position in the receiving member 320 of the base 120, the head portion 222 of the insertion portion 220 is located below the elastic leg 362, and the bent portion 365 of the elastic leg 362 is engaged with the neck portion 224 above the head portion 222 of the insertion portion 220. Thereby, the elastic legs 362 can hold the insertion part 220 in place. Since the neck portion 224 of the insertion portion 220 is shaped as two mutually connected and oppositely tapered cones, and since the elastic leg 362 has a bent portion matching the shape of the neck portion 224 of the insertion portion 220, the elastic leg 362 can stably hold the insertion portion 220 in place, prevent the insertion portion 220 from shaking with respect to the axis X1, and prevent the insertion portion 220 from moving downward or upward.

Also, as shown in fig. 4B, when the insertion portion 220 of the engagement member 110 is inserted into position in the receiving member 320 of the base 120, the first direction stop surface 372 of the receiving member 320 engages with the bottom surface 257 of the head portion 222, thereby further preventing the insertion portion 220 from moving downward, and the pair of second direction stop surfaces 376 of the receiving member 320 engage with the outer surface of the cylindrical section 261 on opposite sides of the head portion 222, respectively, thereby preventing the insertion portion 220 from moving in a direction perpendicular to the axis X1 with respect to the cylindrical body 340 of the receiving member 320. Thereby, the insertion portion 220 of the engaging member 110 is securely and stably coupled in the receiving member 320 of the base 120.

Fig. 5A-5F illustrate the first and second components to which the fastening clip assembly 100 shown in fig. 1A is attached and the mating relationship of the fastening clip assembly 100 with the first and second components. Wherein fig. 5A is a schematic view of the fastening clip assembly 100 in a use state, fig. 5B is a partially enlarged view of a first part engaged by the engaging member 110 in fig. 5A, fig. 5C is a partially enlarged view of a second part engaged by the base 120 in fig. 5A, fig. 5D is a partially enlarged view of a bottom view of fig. 5A along an arrow D, fig. 5E is a sectional view along a line V-V in fig. 5D, and fig. 5F is a sectional view along a line VI-VI in fig. 5D.

As shown in fig. 5A, the fastening clip assembly 100 is used to connect a first member 510 and a second member 520. The first member 510 is, for example, a roof panel, and the second member 520 is, for example, an interior panel of a vehicle roof. There are at least two connection locations 550 (only two connection locations are shown in fig. 5A) connecting the first member 510 and the second member 520. At each connection location 550, a hole (or slot) 515 is formed in the first member 510 (as shown in fig. 5B) and a connection cap 525 is formed on the second member 520 (as shown in fig. 5C). As shown in fig. 5B, the aperture 515 extends through the first component 510 and includes a pair of oppositely disposed long edges 516, the distance between the pair of long edges 516 being less than the width defined by the free ends of the pair of resilient wings 216 of the engagement member 110. As shown in fig. 5C, the connection hood 525 includes a top cap 522 and a receptacle 524 located below the top cap 522. The top cover 522 is provided with a hole 523, and the shape of the hole 523 matches the shape of the housing 310 of the base 120 of the fastening clip assembly 100, so that the housing 310 can be inserted into the hole 523. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the aperture 523 is a square aperture. A pair of opposed edges of the aperture 523 are provided with notches 528, and the distance between the edges of the notches 528 is less than the width defined by the free ends of the engagement legs 315 of the housing 310. The notch 528 serves to allow the pair of engagement legs 315 of the housing 310 to pass through the aperture 523 via the notch 528 and under the top cap 522.

As shown in fig. 5E and 5F, when the fastening clip assembly 100 connects the first component 510 and the second component 520 in place, a pair of engagement legs 315 on the base 120 of the fastening clip assembly 100 reach under the top cap 522 of the connection cap 525 of the second component 520 and abut against the edges of the notch 528, achieving engagement of the base 120 with the second component 520, while a pair of resilient wings 216 on the engagement member 110 of the fastening clip assembly 100 pass through the hole 515 of the first component 510 to reach over the first component 510 and engage with the edges of the hole 515, thereby achieving engagement of the engagement member 110 with the first component 510.

FIG. 6 is a close-up view showing a portion of the step of connecting the first and second components with the fastening clip assembly.

The steps for connecting the first member 510 and the second member 520 with the fastening clip assembly 100 will now be described with reference to fig. 5E, 5F and 6, as follows:

the engaging member 110 and the base 120 of the fastening clip assembly 100 are first engaged with the first part 510 and the second part 520, respectively, and then, as shown in fig. 6, the engaging member 110 engaged with the first part 510 is coupled with the base 120 engaged with the second part 520.

In engaging the engagement member 110 with the first part 510, the pair of elastic wings 216 of the engagement member 110 are inserted into the holes 515 (see fig. 6) of the first part 510. During insertion, the pair of elastic wings 216 are pressed toward each other by the pair of long edges 516 of the hole 515 so that the width formed by the free ends of the pair of elastic wings 216 is gradually reduced to be able to pass through the hole 515. As the free ends of the pair of resilient wings 216 are progressively passed through the aperture 515, the compressive force experienced by the resilient wings 216 is progressively reduced, and as a result, the pair of resilient wings 216 progressively splay away from each other until the extensions 219 on the free ends of the resilient wings 216 reach into the aperture 515 and abut the pair of long edges 516 (see fig. 5F). Thereby, the engagement of the engagement member 110 with the first part 510 is achieved.

When the base 120 is coupled to the second member 520, the pair of engaging legs 315 of the base 120 are aligned with the notches 528 (see fig. 5E) of the top 522 of the connecting cover 525, and then the base 120 is inserted into the hole 523 of the top 522 of the connecting cover 525. During insertion, the pair of engagement legs 315 are pressed toward each other by the edges of the notch 528 such that the width defined by the free ends of the pair of engagement legs 315 gradually decreases to be able to pass through the notch 528. As the free ends of a pair of engagement legs 315 gradually pass through the notch 528, the compressive force received by the engagement legs 315 gradually decreases, and thus a pair of engagement legs 315 gradually splay away from each other until the free ends of a pair of engagement legs 315 are engaged by the edges of the notch 528 and can no longer move further. Thereby, the engagement of the base 120 with the second member 520 is achieved.

When connecting the engaging member 110 engaged on the first part 510 with the base 120 engaged on the second part 520, the head 222 of the insertion part 220 of the engaging member 110 is pushed against the top surface 363 (see fig. 3F) of the resilient legs 362 of the receiving member 320 on the base 120, so that the four resilient legs 362 are expanded relative to each other until the head 222 of the insertion part 220 can pass between the four resilient legs 362 and reach under the resilient legs 362. The resilient legs 362 are then contracted relative to each other such that the bent portion 365 of the resilient legs 362 engages the neck 224 of the insert 220. Thereby, it is achieved that the coupling member 110 coupled to the first part 510 is coupled to the base 120 coupled to the second part 520, and thus the first part 510 and the second part 520 are coupled by the fastening clip assembly 100.

As shown in fig. 6, in the case where the first member 510 is a roof panel and the second member 520 is an interior panel of a vehicle roof, the process of connecting the joint member 110 joined to the first member 510 and the base 120 joined to the second member 520 is a blind operation that cannot be observed by an operator. The metal plate of the roof is positioned above the inner decoration plate of the vehicle roof, an operator needs to lift the vehicle roof to realize the connection of the metal plate and the inner decoration plate, the operator is positioned on the back of the installation position on the inner decoration plate of the vehicle roof, and the inner decoration plate of the vehicle roof can shield the installation position of the metal plate of the roof. In view of such blind operation, and in addition to the multiple mounting locations for both the headliner and the roof panel, manufacturing and mounting tolerances of the components make it difficult for an operator to accurately align the receiving member 320 of the base 120 with the insertion portion 220 of the corresponding engaging member 110 at each mounting location prior to installation. However, the fastening clip assembly 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can easily realize the process of connecting the engaging member 110 engaged with the first part 510 with the base 120 engaged with the second part 520 even if it is used in the above-described installation situation. This is because the receiving member 320 of the base 120 of the present disclosure for connecting with the insertion portion 220 of the engaging member 110 can move in a direction perpendicular to the central axis X0 of the housing 310 with respect to the housing 310 of the base 120, and thus, with respect to the insertion portion 220 of the engaging member 110 which has been engaged on the first part 510, the position of the receiving member 320 of the base 120 which has been engaged on the second part 520 is not fixed but has a certain range of movement, so that the connection of the two can be achieved without accurately aligning the receiving member 320 of the base 120 in each mounting position with the insertion portion 220 of the corresponding engaging member 110 before mounting.

Specifically, in the case where the first member 510 is a roof panel and the second member 520 is an interior panel of a vehicle roof, the step of connecting the joint member 110 joined to the first member 510 and the base 120 joined to the second member 520 is as follows:

the operator lifts the second member 520 to substantially align the respective mounting positions of the second member 520 with the respective mounting positions on the first member 510 to the state shown in fig. 6. Then, the second part 520 is pushed toward the first part 510 along an arrow E in fig. 6, and the insertion portion 220 of the engagement member 110 engaged in the first part 510 is gradually inserted into the receiving member 320 of the base 120 engaged in the second part 510 until the second part 510 is pushed. Since the top surface 363 of the resilient leg 362 of the receiving member 320 is conical or spherically concave, it is better able to guide the insertion portion 220 of the engaging member 110 into the receiving member 320. And since the receiving member 320 of the base 120 engaged on the second part 520 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the central axis X0 of the housing 310 with respect to the housing 310 of the base 120, when the receiving member 320 receives the urging force of the insertion part 220, it moves with respect to the housing 310 according to the position of the insertion part 220 to accurately align the insertion part 220 with the receiving member 320, thereby achieving the mounting of both.

The fastening clip assembly according to the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, but may have other embodiments. For example, the housing 310 of the base 120 may not be limited to the square cylindrical shape shown in the drawings, but may be cylindrical; the receiving member 320 may not be limited to the cylindrical shape shown in the drawings, but may also be a square cylindrical shape. For example, the receiving member restricting portion may not be a restricting projection but a restricting hole, and the housing restricting portion may not be a restricting hole but a restricting projection. For example, the cross-sectional shapes of the stopper projection and the stopper hole are not limited to the square shape shown in the drawings, and may be circular. For example, the number of resilient legs is not limited to the 4 shown in the figures, but may be fewer or more. All falling within the scope of the present disclosure.

Although the present disclosure will be described with reference to the particular embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that many variations of the connectors of the present disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the teachings of the present disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that there are different ways of varying the structural details of the embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure, all within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and claims.

Claims (15)

1. A fastening clip assembly (100) for connecting a first component (510) to a second component (520), comprising:

an engaging member (110), the engaging member (110) including an engaging portion (210) configured to engage with the first component (510) and an insertion portion (220) connected with the engaging portion (210);

a base (120), the base (120) comprising a housing (310) and a receiving member (320), the housing (310) configured to engage with the second component (520), the receiving member (320) configured to receive an insert portion (220) of the engaging member (110), the housing (310) defining a cavity (318) and having a longitudinal central axis (X0), the receiving member (320) located in the cavity (318) of the housing (310) and configured to be movable relative to the housing (310) in a direction perpendicular to the central axis (X0), the base (120) further comprising a limiting structure (330), the limiting structure (330) configured to limit movement of the receiving member (320) relative to the housing (310) along the central axis (X0).

2. The fastening clip assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein:

the limiting structure (330) comprises a receiving element limiting part and a housing limiting part, wherein the receiving element limiting part is arranged on the receiving member (320) and the housing limiting part is arranged on the housing (310), the receiving element limiting part and the housing limiting part are matched to limit the receiving member (320) to move along the central axis (X0) relative to the housing (310) but not to limit the receiving member (320) to move along the direction perpendicular to the central axis (X0) relative to the housing (310).

3. The fastening clip assembly (100) of claim 2, wherein:

the receiving member (320) comprising a cylindrical body (340) and an elastic receiving element (360), the cylindrical body (340) comprising an axially extending receiving channel (341), the elastic receiving element (360) being located in the receiving channel (341), the elastic receiving element (360) being configured to receive and secure the insertion portion (220) of the engagement member (110);

wherein the receiving element restraining part is provided on the cylindrical main body (340).

4. The fastening clip assembly (100) of claim 3, wherein:

the receiving element limiting part comprises a pair of limiting protrusions (332) extending out of the outer surface of the cylindrical main body (340), the shell limiting part comprises a pair of limiting holes (334) penetrating through the shell (310), and the pair of limiting protrusions (332) are respectively inserted into the pair of limiting holes (334).

5. The fastening clip assembly (100) of claim 4, wherein:

the restraining hole (334) and the restraining protrusion (332) are sized such that the restraining hole (334) and the restraining protrusion (332) are capable of restraining the receiving member (320) from moving relative to the housing (310) along the central axis (X0) but not restraining the receiving member (320) from moving relative to the housing (310) in a direction perpendicular to the central axis (X0), and the restraining protrusion (332) is retained in the restraining hole (334) during movement of the receiving member (320) relative to the housing (310).

6. The fastening clip assembly (100) of claim 3, wherein:

a proximal end (221) of an insertion portion (220) of the engagement member (110) is connected to the engagement portion (210), the insertion portion (220) including a head portion (222) disposed at a distal end (223) thereof, and a neck portion (224) located between the proximal end (221) and the distal end (223) and contiguous with the head portion (222), the neck portion (224) being recessed relative to the head portion (222); and

the resilient receiving element (360) is configured to engage with the neck portion (224) of the insert portion (220).

7. The fastening clip assembly (100) of claim 6, wherein:

the resilient receiving element (360) comprises a plurality of resilient legs (362), the plurality of resilient legs (362) extending obliquely relative to the tubular body (340) and being arranged in an annular spacing, the head (232) of the insert (220) being capable of passing between the plurality of resilient legs (362) by pushing against a top surface (363) of the plurality of resilient legs (362) to enable engagement of the plurality of resilient legs (362) with the neck (224) of the insert (220).

8. The fastening clip assembly (100) of claim 7, wherein:

the top surfaces (363) of the plurality of resilient legs (362) form a concave spherical or conical surface.

9. The fastening clip assembly (100) of claim 7, wherein:

a distal end of each of the plurality of resilient legs (362) is bent outward to form a bent portion (365) protruding toward the axis (X1) of the cylindrical body (340), the bent portion (365) matching the shape of the neck portion (224) of the insertion portion (220) and engaging with the neck portion (224) of the insertion portion (220).

10. The fastening clip assembly (100) of claim 7, wherein:

the receiving member (320) further comprises a stopper portion (370), the stopper portion (370) being located in a receiving channel (341) of the cylindrical body (340) and comprising a first direction stopper surface (372) and a second direction stopper surface (376), the first direction stopper surface (372) being configured to block the head portion (222) of the insertion portion (220) from continuing to move downwards when the insertion portion (220) is inserted in place in the resilient receiving element (360), the second direction stopper surface (376) being configured to block the head portion (222) of the insertion portion (220) from moving in a direction perpendicular to the central axis X1 when the insertion portion (220) is inserted in place in the resilient receiving element (360).

11. The fastening clip assembly (100) of claim 10, wherein:

the stopper portion (370) includes two ribs (371, 373) intersecting at an axis (X1) of the cylindrical body (340), the ribs (371, 373) being connected to an inner wall of the cylindrical body (340), the ribs (371, 373) forming the first direction stopper face (372) and the second direction stopper face (376).

12. The fastening clip assembly (100) of claim 2, wherein:

the housing (310) further includes a pair of engagement legs (315), the pair of engagement legs (315) extending from the housing (310) on opposite sides of the housing (310) and configured to be movable toward and away from each other.

13. The fastening clip assembly (100) of claim 12, wherein:

the shell (310) is in a square cylinder shape and comprises a first side wall (311) and a second side wall (312) which are opposite, a third side wall (313) and a fourth side wall (314) which are opposite, the proximal ends of the pair of joint feet (315) are respectively connected to the first side wall (311) and the second side wall (312), and the shell limiting part is arranged on the third side wall (313) and the fourth side wall (314).

14. The fastening clip assembly (100) of claim 2, wherein:

the engagement portion (210) of the engagement member (110) includes a support platform (212), a central post (214) projecting outwardly from the support platform (212), and a pair of resilient wings (216) extending downwardly from a top end of the central post (214), wherein the support platform (212) is located between the central post (214) and the insertion portion (220), the resilient wings (216) extending at an angle relative to the central post (214).

15. The fastening clip assembly (100) of claim 2, wherein:

the housing (310) and the receiving member (320) of the base (120) are formed by plastic integral injection molding;

wherein the base (120) further comprises a pair of flexible parts (350) formed by injection molding, the flexible parts (350) being located between the housing (310) and the receiving member (320) and connecting the housing (310) and the receiving member (320).

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