MXPA00001938A - Fastener assembly for joining two interior panels - Google Patents

Abstract

A fastener assembly attaches and aligns two panels. The fastener assembly has a connector member (20), a support platform (66) and a tab (80). The connector member has a head (26), a threaded portion (32) and an annular groove (36). The support platform (66) is mounted on a first panel. The support platform (66) threadingly engages the threaded portion (32) of the connector member (20). The tab (80) is mounted on a second panel. The tab has an opening (82) for receiving the annular groove (36) of the connector member (20) in a supporting relation. Rotation of the connector member (20) moves the second paneltowards and away from the first panel in a direction of draw to space the second panel relative to the first panel.

Description

MOUNTING BRAZIER FOR THE UNION OF TWO INTERIOR PANELS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fastener assembly for joining two interior panels. In particular, the present invention relates to a fastener assembly that supports a panel to facilitate marginal adjustments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION By using conventional fasteners of known techniques, it is difficult to mount instrument panels on the floor consoles of automotive vehicles for different purposes. The instrument panel is not movable and the unbonded console has to be moved to the instrument panel and held in position by the installer until one or more fasteners are put in place and tightened to hold both structures together. Typically a console is usually long and heavy and the space in which the installer must work is very tight and limited, therefore holding a console in position while simultaneously trying to place a fastener in place and tighten it is difficult and it consumes time The problem is constituted by the fact that the fasteners of the known techniques generally have to be inserted through REF: 32535 a plurality of aligned openings, some of which are in the instrument panel and some of which are in the console. Therefore, the installer has to align the openings in the console and the instrument panel, insert the fastener through both, and hold the console in the aligned position while the fastener is tightened. The alignment of the openings for the fasteners of known techniques is difficult not only because of the size and weight of the console, but also because the openings are usually in the bottom or inside of the instrument panel or in both and in a portion of the console that is placed under or inside the instrument panel when the openings are aligned. The fastener must also be tightened sufficiently to establish the correct vertical relationship between the two structures which is difficult when using fasteners of known techniques.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The disadvantages of the known techniques can be overcome by providing a connector that is easy to align and secure the console and then move the console towards the instrument panel.

According to one aspect of the invention, a fastener assembly is provided that joins and aligns two panels. The fastener assembly has a connector member, a support platform and a flange. The connector member has a head, a threaded portion and an annular rail. The support platform is mounted on the first panel. The support platform is secured with the threading of the threaded portion of the connector member. The flange is mounted on a second panel. The flange has an opening for receiving the annular rail of the connector member forming a support relationship. The rotation of the connector member moves the second panel towards and away from the first panel in a direction of movement to space the second panel relative to the first panel and present a predetermined spacing between them.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method for installing a panel supported on a support panel is provided. The method includes the steps of: pre-assembling a connector member to the support panel, the connector member having an annular rail, providing the flanged panel with a flange, the flange having an opening for receiving the annular rail of the connector member, securing the connecting member with the flange in a clamping combination, and rotating the connector member to move the supported panel towards and away from the support panel in a direction of movement having a predetermined spacing between the support panel and the supported panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a free end of a connector member of a fastener of the present invention in a position prior to assembly; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the fastener assembly according to the present invention with the connector member installed in a pre-assembly position in an instrument panel; Figure 3 is a side view of a connector member of the fastener assembly and a fragment of a cross-sectional view of the instrument panel in which the connector member is installed along the line III-III in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the console and the instrument panel according to the present invention; and Figure 5 is a partial perspective view showing securing the console with the instrument panel and the connector member with each other being manipulated manually to establish a predetermined spacing between the console and the instrument panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now more particularly to the drawings, Figure 1 shows the preferred aspect of a fastener assembly of the present invention, including a connector member, generally designated 20, for the installation of a floor console 22 for vehicles automotive in an instrument panel 24 of a vehicle. Although the present invention is described in connection with a floor console 22 and an instrument panel 24, it is expressly understood that the present invention is applicable for the attachment of any interior panel, including the joining of a door panel. in a frame of a door.

With reference to Figure 3, the connector member 20 is generally an elongated cylindrical member that is composed of a head 26, a rim 28, an elongated body upper portion 30, a threaded central portion 32, an elongate lower portion 34, a joining guide 36 and a cylindrical base 38.

The head 26 is preferably hexagonal to facilitate engagement with the hand tool 40, preferably a conventional socket wrench, in a manner well known in the art. The head 26 joins the flange 28.

The threaded central portion 32 defines a continuous thread that secures by the thread a support platform in the form of a clip 32 in an inner portion of the instrument panel 24 during the installation process of the console as will be explained later. Distanceed from and adjacent to the threaded central portion 32 of the connector member 20 is the integral portion of the lower cylindrical body 34. The connecting guide 36 is positioned between the lower portion of the cylindrical body 34 and the base 38. The joining guide 36 It is an annular rail.

The instrument panel 24 has an opening 62 in the panel that is located near the interface between the instrument panel 24 and the console 22. The panel opening provides access to the connector member 20 during installation. An alignment platform 66 is mounted on an interior face of the wall 68 of the instrument panel.

The alignment platform 66 is preferably integrally formed in the rear part of the wall 68 and is provided with lateral support brackets 72 for maintaining the upper surface of the platform part 66 substantially perpendicular to it. The front edge of the alignment platform 66 has a U-cut 74 which slidably receives the connector member 20. The alignment platform 66 is positioned relative to the support platform 52 to generally align the connector member 20 in a linear motion orientation.

The instrument panel 24 has an inner wall 70 having a clip-shaped support platform 52. The clip 52 is preferably an elongated and bent planar metal part having openings 71 through the fold of the support for threadably securing the threaded portion 32 of the connector member 20. The clip 52 is secured to the interior of the instrument panel 14 by pressing the clip 52 on the support flange 73 which is integrally formed on the outer face 70.

A slot 84 is provided along the front of the inner wall 70 of the instrument panel 24. The slot 84 has the dimensions for receiving the flange 76 on the console 22.

The console 22 has a joint flange 76 of the console that projects horizontally forward which is perpendicular to, and integrally formed with a support part 78 which is a truncated vertical flange. The attachment tab 76 of the console has a tab 80 having a keyhole type opening 82 that includes an enlarged rounded end 86 and a thin end that is an elongated slot 88. The rounded end 86 is sized to receive the end 38 of the connector member 20. The keyhole type opening 82 serves as the initial insertion point for the mutual securing and support connection respectively with the joining guide 36 of the connector member 20.

Now it is notorious for those. It is known to the art that other configurations of the keyhole type opening 82 will provide satisfactory results, allowing the joining guide 36 to be joined with the attachment flange 76. Such configurations include a wedge-shaped opening or a groove in the guiding edge. of the union tab.

INSTALLATION OF A CONSOLE USING THE CONNECTOR MEMBER The installation process begins by assembling or "pre-assembling" the connector member 20 on the support panel, in this case, the instrument panel 24. To pre-assemble the connector member 20, it is first carried through the opening 62 and it is inserted through the U-cut 74 and the flange 28 is relatively spaced from the upper surface of the upper platform 66. The joining guide 36 will be opposite to the slot 84.

Once the connector member 20 is in the pre-assembly position, the supported panel, in this case, the console 22 moves towards the instrument panel as indicated by the arrow A. The console 22 is advanced to that the keyhole type aperture 82 is approximately aligned vertically with the connector member 20 as shown in Figure 5, that is, the elongated end 86 of the keyhole type aperture 82 is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the eye. connector member 20. Subsequently the front end of the console 22 moves upwards towards the connector member 20 as indicated by the arrow of direction C in Figure 4. The console 22 moves laterally in the direction indicated by the arrow marked with the letter D so that the guide 36 slides to the slotted end 88 of the keyhole type opening 82. The console 22 is in a support relationship with the instrument panel 24. Then, the edge The front of the connecting flange 76 is placed in the groove 84 along the structure of the front wall 70.

The next step in the installation process is to move the console 22 and the instrument panel 24 so that there is a defined separation that establishes the proper vertical relationship between them. Initially the connector member 20 is in a lower position than in its already installed position, and therefore the connector member 20 must be removed or raised relative to the clip 52 in a linear movement as indicated by the arrows marked with an F in Figure 5 by rotating the connector member 20 in the direction indicated by the direction arrow E (assuming a right-hand thread) until the console 22 and the instrument panel 24 have been brought together. Because the tab 76 is inserted into the slot 84, the console should rotate in that proximity. The direction arrows marked with a G indicate the movement of the console 22 as it is moved towards the instrument panel 24.

When the console 22 is first placed on the connector member 20, the rear end of the attachment flange 76 is in a slightly lower position than it will be after the installation process is complete and therefore the joint formed between instrument panel 24 and console 22 is a bit wide. The elevation of the connector member 20 simultaneously raises the joint flange 76. The console 22 is raised in this manner until the predefined spacing is established between the console 22 and the instrument panel 24. The instrument panel has a shape for receiving the console 22 in such a way that after assembly no connection piece is visible.

Alternatively, the console 22 can be installed in the instrument panel 24 by placing the connector member within the slotted end 88 of the keyhole type opening 82 as described above and afterwards, instead of immediately placing the front edge of the Union tab 76 within slot 84, rotating connector member 20 in the direction indicated by the letter E in Figure 5 to raise console 22 relative to instrument panel 24 until the joint flange can be inserted inside. of structure 84. Once tab 76 is inserted into slot 84, connector member 20 is rotated further to establish the appropriate vertical distance between instrument panel 24 and console 22 in the manner described above.While the invention has been described with what is now considered to be the most practical and preferred aspect, it should be understood that the invention should not be limited to the described aspect, but is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included in the scope of the invention. the attached claims. Therefore, it should be understood that variations in the particularly described method, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture of the present invention can be made starting from the novel aspects of this invention as described in the claims.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS A fastener assembly for joining and aligning panels, characterized in that said fastening assembly comprises: a connector member having a head, a threaded portion and an annular rail, a support platform mounted on a first of said panels, said support platform joined by threaded in the threaded portion of the connector member, and a tongue assembled in a second of said panels, said tongue having an opening for receiving said annular rail of said connector member in a support relationship, wherein after rotation of the member The connector in response moves said second of said panels in and out of said first, of panels in a direction of movement. A fastener assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said fastener assembly further comprises an alignment platform mounted on said first of said panels, said alignment platform slidingly engaging said connector member generally for aligning said connector in said direction of movement. A fastener assembly according to claim 2 characterized in that said alignment platform has a slot for receiving said connector member. A fastener assembly according to claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that said threaded portion is spaced from said head and said annular rail is remote from said head. A fastener assembly according to claim 4 characterized in that said aperture is a keyhole type having a wide end for receiving said connector member and a slot-like end for receiving the annular rail by sliding. A fastener assembly according to claim 4 characterized in that said opening has a slot-like end with the size to receive said annular rail by sliding. A fastener assembly according to claim 4 characterized in that said first of said panels is a support panel and said second of said panels is a supported panel. A fastener assembly according to claim 4 characterized in that said first of said panels is an instrument panel and said second of said panels is a console. A method for installing a panel supported to a support panel, characterized in that said method comprises: the pre-assembly of a connector member in the support panel, the connector member having an annular rail, said supported panel provided with a tongue, said tongue possesses an opening for receiving said annular rail of said connector member, the connection between said connector member with said flange in a support relationship, and the rotation of the connector member to move said supported panel toward and away from said support panel in a direction of movement . . A method according to claim 9 characterized in that said method further comprises maintaining said connector member in an orientation in the direction of movement. . A method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said method comprises a preliminary step to provide an access opening in the support panel. . A method according to claim 9, characterized in that said pre-assembly stage comprises the threaded connection of said connector member to said support panel.