Retainer with assembly prevention and verification

Abstract

A fastener assembly for coupling a first component to a second component is described. The fastener assembly includes an assembly verification plug having a verification head and a pair of resilient legs, and a retainer having a body portion defining a retainer opening. The retainer has a pair of retainer legs resiliently connected to the body portion and designed to engage the opening. Each resilient leg includes a locking tab. The verification head features a fixed flat portion and at least one wing portion connected to the fixed flat portion via a hinge. A mounting indication is positioned on at least a portion of both the stationary flat portion and the wing portion. The retainer opening is configured to receive and secure at least a portion of the resilient leg. Each retention leg includes a cutout to receive a locking tab to secure the assembly verification plug to the retainer in a part (PIA) position in assembly.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 605,650, filed on December 4, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Background Art

[0003] Automotive components require fastening techniques that are simple to manufacture and assemble. Further, the fastening techniques should first be reliable and efficient. In some cases, objects need to be secured to the vehicle to mitigate movement and / or displacement during operation, which may otherwise cause the object to become damaged or kinked. For example, air bags, tubes, hoses, wires, and other objects are typically secured to vehicle components via fasteners. When a fastener is incorrectly installed so that the fastener is not fully inserted into the opening, the fastener may separate and / or the object being fastened may become damaged or loose. Similarly, when an object is incorrectly attached to a fastener, the object may separate from the fastener or may become damaged or loose.

[0004] During manufacturing and assembly, especially in automotive and structural component assembly, it is important to ensure that each fastener is correctly positioned and securely fastened. Improper installation may lead to misalignment, structural weaknesses and potential failures. To address these issues, visual inspection or automated systems are often used, but these methods may not ensure complete accuracy. Therefore, there is a need for a fastening system that includes a built-in verification mechanism to confirm a secure and correct installation.

[0005] Therefore, it is desirable to provide an installation indicator to enhance the proper installation of the fastener assembly and the fastener assembly relative to the component during assembly. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present disclosure relates generally to a fastening system for forming a connection between components and more particularly to a fastener having installation indications to enhance proper installation of the fastener assembly and the fastener assembly relative to the components during assembly, substantially as illustrated by and described in conjunction with at least one of the accompanying drawings and as more fully set forth in the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the apparatus, systems, and methods described herein will become apparent from the following description of specific examples as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals refer to the same or similar structures. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the apparatus, systems, and methods described herein.

[0008] Figure 1aA perspective assembly view of a fastening system having a fastener assembly according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0009] Figure 1b A perspective view of the fastening system is shown in a first (partially assembled) position.

[0010] Figure 1c and Figure 1d First and second perspective assembled views of a fastener assembly are shown.

[0011] Figure 1e to Figure 1h First, second, third and fourth side assembled views of a fastener assembly are shown.

[0012] Figure 2a A perspective front view of a fastener assembly with a load plate in a first position is shown.

[0013] Figure 2b A perspective view of a fastener assembly with a load plate in a first position is shown.

[0014] Figure 2c A perspective view of a fastening system with a load plate is shown.

[0015] Figure 2d The fastening system (without the load plate) is shown in a first position along the section line AA ( Figure 1b ) is a cross-sectional side view taken from the top.

[0016] Figure 2e The fastening system is shown in the second position along the section line AA ( Figure 1b ) is a cross-sectional stereogram taken from the image.

[0017] Figure 3a and Figure 3b Assembled isometric and assembled isometric views of the fastener assembly with components and verification system are shown, respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Reference to singular items should be understood to include plural items, and vice versa, unless otherwise explicitly stated or clear from the context. Grammatical conjunctions are intended to express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations of connected clauses, sentences, words, etc., unless otherwise specified or clear from the context. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the description of the range of values ​​herein is not intended to be limited, but refers to any and all values ​​falling within and / or including the range individually, and each individual value within such a range is incorporated into the specification, just as it is separately narrated herein. In the following description, it should be understood that terms such as "first", "second", "top", "bottom", "side", "front", "back" are words for convenience and should not be interpreted as restrictive terms. For example, although in some examples, the first side is positioned adjacent to or close to the second side, the terms "first side" and "second side" do not mean any particular order in which these sides are sorted.

[0019] When accompanied by numerical values, the terms "about", "approximately", "substantially", etc. should be understood to indicate deviations allowed for satisfactory operation for the intended purpose as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Values ​​and / or ranges of values ​​are provided herein only as examples and do not constitute limitations on the scope of the present disclosure. The use of any and all examples or exemplary language ("for example", "such as", etc.) provided herein is intended only to better illustrate the disclosed examples and does not constitute a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure. The terms "such as" and "for example" lead to a list with one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or legends. No language in the specification should be interpreted as indicating that any element not recorded in the claims is essential to the practice of the disclosed examples.

[0020] The term "processor" refers to a processing device, apparatus, program, circuit, component, system and subsystem, whether implemented in hardware, software in tangible form, or both, and whether or not it is programmable. As used herein, the term "processor" includes, but is not limited to, one or more computing devices, hard-wired circuits, signal modification devices and systems, devices and machines for controlling systems, central processing units, programmable devices and systems, field programmable gate arrays, application-specific integrated circuits, systems on chips, systems including discrete components and / or circuits, state machines, virtual machines, data processors, processing facilities, and any combination of the above components. The processor may be, for example, any type of general-purpose microprocessor or microcontroller, a digital signal processing (DSP) processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The processor may be coupled to or integrated with a memory device. The memory device can be any suitable type of computer memory or any other type of electronic storage medium, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), cache memory, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), electro-optical memory, magneto-optical memory, programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), computer-readable media, etc.

[0021] The term "and / or" refers to any one or more of the multiple items in the list connected by "and / or". As an example, "x and / or y" refers to any element in the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. In other words, "x and / or y" means "one or both of x and y". As another example, "x, y and / or z" refers to any element in the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. In other words, "x, y and / or z" means "one or more of x, y and z".

[0022] The disclosed retainer assembly includes a retainer, an assembly verification plug and, in some cases, a load plate. Notably, the disclosed fastener assembly is configured to combine a first component having a first opening and a second component having a second opening, the width of the second opening being different from the width of the first opening. This configuration helps control the positioning and engagement of the assembly verification plug, thereby ensuring that it operates correctly when inserted into the second component.

[0023] During and after insertion into the first component, the assembly verification plug remains firmly integrated with the retainer (e.g., as a part in assembly (PIA)); however, once the retainer is installed in the second component by the end user, the assembly verification plug can be pressed further into the retainer body. This action squeezes the two arcuate wing portions of the plug body, thereby activating the assembly verification feature. With the wing portions flattened, the position of the component allows the fiducial mark to be scanned to confirm proper installation and assembly verification.

[0024] This retainer assembly provides enhanced redundancy in assembly verification while preventing the plug from being activated prematurely or independently if it is not properly installed in the intended second component. That is, in some examples, the present design ensures that the assembly verification plug is not activated unless the retainer is properly installed, thereby providing a more reliable and fail-safe verification process.

[0025] In one example, a fastener assembly for coupling a first component relative to a second component includes: an assembly verification plug having a verification head and a pair of elastic legs, wherein each of the pair of elastic legs includes a locking tab, wherein the verification head includes a fixed flat portion and at least one wing portion coupled to the fixed flat portion via a hinge, and wherein the verification head includes an installation indication positioned on at least a portion of each of the fixed flat portion and the at least one wing portion; and a retainer having a body portion defining a retainer opening and a pair of retaining legs elastically coupled to the body portion and configured to couple with the opening, wherein the retainer opening is configured to receive and secure at least a portion of the pair of elastic legs, and wherein each of the pair of retaining legs includes a cutout configured to receive the locking tab to secure the assembly verification plug relative to the retainer in a parts in assembly (PIA) position.

[0026] In another example, a fastener assembly for coupling a first component relative to a second component includes: an assembly verification plug having a verification head and a pair of elastic legs, wherein each of the pair of elastic legs includes a locking tab, and wherein the verification head includes a fixed flat portion and at least one wing-shaped portion coupled to the fixed flat portion via a hinge; and a retainer having a body portion defining a retainer opening and a pair of retaining legs, the pair of retaining legs being elastically coupled to the body portion and configured to couple with the opening, wherein the retainer opening is configured to receive and secure at least a portion of the pair of elastic legs, and wherein each of the pair of retaining legs includes a first cutout configured to receive the locking tab to secure the assembly verification plug relative to the retainer in a first position.

[0027] In yet another example, a fastener assembly for coupling a first component relative to a second component includes: an assembly verification plug having a verification head and a pair of elastic legs, wherein each of the pair of elastic legs includes a locking tab, and wherein the verification head includes a fixed flat portion and at least one wing portion coupled to the fixed flat portion via a hinge; a retainer having a body portion defining a retainer opening and a pair of retaining legs, the pair of retaining legs being elastically coupled to the body portion and configured to couple with the opening, wherein the retainer opening is configured to receive and secure at least a portion of the pair of elastic legs, and wherein each of the pair of retaining legs includes a cutout configured to receive the locking tab to secure the assembly verification plug relative to the retainer in a first position; and a load plate configured to evenly distribute force over a wider area of ​​the first component, wherein the load plate includes a plate opening configured to receive the pair of elastic legs and the pair of retaining legs.

[0028] In some examples, each retention leg of the pair of retention legs includes an outer flat portion and an inner flat portion connected by a curved section.

[0029] In some examples, the inner planar portion includes a first cutout.

[0030] In some examples, each retention leg of the pair of retention legs includes a second cutout configured to receive a locking tab to secure the assembly verification plug relative to the retainer in the second position.

[0031] In some examples, the first position is a parts in assembly (PIA) position and the second position is a fully installed position.

[0032] In some examples, the verification header includes installation instructions.

[0033] In some examples, the installation indication is a fiducial mark.

[0034] In some examples, the authentication head includes a fixed planar portion and at least one wing portion coupled to the fixed planar portion via a hinge.

[0035] In some examples, the wing portion is configured to pivot, flex, or move relative to the fixed planar portion.

[0036] In some examples, the wing portion is movable between a first position transverse to the fixed planar portion and a second position coplanar with the fixed planar portion.

[0037] In some examples, the first position corresponds to a pre-installed position and the second position corresponds to an installed position.

[0038] In some examples, the installation instructions are a Quick Response (QR) code.

[0039] In some examples, the retainer is a stamped metal retainer.

[0040] In some examples, the assembly verification plug is a plastic component.

[0041] In some examples, the fastener assembly further includes a load plate. For example, the load plate can define a plate opening configured to receive the pair of resilient legs and the pair of retaining legs.

[0042] Figure 1a to Figure 1h A fastening system 100 is shown configured to secure a first component 104 relative to a second component 112 via a fastener assembly 102 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Figure 1a A perspective assembly view of a fastening system 100 having a fastener assembly 102 is shown, and Figure 1b A perspective view of the fastening system 100 is shown in a first position (eg, a shipping position, such as a partially assembled position). Figure 1c and Figure 1d A perspective assembly view of the fastener assembly 102 is shown, and Figure 1e to Figure 1h First, second, third, and fourth side assembled views of the fastener assembly 102 are shown.

[0043] The illustrated fastening system 100 generally includes a fastener assembly 102 for installation in a first component 104 and a second component 112. As illustrated, the fastener assembly 102 generally includes an assembly verification plug 108, a retainer 116, and in some cases a load plate 134. The assembly verification plug 108 and the retainer 116 of the fastener assembly 102 are configured to engage and securely retain one another, thereby facilitating a reliable connection between the first component 104 and the second component 112. This engagement ensures that the first component 104 and the second component 112 remain properly aligned and connected throughout assembly and installation.

[0044] For example, Figure 2a and Figure 2b Front and perspective views of the fastener assembly 102 with the load plate 134 in a first position are shown. Figure 2c A perspective assembled view of the fastening system 100 with the load plate 134 in a first position is shown, and Figure 2d The fastening system 100 (with the load plate 134 omitted) is shown in a first position along the section line AA ( Figure 1b ) is a cross-sectional side view taken along Figure 2eThe fastening system 100 is shown in a second position (eg, an installed position, wherein the assembly verification plug 108 is fully and correctly seated in the retainer 116) along the section line AA ( Figure 1b ) is a cross-sectional stereogram taken from the image.

[0045] The first component 104 defines an A-side surface 104a (e.g., a first surface, such as an exterior surface) and a B-side surface 104b (e.g., a second surface, such as an interior surface). The second component 112 similarly defines an A-side surface 112a (e.g., a first surface, such as an exterior surface) and a B-side surface 112b (e.g., a second surface, such as an interior surface). The first component 104 and / or the second component 112 may be, for example, an automotive panel or a structural component of a vehicle, such as a door, a pillar (e.g., an A-pillar, a B-pillar, a C-pillar, etc.), an airbag, an instrument panel component (e.g., a cross member, a bracket, a frame, etc.), a seat frame, a center console, a fender, a sheet metal frame, etc. Depending on the application, the first component 104 and / or the second component 112 may be made of: a metal (or a metal alloy), a synthetic or semi-synthetic polymer (e.g., a plastic, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)), a composite material (e.g., fiberglass), or a combination thereof.

[0046] If appropriate, each of the first component 104 and the second component 112 includes, defines, or otherwise provides one or more openings (eg, holes or cutouts) formed during manufacture of the first component 104 and the second component 112. Figure 1a As best shown in FIG. 1 , the first component 104 defines a first opening 106 and the second component 112 defines a second opening 140 that are each configured to receive and retain the fastener assembly 102 relative to the first component 104 and the second component 112 .

[0047] In the illustrated example, the first component 104 provides a first opening 106 as a rectangular hole having a first width (W 1 ), which is sized to receive a portion of the fastener assembly 102, and the second member 112 provides a second opening 140 as a rectangular window having a second width (W 2 ), which is sized to receive a portion of the fastener assembly 102. Figure 1a , the first opening 106 in the first component 104 has a first width (W 1 ), which is greater than the second width (W 2). This difference in opening width allows the retainer 116 to be partially assembled within the first component 104 without disengaging the locking tab 136 on the assembly verification plug 108. Therefore, the locking tab 136 remains engaged until the retainer 116 is fully installed in the second component 112, thereby ensuring secure retention until the final position.

[0048] The fastener assembly 102 includes a plurality of components, including an assembly verification plug 108 and a retainer 116, which are configured to fit together in one or more positions, including a first position and a second position. A load plate 134 may be introduced to evenly distribute the force over a wider area of ​​the first component 104, thereby reducing damage. As shown, the load plate 134 defines a plate opening 160 that is configured to receive the pair of resilient legs 152 and the pair of retaining legs 150.

[0049] The assembly verification plug 108 includes a verification head 128 and a pair of resilient legs 152. The verification head 128 includes one or more movable wing portions 128a and a fixed flat portion 128b. The resilient legs 152 extend generally perpendicular to the verification head 128 and are resiliently connected below it. Each resilient leg 152 may include one or more locking tabs 136 or similar features that are configured to engage with the retainer 116 during assembly. In this example, each resilient leg 152 includes a locking tab 136 that is oriented outward, i.e., away from the central longitudinal axis 114.

[0050] The retainer 116 includes a body portion 142 and a vertical fastener portion 144. The body portion 142 defines a retainer opening 138 through which a resilient leg 152 passes during assembly. The fastener portion 144 includes two retaining legs 150 that are elastically attached below the body portion 142. When the fastener portion 144 is inserted through the aligned openings 106, 140 in the first component 104 and the second component 112, the retaining legs 150 can be flexed relative to the central longitudinal axis 114. In some examples, the body portion 142 can include one or more resilient tabs 148 that are configured to contact the first component 104 when installed, thereby reducing unwanted movement and / or buzz, squeak, and rattle (BSR).

[0051] In the illustrated example, each retention leg 150 includes an outer portion 150a and an inner portion 150b connected by a curved section 150c. Each of the outer portion 150a and the inner portion 150b is generally flat, parallel, and spaced apart to form a gap. Each retention leg 150 may also include one or more guides 150d that are bent at approximately 90 degrees to span the gap between the outer portion and the inner portion.

[0052] Each of the pair of retention legs 150 may define one or more cutouts or other features to interact with the spring legs 152 of the assembly verification plug 108 and with the first component 104 near the first opening 106 when fully assembled. In the illustrated example, the inner portion 150b of each of the pair of retention legs 150 defines a first cutout 146 associated with the first position and a second cutout 154 associated with the second position. The retainer 116 may be manufactured as a single component using a metal stamping process. For example, the retainer 116 may be stamped from a sheet of metal using a die stamping process and then bent via one or more bending steps to form the shape of the retainer 116.

[0053] refer to Figure 2b The locking tab 136 on the assembly verification plug 108 is designed to engage with the first notch 146 formed in the retainer 116 during transportation of the fastener assembly 102 to the end user, thereby securing the assembly verification plug 108 in a first or initial position (such as a shipping position, such as a part in assembly (PIA) position). This locked position maintains the integrity of the assembly verification plug 108, thereby preventing any premature movement or activation prior to final installation.

[0054] During installation, refer to Figure 2c When the fastener assembly 102 is inserted into the aligned first opening 106 in the first component 104 and the second opening 140 in the second component 112 as indicated by arrow 118, the inner wall of the retainer compresses the resilient legs 152 of the assembly verification plug 108. This compression releases the locking tab 136 on the assembly verification plug 108 from the first notch 146 in the retainer 116, thereby allowing the assembly verification plug 108 to shift in the direction indicated by arrow 118, thereby facilitating proper engagement and assembly verification.

[0055] This allows the assembly verification plug 108 to be pushed to the second position (final assembly position). Before the assembly verification plug 108 is fully installed, the visual quality system 120 cannot read the installation instructions 126 (e.g., an assembly verification code, such as a bar code, QR code, etc.) that are engraved, bonded, or otherwise located on the top of the assembly verification plug 108, i.e., the fixed flat portion 128b and the wing portion 128a. Once the assembly verification plug 108 is fully in place, refer to Figure 2e , the locking tab 136 on the assembly verification plug 108 is designed to engage a second notch 154 formed in the retainer 116, thereby securing the assembly verification plug 108 in a second or final position (eg, an installed position).

[0056] Once installed, the wing portion 128a is bent to a flattened position, allowing the visual quality system 120 to read and verify a correct and complete installation. As shown, the scannable installation indication 126 located on one or more of the movable wing portions 128a and the fixed flat portion 128b becomes readable only when the wing portion 128a is deflected upward and squeezed. This configuration ensures that the installation indication 126 is accessible for scanning only after proper installation, thereby confirming that the wing is properly engaged and the fastener assembly 102 is secure.

[0057] In the illustrated example, to facilitate tracking, the fastener assembly 102 includes an assembly verification plug 108 having a head 128 coupled to a spring leg 152. The head 128 defines a generally flat surface in the installed position that supports and / or provides an installation indication 126 that can be tracked by the visual quality system 120 (e.g., Figure 3a and Figure 3b ) and / or manual inspection. When in the fully installed position, the head 128 is a generally flat structure consisting of a fixed flat portion 128b (fixed relative to the elastic legs 152) and one or more movable wing portions 128a. In the example shown, the head 128 includes a fixed flat portion 128b and two movable wing portions 128a positioned on opposite sides of the fixed flat portion 128b.

[0058] The head 128 and / or installation indication 126 may be integral with the fastener assembly 102. The head 128 includes or provides the installation indication 126, which may be a 2-dimensional fiducial marker (e.g., a barcode, a Quick Response (QR) code, an AprilTag, etc.) located on the wing portion 128a of the head 128. Figure 3a An example bar code 126a fiducial mark and an example QR code 126b fiducial mark are shown in Detail A1 and Detail A2 of FIG. Although the head 128 is shown as a generally flat structure, other shapes can be used to orient the installation indication 126 at a proper angle relative to the reader 122 when the first component 104 is properly inserted and seated in the first opening 106 of the first component 104 and the second opening 140 of the second component 112. In another example, the installation indication 126 can be a 3-dimensional fiducial mark formed on the head 128.

[0059] To facilitate movement, the head 128 includes or defines one or more hinges 156 that allow the wing portion 128a to pivot, bend, or move about the pivot axis 130 relative to the fixed flat portion 128b of the head 128 as indicated by arrow 132. In one example, the wing portion 128a is configured to pivot about the pivot axis 130 between a first position (e.g., a shipping position, such as a partially assembled position) and a second position (e.g., an installed position in which the assembly verification plug 108 is properly seated in the retainer 116).

[0060] When the assembly verification plug 108 is correctly inserted into the retainer 116, the retainer 116 pivots the wing portion 128a of the assembly verification plug 108 about the pivot axis 130 to assume the second position. When the assembly verification plug 108 is incorrectly inserted into the retainer 116 (or another abnormal condition occurs), the head 128 will assume a third position (e.g., an intermediate position between the first and second positions, such as another non-planar position).

[0061] refer to Figure 3a , a first section of the mounting indication 126 is arranged on the fixed flat part 128b of the head 128. As in the first embodiment, on the right and left sides of the fixed flat part 128b, wing parts 128a in the form of curved plates are connected to the fixed flat part 128b by film hinges 156. Each of the two wing parts 128a carries another section of the mounting indication 126. In the first position of the wing parts 128a, the wing parts 128a sag at a certain angle so that the mounting indication 126 cannot be read by the visual quality system 120. Once the head 128 has assumed its final fully seated mounting position after the push-in process in the direction indicated by the arrow 118, the two wing parts 128a have been rotated relative to the fixed flat part 128b as indicated by the arrow 158 due to the partial contact with the retainer 116, the fixed flat part 128b and the two wing parts 128a are in a single plane or parallel planes. Installation instructions 126 may now be read by visual quality system 120 .

[0062] The components of the fastener assembly 102 can be formed as an integral structure. For example, the assembly verification plug 108 can be manufactured via mold processing and plastic injection molding processes. In another example, the assembly verification plug 108 can be a printed thermoplastic material component that can be printed with high accuracy and with many details, which is particularly advantageous for forming components that require complex and / or precise features. Additive manufacturing technology does not require mold processing typically associated with plastic injection molding, thereby reducing initial manufacturing costs, which is particularly advantageous in small batch production. In some examples, the fastener assembly 102 can be manufactured using material extrusion (e.g., fused deposition molding (FDM), light solidification (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), material jetting, binder jetting, powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition, VAT photopolymerization, and / or any other suitable type of additive manufacturing / 3D printing process).

[0063] Additive manufacturing technology prints objects in three dimensions, so the minimum feature size (i.e., resolution) in the XY plane (horizontal resolution) and the layer height in the Z axis (vertical resolution) are both considered in the overall printer resolution. The horizontal resolution is the minimum movement that the printer's extruder can make in the X and Y axes within a layer, while the vertical resolution is the minimum thickness of a layer produced by the printer in one stroke. Printer resolution describes layer thickness and XY resolution in dots per inch (DPI) or microns (μm). The diameter of a particle (3D dot) in the horizontal resolution can be about 50 to 100 μm (510 to 250 DPI).

[0064] Typical layer thickness (vertical resolution) is about 100 μm (250 DPI), but layers can be as thin as 16 μm (1,600 DPI). The smaller the particles, the higher the horizontal resolution (i.e., the higher the detail produced by the printer). Similarly, the smaller the layer thickness in the Z axis, the higher the vertical resolution (i.e., the smoother the printed surface will be). However, the printing process in higher vertical resolution printing will take longer to produce finer layers because the printer has to produce more layers. In some examples, fastener assembly 102 can be formed or otherwise manufactured at different resolutions during a printing operation.

[0065] Figure 3a and Figure 3bAn assembled isometric view and an assembled isometric view of the fastener assembly 102 with the first component 104, the second component 112, and the verification system are shown, respectively. As shown, the fastening system 100 can be used with a visual quality system 120 having a reader 122 and a computer 124. The visual quality system 120 (or its components) can be positioned adjacent to the fastener assembly 102 and / or the first component 104 to monitor the assembly of the fastener assembly 102 with the first component 104 and / or the second component 112. In the example shown, the visual quality system 120 includes, among other things, a reader 122 that is communicatively coupled to the computer 124. The reader 122 can be communicatively coupled to the computer 124 via a wired or wireless link. The reader 122 is arranged to image or otherwise track installation indications 126 associated with the fastener assembly 102.

[0066] In some examples, the head 128 is designed so that one or more installation indications 126 are not visible to the visual quality system 120 until the assembly verification plug 108 is fully assembled. That is, when the assembly verification plug 108 is properly seated in the retainer 116 and / or the fastener assembly 102 is properly seated in the first opening 106 of the first component 104. For example, if the assembly verification plug 108 is not fully inserted, the head 128 will not assume the second position (e.g., the wing portion 128a is not in a plane with the fixed flat portion 128b) and the visual quality system 120 will not be able to detect the installation indication 126 or determine that the angle is incorrect. In either case, the visual quality system 120 will indicate an error or anomaly.

[0067] If the computer 124 determines, via one or more processors 124a coupled to a memory device 124b, based at least in part on one or more installation instructions 126, that the fastener assembly 102 is not properly installed to the first component 104, an alert can be issued to an operator (e.g., via a portable communication device), and / or, in the case of a robotic assembly, the robot can automatically repeat the assembly process to correct the error.

[0068] Although one installation indicator 126 is shown, additional or fewer installation indicators 126 may be employed and associated with the fastener assembly 102 during installation. Further, additional installation indicators 126 may be formed in or on the fastener assembly 102 to provide redundancy and / or improve accuracy by having multiple position data points. In some examples, in addition to or in lieu of the head 128, one or more installation indicators 126 may be positioned on another portion of the body portion 142 (e.g., a sidewall of the body portion).

[0069] The installation indication 126 is coupled to the head 128. The installation indication 126 can be printed directly on the head 128, applied as a sticker, or otherwise fixed. The wing portion 128a is coupled to the fixed flat portion 128b of the head 128 via the hinge 156. The wing portion 128a is configured to pivot between a first position and a second position. Specifically, when the assembly verification plug 108 is correctly seated in the tube retainer 116 of the body portion 142, the head 128 assumes the second position. The reader 122, which is separate from the fastener assembly 102 and operatively coupled to the computer, is configured to track the installation indication 126 during installation of the tube 110 or the fastener assembly 102 via the processor 124a.

[0070] Although the present method and / or system has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present method and / or system. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt specific circumstances or materials to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the frames and / or components of the disclosed examples may be combined, divided, rearranged and / or otherwise modified. Therefore, the present method and / or system is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed. Alternatively, the present method and / or system will include all embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims, both literally and according to the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

1. A fastener assembly for coupling a first component relative to a second component, the fastener assembly comprising: an assembly verification plug having a verification head and a pair of elastic legs, wherein each of the pair of elastic legs comprises a locking tab, wherein the verification head comprises a fixed flat portion and at least one wing portion coupled to the fixed flat portion via a hinge, and wherein the verification head includes an installation indication positioned on at least a portion of each of the fixed flat portion and the at least one wing portion; and a retainer having a body portion defining a retainer opening, and a pair of retainer legs resiliently coupled to the body portion and configured to couple with the opening, wherein the retainer opening is configured to receive and secure at least a portion of the pair of elastic legs, and Wherein, each of the pair of retention legs includes a cutout configured to receive the locking tab to secure the assembly verification plug relative to the retainer in a parts in assembly (PIA) position.

2. A fastener assembly for coupling a first component relative to a second component, the fastener assembly comprising: an assembly verification plug having a verification head and a pair of elastic legs, wherein each of the pair of elastic legs comprises a locking tab, and wherein the verification head comprises a fixed flat portion and at least one wing portion coupled to the fixed flat portion via a hinge; and a retainer having a body portion defining a retainer opening, and a pair of retainer legs resiliently coupled to the body portion and configured to couple with the opening, wherein the retainer opening is configured to receive and secure at least a portion of the pair of elastic legs, and Wherein, each of the pair of retention legs includes a first cutout configured to receive the locking tab to secure the assembly verification plug relative to the retainer in a first position.

3. The fastener assembly of claim 2, wherein: Each retention leg of the pair of retention legs includes an outer flat portion and an inner flat portion connected by a curved section.

4. The fastener assembly of claim 3, wherein: The inner planar portion includes the first cutout.

5. The fastener assembly of claim 2, wherein: Each retention leg of the pair of retention legs includes a second cutout configured to receive the locking tab to secure the assembly verification plug relative to the retainer in a second position.

6. The fastener assembly of claim 5, wherein: The first position is a parts in assembly (PIA) position and the second position is a fully installed position.

7. The fastener assembly of claim 2, wherein: The authentication header includes installation instructions.

8. The fastener assembly of claim 7, wherein: The installation indication is a reference mark.

9. The fastener assembly of claim 7, wherein: The authentication head includes a fixed planar portion and at least one wing portion coupled to the fixed planar portion via a hinge.

10. The fastener assembly of claim 9, wherein: The wing portion is configured to pivot, bend or move relative to the fixed planar portion.

11. The fastener assembly of claim 10, wherein: The wing portion is movable between a first position transverse to the fixed planar portion and a second position coplanar with the fixed planar portion.

12. The fastener assembly of claim 11, wherein: The first position corresponds to a pre-installation position and the second position corresponds to an installation position.

13. The fastener assembly of claim 7, wherein: The installation instructions are a Quick Response (QR) code.

14. The fastener assembly of claim 2, wherein: The retainer is a stamped metal retainer.

15. The fastener assembly of claim 2, wherein: The assembly verification plug is a plastic component.

16. The fastener assembly of claim 2, further comprising a load plate.

17. The fastener assembly of claim 16, wherein: The load plate defines a plate opening configured to receive the pair of resilient legs and the pair of retention legs.

18. A fastener assembly for coupling a first component relative to a second component, the fastener assembly comprising: an assembly verification plug having a verification head and a pair of elastic legs, wherein each of the pair of elastic legs comprises a locking tab, and wherein the verification head comprises a fixed flat portion and at least one wing portion coupled to the fixed flat portion via a hinge; a retainer having a body portion defining a retainer opening and a pair of retainer legs resiliently coupled to the body portion and configured to couple with the opening, wherein the retainer opening is configured to receive and secure at least a portion of the pair of elastic legs, and wherein each of the pair of retention legs includes a cutout configured to receive the locking tab to secure the assembly verification plug relative to the retainer in a first position; and A load plate is configured to evenly distribute force over a wider area of ​​the first component, wherein the load plate includes a plate opening configured to receive the pair of resilient legs and the pair of retention legs.

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