Two-part fastener assembly

Abstract

The aperture fastener component (22) has an intermediate head (38) and an aperture shaft (40) including aperture retention arms (42) extending from the sides of the intermediate head. The receiver (28) includes an annular wall (30) extending from a base (32) and a plurality of plate retention surfaces (36) supported by and disposed within the annular wall. A coupling plate (44) can be engaged and held by the plurality of plate retention surfaces in the receiver to couple the dog-house fastener component and the aperture fastener component. Each of the receiver and the coupling plate extends from a different one of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener component and the dog-house shaft as part of the dog-house fastener component. The coupling plate can extend as part of the aperture fastener component, and the dog-house shaft can extend as part of the dog-house fastener component.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] (Related Applications) This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 509,270, filed July 11, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] (Technical field) The present disclosure relates to a two-piece fastener assembly designed to join a panel having a dog house to a support having an opening therein. [Background technology]

[0003] This section presents background information related to the present disclosure that is not necessarily prior art. Existing two-part fastener assemblies designed to join a panel having a dog house to a support having an opening therein typically require a relatively large gap between the dog house and the support. In some automotive applications, sufficient gap does not exist to accommodate such existing two-part fastener assemblies. In addition, such automotive applications may require a consistent, relatively large bond and separation force between the two parts of the fastener to provide repeated access to the backside of the panel. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, but does not comprehensively disclose its complete scope or all of its features.

[0005] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a two-part fastener assembly designed to join a panel having a dog house to a support having an opening therein is provided. The two-part fastener assembly includes a dog house fastener part and an opening fastener part. The dog house fastener part can have a dog house head designed to couple the dog house fastener to the dog house and a dog house shaft extending from the dog house head. The opening fastener part can have a middle head and an opening shaft extending from a side of the middle head. A plurality of opening retaining arms can extend outwardly from the opening shaft and can be designed to hold a support between the opening retaining arms and the middle head. The receiver can include an annular wall extending from a base and a plurality of plate retaining surfaces facing toward the base and supported by the annular wall and located inside the annular wall. The receiver can extend from one of an opposite side of the middle head as part of the opening fastener part and the dog house shaft as part of the dog house fastener part. A coupling plate can be engaged and held by the plurality of plate retaining surfaces in the receiver to couple the dog house fastener part and the opening fastener part. A connecting plate can extend from the opposite side of the intermediate head as part of the opening fastener component and from the other of the dog-house shaft as part of the dog-house fastener component. One of the receiver and connecting plate provides the necessary flexibility to connect and separate the connecting plate and receiver and correspondingly the dog-house and opening fastener components together.

[0006] In another aspect of the disclosure, a two-part fastener assembly designed to join a panel having a dog house to a support having an opening therein is provided. The two-part fastener assembly includes a dog house fastener part and an opening fastener part. The dog house fastener part can have a dog house head designed to couple the dog house fastener to the dog house and a dog house shaft extending from the dog house head. The dog house fastener part can have a receiver part including an annular wall extending axially from a plate-shaped base. The base of the receiver part can be supported by the dog house shaft, and the receiver part can have a plurality of plate retaining surfaces supported by the annular wall and disposed inside the annular wall and facing towards the base. The dog house fastener part can have a middle head and an opening shaft extending from a side of the middle head. A plurality of opening retaining arms can extend outwardly away from the opening shaft and can be designed to retain a support between the opening retaining arms and the middle head. The opening fastener part can have a plate shaft extending from an opposite side of the middle head and a connecting plate supported on the plate shaft. The coupling plate can be engaged and held within the receiver by a plurality of plate retaining surfaces to couple the dog-house and opening fastener components together. The annular wall of the receiver can include a plurality of wall segments separated by gaps therebetween. The wall segments flexibly support the plate retaining surfaces of the receiver to provide the flexibility necessary to couple and separate the coupling plate and receiver, and correspondingly the dog-house and opening fastener components together.

[0007] In another aspect of the disclosure, a single-piece W-base fastener can include a head and an open shaft extending from a side of the head. A plurality of open retaining arms can extend outwardly away from the open shaft. The insertion end can be disposed below the open retaining arm and can be generally conical in shape. The insertion end can include an opening therethrough. The opening can have a closed inner terminus disposed to separate a first portion of the first lateral half of the insertion end and leave a second portion of the first lateral half of the insertion end below the first open retaining arm as a connecting bridge. The opening can include a path extending from the closed inner terminus to an open outer terminus and separating the second lateral half of the insertion end below the second open retaining arm. The insertion end below the open outer terminus of the path can extend laterally outward beyond a straight outer line defined by the lateral outermost end points of the outer longitudinal sides of the second open retaining arm.

[0008] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein.The description and specific examples in this summary are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0009] The drawings described herein are for purposes of illustrating selected embodiments only, not all possible embodiments, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary two-part fastener assembly according to the present disclosure, with the parts separated from each other. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the exemplary two-part fastener assembly of FIG. 1, with the parts separated from each other. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exemplary two-part fastener assembly of FIG. 1, with the parts joined together. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the exemplary two-part fastener assembly of FIG. 1, with the parts joined together. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a side view of the exemplary two-part fastener assembly of FIG. 1, with the parts joined together. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the exemplary two-piece fastener assembly of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 along with a portion of the panel and support. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6 along with a portion of the panel and support. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second exemplary two-part fastener assembly according to the present disclosure, with the parts separated from one another. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the exemplary two-part fastener assembly of FIG. 9, with the parts separated from each other. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the exemplary two-piece fastener assembly of FIG. 9, with the pieces joined together. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the exemplary two-part fastener assembly of FIG. 9, with the parts joined together. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the exemplary dog-house fastener component of FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a side view of the exemplary two-piece fastener assembly of FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the exemplary two-piece fastener assembly of FIG. [Figure 16] 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 15 along with a portion of the panel and support. [Figure 17] 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 15 along with a portion of the panel and support. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a third exemplary two-part fastener assembly according to the present disclosure, with the parts separated from one another. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is another perspective view of the exemplary two-part fastener assembly of FIG. 18, with the parts separated from each other. [Figure 20]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the exemplary two-piece fastener assembly of FIG. 18, with the pieces joined together. [Figure 21] FIG. 19 is another perspective view of the exemplary two-piece fastener assembly of FIG. 18, with the pieces joined together. [Figure 22] FIG. 19 is a side view of the exemplary two-piece fastener assembly of FIG. 18. [Diagram 23] FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the exemplary two-piece fastener assembly of FIG. 18. [Figure 24] 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 24-24 of FIG. 23 along with a portion of the panel and support. [Diagram 25] 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 25-25 of FIG. 23 along with a portion of the panel and support. [Figure 26] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fourth exemplary two-part fastener assembly according to the present disclosure, with the parts separated from one another. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is another perspective view of the exemplary two-part fastener assembly of FIG. 26, with the parts separated from each other. [Figure 28] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the exemplary two-piece fastener assembly of FIG. 26, with the pieces joined together. [Figure 29] FIG. 27 is another perspective view of the exemplary two-piece fastener assembly of FIG. 26, with the pieces joined together. [Diagram 30] FIG. 27 is a side view of the exemplary two-piece fastener assembly of FIG. 26. [Diagram 31] FIG. 27 is a bottom view of the exemplary two-piece fastener assembly of FIG. 26. [Diagram 32] 32 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 32-32 of FIG. 31 along with a portion of the panel and support. [Diagram 33] 33 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33-33 of FIG. 31 along with a portion of the panel and support. [Diagram 34] 1 is a perspective view of a W-base fastener, such as one exemplary aperture fastener component, according to the present disclosure. FIG. [Diagram 35]FIG. 35 is a front side view of the exemplary W-base fastener of FIG. 34, which is essentially a mirror image of the rear side view of the opposite side. [Diagram 36] FIG. 35 is a right side view of the exemplary W-base fastener of FIG. 34. [Figure 37] FIG. 35 is a left side view of the exemplary W-base fastener of FIG. 34. [Figure 38] 1 is a perspective view of a W-base fastener, such as another exemplary aperture fastener component, according to the present disclosure; FIG. [Figure 39] FIG. 39 is a front side view of the exemplary W-base fastener of FIG. 38, which is essentially a mirror image of the rear side view of the opposite side. [Diagram 40] FIG. 39 is a right side view of the exemplary W-base fastener of FIG. 38. [Diagram 41] FIG. 39 is a left side view of the exemplary W-base fastener of FIG. 38. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. Exemplary embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] 1-8, one embodiment of a two-part fastener assembly 10 for joining a panel 12 having a dog house 14 to a support 16 having an opening 18 therein is described below. The two-part fastener assembly 10 includes a dog house fastener part 20 and an opening fastener part 22. The dog house fastener part 20 may include a dog house head 24 designed to couple the dog house fastener part 20 to the dog house 14 and a dog house shaft 26 extending axially from the dog house head 24. As used herein, a "piece" is a separate and independent component. Thus, each piece or separate and independent component has or supports a feature or element of that piece.

[0013] The dog-house fastener component 20 may also include a receiver 28 including an annular wall 30 extending from a base 32. The base 32 of the receiver 28 may have a generally disk or plate shape and may extend from and be axially supported by the dog-house shaft 26. The receiver 28 may have a plurality of plate retaining arms 34 located or extending inwardly from the annular wall 30. Each plate retaining arm 34 may include a plate retaining surface 36 facing toward the base 32.

[0014] The open fastener component 22 can have an intermediate head 38 and an open shaft 40 extending from the open side of the intermediate head 38. By way of example, the intermediate head 38 can have a disk or plate shape, or can have an umbrella shape. A plurality of open retention arms 42 can extend outwardly away from the open shaft 40 and can be designed to retain the support 16 between the retention arms 42 and the intermediate head 38.

[0015] The aperture fastener component 22 may also include a joining plate 44 that is engaged and held by the plurality of plate retaining arms 34 to join the dog-house fastener component 20 and the aperture fastener component 22 together. The joining plate 44 may be supported by a plate shaft 46 that extends from the opposite side or dog-house side of the intermediate head 38.

[0016] Alternatively, the binding plate 44 can be part of the dog-house fastener component 20 and the receiver 28 can be part of the aperture fastener component 22. For example, the binding plate 44 can be supported by the dog-house shaft 26 and the intermediate head 38 of the aperture fastener component 22 can be aligned with the base 32 of the receiver 28.

[0017] As in this embodiment of the exemplary coupling assembly 10, the receiver 28 can include three plate retaining arms 34, which can be equally spaced around the diameter of the annular wall 30 of the receiver 28. In some examples, the receiver 28 can include two, four, or more plate retaining arms 34. As in this embodiment of the exemplary coupling assembly 10, the plate retaining arms 34 can be protrusions that are wider than they are long. As mentioned above, each plate retaining arm 34 can include a plate retaining surface 36 facing toward the base 32.

[0018] The plate retaining arms 34 capture and retain the binding plate 44 with the plate retaining surfaces 36 engaged against the plate retaining surfaces 48 of the cooperating binding plate 44. In some examples, the plate retaining surfaces 36 and the cooperating plate retaining surfaces 48 can each be oriented or extend at an angle relative to a plane transverse to the central axis of the fastener 10, ranging from 0 degrees, 3 degrees, and 5 degrees to 20 degrees, 30 degrees, 40 degrees, 50 degrees, and 60 degrees. In many cases, the angle of the plate retaining surfaces 36 is different from the angle of the cooperating plate retaining surfaces 48 to facilitate separation of the dog-house fastener component 20 from the opening fastener component 22.

[0019] Various additional features or elements may be provided to aid in adjusting the bonding and separation forces between the two components 20, 22. For example, the annular wall 30 may be formed of multiple annular segments separated from one another by separations or gaps 50. As in this exemplary embodiment of the coupling assembly 10, these separations or gaps 50 may have a pie-like shape that separates the annular wall 30 into each segment. These separations or gaps 50 may additionally extend partially into the base 32.

[0020] As another example, a window 52 can extend through the disk- or plate-shaped base 32 of the receiver 28 adjacent each plate-retaining arm 34. The size of these windows 52 can be adjusted to help tailor the engagement and separation forces. For example, larger windows 52 can increase the flexibility of the annular wall 30 that retains the plate-retaining arms 34, while smaller sized windows 52 tend to reduce the flexibility of the plate-retaining arms.

[0021] As with this embodiment of the exemplary joint assembly 10, the joint plate 44 can be a relatively rigid joint component, while the receiver 28 can be a relatively flexible joint component. In other words, the receiver 28 can provide substantially all of the flexibility necessary to join and separate the dog-house fastener component 20 and the opening fastener component 22, respectively.

[0022] When using stress concentration adjustment features such as separations or gaps 50 and windows 52 that form the segmented annular wall 30, it may be desirable to minimize the extent to which plastic deformation of relatively flexible bonded parts occurs during bonding and separation. In some cases, the subsequent separation force may be 80%, 90%, 95% or more of the initial or preceding separation force to allow for a bond that can be repeatedly separated and rebonded.

[0023] As in this embodiment of the exemplary coupling assembly 10, the coupling plate 44 may be annular in shape and the coupling plate 44 may be supported by a plate shaft 46 that is also annular in shape. The receiver 28 may include a central boss 54 that mates with a central recess 56 in the annular coupling plate 44 and the annular plate shaft 46. This fit may be designed to center and maintain the coupling plate 44 within the receiver 28. As a result, the interaction of the coupling plate 44 with the plate retaining arms, and the resulting coupling and separation forces between the component pieces 20, 22, may be more consistently maintained.

[0024] In addition to the connecting plate 44, each of the base 32, connecting plate 44, and intermediate head 38 may be plate shaped, which helps to minimize or reduce the required gap between the dog house 14 and the support 16. Additionally, the dog house head 24 may be plate shaped, which further helps to minimize or reduce the required gap between the panel 12 (from which the dog house 14 extends) and the support 16. Similarly, the axial length of the dog house shaft 26 and the plate shaft 46 may be only the axial length required to accommodate the entire assembly. This also helps to minimize or reduce the required gap between the dog house 14 and the support 16.

[0025] 9-17, another example of a two-piece fastener assembly 10 for joining a panel 12 having a dog house 14 to a support 16 having an opening 18 therein is presented. To identify and describe corresponding elements or features in each of the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the same reference numbers are used herein even if the corresponding elements or features are not identical. Additionally, the description of the various corresponding elements or features discussed above, although applicable to other exemplary embodiments, may not be repeated herein to limit or avoid unnecessary repetition thereof.

[0026] As in this embodiment of the exemplary coupling assembly 10, the dog-house fastener component 20 can include the receiver 28 and the aperture fastener component 22 can include the coupling plate 44. Additionally, the coupling plate 44 can be a relatively rigid coupling component, while the receiver 28 can be a relatively flexible coupling component. This coupling flexibility of the receiver 28 can be provided at least in part by the plate retaining surface 36 being supported by the flexible plate retaining arms 34. In other words, the plate retaining arms 34 flex or move independently of the supporting annular wall 30 of the receiver 28.

[0027] One reason for this relative flexibility of the plate retaining arms 34 may be the fact that they have an overall length extending away from the annular wall 30 that is greater than their overall cross-sectional width perpendicular to their length. Various other features or elements may be provided or adjusted to help tailor the flexibility of the plate retaining arms 34 and the mating and separation forces between the two pieces 20, 22. For example, a window 52 may extend through the annular wall 30 of the receiver 28 adjacent each of the flexible plate retaining arms 34. Similar to the windows 52 described above, the dimensions of the windows 52 adjacent these arms may be adjusted to help tailor the mating and separation forces.

[0028] As another example, each of the flexible plate retaining arms 34 can include a laterally inwardly extending proximal portion 58 and an angled distal portion 60, where the proximal portion 58 couples the flexible plate retaining arm 34 to the annular wall 30 of the receiver 28, and the distal portion 60 of the flexible plate retaining arm 34 extends from the base or proximal portion 58 at an angle thereto. The proximal portion 58 can act like a springboard, and its dimensions can be adjusted to help adjust the coupling and separation forces. For example, a proximal portion 58 having a smaller cross-section and a greater length can increase the flexibility of the plate retaining arm 34, and vice versa. Similarly, the dimensions and angle of the distal portion can be adjusted to adjust the flexibility of the retaining arm to help adjust the coupling and separation forces.

[0029] A plurality of axially extending grooves 62 may be provided in the annular wall 30 of the receiver 28 to provide additional flexibility to the annular wall 30 to aid in adjusting the coupling and separation forces between the components 20, 22. For example, such axially extending grooves 62 in the annular wall 30 may be provided on both or opposite sides of each plate retaining arm 30. Each groove 62 provides a thinned portion relative to the adjacent portion of the annular wall 30. Features such as the groove 62, the window 52, ​​and the adjacent springboard proximal portion 58 are among the stress concentration adjustment features of this exemplary coupling assembly 10.

[0030] As in this exemplary embodiment of the coupling assembly 10, a plurality of plate centering ribs 64 may extend radially inward from the annular wall 30, which are designed to center and maintain the coupling plate 44 in the receiver 28. As a result, the interaction of the coupling plate 44 with the plate retaining arms 34, and the resulting coupling and separation forces, may be more consistently maintained. Additionally or alternatively, the receiver 28 may include a central boss 54 that mates with a central recess 56 in the annular coupling plate 44 and the annular plate shaft 46, which is designed to center and maintain the coupling plate 44 in the receiver 28, as described above.

[0031] 18-25, another example of a two-part fastener assembly 10 for joining a panel 12 having a dog-house 14 to a support 16 having an opening 18 therein is presented. As with the exemplary embodiment 10 described above, the dog-house fastener part 20 includes a receiver 28 and the opening fastener part 22 includes a coupling plate 44. However, in contrast to the exemplary embodiment 10 described above, the receiver 28 can be a relatively rigid coupling component, while the coupling plate 44 can be a relatively flexible coupling component. In other words, the coupling plate 44 can provide substantially all of the flexibility required to couple and separate the dog-house fastener part 20 and the opening fastener part 22, respectively.

[0032] As in this exemplary embodiment of the coupling assembly 10, the coupling plate 44 may be formed of a plurality of plate segments, each of which may be supported by a corresponding segment of the annular plate shaft 46. The coupling plate 44 and the plate shaft 46 may be separated into segments by gaps 50, allowing the coupling plate 44 of the aperture fastener component 22 to flex inwardly upon coupling with the rigid plate retaining projections or arms 34 of the receiver 28 of the dog-house fastener component 20. As in the illustrated embodiment, the coupling plate 44 and the plate shaft 46 may be separated into two segments. Alternatively, the coupling plate 44 and the plate shaft 46 may be separated into three, four, five, or more segments.

[0033] As noted above with respect to the previous embodiment, the binding plate 44 could alternatively be part of the dog-house fastener component 20 and the receiver 28 could be part of the aperture fastener component 22. For example, a segment of the binding plate 44 could be supported by an annular shaft segment corresponding to the dog-house shaft 26, and the opposite side of the intermediate head 38 of the aperture fastener component 22 could form the base 32 of the receiver 28.

[0034] 26-33, another embodiment of a two-part fastener assembly 10 for joining a panel 12 having a dog house 14 to a support 16 having an opening 18 therein is presented. As suggested above, in this embodiment, the joining plate 44 can be part of the dog house fastener part 20 and the receiving part 28 can be part of the opening fastener part 22. For example, the joining plate 44 can be supported by a plate shaft corresponding to the dog house shaft 26. The receiving part 28 can be formed using the opposite side of the middle head 38 of the opening fastener part 22 as the base 32 of the receiving part 28.

[0035] The coupling plate may be a relatively rigid coupling component, and the receiver 28 may be a relatively flexible coupling component that may provide substantially all of the flexibility necessary to couple and separate the two parts 20, 22. The flexibility of the receiver 28 may be provided by separating the annular wall 30 of the receiver 28 into annular segments separated by gaps 50. As in this embodiment, the plate retaining arm 34 may be annular in shape that may likewise be separated into annular segments by gaps 50.

[0036] 32 and 33, in some cases, an intermediate annular flange 66 can be added to the dog-house fastener component 20. In other cases, the axially distal end of the receiver 28 can directly engage the dog-house 14. In some cases, a gap or space can be provided between the distal end of the receiver and the added intermediate flange 66 or the dog-house 14.

[0037] It should be appreciated that modularity can be provided by having sets of dog-house fastener components 20 and aperture fastener components 22 share a common receiving portion 28 and coupling portion of the coupling plate 44, but avoid having different configurations and sizes for coupling with different dog-houses 14 and apertures 18, respectively.

[0038] 34-37, four additional embodiments of a two-piece fastener assembly 10 for joining a panel 12 having a dog house 14 to a support 16 having an opening 18 therein are provided. These additional two-piece fastener assembly 10 embodiments relate to the implementations of FIGS. 1-8, 9-17, 18-25, and 26-33, respectively, and as described below, the aperture fastener part 22 includes a generally conical insertion end 68 below the aperture retaining arm 42. In each of these additional two-piece fastener assembly 10 embodiments, the aperture shaft 40 and aperture retaining arm 42 of each of the four aperture fastener part 22 embodiments described above can be replaced with the aperture shaft 40 and aperture retaining arm 42 plus the conical insertion end 68 of FIGS. 34-37.

[0039] The insertion end 68 may include an opening 70 extending laterally therethrough. The opening 70 may have a closed inner end 72 disposed to separate a first portion of the first lateral half of the insertion end 68 and leave a second portion of the first lateral half of the insertion end 68 below the first open retaining arm 42 as a connecting bridge 74. The opening 70 may include a passage 76 extending from the closed inner end 72 to an open outer end 78 and separating the second lateral half of the insertion end 68 below the second open retaining arm 42. The insertion end 68 below the open outer end 78 of the passage 76 may extend laterally beyond a straight outer line 80 defined by the lateral outermost points of the outer longitudinal side of the second open retaining arm 42.

[0040] A line extending from a midpoint 82 of the width between the top and bottom of the opening 70 at the closed inner end 72 to a midpoint 84 of the width of the opening 70 at the open outer end 78 may extend at an angle "A" relative to the central axis of the fastener assembly. In various cases, the angle "A" may be greater than any of 45 degrees, 50 degrees, 60 degrees, 70 degrees, 80 degrees, 90 degrees, 100 degrees, 110 degrees, 120 degrees, and 130 degrees. In some instances, the angle "A" may be up to 135 degrees.

[0041] The width between the top and bottom of the opening 70 at the path 76 can have a dimension designed such that the top of the path 76 contacts and closes against the bottom of the path 76 in response to a removal force applied to the opening fastener component 22.

[0042] 38-41, four additional embodiments of a two-part fastener assembly 10 for joining a panel 12 having a dog house 14 to a support 16 having an opening 18 therein are provided. These additional two-part fastener assembly 10 embodiments relate to the embodiments of FIGS. 1-8, 9-17, 18-25, and 26-33, respectively, and as described below, the aperture fastener part 22 includes a generally conical insertion end 68 below the aperture retaining arm 42. In each of these additional two-part fastener assembly 10 embodiments, the aperture shaft 40 and aperture retaining arm 42 of each of the four aperture fastener part 22 embodiments described above can be replaced with the aperture shaft 40 and aperture retaining arm 42 plus the conical insertion end 68 of FIGS. 38-41.

[0043] The discussion above with reference to the embodiment of the two-piece fastener assembly 10 of Figures 34-37 applies here as well. Compared to the embodiment of Figures 34-37, the path 76 of the opening 70 in the insertion end 68 of the embodiment of Figures 38-41 is more circuitous and less direct between the closed inner terminus 2 and the open outer terminus 78.

[0044] An aperture fastener component 22 that includes an aperture shaft axis 40 and a plurality of aperture retaining arms 42 extending from a head, such as the intermediate head 38, is known in the art as a W-base fastener. Thus, each of the exemplary aperture fastener components 22 of the two-part fastener assembly 10 described above is a W-base fastener 22.

[0045] Additionally, each of the embodiments of Figures 34-37 and 38-41 can be incorporated into any other W-base fastener 22, including a single-piece fastener. In some examples, such a single-piece W-base fastener 22 can be designed to join two components, at least one of which has an aperture therethrough. Some of the embodiments of such a single-piece W-base fastener 22 can include an aperture shaft 40, a plurality of aperture retention arms 42, and an insertion end 68 extending from a single head instead of an intermediate head 38. For example, the aperture retention arms 42 can be positioned relative to the single head 38 or otherwise designed to pass through and hold at least one of the two components between the aperture retention arms 42 and the single head 38. In such an embodiment, there would be no plate shaft 46 and no joining plate 44 extending from the single head 38.

[0046] Other embodiments of such a single-piece W-base fastener 22 may include replacing the plate shaft 46 and the connecting plate 44 extending from the mid-head 38 with a dog-house shaft 26 and a dog-house head 24 extending from the mid-head 38, respectively. In some examples, the single-piece W-base fastener 22 may be designed to join a panel having a dog-house to a support having an opening therein. In such an embodiment, the receiver 28, the connecting plate 44, the mid-head 38, the dog-house shaft 26, the plate shaft 46, and the dog-house head 24 would be eliminated to create a single-piece W-base fastener 22 that includes both an opening retaining member and a dog-house retaining member. Such an embodiment may allow the single-piece W-base fastener 22 to be used to join a panel 12 having a dog-house 14 to a support 16 having an opening 18 therein.

[0047] As used herein, "a straight outer line defined by the lateral outermost points of the outer longitudinal side of the second open retaining arm" means the lateral outermost line extending down the second open retaining arm possible from connecting two points along the outer longitudinal side of the second open retaining arm in a plane extending through the central axis of the two-part fastener assembly 10 or the single-part W-base fastener 22, as the case may be. Such a line does not extend through any interior portion of the second open retaining arm. As used herein, "generally conical" includes conical shapes having circular, oval, elliptical, and similar shapes in cross-section, regardless of whether the cross-sectional shape is defined by an arcuate boundary, a multi-sided segment, or combinations thereof.

[0048] The above description of the embodiments is presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but can be substituted as necessary and used in selected embodiments even if not specifically shown or described. It can also be modified in various ways. Such modifications are not to be considered as departures from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 22 Opening fastener parts 28 Receiving part 30 Circular Wall 32 Base 36 Plate holding surface 38 Intermediate Head 40 Opening shaft 42 Opening holding arm 44 Binding Plate

Claims

1. 1. A two-piece fastener assembly designed to join a panel having a dog house to a support having an opening therein, comprising: a dog-house fastener component having a dog-house head designed to couple the dog-house fastener component to the dog-house and a dog-house shaft extending from the dog-house head; an open fastener component having an intermediate head, an open shaft extending from a side of the intermediate head, and a plurality of open retaining arms extending outwardly from the open shaft, the open fastener component being designed to retain a support between the plurality of open retaining arms and the intermediate head; a receiving portion including an annular wall extending from a base and a plurality of plate retaining surfaces facing the base and supported by the annular wall and positioned within the annular wall; a joining plate engaged and held within said receiving portion by said plate holding surfaces for joining said dog-house fastener component and said aperture fastener component together; Equipped with the receiving portion extends from one of a first side opposite the intermediate head as part of the opening fastener component and the dog-house shaft as part of the dog-house fastener component; the connecting plate extends from a second opposite side of the intermediate head as part of the aperture fastener component and from the other of the dog-house shaft as part of the dog-house fastener component; a two-part fastener assembly, wherein one of said receiver and said connecting plate provides the necessary flexibility to connect and separate said connecting plate and said receiver, and correspondingly said dog-house fastener component and said opening fastener component together;

2. 2. The two-piece fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of plate retaining surfaces and cooperating surfaces of said binding plate are oriented at a contact angle between 0 and 60 degrees relative to a plane perpendicular to a central axis of said fastener assembly, and the contact angle of said plurality of plate retaining surfaces is different from the contact angle of said cooperating surfaces.

3. The two-piece fastener assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein the number of said plurality of plate retaining surfaces is three or more than three.

4. 4. The two-piece fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling plate is annular in shape, and the coupling plate is supported by an annular plate shaft.

5. 5. The two-piece fastener assembly of claim 4, wherein said receiver includes a central boss that mates with a central recess in said annular connecting plate and said annular plate shaft.

6. 6. A two-part fastener assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the annular wall of the receiver comprises a plurality of wall segments separated by gaps therebetween, the plurality of wall segments flexibly supporting the plurality of plate retaining surfaces of the receiver to provide the flexibility necessary to couple together and separate the joining plate and the receiver, and correspondingly the dog-house fastener component and the opening fastener component.

7. The two-piece fastener assembly of claim 4 wherein said gap is a pie-shaped gap.

8. The two-piece fastener assembly of claim 6 or 7, wherein said gap defines a radial angular length of both said plurality of plate retaining surfaces and said plurality of wall segments.

9. A two-piece fastener assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a window extends through said base of said receiver adjacent and radially aligned with each of said plate retaining surfaces.

10. 10. A two-part fastener assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the plate retaining surfaces of the receiver are provided at the distal ends of flexible plate retaining arms to provide the necessary flexibility to couple and separate the combined plate and receiver and correspondingly the dog-house and opening fastener components together.

11. 11. The two-part fastener assembly of claim 10, wherein the flexible plate retaining arm includes a laterally inwardly extending base portion connecting the flexible plate retaining arm to the annular wall of the receiver, and a distal portion of the flexible plate retaining arm extending at an angle relative to the base portion.

12. 12. The two-part fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is part of the dog-house fastener part, the base is supported by the dog-house shaft, and the connecting plate is part of the aperture fastener part, the connecting plate being supported by a plate shaft extending from an opposite side of the aperture fastener part from the middle head.

13. 12. A two-piece fastener assembly as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein a window extends through said annular wall of said receiver adjacent and radially aligned with each of said flexible plate retaining arms.

14. 14. The two-piece fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein a plurality of plate centering ribs extend inwardly from said annular wall to center said coupling plate within said receiver.

15. 15. The two-part fastener assembly of any of claims 1 to 5 and 9 to 14, wherein the joining plate comprises a plurality of plate segments separated by gaps to provide the necessary flexibility to join and separate the joining plate and the receiving portion and correspondingly the dog-house fastener component and the opening fastener component together.

16. The two-piece fastener assembly of claim 15, wherein each of said plurality of plate segments is supported by a plate shaft segment of an annular shaft.

17. 17. The two-part fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is part of the aperture fastener part, the opposite side of the intermediate head forming a base of the receiving portion, and the connecting plate is part of the dog-house fastener part, the connecting plate being supported by the dog-house shaft.

18. 1. A two-piece fastener assembly designed to join a panel having a dog house to a support having an opening therein, comprising: a dog-house fastener component having a dog-house head designed to couple a dog-house fastener component to the dog-house and a dog-house shaft extending from the dog-house head, further having a receiving portion including an annular wall extending axially from a base, the base of the receiving portion being supported by the dog-house shaft, the receiving portion having a plurality of plate retaining surfaces supported by the annular wall and disposed inwardly of the annular wall and facing towards the base, each of the dog-house head and the base being plate shaped; an aperture fastener part having an intermediate head and an aperture shaft extending from a side of the intermediate head, and a plurality of aperture retaining arms extending outwardly away from the aperture shaft and designed to retain a support between the plurality of aperture retaining arms and the intermediate head, the aperture fastener part having a plate shaft extending from a side opposite the intermediate head and a connecting plate supported on the plate shaft, the connecting plate being engaged and held by the plurality of plate retaining surfaces in the receiving part to connect the dog-house fastener part and the aperture fastener part together, the intermediate head being plate shaped; Equipped with a pair of wall segments, the annular wall of the receiver comprising a plurality of wall segments separated by gaps therebetween, the wall segments flexibly supporting the plate retaining surfaces of the receiver to provide the flexibility necessary to couple together and separate the joining plate and receiver and correspondingly the dog-house fastener component and the opening fastener component.

19. 20. The two-part fastener assembly of claim 18, wherein each of said plurality of plate retaining surfaces and cooperating surfaces of said binding plate are oriented at a contact angle between 0 and 60 degrees relative to a plane perpendicular to a central axis of said fastener assembly, and wherein the contact angle of said plurality of plate retaining surfaces is different from the contact angle of said cooperating surfaces.

20. 20. The two-piece fastener assembly of claim 18 or 19, wherein the number of each of said gaps, said plurality of wall segments, and said plurality of plate retaining surfaces is three or greater than three.

21. 21. The two-piece fastener assembly of any of claims 18 to 20, wherein each of the connecting plate and the plate shaft is annular in shape.

22. 22. The two-piece fastener assembly of claim 21, wherein said receiver includes a central boss that mates with a central recess in said annular coupling plate and said annular plate shaft.

23. 23. The two-piece fastener assembly of any of claims 18 to 22, wherein the gap is a pie-shaped gap.

24. 24. A two-piece fastener assembly as claimed in any of claims 18 to 23, wherein a window extends through said base of said receiver adjacent and radially aligned with each of said plate retaining surfaces.

25. 25. The two-part fastener assembly of claim 1, wherein the aperture fastener part is disposed below the plurality of aperture retaining arms and includes a generally conical insertion end including an aperture therethrough, the aperture having a closed inner terminus arranged to separate a first portion of a first lateral half of the insertion end and leave a second portion of the first lateral half of the insertion end below a first aperture retaining arm as a connecting bridge, the aperture including a path extending from the closed inner terminus to an open outer terminus and separating a second lateral half of the insertion end below a second aperture retaining arm, the insertion end below the open outer terminus of the path extending laterally outward beyond a linear outer line defined by a laterally outermost end point of an outer longitudinal side of the second aperture retaining arm.

26. A single-piece W-base fastener, Head and an open shaft extending from a side of the head; a plurality of aperture retaining arms extending outwardly away from the aperture shaft; a generally conical insertion end disposed below the plurality of open retaining arms, the insertion end including an opening therethrough, the opening having a closed inner terminus arranged to separate a first portion of a first lateral half of the insertion end and leave a second portion of the first lateral half of the insertion end below a first open retaining arm as a connecting bridge, the opening extending from the closed inner terminus to an open outer terminus and including a path separating the second lateral half of the insertion end below a second open retaining arm, the insertion end below the open outer terminus of the path extending laterally outward beyond a linear outer line defined by a laterally outermost end point of an outer longitudinal side of the second open retaining arm; A single-piece W-base fastener comprising:

27. 27. The single-piece W-base fastener of claim 26, further comprising a dog-house shaft extending from an opposite side of said head, said dog-house shaft supporting a dog-house head.

28. 28. A single-piece W-base fastener as claimed in claim 26 or 27, wherein a line extending from a midpoint of the width between the top and bottom of said path at its closed inner end to a midpoint of the width of said path at its open outer end extends at an angle "A" relative to a central axis of said fastener assembly.

29. 30. The single-piece W-base fastener of claim 28, wherein said angle "A" is at least 50 degrees.

30. 30. A single-piece W-base fastener as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein the width between the top and bottom of the opening in the path has a dimension designed such that in response to a removal force applied to the opening fastener part, the top of the opening in the path contacts and closes the bottom of the opening in the path.

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