US4913484A — Headliner and sunshade fastener

Claim 1

Independent Claim 218 words

A headliner and sunshade fastener for securing the substrate of a headliner defining a substrate opening and for securing a pivot rod extending from a sunshade, to body support members of a motor vehicle, wherein a body support member defines a first opening, which comprises: a base defining a rod opening of a first diameter, and a generally planar bezel portion; said rod extending through the rod opening of the base and wherein a sunshade may be mounted to the rod on one side of the base and a torque fitting mounted to the rod on the other side of said base, said torque fitting in the assembled position having a configuration which will not pass through the rod opening whereby the base supports the rod at the torque fitting; a cover sized to receive the torque fitting fastened to the rod and including flexible extending flanges which may be compressed to allow the cover and flanges to fit through the first opening and, when released, said flanges spring outwardly to engage the body support member adjacent the first opening; and means for securing the cover to the base with the cover extending through the substrate opening and the bezel engaging the substrate whereby the substrate and the pivot rod are secured to the vehicle body support members.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 218 words

A headliner and sunshade fastener for securing the substrate of a headliner defining a substrate opening and for securing a pivot rod extending from a sunshade, to body support members of a motor vehicle, wherein a body support member defines a first opening, which comprises: a base defining a rod opening of a first diameter, and a generally planar bezel portion; said rod extending through the rod opening of the base and wherein a sunshade may be mounted to the rod on one side of the base and a torque fitting mounted to the rod on the other side of said base, said torque fitting in the assembled position having a configuration which will not pass through the rod opening whereby the base supports the rod at the torque fitting; a cover sized to receive the torque fitting fastened to the rod and including flexible extending flanges which may be compressed to allow the cover and flanges to fit through the first opening and, when released, said flanges spring outwardly to engage the body support member adjacent the first opening; and means for securing the cover to the base with the cover extending through the substrate opening and the bezel engaging the substrate whereby the substrate and the pivot rod are secured to the vehicle body support members.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising curvilinear end surfaces on each flange, whereby there are no sharp corners which might engage the body support member and prevent the flanges from springing outwardly.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cover includes a platform portion and wherein the substrate is secured between the platform portion of the cover and the bezel portion of the base upon the cover being secured to the base.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 85 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cover includes a platform portion having downwardly extending cover ribs and wherein the bezel has upwardly extending bezel ribs positioned to mate with the cover ribs such that upon assembly the bezel ribs and the cover ribs mate to assure alignment and prevent rotation between the cover and the base and said ribs further act to create a space between the platform portion and the bezel portion upon assembly of the cover to the base.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the cover ribs and the bezel ribs are located within the substrate opening upon assembly of the cover to the base.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 84 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the torque fitting is generally cylindrical in configuration and includes a wire guide extending the length thereof, wherein the cover includes a wire opening extending between the bottom of the wire guide and an area adjacent the substrate and wherein the pivot rod is a hollow cylinder and further comprises a pair of electrical wire extending through the pivot rod, which then are guided downwardly within the wire guide and out through the wire opening.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the cover encases the torque fitting including the wire guide to prevent rotation of the torque fitting and to retain the wires within the wire guide.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 83 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first opening is sized to allow the cover flanges to be compressed to fit through the first opening and thereafter to spring outwardly to engage the body member on one side adjacent the first opening and wherein the cover includes a platform portion which engages the body member on the opposite side of said platform to prevent movement of the base and cover in the direction the cover is inserted through the opening.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 70 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the base further comprises a pair of upwardly extending, angled, centering arms spaced to have each engage opposite edges of the body structure defining the opening upon assembly of the base to the cover whereby the base and cover are prevented from displacement in two directions by the engagement of the centering arms with the body structure defining the first opening.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 60 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 and further comprising a second body support member spaced from the first body support member and defining a second opening and wherein the cover extends partially through the second said opening, cover being sized to engage the edges of the second body member defining the opening to control movement of the cover.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for securing comprises screw means extending between the base and cover.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 142 words

A snap-in fastener for securing a sunshade to the body structure of a motor vehicle which defines an opening, which comprises: a base defining a rod opening of a first size; a retainer for mounting to a rod for securing a sunshade, said rod when assembled extending through the rod opening and said retainer at a portion thereof having a larger diameter than an adjacent portion of the rod opening; a cover secured to the base to encase the retainer, said cover including a pair of flexible extending flanges sized to fit through the opening and to engage one side of the body structure adjacent the opening and said cover including a platform portion to engage the other side of the body structure adjacent the opening whereby the cover and base with the encased retainer may be snap-fit to the body structure.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 142 words

A snap-in fastener for securing a sunshade to the body structure of a motor vehicle which defines an opening, which comprises: a base defining a rod opening of a first size; a retainer for mounting to a rod for securing a sunshade, said rod when assembled extending through the rod opening and said retainer at a portion thereof having a larger diameter than an adjacent portion of the rod opening; a cover secured to the base to encase the retainer, said cover including a pair of flexible extending flanges sized to fit through the opening and to engage one side of the body structure adjacent the opening and said cover including a platform portion to engage the other side of the body structure adjacent the opening whereby the cover and base with the encased retainer may be snap-fit to the body structure.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the base further comprises at least one extending arm positioned to engage an edge of the opening defined by the body member to prevent movement of the base and cover in the direction toward which the extending arm engages the body member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the retainer further comprises a torque fitting sized to be mounted about the rod and wherein the cover includes means for securing the torque fitting.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the base further comprises a trim bezel.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 144 words

A headliner fastener for securing the substrate of a headliner defining a substrate opening to body support members of a motor vehicle wherein a body support member defines a first opening which comprises: a base including a generally planar bezel portion; a cover including flexible extending flanges which may be compressed to allow a portion of the cover and flanges to fit through the first opening and, when released, spring outwardly to engage one surface of the body support member adjacent to the first opening and further including a platform portion engageable with an opposite surface of the body support member and one surface of said substrate; and means for securing the cover to the base such that the bezel engages an opposite surface of the substrate whereby the substrate is secured between said base and cover and to the vehicle body support member.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 144 words

A headliner fastener for securing the substrate of a headliner defining a substrate opening to body support members of a motor vehicle wherein a body support member defines a first opening which comprises: a base including a generally planar bezel portion; a cover including flexible extending flanges which may be compressed to allow a portion of the cover and flanges to fit through the first opening and, when released, spring outwardly to engage one surface of the body support member adjacent to the first opening and further including a platform portion engageable with an opposite surface of the body support member and one surface of said substrate; and means for securing the cover to the base such that the bezel engages an opposite surface of the substrate whereby the substrate is secured between said base and cover and to the vehicle body support member.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein the flanges having curvilinear end surfaces to reduce the potential for flanges to engage the body support member and thereby not spring outwardly.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 82 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said platform portion having downwardly extending cover ribs and wherein the bezel has upwardly extending bezel ribs positioned to mate with the cover ribs such that upon assembly, the bezel ribs and the cover ribs mate to assure alignment and prevent rotation between the cover and the base and said ribs further act to create a space between the platform portion and the bezel portion upon assembly of the cover to the base.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein the cover ribs and the bezel ribs are located within the substrate opening upon assembly of the cover to the base.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 83 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein the first opening is sized to allow the cover flanges to be compressed to fit through the first opening and thereafter to spring outwardly to engage the body member on one side adjacent the first opening and wherein the cover includes a platform portion which engages the body member on the opposite side of said platform to prevent movement of the base and cover in the direction the cover is inserted through the opening.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 69 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein the base further comprises a pair of upwardly extending, centering arms spaced to have each engage opposite edges of the body structure defining the opening upon assembly of the base to the cover whereby the base and cover are prevented from displacement in two directions by the engagement of the centering arms with the body structure defining the first opening.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 60 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 and further comprising a second body support member spaced from the first body support member and defining a second opening and wherein the cover extends partially through the second opening, said cover being sized to engage the edges of the second body member defining the opening to control movement of the cover.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-04-02	1993-10-02	1994-04-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-04-02	1997-10-02	1998-04-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-04-02	2001-10-02	2002-04-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Headliner and sunshade fastener

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