High strength fastening system

Abstract

A fastening system for a vehicle is provided. The fastening system includes a metal clip which is easily inserted and removed from a polymeric doghouse. The doghouse is integrally molded with a vehicle interior trim component. After the clip is inserted into the doghouse, the trim component may be snapped into place over a structural pillar by inserting the clip into an aperture and the pillar. The fastening system is designed such that it will not fail, and the trim component will remain in place, when an air bag adjacent to the trim component is deployed. If desired, the trim component can be easily removed from the support pillar by sliding the trim component, and the attached doghouse, away from the clip. The clip can then be removed from the pillar, a new one inserted into the doghouse, and the trim component can be reused.

1 . A fastening system for a vehicle having a support member and a structure to be fastened to the support member, the fastening system comprising: 
 a fastener component including a base and an attachment feature connected to the base, the attachment feature being configured for attachment to the support member, the base including a rib portion for resisting a bending moment applied to the base; and    a fastener retaining component configured for attachment to the structure to be fastened, and further configured to receive and retain the fastener component.    
     
     
         2 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener retaining component includes a first slot configured to receive the base, and a second slot configured to receive a portion of the attachment feature; and 
 wherein the rib portion is configured to provide an interference fit between the base and the first slot.    
     
     
         3 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener retaining component includes two outer legs and an inner leg disposed between the outer legs, each of the legs being integrally molded with the structure to be fastened, and at least the inner leg being configured to inhibit deflection of the fastener retaining component.  
     
     
         4 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is an automotive vehicle structural pillar, and the structure to be fastened is a pillar trim component.  
     
     
         5 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener component and the fastener retaining component are configured to accept at least 100 pounds of pull-out force without failure.  
     
     
         6 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener component is a unitary structure comprising a spring steel material, and the fastener retaining component comprises a polymeric material.  
     
     
         7 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener retaining component includes a compression member configured to contact the support member when the fastener component is inserted into the support member, and to deflect upon contact with the support member, thereby inhibiting movement of the fastener retaining component relative to the support structure.  
     
     
         8 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener retaining component further includes a generally planar surface disposed generally perpendicular to the legs and configured for contact with at least a portion of the base when the fastener component is received by the fastener retaining component.  
     
     
         9 . The fastening system of  claim 8 , wherein the fastener retaining component further includes an outboard support member configured for attachment to the structure to be fastened, the outboard support member being disposed adjacent a leg.  
     
     
         10 . A fastening system for a vehicle having a support member and a structure to be fastened to the support member, the fastening system comprising: 
 a fastener component including a generally planer base and an attachment feature connected to the base and configured for attachment to the support member, the base including a plurality of rib portions for resisting bending moments applied to the base; and    a fastener retaining component including a fastener component receiving portion and a plurality of legs configured for attachment to the structure to be fastened, the fastener retaining component further including a compression member configured to contact the support member when the fastener component is inserted into the support member, and to deflect upon contact with the support member, thereby inhibiting movement of the fastener retaining component relative to the support structure.    
     
     
         11 . The fastening system of  claim 10 , wherein the fastener component receiving portion is configured to replaceably receive the base, and at least one of the rib portions is configured to provide an interference fit between the fastener component receiving portion and the base.  
     
     
         12 . The fastening system of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener component receiving portion is defined by a generally planar surface and a pair of retaining members disposed opposite the generally planar surface.  
     
     
         13 . The fastening system of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of compression members configured to reduce the movement of the fastener retaining component relative to the support structure.  
     
     
         14 . The fastening system of  claim 10 , wherein the fastener retaining component is integral with the structure to be fastened.  
     
     
         15 . The fastening system of  claim 10 , wherein the support member is an automotive vehicle structural pillar, and the structure to be fastened is a pillar trim component.  
     
     
         16 . The fastening system of  claim 10 , wherein the fastener component and the fastener retaining component are configured to accept at least 100 pounds of pull-out force without failure.  
     
     
         17 . A fastening system for fastening an interior trim component to a support member in a vehicle having a deployable air bag adjacent the trim component, the fastening system comprising: 
 a fastener component including a base and an attachment feature connected to the base, the attachment feature being configured for attachment to the support member, the base including a rib portion for resisting a bending moment applied to the base; and    a fastener retaining component integrally molded with the trim component and configured to removably receive the fastener component, thereby facilitating attachment of the trim component to the support member, the fastener retaining component including two outer legs and an inner leg, each of the legs being integrally molded with the trim component, and at least the inner leg being configured to inhibit deflection of the fastener retaining component when the trim component is fastened to the support member and the air bag deploys.    
     
     
         18 . The fastening system of  claim 17 , wherein the attachment feature is configured to remain attached to the support member, and the base is configured to remain attached to the fastener retaining component when the trim component is fastened to the support member and the air bag deploys.  
     
     
         19 . The fastening system of  claim 17 , wherein the attachment feature is configured for insertion into an aperture in the support member, thereby facilitating snap-fit attachment of the trim component to the support member after the fastener component is received by the fastener retaining component.  
     
     
         20 . The fastening system of  claim 19 , wherein the trim component is slidably removable from the support member, thereby facilitating removal of the fastener component from the support member after the air bag deploys, and further facilitating subsequent reattachment of the trim component to the support member with a different fastener component.