DESC:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:
A FASTENING ASSEMBLY WITH AN EXPANDABLE SELF-ADJUSTING DOGHOUSE

Applicant:
Tata Motors Limited
A company Incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956
Having address:
Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street,
Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400001,
Maharashtra, India

The following specification describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY
[001] The present application claims priority from Indian patent application no. 201821012263, filed on 31st March, 2018 the complete disclosure of which, in its entirety is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[002] The present invention relates to a fastening assembly with an expandable self-adjusting doghouse, and more particularly, the present invention relates to the fastening assembly with the expandable self-adjusting doghouse for providing a secure connection between a the automobile or the like with a receiving component like BIW (body in white) etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[003] The components of an automobile are connected together in many different ways. One type of connection uses a fastener, such as a bolt or screw.

[004] The packaging space in vehicles is often very limited due to the number of components used to assemble the vehicle, the size of the vehicle, and the like. Even some of the area between components is also very limited. This requires some of the fastener designs to be very small. Typically, one type of connector used for retaining two components is a molded “doghouse.” A doghouse is a molded-in feature used to attach a secondary clip. Alternatively, the doghouse is used for driving a threaded screw.

[005] There are a lot of automotive and similar applications where plastic trim parts are mounted on and are interfacing with the receiving part/ assembly. Such that boundary edge of the first part of the vehicle is just touching the surface of receiving part in normal or slightly inclined direction, without leaving any gap. The manufacturing variations of these interfacing parts or assemblies lead to mismatch between center distances and angular orientation of locating and mounting features. This further leads to non-uniform fitment, uneven interface, gaps, twist and stress at mounting locations. The gaps, stress marks, pull marks, uneven reflections on any visible part is not acceptable for overall craftsmanship or the perceived quality.

[006] To address this issue, conventionally an edge seal and/or adhesive tapes are used at trim part edges to either hide or forcefully reduce the gaps. Sometimes design intent interference between the trim part edges to receiving part surface is provided to reduce the gap and its visibility. The combination is performed with a conventional doghouse mounting e.g. automotive exterior plastic trim cladding top edge interface with BIW (Body in White). However, this arrangement addresses only partial issues while generating some added issues like, pull marks at the nearest mounting location, stress marks on visible surface, excess back pressure on mountings, uneven surface due to twist or relative orientation of doghouse. The severity of these issues get aggravates if the general wall thickness plastic trim part is to be reduced.

[007] Further, normal plastic trim part construction has doghouses on its surface, which house clips or studs for mounting. These conventional doghouse can provide movement freedom to the clip or stud in the two principle directions, which are normal to the mounting axis. This provision in the doghouse is to absorb variations in mating parts at the center distance of mounting locations. This solution has limitations, considering that the variations can be absorbed or adjusted only in two directions viz. normal direction to the clip mounting axis. For this interface condition, it is essential to have design capability to absorb variations in three axes as well as variation in orientation of the mounting axis. As a trial, an additional special trim clip consisting of adaptor and pin type construction is assembled on the conventional doghouse, to get this additional flexibility. However, this calls for change in base as well as mating part, so it is not always possible to implement. Also these clips have limited capability for dealing with changes in orientation. Moreover, these special clips are very expensive to use.

[008] Accordingly, there is a need of a fastener assembly with an expandable self-adjusting dog house for providing efficient fastening of receiving component with other parts of the vehicle and to overcome the above mentioned problem.

OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

[009] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a fastener assembly with an expandable self-adjusting doghouse for providing efficient fastening of a first part of the automobile with other parts like BIW of the vehicle.

[010] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a fastener assembly with an expandable self-adjusting doghouse for providing efficient fastening of two components.

[011] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a fastener assembly with an expandable self-adjusting doghouse for providing efficient fastening of two components and easy unmounting of the same.

SUMMARY

[012] An embodiment of the present invention discloses a fastening assembly with an expandable self-adjusting doghouse comprising a receiving component including said doghouse structured on an inner surface of said receiving component, said doghouse includes a plurality of ribs and a cavity formed therein; and a protrusion structured on a vehicle to receive said receiving component, wherein said cavity of said doghouse receives said protrusion of the said for fastening said receiving component with said vehicle.

[013] An embodiment of the present invention discloses the doghouse of said receiving component includes an opening formed on said ribs to enable removal of said receiving component from said vehicle.

[014] An embodiment of the present invention discloses the ribs form a stepped longitudinal wall from said inner surface of said receiving component to form said cavity therein.
[015] An embodiment of the present invention discloses the doghouse is made up of flexible material.

[016] An embodiment of the present invention discloses the ribs of said doghouse absorbs location variations along three axes and variation in mounting orientation about two axes.

[017] An embodiment of the present invention discloses the protrusion any one of a pin, a clip and a stud.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

[018] FIG. 1 discloses an embodiment of the present invention depicting a perspective view of the inner surface of the receiving component with a doghouse.

[019] FIG. 2 discloses an embodiment of the present invention depicting perspective side view of the doghouse of the receiving component.

[020] FIG. 3 discloses an embodiment of the present invention depicting top view of the doghouse of the receiving component.

[021] FIGs 4a & 4b disclose an embodiment of the present invention depicting side views of the doghouse of the receiving component.

Description Reference Numeral
Receiving component 110
Interior surface 112
Doghouse 120
Ribs 122
Cavity 124
Opening 126
Base 128
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[022] The foregoing description has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

[023] An embodiment of the present invention discloses a fastening assembly with an expandable self-adjusting doghouse. The assembly comprises of a receiving component (110) which includes a doghouse (120) with a cavity. The cavity receives the protrusion structured on the body of the vehicle.

[024] Fig. 1 shows a receiving component (110) vehicle that is structured to be mounted with a vehicle. The receiving component (110) can be any part of the vehicle or BIW i.e. body in white. The interior surface (112) of the receiving component (110) forms a fastening assembly with the other part of the vehicle to form an outer structure of the vehicle. The interior surface (112) of the receiving component (110) includes a doghouse (120), which is made up of flexible material, thereby making the doghouse a flexible and self-adjusting doghouse.

[025] Fig. 2 shows perspective view of the doghouse (120) structured on the inner surface (112) of the receiving component (110). This expandable and flexible bellow type doghouse (120) has specific wall construction i.e. in form of ribs (122) that forms a stepped longitudinal wall from inner surface to form a cavity therein. The ribs allow to absorb location variations along three axes as well as variation in mounting orientation about two axes. Further, the doghouse (120) when used for plastic trim mounting facilitates restriction of the movement when pressure is applied for mounting receiving part (110) in the direction of mounting. Thus, providing rigidity required for easy mounting, at the same time providing required flexibility of doghouse (120) after mounting.

[026] Fig 3 shows top view of the doghouse with a cavity (124) between the ribs (122) and an opening (126) or an open edge, which prohibit crack initiation during removal of the receiving component (110). Thereby, protecting the doghouse while applying pull-out strength to the receiving component, and simultaneously, reducing intensity of any visible sink marks on the receiving component’s visible surface. The doghouse includes a base (128) walled by the ribs (122). As clearly visible from Fig. 3, the stepped wall i.e. robs (122) has a cut or break that forms an opening (126) such that in case of removal of protrusion from the doghouse (120), the opening enables smooth removal of the receiving structure from the vehicle.
[027] Figs. 4a and 4b show different side views of the dog house (120) on the inner surface (112) of the receiving component (110). The ribs (122) of the doghouse (120) is structured to receive a protrusion structured on the vehicle to receive the receiving component. The cavity (126) receives the protrusion for fastening the receiving component with the vehicle. The protrusion can be a pin, clip, stud or the like for mounting the receiving component (110) on the vehicle. The ribs (122) on doghouse (120) i.e. on the vertical walls enable part locking inside the tool during lifter operation, thus, reducing possibility of tooling lifter stress marks on outer surface of the receiving component (110) Further, the bellow or the expandable feature of the dog house (120) can be tuned at hinge locations for specific application requirements, depending on material, expected push/pull-out strength. Additionally, the window features can also be incorporated in the doghouse (120) to adjust flexibility of the bellow.
,CLAIMS:

1. A fastening assembly with an expandable self-adjusting doghouse comprising:

a receiving component (110) including said doghouse (120) structured on an inner surface (112) of said receiving component (110), said doghouse (120) includes a plurality of ribs (122) and a cavity (124) formed therein; and
a protrusion structured on a vehicle to receive said receiving component (110),
wherein said cavity (124) of said doghouse (120) receives said protrusion of the vehicle for fastening said receiving component (110) with said vehicle.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said doghouse of said receiving component (110) includes an opening (126) formed on said ribs (122) to enable removal of said receiving component from said vehicle.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ribs (122) form a stepped longitudinal wall from said inner surface of said receiving component (110).

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said doghouse (120) is made up of flexible material.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein ribs (122) of said doghouse (120) absorbs location variations along three axes and variation in mounting orientation about two axes.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protrusion any one of a pin, a clip and a stud.