Claims:WE CLAIM

1. A fastening device (100) for holding plurality of panels, comprising:
a post (110);
a first head (120) and a second head (130) provided at each end of the post, each head extending outwardly from the post; and
at least a pair of spaced apart support members (140, 140b) extending outwardly from the post, the support members provided between the first head and the second head dividing the post into at-least three regions (150a, 150b, 150c), each region of the post engages an opening in the panel to hold/engage/support the panels.

2. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the first head and the second head are conical or cylindrical or spherical.

3. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at-least one of the heads has plurality of fins (170).

4. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sealing member (160) is provided adjacent to at-least one head.

5. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support members have a circular profile.
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The invention relates to a fastening device, particularly a fastening device for holding or coupling plurality of panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Panels are widely used to enhance aesthetics or provide protection to exterior or interiors of automobiles, furniture units, etc. Typically, a panel is secured with a support member by means of an adhesive or fasteners or fastener assembly.
[003] One commonly used fastener assembly is illustrated in figure 1. As shown, fastener assembly comprises a socket 10 called as a dog-house provided on one of the panels, and the dog-house is configured to hold a fastener 20. The fastener comprises of a base 22 which is retained by the dog-house, and a protruding member 24 which is configured to engage with an adjacent panel having a corresponding aperture or hole so as to secure the panel with the adjacent panel. Further, the fastener comprises of a support member 12 which is adjacent to the dog-house. However, such fastener assemblies only allow only one panel to be secured to another panel or a support member. Accordingly, for securing multiple panels, multiple such fasteners will be required. For example, in a vehicle, a first panel such as an interior trim panel is secured with a second panel such as framework/support member of the vehicle. Vehicles also include a third panel such as an exterior cladding panel which is also secured with the second panel – framework of the vehicle. With the type of fastener assembly discussed hereinbefore, two fasteners would be required to secure the three panels – one for securing first panel with the framework, and one for securing third panel with the framework. Moreover, two dog-houses will be required for securing the panels together. From a manufacturing perspective, this is disadvantageous, as dog-houses will have to be provided for securing the panels. Also, the dog-houses require that a minimum amount of space to be maintained between the panels to be secured. This may be disadvantageous, especially in cases where space is a constraint and also may lead in deviation from intended styling requirements.
[004] Hence, there is a need in the art for a fastening device that addresses at least the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] The present invention provides a fastening device for holding plurality of panels, the fastening device comprises a post; a first head and a second head provided at each end of the post, each head extending outwardly from the post; and at least a pair of spaced apart support members extending outwardly from the post, the support members provided between the first head and the second head dividing the post into at-least three regions, each region of the post engages an opening in the panel to hold/engage/support the panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[006] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 shows a fastener assembly as per prior-art.
Figure 2 shows a fastening device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 shows a fastening device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 shows a fastening device with body panels in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 shows an exploded view of multiple panels including the fastening device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[007] The present invention is directed towards a fastening device capable of holding plurality of panels.
[008] Figures 2 through 4 show various embodiments of a fastening device (100). In the embodiments illustrated through the figures, the fastening device is capable of holding three panels – a first panel (210), a second panel (220) and a third panel (230). Each panel has an aperture/ opening configured in accordance with the fastening device,
[009] The fastening device comprises of a post (110), a first head (120), a second head (130) and at-least one pair of support members (140a, 140b). The fastening device can be made of metallic or non-metallic material. In an embodiment, the fastening device is made of non-metallic material such as nylon or polyoxymethylene (POM) rendering good wear resistance and load bearing to the fastening device.
[010] The post has a tubular/cylindrical profile. As shown in the figure, one end of the post has the first head, and other end of the post has the second head. In an embodiment shown in figure 2, the first head and the second head are conical in shape. In another embodiment shown in figure 3, at-least one of the first head or the second head is cylindrical and comprises plurality of fins (170). Alternately, the heads can be spherical or in any combination thereof.
[011] Further, the support members are provided between the first head and the second head dividing the post into at-least three regions/segments – a first region (150a), a second region (150b), and a third region (150c). The first region is between the first head and the first support member. The second region is between the first support member and the second support member. The third region is between the second support member and the second head. Each region of the post engages with the opening of each panel to hold/engage the panel. As shown in figure 4, the first region engages the first panel, the second region engages the second panel, and the third region engages the third panel. Accordingly, by a single fastening device three panels can be coupled. To couple three panels via the fastening device, the first head (120) of the fastening device is inserted/pushed through a corresponding aperture/opening of the second panel (220) towards the second region (150b) whereby the second panel snap-fits with the second region. Further, the first head is inserted through a corresponding aperture/ opening of the first panel (120) whereby first panel snap-fits onto the first region (150a). Subsequently, the second head (130) of the fastening device is pushed through a corresponding aperture/ opening of the third panel whereby the third panel snap-fits with the third region (150c). Thus, three panels are coupled onto the fastening device of the present invention.
[012] The first head, the second head and the support members extend outwardly from the post. The support members in an embodiment have a circular profile. Accordingly, while the post engages with the panels, the outwardly extending heads and support members allow the panel to rest therebetween. In this regard, the distance between each of the heads and support members corresponds with thickness of the panels so as to ensure proper interface.
[013] Further, as shown in figures 1 and 2, a sealing member (160) is provided adjacent to at-least the first head. The seal prevents permeation of dust, water and other debris from the opening into which the head is inserted. The sealing member in an embodiment is a cup-shaped seal.
[014] In an example application shown in figure 5, the fastening device is used for attaching two or more panels to a vehicle door support member (420). Typically, a vehicle door has a trim panel (410) on interior side of the vehicle door, and a cladding panel (430) attached on exterior side of the vehicle door. The fastening device of the present invention enables coupling or attaching of the trim panel and the cladding panel to the vehicle door support member. In that, each of the panel and the vehicle support member has an opening/aperture. The first region engages with the aperture of the cladding panel whereby the cladding panel is between the first head and the first supporting member. Also, the seal adjacent to the first head seals the aperture of the cladding panel, thereby preventing permeation of dust, water or other debris. The second region engages with the aperture of the vehicle support member, whereby the vehicle support member is between the first support member and the second support member. The third region engages with the aperture of the trim panel, whereby the trim panel is between the second support member and the second head.
[015] Advantageously, fastening device of the present invention enables multiple body panels to be fixedly held together by a single unit. This leads to reduction in the number of fastening devices used, thereby reducing the costs. Further, since the need of having a dog house for accommodation of the fastening device is now eliminated, there is a considerable reduction in manufacturing costs of body panels. Furthermore, there is also a reduction in tool manufacturing costs due to reduced number of mechanical components involved.
[016] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.