Fastener Clip with Seal

Abstract

A single-piece fastener includes a relatively hard clip and a relatively soft seal. The seal can be overmolded onto the clip. A thermal bond is formed between the seal and the clip to inhibit removal of the seal from the clip. The flexible nature of the umbrella of the clip and the seal can accommodate sealing openings in panels of varying thicknesses.

1 . A fastener for attaching a panel to a frame comprising:
 a clip having a first portion configured to be secured to a panel, a second portion configured to be inserted into an opening in a frame and be retained therein, and a radially outwardly extending umbrella disposed between said first and second portions, said umbrella having opposite first and second surfaces with a sidewall extending axially therebetween, said first surface facing said first portion, said second surface facing said second portion, and said clip being a first material; and   a sealing member attached to at least one of said first surface, said second surface and said sidewall of said umbrella, said sealing member including at least one axially extending rib operable to form a seal around an opening in a frame to which the fastener is inserted, said sealing member being a second material different from said first material.   
   
   
       2 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said sealing member is attached only to said second surface. 
   
   
       3 . The fastener of  claim 2 , wherein at least one rib is at least partially disposed radially outwardly from said sidewall. 
   
   
       4 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said sealing member is attached to only said first surface. 
   
   
       5 . The fastener of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one rib is one of at least two ribs both of which are disposed radially outwardly from said sidewall. 
   
   
       6 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said sealing member is attached to only said second surface and said sidewall. 
   
   
       7 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said sidewall includes a radially inwardly extending recess and said sealing material includes a radially inwardly extending projection that is thermally bonded to said recess. 
   
   
       8 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said umbrella is a continuous feature that extends circumferentially around the fastener. 
   
   
       9 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said sealing member includes a first section that is attached to and extends along said first surface, a second section that is attached to and extends along said second surface, and wherein at least one of said first and second sections includes a plurality voids therein that allow access to said first and second surfaces, respectively. 
   
   
       10 . The fastener of  claim 9 , wherein said first section includes said plurality of voids therein. 
   
   
       11 . The fastener of  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of voids in said first section allows access to areas of said first surface adjacent said sidewall. 
   
   
       12 . The fastener of  claim 9 , wherein said second section includes said plurality of voids therein. 
   
   
       13 . The fastener of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one rib is one of at least two ribs and said plurality of voids in said second section are disposed between first and second ones of said at least two ribs. 
   
   
       14 . The fastener of  claim 9 , wherein both of said first and second sections include said plurality of voids therein. 
   
   
       15 . The fastener of  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of voids in said first section are aligned with said plurality of voids in said second section. 
   
   
       16 . The fastener of  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of voids is symmetrically spaced along at least one of said first and second sections. 
   
   
       17 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said umbrella has at least one through opening therein through which a portion of said sealing member extends from one of said first and second surfaces to the other of said first and second surfaces. 
   
   
       18 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said umbrella has at least one projection extending axially from one of said first and second surfaces and said projection is engaged with said sealing member thereby securing said sealing member to said umbrella. 
   
   
       19 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said first material has a first durometer rating and said second material has a second durometer rating less than said first durometer rating. 
   
   
       20 . The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein said second portion includes a pair of legs extending axially from a tip toward said umbrella and a post disposed between said legs and axially extending from said tip to said umbrella, said post having a pair of radially outwardly extending projections aligned with said pair of legs and limiting radially inward movement of said pair of legs toward said post. 
   
   
       21 . A fastener comprising:
 a tip portion configured to be inserted into an opening in a frame;   a pair of legs extending axially from said tip portion;   a post extending axially from said tip portion between said pair of legs; and   a pair of radially outwardly extending projections on said post aligned with said pair of legs,   wherein a portion of said pair of legs extends radially outwardly as said pair of legs extend axially, said pair of legs are resiliently radially inwardly deformable for passage at least partially through the opening to retain the fastener in the opening, and said projections limit the radially inward deformation of said pair of legs.   
   
   
       22 . The fastener of claim  23 , wherein said portion of said pair of legs are first portions and said pair of legs include a second portion that extends radially inwardly as said legs extend axially. 
   
   
       24 . The fastener of claim  23 , further comprising a pair of radially inwardly extending members on said pair of legs facing said post, said members being axially spaced apart from said projections and limiting the radially inward deformation of said pair of legs. 
   
   
       25 . The fastener of claim  23 , further comprising:
 a head portion configured to be secured to an opening; and   a radially outwardly extending umbrella disposed between said head portion and said tip portion, said umbrella including opposite first and second surfaces that respectively face said head and tip portions.   
   
   
       26 . The fastener of  claim 25 , wherein said head portion includes a radially outwardly extending flange and said umbrella includes a generally flat shoulder that faces said flange and said flange and said shoulder are configured to receive a panel therebetween. 
   
   
       27 . The fastener of  claim 25 , further comprising a sealing member attached to said umbrella and including at least one axially extending rib operable to seal again a surface of the frame. 
   
   
       28 . A fastener comprising:
 a clip member of a first material, said clip member comprising:
 a first portion configured to be secured to a panel; 
 a second portion configured to be inserted into an opening in a frame and be retained therein; 
 a radially outwardly extending umbrella disposed between said first and second portions, said umbrella having opposite first and second surfaces with a sidewall extending therebetween, said first surface facing said first portion, said second surface facing said second portion; and 
   a sealing member of a second material different than said first material, said sealing member comprising:
 a first section that is attached to and extends along said first surface; 
 a second section that is attached to and extends along said second surface; 
 at least one axially extending rib operable to form a seal around an opening in a frame in which the fastener is inserted, 
   wherein at least one of said first and second sections includes a plurality voids therein that allow access to said first and second surfaces, respectively.   
   
   
       29 . The fastener of  claim 28 , wherein said first section includes said plurality of voids therein. 
   
   
       30 . The fastener of  claim 29 , wherein said plurality of voids in said first section allows access to areas of said first surface adjacent said sidewall. 
   
   
       31 . The fastener of  claim 28 , wherein said second section includes said plurality of voids therein. 
   
   
       32 . The fastener of  claim 31 , wherein said at least one rib is one of at least two ribs and said plurality of voids in said second section is disposed between first and second ones of said at least two ribs. 
   
   
       33 . The fastener of  claim 28 , wherein both of said first and second sections include said plurality of voids therein. 
   
   
       34 . The fastener of  claim 33 , wherein said plurality of voids in said first section is aligned with said plurality of voids in said second section. 
   
   
       35 . The fastener of  claim 33 , wherein said plurality of voids is symmetrically spaced along at least one of said first and second sections. 
   
   
       36 . The fastener of  claim 28 , wherein said first material has a first durometer rating and said second material has a second durometer rating less than said first durometer rating. 
   
   
       37 . A method of manufacturing a fastener to retain an automotive vehicle trim panel to a structural body panel, the method comprising:
 (a) forming a clip with a first material and having a head portion, a tip portion, a pair of legs extending from said tip portion, and an umbrella between said head and tip portions;   (b) supporting said umbrella in a mold cavity with features that engage opposite sides of said umbrella; and   (c) forming a sealing member in said mold cavity with a second material different than said first material and extending around portions of said opposite sides of said umbrella adjacent an edge of said umbrella and around said features such that said sealing member includes a plurality of voids along said opposite sides of said umbrella where said features engage said umbrella.   
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein forming said sealing member includes forming at least one rib that extends from said umbrella. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein forming at least one rib includes forming a pair ribs radially spaced apart and circumferentially extending from one of said opposite sides of said umbrella with said plurality of voids between said ribs. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein forming said clip with a first material includes forming said clip with a first material having a first durometer rating and forming said sealing member with a second material includes forming said sealing member with a second material having a second durometer rating less than said first durometer rating.