Nut connector for vehicle closure hardware

Abstract

A vehicle closure hardware nut connector ( 10 ) is embodied by a unitary, one-piece stamping ( 18 ) including a generally flat nut portion ( 20 ) having at least one stamped nut ( 22 ), at least one connection tab ( 30 ) shaped from the nut portion in a coplanar relationship, and at least one deformable connection portion ( 46 ) that extends between the nut portion and the connection tab coplanar with both and being deformed to provide adjustment of positioning of a vehicle closure hardware component ( 38 ) on a vehicle body component ( 34 ). One embodiment of the nut connector ( 10 ) has a pair of the connection tabs ( 30 ) and another embodiment of the nut connector ( 10 ′) has a single connection tab ( 30 ).

1 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector comprising:
 a unitary, one-piece stamping made from sheet metal and including:   a generally flat nut portion having at least one stamped nut projecting from its flat shape to receive a threaded fastener;   a flat connection tab spaced from the nut portion coplanar with its generally flat shape and adaptable to provide initial attachment of the nut connector to one surface of an associated vehicle body portion that has an oppositely facing surface against which a vehicle closure hardware component is contacted and secured by the threaded fastener upon threading into the stamped nut with the vehicle body portion clamped between the nut connector and the vehicle closure hardware component; and   at least one connection portion that extends between the flat nut portion and the connection tab coplanar with both and being deformed while remaining coplanar therewith to provide adjustment of the positioning of the hardware component on the vehicle body portion.   
   
   
       2 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 1  wherein the generally flat nut portion includes a pair of stamped nuts projecting from its flat shape adjacent its opposite ends for respectively receiving a pair of threaded fasteners that cooperate with each other to secure the vehicle closure hardware component. 
   
   
       3 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 2  wherein a pair of the deformable connection portions connect the nut portion and the connection tab in a coplanar relationship therewith. 
   
   
       4 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 3  wherein the deformable connection portions are selected from the group consisting of deformable connection portions having shapes that project toward each other and deformable connection portions having shapes that project away from each other. 
   
   
       5 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 4  wherein the projecting shapes of the deformable connection portions have rounded V shapes. 
   
   
       6 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 5  wherein the rounded V shapes of the deformable connection portions each includes a notch that affects its deformation upon adjustment of the position of the hardware component on the vehicle body portion. 
   
   
       7 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 1  wherein each connection portion includes a notch that affects its deformation upon adjustment of the position of the hardware component on the vehicle body portion. 
   
   
       8 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 1  wherein the nut portion has a pair of opposite ends, further including a pair of the connection tabs respectively located adjacent each of the opposite ends of the nut portion, and a pair of the deformable connection portions extending between each end of the flat nut portion and the adjacent connection tab coplanar with both and being deformed while remaining coplanar therewith to provide adjustment of the positioning of the hardware component on the vehicle body portion. 
   
   
       9 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 8  wherein the opposite ends of the nut portion have rounded shapes that respectively project toward the adjacent connection tabs, and the pair of connection tabs having rounded portions that respectively project toward the rounded opposite ends of the nut portion. 
   
   
       10 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 8  wherein the generally flat nut portion includes a pair of stamped nuts projecting from its flat shape respectively adjacent its opposite ends for respectively receiving a pair of threaded fasteners that cooperate with each other to secure the vehicle closure hardware component, and the pair of the deformable connection portions having shapes that project toward each other between the adjacent end of the nut portion and the adjacent connection tab. 
   
   
       11 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 8  wherein the generally flat nut portion includes a pair of stamped nuts projecting from its flat shape respectively adjacent its opposite ends for respectively receiving a pair of threaded fasteners that cooperate with each other to secure the vehicle closure hardware component, the opposite ends of the nut portion having rounded shapes that respectively project toward the adjacent connection tabs, the pair of connection tabs having rounded portions that respectively project toward the rounded opposite ends of the nut portion, and the pair of the deformable connection portions having shapes that project toward each other between the adjacent rounded end of the nut portion and the rounded portion of the adjacent connection tab and cooperating therewith to provide a generally X-shaped opening. 
   
   
       12 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 11  wherein the projecting shapes of the deformable connection portions of each pair of rounded V shapes that project toward each other. 
   
   
       13 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 12  wherein the rounded V shapes of the deformable connection portions each includes a notch that affects its deformation upon adjustment of the position of the hardware component on the vehicle body portion. 
   
   
       14 . A vehicle closure hardware connector as in  claim 1  which includes a single connection tab. 
   
   
       15 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 14  wherein the generally flat nut portion includes a pair of stamped nuts spaced from each other projecting from its flat shape to receive a pair of threaded fasteners that cooperate with each other to secure the vehicle closure hardware component, a pair of the deformable connection portions connecting the nut portion and the single connection tab in a coplanar relationship therewith, the deformable connection portions of each pair having shapes that project toward each other between the nut portion and the adjacent connection tab, and the nut connector having a four lobed opening between the flat nut portion and the connection tab. 
   
   
       16 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 15  wherein the projecting deformable connection portions have rounded V shapes that project toward each other. 
   
   
       17 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 16  wherein the rounded V shapes of the deformable connection portions each includes a notch that affects its deformation upon adjustment of the position of the hardware component on the vehicle body portion. 
   
   
       18 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector as in  claim 15  wherein the connection tab is spaced from nut portion in a direction perpendicular to an axis extending between the spaced nuts. 
   
   
       19 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector comprising:
 a unitary, one-piece stamping made from sheet metal and including:   a generally flat nut portion having a pair of opposite rounded ends and a pair of stamped nuts projecting from its flat shape respective adjacent its rounded opposite ends, and each nut having an interior for receiving an associated threaded fastener;   a pair of flat connection tabs respectively located adjacent the opposite rounded ends of the nut portion coplanar with its generally flat shape and adaptable to provide initial attachment of the nut connector to one surface of an associated vehicle body portion that has an oppositely facing surface against which a vehicle closure hardware component is contacted and secured by the threaded fasteners upon respective threading into the stamped nuts with the vehicle body portion clamped between the nut connector and the vehicle closure hardware component, and each connection tab including a rounded portion that projects toward the adjacent rounded end of the nut portion; and   a pair of deformable connection portions that extend between each opposite end of the flat nut portion and the adjacent connection tab coplanar with both, the deformable connection portions of each pair projecting toward each other and cooperating with the adjacent rounded end of the nut portion and the rounded portion of the adjacent connection tab to define a generally X-shaped opening, and the deforming connection portions being deformed while remaining coplanar with both the nut portion and the connection tabs to provide adjustment of the positioning of the hardware component on the vehicle body portion.   
   
   
       20 . A vehicle closure hardware nut connector comprising:
 a unitary, one-piece stamping made from sheet metal and including:   a generally flat nut portion having a pair of stamped nuts spaced from each other and projecting from the flat shape of the nut portion to receive threaded fasteners;   a single connection tab spaced from the nut portion in a direction perpendicular to an axis extending between the spaced nuts, the connection tab being coplanar with the generally flat shape of the nut portion and adaptable to provide initial attachment of the nut connector to one surface of an associated vehicle body portion that has an oppositely facing surface against which a vehicle closure hardware component is contacted and secured by threaded fasteners upon threading into the stamped nuts with the vehicle body portion clamped between the nut connector and the vehicle closure hardware component; and   a pair of deformable connection portions that extend between the flat nut portion and the connection tab coplanar with both and being deformed while remaining coplanar therewith to provide adjustment of the positioning of the hardware component on the vehicle body portion, the deformable connection portions having shapes that project toward each other, and the nut connector having a four lobed opening between the flat nut portion and the connection tab.