CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 0001 This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application Serial No. 60/335,079, filed on Oct. 24, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 0002 The present invention relates to the art of fasteners including internal helical flutes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fastener assembly for plastic components that facilitates tool-free fastening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0003 There are a variety of fasteners used to secure plastic components. These fasteners include screws and bolts that are used with one another or with molded bosses. However, these fasteners often require tools to secure them to the plastic components and are labor intensive. 0004 Other fasteners, such as studs that engage orifices and molded plastic fasteners, may exhibit reduced holding capability or may involve complex, and therefore expensive, molds in order to manufacture them. 0005 As a result, there is a need for a fastener for plastic components that may overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by being easily molded, while having good strength and the capability to be assembled without special tools.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 0006 In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fastener assembly for securing a first molded component to a second molded component is provided. The fastener assembly includes a stud that is a molded part of the first component and extends outward from the first component and a cylindrical wall that is a molded part of the second component. A longitudinal bore is defined by the cylindrical wall and at least one flute extends radially from the cylindrical wall into the bore and longitudinally along the cylindrical wall in a helical manner. The flute secures the stud in the bore of the cylindrical wall upon insertion of the stud into the bore. 0007 The cylindrical walls include a top and a base and the flute extends longitudinally in a helical manner from the top to the base. In addition, the flute includes a curved surface and a planar surface that intersect to form a crest. The fit between the stud and the crest of the flute upon insertion of the stud into the bore may be an interference fit. Moreover, a plurality of flutes may be spaced apart and extend parallel to one another in a helical manner along the cylindrical wall. 0008 In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fastener assembly includes a first molded component and a second molded component. A stud is permanently secured to and extends outward from the first molded component. A cylindrical wall is permanently secured to the second molded component and defines a longitudinal bore along its inner diameter that receives the stud. The cylindrical wall also defines a plurality of flutes spaced apart from one another that extend longitudinally in a helical manner along the wall and radially from the wall into the bore. 0009 Each flute includes a curved surface and a planar surface that intersect to form a crest that deforms upon insertion of the stud into the bore. The angle of each flute with a radial axis of the cylindrical wail is between about 30 degrees and about 360 degrees, more preferably between about 60 degrees and 180 degrees, and most preferably between about 90 degrees and 120 degrees. The cylindrical wall may extend outward from the second component and the fit between the stud and the flutes when the stud is inserted into the longitudinal bore may be an interference fit. 0010 In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of fastener assemblies is provided in accordance with the above disclosure. At least one additional stud is permanently secured to the first molded component and at least one additional cylindrical wall is permanently secured to the second molded component. 0011 In still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method of fastening a first component to a second component is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a first component and forming a stud on the first component. A second component is provided and a cylindrical wall that defines a longitudinal bore is formed on the second component. At least one helical flute is formed on the cylindrical wall and the helical flute extends radially into the longitudinal bore. The stud is aligned with the longitudinal bore and is pressed into the longitudinal bore, allowing the flutes to secure the stud in the longitudinal bore. 0012 There may be a plurality of flutes formed on the cylindrical wall that are spaced apart in a parallel manner. Moreover, at least one additional stud may be formed on the first component and at least one corresponding additional cylindrical wall may be formed on the second component. 0013 There are other objects and features of the invention, which will be apparent from the following description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 0014 The following is a brief description of the drawings, which are presented for the purpose of illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same, and wherein: 0015 FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a fastener assembly of the present invention; 0016 FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the fastener assembly of FIG. 1 in an assembled state; 0017 FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a component of the fastener assembly of FIG. 1; and 0018 FIG. 4 is sectional view of the component of FIG. 3 taken along line F4-F4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 0019 Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention and not for the purpose of particularly limiting the same, FIG. 1 shows a fastener assembly 10 that joins a first component 12 to a second component 14. The fastener assembly 10 includes a stud 16 that is a molded part of the first component 12 and extends outward from the first component 12. The stud 16 is substantially smooth and may be solid or hollow, depending on design considerations. The stud 16 includes a base 18, located at the juncture of the stud 16 and the first component 12, and a tip 20. 0020 With additional reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the fastener assembly 10 also includes a cylindrical wall 22 that is a molded part of the second component 14. The cylindrical wall 22 may extend out from the second component 14 (as shown) or into the second component 14. The cylindrical wall 22 defines a longitudinal bore 24 along its inner diameter. Extending radially into the bore 24 from the wall 22 in a helical manner is at least one flute or rib 26. 0021 The wall 22 includes a base 28 at the juncture of the wall 22 and the second component 14, and a top 30. The flute 26 commences at the top 30 of the wall 22 and extends to the base 28. The angle of the flute 26 with a radial axis of the cylindrical wall 22 is between about 30 degrees and about 360 degrees, more preferably between about 60 degrees and 180 degrees, and most preferably between about 90 degrees and 120 degrees. The flute 26 may be of right-hand, i.e., extending down to the right, or left-hand, i.e., extending down to the left, orientation. Of course, more than one flute 26 may be present, as shown in the figures, and in such a case, the flutes 26 extend in a spaced parallel manner, curving from the top 30 of the wall 22 to the base 28. 0022 Each flute 26 includes a crest 32 that is formed by the intersection of a curved surface 34 of the flute with a planar surface 36. The angle of intersection may be approximately 90 degrees or less, thus leading to a relatively sharp crest 32. The sharpness of the crest 32 allows the flute 26 to grip the stud 16 more tightly. 0023 The flutes 26 thus extend about the inner diameter of the cylindrical wall 22 and are of a depth d to produce an interference fit with the stud 16. Turning to FIG. 2, upon assembly of the fastener 10 the stud 16 extends into the bore 24 of the cylindrical wall 22 and is secured by the flutes 26. The flutes 26 deform slightly to grip the stud 16, thus allowing the interference fit to prevent separation of the assembled fastener 10. 0024 For an optimum fit, the cylindrical wall 22 may be longer than the stud 16, whereby the top 30 of the wall 22 contacts the first component 12 and the tip 20 of the stud 16 does not bottom out or contact the second component 14. Depending on the specific design considerations, the stud 16 may bottom out or it may be longer than the cylindrical wall 22. 0025 The helical design of the flutes 26 extending from the cylindrical wall 22 provide a secure connection between the wall 22 and the stud 16, making it difficult to get the fastener apart. Moreover, the stud 16 can be pressed into the bore 24 of the cylindrical wall 22 without the use of any specialized tools. To prevent the rotation of the fastener 10 and thus optimize its strength, more than one fastener 10 may be used in a particular design. For example, two fasteners 10 may be placed close to one another to cooperate in securing a first component 12 to a second component 14. In such a situation, a second stud is formed on the first component 12 and a second cylindrical wall is formed on or in the second component 14, in which these additional members conform to the above detailed description. 0026 It will be appreciated that the components of the fastener 10 may be formed in the mold. The stud 16 may thus be molded with the first component 12, and the cylindrical wall 22 and the helical flutes 26 molded with the second component 14. As a result, the fastener 10 may be of any polymeric material, whether the same as the components 12 and 14, or different than the components 12 and 14 through the use of multiple-material molding techniques as known in the art. 0027 In accordance with the present invention, a method of fastening components 12 and 14 is also provided. The method corresponds to FIGS. 1-4 above and includes the steps of forming a stud 16 on a first component 12. A cylindrical wall 22 is formed on or in a second component 14 and the wall 22 defines a longitudinal bore 24. Helical flutes 26 extend radially inward from the wall 22 into the bore 24. An interference fit is produced between the stud 16 and the flutes 16 and the stud 16 is aligned with the bore 24. The stud 16 is pressed into the bore 24 of the cylindrical wall 22, whereupon the flutes 26 secure the stud 16 in the wall 22, thereby fastening the first component 12 to the second component 14. Of course, multiple studs 16 with corresponding multiple cylindrical walls 22 may be formed and used to secure the first component 12 to the second component 14. 0028 The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.