Jon C Piasecki

US Patent:

20010032608, Oct 25, 2001

Filed:

Jan 17, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/761998

Inventors:

Karthik Narayanaswamy - Canton MI, US
Kevin Murphy - Sterling Heights MI, US
Jon Piasecki - Ortonville MI, US
David Chae - Windsor, CA
Bruce Harvey - Shelby Township MI, US

Assignee:

Siemens Automotive Corporation

International Classification:

F02M035/10

US Classification:

123/184210

Abstract:

An injection molded screw retainer is employed on an air intake manifold system to retain screws which connect an active system body to a manifold lower assembly. The retainer is substantially “L-shaped” and includes a retaining portion and a substantially perpendicular attachment portion. The retaining portion includes a substantially hemispherical feature positioned substantially over the head of the screw. The oversized attachment portion is inserted within a pocket in the active system body. Ultrasonic energy applied by a sonic welding process slightly melts the outer surface of the attachment portion, creating a weld interference between the attachment portion and the pocket, securing the attachment portion within the pocket.