A fastener includes a fastening pin and a sleeve component disposed around the fastening pin and movable up and down relative to the fastening pin. The sleeve component includes fixing claws that are able to stretch outward and retract inward. A pin of the fastening pin comprises a small-diameter rod section and an upper large-diameter rod section. When the fixing claws move relative to the pin to abut against an outer surface of the upper large-diameter rod section, the fixing claws stretch outward, and the fastener is in a locked state. When the fixing claws move to the outside of the small-diameter rod section relative to the pin, the fixing claws retract inward, and the fastener is in a release state.

An inner housing defines a pin retaining receptacle elongated in an X-direction with entry ramps extending parallel to the X-direction. The inner housing is slidably coupled to an outer housing and extends into an interior thereof. Centering protrusions of one housing can engage the other housing to initially retain the pin retaining receptacle of the inner housing in a central position within the interior of the outer housing in the Y-direction prior to insertion of the pin into the pin retaining receptacle. The other housing can be movable against the centering protrusion to permit the pin retaining receptacle of the inner housing to move out of the central position in the Y-direction in response to engagement of the pin against the entry ramps during insertion of the pin into the pin retaining receptacle.

An adjustable positioning element (1) enabling a component (7) to be positioned and fastened in three dimensions is provided. The element comprises a bolt (2) with which the component (7) can be positioned in an axial direction (z) of the bolt (2), a hollow body (4) presenting an annular end wall through which the bolt passes, and a fastener element (5) with a washer (25) surrounding the bolt and arranged to be movable sideways against the end wall of the hollow body (4). The washer (25) is designed to be pressed against the end wall of the hollow body when the fastener element is attached to the bolt so as to fix the lateral (xy) position of the bolt (2) in the hollow body (4). The fastener element (5) and the bolt (2) are arranged to attach to each other by reversible snap-fastening.

A mounting apparatus to secure a pair of solar panel rails to an asphalt shingle roof and minimize penetrations or damage to a rafter of the roof is provided. The mounting apparatus permits the solar panel rails to support adjacent solar panels thereon. The mounting apparatus includes a lower assembly coupled to the asphalt shingle roof and having a screw and flashing disposed on an asphalt shingle and coupled together, and an upper arm assembly coupled to the screw of the lower assembly and having a generally U-shaped member with a pair of upright arms continuously connected to opposing ends of a horizontal arm, each upright arm having a slot to receive a fastener that secures one of the pair of solar panel rails thereto.

An inner housing defines a pin retaining receptacle elongated in an X-direction with entry ramps extending parallel to the X-direction. The inner housing is slidably coupled to an outer housing and extends into an interior thereof. The pair of inner housing retaining surfaces can engage the pair of cooperating inner housing retaining surfaces, with the pin retaining receptacle of the inner housing extending into the interior of the outer housing, to slidably couple the inner housing and the outer housing together while permitting movement of the inner housing relative to the outer housing in a Y-direction in response to the inner housing moving in the Y-direction during insertion of the pin into the pin retaining receptacle. Associated methods are also disclosed.

A bracket assembly for coupling a component to a vehicle including a bracket body including a C-ring retainer that is adapted to translatably engage and retain a T-shaped guide rail coupled to one of a crossmember and floor structure of the vehicle, wherein the bracket body defines a hole or includes an attachment structure adapted to receive and retain the component. The bracket body further includes one or more flanges adapted to secure the bracket body to the crossmember or floor structure of the vehicle via bolting and/or welding. Optionally, the bracket body includes: a front attachment arm; a rear attachment arm; one or more intervening structural reinforcement members; a bottom portion coupled to the attachment arms; and a cap structure coupled to the attachment arms opposite the bottom portion; wherein the bottom portion includes the C-ring retainer and the cap structure defines the hole or includes the attachment structure.

A pipe support system includes a pipe base, a threaded stud having a head, a saddle supported above the pipe base, and a shoe removably nested along a concave upper surface of the saddle. Methods for installing the pipe support system include determining a height of a joint of pipe above a ground surface; selecting a length of pipe for the pipe base in accordance with the height of the joint of pipe above the ground surface, thereby making a macro-adjustment; and rotating a threaded stud relative to a stud housing in order to make a micro-adjustment to the height of t\he joint of pipe; and placing the joint of pipe onto the shoe, thereby supporting the pipe above the ground surface. A method for replacing the shoe when it becomes worn is also provided by reversing said installation.

An assembly-ready joint for an aircraft assembly is disclosed. The joint includes a first joint part having a spigot. The joint also has a second joint part with a housing. A floating socket is in an interior of the housing. The second joint part receives the spigot in the floating socket. The joint is arranged to receive a curable medium, such as curable resin, in the interior to contract between the housing and the floating socket.

An inner housing defines a pin retaining receptacle elongated in an X-direction with entry ramps extending parallel to the X-direction. The inner housing is slidably coupled to an outer housing and extends into an interior thereof. A plurality of centering blades extend into the interior and between the inner and outer housings to locate the pin retaining receptacle in a central position within the interior in a Y-direction prior to insertion of the pin into the pin retention receptacle. The centering blades are movable in the Y-direction to permit the pin retaining receptacle of the inner housing to move to a non-central position relative to the housing in the Y-direction as a result of the inner housing moving the centering blades in response to the pin engaging the entry ramps during insertion of the pin into the pin receiving receptacle. Associated methods are also disclosed.

A fastening system includes a locking pin, a doghouse, including a receiver, and a retainer body held in the receiver. The retainer body includes a retention feature adapted to receive and hold the locking pin. The fastening system is useful in a method of securing a trim component to a door inner.