A connection assembly adapted to join a surface element to an underlying support structure while maintaining a substantially zero gap abutting relation between the surface element and the support structure. The connection assembly includes a press-in retainer with a circumferential seal having a sealing foot. The sealing foot flexes about a living hinge while maintaining continuous sliding contact with the support panel without interfering with downward movement of the retainer.

A hole plug that can be used during rework or repair of a composite fiber assembly includes various features that allow placement of a vacuum force to the surface being reworked or repaired. In some implementations, the hole plug can include a plurality of nubs positioned around a shank. The nubs can secure the hole plug to the composite fiber assembly until a cure of an adhesive. The hole plug can further include a plurality of longitudinally oriented grooves extending along the shank and positioned between the plurality of nubs, and can include a notch positioned circumferentially around the shank. The grooves and notch can be used as adhesive carriers that assist with dispersal of a sufficient volume of the adhesive onto other portions of the shank and the composite fiber assembly during insertion of the hole plug into a hole in the composite fiber assembly.

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.

A fastener includes a head configured to be anchored to a part, and a locking member extending from the head to a distal end. The locking member has at least one protrusion spaced from the head, and a tool engaging head at the distal end. In use, the locking member extends through an opening of a panel such that the head is retained on a first side of the panel, the distal end is disposed on a second side of the panel, and the at least one protrusion abuts the second side of the panel to secure the panel to the fastener. The fastener includes a resiliently deformable portion arranged such that rotation of the tool engaging head deforms the resiliently deformable portion and moves the at least one protrusion out of abutment with the second side of the panel to release the panel from the fastener.

Surface mount assembly for mounting to a solar panel frame to an installation surface is disclosed. In some embodiments, a surface mount assembly includes a base and an enclosure. The base includes a lower member and an upper member. The lower member could include a brace, a center aperture extending through the lower and upper members for receiving a fastener to facilitate the mounting to a solar panel frame; the upper member could include a hub from which a plurality of arms may extend. The mount enclosure could include a chamber with a chamber aperture for receiving a fastener from the surface mount, a post support extending upward from the chamber and forming a post aperture for receiving a post, and a horizontal member with one or more sealant grooves extending horizontal outward from the chamber.

A ventilation component 1 includes a ventilation path 10 for allowing ventilation between an inner space 2u and an outer space 2s of a housing 2. The ventilation path 10 is a path for allowing ventilation between the internal space 2u and the outer space 2s when the ventilation component 1 is attached to an edge 2f. The ventilation component 1 includes a supporting portion 12, a gas-permeable membrane 11, a protruding portion 13, and a sealing member 14. The supporting portion 12 surrounds the ventilation path 10. The gas-permeable membrane 11 is bonded to the supporting portion 12 and closes the ventilation path 10 in a ventilatable manner. The protruding portion 13 is a part having a tubular shape, the part being arranged to protrude from the supporting portion 12 and surround one end of the ventilation path 10, the part being configured to be in contact with the edge 2f when the ventilation component 1 is attached to the edge 2f. The ventilation component 1 satisfies requirements 2.5≤Gs/Gt≤5.0 and 1.0≤{(Gs−Gt)/2}/Lt≤3.0.

A connecting element for mechanically connecting at least two components has a closure head for abutment against a first component and having a closure foot for abutment against a second component and for bracing the latter against the first component in a rotated final-mounting position. A stem portion extends between the closure head and the closure foot, which is spaced apart axially from the closure head in the longitudinal direction of the stem. The closure head has a sealing surface that extends in the longitudinal direction of the stem portion and sealingly abuts against a corresponding sealing surface of a recess in the first component. There is also described a connecting arrangement with a first component and at least one second component and a corresponding connecting element. The latter may be made from a single material component.

Disclosed are systems and methods for coupling a first panel to a second panel via a fastening system, such as a pin and grommet (P&G) fastener having a grommet and a fastener assembly. The fastener assembly includes a rigid part component and a flexible seal that is integrally coupled with the rigid part component at an interface. The flexible seal is fabricated from a first material and the rigid part component is fabricated from a second material that is different from the first material. The interface defines one or more dovetails or other features to interlock the flexible seal with the rigid part component.

A hole plug that can be used during rework or repair of a composite fiber assembly includes various features that allow placement of a vacuum force to the surface being reworked or repaired. In some implementations, the hole plug can include a plurality of nubs positioned around a shank. The nubs can secure the hole plug to the composite fiber assembly until a cure of an adhesive. The hole plug can further include a plurality of longitudinally oriented grooves extending along the shank and positioned between the plurality of nubs, and can include a notch positioned circumferentially around the shank. The grooves and notch can be used as adhesive carriers that assist with dispersal of a sufficient volume of the adhesive onto other portions of the shank and the composite fiber assembly during insertion of the hole plug into a hole in the composite fiber assembly.

A press-in retainer includes a retainer head having a collar and a seal disposed at least partially about the collar. A clip portion projects from the collar. The seal includes a main body engaging the collar and a sealing foot disposed entirely outboard from the collar. The sealing foot is configured to hinge about an intersection of the sealing foot and body portion while remaining entirely outboard from the main body. In a substantially flattened condition of the sealing foot, an angle between the sealing foot and a distal surface of the main body approaches a flat contiguous surface.