ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 1 -- United States Patent no. 11,971,066, issued on April 30, was assigned to Illinois Tool Works Inc. (Glenview, Ill.).
"Push through retainer connection with integrated hinging seal" was invented by Derek Scroggie (Macomb, Mich.), Michelle E. Bozinovski (Oakland Charter Township, Mich.) and Robert A. Murawski (Clinton Township, Mich.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "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...