Tesla Unveils Reusable Suspension Clip Patent, Balancing Cabin Quietness and Serviceability

Tesla published U.S. Patent No. US 2026/0110320 A1 on April 23, 2024, detailing a novel reusable fastener structure for automotive interior applications. This fastener secures interior trim panels to the vehicle body structure and is designed to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) during driving. Conventional interior fasteners are single-piece, disposable plastic components that tend to loosen over time, transmitting road noise, suspension vibrations, and interior resonance sounds into the cabin. Tesla’s new design features a four-part, dual-material construction: the pin and retainer ring are made of rigid glass-fiber-reinforced nylon for structural strength, while an outer layer of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is overmolded via two-shot injection molding to form a mushroom-shaped flared edge. This configuration distributes mechanical loads and dampens oscillations before vibrations reach the interior surfaces. According to patent data, installing the retainer ring into the trim panel requires 31 newtons of force, while removal requires 243 newtons. Inserting the pin demands only 7 newtons, and removing it takes 152 newtons. Because the clamping force between the retainer ring and the vehicle’s sheet metal exceeds the retention force between the ring and the pin, technicians can remove the interior panel directly during repairs without damaging the fastener or needing to replace the retainer ring. The structure supports multiple assembly and disassembly cycles without significant degradation in vibration-damping performance. This design effectively absorbs low-frequency road boom, subtle interior tremors, and high-frequency resonant noises at the source, enhancing cabin quietness. It also reduces squeaks caused by fastener aging and minimizes replacement needs, thereby lowering long-term maintenance and repair costs.