Hook assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11207954-B2
Application number	US-201916579023-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2019
Priority date	Sep 23, 2019
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

A hook assembly for mounting to a body component having a pair of openings is provided. The hook assembly includes a pin member and a hook housing. The pin member includes a base portion and a pair of insertion pins extending upwardly from the base portion. The hook housing includes a top surface and a pair of interior channels. A pair of clip prongs are positioned at each opening of the pair of interior channels. A hook member extends outwardly from the hook housing. The hook housing is coupled to the body component by inserting the pair of clip prongs into the openings formed in the body component in a clip prong insertion direction. The pair of insertion pins are inserted into the pair of interior channels in a pin insertion direction to secure the pin member and the hook housing to the body component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hook assembly for mounting to a body component having a pair of openings, the hook assembly comprising:
a pin member including a base portion, and a pair of insertion pins extending upwardly from the base portion; and
a hook housing including a top surface, an opposite bottom surface, and a pair of interior channels extending between openings formed in the top surface and an opening formed in the bottom surface, a pair of clip prongs positioned at each opening of each one of the pair of interior channels at the top surface of the hook housing, and a hook member that extends outwardly from the hook housing,
the hook housing is coupled to the body component by inserting the pair of clip prongs into the openings formed in the body component in a clip prong insertion direction, and the pair of insertion pins are inserted into the pair of interior channels in a pin insertion direction to secure the pin member and the hook housing to the body component, the pin insertion direction being different from the clip prong insertion direction.

2. The hook assembly of claim 1 , wherein upon insertion of the pair of insertion pins, such that a distal end of each of the pair of insertion pins extend through the openings formed in the top surface of the hook housing, the pair of insertion pins engage the pair of clip prongs such that the pair of clip prongs are pushed outwardly to secure the hook housing and the pin member to the body component.

3. The hook assembly of claim 2 , wherein the clip prong insertion direction is obliquely angled with respect to the pin insertion direction.

4. The hook assembly of claim 3 , wherein the clip prong insertion direction is angled within a range of 10 degrees to 15 degrees with respect to the pin insertion direction.

5. The hook assembly of claim 4 , wherein the clip prong insertion direction is angled at 12.7 degrees with respect to the pin insertion direction.

6. The hook assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the hook housing further includes a front surface and an opposite back surface,
the bottom surface and a portion of the back surface of the hook housing includes a cavity, the pin member is configured to slidably engages with the hook housing through the cavity.

7. The hook assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hook housing includes a snap tab positioned between the pair of interior channels, and the pin member includes a snap tab member positioned between the pair of insertion pins, the snap tab of the hook housing being configured to engage with the snap tab member of the pin member to retain the pin member to the hook housing.

8. The hook assembly of claim 7 , wherein the snap tab of the hook housing engages with the snap tab member of the pin member at a first position to retain the pin member to the hook housing in an assembled state in which the snap tab and the snap tab member are engaged such that the pin member is coupled to the hook housing and each distal end of the pair of insertion pins extend through the openings of the hook housing.

9. The hook assembly of claim 8 , wherein a second position of the snap tab member of the pin member engages with the snap tab of the hook housing to retain the pin member to the hook housing in a pre-assembled state, wherein the snap tab and the snap tab member are engaged such that the pin member is coupled to the hook housing and each distal end of the pair of insertion pins do not extend through the openings of the hook housing.

10. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body component having a pair of openings;
a retractable sunshade having an opening and configured to move to an extended position;
a hook assembly configured for securing the retractable sunshade in the extended position, the hook assembly comprising:
a hook housing comprising:
a top surface, an opposite bottom surface, and a plurality of interior channels extending between the top surface and the bottom surface,
a pair of clip prongs positioned at the opening of each one of the plurality of interior channels at the top surface of the hook housing,
a snap tab positioned between the plurality of interior channels, and
a hook that extends outwardly from the hook housing to engage with the retractable sunshade,

a pin member comprising:
a base portion,
a pair of insertion pins extending upwardly from the base portion, and
a snap tab member provided between the pair of insertion pins,

wherein the hook assembly is secured to the vehicle body component by inserting the pair of clip prongs into the corresponding openings formed in the vehicle body component in a clip prong insertion direction,
wherein the pair of insertion pins are then inserted into each corresponding interior channel of the plurality of interior channels at a pin insertion direction such that the pair of clip prongs are pushed outwardly when the pin member is fully inserted into the hook housing such that a distal end of each insertion pin exits the opening of the respective interior channel and is positioned between a pair of prongs of the respective pair of clip prongs, the clip prong insertion direction is angled with respect to the pin insertion direction, and
wherein the snap tab of the hook housing engages with the snap tab member of the pin member at a first position to retain the pin member to the hook housing in an assembled state.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the clip prong insertion direction is obliquely angled with respect to the pin insertion direction.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the clip prong insertion direction is angled within a range of 10 degrees to 15 degrees with respect to the pin insertion direction.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the clip prong insertion direction is angled at 12.7 degrees with respect to the pin insertion direction.

14. The vehicle of claim 10 , the hook housing further includes a front surface and an opposite back surface, the bottom surface and a portion of the back surface of the hook housing includes a cavity, the pin member is configured to slidably engages with the hook housing through the cavity.

15. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein a second position of the snap tab member of the pin member engages with the snap tab of the hook housing to retain the pin member to the hook housing in a pre-assembled state, wherein the snap tab and the snap tab member are engaged such that the pin member is coupled to the hook housing and each distal end of the pair of insertion pins do not extend through the opening of each one of the plurality of interior channels of the hook housing.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America
• Nifco America Corp

Inventors

• Tsao Robert
• Malinowski Scott E
• Karl Clayton J
• Babian Philip J
• Hack Benjamin D

Classifications

• B60J3/023

  Additional support bracket releasably holding the sun visor · CPC title

• B60J1/2047 Primary

  End position holding means, e.g. suction cups, hooks on a vehicle, indentations on guides · CPC title

• B60J3/0221 Primary

  self mounting, i.e. no tools or screws required · CPC title