Positioning structures that allow for temporary placement of overhead panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11267523-B2
Application number	US-201916451716-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2019
Priority date	Jun 25, 2019
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

A method of installing an overhead panel to another panel is provided. The method includes connecting a base of a positioning structure to a surface of the overhead panel. The positioning structure includes the base, a stem that extends outwardly from the base and an enlarged head that extends outwardly from the stem and overhangs the base. The enlarged head of the positioning structure is moved against a ledge of the another panel. The ledge contacts the enlarged head and moves the enlarged head from a catch configuration to an insertion configuration where the enlarged head reduces in dimension. The enlarged head is passed by the ledge such that the enlarged head moves from the insertion configuration to the catch configuration of increased dimension. The enlarged head is hung on the ledge such that the positioning structure supports the overhead panel in a pre-installation position that is different from an installed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of installing an overhead panel to another panel, the method comprising:
connecting a base of a positioning structure to a surface of the overhead panel, the positioning structure comprising:
the base;
a stem that extends outwardly from the base; and
an enlarged head that extends outwardly from the stem and overhangs the base;

moving the enlarged head of the positioning structure against a ledge of the another panel, the ledge contacting the enlarged head and moving the enlarged head from a catch configuration to an insertion configuration where the enlarged head reduces in dimension;
passing the enlarged head by the ledge such that the enlarged head moves from the insertion configuration to the catch configuration of increased dimension;
hanging the enlarged head on the ledge such that the positioning structure supports the overhead panel in a pre-installation position that is different from an installed position; and
moving the overhead panel from the pre-installation position into the installed position by reducing spacing between the surface of the overhead panel and the another panel thereby spacing the enlarged head from above the another panel in a vertical direction and removing a load provided by a weight of the overhead panel from the positioning structure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the positioning structure remaining connected to the overhead panel with the overhead panel in the installed position.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the overhead panel is a headliner and the another panel is a roof panel of a vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the enlarged head by bending a head forming portion of the positioning structure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enlarged head pivots relative to the stem between the catch configuration and the insertion configuration.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enlarged head compresses to the insertion configuration.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enlarged head comprising an outwardly extending portion that extends from the stem and overhangs the base and an inwardly extending portion that extends from the outwardly extending portion toward the stem and under hangs the outwardly extending portion.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the enlarged head is formed from a head forming portion that extends outward from the stem, the head forming portion is a monolithic part of the stem.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the outwardly extending portion extends from the stem at an increased flexibility region of reduced thickness in the head forming portion.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the inwardly extending portion extends from the outwardly extending portion at another increased flexibility region of reduced thickness in the head forming portion.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the head forming portion comprises an enlarged catch member that is received through an opening in the stem.

12. The method of claim wherein the enlarged head comprising a first outwardly extending portion that extends in a first direction and a second outwardly extending portion that extends in a second direction that is opposite the first direction;
wherein the enlarged head pivots about a hinge that is connected to the stern between the catch configuration and the insertion configuration.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising a load support member that extends outwardly from the stem and under hangs the second outwardly extending portion to engage the second outwardly extending portion if the enlarged head pivots away from the catch configuration.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein positioning structure is a monolithic structure.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Astrike Logan R

Classifications

• B60R13/0212

  Roof or head liners (movable head-liners B60J7/0007) · CPC title

• B62D65/024

  Positioning of sub-units or components with respect to body shell or other sub-units or components · CPC title

• F16B5/0664

  at least one of the sheets or plates having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features · CPC title

• F16B5/0096

  by using permanent deformation · CPC title

• B62D65/026

  by using a jig or the like; Positioning of the jig · CPC title