Roof hinge cover attachment strategies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11702018-B2
Application number	US-202117246755-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2021
Priority date	Jul 8, 2019
Publication date	Jul 18, 2023
Grant date	Jul 18, 2023

Abstract

Mounting strategies for locating and securing roof hinge covers to vehicle roofs. An exemplary roof hinge cover may be mounted relative to a roof component (e.g., roof panel, body side panel, bracket, etc.). A locator may be received through the roof hinge cover and into a locating hole of the roof component. One or more clips that are connected to the roof hinge cover may be received within locating openings of a bracket. The bracket supports at least a portion of the roof hinge cover.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle roof assembly, comprising:
a roof component;
a roof hinge cover mounted relative to the roof component; and
a locator connected to the roof hinge cover and received within a locating hole of the roof component,
wherein the locator extends through the locating hole and into a wet area of the vehicle roof assembly.

2. The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the locator is held within a recessed housing of the roof hinge cover.

3. The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the locating hole is formed through a tab of the roof component, and further wherein the tab extends to a rear edge of the roof component.

4. The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the locator is a pin or a clip and is configured to locate the roof hinge cover relative to the roof component in multiple directions.

5. The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 1 , comprising:
a bracket including a locating opening; and
a clip connected to the roof hinge cover and received within the locating opening of the bracket,
wherein the bracket supports at least a portion of the roof hinge cover.

6. The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein the locator and the clip are each positioned at different locations of the roof hinge cover.

7. The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein the bracket includes a first section that extends inside a roof rail or a roof ditch ornamentation cover of the vehicle roof assembly, a second section rearward of the first section, and a third section at least partially between the first and second sections.

8. The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 7 , wherein the second section includes the locating opening and a second locating opening, and the third section includes a third locating opening, wherein the clip is secured within the locating opening, a second clip is located in the second locating opening, and a third clip is located in the third locating opening.

9. The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein the bracket is received in abutting contact with a portion of the roof component.

10. A vehicle, comprising:
a roof rail or a roof ditch ornamentation cover;
a roof hinge cover positioned adjacent to the roof rail or the roof ditch ornamentation cover; and
a bracket extending at least partially inside the roof rail or the roof ditch ornamentation cover and establishing a beam surface that supports at least a portion of the roof hinge cover,
wherein a portion of the bracket is located axially between a hinge and an outboard edge of a roof.

11. The vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein a first portion of the bracket extends inside the roof rail or the roof ditch ornamentation cover and a second portion of the bracket that is rearward of the first portion establishes the beam surface.

12. The vehicle as recited in claim 11 , wherein the bracket includes a third portion that extends transversely relative to the first and second portions.

13. The vehicle as recited in claim 12 , wherein the second portion includes a first locator opening and a second locator opening, and the third portion includes a third locator opening, and further wherein a first clip of the roof hinge cover is received within the first locator opening, a second clip of the roof hinge cover is received within the second locator opening, and a third clip of the roof hinge cover is received within the third locator opening.

14. The vehicle as recited in claim 13 , comprising a locator held within a recessed housing of the roof hinge cover and received within a locator opening of a roof component of a roof.

15. The vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein the bracket includes a plurality of ribs adapted to maintain a positioning of the bracket relative to the roof rail or the roof ditch ornamentation cover.

16. The vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein the roof hinge cover is located and secured relative to a roof panel by a locator, a first clip, a second clip, and a third clip.

17. The vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein a portion of the bracket extends over top of a mounting base of theft hinge.

18. A vehicle roof assembly, comprising:
a roof component;
a roof hinge cover mounted relative to the roof component;
a bracket including a locating opening; and
a clip connected to the roof hinge cover and received within the locating opening of the bracket.

19. The vehicle as recite in claim 10 , wherein the beam surface of the bracket is received in abutting contact with a portion of a roof component of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Mayville Jeffrey Scott
• Reed Patrick
• Slemons James Brian
• Spolyar David James
• Yao Rong

Classifications

• B60R13/04 Primary

  External} Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices {thereon (fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12) · CPC title

• B60J5/106

  comprising door or part of door being moveable by a linkage system to open/close position · CPC title

• B60J5/107

  constructional details, e.g. about door frame, panels, materials used, reinforcements · CPC title

• E05D5/0207

  for attachment to vehicles (E05D5/043, E05D5/062 take precedence) · CPC title

• E05D11/0054

  Covers, e.g. for protection · CPC title