Retention Clip for Interior Vehicle Components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016144801-A1
Application number	US-201414548795-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 20, 2014
Priority date	Nov 20, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

“A retention clip for an interior vehicle component may include a base and a pair of frame members extending from the base. Each of the frame members may include a primary wing arranged with the base to secure the clip to a sheet metal portion and may have a body including a flared portion partially cutout from the body. The flared portion may define a secondary wing extending from the primary wing and may be configured to contact the metal when the primary wing is dislodged from an installed position. The secondary wings may define distal ends spaced apart from one another at a distance greater than a width of a slot defined by the sheet metal.”

First claim

1 . An interior vehicle component retention clip comprising:
a base; and a pair of frame members each extending from the base, arranged to overlap one another and partially cover an upper portion, including a primary wing arranged with the base to secure the clip to a separate sheet metal in an installed position and defining a secondary wing extending from the primary wing and oriented for non-contact with the sheet metal in the installed position.

2 . The clip of claim 1 , wherein the secondary wings define distal ends spaced apart from one another at a distance greater than a width of a slot defined by the sheet metal sized for at least a portion of the clip to extend therethrough.

3 . The clip of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of arms extending from the base and defining distal ends located above a receiving aperture defined by the base, wherein the arms are configured to at least partially retain a fastener extending through the aperture.

4 . The clip of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of each frame member is arranged with the other of the frame members to dictate a flex limit of each of the frame members.

5 . The clip of claim 1 , wherein the base defines a plurality of base flanges arranged to grip flanges of the primary wings to secure the clip to the sheet metal in the installed position, and wherein the base flanges are arranged with the secondary wings to prevent the clip from passing through a slot defined by the sheet metal when the primary wings are dislodged from the installed position.

6 . The clip of claim 1 , wherein the interior vehicle component retention clip is operably connected to a grab handle or coat hook.

7 . A retention clip to mount an interior component of a vehicle comprising:
a base defining a plurality of base flanges; a pair of flexible frame members extending from the base, each of the flexible frame members having an overlap flange at an upper portion arranged with one another to overlap and partially cover the upper portion of the other of the frame members; and dual clips each having a primary wing with a grip flange arranged with the base flanges to receive a portion of sheet metal therebetween and a body including a flared portion partially cutout of the body and extending outward to define a secondary wing, wherein the primary wings and the secondary wings are arranged with one another such that the secondary wings do not contact a portion of the sheet metal when the primary wings are in an installed position.

8 . The clip of claim 7 , wherein the portion of sheet metal defines a slot for at least a portion of the clip to extend through, and wherein the secondary wings define distal ends spaced apart from one another a distance greater than a width of the slot.

9 . The clip of claim 7 , further comprising a pair of arms extending from the base portion to distal ends located above a receiving aperture defined by the base sized to receive a fastener.

10 . The clip of claim 7 , wherein the overlap flanges are arranged with the flexible frame members to dictate an extent to which the flexible frame members flex.

11 . The clip of claim 7 , wherein the interior component is a grab handle or coat hook.

12 . An assembly to support an interior handle of a vehicle comprising:
a portion of sheet metal defining an open slot; a retention clip extending through the slot and including a primary wing and base flanges arranged with the portion of sheet metal for compression against both sides of the open slot to hold the clip in an installed position, and a secondary wing extending from the primary wing such that the secondary wing is spaced from the portion of sheet metal and such that when the primary wing is not in contact with the metal the secondary wing prevents the clip from passing completely through the slot; and a pair of frame members to support the primary wing and flex during installation of the clip and each including an upper portion and an overlap flange at least partially covering the upper portion of the other of the frame members.

13 . The assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a component spacer including a fastener sized to extend through a receiving aperture defined by a base portion of the clip, and wherein the interior handle and the component spacer are arranged on opposite sides of a headliner of the vehicle.

14 . The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the clip further includes a pair of arms extending from the base portion and having distal ends configured to grasp the fastener.

15 . (canceled)

16 . The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the overlap flanges are arranged with one another to dictate an extent of the frame member flex during installation.

17 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the secondary wing defines a distal end spaced apart from another distal end of another secondary wing at a distance greater than a length of a width of the slot.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Huelke David
• Popovski Mike

Classifications

• B60R13/02 Primary

  {Internal} Trim mouldings {; Internal} Ledges; Wall liners {for passenger compartments}; Roof liners (B60R13/01 takes precedence {; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18}) · CPC title

• F16B2/241

  of sheet metal · CPC title

• B60N3/026 Primary

  characterised by the fixing means (B60N3/023 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R13/0206

  Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings (devices for fastening or securing F16B) · CPC title