Heat stake attachment feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016176363-A1
Application number	US-201514839306-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 28, 2015
Priority date	Dec 17, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A retainer for limited space attachment of a vehicle part with a class A surface to a vehicle. The retainer has a low profile portion and also an attachment base operable for being connected to heat stake ribs of the vehicle part. The attachment base includes at least one attachment aperture to provide attachment with the heat stake ribs. There is provided desired degrees of clip float and/or two-way limited clip float providing desired free movement of the clip when desired.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A doghouse retainer arrangement, comprising:
a securing portion operable for being connected to a vehicle; at least one heat stake retention rib formed on a part for a vehicle; and an attachment base operably coupled to the securing portion, said attachment base including at least one attachment aperture that is not serrated, said at least one heat stake retention rib received in the at least one attachment aperture and securing the connection to the part.

2 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the attachment base is a spring steel carrier including a raised low profile doghouse portion having a keyhole for receiving the securing portion.

3 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 2 , further comprising a pair of walls that provide height to the raised low profile doghouse portion.

4 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 2 , further comprising an aperture formed on the vehicle, wherein the securing portion is a clip for connecting to the vehicle by press fitting into the aperture.

5 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the clip is a nylon winged clip.

6 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the keyhole is a rounded keyhole for 360 degrees of float of the clip.

7 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the keyhole is a slotted keyhole to limit float of the clip to two directions.

8 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the keyhole includes two or more fingers that are deflectable for insertion and retention of the clip within the keyhole.

9 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 8 , wherein the clip further includes opposing float limiters for limiting clip float to predetermined desired directions.

10 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 4 , wherein the clip further includes a reduced diameter portion that is received in the keyhole and is smaller than the keyhole to allow positioning movement of the clip during assembly to account for any variance in tolerances.

11 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 10 , wherein the clip further includes a clip base that is larger than the reduced diameter portion of the clip.

12 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the clip further includes a foam washer.

13 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the attachment base also includes opposing turned up carrier walls to improve carrier flatness following austempering processing.

14 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment aperture of the attachment base does not include serrations.

15 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the attachment base includes two or more attachment portions, each attachment portion having a respective one of the attachment apertures receiving a plurality of the heat stake retention ribs.

16 . A retainer arrangement, comprising:
at least one aperture formed on a vehicle; a securing portion operable for being connected to the vehicle; a plurality of heat stake retention ribs formed on a part for a vehicle; an attachment base operably coupled to the securing portion; at least two attachment portions of the attachment base, each attachment portion including a respective attachment aperture, said plurality of heat stake retention ribs received in the attachment apertures and secure the connection to the part; and wherein the attachment apertures of the attachment base do not include serrations.

17 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the securing portion is a winged clip and the attachment base is a spring steel carrier including a raised low profile doghouse portion having a keyhole for receiving the winged clip.

18 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 17 , wherein the keyhole is a rounded or a slotted keyhole for desired float of the winged clip.

19 . The doghouse retainer arrangement of claim 17 , wherein the winged clip further comprises:
a reduced diameter portion that is received in the keyhole; a clip base that is larger than the reduced diameter portion of the clip; a foam washer; and optionally, opposing float limiters for limiting clip float to predetermined desired directions.

20 . A method for attaching a part to a vehicle using a doghouse retainer arrangement, comprising the steps of:
providing a plurality of heat stake retention ribs formed on the part; providing an aperture on a vehicle; providing a securing portion that is a clip operable for being connected to the aperture of the vehicle; providing an attachment base that is a spring steel carrier including a raised low profile doghouse portion having a keyhole for receiving the clip; providing at least one attachment portion of the attachment base, said attachment portion including an attachment aperture having no serrations; pushing the plurality of heat stake retention ribs through the attachment aperture and heat staking the ribs for securing the connection to the part; and pushing the clip into the aperture of the vehicle to connect the part and retainer arrangement to the vehicle.

Assignees

• Magna Int Inc

Inventors

• Bachelder Theodore J
• Gignilliat Michael S

Classifications

• F16B2/22

  of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material {(F16B2/205 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R13/0206 Primary

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