Trim panel mounting system for securing a trim panel to a substrate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016368433-A1
Application number	US-201514740311-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 16, 2015
Priority date	Jun 16, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A trim panel mounting system is provided for securing a trim panel to a substrate. That trim panel mounting system includes a push pin, a push pin holder and a trim panel. That trim panel includes at least one mounting post engaging the push pin holder and a resilient retention finger capturing the push pin between the trim panel and the push pin holder.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A trim panel mounting system for securing a trim panel to a substrate, comprising:
a push pin; a push pin holder; and a trim panel including at least one mounting post engaging said push pin holder and a resilient retention finger capturing said push pin between said trim panel and said push pin holder.

2 . The trim panel mounting system of claim 1 , wherein said push pin holder includes a key hole opening for receiving said push pin.

3 . The trim panel mounting system of claim 2 , wherein said push pin holder further includes two locating apertures.

4 . The trim panel mounting system of claim 3 , wherein said keyhole opening is provided between said two locating apertures.

5 . The trim panel mounting system of claim 4 , wherein said trim panel includes two mounting posts wherein said two mounting posts are received in said two locating apertures.

6 . The trim panel mounting system of claim 5 , wherein said keyhole opening includes an entry, a push pin retention slot and a constriction between said entry and said push pin retention slot.

7 . The trim panel mounting system of claim 6 , wherein said entry has a width W 1 , said retention slot has a width W 2 and said constriction has a width W 3 where W 1 >W 2 >W 3 .

8 . The trim panel mounting system of claim 7 , wherein said resilient retention finger has a resilient lever arm and a stop on a distal end of said resilient lever arm.

9 . The trim panel mounting system of claim 8 , wherein said resilient retention finger has a home position wherein said stop is received within said entry of said push pin holder.

10 . The trim panel mounting system of claim 9 , wherein said entry extends through a sidewall of said push pin holder.

11 . The trim panel mounting system of claim 1 , wherein said push pin includes a mounting neck received in said push pin retention slot and a base captured between said trim panel and said push pin holder.

12 . A method of reducing space between a trim panel and a sheet metal panel to which said trim panel is connected, said method, comprising:
capturing a push pin on said trim panel with a separate overlying push pin holder and a resilient retention finger integrally formed in said trim panel.

13 . The method of claim 12 , including reducing space between said trim panel and said sheet metal panel to less than 16 mm.

14 . The method system of claim 13 , including reducing space between said trim panel and said sheet metal panel to less than 15 mm.

15 . The method of claim 12 , including reducing space between said trim panel and said sheet metal panel to less than 14 mm.

16 . The method of claim 12 , including reducing space between said trim panel and said sheet metal panel to less than 13 mm.

17 . The method of claim 12 , including reducing space between said trim panel and said sheet metal panel to less than 12 mm.

18 . The method of claim 12 , including locating said push pin holder on said trim panel by providing said trim panel with at least one mounting post received in at least one locating aperture provided in said push pin holder and heat staking said push pin holder in position on said trim panel.

19 . The method of claim 18 , including providing said push pin holder with a keyhole opening and providing said keyhole opening between two locating apertures.

20 . The method of claim 19 , including receiving said resilient retention finger at least partially in an entry of said keyhole opening to retain said push pin in position under the push pin holder.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Vega Velazquez Sergio Alberto
• Zambrano Jorge Jara

Classifications

• 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

• Y10T24/44026

  for cooperating with aperture in supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured · CPC title

• Y10T24/309

  Plastic type · CPC title

• Y10T24/30

  Trim molding fastener · CPC title

• F16B5/0657

  at least one of the plates providing a raised structure, e.g. of the doghouse type, for connection with the clamps or clips of the other plate · CPC title