Magnetic vehicle attachment system for use with non-magnetic body structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9428226-B2
Application number	US-201213536233-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2012
Priority date	Jun 28, 2012
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle headliner attachment system for mounting a headliner to a non-magnetic roof structure includes a headliner with an interior and an exterior surface, a magnet affixed to the exterior surface of the headliner, and a ferromagnetic clip mounted to the non-magnetic roof structure. The magnet and the ferromagnetic clip enable magnetic attachment of the headliner to the non-magnetic roof structure.

First claim

We claim:

1. A vehicle headliner attachment system comprising:
a headliner having interior and exterior surfaces;
a magnet affixed to the exterior surface;
a non-magnetic roof structure having a hollow structural member with two apertures extending through a bottom wall thereof; and
a ferromagnetic clip having a central planar body extending along a longitudinal axis, said planar body magnetically attached to the magnet and extending between two self-retaining upstanding spring clips separately retained in the two apertures to secure the headliner to the non-magnetic roof structure, wherein the spring clips are disposed at opposing terminal edges of the ferromagnetic clip, and wherein the spring clips are operable in opposing directions along the longitudinal axis.

2. The vehicle headliner attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the two self-retaining upstanding spring clips are each biased against a periphery of the two apertures in the bottom wall.

3. The vehicle headliner attachment system of claim 2 , wherein the two apertures in the roof structure are spaced apart for the central planar body of the ferromagnetic clip to abut the bottom wall between the two apertures.

4. The vehicle headliner attachment system of claim 3 , wherein the attachment system comprises a plurality of magnets spaced about the exterior surface of the headliner and a plurality of ferromagnetic clips spaced about the roof structure.

5. The vehicle headliner attachment system of claim 4 , wherein the ferromagnetic clips attract the magnets with sufficient magnitude so as to secure the headliner to the non-magnetic roof structure.

6. The vehicle headliner attachment system of claim 5 , wherein the ferromagnetic clips are magnetic and oriented in reverse polarity with respect to the magnets.

7. A vehicle trim component attachment system comprising:
a magnet affixed to a trim component exterior surface;
a non-magnetic structure having a pair of spaced apertures extending through an interior wall thereof; and
a ferromagnetic clip having a planar body magnetically attached to the magnet and a pair of spring clips operable along a longitudinal axis of the planar body and protruding from terminal ends thereof to extend through and snap into the spaced apertures.

8. The vehicle trim component attachment system of claim 7 , wherein the pair of spring clips each have a spring leg biased against a periphery of the pair of spaced apertures for retaining the ferromagnetic clip to the non-magnetic body structure.

9. The vehicle trim component attachment system of claim 7 , wherein the pair of spring clips engage outer edges of the pair of spaced apertures.

10. The vehicle trim component attachment system of claim 9 , wherein the non-magnetic structure includes at least one of a header and a side rail that span along the non-magnetic structure to define a portion of a roof structure.

11. The vehicle trim component attachment system of claim 7 , wherein the pair of spring clips are retained by the pair of spaced apertures in the non-magnetic structure, so as to mount the ferromagnetic clip to the non-magnetic structure.

12. The vehicle trim component attachment system of claim 11 , wherein a plurality of ferromagnetic clips are spaced along at least a header of the non-magnetic structure.

13. The vehicle trim component attachment system of claim 12 , wherein the ferromagnetic clip is magnetic and oriented in reverse polarity with respect to the magnet, such that the ferromagnetic clips attract the magnets with sufficient force so as to secure the trim component to the non-magnetic body structure.

14. The vehicle trim component attachment system of claim 7 , wherein the trim component is a headliner and the non-magnetic structure is a roof structure.

15. The vehicle trim component attachment system of claim 7 , wherein the magnet is affixed to the exterior surface of the trim component with adhesive.

16. A vehicle headliner attachment system comprising:
a non-magnetic roof structure having a header coupled with a side rail, each spanning along a portion of a vehicle structure, each comprising aluminum, and each including apertures spaced along a length thereof and extending through a bottom wall into a hollow interior thereof;
a plurality of clips, each having a ferromagnetic planar body and a pair of opposing spring clips extending from terminal edges of the planar body along a longitudinal axis of the planar body, the spring clips operable along the longitudinal axis, wherein the spring clips secure within a corresponding pair of apertures and through the bottom wall;
a headliner having an exterior surface; and
a plurality of magnets affixed about the exterior surface that removably attach to the plurality of clips for mounting the headliner to the non-magnetic roof structure.

17. The vehicle headliner attachment system of claim 16 , wherein the ferromagnetic planar body includes a first side abutting the non-magnetic roof structure and an opposite second side magnetically attaching to the magnet.

18. The vehicle headliner attachment system of claim 16 , wherein the non-magnetic roof structure is made of aluminum.

Assignees

• Joyce John
• Konet Todd Jared
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Joyce John
• Konet Todd Jared

Classifications

• B60R13/0218

  supported by adhesion with the roof panel · CPC title

• B62D27/06 Primary

  readily releasable · 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

• B62D25/06

  Fixed roofs (non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08) · CPC title