# US 10,369,939 B2 · End cap clip lock > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,939 B2 - Document ID: US10369939B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/248,999 - Filed: 2016-08-26 - Published: 2017-03-02 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-26 - Assignees: Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc. - Applicants: Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc. - Inventors: Thomas E. Maliskey; Rod Bara; Gina Leszczynski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369939B2 ## CPC - B60R 13/04: {External} Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices {thereon (fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12)} - B60J 5/0468: {Fixation or mounting means specific for door components (fasteners in general F16B21/00)} - B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars} - B60R 2013/0293: {Connection or positioning of adjacent panels} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract An end cap clip lock provides improved alignment of first and second vehicle trim components to a vehicle. The end clip lock includes a clip dimensioned for receipt between the first vehicle trim component or applique and the vehicle, such as the vehicle door. The clip includes a nose portion configured for receipt in the first vehicle trim component or reveal and a second, snap portion that interconnects with the second vehicle trim component or applique. The clip is joined to the vehicle door panel to hold the clip and the second associated vehicle trim component or applique thereto. Preferably, the end cap clip lock is installed into the reveal to form a subassembly, the subassembly is installed on the vehicle, and then the applique is installed on the subassembly/vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An end cap clip lock for improved alignment of first and second associated trim components to one another and to an associated vehicle body, the end cap clip lock comprising: a clip having a first nose portion configured for receipt in the first associated vehicle trim component, and dimensioned for receipt between the second associated trim component and the associated vehicle, and a second nose portion disposed in parallel relation to the first nose portion and positioned to engage an external surface of the first associated vehicle trim component and to guide the clip along the external surface, and the clip further including a second, snap portion that interconnects with the associated vehicle to hold the clip and the second associated vehicle trim component thereto. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The clip lock of claim 1 wherein the snap portion includes spaced apart engagement sections. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The clip lock of claim 2 wherein the engagement sections include chamfered lead-in surfaces facing outwardly from the clip and dimensioned for receipt into an associated opening in the vehicle body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The clip lock of claim 3 wherein the engagement sections each include an undercut spaced inwardly from the lead-in surfaces to form a shoulder that engages the associated vehicle body around the opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The clip lock of claim 1 wherein the first nose portion includes a tapered surface that guides the nose portion into the first associated vehicle trim component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The clip lock of claim 1 wherein the clip further includes an end cap formed thereon that is dimensioned for abutting engagement with the first associated trim component. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The clip lock of claim 6 wherein the end cap forms a shoulder that abuts with an associated end of the first associated trim component and limits further advancement of the clip into the first vehicle trim component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The clip lock of claim 7 wherein the snap portion includes spaced apart engagement sections. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The clip lock of claim 8 wherein the nose portion, snap portion, and end cap of the clip lock are a single, homogeneous molded component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The clip lock of claim 1 further comprising a cutout between the first and second nose portions. ### Claim 11 An end cap clip lock for improved alignment of first and second associated trim components to one another and to an associated vehicle body, the end cap clip lock comprising: a clip having a first nose portion configured for receipt in the first associated vehicle trim component, and dimensioned for receipt between the second associated trim component and the associated vehicle, the clip further including a second, snap portion that interconnects with the associated vehicle to hold the clip and the second associated vehicle trim component thereto, wherein the first trim component forms at least a portion of a reveal along a header of the associated vehicle body and the second trim component forms at least a portion of an appliqué covering a pillar of the associated vehicle, the clip first nose portion being received in the reveal and the snap portion operatively engages the appliqué. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The clip lock of claim 11 wherein the clip includes a second nose portion adjacent to the first nose portion that guides the clip along an external surface of the reveal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The clip lock of claim 12 further comprising a cutout between the first and second nose portions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The clip lock of claim 12 wherein the reveal includes an axial notch extending from an end of the reveal whereby the surface of the cutout abuts against the notch upon complete insertion of the clip into the reveal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The clip lock of claim 14 further comprising an end cap having a dimension greater than an inner cavity of the reveal whereby the end cap abuts a terminal end of the reveal and provides the desired closeout finish of the reveal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The clip lock of claim 12 wherein the snap portion is located on a portion of the clip that extends orthogonally relative to the first and second nose portions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The clip lock of claim 16 wherein the reveal and the appliqué extend orthogonally relative to one another. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The clip lock of claim 16 further comprising a clip secured to the appliqué wherein the clip includes a flanged portion dimensioned for receipt in an opening of the snap portion of the clip. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The clip lock of claim 18 wherein the snap portion includes engagement portions circumferentially spaced around the opening for snap-fit engagement with an associated opening in the vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The clip lock of claim 19 wherein the snap portion includes flanges circumferentially spaced around the opening for snap-fit engagement of the end cap clip lock to the appliqué.