Roof hinge cover attachment strategies
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJeffrey Scott Mayville, Patrick Reed, James Brian Slemons, David James Spolyar, Rong Yao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Mounting strategies for locating and securing roof hinge covers to vehicle roofs. An exemplary roof hinge cover may be mounted relative to a roof component (e.g., roof panel, body side panel, bracket, etc.). A locator may be received through the roof hinge cover and into a locating hole of the roof component. One or more clips that are connected to the roof hinge cover may be received within locating openings of a bracket. The bracket supports at least a portion of the roof hinge cover.
Claims20
A vehicle roof assembly, comprising:
- a roof component;
- a roof hinge cover mounted relative to the roof component;
- a locator received through the roof hinge cover and into a locating hole of the roof component;
- a bracket including a locating opening;
- and
- a clip connected to the roof hinge cover and received within locating opening of the bracket,
- wherein the bracket supports at least a portion of the roof hinge cover.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a roof;
- a liftgate;
- a hinge pivotably connecting the liftgate to the roof;
- a roof rail or a roof ditch ornamentation cover mounted to the roof;
- a roof hinge cover mounted over the hinge and positioned rearward of the roof rail or the roof ditch ornamentation cover;
- and
- a bracket extending at least partially inside the roof rail or the roof ditch ornamentation cover and establishing a beam surface that supports at least a portion of the roof hinge cover.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a roof including a roof panel;
- a liftgate;
- a hinge pivotably connecting the liftgate to the roof;
- a roof rail mounted to the roof;
- a roof hinge cover positioned rearward of the roof rail and at least partially covering the hinge;
- a locator received through the roof hinge cover and into a locating hole of the roof panel;
- a bracket including a first section received inside the roof rail, a second section rearward of the first section and including a first locating opening and a second locating opening, and a third section transverse to the first and second sections and including a third locating opening;
- a first clip connected to the roof hinge cover and received within the first locating opening;
- a second clip connected to the roof hinge cover and received within the second locating opening;
- and
- a third clip connected to the roof hinge cover and received within the third locating opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.