# US 11,028,626 B2 · Roof hinge cover attachment strategies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,626 B2 - Document ID: US11028626B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/504,608 - Filed: 2019-07-08 - Published: 2021-01-14 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-08 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Mayville; Patrick Reed; James Brian Slemons; David James Spolyar; Rong Yao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028626B2 ## 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 5/106: {comprising door or part of door being moveable by a linkage system to open/close position} - B60J 5/107: {constructional details, e.g. about door frame, panels, materials used, reinforcements} - E05D 5/0207: {for attachment to vehicles (E05D5/043, E05D5/062 take precedence)} - E05D 11/0054: {Covers, e.g. for protection} - E05Y 2600/53: Snapping - E05Y 2900/546: Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards - 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) - E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00) - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the locator and the clip are each located at different locations of the roof hinge cover. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the locating hole is formed through a tab of the roof component, wherein the tab extends to a rear edge of the roof component. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the locator extends through the locating hole and into a wet area of the vehicle roof assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the locator is a pin or a clip. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a first section that extends inside a roof rail or a roof ditch ornamentation cover of the vehicle roof assembly, a second section rearward of the first section, and a third section at least partially between the first and second sections. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein the second section includes the locating opening and a second locating opening, and the third section includes a third locating opening, wherein the clip is secured within the locating opening, a second clip is located in the second locating opening, and a third clip is located in the third locating opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the clip is attached to a first clip housing of the roof hinge cover, the second clip is attached to a second clip housing of the roof hinge cover, and the third clip is attached to a third clip housing of the roof hinge cover. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the bracket is contiguous with a portion of the roof component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle roof assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the locator is held within a recessed housing of the roof hinge cover. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle as recited in claim 11, wherein a first portion of the bracket extends inside the roof rail or the roof ditch ornamentation cover and a second portion of the bracket that is rearward of the first portion establishes the beam surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle as recited in claim 12, wherein the bracket includes a third portion that extends transversely relative to the first and second portions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle as recited in claim 13, wherein the second portion includes a first locator opening and a second locator opening, and the third portion includes a third locator opening, wherein a first clip of the roof hinge cover is received within the first locator opening, a second clip of the roof hinge cover is received within the second locator opening, and a third clip of the roof hinge cover is received within the third locator opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle as recited in claim 14, comprising a locator held within a recessed housing of the roof hinge cover and received within a locator opening of a roof component of the roof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The vehicle as recited in claim 11, wherein a portion of the bracket is located axially between the hinge and an outboard edge of the roof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The vehicle as recited in claim 11, wherein the bracket includes a plurality of ribs adapted to maintain a positioning of the bracket relative to the roof rail or the roof ditch ornamentation cover. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The vehicle as recited in claim 11, wherein the roof hinge cover is located and secured relative to a roof panel of the roof by a locator, a first clip, a second clip, and a third clip. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The vehicle as recited in claim 11, wherein a portion of the bracket extends over top of a mounting base of the hinge. ### Claim 20 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.