Clip assembly for holding a component during a vehicle assembly/disassembly process

A clip assembly for holding a component adjacent to a structure while the component is being assembled to or disassembled from the structure, the clip assembly comprising:

• a receptacle structure comprising a floor disposed at a bottom thereof and adapted to be formed on a surface of, formed within, or coupled to the structure, the receptacle structure adapted to receive a corresponding clip structure coupled to the component;
• wherein, when received, the receptacle structure is adapted to interact with a pair of elongate arms of the clip structure that each contact the floor disposed at the bottom thereof to constrain translation of the component with respect to the structure in one or more directions along three orthogonal axes, with the pair of elongate arms of the clip structure contacting the floor to constrain translation of the component downwards with respect to the structure;
• wherein, when received, translation of the clip structure with respect to the receptacle structure is unconstrained in one direction along another of the three orthogonal axes;
• wherein, when a force sufficient to deflect the clip structure elastically or plastically within the receptacle structure is applied to the clip structure in one direction along one of the three orthogonal axes, the clip structure is adapted to be disengaged from the receptacle structure in the one direction along the one of the three orthogonal axes;
• and
• wherein the receptacle structure defines an access slot and a locking chamber separated by a shoulderstructure, wherein the floor is disposed within a bottom of the locking chamber beyond the access slot and shoulderstructure and is adapted to contact and support the clip structure when the clip structure is received by the receptacle structure.

A component assembly, the component assembly comprising:

• a structure;
• a component disposed adjacent to the structure;
• a clip structure coupled to one of the component and the structure;
• a receptacle structure formed on a surface of, formed within, or coupled to the other of the component and the structure;
• wherein the clip structure is adapted to engage the receptacle structure;
• wherein, when engaged, the clip structure is adapted to interact with the receptacle structure to constrain translation of the component with respect to the structure in one or more directions along three orthogonal axes;
• wherein, when engaged, translation of the clip structure with respect to the receptacle structure is unconstrained in one direction along another of the three orthogonal axes;
• wherein, when a force sufficient to deflect the clip structure elastically or plastically within the receptacle structure is applied to the clip structure in one direction along one of the three orthogonal axes, the clip structure is adapted to be disengaged from the receptacle structure in the one direction along the one of the three orthogonal axes;
• and
• wherein the clip structure comprises a pair of parallel deflectable arm members each comprising a downward protruding angle portion coupled to the component and disposed at a downward right angle to an elongate portion comprising a substantially flat inboard surface and a barbed structure disposed on a corresponding outboard surface of the elongate portion with each elongate portion ending in a tapered end portion of the associated deflectable arm member, wherein the downward protruding angle portions are oriented in a same direction and separate and spaced apart from one another.