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US 12,649,421 B2Granted
Vehicle trim panel storage systems
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsAlejandro Perez Ruiz, Minerva Perez, Javier Garfias
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A trim storage system for a vehicle includes a guide slot that extends along a longitudinal axis, and a guide including a first flange opposite a second flange. The first flange defines one or more first ribs that extend from the first flange, and the second flange defines one or more second ribs that extend toward a respective first rib of the first ribs to define one or more slots spaced apart along the longitudinal axis. A pocket is defined between adjacent slots of the slots. The trim storage system includes a fastener removably coupled to the pocket of the guide having an attachment portion configured to retain an item.
Claims20
A trim storage system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a cover coupled to the vehicle and defining a guide slot that extends along a longitudinal axis;
- a guide disposed on a first side of the cover, the guide being U-shaped and including a first flange opposite a second flange, the first flange defining one or more first ribs that extend from the first flange, the second flange defining one or more second ribs that extend toward a respective first rib of the first ribs to define one or more slots spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, and a pocket is defined between adjacent slots of the slots;
- and
- a fastener removably coupled to the pocket of the guide having an attachment portion configured to retain an item and disposed on a second side of the cover, the fastener having a coupling portion extending through the guide slot of the cover,
- wherein the coupling portion includes a first coupling tab and a second coupling tab, that are at least partially received within the pocket to removably couple the fastener to the pocket,
- wherein the coupling portion includes a first arm spaced from a second arm,
- wherein the first arm includes a first end and a second end and the second arm includes a third end and a fourth end,
- wherein the second end of the first arm is coupled to the first coupling tab and the fourth end of the second arm is coupled to the second coupling tab,
- wherein the first end of the first arm and the third end of the second arm are interconnected by a C-shaped spring part so that the first arm and the second arm are elastically deformable to removably couple the fastener to the pocket,
- wherein, when the fastener is coupled to the pocket, the first arm presents, on the second side of the cover and opposite from the guide, a first concave depression, and the second arm presents, on the second side of the cover and opposite from the guide, a second concave depression by which the removable coupling of the fastener to the pocket is operable.
7 more elements
A vehicle, comprising:
- a trim panel;
- and
- a trim storage system coupled to the trim panel, and the trim storage system comprises:
- a cover coupled to the vehicle and defining a guide slot that extends along a longitudinal axis;
- a guide disposed on a first side of the cover, the guide being U-shaped and including a first flange opposite a second flange, the first flange and the second flange coupled to the trim panel, the first flange defining a plurality of first ribs, each first rib of the plurality of first ribs extends from a first surface of the first flange toward the second flange, the second flange defining a plurality of second ribs, each second rib of the plurality of second ribs extends from a second surface of the second flange toward a respective first rib of the plurality of first ribs to define a plurality of slots spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, and a respective pocket of a plurality of pockets is defined by the first surface and the second surface between adjacent slots of the plurality of slots;
- and
- a fastener including a coupling portion and an attachment portion, the coupling portion removably coupled to the pocket of the guide and the attachment portion configured to retain an item and disposed on a second side of the cover, wherein the coupling portion extends through the guide slot of the cover,
- wherein the coupling portion includes a first coupling tab and a second coupling tab, that are at least partially received within the pocket to removably couple the fastener to the pocket,
- wherein the coupling portion includes a first arm spaced from a second arm,
- wherein the first arm includes a first end and a second end and the second arm includes a third end and a fourth end,
- wherein the second end of the first arm is coupled to the first coupling tab and the fourth end of the second arm is coupled to the second coupling tab,
- wherein the first end of the first arm and the third end of the second arm are interconnected by a C-shaped spring part so that the first arm and the second arm are elastically deformable to removably couple the fastener to the pocket,
- wherein, when the fastener is coupled to the pocket, the first arm presents, on the second side of the cover and opposite from the guide, a first concave depression, and the second arm presents, on the second side of the cover and opposite from the guide, a second concave depression by which the removable coupling of the fastener to the pocket is operable.
10 more elements
An accessory for a vehicle, comprising:
- a cover coupled to the vehicle and defining a guide slot that extends along a longitudinal axis;
- a guide disposed on a first side of the cover, the guide being U-shaped and including a first flange opposite a second flange, the first flange defining one or more first ribs that extend from the first flange, the second flange defining one or more second ribs that extend toward a respective first rib of the first ribs to define one or more slots spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, and a pocket is defined between adjacent slots of the slots;
- and
- a fastener having an attachment portion configured to be coupled to an item, the attachment portion disposed on a second side of the cover, the fastener having a coupling portion extending through the guide slot of the cover,
- wherein the coupling portion is coupled to the attachment portion, the coupling portion including a body having a first coupling tab and a second coupling tab, the first coupling tab spaced apart from the second coupling tab by a distance, and the body is compressible to move the first coupling tab and the second coupling tab to removably couple the accessory to the vehicle,
- wherein the first coupling tab and the second coupling tab are at least partially received within the pocket to removably couple the fastener to the pocket,
- wherein the coupling portion includes a first arm spaced from a second arm,
- wherein the first arm includes a first end and a second end and the second arm includes a third end and a fourth end,
- wherein the second end of the first arm is coupled to the first coupling tab and the fourth end of the second arm is coupled to the second coupling tab,
- wherein the first end of the first arm and the third end of the second arm are interconnected by a C-shaped spring part so that the first arm and the second arm are elastically deformable to removably couple the fastener to the pocket,
- wherein, when the fastener is coupled to the pocket, the first arm presents, on the second side of the cover and opposite from the guide, a first concave depression, and the second arm presents, on the second side of the cover and opposite from the guide, a second concave depression by which the removable coupling of the fastener to the pocket is operable.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.