Vehicle trim retention system
AssigneeFlex-N-Gate Advanced Product Development, LLC
InventorJeremy Rhodes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bumper assembly includes a retention member, a front-loaded component, and a bumper shell. The retention member includes a plurality of retaining features. The front-loaded component includes a plurality of receiving members. The bumper shell is positioned substantially between the retention member and the front-loaded component. The plurality of retaining features are coupled to the plurality of receiving members such that the retention member and the front-loaded component engage the bumper shell.
Claims18
A bumper assembly, comprising:
- a retention member comprising a plurality of retaining features and a brace member, the brace member extending vertically between upper and lower portions of the retention member;
- a front-loaded component comprising a plurality of receiving members and a central aperture;
- and
- a bumper shell positioned substantially between the retention member and the front-loaded component;
- wherein the plurality of retaining features are coupled to the plurality of receiving members such that the retention member and the front-loaded component engage the bumper shell;
- and
- wherein the central aperture of the front-loaded component is configured to receive at least a portion of the brace member.
A retention member for coupling a front-loaded component to a bumper shell, comprising:
- a plurality of retaining features configured to engage a plurality of receiving members coupled to the front-loaded component such that an upper surface of the front-loaded component engages a front upper surface of the bumper shell and a lower surface of the front-loaded component engages a front lower surface of the bumper shell;
- an upper profile configured to engage a rear upper surface of the bumper shell;
- and
- a lower profile configured to engage a rear lower surface of the bumper shell;
- wherein the retention member is configured to hold the front-loaded component against the bumper shell;
- wherein the retention member comprises a brace member extending vertically between upper and lower portions of the retention member;
- and
- wherein the front-loaded component comprises a central aperture configured to receive at least a portion of the brace member.
A method of assembling a bumper assembly, comprising:
- providing a retention member that includes a plurality of retaining features and a brace member, the brace member extending vertically between upper and lower portions of the retention member;
- providing a front-loaded component that includes a plurality of receiving members and a central aperture, the central aperture configured to receive at least a portion of the brace member;
- providing a bumper shell;
- applying the retention member to a rear face of the bumper shell;
- applying the front-loaded component to a front face of the bumper shell;
- and
- coupling at least one of the plurality of receiving members to at least one of the plurality of retaining features;
- wherein the front-loaded component engages the front face of the bumper shell, the retention member engages the rear face of the bumper shell, and the bumper shell is held substantially between the plurality of retaining features and the front-loaded component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.