Self-Engaging Rod Retaining Clip
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorGary W. Krajenke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-engaging rod retaining clip assembly for retaining a rod and a method of retaining the rod to a vehicle closure support component is disclosed. The self-engaging rod retaining clip assembly holds a rod retaining clip in a desired position on a vehicle closure support component until the rod is installed. Installing the rod includes pressing the rod against a rod pivoting flange, which causes clip retention flanges to flex outward around a clip support arm until the rod is sufficiently retained inside a rod channel in the support component. The clip retention flanges then snap towards each other to retain the clip, and hence the rod, in the support component.
Claims14
A self-engaging rod retaining clip assembly for retaining a rod comprising:
- a vehicle closure support component including a main body defining an arcuate-shaped rod channel having a rod channel opening, and a clip support arm extending from the main body adjacent to the rod channel and the rod channel opening, the clip support arm having a first side and an opposed second side and including an arm pivot hole recessed in the first and second sides;
- and
- a rod retaining clip including a clip main body having a rod retention flange extending from the clip main body outside of the rod channel when the rod retaining clip is in a pre-rod installation position;
- a rod pivoting flange extending from the clip main body across a portion of the rod channel opening when the rod retaining clip is in the pre-rod installation position, with the clip main body, the rod retention flange and the rod pivoting flange defining a rod recess that is shaped to receive the rod therein;
- a pair of clip retention flanges extending from the main body and defining an arm slot therebetween, the clip retention flanges each having a hold-open portion where a width of the arm slot between the hold-open portions is about equal to a width of the support arm, a clip securing portion where the width of the arm slot between the clip securing portions is less than the width of the arm slot between the hold-open portions, and a tapered clip spreading portion extending between the respective hold-open portions and clip securing portions;
- and a pivot pin pivotally securing the rod retaining clip to the clip support arm.
A self-engaging rod retaining clip assembly for retaining a rod comprising:
- a vehicle closure support component including a main body defining an arcuate-shaped rod channel having a rod channel opening, and a clip support arm extending from the main body adjacent to the rod channel and the rod channel opening, the clip support arm having a first side and an opposed second side and including an arm pivot hole recessed in the first and second sides;
- and
- a rod retaining clip including a clip main body having a rod retention flange extending from the clip main body outside of the rod channel when the rod retaining clip is in a pre-rod installation position;
- a rod pivoting flange extending from the clip main body across a portion of the rod channel opening when the rod retaining clip is in the pre-rod installation position, with the clip main body, the rod retention flange and the rod pivoting flange defining a rod recess that is shaped to receive the rod therein;
- a pair of clip retention flanges extending from the main body and defining an arm slot therebetween, the clip retention flanges each having a hold-open portion where a width of the arm slot between the hold-open portions is about equal to a width of the support arm, a clip securing portion where the width of the arm slot between the clip securing portions is less than the width of the arm slot between the hold-open portions, and a tapered clip spreading portion extending between the respective hold-open portions and clip securing portions;
- and a pair of opposed pivot pin flanges extending from and integral with the clip main body pivotally securing the rod retaining clip to the clip support arm.
A method of pre-installing a torque rod to a vehicle closure support component, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) pivotally supporting a rod retaining clip on a clip support arm of the vehicle closure support component adjacent to a rod channel with a rod pivoting flange of the rod retaining clip extending across a portion of a rod channel opening and a rod retention flange extending outside of the rod channel;
- (b) maintaining the rod retaining clip in a pre-rod installation position by trapping the clip support arm between a web of the rod retention flange and hold-open portions of a pair of clip retention flanges;
- (c) pressing the torque rod against the rod pivoting flange to cause the clip retention flanges to flex around the clip support arm and the rod pivoting flange to pivot into the rod channel;
- and
- (d) pressing the torque rod further into the rod channel until the clip retention flanges no longer align with the clip support arm, allowing the clip retention flanges to snap toward each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.