# US 2014/0191526 A1 · Arrangement for securing an inner trim panel to a vehicle substrate

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- Number: US 2014/0191526 A1
- Document ID: US20140191526A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/132,241
- Filed: 2013-12-18
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Horst Lauxen; Volker Krolzig; René Berns
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191526A1

## CPC

- B60R 13/0206: {Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings (devices for fastening or securing F16B)}
- F16B 5/0628: {allowing for adjustment parallel or perpendicular to the plane of the sheets or plates}
- F16B 5/0657: {at least one of the plates providing a raised structure, e.g. of the doghouse type, for connection with the clamps or clips of the other plate}
- Y10T 24/304: Resilient metal type
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An arrangement for securing an inner panel to a vehicle substrate uses a securing clip mounted to a clip housing in an elongate hole with a closed end and an open end. The inner diameter of a securing region in the elongate hole is greater than the diameter of the shaft of the securing clip, allowing lateral shifting of the clip so that its shaft can realign during insertion into a corresponding mating hole in the substrate. The securing region of the elongate hole includes centering members constructed in such a manner that an inserted securing clip is retained in a centered position. Consequently, the tolerance compensation function of the clips is optimized.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus securing an inner lining portion to a vehicle substrate, comprising:
a clip housing having an elongate hole with closed and open ends, the closed end forming a securing region; and
a securing clip inserted laterally into the elongate hole comprising a shaft captured in the securing region for extending axially toward a mating hole in the vehicle substrate;
wherein the clip housing includes a centering member for centering the shaft in the elongate hole.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the securing region is greater than a diameter of the shaft of the securing clip within the securing region.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the centering member is comprised of at least one resilient centering element in the securing region of the elongate hole.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate hole of the clip housing comprises a separate replacement element.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the separate replacement element is comprised of plastic material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the separate replacement element is comprised of metal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip housing is integrated with the inner lining portion.

### Claim 8

Interior trim apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
a trim panel body having a outer finish side for forming an interior surface of a vehicle passenger compartment and an inner side;
a plurality of clip housings extending from the inner side in a pattern matching a corresponding pattern of mating holes in a vehicle substrate to receive the trim panel body, each clip housing having an elongate hole with closed and open ends, the closed end forming a securing region; and
a plurality of securing clips, each securing clip being inserted laterally into a respective elongate hole and comprising a shaft captured in the securing region for extending axially toward a respective mating hole in the vehicle substrate;
wherein each clip housing includes a centering member for centering the respective shaft in the respective elongate hole.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein an inner diameter of each securing region is greater than a diameter of the shaft of the respective securing clip within the respective securing region.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each centering member is comprised of at least one resilient centering element in the respective securing region of the respective elongate hole.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each respective elongate hole comprises a separate replacement element.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the separate replacement element is comprised of plastic material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the separate replacement element is comprised of metal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each clip housing is integrated with the trim panel body.