# US 2019/0315071 A1 · Adhesive bondline spacer clip > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0315071 A1 - Document ID: US20190315071A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/379,895 - Filed: 2019-04-10 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-13 - Assignees: Volvo Car Corporation - Applicants: Volvo Car Corporation - Inventors: Marcus SCHMIDT; Zef VAN DER PUTTEN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190315071A1 ## CPC - B29C 65/7826: {said distance pieces being non-integral with the parts to be joined, e.g. particles} - B60J 1/005: {using positioning means during mounting} - B23Q 3/18: for positioning only - B29C 65/52: {characterised by the way of} applying the adhesive {(B29C65/50 takes precedence; apparatus for applying liquids in general B05C; processes for applying liquids in general B05D)} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT ## Abstract A spacer clip for ensuring a minimum adhesive bond line thickness (T) during an attachment event with an adhesive, the spacer clip including: a spacer element having a thickness (t) defining the minimum bond line thickness, adapted to be arranged interleaved between a first vehicle part and a second vehicle part, a hold portion generally parallel with the spacer element and attached to the spacer element with an interconnecting portion. The spacer clip is mountable on the first vehicle part. The hold portion is adapted to be arranged on an opposite side of the first vehicle part compared to the spacer element. The spacer element and the hold portion are adapted to maintain a pressure on the first vehicle part such that the spacer clip can be mounted on the first vehicle part prior to the attachment event. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spacer clip for ensuring a minimum adhesive bond line thickness (T) during an attachment event for attaching a first vehicle part with a second vehicle part with an adhesive, the spacer clip comprising: a spacer element having a thickness (t) defining the minimum bond line thickness, the spacer element is adapted to be arranged interleaved between the first vehicle part and the second vehicle part when attaching the first vehicle part with the second vehicle part, a hold portion generally parallel with the spacer element, the hold portion is attached to the spacer element with an interconnecting portion, wherein the spacer clip is mountable on the first vehicle part, wherein the hold portion is adapted to be arranged on an opposite side of the first vehicle part compared to the spacer element during the attachment event, wherein, the spacer element and the hold portion are adapted to maintain a pressure on the first vehicle part such that the spacer clip can be mounted on the first vehicle part prior to the attachment event and maintain mounted on the vehicle part during the attachment event. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spacer clip according to claim 1, wherein the spacer element is generally planar. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The spacer clip according to claim 1, wherein the spacer element has a uniform thickness (t) corresponding to the minimum bond line thickness. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The spacer clip according to claim 1, wherein the interconnecting portion comprises a resilient material such that when the spacer element and the hold portion are forced further apart from each other from a neutral position, the interconnecting portion attempts to bring the spacer element and the hold portion back to the neutral position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The spacer clip according to claim 1, wherein the spacer clip comprises a plastic material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The spacer clip according to claim 1, wherein the spacer clip is generally U-shaped. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The spacer clip according to claim 1, wherein the spacer element, the hold portion and the interconnecting portion are made in a single piece. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The spacer clip according to claim 1, wherein the spacer clip comprises at least one weakening groove such that the spacer clip may be separated in two pieces at the weakening grooves. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The spacer clip according to claim 1, wherein a width (L3) of the spacer element is larger than the thickness of the spacer element. ### Claim 10 A method for attaching a first vehicle part and a second vehicle part to each other, comprising: providing a spacer clip comprising a spacer element and a hold portion generally parallel with the spacer element, wherein the spacer element is connected to the hold portion with an interconnecting portion, the spacer element having a thickness defining a minimum bond line thickness, attaching at least one spacer clip on the first vehicle part, wherein the spacer element and the hold portion are adapted to maintain a pressure on the first vehicle part in such a way that the at least one spacer clip maintains mounted on the first vehicle part, providing the second vehicle part; attaching the second vehicle part to the first vehicle part with an adhesive wherein the spacer element of the at least one spacer clip is arranged interleaved with the first vehicle part and the second vehicle part such that the thickness of the adhesive is defined by the thickness of the spacer element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, comprising: attaching a plurality of spacer clips on the first vehicle part with a random pitch between the spacer clips. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the attaching the spacer clip on the first vehicle part comprises forcing the spacer clip onto the first vehicle part with the spacer element and the hold portion on opposite sides of the first vehicle part. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, comprising: breaking off the spacer clip at one of at least one predefined groove in the spacer clip. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the material of the first vehicle part is different from the material of the second vehicle part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the first vehicle part comprises metal.