# US 2021/0276497 A1 · Stamped Metal Trim Retainer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0276497 A1 - Document ID: US20210276497A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/191,284 - Filed: 2021-03-03 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-03 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Applicants: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Inventors: Gregory G. Buczynski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210276497A1 ## 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 5/0664: {at least one of the sheets or plates having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features} - F16B 21/075: {the socket having resilient parts on its inside and outside} - 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) ## Abstract Disclosed are systems and methods for retaining system coupling a first panel to a second panel via a retainer. The retainer comprises a body portion, a pair of flanges, a plurality of wings, and one or more retaining tabs. The body portion may employed a pair of legs that are spaced apart and flexibly connected to one another at a first end to define a channel. The channel is configured to receive and/or engage a bezel associated with the first panel. The pair of flanges are connected to and extends outwardly from a second end of its respective leg. The plurality of wings are coupled to the pair of legs and canted outwardly from the body portion. The plurality of wings are configured to engaged, for example, a retaining ledge of the second panel when the bezel is inserted in the channel. The one or more retaining tabs extending inwardly from one of the pair of legs and engage the bezel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A retainer to couple a first panel to a second panel, the retainer comprising: a body portion having a pair of legs spaced apart and flexibly connected to one another at a first end of each of the pair of legs to define a channel, wherein the channel is configured to receive a bezel associated with the first panel; a pair of flanges, wherein each of the pair of flanges is connected to and extends outwardly from a second end of the respective leg of the body portion; a plurality of wings, each of the plurality of wings coupled to one of the pair of legs and canted outwardly from the body portion; and a retaining tab extending inwardly from one of the pair of legs to the channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The retainer of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of flanges is shaped as a spring to absorb movement between the first panel and the second panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The retainer of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of flanges comprises an arm portion that is canted to form an acute angle with a plane of the respective leg of the body portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The retainer of claim 3, wherein the acute angle is between about 15 and 35 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The retainer of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of wings is configured to engage a retaining ledge of the second panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The retainer of claim 1, wherein the body portion defines a lateral plane passing through the channel, wherein each of the plurality of wings cants outwardly from the lateral plane at an angle that is between about 40 and 90 degrees. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The retainer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wings are arranged to define a generally X-shaped pattern. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The retainer of claim 1, wherein at least one of the pair of legs is shaped to define an aperture and the retaining tab. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The retainer of claim 1, wherein the retaining tab is arranged to engage and retain the bezel within the channel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The retainer of claim 1, wherein the pair of legs are parallel to one another. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The retainer of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of legs comprises at least one retaining tab. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The retainer of claim 1, wherein the retainer is a stamped metal retainer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The retainer of claim 1, wherein the bezel is a blade that extends from a B-surface of the first panel. ### Claim 14 A method of manufacturing a retainer to couple a first panel to a second panel, the method comprising: stamping a sheet of metal to form a die cutout for the retainer, wherein the die cutout resides in a plane and is shaped to define a pair of flanges, a plurality of wings, and a retaining tab; bending, in a first direction, the retaining tab to a third angle relative to the plane that is between about 10 and 80 degrees; bending, in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, each of the plurality of wings to a second angle relative to the plane that is between about 30 and 90 degrees; bending, in the second direction, each of the pair of flanges to a first angle relative to the plane that is between about 20 and 45 degrees; and bending the die cutout along a lateral plane to define a pair of parallel legs, wherein the pair of parallel legs is spaced apart to define a channel, wherein the retaining tab is arranged to extend inwardly from one of the pair of parallel legs and into the channel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of bending a first portion of each of the pair of flanges to a fourth angle relative to a second portion of each of the pair of flanges that is between about 140 and 160 degrees. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the first angle is between about 15 and 35 degrees. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the second angle is between about 40 and 90 degrees. ### Claim 18 A method of coupling a first panel to a second panel using a retainer, the method comprising: inserting a body portion of the retainer into an opening defined in the second panel, wherein the body portion comprises a pair of legs spaced apart and flexibly connected to one another to define a channel, a plurality of wings coupled to and canted outwardly from the body portion, and a retaining tab extending inwardly from one of the pair of legs; and inserting a bezel of the first panel into the channel, wherein the retaining tab extends from one of the pair of legs to engage the bezel in the channel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of wings is configured to engage a retaining ledge of the second panel when the bezel is inserted in the channel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the retainer comprises a pair of flanges coupled to the body portion and shaped as a spring to absorb movement between the first panel and the second panel.