Headliner retainer clip
AssigneeNissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
InventorsJoseph Robert Brown, Ron Senakiewich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retainer assembly for connecting a headliner panel to a support structure. A retainer clip is configured to connect the support structure to the headliner panel. A slot is defined in the support structure and configured to receive s stem portion of the retainer clip. The slot and the stem portion cooperate to define a float length and a float width, which define a range of motion over which the headliner panel is longitudinally and transversely moveable with respect to the support structure.
Claims13
A retainer assembly for connecting a headliner panel to a support structure, the retainer assembly comprising:
- a retainer clip configured to connect the support structure to the headliner panel, the retainer clip including a stem portion and a head portion connected to the stem portion, the stem portion having a stem length and a stem width, and the head portion having a head length and a head width;
- and
- a slot defined in the support structure and configured to receive the stem portion of the retainer clip, the slot having a slot length in a longitudinal direction and a slot width in a transverse direction, such that a float length is defined by the difference between the slot length and stem length and a float width is defined by the difference between the slot width and the stem width,
- wherein the headliner panel is longitudinally and transversely moveable with respect to the support structure over a range of motion defined by the float length and the float width, and the head width and the head length of the head portion are dimensioned to maintain engagement between the head portion of the retainer clip and the support structure over the range of motion.
In a motor vehicle having a roof with a sunroof opening formed therein, a sunroof frame, and a headliner panel, the improvement comprising:
- a retainer clip configured to connect the sunroof frame to the headliner panel, the retainer clip including:
- a base portion having a lower surface connected to the headliner panel and an upper surface opposite the lower surface,
- a stem portion connected to the base portion, the stem portion having a stem length and a stem width,
- a head portion having a lower surface connected to the stem portion and an upper surface opposite the lower surface, the head portion having a head length and a head width, and the lower surface of the head portion engageable with an upper surface of the sunroof frame, and
- at least one fin connected to the upper surface of the base portion and engageable with a lower surface of the sunroof frame;
- and
- a slot extending through the sunroof frame from the upper surface thereof to the lower surface thereof, the slot configured to receive the stem portion of the retainer clip, the slot having a slot length in a longitudinal direction and a slot width in a transverse direction, such that a float length is defined by the difference between the slot length and stem length and a float width is defined by the difference between the slot width and the stein width,
- wherein the headliner panel is longitudinally and transversely moveable with respect to the sunroof frame over a range of motion defined by the float length and the float width, and the head width and the head length of the head portion are dimensioned to maintain engagement between the head portion of the retainer clip and the support structure over the range of motion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.