Inertia locking hidden pushpin
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorYun Shin Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pin assembly for retaining a trim panel to an inner panel is provided that comprises a hollow pushpin having a fin on a surface of the pushpin, wherein the fin is configured to flex into a void. The pin assembly further includes a first spring located proximate a first end of the pushpin, a second spring located proximate a second end of the pushpin, and an inertia pin disposed substantially within the pushpin.
Claims20
A vehicle pin assembly and inner panel for retaining a trim panel to the inner panel, comprising:
- a hollow pushpin having an inner channel, an attachment feature for engaging the trim panel, and a fin protruding outward to engage the inner panel;
- a first spring located proximate a front end of the hollow pushpin;
- a second spring located proximate a rear end of the hollow pushpin;
- and
- an inertia pin slidably disposed within the inner channel and having a side surface with a void, wherein the first and second springs are coupled with opposing ends of the inertia pin to bias the inertia pin in a static position that aligns the void with the fin for allowing the fin to flex inward into the void to disengage from the inner panel, wherein the inertia pin is slidable in a first direction within the inner channel to move from the static position to a first impact position that compresses the first spring and slidable in a second opposing direction to move from the static position to a second impact position that compresses the second spring, and wherein the first and second impact positions misalign the void with the outward protruding fin, such that the side surface prevents the outward protruding fin from flexing inward to disengage from the inner panel.
A vehicle pin assembly and panel for retaining a trim piece to the panel, comprising:
- a pushpin having an inner channel and a fin protruding outward and engaging the panel;
- an inertia pin slidably disposed within the inner channel and having a void that aligns with the fin in a static position, allowing the fin to flex inward and disengage the panel;
- and
- a spring coupled between an end of the pushpin and an end of the inertia pin that compresses and stretches when the inertia pins slides in respective first and second opposing directions out of the static position, misaligning the void with the fin and preventing the fin from flexing inward into the void.
A pin assembly and inner panel for retaining a trim panel to the inner panel, comprising:
- a pushpin having a hollow inner portion and a flexible member that engages the inner panel and flexes into the hollow inner portion to disengage from the inner panel;
- an inertia pin slidably disposed within the hollow inner portion of the pushpin, wherein the inertia pin includes a void that aligns with the flexible member when the inertia pin is in a static position to allow the flexible member to flex into the hollow inner portion;
- and
- a spring coupled between the pushpin and the inertia pin that biases the inertia pin in the static position, wherein the spring compresses to slide the inertia pin relative to the pushpin in a first direction from the static position to a first impact position and the spring stretches to slide the inertia pin relative to the pushpin in a second opposing direction from the static position to a second impact position, wherein the first and second impact positions misalign the void with the flexible member to prevent the flexible member from flexing into the hollow inner portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.