Method for retaining automotive trim panel to inner panel
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorYun Shin Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A serviceable safety clip for retaining an automotive trim panel to an inner panel. The serviceable safety clip includes a pin secured to the trim panel, wherein the pin includes a plurality of blades that each include a low retention detent and a high retention detent. The serviceable safety clip also includes a receiver that is secured to the inner panel, wherein the receiver includes an angled face to facilitate insertion of the pin detents and a holding face that retains the pin detents. Insertion of the blades into the receiver includes pushing the pin to flex the blades inward and thereby move the high retention detent beyond the holding face and pushing the pin further to again flex the blades inward and to move the low retention detent into engagement with the holding face.
Claims18
A method for retaining an automotive trim panel to an inner panel, comprising:
- providing a pin having a head secured to the trim panel and a plurality of blades extending from the head that includes a low retention detent and a high retention detent having a first angled face portion located proximate a distal end of the plurality of blades and a first dropoff face proximate an end point of the first angled face portion;
- providing a receiver secured to the inner panel that includes a holding face;
- inserting the blades into the receiver to flex the blades inward and to position the high retention detent beyond the holding face;
- and
- pushing the pin further into the receiver to flex the blades inward and to position the low retention detent beyond the holding face.
A method for retaining an automotive trim piece to a structure, comprising:
- providing a pin secured to the trim piece that has blades on opposing sides of a gap, each including high and low retention detents;
- providing a receiver secured to the structure that includes a holding face;
- and
- inserting the blades into the receiver to flex the blades into the gap and position the high and low retention detents sequentially beyond the holding face;
- wherein the high retention detent includes a first angled face portion located proximate a distal end of the blades and a first dropoff face proximate an end point of the first angled face portion, and wherein the low retention detent includes a second angled face portion and a second dropoff face, whereby the low retention detent is located between the first dropoff face and the head of the pin.
A method for retaining an automotive trim piece to a structure, comprising:
- providing a pin having a head secured to the trim piece and a plurality of blades having a low retention detent and a high retention detent having a first angled face portion located proximate a distal end of the plurality of blades and a first dropoff face proximate an end point of the first angled face portion;
- providing a receiver secured to the structure that includes an opening with a holding face;
- and
- inserting the high and low retention detents into the opening to position the high retention detent beyond the holding face.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.