U.S. patent application number 11/498374 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-07 for resilient two stage clip for automotive application.
Invention is credited to Bill Barrett, Kevin Chavez, Michael Danby, John Kosidlo, Aaron Pokowski, Tom Schrag, Mangesh Soman, John Wilusz.
Application Number | 20080028577 11/498374 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39027713 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080028577 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Soman; Mangesh ; et
al. |
February 7, 2008 |
Resilient two stage clip for automotive application
Abstract
A two stage spring clip for moveably fastening a first substrate
to a second substrate through an aperture. The clip is comprised of
an insert nose portion with outwardly tapered legs to form a first
retaining portion. The first retaining portion has a first
retaining shoulder that extends at a first angle that is
substantially perpendicular to a centerline. The outwardly
extending legs extend from said first retaining shoulder to form a
second retaining shoulder. The second retaining shoulder extends
from said centerline at a second angle that is less than the angle
of the first retaining shoulder. The legs are further equipped with
stop flanges that extend from the outwardly extending legs at an
angle that prevents the over insertion of the spring clip into an
aperture by acting as a stop against the sides of said aperture.
The outwardly extending legs terminate in opposed flanges and
during deployment of an air bag side curtain. The clip is displaced
any distance, and preferably 13-15 mm, yet retained in the aperture
to prevent the trim cover from detachment from the pillar during
air bag deployment.
Inventors: |
Soman; Mangesh; (South Lyon,
MI) ; Chavez; Kevin; (South Lyon, MI) ;
Schrag; Tom; (Canton, MI) ; Barrett; Bill;
(Dearborn, MI) ; Kosidlo; John; (White Lake,
MI) ; Pokowski; Aaron; (St. Clair Shores, MI)
; Danby; Michael; (Stoney Creek, CA) ; Wilusz;
John; (Hamilton, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RADER, FISHMAN & GRAUER PLLC
39533 WOODWARD AVENUE, SUITE 140
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48304-0610
US
|
Family ID: |
39027713 |
Appl. No.: |
11/498374 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/293 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 21/075 20130101;
F16B 21/08 20130101; Y10T 24/304 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/293 |
International
Class: |
A44B 1/04 20060101
A44B001/04 |
Claims
1. A unitary two stage spring clip for moveably fastening a first
substrate to a second substrate through cooperatively aligned
apertures in said substrates, said clip comprising an insert nose
portion with outwardly tapered legs to form a first retaining
portion; said first retaining portion having a first retaining
shoulder that extends at a first angle relative to a centerline;
said outwardly extending legs extend from said first retaining
shoulder to form a second retaining shoulder; said second retaining
shoulder extending from said centerline at a second angle from said
centerline; said legs further equipped with spring flanges in
opposed relation to each other; said spring flanges further adapted
to permit insertion of a post on a trim piece between said flanges
and prevent removal of the post; said legs equipped with stop
flanges that extend from the outwardly extending legs at an angle
that prevents over insertion of the spring clip into an aperture by
acting as a stop against a substrate surface proximal said
aperture; said outwardly extending legs terminating in opposed
flanges, the clip may be inserted into the aperture and the
resilient spring clip is retained in the aperture.
2. The two stage clip of claim 1, wherein said clip is retained in
an aperture by the interaction of the second retaining shoulder and
the aperture.
3. The two stage retention clip of claim 1, wherein said clip, in
response to a force, may be dislodged from interaction of the
second retaining shoulder with the aperture, thereby permitting the
clip to be partially removed from said aperture and permitting said
first retaining shoulder to engage said aperture.
4. The two stage retaining clip of claim 1, wherein said clip is
resilient and constructed of metal or plastic.
5. The two stage retaining clip of claim 1, further including
spring flanges formed in the nose portion of the outwardly
extending legs to provide for a more secure fit and insertion into
an aperture.
6. The two stage retaining clip of claim 3, wherein said first
substrate is a trim cover and said second substrate is a pillar in
a vehicle, and said force is the deployment of an air curtain.
7. The two stage retaining clip of claim 6, wherein said clip, in
response to said force, is displaced from about 13 to about 15 mm,
thereby permitting the air curtain to deploy without permitting the
trim cover to become completely detached from said A pillar.
8. A two stage spring clip for moveably fastening a first substrate
to a second substrate through cooperatively aligned apertures in
said substrates, said clip being a unitary structure formed from a
single piece of resilient material, comprising a pair of legs
joined as a unitary piece to present a substantially U shaped
profile; each said leg is equipped with opposed deflection tabs and
terminated in a stop; said deflection tab acting as retention for a
post on a substrate inserted therebetween; each stop equipped with
a leg portion that terminates in a shoulder; each shoulder oriented
to be at a first angle relative to a centerline; and an insert nose
portion formed of angled inclined surfaces that join said
shoulders, said inclined surfaces spaced apart from each other; one
inclined surface equipped with at least one flange; said other
inclined surface equipped with a recess cooperative to said
flange.
9. The two stage clip of claim 8, wherein said clip is retained in
an aperture by the interaction of the second retaining shoulder and
the aperture.
10. The two stage retention clip of claim 8, wherein said clip, in
response to a force, may be partially dislodged from interaction of
the second retaining shoulder with the aperture, thereby permitting
the clip to be partially removed from said aperture and permitting
said first retaining shoulder to engage said aperture.
11. The two stage retaining clip of claim 8, wherein said clip is
resilient and constructed of metal or plastic.
12. The two stage retaining clip of claim 8, further including
spring flanges formed in the nose portion of the outwardly
extending legs to provide for a more secure fit and insertion into
an aperture in a trim panel.
13. The two stage retaining clip of claim 10, wherein said first
substrate is a trim cover and said second substrate is a pillar in
a vehicle, and said force is the deployment of an air curtain.
14. The two stage retaining clip of claim 13, wherein said clip, in
response to said force, is displaced from about 13 to about 15 mm,
thereby permitting the air curtain to deploy without permitting the
trim cover to become completely detached from said retaining pin
and said A pillar.
15. The two stage retaining clip of claim 8, further including at
least one reinforcement rib at least partially overlying said U
shaped legs and at least one flange extending from at least one
said inclined surface.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a two stage clip for
automotive application wherein it is desirable to provide for a
clip that allows a defined movement of a trim cover to permit
deployment of an air curtain without release of the trim cover into
the passenger compartment. The two stage clip is equipped with two
retention surfaces that permit the trim cover to move sufficient
distance to allow deployment of an air curtain, but which does not
permit the trim cover to become detached from a vehicle pillar when
the air curtain deploys.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a fastener for use with an
automotive trim cover on an automotive pillar, and more
particularly, to a two stage retention clip for use in an
automotive trim covering an air curtain.
[0003] In the automotive industry, parts are secured in place with
a variety of automotive fasteners. Spring clips are particularly
useful in this regard, as they offer ease of serviceability and
provide excellent retention capabilities.
[0004] However, it has been a challenge in the industry to provide
a spring retainer clip that may secure a trim piece into place and
yet permit the trim piece to be moved a controlled distance to
permit the deployment of an air curtain during impact situations.
In addition, it has been a challenge to prevent the trim piece from
becoming detached during deployment of the air curtain. The present
invention meets these challenges.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is a one piece two stage clip used to
secure trim covers in place in automotive interior applications
wherein the trim cover overlays an air curtain or other safety
deployment system. The two stage clip is preferably a unitary
structure constructed of a resilient material such as steel or
plastic and is configured such that the clip has two spring flanges
in opposed relation to each other to provide an outward spring
action to the clip and two retaining spring clip structures.
Ordinarily, the spring clip of the present invention is stamped
from a single piece of spring steel, or formed of any other
resilient material to form a clip that is a unitary structure. The
two stage spring clip is insertable into cooperatively aligned
apertures in a first and second substrate and has an outwardly
tapered insertion portion that has retaining shoulders that extend
at an angle from the centerline of the clip. The two stage clip has
a second insertion portion extending from the first shoulders that
extends therefrom and forms a second retaining surface that extend
from the outwardly tapered section at a second angle that may be
the same or different than the first angle, and is shown as less
than the first angle of the first retaining shoulders. Flange
surfaces are provided as stops to prevent over insertion of the
insert into an aperture. In addition, the stops prevent the trim
piece from detachment during impact situations. When an air curtain
is deployed, the force of the deployment will overcome the
retention effected by the second retention shoulders and permit the
trim piece to move a fixed distance and permit deployment of the
air curtain. However, the force of the air curtain deployment is
not sufficient to overcome the retention force between the first
retaining shoulders and the aperture into which it is inserted,
thereby ensuring that the trim piece will not become a projectile
when the air curtain deploys in an emergency situation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the two stage retention
spring clip of present invention showing its construction.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cut away side view of the retention spring clip
of FIG. 1 retaining an automotive trim piece in place.
[0008] FIG. 3 is another view of the two stage retention spring
clip in FIG. 2 after the air curtain has deployed, showing the clip
retaining the trim piece in place while allowing the air curtain to
deploy.
[0009] FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the two stage retention
spring clip of the present invention showing its construction.
[0010] FIG. 5 is another embodiment of the two stage retention clip
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0011] Turning now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to
like structures, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown therein
a perspective view of two stage retaining spring clip 10. Clip 10
is constructed in one piece and may be made of a resilient material
such as metal, such as steel or any other metal, or plastic or any
other resilient material to present a unitary structure.
[0012] The clip of FIG. 1 is equipped with an insert nose portion
12 having angled portions 14 and 16 that terminate in shoulder
portions 20 and 21 respectively to form a first retaining portion
18. Shoulders 20, 21 terminating in base 23 and 23a, respectively
extend at a first angle that is shown as obtuse to the centerline
22 of the two stage retaining spring clip 10, but which may be
perpendicular to the centerline, or at any other angle according to
the design requirements of the trim panels to be fastened together.
Angled portions 14 and 16 of the insert nose portion may be
equipped with optional spring flanges 24, 25. Each spring flange is
a mirror of the other, and is formed of a first angled portion 11,
which is oriented at the same angle as angled portion 14, and a
second angled portion 13, which is angled at an angle less than the
angled portion 11. Each said flange terminates in a shoulder
portion 15, 17 respectively that may be angled relative to
centerline 22 to provide for a more secure retention of the two
stage spring clip in an aperture in a trim panel.
[0013] The outwardly extending legs 26, 27 extend from the bases 23
and 23a to form a second retaining shoulders 28, 29. The second
retaining shoulders 28, 29 extend at a second angle that maybe the
same or different that the angle of the first retaining shoulder,
and is shown as less than the angle of the first retaining
shoulder, and terminate in angled surfaces 33, and 35 respectively.
Stop flanges 30, 31 extend from the outwardly extending legs at an
angle that prevents the over insertion of the spring clip into an
aperture by acting as a stop against the inner surface of the
substrate proximal to the aperture. In addition, the stops
cooperatively act to prevent the detachment of the trim piece fro
the clip during air curtain deployment. In one embodiment, the
stops extend substantially perpendicular from the centerline of the
two stage spring clip 10.
[0014] The outwardly extending legs are equipped with opposed
spring flanges 32 and 34 to provide a resiliently deflective
outwardly directed force when the legs are pressed together, or
when an object is inserted between them. In addition, these flanges
act to permit the insertion of a post 43 integral with the trim
piece and grip the post during air curtain deployment so that the
trim cover is prevented from complete detachment. These spring
flanges are equipped with guides 19 and 19a to assure the proper
directional travel of the two stage retention pin over a post 43,
as seen in FIG. 3, during insertion of the pin to retain the trim
cover in place. As seen in FIG. 1, the outwardly extending legs
terminate in flanges 37 and 36, respectively.
[0015] As seen in FIG. 2, trim cover 39 has a pin 43 that is
insertable between guides 19, 19a and opposed spring flanges 32 and
34. When the clip is inserted into aperture 38 of doghouse 46, the
legs open in a scissor like manner as they ride over post 43. When
the pin is inserted fully into the aperture 38, the legs snap back
into their original configuration and act to secure the clip into
the dog house and the trim cover in place.
[0016] Continuing with FIG. 2, there is shown the two stage spring
clip of FIG. 1 in an automotive application. As shown therein, a
first substrate, such as a trim cover 39, is secured into place on
a second substrate, such as, for example, the A pillar 40 of an
automobile. Specifically, the clip is inserted into an aperture 38
and retains the trim cover 39 in place on the A pillar 40 of an
automobile interior. Those skilled in the art will recognize that
only the second retaining shoulders 28 and 29 are actually
retaining the trim cover tightly in place on the pillar. It is to
be noted that the second shoulder has an inclined shoulder surface,
and that the first retaining shoulder has an inclined shoulder that
is preferably a perpendicular retaining surface, but may be any
angle relative to the centerline, and is shown as greater than the
angle incline of the second retaining shoulder. Both the first
shoulder and the second shoulder, in their un-deformed states, are
larger than the aperture 42 of the trim cover into which they are
inserted. Air curtain 44 is shown by the dotted lines in its
undeployed state.
[0017] Turning again to FIG. 3, when air curtain 44 is deployed, it
exerts force against the trim cover, and the force against the trim
cover causes the entire trim cover to move outwardly from the
force, and forces the second retaining shoulder to engage the
aperture. Because the second retaining shoulder is inclined at an
angle that is small relative to the centerline of the clip, the
force from the air curtain deployment forces the inclined surfaces
of the clip to pass through the aperture and the clip slightly
depresses, thereby freeing the clip from retention by the second
retention shoulder. As the force from the air curtain continues to
exert force against the trim cover, it separates from the pillar
the length of the outwardly extending legs until the first
retaining shoulders meet the aperture. Because the first retaining
shoulders are inclined at an angle, shown as greater than the
incline of the second shoulder, and preferably substantially
perpendicular to the centerline of the clip, it acts as a shoulder
stop and the clip does not deform or permit the first retaining
shoulder to pass through the aperture. In addition, the trim cover
is equipped with post 43 that engages the spring clip during
deployment to prevent the clip from compressing proximal to the
first retaining shoulders, thereby preventing the first retaining
shoulders from passing through the aperture 38. In addition, the
flanges grip the post so that the trim cover does not disengage
from the clip and become free during air curtain deployment. By way
of explanation, during assembly, the post 43 is inserted through
guides 17 and 19 and encounter flanges 24 and 25. Spring flanges 24
and 25 engage the post, thereby preventing disengagement of the
spring clip from the post during air curtain deployment. The trim
cover, positioned between the first retaining shoulder and the stop
flanges on the clip cannot travel any further than the length of
the outwardly extending legs of the clip and the trim cover does
not become a projectile within the vehicle interior during
deployment of the air curtain. Indeed, the clip is dimensioned such
that the trim cover may be dislodged from about 13 mm to about 15
mm from the pillar to permit deployment of the air curtain and to
prevent the trim cover from becoming freed from any attachment to
the pillar.
[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the spring clip of
the present invention. Specifically, the two stage spring clip 48
is a unitary structure that is made of any resilient material and
preferably is formed from a single piece of resilient spring
steel.
[0019] A pair of legs 50, 52 is joined as a unitary piece and
presents a substantially U shaped profile. Each of the legs 50, 52
is equipped with opposed deflection tabs 54, 56, and 58 and 60,
respectively. The first set of deflection tabs may further operate
a guide to ensure the pin 43 of the trim cover travels between the
legs during deployment of the air bag as set forth with the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 above. The deflection tabs further act to
retain the post 43 in place so that, as described with the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the trim cover does not become free of the
two stage retention clip. The legs terminate in stops 62 and 64.
Each stop is equipped with a leg portion 66 and 68 that terminates
in shoulder 70 and 72, respectively. Each shoulder is oriented to
be substantially perpendicular to the centerline 74. The insert
nose portion 76 is formed of angled inclined surfaces 78 and 80
that join shoulders 70 and 72, and the inclined surfaces are spaced
apart from each other. Inclined surface 78 is equipped with at
least one flange 82 and inclined surface 80 is equipped with a
recess 84 cooperative to said flange. The flange and recess operate
to limit the inward deflection of the nose portion during insertion
of the clip into a recess.
[0020] In operation, the spring clip of this embodiment operates in
a manner substantially the same as that described for the
embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3, with the exception that the pin on
a trim cover as described above would be inserted between the legs
50, 52 of this embodiment and limited to the travel possible within
the confines of the U leg shape structure of this embodiment
instead of engaging the nose portion of the spring clip as
described in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 above.
[0021] FIG. 5, shows another embodiment of the present invention,
and may be seen as a variety of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.
Specifically, clip 86, is equipped legs 88 and 90 to present a
substantially U shaped structure. This U shaped structure is
equipped with at least one re-enforcement rib 92, and 94 at least
partially overlying said U shaped legs to facilitate gripping of
the post 43 (not shown) of the trim cover by the clip. In addition,
nose portion 95 is equipped with least one, and preferably each
inclined surface 96 and 98 that has at least one flange, and
preferably a pair of flanges 100, 102 and 104 and 106, respectively
that engage the inner surface of the substrate proximal to the
aperture into which the pin is inserted to provide for improved
retention during air curtain deployments. In operation, this
embodiment operates as set forth for FIGS. 1-4 above.
[0022] The unitary two way clip shown in the embodiments set forth
above are of advantage in moveably fastening a first substrate to a
second substrate through cooperatively aligned apertures in the
substrates. The clip is configured such that one substrate can be
fastened to the clip to permit the clip to be moved upon
application of force to the substrate fastened to the clip and the
clip partially disengages from the apertures, permitting the clip
to pass through the aperture a predetermined distance until the
first retaining shoulders come into contact with the area proximal
the apertures and engages that area, thereby preventing the clip
and aperture from completely disengaging.
[0023] The words used in the description of the invention are words
of illustration and not words of limitation. Those skilled in the
art will recognize that many modifications and variations are
possible without departing from the scope and sprit of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *