Seat trim retention system with asymmetrical retention force

• US 10,351,030 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2017
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Osterhoff, Daniel Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Shin H
• Application Number:
  US15/704,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20190077287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5825 by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/72 Attachment or adjustment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A vehicle comprises: a first seating assembly including a seat, a seatback, and a midline defining an outboard direction directed away from the midline, and an inboard direction directed toward the midline; the seatback comprising a trim carrier interconnected with a closeout panel through a snap-fit connection; wherein, the snap-fit connection resists disconnection of the trim carrier from the closeout panel when a force is applied to the trim carrier from the outboard direction of the snap-fit connection to a greater degree than when a force is applied to the trim carrier from the inboard direction of the snap-fit connection. A grommet attached to the trim carrier can provide the snap-fit connection between the trim carrier and the closeout panel.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a first seating assembly including a seat, a seatback, and a midline defining an outboard direction directed away from the midline, and an inboard direction directed toward the midline; and

the seatback comprising a trim carrier interconnected with a closeout panel through a snap-fit connection;

wherein, the snap-fit connection resists disconnection of the trim carrier from the closeout panel when a force is applied to the trim carrier from the outboard direction of the snap-fit connection to a greater degree than when a force is applied to the trim carrier from the inboard direction of the snap-fit connection.

2. The vehicle of claim 1,

the closeout panel including a forward facing surface, a rearward facing surface on the opposite side of the closeout panel as the forward facing surface, and a first snap-fit component extending from the forward facing surface;

wherein, the trim carrier receives the first snap-fit component to form the snap-fit connection.

3. The vehicle of claim 2,

the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel including a planar surface that faces generally rearward;

and

the trim carrier including a first snap-fit connection component that includes a planar retaining surface and a second snap-fit connection component that includes an angled retaining surface;

wherein, the snap-fit connection includes the planar retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component abutting the planar surface of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel; and

wherein, the snap-fit connection further includes the angled retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component abutting the planar surface of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel.

4. The vehicle of claim 3,

the trim carrier further including a channel;

the planar retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component and angled retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component are disposed around the channel;

the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel including an extension portion extending from the forward facing surface and a contact portion extending from the extension portion;

wherein, the planar surface of the first snap-fit component is the rearward side of the contact portion; and

wherein, the contact portion of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel is disposed within the channel of the trim carrier.

5. The vehicle of claim 4,

wherein, the first snap-fit connection component and the second snap-fit connection component of the trim carrier extend within the channel toward the extension portion of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel.

6. The vehicle of claim 4,

a centerline dividing the channel of the trim carrier into two sections, one section disposed toward the outboard direction and the other section disposed toward the inboard direction;

wherein, the planar retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component and the angled retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component each include a center;

wherein, the center of the retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component extends into the section of the channel disposed toward the outboard direction; and

wherein, the retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component extends into the other section of the channel disposed toward the inboard direction.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a grommet attached to the trim carrier that provides the snap-fit connection between the trim carrier and the closeout panel.

8. A seating assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a trim carrier including a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface on the opposite side of the trim carrier as the forward facing surface;

a closeout panel including a forward facing surface facing the rearward facing surface of the trim carrier and a first snap-fit component extending from the forward facing surface that includes a planar surface; and

a grommet interconnected with the trim carrier and the closeout panel;

wherein, grommet resists separating from the closeout panel when a force is applied to the grommet from a first direction to a greater degree than the grommet resists separating from the closeout panel when a force is applied to the grommet from a second direction, opposite the first direction.

9. The seating assembly of claim 8,

the grommet further comprising:

a connection section, including a first snap-fit connection component and a second snap-fit connection component, the first snap-fit connection component including a retaining surface; and

a first section extending orthogonally from the connection section, the first section having a generally planar forward facing surface;

wherein, the planar surface of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel faces generally rearward; and

wherein, the retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component of the grommet faces generally forward.

10. The seating assembly of claim 9,

wherein, the connection section of the grommet includes an outside cylindrical surface, an inside cylindrical surface to the inside of the outside cylindrical surface, and a channel to the interior of the inside cylindrical surface;

and

wherein, the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel extends into the channel of the connection section of the grommet.

11. The seating assembly of claim 10,

the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel including an extension portion extending from the forward facing surface and a contact portion extending from the extension portion;

wherein, the planar surface of the first snap-fit component is a rearward side of the contact portion.

12. The seating assembly of claim 11,

wherein, the first snap-fit connection component and the second snap-fit connection component of the grommet extend inward relative to the inside cylindrical surface of the connection section and toward the extension portion of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel.

13. The seating assembly of claim 10,

the grommet further comprising:

a centerline dividing the channel into two sections;

a third snap-fit connection component disposed at the connection section, the third snap-fit connection component including a retaining surface that abuts the planar surface of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel and extends inward relative to the inside cylindrical surface of the connection section and toward the extension portion of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel;

wherein, the retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component, the retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component, and the retaining surface of the third snap-fit connection component each include a center;

wherein, the center of the retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component extends into one section of the channel; and

wherein, the center of the retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component and the center of the retaining surface of the third snap-fit connection component extend into the other section of the channel.

14. The seating assembly of claim 8,

the grommet further including a poke-yoke boss;

the trim carrier further includes a poke-yoke boss receiver; and

the poke-yoke boss receiver has received the poke-yoke boss of the grommet.

15. A grommet to interconnect a trim carrier and a closeout panel in a seating assembly in a vehicle comprising:

a first snap-fit connection component including a retaining surface configured to face and abut a planar surface of a snap-fit component of the closeout panel; and

a second snap-fit connection component including a retaining surface configured to abut a surface of the snap-fit component or another snap-fit component of the closeout panel;

wherein, the first snap-fit connection component resists separating from the closeout panel when a force is applied to the grommet from a first direction to a greater degree than the second snap-fit connection component resists separating from the closeout panel when a force is applied to the grommet from a second direction, opposite the first direction.

16. The grommet of claim 15 further comprising:

a connection section, including the first snap-fit connection component and the second snap-fit connection component; and

a first section extending orthogonally from the connection section, the first section having a planar forward facing surface.

17. The grommet of claim 16,

wherein, the connection section includes an outside cylindrical surface, an inside cylindrical surface to the inside of the outside cylindrical surface, and a channel to the interior of the inside cylindrical surface;

wherein, the first section extends orthogonally outward from the inside cylindrical surface of the connection section; and

wherein, the first snap-fit connection component and the second snap-fit connection component extend inward relative to the inside cylindrical surface of the connection section.

18. The grommet of claim 16,

wherein, the retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component is parallel with, and faces the same direction as, the planar forward facing surface of the first section.

19. The grommet of claim 17 further comprising:

a centerline dividing the channel into two sections;

a third snap-fit connection component disposed at the connection section, the third snap-fit connection component including a retaining surface configured to abut a surface of the snap-fit component or another snap-fit component of the closeout panel;

wherein, the third snap-fit connection component extends inward relative to the inside cylindrical surface of the connection section;

wherein, the retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component, the retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component, and the retaining surface of the third snap-fit connection component each include a center; and

wherein, the center of the retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component extends into one section of the channel; and

wherein, the center of the retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component and the center of the retaining surface of the third snap-fit connection component extend into the other section of the channel.

20. The grommet of claim 16,

wherein, the first section further includes an internally facing surface on the other side of the first section as the planar forward facing surface and a poke-yoke boss extending from the internally facing surface;

wherein, the connection section includes a cylindrical lip; and

wherein, the poke-yoke boss and the cylindrical lip of the connection section are configured to be received by trim carrier.