HIGH RETENTION TRIM ATTACHMENT SYSTEM

• US 20140062115A1
• Filed: 09/06/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Tuomisto, Paul, Nagy, Jason Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,876,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/1.08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0206 Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings devices for fastening or securing F16B

Abstract

A trim panel having at least one bracket portion which is releasably coupled to a bracket member having a clip receiving assembly. A clip is received in the clip receiving assembly and adapted to couple to a car body. The clip is a high retention clip adapted to retain the trim panel on the car body during an air curtain deployment event. The trim panel is further adapted to be removeable from the bracket member to allow access to an underlying air curtain deployment mechanism. The trim panel is adapted to be removed from the bracket member while the bracket member and clip assembly remain coupled to a car body in a vehicle interior.

Claims

1. A trim attachment system comprising:

a trim panel adapted to cover an air curtain deployment mechanism, the trim panel having at least one slotted bracket;

a bracket member including a clip receiving portion, wherein the bracket member is adapted to releasably couple to the at least one slotted bracket;

a clip member received in the clip receiving portion and adapted to couple to a car body, wherein the clip member is a high retention clip member adapted to retain the trim panel on the car body during deployment of the air curtain deployment mechanism, and further wherein the trim panel can be removed from the bracket member to provide access to the air curtain deployment mechanism.

2. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the trim panel includes a body side and a design side, the body side further including a bracket portion with the at least one slotted bracket disposed thereon.

3. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the at least one slotted bracket includes a slot having a first enlarged end and a narrowed second end.

4. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

the slot is a keyhole slot.

5. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

the bracket member includes an engagement portion adapted to be received in the first enlarged end of the slot and slideably received in the narrowed second end of the slot to releasably couple the bracket member to the slot of the at least one slotted bracket.

6. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

the clip receiving portion of the bracket member includes a planar portion coupled to the engagement portion by a web portion to define a channel.

7. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

the trim panel is removed from the bracket member by sliding the trim panel in a car-rearward direction to align the engagement portion of the bracket member with the enlarged first end of the slot of the slotted bracket.

8. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

the clip is a high retention clip capable of retaining the trim panel on the car body when a force of 300 pounds is realized on the trim panel by an air curtain deployment mechanism.

9. A trim attachment system comprising:

a clip member coupled to a car body;

a bracket member coupled to the clip member at a clip receiving portion, wherein the bracket member further includes an engagement portion; and

a trim panel having a bracket portion adapted to couple to the engagement portion, wherein the trim panel is releasable from the engagement portion while the clip member is coupled to the car body.

10. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

the trim panel includes a body side and a design side, wherein the bracket portion is disposed on the body side with the at least one slotted bracket disposed thereon.

11. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

the at least one slotted bracket includes a slot having a first enlarged end and a narrowed second end to define a keyhole slot.

12. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

the engagement portion is adapted to be received in the first enlarged end of the slot and slideably received in the narrowed second end of the slot to releasably couple the bracket member to the slot of the at least one slotted bracket.

13. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

the trim panel is removed from the bracket member by sliding the trim panel in a car-rearward direction to align the engagement portion of the bracket member with the enlarged first end of the slot of the slotted bracket.

14. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

the clip member is a high retention clip member adapted to retain the trim panel on the car body during deployment of the air curtain deployment mechanism.

15. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

the clip receiving portion is coupled to the engagement portion by a web to define a channel adapted to be received in the slot of the slotted bracket.

16. A trim attachment system comprising:

a trim panel having a bracket portion;

a bracket member releasably coupled to the bracket portion having a clip receiving assembly; and

a clip member received in the clip receiving assembly and adapted to couple to a car body, wherein the clip is a high retention clip adapted to retain the trim panel on the car body during an air curtain deployment event.

17. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the trim panel includes a body side and a design side, wherein the bracket portion is disposed on the body side and further includes at least one slotted bracket.

18. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

the at least one slotted bracket includes a slot having a first enlarged end and a narrowed second end to define a keyhole slot.

19. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 17, including:

an engagement portion disposed on the bracket member and adapted to be received in the first enlarged end of the slot and slideably received in the narrowed second end of the slot to releasably couple the trim panel to the bracket member.

20. The trim attachment system as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

the trim panel is removed from the bracket member by sliding the trim panel in a car-rearward direction to align the engagement portion of the bracket member with the enlarged first end of the slot of the slotted bracket to provide access to an air curtain deployment mechanism.