Mounting structure and mounting method for vehicle interior parts

• US 6,969,100 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Tajima, Hiroyuki, Totani, Chiharu, Ando, Hikaru, Inui, Shuji, Hosokawa, Takeshi, Ohno, Mitsuyoshi, Yokoyama, Hidenori
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US10/437,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20030234549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 296/214, 296/1.02, 296/97.9, 161/101, 16D/IG.40, 16D/IG.41, 248/222.12, 248/222.13
• US Class Current: 296/1.02
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/023 movable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/026 characterised by the fixing means B60N3/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/307 Sheet metal formed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45487 including camming or wedging element on projection member

Abstract

A clip engages an assist grip with an engaging portion of the clip engaged with a clip insertion hole of an attachment part. The assist grip is mounted to a body panel by engaging a first locking pawl of the clip with a rear surface of the body panel, and engaging a second locking pawl of the clip with a front surface of the body panel. A pressure plug is fitted into a rear end gap portion of the clip when a cap on the attachment part is closed.

Claims

1. A vehicle assist grip structure for mounting on a vehicle interior panel, comprising:

an attachment part including a clip insertion hole;

an assist grip body member rotatably coupled to at least one end of said attachment part;

a clip that is separate from said attachment part and that includes a pair of leg portions that are connected at a distal end thereof so as to be resiliently deformable, said pair of leg portions forming a rear end gap portion at a rear end thereof, said clip being inserted both through said clip insertion hole in said attachment part and through a panel hole in said panel to affix said attachment part to said panel; and

a pressure plug fitted into said rear end gap portion of said clip to thereby prevent narrowing of a gap formed between said pair of leg portions.

2. A mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said leg portions includes a locking device for engaging with a portion of said panel at a vicinity of said panel hole and an engaging portion for engaging a peripheral edge of said clip insertion hole formed in said attachment part.

4. A mounting structure according to claim 2, wherein said locking device includes a first locking pawl, which is inserted into said panel hole and engages a back surface of said panel, and a second locking pawl, which engages the front surface of said panel.

5. A mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein a rear end of said pressure plug and the rear end of said clip are covered by a cap that is integrally hinged to said attachment part.

6. A mounting structure according to claim 5, wherein said pressure plug is formed integrally on a back surface of said cap.

7. A mounting structure according to claim 5, wherein said cap is separately formed from said attachment part.

8. A mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein said clip is formed from a metal plate.

9. A mounting structure according to claim 2, wherein said locking portion is formed separately from said engaging portion.

3. A mounting structure of a vehicle interior part on a panel, comprising:

a clip having a pair of leg portions connected at a distal end thereof so as to be resiliently deformable, and forming a rear end gap portion at a rear end thereof, said clip for being inserted into a panel hole formed on said panel and a clip insertion hole formed in said vehicle interior part;

a pressure plug fitted into said rear end gap portion of said clip to thereby prevent narrowing of a gap formed between said pair of leg portions;

an interior panel disposed on a front surface of said panel,

said vehicle interior part includes an opposing surface that opposes said panel, and a body contact portion formed on said opposing surface,

said opposing surface abuts against said interior panel, and said body contact portion abuts against said panel, wherein

a reinforcing plate having a through hole, which communicates with said clip insertion hole, is disposed on an opposing surface of said vehicle interior part, and

the distal end of the clip is inserted into said through hole on said reinforcing plate, so that said opposing surface of said vehicle interior part abuts against said interior panel, and said body contact portion abuts against said panel.