CLIP WITH CORRESPONDING CLIP HOUSING
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 60/451,578 filed March 3, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention
[0002] This invention relates to clips and clip houses that are used to attach a vehicular trim part to a frame or other mounting surface. The clips are mounted to the corresponding clip housing for easy removal and reattachment to a vehicle, such as an automobile, boat, snowmobile, or the like.
Description of Related Art
[0003] Several types of vehicular body or trim clips are known. Some of these clips, however, pose problems in removal of the trim part from the vehicle after the trim part has been secured to the vehicle. For example, where body work after initial assembly is required on a vehicle due to accidents, or other desired modifications to the vehicle, some of the clips and associated clip housings may not permit easy removal of the trim part from the frame or other mounting structure. Sometimes the clips may break when trim parts are attempted to be removed from the vehicle as a result of the pressure applied to the clip during removal. As a result, replacement clips are required. Alternatively, the clips may become distorted during the trim part removal such that the clip does not attach the trim part as securely to the vehicle after the body work, or other desired modification, has been performed. Thus, either the removal of the trim part is difficult, or the clip breaks, or is distorted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] The present invention provides a clip and clip house member that cooperate in combination to securely attach an automotive trim part such as a
rocker panel, chin molding, or the like to an automotive mounting surface such as a frame member, sheet metal panel, or other automotive mounting structure. The combination of clip and clip housing allows for easy and secure attachment of the trim part to the associated automotive structure and, quite importantly, the combination allows for easy removal of the automotive trim part from the mounting surface.
[0005] The clip comprises a base normally composed of a thermoplastic or thermoset resin material. The clip member is in most cases preferably an integrally molded piece and further includes a male member that projects upwardly from the base. Opposing sides of the male member include a raised curved surface portion. A gap is provided between the top of the base and the raised surface portion, and ' this gap is adapted to receive the mounting surface of the automotive structure, such as a sheet metal surface or the like. This provides secure engagement of the automotive mounting surface to the clip.
[0006] At least one leg member is provided on the clip and projects from the base. At the remote or distal end of the leg, a flange member is provided and is adapted to fit snugly within a flange member receiving channel that is formed in the clip house.
[0007] The clip house is usually integrally molded with the automotive trim member and is spaced from the back side surface of the part. The attachment structure of the clip house includes a generally planar engagement surface and a first recess portion of that surface which defines a reception area for secure reception of at least a portion of the clip body therein. [0008] The flange receipt channel of the clip house structure defines a second recessed portion of the clip house engagement surface. This is in the form of a channel having opposed wall members that are connected by a bottom channel surface. The flange from the leg of the clip snugly fits or is snap fit into the channel. The trim part is connected securely to the mounting surface of the automotive structure by means of engagement of the body of the clip into the first recessed portion of the clip house and by snug receipt of the flange carried by the clip into the flange receipt channel of the clip house. Pivotal movement of the
flange away from the bottom channel surface and subsequent sliding movement of the flange along the channel will result in ready separation of the trim part from the mounting structure.
[0009] The clip and clip house structural combination of the invention is versatile and may be used on a variety of vehicles having a wide range of trim part and mounting structures. These and other features and advantages of the invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] Various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of this invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures, wherein:
[0011] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clip in accordance with the invention;
[0012] Fig. 2 is a right hand side elevational view of the clip of Fig. 1;
[0013] Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of one embodiment of a clip and clip house combination in accordance with the invention; and
[0014] Fig. 4 is a view in perspective showing another embodiment of a clip and clip house combination in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS [0015] Turning first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a clip 1 of the invention that is adapted for utilization with either of the clip house embodiments shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As shown in Fig. 1, the clip comprises a base portion 2 and cross-member 3. The top surface of the base portion and cross-member are substantially co-planar. A male member 4 or stud projects upwardly from the base and as shown, is perpendicularly related to the planar surface created by the base 2 and cross-member. On opposing upstanding sides of the male member, or stud, a raised portion 5 is provided and extends laterally therefrom. As shown, the raised portion terminates in a smooth, curved surface 9.
[0016] Extending away from the cross-member 3 are parallel legs 6 and 7 with the terminal or distal ends of each being provided with underlying flanges 6a, 7a (see Fig. 2). As shown in Fig. 1, the width between the legs 6 and 7 is designated as W2 with the width of the entire cross-member 3 being shown as Wi. [0017] In Fig. 2, sides or pedestals of the raised member 5 are designated as 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d. The terminus or end of the raised portion 9 presents a smooth surface. A gap g is defined between the raised portion and the plane defined by the top surfaces of the base 2 and cross-member 3. This gap is adapted for snug reception of the requisite automotive mounting structure, such as a sheet metal strip, frame, or other automotive body or mounting structure therein. [0018] Fig. 3 illustrates a first embodiment of a clip house formed in accordance with the invention. Here, the clip house 10 comprises a first recess 14 formed therein and defined by walls 13a, 13b, 13c, and the central portion 13. The body of the clip is adapted for close or snug fitting into this first recess. As shown, the entire width of the cross-member 3 is received in this recessed area. [0019] The clip further comprises first and second flange reception channels designated as members 11 and 12 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3. Each of these channels is provided with a ramp member 15.
[0020] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the clip is inserted into the clip house so that the two legs of the clip are snugly received in the first and second channels 11 and 12. Similarly, the clip body is friction or snap fit into the large recess provided on the clip house surface. In order to easily remove the trim part 20 from the automotive structure, the trim part 20 is pivoted relative to the flanges 6a, 7a of the clip. Then, the part is slid so that the flanges 6a, 7a move relative to the clip housing and are popped upwardly by means of the ramps 15, 15 as shown in Fig. 3 so that the part is easily removed from the automobile or truck. [0021] Turning now to Fig. 4, another embodiment of the invention is shown wherein the clip house comprises flange receipt channels 30 and 40 respectively. Channel 40 is spaced laterally from the first recessed portion of the clip house which first recess portion is adapted for engagement of the body of the clip. This first channel 30 is provided in the shape of an "L" when viewed in plan
and comprises an open end 31. The second flange engagement channel 40 also comprises an open end 41 that terminates in the first recess portion of the clip house that is adapted for engagement of the body of the clip. This second flange engagement channel is also in the form of an L. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the flanges of the clip and their associated legs are fit within the channels and slid along the bottom surface of the channels and moved to the right hand side of the clip house shown in Fig. 4 until the flanges lock or are frictionally engaged in the respective channels 30, 40. This will also result in snug engagement of the body member at 2 and cross-member 3 within the first recess portion 14 of the clip house.
[0022] In order to readily remove the trim part 20 from the associated automotive structure, the part is pivoted so that, in effect, the flanges 6a, 7a are pivoted relative to the bottom surface of the channels 30, 40. Then the part is slid so that the flanges travel to the left hand side direction shown in Fig. 4 within channels 30, 40. The part is maneuvered so that the flanges slide in a downward fashion (with regard to the Fig. 4 drawing) so that the flanges travel through the open ends 31, 41 of the channels, thereby freeing the part 20 from the clip and the automotive mounting structure attached to the clip.
[0023] The invention has been shown in conjunction with specifically preferred embodiments thereof. However, various modifications can be envisioned by those having ordinary skill in the art. The appended claims are intended to encompass such modifications and equivalents thereof.