Patent Application
20080315620
The present invention relates in general to components for assembly in an automobile body, and in particular to devices for fastening interior door trims to a door module.
Typically, automotive door modules are constructed from metal or plastic and form part of the load bearing structure of an automobile door. Interior door panels, or trim panels, are commonly affixed to such door modules to provide an interior surface that is aesthetically pleasing and pleasant to the touch. Typically the main mating surfaces of the trim panel and the door module engage one another at a mating interface. Attachment means, such as basic hook/receiver components, may be provided on one or both of the trim panel and the door module to enable a secure connection between the two parts at a bearing interface.
Existing bearing interfaces provide the basic ability to connect a trim panel to a door module. However, the integrity of this connection may be susceptible to deterioration over time due dimensioning tolerances of the respective parts, vibration of the automobile, and/or deformation of the parts over time. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for device for fastening a trim panel to a door module that provides improved connection integrity while also providing means for simple and inexpensive assembly.
According to one aspect, the invention is directed to a fastening mechanism for coupling a trim panel to a door module that may include a hook disposed on a first mating surface of one of the door panel and the door module, the hook including a V-shaped neck extending away from the first mating surface, and an engaging element disposed at a distal end of the neck, the engaging element including a first bearing surface directed substantially toward the first mating surface; and a receiver disposed on a second mating surface of the other of the door panel and the door module, the receiver including a V-shaped slot operable to receive the V-shaped neck of the hook and a second bearing surface operable to engage the first bearing surface of the hook and to prevent separation of the first and second mating surfaces.
According another aspect, the invention is directed to a fastening mechanism for coupling a trim panel to a door module, that may include a hook disposed on a first mating surface of one of the door panel and the door module, the hook including a neck extending away from the first mating surface and an engaging element disposed at a distal end of the neck, the engaging element including a first bearing surface directed substantially toward the first mating surface and a tension element springingly extending from the first bearing surface; and a receiver disposed on a second mating surface of the other of the door panel and the door module, the receiver including a second bearing surface directed substantially toward the second mating surface and being operable to engage the first bearing surface of the hook.
Other aspects, features, advantages, etc. will become apparent to one skilled in the art when the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention herein is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
For the purposes of illustrating the various aspects of the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms that are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
The assembly of
The following discussion is directed to embodiments of fastening device 108 having bearing interfaces 106 that are operable to provide ease of assembly of the hook 200 and receiver 300, mechanical integrity of the connection between hook 200 and receiver 300 over time even with the presence of variation in part dimensions, vehicle vibration, and/or deformation of the constituent parts of fastening device 108 over time.
In the following, the various parts of hook 200 and receiver 300 are introduced. Thereafter, a selection of the parts are described in greater detail. Subsequently, a description of the interaction of various features of the hook 200 and receiver 300 during assembly of fastening device 108 is provided.
Directing attention to receiver 300, slot 310 and notch 320 and may be V-shaped to accommodate a V-shaped neck 210 of hook 200. However, slot 310 and notch 320 are not limited to be being V-shaped, and may assume any one of a number of shapes, including but not limited to, rectangular, square, semi-circular, and oval. Notch 320 preferably includes bearing surface 122 which may be operable to engage bearing surface 124 of hook 200. Recess 330 may a slot, or other opening for receiving a corresponding locking element 230 on hook 200. Recess 320 preferably forms part of detent mechanism 130.
Directing attention to hook 200 of
The bearing surface 124 of engaging element 220 may engage bearing surface 122 of receiver when hook 200 is assembled onto receiver 300. Moreover, bearing surface 122 may be directed substantially toward the mating surface from which neck 210 extends.
Locking element 230 of hook 200 may serve as a male component of detent mechanism 130. Locking element 230 may include a solid protruding element, a cantilevered tab, a spring-loaded tab, and/or a spring loaded member. While the embodiment shown in
The process of assembling hook 200 to receiver 300 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is now described. In the following, the movement of hook 200 and receiver 300 is described. It is understood that hook 200 and receiver 300 are generally coupled to respective components to be assembled, such as trim panel 104 and door module 102. However, for the sake of simplicity, the pertinent assembly operation is described in terms of only the hook 200 and receiver 300.
Hook 200 may be brought to a suitable approach location near receiver 300. Hook 200 may then be moved toward and into engagement with receiver 300. Chamfered flanges 202 of hook 200 may engage the chamfered flanges 302 of receiver 302 to enable the hook 200 to be appropriately guided into and centered with respect to receiver 300. Upon advancing hook 200 further onto receiver 300, V-shaped slot 310 may guide the V-shaped neck 210 of hook 200 into proper position. As the assembly operation nears completion, locking element 230 may initially engage a portion of bearing surface 122 just above recess 330. Upon advancing hook 200 still further onto receiver 300, locking element 230 preferably engages recess 330, thereby securing the assembly of hook 200 to receiver 300, and enabling bearing surfaces 122 and 124 to experience substantially complete surface contact with one another.
Attention is now directed to the embodiment of
Chamfered flange 402 may include a curvature suitable for guiding chamfered leading edge 502 of hook 500 during assembly of hook 500 to receiver 400. Bearing surface 422 is preferably operable to engage bearing surface 524 of hook 500 to form bearing interface 520. Engagement ridge 430 is preferably configured to encase the leading edge of engagement element upon the advancement thereof along bearing surface 422. Bottom edge 432 of engagement ridge 430 is preferably operable to establish the limits of advancement of engaging element 520 along bearing surface 422 of receiver 400.
Turning to
Tension element 530 may include a cantilevered tab, a spring-loaded tab, and/or a spring loaded member. In some embodiments, the spring bias of tension element 530 may be provided by a linear spring and/or a rotational spring.
The process of assembling hook 500 to receiver 400 is discussed in the following. Hook 500 may be brought to a suitable approach location near receiver 400. Hook 500 may then be moved toward and into engagement with receiver 400. Initial contact between hook 500 and receiver 400 may include chamfered leading edge 502 of hook 500 engaging chamfered flange 402 of receiver 400 to enable hook 400 to be suitably guided into receiver 400 while avoiding jamming during assembly.
As assembly progresses, the sides of engagement element 520 of hook 500 may engage engagement ridge 430 which may serve to further guide the motion of hook 500 and to center hook 500 with respect to receiver 400. As assembly progresses still further, the leading edge of engagement element 520 may approach and ultimately contact the bottom edge 432 of engagement ridge 430. Engagement ridge 430 may thereby establish the limit of travel of hook 500 with respect to receiver 400.
Once fully assembled, tension element 530 is preferably partially deflected, thereby imparting a biasing force against bearing surface 422 of receiver 400, which is preferably operable to secure the attachment of hook 500 to receiver 400. The biasing force of tension element 530 may be operable to oppose slack between bearing surfaces 524 and 422. Otherwise stated, force from tension element 530 may be operable to maintain force between bearing surfaces 524 and 422 even if bearing surfaces 524 and 422 experience some degree of physical separation. The tension force may therefore be operable to maintain suitable contact between the mating surfaces corresponding to the respective bearing surfaces 524 and 422, even if bearing surfaces 524 and 422 become separated. Thus, the tension force is preferably operable to compensate for a separation distance or gap which may arise from build variation in hook 500 and/or receiver 400, and any deformation arising in these parts over time.
Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
