Patent Application
20170174150
This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to a trim assembly including a trim applique connected to a receiving bezel by means of a new and improved robust attachment feature.
Ornamental trim appliques are components that, due to styling requirements, tend to have somewhat complicated shapes. Such trim appliques are usually elongated and extremely narrow. This creates a significant difficulty when attempting to design a robust attachment feature for the assembly that will provide proper fastening and securing of the trim applique to the receiving bezel.
This document relates to a new and improved trim assembly incorporating a new and improved attachment feature that provides a sturdy location scheme while ensuring proper fit so that the trim applique and bezel remain connected together in place at all times.
In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a new and improved trim assembly is provided. That trim assembly comprises a trim applique having a mounting boss and a hook and a bezel having a recess and a window. When fully assembled, the hook is received through the window and the mounting boss is received in the recess.
More specifically, the recess includes a rear wall. That rear wall may include an aperture. A fastener extends through the aperture and the mounting boss to secure the trim applique to the bezel.
The recess may also include a first section and a second section. The first section may have a first depth D1 and the second section may have a second depth D2 where D2>D1.
In some embodiments, the rear wall has a rear face including a beveled edge adjacent the window. Further, the hook defines a channel and the beveled edge is held in that channel.
In some embodiments, the rear wall has a front face including a chamfered transition section between the first section and the second section of the recess.
In some embodiments, the hook opens toward the mounting boss. Further, the hook may form an included angle of between about 22 and about 30 degrees. Still further, the hook may include a slot between a first reinforcing rib and a second reinforcing rib.
In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the trim assembly. As it should be realized, the trim assembly is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the trim assembly as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the trim assembly and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures:
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the trim assembly, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.
Reference is now made to
The trim applique 12 is connected to the bezel 14 by a new and improved attachment feature generally designated by reference numeral 20. That attachment feature 20 includes a mounting boss 22 and a hook 24 carried on the trim applique 12 and a cooperating recess 26 and a window 28 on a bezel 14. When assembled, the hook 24 is received through the window 28 and the mounting boss 22 is received in the recess 26.
As best illustrated in
As best illustrated in
As best illustrated in
Reference is now made to
As should be appreciated, the trim assembly 12 incorporates an attachment feature 20 that functions to readily align and locate a trim applique 12 with the bezel 14 in a simple and efficient manner. Advantageously, the hook 24 serves to hold the trim applique 12 steady with respect to the bezel 14 as the fastener/screw 50 is inserted through the aperture 40 in the rear wall 38 and engaged in the mounting boss 22 in order to complete the connection. It should further be appreciated that should the mounting boss 22 fail for any reason or the fastener 50 pull free for any reason, the hook 24 will still hold the trim applique 12 in place on the bezel 14.
The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, while the trim applique 12 is secured to the bezel 14 by means of a screw fastener 50 in the illustrated embodiment, it should be appreciated that other types of fasteners could be utilized for this purpose including, for example, rib locks or clips. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
