CA2207870A1

CA2207870A1 - Mounting clip

Info

Publication number: CA2207870A1
Application number: CA002207870A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Edward R. Adams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Magna Donnelly Corp
Priority date: 1994-12-02
Filing date: 1995-12-04
Publication date: 1996-06-06
Also published as: DE795090T1; BR9509850A; EP0795090B1; EP0795090A1; DE69522467D1; JPH10512943A; DE69522467T2; JP3836875B2; US5662375A; AU4249396A; WO1996017178A1

Abstract

A mounting clip assembly (10) for mounting an accessory (16) to a roof sheet metal bracket (18). A mounting clip (12) is fastened to or molded with the accessory (16) and comprises two diverging legs (30, 32), which are snap-fit into an aperture (24) in the roof sheet metal bracket (18). A locking bezel (14) has a pair of lugs (52) and a locking finger (54), which are inserted between the legs (30, 32) to prevent the relative movement of the legs (30, 32). The locking finger (54) is received within a slot (36) on one of the legs (30, 32) to releasably fasten the bezel (14) to the clip (12).

Description

W O9611717X PCT~US95/15705 MOUNTING CLIP

R~ )und of the Invention Field of the Invention S This invention relates to a moun~ g clip, and, more spe~ifically a mounting clip for mounting ~lltr m-~bile accessories to an automobile structure.
Descr ption of Related Art The passenger compartments of contempora~ ltomQbiles have a he~lliner mounted to the sheet metal roof of the passenger co-llpal~ll,ent. The 10 he~lllin~r is typically a foam layer molded with a decolaLive surface or covered with an outer decorative layer. The he~lliner can be ~tt~ ed to the vehicle roof by clips which pass through the aligned slots in the he~flliner and the roo~
It is comrnon for the clips which mount the headliner to the roof to also mount automobile accessories to the vehide. These accessories incl~lde: pull grips, 15 garment hooks, light assemblies, mirror assemblies, visors, and visor mounts, for example.
U.S. Patent No. 5,314,227, issued May 24, 1994, illustrates a clip in combination with a locking bezel for mounting a visor to a vehicle roof. The clip comprises a body from which two opposed arms extend outwardly and 20 d(Jwllwardly, each arm having a locking flange which is seated behind the upper surface of a sheet metal roof bracket when the clip is inserted through an aperture in the roof bracket. The locking bezel has two locking tongues that extend between the body and the arms and snap-fit within an aperture in the arms to limit the inward deflection of the arms, plcv~llLillg the removal of the25 clip, unless the bezel is first removed. A similar clip/bezel combination is shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,082,323, issued January 21, 1992, except that the ~ locking tongues abut the arms.
U.S. Patent No. 5,082,322, issued January 21, 1992, discloses a clip for mounting the visor to the vehicle roof. The visor incllldes a molded-on 30 torque fitting, including a spring clip having tri~n~ r flanges with an edge which snaps onto and locks behind a ledge in a header socket positioned above CA 02207870 1997-0~-30 W O 96/17178 PCT~US95/15705 the vehicle roof. A bezel is snap-fit to the molded-on torque fitting and I~lcvenL~ access to the spring clip to l~r~ent removal of the spring clip. Similar clips without a locking flange are shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,708,895, issued November 24, 1987, 4,517,711, issued May 21, 1985, and 4,765,036, issued August 23, 1988.
U.S. Patent No. 4,569,552, issued February 11, 1986, discloses a clip for mounting a visor to the vehicle roof. The clip includes a torque fitting ~ul~oullding the elbow of the visor and a spring clip disposed over the torque fitting. The spring clip has two opposing spring arms which seat behind the 10 upper surface of sheet metal brackets adjacent an aperture upon insertion of the torque fitting into the aperture.

Summa~y of Invention The invention is a mounting clip assembly, which is adapted to mount an accessory to a support structure. The mounting clip assembly 15 colll~lises a mounting clip with first and second legs resiliently joined at one end to define an apex. The legs diverge from the apex and form a gap therebetween at another end. One of the legs has a free end and the other leg is adapted to mount the accessory. Each leg has lips that are adapted to pass through an aperture in the support structure and seat on an upper surface of the support 20 structure to lock the clip to the support structure. The mounting clip assembly further colll~lises a bezel having a cover and at least one upst~n(ling lug adapted to extend into the gap formed between the legs. The lug prevents the legs from moving toward each other and, thus, the inadvertent removal of the ~ clip from the support structure.
Preferably, one of the legs has a slot formed therein with a bottom surface. The bezel includes a locking finger, which projects upwardly from the cover and has a locking tab that projects laterally behind the bottom surface ofthe leg slot. The locking finger is resilient and flexes when the lug and the finger are inserted into the gap of the clip. A slanted flat can be for~ned on the 30 locking finger to engage the bottom surface of the slot so that the bezel can be removed from the clip by pulling the bezel away from the clip.

CA 02207870 l997-05-30 In one embodiment of the invention, the mounting clip has at least one resilient relailullg finger projecting outwardly and dow-lw~dly from the side of the first and second legs. The retaining finger is adapted to mount t_e clip to a he~lliner. ~eferably, the finger is mounted at the apex of the legs. The S mounting clip can be integrally molded with the accessory or can be cormected to the accessory by a mechanical c~nnector such as a rivet.
In orle embodiment of the invention, the mounting clip assembly is adapted to mount an accessory to a he~-lliner with an aperture. The mounting clip assembly comprises a mounting clip with first and second legs, which are 10 adapted to mount the ~cces~ory. At least one resilient reLai~ g finger projects ou~w~udly and downwardly from a side of the legs for mounting the clip to the he~-lliner whereby when the clip is inserted into the h~tlliner aperture, the rclai~ g finger is adapted to abut an upper surface of the he~-lliner to mount the clip to the he~tllinPr. There can be one or more resilient fingers on lS different sides of the legs.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the bezel can be integrally molded with the accesso~y and the bezel defines an opening which provides access to the mounting clip. The cover is mounted to the bezel by a living hinge. Also, the cover can have at least one snap tab for locking the 20 cover to the bezel.

Brief D~scliPtion of the D~n~
The invention will now be described with refere,lce to the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mounting dip assembly 25 accor~ing to the invention mollnte~l to a grab handle and a partial view of a vehicle he~-llin.or and roof;
~ ;IG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the mollnling clip assembly of FIG. 1 mollnterl to a vehicle he~-lliner and to a roof sheet metal bracket;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the mounting clip assembly of FIG. 1 30 assembled to a vehicle he~-lliner;

CA 02207870 1997-0~-30 W O 96/17178 PCTrUS95/15705 FIG. 4 is a sectiQn~l view like FIG. 2 of an assembled mounting clip assembly of a second ernbodiment shown attached to a vehicle roof and to a vehicle he~rlliner;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embo-liment of the S mounting clip assembly accordillg to the invention; and FIG. 6 is a side view of the mounting clip assembly of FIG. 5.

Des~ ion of the P'~f. ..~d Embodiments Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a m~un~ g dip assembly 10 in accordance with the invention. For illustration purposes, the mounting clip assembly 10 is shown in the context of mounting a vehide accessory to a vehide. However, the mounting clip assembly 10 can be used in a variety of different applications other than for mounting accessories to an tomotive vehide.
Mounting clip assembly 10 is shown mounting a vehicle accessory, such as grab handle 16, to a roof sheet metal bracket 18. The mounting dip assembly 10 comprises a mounting clip 12 in combination with a locking bezel 14, which prevents the inadvertent removal of the mounting clip 12 from the vehicle roof. A vehicle headliner 20 is positioned against the roof sheet metal bracket 18. In the grab handle 16 application, the mounting clip 12 is af~xed tothe end of the grab handle 16. To mount the grab handle 16 to the roof sheet metal bracket 18, the mounting clip 12 is inserted through aligned apertures 22 and 24 in the headliner 20 and bracket 18, respectively, and the clip 12 is shaped to ~revelll the direct removal of the clip from the aligned apertures andthereby secures the grab handle 16 to the roof sheet metal bracket 18.
The mounting clip 12 is subst~nti~lly V-shaped in profile and co~ ises a first leg 30 and a second leg 32, which meet at an apex 34. The first leg 30 extends from the grab handle 16 to the apex 34 and has a lip 35, which snaps behind the upper surface of the bracket 18 when the grab handle 16 is mounted to the bracket 18. The second leg 32, unlike the first leg 30, can have a centrally disposed slot extending substantially the length of the first leg.
Like the first leg 30, the second leg 32 has a lip 38, which snaps into and seats CA 02207870 1997-0~-30 W O96117178 PCTrUS95/1570 behind the upper surface of the roof sheet metal bracket 18 when the grab handle is mounted to the bracket 18. The lip 38 is shown as being co~ ous bec~l~.ce of the slot 36. Depending on the length of the slot 36, the lip 38 may or may not be disco.~ ous. The legs 30 and 32 are preferably 5 both resilient so that the legs can flex toward each other about the apex 34 when the legs are inserted into the bracket aperture 24 and exert a rçsili~llt force ~g~inct the aperture with the lips 35 and 38 firmly seated on the upper surface of the bracket 18 to lock the clip 12 to the bracket 18 with the he~-lliner therebetween.
A pair of retzlinin~ fingers 44, 46 extend outwardly and downwardly from the sides of the legs 30 and 32 at apex 34. The retaining fingers 44, 46 are relatively thin, especially when compared to the legs 30 and 32. Preferably, the retaining fingers 44, 46 are longer than the ~i~t~nce froIn the apex 34 to the lips 35 or 38 so that the retaining fingers are retained against the legs 30 and 32 upon the insertion of the clip 12 into the roof bracket aperture 24. The retaining fingers 44 and 46 are resilient and are normally biased outwardly at an acute angle up to 90o with respect to legs 30 and 32. Also, the clip 12, inclllding ret~ining fingers 44 and 46, is preferably injection molded as a single piece from a resilient plastic material. Alternatively, the clip can be shaped from a resilient metal such as spring steel.
The locking bezel 14 co,l~plises a decorative cover 50, which hides the mounting clip 12 from view when the locking bezel 14 is secured to the mounting clip 12. As illustrated, the decorative cover 50 has a shape COlll'ulllllll~ to the contour of the grab handle 16. However, the decorative cover 50 can have any shape depending on the particular application. A pair of spaced locking lugs 52 extend from the inner surface of the decorative cover 50.The locking lug 52 is sized to fit between the legs 30, 32 to ~revGlll them fromflexing inwardly toward each other. A single locking lug 52 can be used in~te~-lof ~wo locking lugs.
A resilient locking finger 54 is disposed between the spaced locking lugs 52 and extends u~wardly from the inner surface of the cover 50 and has a locking tab 56 at an outer end thereof. The locking finger 54 is sized so CA 02207870 1997-0~-30 W O 96117178 PCTrUS95/15705 that it can be flexed inwardly and be received within the slot 36 of the second leg 32. A flat 58 is formed on the locking tab 56 and seats above the lower surface of the clip slot 36. The ilat is angled such that the locking finger 54 can be separated from the slot 36 by pulling on the cover 50 with sufficient force.
Thus, the finger 54 reciliently retains the locking bezel 14 in locking rel~ti- nchir to the mounting dip 12.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the grab handle 16 is mounted to the roof sheet metal bracket 18 (or to the vehicle rail sheet metal) by first inserting the mounting clip 12 into the he~rllinPr aperture 22 and roof bracket aperture 24. As the mounting clip 12 is inserted, the second leg 32 is flexed inwardly with respect to the first Ieg. Although the first leg 30 is made from resilient material like the second leg 32, the first leg 30 tends to be more rigid than the second leg bec~ ce it is thicker than the apex 34.
The retaining fingers 44, 46 are used to mount the clip 12 (and the grab handle 16) to the he~Aliner prior to assembly of the headliner 20 to the vehicle. Thus, various accessories can be assembled to the he~liner before the he~Aliner is positioned in the vehicle. The clip 12 is inserted into the aperture ~ of the he~-lliner 20 so that the retaining fingers 44, 46 spring behind the he~-lliner 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The retaining fingers 44, 46 are relatively light and will not damage the he~rlliner 20 during shipment or assembly. When the he~flliner 20 is positioned in the vehicle, the clips 12, already properly positioned in the he~lliner 20 for insertion into the aperture 24, are pushed into place through the apertures 24.
For example, refe,.hlg to FIG. 3, therein it is illustrated the grab handle 16 of FIG. 1 mounted to the he~-lliner 20 prior to the assembly of the grab handle 16 and headliner 20 the roof sheet metal bracket 18. In the pre~c.cemhled position, the mounting clip 12 is inserted into the he~-lliner aperture ~ of the he~ ner 20 a sufficient distant so that the retai~ g fingers 44 and 46 are biased outwardly by their inherent resiliency and abut the upper t 30 surface of the he~1liner 20 to secure the grab handle 16 to the he~llinPr without relying on the first leg 30 and second leg 32 of the mounting clip. In this manner, the vehicle accessory, such as the grab handle 16, can be mounted to the vehicle headliner so that the h.o~rlliner and its vehicle accessories can be shipped and in~t~11ed as a single unit.
Once the lips 34 and 38 are inserted beyond the roof sheet metal bracket 18, the inherent resiliency of the first leg 30 and second leg 32 biases5 the legs 30, 32 outwardly to position the lips 34 and 36 above the roof sheet metal bracket 18 adjacent the roof bracket aperture 24. In this position, the lips 34, 36 lock the mounting clip 12 to the bracket. To remove the mounting clip 12, the legs 30, 32 can be squeezed together to position the lips 34, 36 within the perimeter of the roof bracket aperture 24.
The locking bezel 14 is snap-fit to the mou~ g clip 12 to ~lGVt;
the inadvertent or unauthorized removal of the mounting clip 12. The locking lugs 52 ~1GVt;11l the first leg 30 and the second leg 32 from being squeezed together while the cover 50 ~imlllt~neously pel~olllls the function of hiding from view the first leg 30 and second leg 32. To mount the locking bezel 14, the 15 locking bezel 14 is oriented so that the lugs 52 are positioned between the first leg 30 and second leg 32 and the locking finger S4 is aligned with the slot 36 of the mounting clip 12. The locking bezel 14 is then pressed u~w~dly to insert the locking finger 54 and locking tab 56 within the slot 36. As the locking bezel 14 is moved upwardly, the locking lug 52 abuts the first and second legs 30, 32 20 to ~Icvcnl the inward movement of the second leg 32 with respect to leg 30.
The locking ffnger 54 and tab 56 are completely received within the slot 36 to hold the bezel into locking relationship with the clip 12 with the locking tab flat 58 in abutting rel~tion~hip with the lower surface of the slot 36.
Referring to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a second embodiment of 25 the mounting clip assembly accordhlg to the invention. The second embodiment of the mounting clip assembly is illustrated in the same conteYt of a passenger co~ alll~lent of an ~ntomobile. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except that the clip is mechanically fastened to the grab handle in~te~-l of being integrally molded therGwi~h. Like numerals are used to identify 30 like parts.

CA 02207870 l997-05-30 In the second embodiment, the mounting clip assembly 10 is sllhst~n~i~lly the same as the first embodiment except that the first leg 30 has a base 70 ~Yten~ling s1lbst~nti~1ly perpendicular to the first leg.
The grab handle 16 is similar to the first embodiment except that it has a metal strip 72 molded within and eYtentlinE from the end of the grab handle 16 and the grab handle 16 has a molded extension 74. The metal strip 72 overlies the molded extension 74. The mounting clip 12 is secured to the grab handle 16 by positioning the base 70 against the metal strip 72 and p~inE
a fastener 76 through grab handle extension 74 and base 72. Once the clip 12 is 10 fastened to the handle 16, the clip is installed in the same m~nner as described for the first embodiment.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a mounting clip assembly 110 is illustrated in the context of a grab handle 116. However, it is understood that the mounting clip assembly 110 can be used to mount a variety of z~ccessories to15 a roof sheet metal bracket and the vehicle h~-lliner of the type as previously illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.
The mounting dip assembly 110 comprises a mounting clip 112 integrally molded with the grab handle 116. Unlike the previously described grab handles, the grab handle 116 has an integrally molded bezel 114 which 20 through a peripheral flange 124 defines an opening 118. A cover 120 iS
connected to a portion of the bezel 114 by a living hinge 122, whereby the covercan be rotated between a first position where the cover substantially closes theopening 118 and a second position where the cover 120 iS displaced from the opening 118.
The mounting clip 112 is subst~nti~lly V-shaped in profile and conlplises a first leg 130 and a second leg 132, which meet at an apex 134. The first leg extends from the grab handle 116 to the apex 134 and has a groove 135 that snaps behind the upper surface of a roof sheet metal bracket when the grab handle 116 is mounted to the bracket. The second leg 132 has a lip 138 that snaps into and seats behind the upper surface of a roof sheet metal bracket when the grab handle is mounted to the bracket.

, _9 The cover 120 colllplises a locking lug 152 positioned in a central portion of the cover 120. Preferably, the locking lug is positioned on the cover120 so that when the cover is moved to the first position, the lug 152 is positioned between the first leg 130 and the second leg 132 to ~ nt relative 5 movement of the legs towards each other. The cover 120 also colll~lises resilient spring tabs 154 positioned at the peAphery of the cover 120. The spring tabs are triangle-shaped in cross section and extend beyond the peripheryof the cover to snap fit behind the peripheral flange 124 when the cover is in the first position to the lock the cover 120 to the bezel 114.
The mounting clip assembly 110 and its associated ~ccessory, grab handle 116, are mounted to a vehicle in subst~ntiz~lly the same m~nner as described above with respect to the first and second embo-liment~. Specifically,the mounting clip 112 is inserted into an aperture in the roof sheet metal bracket until the edge of the roof sheet metal bracket defining the aperture is received within the groove 135 of the first leg 130 and the lip 138 of the second leg 132 is seated against the upper surface of the roof sheet metal bracket. In this po~ition, the clip 112 is secured to the roof sheet metal bracket. However,the clip 112 can be removed by moving the second leg 132 toward the ffrst leg 130 until the clip 138 is lm~ezlted from the upper surface of the roof sheet metal bracket. To prev~l~t such movement, the cover 120 is rotated about the living hinge 122 to irsert the locking lug 152 between the first and second legs 130, 132. The cover 120 is pressed toward the legs 130, 132 until the spring tabs snap in place with respect to the bezel 114 to secure the cover 120 to the bezeland close the opening 118.
The V-shape col~ ction of the invention advantageously provides a clip that is lockable with a bezel having only a single locking lug. The single loclcing lug ~lCVClll~ the movement of both legs along with positioning the bezel.
The cnmhin~tion of the V-shaped clip and the single locking lug is a ~ignific~ntsimplifir~tion over the prior art andl a reduction in the relative cost and m~mlf~çturing complexity.
While particular embo-1im~ont~ of the invention have been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limitef1 thereto since W O96/17178 PCTrUS95/15705 -1~

modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing te~hin~. Re~con~ble variation and mo~lific~tion are possible within the scope of the foregoing ~ osllre of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

Claims The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A mounting clip assembly adapted to mount an accessory to a support structure, the mounting clip assembly comprising:
a mounting clip comprising:
first and second legs resiliently joined at one end to define an apex, the legs diverging from the apex to form a gap therebetween at another end, one of the first and second legs having a free end and the other of the first and second leg adapted to mount the accessory, the first and second legs having lips adapted to pass through an aperture in the support structure and seat on an upper surface of thesupport structure to lock the clip to the support structure; and a bezel having a cover and at least one upstanding lug adapted to extend into the gap between the first and second legs to prevent the legs from moving toward each other and, thus, the inadvertent removal of the clip from the support structure.

2. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein one of the first and second legs has a slot with a bottom surface, and the bezel further comprising a locking finger projecting upwardly from the cover and having a locking tab that projects laterally behind the bottom surface of the leg slot.

3. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 2 wherein the locking finger is resilient to flex when the lug and the finger are inserted into the gap of the clip.

4. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 3 wherein the locking finger has a slanted flat, which engages the bottom surface of the slot, to facilitate removal of the bezel from the clip when the bezel is pulled away fromthe clip.

5. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein the clip has at least one resilient retaining finger that projects outwardly and downwardly from a side of the first and second legs and is adapted to mount the clip to a headliner.

6. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 5 wherein there are two retaining fingers on different sides of the first and second legs.

7. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 6 wherein the resilient fingers are mounted at the apex of the legs.

8. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein the clip is integrally molded with an accessory.

9. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein the clip is connected to an accessory by a mechanical connector.

10. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 9 wherein the mechanical connector is a rivet.

11. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bezel is integrally molded to an accessory and through a peripheral flange defines an opening providing access to the mounting clip.

12. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 11 further comprising a living hinge mounting the cover to the peripheral flange of the bezel for moving the cover between a first position where it closes the opening and a second position displaced from the opening.

13. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 12 wherein the cover further comprises at least one tab at the periphery of the cover to snap behind the peripheral flange to lock the cover to the bezel.

14. An accessory mounting comprising:
a structural support with an upper and lower surface and at least one aperture extending through the structural support;
an accessory;
a mounting clip comprising:
first and second legs resiliently joined at one end to define an apex, the legs diverging from the apex to form a gap therebetween an another end, one of the first and second legs having a free end and the other of the first and second legs mounted to the accessory, the first and second legs having lips adapted to pass through the support structure aperture and seat on the upper surface of the support structure to lock the clip to the support structure; and a bezel having a cover and at least one upstanding lug adapted to extend into the gap between the first and second legs to prevent the legs from moving toward each other and, thus, the inadvertent removal of the clip from the support structure.

15. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 14 wherein one of the first and second legs has a slot with a bottom surface, and the bezelfurther comprising a locking finger projecting upwardly from the cover and having a locking tab that projects laterally behind the bottom surface of the leg slot.

16. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 15 wherein the locking finger is resilient to flex when the lug and the finger are insertedinto the gap of the clip.

17. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 16 wherein the locking finger has an slanted flat to facilitate removal of the bezel from the clip when the bezel is pulled away from the clip.

18. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 14 wherein the clip has at least one resilient retaining finger that projects outwardly anddownwardly from a side of the first and second legs and adapted to mount the clip to a headliner.

19. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 18 wherein there are two resilient fingers on different sides of the first and second legs.

20. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 19 wherein the resilient fingers are mounted at the apex of the legs.

21. A mounting clip assembly adapted to mount an accessory to a headliner with an aperture, the mounting clip assembly comprising:
a mounting clip having first and second legs and adapted to mount the accessory; and at least one resilient retaining finger, which projects outwardly and downwardly from a side of the first and second legs for mounting the clip to theheadliner whereby when the clip is inserted into the headliner aperture, the retaining finger is adapted to abut an upper surface of the headliner to mount the clip to the headliner.

22. A mounting clip assembly according to claim 21 wherein there are two resilient fingers, each on a different side of the first and second legs.