The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 20, 2018
Filed:
Feb. 01, 2017
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Erlanger, KY (US);
Andrew W. Harvey, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Philip J. Babian, Canton, MI (US);
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Abstract
A vehicular assembly and a method of connecting a panel to a vehicular structure in order to form an assembly. The assembly includes a clip that is used to join first and second components each of which defines an aperture therein. The first and second components are sized and shaped such that upon being joined to one another, their respective apertures are substantially aligned with one another and held together by the clip. The clip includes a first connector portion and a second connector portion. The clip can be turned in a twisting or screwing motion about an axis of rotation such that upon insertion of the clip into the aperture of the first component and subsequent rotation, the first connector portion forms a locking engagement with an edge structure that is defined by the aperture of the first component. In addition, upon additional insertion of the clip into the aperture of the second component, the second connector portion of the clip forms a resiliently-biased engagement with an edge structure that is defined by the aperture of the second component. This helps promote the blind installation of automotive components in a more ergonomic manner.