Hook and pin fastener assembly for a door trim panel

Abstract

A hook and pin fastener assembly for connecting and reliably locating a molded door trim panel to an apertured inner door panel of a motor vehicle without the need for conventional fasteners. A pair of conventional hooks are molded into the upper and lower portions of a molded door trim panel, and a locator pin is molded into a center portion of the molded door trim panel. The pair of hooks extend through corresponding apertures in the inner door panel and slidably engage the inner door panel so that movement of the upper and lower portions of the molded door trim panel is restricted in the lateral direction. The locator pin has a main body and a free end, wherein the free end is integral with and extending from the main body. The free end is slightly smaller than a locating aperture in the inner door panel, and the main body is larger than the locating aperture. The free end of the locator pin extends through the locating aperture to locate and restrict movement of the molded door trim panel in the vertical and fore and aft directions. The main body of the locator pin engages the inner door panel and is interposed between the molded door trim panel and the inner door panel to locate and prevent movement of the molded door trim panel in the lateral direction