Locking retainer system for automotive assembly

• Main Authors: Morales, Jesus R, Pickens, Ryan J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.07.2018
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; BLASTING; CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS,e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES,DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; CONVEYING; DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS ORMACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS,CLIPS, WEDGES, JOINTS OR JOINTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HEATING; LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MOTOR VEHICLES; PACKAGES; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; STORING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRAILERS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR; WEAPONS

A locking retainer system configured to secure an automotive component within a motor vehicle includes a panel defining a T-shaped aperture and a retainer. The T-shaped aperture has a vertical aperture portion and a longitudinal aperture portion. The vertical aperture portion is defined by a first planar portion of the panel and the longitudinal aperture portion is defined by a second planar portion of the panel. The first planar portion is laterally offset from the second planar portion. The retainer has a vertical retainer portion and a longitudinal retainer portion and is attached to the automotive component by an elongated strut intermediate the vertical retainer portion and the automotive component. The panel is configured to receive the retainer within the aperture, thereby securing the automotive component to the panel and limiting motion of the automotive component relative to the panel along vertical, longitudinal, and lateral axes.