Trim panel attaching pin with water seal
US5419606A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 27, 1993 |
| Grant date | May 30, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 27, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T24/45105
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vehicle door interior assembly has an inner door panel attached to a trim panel with a plurality of pins having splines thereon which are sheared from the pins for absorbing energy to lessen the energy transfer to the vehicle interior during a collision or otherwise. The pins have a shaft with a spear shaped nose section on one end which assists in attachment of the pins to holes in the inner door panel assembly. Finger members attached near the nose section help retain the pins in the holes and are deformed or sheared from the pin shaft should the assembly separate. A water seal is attached to the shaft to prevent moisture from seeping through the holes to the passenger compartment. Under compression, the pins are forced through the holes thus shearing the splines from the shaft and convert kinetic energy of the pin to heat energy.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.