Claims:
1. A dog house for mounting trim clips comprising:
an attachment wall (18) configured with a slot (3) of predefined profile for insertion/ extraction of trim clip (20) wherein, said slot (3) is configured to restrain the mounted the trim clip (20) in linear direction.

2. The dog house for mounting trim clips as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined profile of said slot (3) for insertion/ extraction of trim clip (20) is configured with an edge (6) provided for restricting the linear or vertical downward movement of trim clips (20).

3. The dog house for mounting trim clips as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slot (3) is configured with dimensions ‘y’, ‘z’ and ‘m’ to achieve modularity.

4. The dog house for mounting trim clips as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slot (3) is configured with dimension ‘z’ and edge (6) to prevent falling of clips in linear direction.

5. The dog house for mounting trim clips as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trim clip (20) is configured with neck dimension ‘x’ of a predefined value.

6. The dog house for mounting trim clips as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimension ‘z’ of slot (3) are configured to be less than the neck dimension ‘x’ of trim clip (20) to restrain undesirable falling of the trim clip (20) in linear direction.

7. The dog house for mounting trim clips as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimension ‘m’ of said slot (3) is configured for entry of the neck dimension ‘x’ of trim clip (20) at an predefined angle.

8. The dog house for mounting trim clips as claimed in claim 1, wherein an angled recess (5) is configured to be provided on attachment wall (18) for multiple locking and maintaining specified insertion and extraction path of trim clip (20).
, Description:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:
A DOG HOUSE FOR MOUNTING TRIM CLIPS

Applicant:
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited
A company Incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956
Having address:
Floor 3, 4, Plot-18, Nanavati Mahalaya,
Mudhana Shetty Marg, BSE, Fort, Mumbai 400001,
Maharashtra, India

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to a dog house for mounting trim clips in a vehicle. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a design of dog house having a predefined way of insertion and extraction of trim clips in dog house for multiple locking.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Plastic trims has become an integral part of automotive interiors due to its ease of manufacturability and styling benefits. These plastic trims are fitted on to metal BIW (Body in White) panels using a typical trim clip. The trim clips are mounted on plastic trims and then the trims are mounted on BIW panels by pressing by hand. The pressing operation is a blind operation wherein, the operator cannot see if that trim clip is going in its respective BIW hole but is able to feel the clip engagement sound with panel hole. Conventional/Standard dog house as illustrated in figure 1 is provided with plastic trims to mount trim clips on it. This conventional dog house has a key hole when seen from top view. The trim clips are pushed by human thumb along the line of insertion/extraction to fit the trim clip on or remove it from the dog house. While handling the plastic trims for fitment on assembly line or in logistics these trim clips fall off form the dog house. This leads to increase in cycle time of trim fitment due to additional time used to rework (re-fit the fallen clips). As the trim fitment is a blind operation sometimes operator misses to notice whether clips are intact on dog house or are fallen off. If trims are fitted with missing clips, it leads to quality issues. Some times to maintain gap and flush under control, different size clips are used. These different clips have different neck dimensions. Designer has to modify dog house dimensions post fitment trials when location of different trim clips are finalized. Hence, there is a need for a novel design of dog house to prevent falling off of trim clips due to abuse fitment condition or mishandling in logistics and to provide modularity which means single dog house for multiple trim clips with different neck dimensions.
[0003] The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above and any other limitations associated with the prior arts.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Main object of the present disclosure is to provide a dog house design to prevent falling off of trim clips due to abuse fitment condition or mishandling in logistics.
[0005] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a single dog house for multiple trim clips with different neck dimensions.
[0006] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide restriction to the undesirable linear or vertical downward movement of the trim clip
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Before the present a dog house for mounting trim clips in plastic trims for a vehicle is described, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to a particular a dog house for mounting trim clips as there may be multiple possible embodiments, which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosures. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular implementations, versions, or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a dog house for mounting trim clips. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0008] The present invention discloses a dog house for mounting trim clips in a vehicle for preventing the falling off of clips due to abusive fitment condition or mishandling in logistics and to provide modularity i.e., single dog house for multiple trim clips with different neck dimensions. The dog house has slot of predefined profile for insertion and extraction of trim clips in the dog house in a predefined way at a predefined angle. An angled recess is provided for multiple locking and maintains specified insertion and extraction path for trim clip.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, the present invention discloses a dog house for mounting trim clips comprising of an attachment wall (18) configured with a slot (3) of predefined profile for insertion/ extraction of trim clip (20) wherein, said slot (3) is configured to restrain the mounted the trim clip (20) in linear direction.
[0010] The predefined profile of said slot (3) for insertion/ extraction of trim clip (20) is configured with an edge (6) provided for restricting the linear or vertical downward movement of trim clips (20). The slot (3) is configured with dimensions ‘y’, ‘z’ and ‘m’ to achieve modularity. The said slot (3) is configured with dimension ‘z’ and edge (6) to prevent falling of clips in linear direction. The trim clip (20) is configured with neck dimension ‘x’ of a predefined value. The dimension ‘z’ of slot (3) are configured to be less than the neck dimension ‘x’ of trim clip (20) to restrain undesirable falling of the trim clip (20) in linear direction. The dimension ‘m’ of said slot (3) is configured for entry of the neck dimension ‘x’ of trim clip (20) at an predefined angle. An angled recess (5) is configured to be provided on attachment wall (18) for multiple locking and maintaining specified insertion and extraction path of trim clip (20).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] The foregoing detailed description of embodiments is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present subject matter, an example of construction of the present subject matter is provided as figures; however, the present subject matter is not limited to the specific dog house for mounting trim clips in a vehicle disclosed in the document and the figures.
[0012] The present subject matter is described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer various features of the present subject matter.
[0013] Figure 1 illustrates a conventional dog house with insertion and extraction path.
[0014] Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of the dog house with trim clip inserted in it.
[0015] Figure 3 illustrates a typical trim clip.
[0016] Figure 4 illustrates a dog house with respective dimensions.
[0017] Figure 5 illustrates a dog house with insertion and extraction path.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although any dog house for mounting trim clips in a vehicle and, similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the exemplary, dog house for mounting trim clips in a vehicle is now described.
[0019] Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described but is to be accorded the widest scope consist in this regard, in a generic sense.
[0020] The present invention discloses a dog house for mounting trim clips a vehicle for preventing the falling off of clips due to abusive fitment condition or mishandling in logistics and to provide modularity i.e., single dog house for multiple trim clips with different neck dimensions. With reference to FIG. 2 and 3, the trim panel (10) is attached to various locations in the interior of an automotive vehicle, illustratively including but not limited to a door, rear hatch or side wall, to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the passenger compartment. The trim panel (10) includes an inner surface (12) which faces the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle and an outer surface (14) which faces a support structure. The support structure is often the frame of the automotive vehicle or an additional panel or structure attached to the frame. The support structure includes an opening for receiving a portion of the trim clip (20).
[0021] At least one housing i.e., the dog house (16) is positioned on the trim panel. The housing (16) extends from the outer surface (14) of the trim panel (10) towards the support structure. The housing (16) includes an attachment wall (18) having a slot (3) of predefined profile for receiving a portion of a trim clip (20).
[0022] The trim clip (20) is used to attach the trim panel (10) to the support structure of the automotive vehicle. The trim clip (20) includes an upper section (22) which fits, or frictionally engages with the opening located on the support structure, and a lower section (24) which attaches to the trim panel (10) via the attachment wall (18) and the housing (16). The lower section (24) includes a radially extending first flange (26) at one end of the lower section (24) and a radially extending second flange (28) spaced apart from the first flange (26). A supplemental flange (30) is optionally provided above the second flange (28).
[0023] As illustrated in figure 5, the dog house has a slot (3) for insertion and extraction of trim clip (20) in dog house. An angled recess (5) is provided for multiple locking and maintaining specified insertion and extraction path for trim clip (20).
[0024] As illustrated in figure 3 and 4 the present invention provides modularity for the trim clip (20) having neck dimensions “x” in a predefined value. The dog house is designed to provide only one go path for insertion and extraction for trim clip (20). The dimensions ‘y’, ‘m’ and ‘z’ are designed in the dog house to achieve modularity/ The dimensions ‘z’ and edge (6) are designed in the dog house to prevent falling of trim clip (20). The dimensions of ‘y’ and ‘z’ are less than the neck dimensions ‘x’ of trim clip (20) in order to prevent falling of the trim clip (20). The dimension ‘m’ of the slot (3) is designed to allow a portion of the lower section (24) of the trim clip (20) between a first flange (26) and a second flange (28), known as the clip body having dimension ‘x’, to fit into the aperture during insertion/extraction by providing an easier path when the trim clip (20) is inserted/extracted at predefined angle by the user. The slot (3) is provided with an edge (6) on the attachment wall (18) configured to provided for restricting the linear or vertical downward movement of the trim clip (20) to avoid falling of the trim clip (20) on dislocation from the aperture due to abusive fitment condition or mishandling in logistics.
[0025] A dog house for mounting trim clips comprises of a predefined profile of said slot (3) for insertion/ extraction of trim clip (20) is configured with an edge (6) provided for restricting the linear or vertical downward movement of trim clips (20). The slot (3) is configured with dimensions ‘y’, ‘z’ and ‘m’ to achieve modularity. The slot (3) is configured with dimension ‘z’ and edge (6) to prevent falling of clips in linear direction. The trim clip (20) is configured with neck dimension ‘x’ of a predefined value. The dimension ‘z’ of slot (3) are configured to be less than the neck dimension ‘x’ of trim clip (20) to restrain undesirable falling of the trim clip (20) in linear direction. The dimension ‘m’ of said slot (3) is configured for entry of the neck dimension ‘x’ of trim clip (20) at an predefined angle. An angled recess (5) is configured to be provided on attachment wall (18) for multiple locking and maintaining specified insertion and extraction path of trim clip (20).
[0026] Further, the invention can be used, but not limited to, in the following applications.
[0027] Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, these advantages may include the following:
[0028] Some embodiments of the present subject matter provide a dog house design to prevent falling off of trim clips due to abuse fitment condition or mishandling in logistics.
[0029] Some embodiments of the present subject matter provide a single dog house for multiple trim clips with different neck dimensions.
[0030] Some embodiments of the present subject matter provide restriction to the undesirable linear or vertical downward movement of the trim clip
[0031] Although implementations for a dog house for mounting trim clips in a vehicle have been described in language specific to structural features and/or system, it is to be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations.
[0032] Figures 1-5 are now described using the reference numbers stated in the below table.
Reference Numeral Description
1 Key hole in conventional dog house
2 Line of insertion/extraction in conventional dog house
3 Slot of predefined profile
4 Predefined way of insertion and extraction of trim clips
5 Angled recess
6 Edge of slot
10 Trim panel
12 Inner surface of panel
14 Outer surface of panel
16 Dog house
18 Attachment wall
20 Tim clip
22 Upper section of clip
24 Lower section of clip
26 First flange of clip
28 Second flange of clip
30 Optional flange of clip