[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to locking structure for a clip on a dog house in a vehicle and more particularly relates to a locking structure adapted to easily and securely assembling a clip on a dog house mounted on a plastic trim.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Quick and secure assembly is very important to automotive assembly plants since manual labour is expensive and repair is even more expensive. Every additional loose fastener and/or screw adds considerably to manual labour and assembly time. It is desirable to provide a secure attachment structure that quickly and securely attaches, but also that is cost-effective, mechanically simple, and very reliable, yet that does permit later repair without the need for additional fasteners or parts.
[0004] Preferably, the attachment structure can be optimized for any type of component that is being attached, whether the component is plastic, sheet metal, composite material, or other material. Further, it is preferable that the attachment structure can easily be formed in the respective parts. Also, an attachment structure is desired that allows for variation in hole locations due to manufacturing tolerances, yet that is not loose and sloppy after the connection even with thickness variations in components. Accordingly, an improved fastening structure is desired having the aforementioned advantages and solving the aforementioned problems.
[0005] In some of the prior arts, a clip is used with a dog house to assemble a plastic trim on a body panel of a vehicle. The clip may fall due to loose fitment during assembly of plastic trim to the body panel.
[0006] In addition, the current design of the dog house is provided with small dots to retain the clip on the dog house. But clip may fall due to gravity or loose-fitting on the dog house because the small dots are prone to manufacturing defects and may lose the locking efficiency.
[0007] In some cases, a small bud type design is provided to firmly lock the clip on the dog house. But it leads to difficultly in assembling the clip on the dog house and also damages the clip while dismantling the trim parts from the body panel.
[0008] In order to solve all the above-mentioned problems, there is a need for a locking structure that is designed to provide easy assembly of clip on the dog house and improves locking of clip on the dog house.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0009] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0010] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a locking structure that facilitates easy and secure assembly of a clip on a dog house in a vehicle.
[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide the locking structure that increases the clip retention force on the dog house.
[0012] It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a cost-effective and efficient locking structure that helps in easy and secure assembly of the clip on the dog house.
[0013] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0014] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a locking structure that facilitates easy and secure assembly of a clip on a dog house. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0015] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a locking structure formed on a top surface of a dog house, the locking structure comprising a longitudinal part having a first end and a second end, and a lateral part having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the longitudinal part and the first end of the lateral part are connected to form an L shape with an included angle.
[0016] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the locking structure in which the included angle ranging from 45° to 90°.
[0017] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the locking structure in which the first end of the longitudinal part is formed with a chamfer.
[0018] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1A illustrates a locking assembly used in the prior art to attach a plastic trim on a vehicle body;
[0021] FIG. 1B illustrates an enlarged view of a locking structure used in the prior art for mounting a clip on a dog house of the plastic trim;
[0022] FIG. 2A illustrates a locking assembly to lock a clip on the dog house formed on plastic trim of the vehicle in accordance of the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 2B illustrates an enlarged view of a locking structure formed on the dog house in accordance of the present disclosure; and
[0024] FIG. 2C illustrates different included angles (?) of the locking structures in accordance of the present disclosure;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to con all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0026] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0027] As per the conventional locking structure, the user always has to face problems related to the connection between the clip and the dog house.
[0028] To overcome the issues related to the existing locking structure, the present disclosure herein provides a locking structure that facilitates easy clip insertion and retention on the dog house.
[0029] FIG.1A shows an assembly 100 in which an interconnection is maintained between a clip 102 and a dog house 104 through a locking structure 106a, 106b. The assembly 100 is used to build a locking connection between trims and body of a vehicle. Generally, trims are the plastic parts installed on inner side of the vehicle. The trims are basically used for giving the aesthetic look to the interior of the vehicle.
[0030] In FIG. 1B, an enlarged view of the locking structure 106a, 106b is clearly shown that are in the form of small dots formed on the dog house 104 to retain the clip 102 on the dog house 104. However, the locking structure 106a and 106b are subjected to plastic defects due to its design intent and are not able to provide required retention force which leads to the clip 102 fall either due to gravity or loose fitment on the dog house 104.
[0031] FIG. 1B also shows a small bud 108 formed in an insertion recess of the dog house 104 to lock the clip 102 on the dog house 104. But, such design of the small bud 108 creates difficultly in the assembly of the clip 102 on the dog house 104 and may, sometimes, damage the clip 102 while assembling and removing the clip 102 from the dog house 104.
[0032] To address the concern of the convention locking structures, the present disclosure proposes an assembly 200, as shown in FIG. 2A, in which the interconnection between the clip 102 and the dog house 104 is maintained through the newly designed locking structures 202a, 202b.
[0033] As can be seen in detail in FIG. 2B, the locking structure 202a, 202b is in the form of an L-shape and is formed on the top surface of the dog house 104. This L-shaped locking structure facilitates an easy insertion of the clip 102 and proper retention of the clip 102 in the dog house 104. In addition, the angled portion of the L-shaped locking structure is in contact with the clip after assembly and hence improves the retention of the clip 102 against any movement. In an aspect, L-shape of the locking structure 202a, 202b provides proper surface contact with the clip 102.
[0034] The locking structures 202a, 202b comprising a longitudinal part 204 having a first end 204a and a second end 204b, and a lateral part 206 having a first end 206a and a second end 206b, where the second end 204b of the longitudinal part 204 and the first end 206a of the lateral part 206 are connected to form an L-shape with an included angle (?). In an aspect, the included angle (?) ranges from 45° to 90°.
[0035] Moreover, in the L-shaped locking structure 202a, 202b, the first end 204a of the longitudinal part 204 is formed with a chamfer. The chamfer is provided to guide the clip 102 for proper insertion and easy assembly while attaching to the dog house 104. Further, the wall surface of the lateral part 206 provides additional retention support by increasing the contact surface area with the clip 102 after mounting of the clip 102 on the dog house 104.
[0036] FIG. 2C shows different included angles (?) of the locking structures 202a, 202b in accordance of the present disclosure. In case 1, the angle between the longitudinal part 204 and the lateral part 206 is less than 90°, hence the contact surface area between the clip 102 and the dog house 104 is reduced which reduces the force applied during insertion. In case 2, the angle between the longitudinal part 204 and the lateral part 206 is 90°, then also the force applied during the insertion is less due to chamfer provided on the longitudinal part 204 of the locking structures 202a, 202b.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0037] The locking structure proposed herein facilitates easy assembly of the clip in the dog house.
[0038] The locking structure proposed herein also creates less chance of manufacturing defects due to L-shaped structure.
[0039] The locking structure proposed herein increases the clip retention force.
[0040] Thus, with the locking structure described in the present disclosure, various technical problems of the state of the art are resolved. Also, although a number of exemplary method options are described herein, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the proposed locking structure helps in safe and easy assembly and strong retention of clip on the dog house, without deviating from the scope of the subject matter of the present disclosure.
[0041] Further, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its scope.
[0042] Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Also, the various embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some embodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments.
[0043] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions, or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

Claims:1. A locking structure (202a, 202b) formed on a top surface of a dog house (104), the locking structure (202a, 202b) comprising:
a longitudinal part (204) having a first end (204a) and a second end (204b); and
a lateral part (206) having a first end (206a) and a second end (206b);
wherein the second end (204b) of the longitudinal part (204) and the first end (206a) of the lateral part (206) are connected to form an L shape with an included angle (?).
2. The locking structure (202a, 202b) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the included angle (?) ranging from 45° to 90°.
3. The locking structure (202a, 202b) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the L-shape of the locking structure (202a, 202b) provides proper surface contact with a clip (102).
4. The locking structure (202a, 202b) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end (204a) of the longitudinal part (204) is formed with a chamfer.
5. The locking structure (202a, 202b) as claimed in claim 1, wherein wall surface of the lateral part (206) provides retention support by increasing the contact surface area with a clip (102).