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US3889320A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Headliner/molding retainer and method of installing same

Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
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Filing: 1974-04-01
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1994-04-01
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Abstract

Abstract A one-piece headliner and molding retainer is provided for securing a headliner assembly adjacent the roof of an automobile. The roof structure is provided with an oval aperture having mutually perpendicular major and minor axes. An arrowhead-shaped mounting portion of the retainer includes two wings whose free ends abut roof structure adjacent the minor oval axis. A spacer extends along the major oval axis to secure the retainer to the roof in a direction perpendicular to the minor oval axis. A retainer leaf and a show member are biased toward one another to pinch and retain headliner members between them. A molding member is attached over the retainer shoe to provide a neat, finished appearance for the headliner assembly.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard Allen Koscik

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 20:30
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B5/00; F16B5/06; F16B5/0607; F16B5/0621; F16B5/065; B; B60; B60R; B60R13/00; B60R13/02; B60R13/0206; F16B21/00; F16B21/06; F16B21/08; F16B21/088; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/30; Y10T24/309

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 207 words
A one-piece headliner retainer adapted to be applied to an aperture-defining structure such as an auto roof, the aperture being symmetrical about two mutually perpendicular axes, the retainer including a bi-ended spacer adapted to extend along a first aperture axis, each spacer end adapted to abut aperturedefining structure adjacent the first aperture axis, a stem projecting from the spacer, at least one wing extending away from the stem and having a free end adapted to abut aperture-defining structure adjacent a second axis, a rectangular, laterally extending leaf extending the length of the spacer and carried in substantially fixed relation to the spacer on a side opposite the stem, a rectangular shoe oriented substantially parallel to the leaf, but spaced apart therefrom, molding member retention means formed on two opposite sides of the rectangular shoe to receive and retain a molding member thereover, an extension interposed between the leaf and shoe of a height substantially equal to the thickness of a headliner member to be pinched between the leaf and the shoe, and recess structure interposed between the leaf and the spacer to locate the leaf at a position spaced apart from the auto roof, whereby flexibility between the leaf, the auto roof and the spacer is provided.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 207 words
A one-piece headliner retainer adapted to be applied to an aperture-defining structure such as an auto roof, the aperture being symmetrical about two mutually perpendicular axes, the retainer including a bi-ended spacer adapted to extend along a first aperture axis, each spacer end adapted to abut aperturedefining structure adjacent the first aperture axis, a stem projecting from the spacer, at least one wing extending away from the stem and having a free end adapted to abut aperture-defining structure adjacent a second axis, a rectangular, laterally extending leaf extending the length of the spacer and carried in substantially fixed relation to the spacer on a side opposite the stem, a rectangular shoe oriented substantially parallel to the leaf, but spaced apart therefrom, molding member retention means formed on two opposite sides of the rectangular shoe to receive and retain a molding member thereover, an extension interposed between the leaf and shoe of a height substantially equal to the thickness of a headliner member to be pinched between the leaf and the shoe, and recess structure interposed between the leaf and the spacer to locate the leaf at a position spaced apart from the auto roof, whereby flexibility between the leaf, the auto roof and the spacer is provided.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 58 words
A headliner according to claim 1 wherein said spacer is Z-shaped in cross-sectional aspect, and includes a first portion extending asymmetrically away from the first axis in one direction, a second portion extending symmetrically away from the first axis, and a third portion extending asymmetrically away from the first axis in A direction opposite to the first portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 163 words
A headliner retainer adapted to be applied to an oval aperture-defining structure such as an auto roof, the oval aperture being symmetrical about a major axis and a perpendicular minor axis, the retainer including a bi-ended spacer adapted to extend along the major axis of the oval, each spacer end adapted to abut oval aperture-defining structure adjacent the major axis of the oval, a stem projecting from the spacer, at least one wing extending away from the stem and having a free end adapted to abut oval aperture-defining structure adjacent the minor axis, a laterally extending leaf carried in substantially fixed relation to the spacer on a side opposite the stem, a shoe oriented substantially parallel to the leaf, but spaced apart therefrom and adapted to receive and retain a molding member thereover, and an extension interposed between the leaf and shoe of a height substantially equal to the thickness of a headliner member to be pinched between the leaf and the shoe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 163 words
A headliner retainer adapted to be applied to an oval aperture-defining structure such as an auto roof, the oval aperture being symmetrical about a major axis and a perpendicular minor axis, the retainer including a bi-ended spacer adapted to extend along the major axis of the oval, each spacer end adapted to abut oval aperture-defining structure adjacent the major axis of the oval, a stem projecting from the spacer, at least one wing extending away from the stem and having a free end adapted to abut oval aperture-defining structure adjacent the minor axis, a laterally extending leaf carried in substantially fixed relation to the spacer on a side opposite the stem, a shoe oriented substantially parallel to the leaf, but spaced apart therefrom and adapted to receive and retain a molding member thereover, and an extension interposed between the leaf and shoe of a height substantially equal to the thickness of a headliner member to be pinched between the leaf and the shoe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 50 words
A headliner retainer according to claim 3 which is additionally adapted to retain a channel-shaped molding member, said shoe being provided with spaced apart sets of oppositely directed faces for engaging reversely turned, mutually opposed, spaced apart interior molding member surfaces to retain the molding member upon the headliner retainer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
A headliner retainer according to claim 4 wherein said shoe is provided with a depression behind each molding member-engaging face to provide resiliency to the molding member-shoe engagement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
A headliner retainer according to claim 3 wherein said spacer is substantially rectangular in cross-sectional aspect, and extends symmetrically away from said major axis of the oval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 61 words
A headliner according to claim 3 wherein said spacer is Z-shaped in cross-sectional aspect, and includes a first portion extending asymmetrically away from the major oval axis in one direction, a second portion extending symmetrically away from the major oval axis, and a third portion extending asymmetrically away from the major oval axis in a direction opposite to the first portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
A headliner retainer according to claim 3 including two wings, one wing extending away from each side of the stem in the direction of the minor axis of the oval.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 46 words
A headliner retainer according to claim 8 wherein said wings are generally planar in shape, and wherein said wing free ends have a substantially straight edge adapted to engage the aperture-defining structure along a substantially straight line of contact oriented parallel to the major oval axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 38 words
A headliner retainer according to claim 8 wherein said stem free end projects above the aperture-defining structure, and wherein said wings depend outwardly and downwardly from the stem free end in arrowhead-shaped configuration to engage the aperture-defining structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 28 words
A headliner retainer according to claim 10 wherein said wing free ends are adapted to engage the aperture-defining structure at the aperture edge along a substantially straight line.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2713284A Cited
US3093874A Cited
US3550217A Cited
US3485133A Cited
US3651545A Cited
US3811154A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-06-16 1978-12-16 1979-06-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-06-16 1982-12-16 1983-06-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-06-16 1986-12-16 1987-06-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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