Vehicle door clip assembly and method for painting a vehicle using the same

Abstract

A door clip assembly that utilizes both reusable and disposable components, thereby minimizing material waste and providing significant cost savings. The bulk of the door clip assembly is manufactured from a reusable metal or plastic material that is resistant to both heat and chemicals so that it can be periodically paint stripped and/or cleaned and reused. Only the tip of the door clip assembly is manufactured from a disposable plastic or rubber material that is inexpensive so that it can be discarded, and that can safely contact an exposed surface and/or finish of a vehicle without damaging it. The door clip assembly is easy to install/remove and does not require a driver tool.

Claims

1. A vehicle door clip assembly operable for holding a door, hood, or trunk gate of a vehicle closed, the door clip assembly comprising: a reusable body portion manufactured from a first material, the body portion comprising a cylindrical bore structure and a cylindrical lower base member adapted to translate concentrically within the cylindrical bore structure, the body portion adapted to be removably coupled to a body structure of the vehicle; and a disposable tip portion manufactured from a second material, the tip portion comprising a ramp structure and an attachment portion adapted to be received within the cylindrical lower base member of the body portion, the tip portion thereby adapted to be removably coupled to the body portion with the ramp structure adapted to contact the door, hood, or trunk gate of the vehicle.

2. The door clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the first material is one or more of a metal material and a plastic material that is capable of withstanding a vehicle coating stripping process without damage.

3. The door clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the second material is one or more of a plastic material and a rubber material that is capable of contacting a vehicle coating without marking or damaging the vehicle coating.

4. The door clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment portion of the tip portion comprises a keyed attachment portion that is adapted to be removably coupled to a keyed receptacle portion of the cylindrical lower base member disposed within the cylindrical bore structure of the body portion.

5. The door clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical lower base member of the body portion is coupled to a remainder of the body portion via an intervening biasing spring member that allows the tip portion to translate with respect to the cylindrical bore structure of the body portion.

6. The door clip assembly of claim 5, wherein the tip portion is adapted to be compressed towards the cylindrical bore structure of the body portion through the intervening biasing spring member when the tip portion is contacted by the door, hood, or trunk gate of the vehicle.

7. The door clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises one or more expandable post structures adapted to be removably inserted into one or more holes disposed in the body structure of the vehicle to removably couple the body portion to the body structure of the vehicle.

8. The door clip assembly of claim 7, wherein the body portion comprises a lower base member, and wherein the one or more expandable post members protrude from a bottom of the lower base member.

9. The door clip assembly of claim 8, wherein the body portion further comprises an upper base member positioned adjacent to the lower base member, wherein one or more post members protrude from a bottom of the upper base member, through the lower base member, and into the one or more expandable post structures, and wherein the one or more expandable post structures are expanded/contracted via insertion/withdrawal of the one or more post members into/from the one or more expandable post structures with translation of the upper base member towards/away from the lower base member.

10. The door clip assembly of claim 9, wherein the body portion further comprises one or more retention members protruding from a top of the lower base member and adapted to limit translation of the upper base member with respect to the lower base member.

11. A method for painting a vehicle, comprising: attaching a vehicle door clip assembly to a body structure of the vehicle, the door clip assembly comprising: a reusable body portion manufactured from a first material, the reusable body portion comprising a cylindrical bore structure and a cylindrical lower base member adapted to translate concentrically within the cylindrical bore structure; and a disposable tip portion manufactured from a second material, the disposable tip portion comprising a ramp structure and an attachment portion received within the cylindrical lower base member of the body portion; closing a door, hood, or trunk gate of the vehicle to contact the ramp structure of the disposable tip portion and engage the reusable body portion of the door clip assembly attached to the body structure of the vehicle; delivering a coating to a surface of the vehicle including a surface of the door, hood, or trunk gate of the vehicle and the door clip assembly; opening the door, hood, or trunk gate of the vehicle and removing the door clip assembly from the body structure of the vehicle; and removing the disposable tip portion from the door clip assembly and coupling a new disposable tip portion to the reusable body portion.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first material is one or more of a metal material and a plastic material that is capable of withstanding a coating stripping process without damage.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the second material is one or more of a plastic material and a rubber material that is capable of contacting the coating without marking or damaging the coating.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising stripping the coating from the reusable body portion after the disposable tip portion has been removed and prior to coupling the new disposable tip portion to the reusable body portion.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising disposing of the disposable tip portion after the disposable tip portion has been removed from the door clip assembly.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein attaching the door clip assembly to the body structure of the vehicle comprises inserting one or more expandable post structures protruding from a bottom of a base member of the reusable body portion of the door clip assembly into one or more holes disposed in the body structure of the vehicle.

17. The door clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the tip portion comprises a pair of opposed ramp structures.

18. The door clip assembly of claim 17, wherein the pair of opposed ramp structures are arranged such that the door, hood, or trunk gate of the vehicle first contacts one of the pair of opposed ramp structures and second contacts another of the pair of opposed ramp structures.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the tip portion comprises a pair of opposed ramp structures.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the pair of opposed ramp structures are arranged such that the door, hood, or trunk gate of the vehicle first contacts one of the pair of opposed ramp structures and second contacts another of the pair of opposed ramp structures.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers are used to denote like assembly components/method steps, as appropriate, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a pair of perspective views of a conventional vehicle door, hood, or trunk gate latch assembly/striker member;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional vehicle door clip assembly;

(4) FIG. 3 is a pair of perspective views of the conventional vehicle door clip assembly of FIG. 2 in use with a conventional vehicle door, hood, or trunk gate during a painting process;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the vehicle door clip assembly of the present disclosure;

(6) FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle door clip assembly of FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional top view of the vehicle door clip assembly of FIGS. 4 and 5 in use with a conventional vehicle door, hood, or trunk gate during a painting or other manufacturing or assembly process;

(8) FIG. 7 is a pair of perspective views of the vehicle door clip assembly of FIGS. 4-6, illustrating the operation of the associated locking mechanism;

(9) FIG. 8 is a pair of cross-sectional side views of the vehicle door clip assembly of FIGS. 4-7, again illustrating the operation of the associated locking mechanism;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the vehicle door clip assembly of FIGS. 4-8, illustrating the associated removal process after a painting or other manufacturing or assembly process; and

(11) FIG. 10 is a planar end view and a series of perspective views of one exemplary embodiment of the removable door stopper cap of the vehicle door clip assembly of FIGS. 4-9.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(12) Again, the present disclosure provides a door clip assembly that utilizes both reusable and disposable components, thereby minimizing material waste and providing significant cost savings. The bulk of the door clip assembly is manufactured from a reusable metal or plastic material that is resistant to both heat and chemicals so that it can be periodically paint stripped and/or cleaned and reused. Only the tip of the door clip assembly is manufactured from a disposable plastic or rubber material that is inexpensive so that it can be discarded, and that can safely contact an exposed surface and/or finish of a vehicle without damaging it. The door clip assembly is easy to install/remove and does not require a driver tool.

(13) Preferably, the door clip assembly of the present disclosure keeps the doors, hood, or trunk gate of a vehicle closed during a painting, manufacturing, or assembly process, with an opening force of 50 N or more, appropriate in most such applications. The door clip assembly does not drop or trap any particles that could ruin a coating finish, for example. The door clip assembly operates silently, and is forgiving enough to accommodate a variety of different vehicles and configurations. Preferably, the majority of the components of the door clip assembly are manufactured from a reusable, temperature (e.g., 200 degree C.) tolerant metal or plastic material from which a coating can periodically be removed, with the exception of the replaceable tip, which is manufactured from a disposable plastic or rubber material that will not mark a coating finish, for example. Thus, the present disclosure provides a door clip assembly that utilizes both reusable and disposable components, thereby minimizing material waste and providing significant cost savings.

(14) Referring now specifically to FIG. 4, in one exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure provides a door clip assembly 100 that is used to hold the door, hood, or trunk gate 12 (FIGS. 1 and 3) of a vehicle partially or fully closed during a vehicle painting, manufacturing, or assembly process. This door clip assembly 100 includes a lower base member 102 that is movably coupled to an upper base member 104. The lower base member 102 is selectively coupled to the door frame 18 (FIGS. 1 and 3) of the vehicle, where the striker member 16 (FIG. 1) is later coupled. The lower base member 102 is coupled to the door frame 18 using a pair of expandable post members 106 that protrude from the bottom of the lower base member 102 and selectively engage the existing striker member holes manufactured into the door frame 18. Each of the expandable post members 106 includes a plurality of deflectable petal structures 108 that each terminate in a widened retention portion 110. These deflectable petal structures 108 and widened retention portions 110 serve to secure the lower base member 102 in and/or release the lower base member 102 from the existing striker member holes manufactured into the door frame 18. This functionality is described in greater detail herein below and, advantageously, requires no driver tool. The upper base member 104 is allowed to translate towards and away from the lower base member 102 within the confines of a plurality of upright members 112 coupled to the top of the lower base member 102, opposite the expandable post members 106. Each of the upright members 112 sits within a step or slot 114 manufactured into a side of the upper base member 104, thereby holding the upper base member 104 and the lower base member 102 in rigid lateral, transverse, and rotational alignment, including during translation. The top portion of each of the upright members 112 includes a hook structure 116 that limits the relative translation of the upper base member 104 and the lower base member 102. Each of the upright members 112, however, is compliant enough that the it may be manually deflected using an associated tab structure 118 to such a degree that the upper base member 104 can be completely removed from the lower base member 102, if the upright members 112 are manually deflected in pairs or all together, for example.

(15) A cylindrical bore structure 120 extends from the top of the upper base member 104. A stop member 122 extends concentrically/laterally from the wall of the cylindrical bore structure 120 and serves to contact the outside edge of the slot 14 (FIGS. 1 and 3) when the door, hood, or trunk gate 12 is closed, thereby limiting the degree of closure of the door, hood, or trunk gate 12. The stop member 122 includes a finger recess 124 on a bottom surface thereof, the finger recess 124 providing a grip by which a user can grasp the stop member 122 and the upper base member 104 and translate it with respect to or remove it from the lower base member 102 and upright members 112. An elongate release lever 126 including a retention hook structure 128 extends from the lower base member 102 adjacent to the upper base member 104 (which is preferably a bit smaller than the lower base member 102). The retention hook structure 128 of the elongate release lever 126 is disposed over the top of the stop member 122 when the upper base member 104 is fully translated into the upright members 112 and sits flush against the lower base member 102. The elongate release lever 126 and retention hook structure 128 are deflected slightly to the side to release the stop member 122, again to translate the upper base member 104 with respect to or remove it from the lower base member 102 and upright members 112.

(16) An extensible retention member 130 including a cylindrical lower base member 132 and a plurality of opposed upper ramp structures 134 is coupled to the cylindrical bore structure 120, with the cylindrical lower base member 132 disposed partially within the cylindrical bore structure 120. This portion of the door clip assembly 100 is described in greater detail herein below, as part of it forms the disposable tip of the door clip assembly 100. In operation, one of the upper ramp structures 134 initially contacts the inside edge of the slot 14 as the door, hood, or trunk gate 12 is closed, causing the cylindrical lower base member 132 of the extensible retention member 130 to retract into the cylindrical bore structure 120 until the inside edge of the slot 14 passes the upper ramp structure 134 of the extensible retention member 130. At this point, the cylindrical lower base member 132 of the extensible retention member 130 extends from the cylindrical bore structure 120 and the opposite one of the upper ramp structures 134 contacts the back of the inside edge of the slot 14, holding the door, hood, or trunk gate 12 securely closed during the painting or other manufacturing or assembly process. The extensible retention member 130 retracts and extends in a similar manner when the door, hood, or trunk gate 12 is opened. Thus, the extensible retention member 130 forms a pressure latch for holding the door, hood, or trunk gate 12 closed, unless an adequate opening force is applied (for example, 50 N or more). This inherent movement of the various components also allows a degree of flexibility in the “fit” of the door clip assembly 100 when used with different makes and models of vehicles, as well as different vehicles of the same make and model.

(17) Referring now specifically to FIG. 5, the lower base member 102 is again selectively coupled to the door frame 18 (FIGS. 1 and 3) via a pair of expandable post members 106 that protrude from the bottom of the lower base member 102 and selectively engage the existing striker member holes manufactured into the door frame 18. Each of the expandable post members 106 includes a plurality of deflectable petal structures 108 that each terminate in a widened retention portion 110. These deflectable petal structures 108 and widened retention portions 110 serve to secure the lower base member 102 in and/or release the lower base member 102 from the existing striker member holes manufactured into the door frame 18. The deflectable petal structures 108 and widened retention portions 110 define tapering internal voids and are biased apart into a securing configuration by a pair of cylindrical post structures 111 that protrude from the bottom of the upper base member 104 and into the tapering internal voids as the upper base member 104 is translated towards the lower base member 102. The deflectable petal structures 108 and widened retention portions 110 relax together into a releasing configuration when the pair of cylindrical post structures 111 that protrude from the bottom of the upper base member 104 and into the tapering internal voids are withdrawn from the tapering internal voids as the upper base member 104 is translated away from the lower base member 102. Again, the upper base member 104 is allowed to translate towards and away from the lower base member 102 within the confines of the plurality of upright members 112 coupled to the top of the lower base member 102.

(18) The cylindrical bore structure 120 extends from the top of the upper base member 104, and the stop member 122 extends concentrically/laterally from the wall of the cylindrical bore structure 120 and serves to contact the outside edge of the slot 14 (FIGS. 1 and 3) when the door, hood, or trunk gate 12 is closed, thereby limiting the degree of closure of the door, hood, or trunk gate 12. The elongate release lever 126 extends from the lower base member 102 adjacent to the upper base member 104 (which is preferably a bit smaller than the lower base member 102). The elongate release lever 126 is deflected slightly to the side to release the stop member 122, again to translate the upper base member 104 with respect to or remove it from the lower base member 102 and upright members 112.

(19) Again, the extensible retention member 130 including the cylindrical lower base member 132 and the plurality of opposed upper ramp structures 134 is coupled to the cylindrical bore structure 120, with the cylindrical lower base member 132 disposed partially within the cylindrical bore structure 120. As is seen in this exploded view, the cylindrical lower base member 132 is disposed within the bore structure 120 from the bottom of the bore structure 120. A lower lip structure 133 associated with the cylindrical lower base member 132 interacts with an upper lip structure 121 associated with the bore structure 120 to prevent the cylindrical lower base member 132 from passing through and out of the top of the bore structure 120 as the cylindrical lower base member 132 translates concentrically within the bore structure 120. The upper ramp structures 134 are removably coupled to the cylindrical lower base member 132 through the top of the bore structure 120 via a keyed attachment portion 135. This forms the removable tip of the door clip assembly 100. Again, in operation, one of the upper ramp structures 134 initially contacts the inside edge of the slot 14 as the door, hood, or trunk gate 12 is closed, causing the cylindrical lower base member 132 of the extensible retention member 130 to retract into the cylindrical bore structure 120 until the inside edge of the slot 14 passes the upper ramp structure 134 of the extensible retention member 130. At this point, the cylindrical lower base member 132 of the extensible retention member 130 extends from the cylindrical bore structure 120 and the opposite one of the upper ramp structures 134 contacts the back of the inside edge of the slot 14, holding the door, hood, or trunk gate 12 securely closed during the painting or other manufacturing or assembly process. The extensible retention member 130 retracts and extends in a similar manner when the door hood, or trunk gate 12 is opened. Thus, the extensible retention member 130 forms a pressure latch for holding the door, hood, or trunk gate closed, unless an adequate opening force is applied (for example, 50 N or more). This inherent movement of the various components also allows a degree of flexibility in the “fit” of the door clip assembly 100 when used with different makes and models of vehicles, as well as different vehicles of the same make and model.

(20) The retraction and extension of the extensible retention member 130 is dampened by a biasing spring 140 disposed between the cylindrical lower base member 132 and the lower base member 102 within the bore structure 120. The biasing spring 140 is seated on a seating structure 142 disposed on the top surface of the lower base member 102.

(21) Referring now specifically to FIG. 6, the extensible retention member 130 including the cylindrical lower base member 132 and the plurality of opposed upper ramp structures 134 is coupled to the cylindrical bore structure 120, with the cylindrical lower base member 132 disposed partially within the cylindrical bore structure 120. As is seen in this cross-sectional top view, the cylindrical lower base member 132 is disposed within the bore structure 120 from the bottom of the bore structure 120. The lower lip structure 133 associated with the cylindrical lower base member 132 interacts with the upper lip structure 121 associated with the bore structure 120 to prevent the cylindrical lower base member 132 from passing through and out of the top of the bore structure 120 as the cylindrical lower base member 132 translates concentrically within the bore structure 120. The upper ramp structures 134 are removably coupled to the cylindrical lower base member 132 through the top of the bore structure 120 via the keyed attachment portion 135. Again, in operation, one of the upper ramp structures 134 initially contacts the inside edge of the slot 14 as the door, hood, or trunk gate 12 is closed, causing the cylindrical lower base member 132 of the extensible retention member 130 to retract into the cylindrical bore structure 120 until the inside edge of the slot 14 passes the upper ramp structure 134 of the extensible retention member 130. At this point, the cylindrical lower base member 132 of the extensible retention member 130 extends from the cylindrical bore structure 120 and the opposite one of the upper ramp structures 134 contacts the back of the inside edge of the slot 14, holding the door, hood, or trunk gate 12 securely closed during the painting or other manufacturing or assembly process. The extensible retention member 130 retracts and extends in a similar manner when the door, hood, or trunk gate 12 is opened. Thus, the extensible retention member 130 forms a pressure latch for holding the door, hood, or trunk gate closed, unless an adequate opening force is applied (for example, 50 N or more). This inherent movement of the various components also allows a degree of flexibility in the “fit” of the door clip assembly 100 when used with different makes and models of vehicles, as well as different vehicles of the same make and model.

(22) Again, the retraction and extension of the extensible retention member 130 is dampened by the biasing spring 140 disposed between the cylindrical lower base member 132 and the lower base member 102 within the bore structure 120. The biasing spring 140 is seated on the seating structure 142 disposed on the top surface of the lower base member 102.

(23) FIG. 7 is a pair of perspective views of the vehicle door clip assembly 100 of FIGS. 4-6, illustrating the operation of the associated locking mechanism. FIG. 8 is a pair of cross-sectional side views of the vehicle door clip assembly 100 of FIGS. 4-7, again illustrating the operation of the associated locking mechanism. The lower base member 102 is again selectively coupled to the door frame 18 via the pair of expandable post members 106 (FIG. 8) that protrude from the bottom of the lower base member 102 and selectively engage the existing striker member holes manufactured into the door frame 18. Each of the expandable post members 106 includes the plurality of deflectable petal structures 108 (FIG. 8) that each terminate in the widened retention portion 110 (FIG. 8). These deflectable petal structures 108 and widened retention portions 110 serve to secure the lower base member 102 in and/or release the lower base member 102 from the existing striker member holes manufactured into the door frame 18. The deflectable petal structures 108 and widened retention portions 110 define tapering internal voids and are biased apart into a securing (i.e., closed) configuration by the pair of cylindrical post structures 111 (FIG. 8) that protrude from the bottom of the upper base member 104 and into the tapering internal voids as the upper base member 104 is translated towards the lower base member 102. The deflectable petal structures 108 and widened retention portions 110 relax together into a releasing (i.e., open) configuration when the pair of cylindrical post structures 111 that protrude from the bottom of the upper base member 104 and into the tapering internal voids are withdrawn from the tapering internal voids as the upper base member 104 is translated away from the lower base member 102. Again, the upper base member 104 is allowed to translate towards and away from the lower base member 102 within the confines of the plurality of upright members 112 coupled to the top of the lower base member 102. The elongate release lever 126 (FIG. 7) extends from the lower base member 102 adjacent to the upper base member 104 (which is preferably a bit smaller than the lower base member 102). The elongate release lever 126 is deflected slightly to the side to release the stop member 122 (FIG. 7), again to translate the upper base member 104 with respect to or remove it from the lower base member 102 and upright members 112.

(24) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the vehicle door clip assembly 100 of FIGS. 4-8, illustrating the associated removal process after a painting or other manufacturing or assembly process. The upper base member 104 is allowed to translate towards and away from the lower base member 102 within the confines of a plurality of upright members 112 coupled to the top of the lower base member 102. Each of the upright members 112 sits within the step or slot 114 manufactured into a side of the upper base member 104, thereby holding the upper base member 104 and the lower base member 102 in rigid lateral, transverse, and rotational alignment, including during translation. The top portion of each of the upright members 112 includes the hook structure 116 that limits the relative translation of the upper base member 104 and the lower base member 102. Each of the upright members 112, however, is compliant enough that the it may be manually deflected using an associated tab structure 118 to such a degree that the upper base member 104 can be completely removed from the lower base member 102, if the upright members 112 are manually deflected in pairs or all together, for example.

(25) FIG. 10 is a planar end view and a series of perspective views of one exemplary embodiment of the removable (i.e., disposable), plastic or rubber door stopper cap of the vehicle door clip assembly of FIGS. 4-9. The upper ramp structures 134 are removably coupled to the cylindrical lower base member 132 through the top of the bore structure 120 via the keyed attachment portion 135. The keyed attachment portion 135 includes a recess 136 that is adapted to engage a corresponding ridge 138 manufactured into the inside surface of the cylindrical lower base member 132, which acts as a keyed receptacle for the keyed attachment. The keyed attachment portion 135 also includes a series of rib structures 140 disposed around its circumference for holding the keyed attachment portion 135 snugly in the cylindrical lower base member 132 via a “press fit.” The door stopper cap is removed from the cylindrical lower base member 132 by simply grasping it and pulling.

(26) Although the present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples can perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following non-limiting claims for all purposes.