1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to clip designs for use in securing interior and exterior vehicle moldings, and particularly plasticized moldings, to a vehicle frame.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Clip assemblies are well known in the art for retaining plasticized molding, trim and impact strips to a vehicle frame. As the moldings and trim are typically constructed of very different polymerized or synthetic materials as compared to the steel vehicle frame, it is important that an effective retaining means be employed as adhesives and the like are typically ineffective for holding to the trim and moldings to the frame.
Referring to FIG. 6, an example of a prior art fastener clip is illustrated at 2 and includes a body with flattened base plates 4 and 6, upwardly extending sides 8 and 10 and a curved and interconnecting top edge 12. The upwardly extending sides 8 and 10 each are machined and fabricated so that a center is open and first and second spring biased members, 14 and 16 respectively, extend in generally downwardly and multiple reverse bended or undulated fashion from the top edge 12 to the vicinity of the base plates 4 and 6. Additional pairs of tangs 18 and 20 extend in upwardly and generally inwardly fashion from inner opposing surfaces of the base plates 4 and 6 and terminate in pointed ends.
The purpose of the pairs of tangs is to fixedly secure the fastener clip in upwardly extending fashion to a projecting ridge formed along a reverse side of such items as plastic moldings and trim pieces. The spring biased members serve to initially inwardly deflect upon insertion of the clip through an aperture in the vehicle frame and subsequently outwardly deflect to hold the clip and attached trim piece in place.
While effective to a limited degree in securing a trim piece to a vehicle frame, the configuration of the prior art clip of FIG. 6 suffers from the shortcoming of tending to jiggle or rock within both its mount to the polymerized trim piece and the metal frame, as well as being able to only exert a limited degree of holding force, typically 20 lbs per square inch. Accordingly, it is commonplace for the clip and trim piece to become disengaged from its securing position to the vehicle frame.
Additional examples of molding clips are shown in such prior art references as U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,338, issued to Osterland et al., No. 4,103,400, issued to Munse, No. 5,263,233, issued to Kim et al., and No. 5,367,751, issued to DeWitt. In each case, the reference illustrated includes a pair of first and second spring-biased members which are reverse bent for biasingly engaging a trim piece or molding to a typically metallic frame. A further unique example of a fastener clip assembly is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,124, issued to Wisniewski, and which shows four interlocking and upwardly extending interengaging members for securing an interior vehicle panel to a metal bracket.