Seat back trim retainer
A vehicle seat trim retainer that can be installed on a vehicle seat. The seat trim retainer includes a base retainer with a base retainer foundation and an inner flange. The base retainer foundation includes a stabilizing feature at one end and a base tip at an opposing end. The inner flange includes a C-shaped channel and a channel extender, with the channel extender including a channel flange.
1. A vehicle seat trim retainer for a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat trim retainer comprising:
a base retainer with a base retainer foundation; and
an inner flange,
said base retainer comprising a stabilizing feature at a first end and a base tip at a second end;
said inner flange comprising a C-shaped channel and a channel extender; and
said channel extender comprising a channel flange,
wherein the base retainer further comprises a base upper arm that extends from the stabilizing feature, and
wherein a space between the base upper arm and said C-shaped channel defines a panel-receiving space.
2. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 1 , wherein the base retainer further comprises a base lower arm that extends from the base tip.
3. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 2 , wherein the base tip comprises a base tip mating surface.
4. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 1 , wherein the base retainer further comprises a base finger.
5. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 4 , wherein the base finger has greater thickness at an end nearest the C-shaped channel than at an end nearest the base tip.
6. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 1 , wherein said panel-receiving space is configured to retain a seat back panel when the seat trim retainer is installed on said vehicle seat.
7. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 1 , wherein a space between said C-shaped channel and said channel flange defines a flange-retaining space.
8. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 7 , wherein said flange-retaining space is configured to receive a lip or a flange of a seat back panel when said seat trim retainer is installed on the vehicle seat.
9. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 1 , wherein said inner flange has a different length than the base retainer foundation.
10. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 9 , wherein said inner flange is shorter than the base retainer foundation.
11. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 1 , wherein the base retainer and inner flange are made as a single extrusion.
12. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 1 , further comprising a base lower arm joined with the base upper arm and the C-shaped channel at the base retainer foundation.
13. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 1 , wherein said seat trim retainer is configured to be covered on a seat back of the vehicle seat or enclosed within the seat back when installed on the vehicle seat.
14. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing feature is a stabilizing bead.
15. A vehicle seat trim retainer for a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat trim retainer comprising:
a base retainer with a base retainer foundation; and
an inner flange,
said base retainer comprising a stabilizing feature at a first end and a base tip at a second end;
said inner flange comprising a C-shaped channel and a channel extender; and
said channel extender comprising a channel flange,
wherein the base retainer further comprises a base finger, and
wherein the base finger has greater thickness at an end nearest the C-shaped channel than at an end nearest the base tip.
16. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 15 , further comprising a base lower arm joined with a base upper arm and the C-shaped channel at the base retainer foundation.
17. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 16 , wherein a space between the base upper arm and said C-shaped channel defines a panel-receiving space.
18. A vehicle seat trim retainer for a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat trim retainer comprising:
a base retainer with a base retainer foundation; and
an inner flange,
said base retainer comprising a stabilizing feature at a first end and a base tip at a second end;
said inner flange comprising a C-shaped channel and a channel extender; and
said channel extender comprising a channel flange,
the trim retainer further comprising a base lower arm joined with a base upper arm and the C-shaped channel at the base retainer foundation.
19. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 18 , wherein the base upper arm extends from the stabilizing feature.
20. The vehicle seat trim retainer of claim 18 , wherein the base lower arm extends from the base tip.