Seat trim retention system with asymmetrical retention force

1. A vehicle comprising:

a first seating assembly including a seat, a seatback, and a midline defining an outboard direction directed away from the midline, and an inboard direction directed toward the midline; and

the seatback comprising a trim carrier interconnected with a closeout panel through a snap-fit connection;

wherein, the snap-fit connection resists disconnection of the trim carrier from the closeout panel when a force is applied to the trim carrier from the outboard direction of the snap-fit connection to a greater degree than when a force is applied to the trim carrier from the inboard direction of the snap-fit connection.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 ,

the closeout panel including a forward facing surface, a rearward facing surface on the opposite side of the closeout panel as the forward facing surface, and a first snap-fit component extending from the forward facing surface;

wherein, the trim carrier receives the first snap-fit component to form the snap-fit connection.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 ,

the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel including a planar surface that faces generally rearward; and

the trim carrier including a first snap-fit connection component that includes a planar retaining surface and a second snap-fit connection component that includes an angled retaining surface;

wherein, the snap-fit connection includes the planar retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component abutting the planar surface of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel; and

wherein, the snap-fit connection further includes the angled retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component abutting the planar surface of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 ,

the trim carrier further including a channel;

the planar retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component and angled retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component are disposed around the channel;

the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel including an extension portion extending from the forward facing surface and a contact portion extending from the extension portion;

wherein, the planar surface of the first snap-fit component is the rearward side of the contact portion; and

wherein, the contact portion of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel is disposed within the channel of the trim carrier.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 ,

wherein, the first snap-fit connection component and the second snap-fit connection component of the trim carrier extend within the channel toward the extension portion of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel.

6. The vehicle of claim 4 ,

a centerline dividing the channel of the trim carrier into two sections, one section disposed toward the outboard direction and the other section disposed toward the inboard direction;

wherein, the planar retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component and the angled retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component each include a center;

wherein, the center of the retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component extends into the section of the channel disposed toward the outboard direction; and

wherein, the retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component extends into the other section of the channel disposed toward the inboard direction.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a grommet attached to the trim carrier that provides the snap-fit connection between the trim carrier and the closeout panel.

8. A seating assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a trim carrier including a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface on the opposite side of the trim carrier as the forward facing surface;

a closeout panel including a forward facing surface facing the rearward facing surface of the trim carrier and a first snap-fit component extending from the forward facing surface that includes a planar surface; and

a grommet interconnected with the trim carrier and the closeout panel;

wherein, grommet resists separating from the closeout panel when a force is applied to the grommet from a first direction to a greater degree than the grommet resists separating from the closeout panel when a force is applied to the grommet from a second direction, opposite the first direction.

9. The seating assembly of claim 8 ,

the grommet further comprising:

a connection section, including a first snap-fit connection component and a second snap-fit connection component, the first snap-fit connection component including a retaining surface; and

a first section extending orthogonally from the connection section, the first section having a generally planar forward facing surface;

wherein, the planar surface of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel faces generally rearward; and

wherein, the retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component of the grommet faces generally forward.

10. The seating assembly of claim 9 ,

wherein, the connection section of the grommet includes an outside cylindrical surface, an inside cylindrical surface to the inside of the outside cylindrical surface, and a channel to the interior of the inside cylindrical surface; and

wherein, the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel extends into the channel of the connection section of the grommet.

11. The seating assembly of claim 10 ,

the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel including an extension portion extending from the forward facing surface and a contact portion extending from the extension portion;

wherein, the planar surface of the first snap-fit component is a rearward side of the contact portion.

12. The seating assembly of claim 11 ,

wherein, the first snap-fit connection component and the second snap-fit connection component of the grommet extend inward relative to the inside cylindrical surface of the connection section and toward the extension portion of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel.

13. The seating assembly of claim 10 ,

the grommet further comprising:

a centerline dividing the channel into two sections;

a third snap-fit connection component disposed at the connection section, the third snap-fit connection component including a retaining surface that abuts the planar surface of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel and extends inward relative to the inside cylindrical surface of the connection section and toward the extension portion of the first snap-fit component of the closeout panel;

wherein, the retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component, the retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component, and the retaining surface of the third snap-fit connection component each include a center;

wherein, the center of the retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component extends into one section of the channel; and

wherein, the center of the retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component and the center of the retaining surface of the third snap-fit connection component extend into the other section of the channel.

14. The seating assembly of claim 8 ,

the grommet further including a poke-yoke boss;

the trim carrier further includes a poke-yoke boss receiver; and

the poke-yoke boss receiver has received the poke-yoke boss of the grommet.

15. A grommet to interconnect a trim carrier and a closeout panel in a seating assembly in a vehicle comprising:

a first snap-fit connection component including a retaining surface configured to face and abut a planar surface of a snap-fit component of the closeout panel; and

a second snap-fit connection component including a retaining surface configured to abut a surface of the snap-fit component or another snap-fit component of the closeout panel;

wherein, the first snap-fit connection component resists separating from the closeout panel when a force is applied to the grommet from a first direction to a greater degree than the second snap-fit connection component resists separating from the closeout panel when a force is applied to the grommet from a second direction, opposite the first direction.

16. The grommet of claim 15 further comprising:

a connection section, including the first snap-fit connection component and the second snap-fit connection component; and

a first section extending orthogonally from the connection section, the first section having a planar forward facing surface.

17. The grommet of claim 16 ,

wherein, the connection section includes an outside cylindrical surface, an inside cylindrical surface to the inside of the outside cylindrical surface, and a channel to the interior of the inside cylindrical surface;

wherein, the first section extends orthogonally outward from the inside cylindrical surface of the connection section; and

wherein, the first snap-fit connection component and the second snap-fit connection component extend inward relative to the inside cylindrical surface of the connection section.

18. The grommet of claim 16 ,

wherein, the retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component is parallel with, and faces the same direction as, the planar forward facing surface of the first section.

19. The grommet of claim 17 further comprising:

a centerline dividing the channel into two sections;

a third snap-fit connection component disposed at the connection section, the third snap-fit connection component including a retaining surface configured to abut a surface of the snap-fit component or another snap-fit component of the closeout panel;

wherein, the third snap-fit connection component extends inward relative to the inside cylindrical surface of the connection section;

wherein, the retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component, the retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component, and the retaining surface of the third snap-fit connection component each include a center; and

wherein, the center of the retaining surface of the first snap-fit connection component extends into one section of the channel; and

wherein, the center of the retaining surface of the second snap-fit connection component and the center of the retaining surface of the third snap-fit connection component extend into the other section of the channel.

20. The grommet of claim 16 ,

wherein, the first section further includes an internally facing surface on the other side of the first section as the planar forward facing surface and a poke-yoke boss extending from the internally facing surface;

wherein, the connection section includes a cylindrical lip; and

wherein, the poke-yoke boss and the cylindrical lip of the connection section are configured to be received by trim carrier.