IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,894,517
Granted Patent B2
US 10,894,517 · App. 16/402,750 · Granted Jan 19, 2021

Doghouse retainer, door assembly incorporating that doghouse retainer and method of adjusting a gap between a first component and a second component

Inventors: Juergen Koehler (Cologne, DE); Javier Polo (Cologne, DE); Linh Ngoc Doan (Belleville, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60R13/0206B60J5/0463B60J5/0468B60R13/0243F16B5/0096
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,894,517
App. No.
16/402,750
Granted
Jan 19, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A doghouse retainer includes a body having an end wall incorporating a clip receiver and a sidewall having an ultrasonic heating concentration feature. A door assembly is provided including a door inner and a door trim panel incorporating such a doghouse retainer. A method of adjusting a gap between two components is also provided.

Claims (16)

1. A doghouse retainer, comprising:

a body including an end wall having a clip receiver and a sidewall having an end for molding to a panel and having an ultrasonic heating concentration feature, wherein the sidewall includes an opposing end with a collar projecting beyond the end wall, and wherein the sidewall includes at least three faces, wherein the ultrasonic heating concentration feature extends across the at least three faces.

2. The doghouse retainer of claim 1 , wherein said sidewall has a height H 1 prior to ultrasonic heating and a height H 2 following ultrasonic heating and converting of said ultrasonic heating concentration feature to a weld bond where H 1 >H 2 .

3. The doghouse retainer of claim 1 , wherein said sidewall has a first thickness T 1 and said ultrasonic heating concentration feature has a second thickness T 2 where T 1 >T 2 .

4. The doghouse retainer of claim 1 , wherein said ultrasonic heating concentration feature is a notch in said sidewall.

5. The doghouse retainer of claim 1 , wherein said ultrasonic heating concentration feature is a step in said sidewall.

6. The doghouse retainer of claim 1 , wherein said sidewall includes four faces.

7. The doghouse retainer of claim 6 , wherein said ultrasonic heating concentration feature extends across said four faces.

8. The doghouse retainer of claim 7 , wherein said sidewall has a first thickness T 1 and said ultrasonic heating concentration feature has a second thickness T 2 where T 1 >T 2 .

9. The doghouse retainer of claim 7 , wherein said ultrasonic heating concentration feature is a notch in said sidewall.

10. The doghouse retainer of claim 7 , wherein said ultrasonic heating concentration feature is a step in said sidewall.

11. A door assembly, comprising:

a door inner; and

a door trim panel including a doghouse retainer having a body including an end wall with a clip receiver and a sidewall having an end for molding to a panel and having an ultrasonic heating concentration feature, wherein the sidewall includes an opposing end with a collar projecting beyond the end wall, and wherein the sidewall includes at least three faces, wherein the ultrasonic heating concentration feature extends across the at least three faces.

12. The door assembly of claim 11 , wherein said sidewall has a height H 1 prior to ultrasonic heating and a height H 2 following ultrasonic heating and converting of said ultrasonic heating concentration feature to a weld bond where H 1 >H 2 .

13. The door assembly of claim 11 , wherein said sidewall has a first thickness T 1 and said ultrasonic heating concentration feature has a second thickness T 2 where T 1 >T 2 .

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2019
From: KOEHLER, JUERGEN; DOAN, LINH NGOC
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 049074/0805 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2019
From: POLO, JAVIER
To: FORD-WERKE GMBH
Reel/Frame 049075/0105 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2019
From: FORD-WERKE GMBH
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 049075/0254 →
Continuity (1)
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Cited By (1)
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