Abstract: An automotive door panel fastener assembly is provided including a substrate and a doghouse structure molded thereon. The doghouse structure includes a doghouse floor, a doghouse ceiling, a first doghouse sidewall having a first forward end and a first rearward end, a second doghouse sidewall having a second forward end and a second rearward end, a doghouse endwall, and a doghouse insertion opening. A pin chamber is formed through the doghouse ceiling. An entrance slot is formed in the doghouse ceiling to provide a path from the doghouse insertion opening to the pin chamber. The entrance slot has a first slot side and a second slot side. A first flexible arm has a first fixed end and a first free end. The first flexible arm is flexible in response to an inward force and is rigid in response to an outward force.

Abstract: A cargo management system for a vehicle includes a substantially rigid load floor panel pivotally connected along a first edge to a base to provide a load floor substantially flush with a vehicle floor when stowed, and pivotally connected along an opposite edge to a rigid grid that may be deployed in a first position above and generally parallel to the base, and a second position generally transverse to the base to extend above any vehicle seats and generally separate a cargo area from a passenger area. The cargo management system may also include a secondary door, panel, or other device to cover a storage well or compartment of the base and to support additional cargo when the load floor panel is deployed.

Abstract: A connecting member for securing an interior trim assembly to a support of an automobile. The connecting member includes a connector body having a first end adapted to couple to the trim assembly and a second end adapted to couple to the vehicle support, and a sealing gasket integrally molded onto the connector body. Preferably, the connector body has a first hardness and the sealing gasket has a second hardness relatively lower than the first hardness to form a tight seal between the connecting member and the vehicle support. A two-shot molding process may be used to form the connecting member with the connector body being formed in the first shot of the molding process and the sealing gasket being formed in the second shot of the molding process.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an improved multipurpose console, such as a center floor console, that integrates a number of desirable features into a removable and easily portable structure to provide greater comfort and convenience to vehicle occupants. In one embodiment, the multipurpose console includes a housing having a latching mechanism fixedly configured to releasably engage a mounting member of the vehicle and an anchor point associated with the housing so that a transport device may be removably secured thereto to transport the removable console to any desired location. The housing may further be provided with laptop anchor points adapted to securely receive a laptop computer and/or power and sound contacts respectively adapted to cooperate with power and sound sources of the vehicle to provide power and sound to the console.

Abstract: An instrument-panel mounting system mounts an instrument panel to the body of an automotive vehicle. The mounting system includes an instrument panel having at least one base panel with at least one aperture defined through the base panel and adapted to be aligned with a corresponding aperture on the vehicle body. A threaded fastener is received in the aligned apertures defined through the base panel and vehicle body and adapted to generate a clamping force to mount the instrument panel to the vehicle body. A clamping sheet is disposed between the base panel and vehicle body. The clamping sheet includes an aperture defined through the clamping sheet and aligned with the aligned apertures defined through the base panel and vehicle body. The clamping sheet also includes a strut defined about the periphery of the aperture defined through the clamping sheet and extending in the general direction of the clamping force generated by the fastener.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method of attaching a housing unit, particularly an instrument cluster housing, to an IP retainer without the necessity of attaching the bottom edge of said housing with fasteners such as screws and the incumbent requirement for fastener driver and driver operator access. This achieved by providing at least one snap-in attachment member on the bottom edge of the housing. The attachment member terminating in a mounting pin mounted in corresponding pin mounts provided in the receiving IP retainer.