US 12,128,740 B2
Vehicle accessory apparatus with incomplete assembly indicator
Changize Sadr, Toronto (CA)
Assigned to MARKDOM INTERNATIONAL INC., Toronto (CA)
Filed by MARKDOM INTERNATIONAL INC., Toronto (CA)
Filed on Dec. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/079,359.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/288,410, filed on Dec. 10, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0182543 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. B60H 1/34 (2006.01); F16B 5/06 (2006.01)
CPC B60H 1/34 (2013.01) [F16B 5/0664 (2013.01); B60H 2001/3492 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle accessory apparatus for mounting in a panel aperture of a vehicle panel, the apparatus comprising:
a) a first part including:
i) an injection molded frame,
ii) one or more mounting clips integrally molded with the frame along an outer periphery of the frame, each mounting clip biased to an advanced position, and resiliently movable inwardly to a retracted position upon partial insertion of the first part into the panel aperture and back outwardly toward the advanced position upon full insertion of the first part into the panel aperture for retaining the first part in the panel aperture;
iii) one or more passageways in the frame, each passageway disposed inwardly of a respective clip, and each clip clear of a respective passageway when in the advanced position and occluding the respective passageway when in the retracted position; and
b) at least one second part mountable to the first part when the first part is fully inserted into the panel aperture, each second part including one or more protrusions directed toward the frame, each protrusion alignable with a respective passageway for insertion therein when the respective clip is in the advanced position to mount the second part to the first part, and each protrusion inhibiting mounting of the second part to the first part through interference with the clip when the clip is in the retracted position, thereby indicating incomplete insertion of the first part into the panel aperture.