US 11,833,896 B2
Retention mechanisms for service access doors
Sathya Shankar Kuttumukkula Chandrasekaran, Novi, MI (US); Robert J. Hazlewood, Plymouth, MI (US); Vikas Bhatia, South Lyon, MI (US); John J. Salvia, III, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Patrick J. Edgar, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Lynne Susan Dykins, Brighton, MI (US)
Assigned to Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/231,203.
Prior Publication US 2022/0332179 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. B60K 1/04 (2019.01); H01M 50/20 (2021.01)
CPC B60K 1/04 (2013.01) [H01M 50/20 (2021.01); B60K 2001/0433 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A retention mechanism for a removable access door of a vehicle, the retention mechanism comprising:
a retention tab extending from a side of the access door adjacent an edge of the access door, the retention tab including a resiliently deflectable stem and at least two engagement heads projecting from the stem, the retention tab extending to a first distance from a reference surface of the access door; and
an overstress prevention structure extending from the side of the access door so as to enable the retention tab to contact the overstress prevention structure when the stem is deflected a predetermined amount during mounting of the access door to a panel of the vehicle, the overstress prevention structure extending to a second distance from the reference surface, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.