Vehicle component with a clip arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle component (100, figure 1) such as a trim member having a clip arrangement 200 for attaching the component to a fixed body portion (400, figure 3) such as part of or

Description

19 0654 TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a vehicle component having a clip arrangement for attaching the vehicle 5 component to a fixed body portion of the vehicle. Aspects of the invention relate to a vehicle component, to a vehicle subassembly, and to a vehicle. BACKGROUND It is known to provide vehicle components with clip arrangements by which the vehicle component can be 10 attached to a fixed body portion of a vehicle, such as a vehicle body panel, vehicle body structure, or further vehicle component, such as a lamp assembly. Such clip arrangements generally comprise a clip with at least one resilient projection by which the clip arrangement is retained against the fixed body portion. It is known to provide one or more locator pins which are spaced apart from the clip arrangement to facilitate correct positioning of the vehicle component during attachment to the fixed body portion. However, such arrangements 15 can be difficult to attach, and the locator pin can be damaged if misaligned during assembly. It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a vehicle component, a vehicle subassembly, and a vehicle as claimed in the appended claims. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle component for a vehicle, the vehicle component having a clip arrangement for attaching the vehicle component to a fixed body portion of the vehicle, 25 the clip arrangement comprising: a retaining clip portion extending from a rear surface of the vehicle component; and at least one locator pin extending from the rear surface and having a guide wall which extends beyond the retaining clip portion to guide the retaining clip portion into a clip aperture in the fixed body portion, wherein the retaining clip portion comprises: a clip support structure having a clip support wall and at least one transverse end wall extending across at least one end of the clip support wall; and a clip structure on the clip 30 support wall and having at least one resilient projection for engaging with an edge of the clip aperture to retain the clip arrangement to the fixed body portion, and wherein the at least one transverse end wall is formed by the at least one locator pin. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle component for a vehicle, the vehicle 35 component having a clip arrangement for attaching the vehicle component to a fixed body portion of the vehicle, the clip arrangement extending from a rear surface of the vehicle component and comprising: a retaining clip portion; and at least one locator pin having a guide wall which extends beyond the retaining clip portion to guide the retaining clip portion into a clip aperture in the fixed body portion, wherein the retaining clip portion comprises: a clip support structure having a clip support wall and transverse end walls extending across both 40 ends of the clip support wall; and a U-shaped clip mounted over the clip support wall and having at least one 19 0654 resilient projection for engaging with an edge of the clip aperture to retain the clip arrangement to the fixed body portion, and wherein at least one of the transverse end walls is formed by the at least one locator pin. With this arrangement, the retaining clip portion and the locator pin are integrally formed and share a common 5 boundary. This enables the locator pin to be positioned directly adjacent to the clip portion to provide a more compact locating and attaching arrangement. Additionally, the retaining clip portion can advantageously double as a reinforcing structure for the locator pin to reduce the risk of deformation or damage to the locator pin during assembly of the vehicle component to the vehicle. 10 The fixed body portion may be any component of the vehicle which is fixed in relation to the vehicle body. For example, the fixed body portion may be a vehicle body panel, a vehicle component assembly such as a lamp assembly, and / or a region of the vehicle body structure such as part of the body-in-white. As used herein, the terms “front” and “rear” are used independently of the coordinate system of the vehicle 15 with which the vehicle component will be used. Instead, the term “rear surface” simply refers to the side of the vehicle component which faces towards the fixed body portion. This is distinct from the opposite “front surface” or “A-surface” which faces away from the fixed body portion, and which may be visible during vehicle use. Optionally, at least one of the transverse end walls is formed by the guide wall of the at least one locator pin. With this arrangement, the guide wall can perform the dual functions of guiding the clip arrangement into the correct position and strengthening the clip support structure. In such embodiments, the guide wall is arranged transverse to the clip support wall. In other embodiments, the guide wall may be orientated at a different angle to the clip support wall, for example parallel to the clip support wall, and the at least one locator pin may 25 comprise a reinforcement wall which extends at an angle to the guide wall and defines the transverse end wall. Optionally, the at least one locator pin comprises a first locator pin at a first end of the clip support wall and a second locator pin at a second end of the clip support wall. 30 With this arrangement, the two locator pins can act to constrain the position of the trim component relative to the fixed body portion in two axes perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the clip arrangement. This can further help to prevent inadvertent misalignment or displacement of the vehicle component after installation. Optionally, the first and second locator pins each define one of the transverse end walls of the clip support 35 structure. In this manner, the clip support structure can be reinforced at both ends by the first and second locator pins without the need for an additional reinforcement structure. Optionally, the at least one locator pin comprises a reinforcement wall which extends from the guide wall at a perpendicular angle such that the at least one locator pin has a T-shape transverse cross-sectional shape. 40 This can further strengthen the locator pin and further reduce the risk of deformation. In other embodiments, the reinforcement wall may extend from the guide wall at an oblique angle. 19 0654 Optionally, the at least one locator pin comprises a spacer surface projecting from a wall of the at least one locator pin towards the clip support wall to define an end position of the clip along the clip support wall which 5 is spaced from the locator pin. With this arrangement, the spacer surface can avoid interference between the clip and the locator pin during installation of the vehicle component. It can also ensure correct positioning of the clip along the clip support wall and avoid the clip from overhanging the edge of the clip aperture. This can increase the clipping force 10 provided by the clip arrangement and can help to spread the clipping force along a wider area. In embodiments in which the guide wall of the locator pin defines the transverse end wall, the spacer surface projects from the guide wall to define an end position of the clip along the clip support wall which is spaced from the guide wall. 15 The clip may be held on the clip support wall in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, the clip support wall comprises an aperture and the clip comprises at least one locking projection received in the aperture to retain the clip on the clip support wall. The vehicle component may be any suitable type of vehicle component. The vehicle component may be a trim component for a vehicle. The clip arrangement may extend directly from the rear surface of the vehicle component. In some embodiments, the vehicle component may comprise a hollow standoff structure extending from the rear 25 surface and defining a platform which is spaced from the rear surface and from which the clip arrangement extends. This can be particularly beneficial where the vehicle component is an injection moulded component which is visible during normal use, since it not only forms a platform for the clip arrangement but can also minimise the appearance of sink marks on the visible surface, or “A-surface”, of the vehicle component. 30 According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle subassembly comprising the vehicle component of the above aspect, and a fixed body portion to which the vehicle component is mounted, wherein the fixed body portion comprises a clip aperture in which the at least one locator pin and the retaining clip portion are both received, and which is bounded on at least one side by a clip bearing surface against which the at least one resilient projection is retained. 35 Optionally, the clip bearing surface extends along the full length of the clip support wall. This can increase the contact area between the clip and the clip bearing surface to increase the retention force. 40 Optionally, the clip bearing surface comprises at least one reinforcing rib located part way along the length of the clip bearing surface. This can increase the rigidity of the clip bearing surface, thereby increasing the 19 0654 retention force provided by the clip. It can further facilitate correct attachment of the vehicle component by increasing the positive “clipping” feedback provided to the installer when the clip arrangement is engaged. Optionally, the at least one reinforcing rib extends between the clip bearing surface and a support wall spaced 5 transversely from the clip aperture. This can further increase the rigidity of the clip bearing surface and the advantages provided by the at least one reinforcing rib. Optionally, the guide wall and the clip aperture are sized such that the guide wall abuts against the side edges of the clip aperture when the clip arrangement is engaged to restrict transverse movement of the clip 10 arrangement relative to the fixed body portion. Optionally, the clip aperture has a length which corresponds to the total length of the clip arrangement such that the clip arrangement abuts against the end edges of the clip aperture when the clip arrangement is engaged to restrict lengthwise movement of the clip arrangement relative to the fixed body portion. 15 As used herein, the term “lengthwise” refers to the direction in which the clip support wall extends and the term “length” refers to a maximum dimension in the lengthwise direction. Optionally, the fixed body portion is a lamp assembly. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising the vehicle component and / or the vehicle subassembly of any of the above aspects. Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples 25 and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in anyway and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and / or 30 incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 35 Figure 1 shows a rearview of a vehicle component in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken through line ll-ll in Figure 1, showing a clip arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows an isometric top view of a first part of a vehicle subassembly in accordance with the invention, showing the clip arrangement of Figure 2 received in a fixed body portion of the vehicle subassembly; 40 Figure 4 shows a rear view of the first part of the vehicle subassembly of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view taken through line V-V in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken through line Vl-vl in Figure 4; Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view taken through line VII-VII in Figure 1, showing a clip arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 shows an isometric top view of a second part of a vehicle subassembly in accordance with the invention, showing the clip arrangement of Figure 7 received in a fixed body portion of the vehicle subassembly; Figure 9 shows a rearview of the second part of the vehicle subassembly of Figure 8; Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view taken through line X-X in Figure 9; Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view taken through line XI-XI in Figure 9; Figure 12 shows an isometric top view of a part of a vehicle subassembly in accordance with the invention, showing a clip arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 13 shows a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 14 shows a schematic illustration of part of the vehicle of Figure 13, the vehicle comprising a vehicle body structure to which the vehicle component of Figure 1 is mounted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A vehicle component 100 in accordance with the present invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 14. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the component 100 is installed in a vehicle 10. With reference to Figure 1, there is illustrated a vehicle component 100 comprising one or more clip arrangements for attaching the vehicle component 100 to a fixed body portion of a vehicle. The one or more clip arrangements extend from a rear surface 102 of the vehicle component 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the vehicle component 100 comprises a clip arrangement 200 according to an embodiment, a clip arrangement 300 according to an embodiment, and a plurality of conventional clips 50 for attaching the vehicle component 100 to a fixed body portion of a vehicle. However, it will be understood that the vehicle component 100 may comprise only a single clip arrangement, or any suitable number of clip arrangements by which the vehicle component may be attached to the vehicle. For example, the vehicle component may comprise a single clip arrangement 200 or 300 on its own, or in a combination with one or more conventional clips and / or fasteners. The vehicle component 100 may be any suitable type of vehicle component. For example, the vehicle component 100 may be a trim component for a vehicle. With reference to Figure 2, the clip arrangement 200 according to an embodiment is illustrated. The clip arrangement 200 comprises a retaining clip portion 210 and at least one locator pin 250. The at least one locator pin 250 has a guide wall 260 which extends beyond the retaining clip portion to guide the retaining clip portion into a clip aperture in a fixed body portion of the vehicle. The retaining clip portion 210 comprises a clip support structure having a clip support wall 212 and transverse end walls 214 and 216 extending across both ends of the clip support wall 214. The retaining clip portion 210 further comprises a clip 220 on the clip support wall and having at least one resilient projection 222 for engaging with an edge of the clip aperture to retain the clip arrangement 200 to the fixed body portion. At least one of the transverse end walls 214 and 216 is formed by the at least one locator pin 250. In the illustrated embodiment, the at least one locator pin 250 is provided in the form of a single locator pin 250 at a 5 19 0654 first end of the clip support wall. In this manner, only one transverse end wall 214 is formed by the at least one locator pin 250. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide wall 260 is arranged transverse to the clip support wall 212 so that the transverse end wall 214 at the first end of the clip support wall 212 is formed by the guide wall 260 of the locator pin 250. With this arrangement, the guide wall 260 can perform the dual functions of 5 guiding the clip arrangement 200 into the correct position in relation to the fixed body portion and strengthening the clip support structure. It will be understood that, in other embodiments, the guide wall 260 may be orientated at a different angle to the clip support wall 212, for example parallel to the clip support wall 212, and the locator pin 250 may comprise a further wall, such as a reinforcement wall which extends at an angle to the guide wall 260 and defines the transverse end wall 214. 10 The clip arrangement 200 may extend directly from the rear surface 102 of the vehicle component. In the illustrated embodiment, the clip arrangement 200 comprises a hollow standoff 280 structure extending from the rear surface 102 and defining a platform 282 which is spaced from the rear surface 102 and from which the clip arrangement 200 extends. This can be particularly beneficial where the vehicle component is an 15 injection moulded component which is visible during normal use, since the hollow standoff structure 280 not only forms a platform for the clip arrangement but can also minimise the appearance of sink marks on the visible surface, or “A-surface”, of the vehicle component, i.e. the front surface opposite the rear surface. Features of the clip arrangement 200 are discussed below in relation to Figures 3 to 5 in which a first part of a vehicle subassembly 300 in accordance with the invention is shown. The vehicle subassembly 300 comprises the vehicle component 100 of Figure 1 and a fixed body portion 400 to which the vehicle component 100 is mounted. The fixed body portion 400 comprises a clip aperture 420 in which the at least one locator pin and the retaining clip portion of the clip arrangement 200 are both received. 25 The clip aperture 420 is bounded on at least one side by a clip bearing surface 422 against which the at least one resilient projection 222 is retained. In this manner, the vehicle component 100 is attached to the fixed body portion 400 by the clip arrangement 200. The fixed body portion 400 may be or comprise any part of the vehicle which is fixed in relation to the vehicle body. For example, the fixed body portion 400 may be part of, or comprise, a lamp assembly. 30 Optionally, the clip 220 is provided in the form of a U-shaped clip 220 mounted over the clip support wall 212. The clip 220 may be held on the clip support wall 212 in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, the clip support wall 212 comprises an aperture or recess 213 and the clip 220 comprises at least one locking projection 224 received in the aperture 213 to retain the clip on the clip support wall, as best seen in Figure 6. 35 The locator pin 250 includes a reinforcement wall 270 which extends from the guide wall at a perpendicular angle such that the at least one locator pin has a T-shape transverse cross-sectional shape, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4. The locator pin 250 also comprises a spacer surface 272 projecting from the guide wall 260 of the locator pin 250 towards the clip support wall 212 to define an end position of the clip 220 along the clip 40 support wall 212 which is spaced from the locator pin 250. With this arrangement, the spacer surface 272 can limit or avoid interference between the clip 222 and the locator pin 250 during installation of the vehicle 19 0654 component. It can also ensure correct positioning of the clip 222 along the clip support wall 212 and avoid the clip 222 from overhanging the edge of the clip bearing surface 422. This can increase the clipping force provided by the clip arrangement 200 and can help to spread the clipping force along a larger area. 5 The clip bearing surface 422 may extend along only part of the length of the clip support wall 212. In such embodiments, the ends of the clip 222 may overhang the ends of the clip bearing surface 422 such that they are unsupported. In the illustrated embodiment, the clip bearing surface 422 extends along the full length of the clip support wall 212. This can increase the clipping force provided by the clip arrangement 200 and help to spread the clipping force over a larger area. 10 The clip bearing surface 422 may comprise at least one reinforcing rib 424 located part way along the length of the clip bearing surface 422. The at least one reinforcing rib 424 helps to increase the rigidity and structural strength of the clip bearing surface. This can reduce deflection and / or the risk of damage to the clip bearing surface. This can increase the accuracy of location of the vehicle component in the insertion direction. It can 15 also better provide feedback to an operator during installation that the clip has been successfully engaged in the clip aperture. The at least one reinforcing rib 424 may extend between the clip bearing surface 422 and a support wall 426 spaced transversely from the clip aperture 420. This can help to increase the effectiveness of the reinforcing rib 424. The support wall 426 can increase the stiffness of the fixed body portion 400 in the region of the clip aperture 420. This can have similar advantages to those described above in relation to the at least one reinforcing rib 424. As best seen in Figure 5, the fixed body part 400 may further comprise a further support wall 427 on an opposite face of the fixed body part 400 to the support wall 426 to further strengthen the structure. In the illustrated embodiment, the at least one reinforcing rib 424 is provided in the form of a first reinforcing 25 rib 424-1 on a first side of the clip aperture 420 and a second reinforcing rib 424-2 on a second side of the clip aperture 420. The first and second reinforcing ribs 424-1 and 424-2 are shown as being located mid-way along the length of the clip bearing surface 422 so as to be positioned approximately mid-way along the length of the clip 222. However, it will be understood that one or both reinforcing ribs 424 may be located at a different point along the length of the clip bearing surface 422 as required. 30 As used herein, the term “lengthwise” refers to the direction in which the clip support wall 212 extends and which is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the clip arrangement 200. The term “length” refers to a maximum dimension in the lengthwise direction. As used herein, the term “widthwise” refers to the direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction and to the insertion direction of the clip arrangement 200. The term 35 “width” refers to a maximum dimension in the widthwise direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the widthwise direction corresponds to the direction in which the guide wall 260 of the at least one locator pin 250 extends from side-to-side. The term “height” refers to a maximum dimension in the insertion direction of the clip arrangement 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the locator pin 250 is elongate in the height direction. 40 The clip aperture 420 is shaped to correspond generally to the shape of the clip arrangement 200. In the illustrated embodiment, in which the guide wall 260 of the locator pin 250 is wider than the retaining clip 222, 19 0654 the clip aperture 420 is a generally T-shaped aperture. The T-shaped aperture has a stem region 420-1 which is configured to receive the retaining clip 222 and the transverse wall 216 at the second end of the clip support wall 212, and a bar region 420-2 which is configured to receive the guide wall 260 of the locator pin 250. The guide wall 260 and the clip aperture 420 are sized such that the guide wall 260 abuts against the side edges 5 of the clip aperture 420 when the clip arrangement 200 is engaged. In this manner, the guide wall 260 acts to restrict transverse movement of the clip arrangement 200 relative to the fixed body portion 400. Thus, the locator pin 250 is operable to constrain the vehicle component 100 in relation to the fixed body portion 400 in both directions along a single axis. Consequently, the clip arrangement 200 may be termed a “Y locator” when the x axis corresponds to the insertion direction and the z axis corresponds to the length direction of the clip 10 support wall 212, since the clip arrangement 200 can be used to locate the vehicle component in the y axis. As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the guide wall 260 may have a tapered profile which decreases in width from the base 262 towards the tip 268. The tapered profile may comprise at least one flank region 264 between the base 262 and the tip 268 over which the width of the guide wall 260 gradually decreases. The tip 268 may 15 have a curved profile and / or may be joined to the flank region 264 by a curved region. In this specific embodiment, the clip arrangement 200 has a guide wall 260 with a tapered profile which decreases in width from the base 262 towards the tip 268. The tapered profile comprises a base region 262, a first flank region 264-1, an intermediate region 266, a second flank region 264-2, and a tip region 268. The base region 262 is configured to abut against side edges of the clip aperture 420 when the clip arrangement 200 is engaged. The first flank portion 264-1 extends between the base region 262 and the intermediate region 266. The width of the guide wall 260 decreases along the first flank region 264-1 from the base region 262 to the intermediate region 266. The second flank region 264-2 extends between the intermediate region 266 and the tip region 268. The width of the guide wall 260 decreases along the second flank region 264-2 from the intermediate region 266 to the tip region 268. The tip region 268 has a curved profile with a radius of curvature of around 25 1mm to 5mm, for example from 2mm to 3mm. The guide wall 260 may have a substantially constant width along one or both of the base region 262 and the intermediate region 266. The guide wall 260 may have a width which decreases gradually, for example at a generally constant rate, along one or both of the flank regions 264. The various regions of the guide wall 260 may have any suitable width, as desired given the size of the aperture. For example, the base region 262 may have a width of from 5 mm to 15 mm, for example from 30 7 mm to 10mm, optionally around 9 mm, and the intermediate region 266 may have a width of, for example, from 3 mm to 10 mm, optionally from 4 mm to 6 mm. Optionally, the intermediate region 266 has a width of around 5 mm. The locator pin 250 may have any suitable height. The total height of the locator pin 250 may be selected based on the geometry of the vehicle component and / orthe fixed body portion to which the vehicle component will be connected by the clip arrangement. Optionally, the locator pin 250 has a height of at least 35 10 mm from the distal edge of the retaining clip portion 210 to the tip 268. That is, the locator pin 250 protrudes beyond the retaining clip portion 210 in the insertion direction by at least 10 mm.. Optionally, the locator pin 250 has a height of around 13 mm from the distal edge of the retaining clip portion 210 to the tip 268. With reference to Figure 7, a clip arrangement 500 according to an embodiment is illustrated. The clip 40 arrangement 500 has a similar structure and operation to the clip arrangement 200 discussed above in relation to Figures 1 to 6 and similar reference numerals are used to denote similar features. With the clip arrangement 19 0654 500, the at least one locator pin 550 is provided in the form of a first locator pin 550-1 at a first end of the clip support wall and a second locator pin 550-2 at a second end of the clip support wall. In this manner, both transverse end walls 515 and 516 are formed by the locator pins 550. As with the clip arrangement 200, any part of the locator pin 550 can form the transverse end wall. Optionally, the guide walls 560 of both the first 5 and second locator pins 560 are arranged transverse to the clip support wall 512 so that the transverse end wall 514 at the first end of the clip support wall is formed by the guide wall 560-1 of the first locator pin 550-1 and the transverse end wall 516 at the second end of the clip support wall 512 is formed by the guide wall 560-2 of the second locator pin 550-2. With this arrangement, the guide walls 560 of both locator pins 550 can perform the dual functions of guiding the clip arrangement 500 into the correct position in relation to the fixed 10 body portion and strengthening the clip support structure. The first locator pin 550-1 is broadly the same as the locator pin 250 described above in relation to the clip arrangement 200. The second locator pin 550-2 is a mirror image of the first locator pin 550-2 about a transverse axis through the centre of the clip support wall 512. The first locator pin 550-1 includes a reinforcement wall 570-1 which extends from the guide wall 560-1 at a perpendicular angle and the second locator pin 550-2 includes a reinforcement wall 570-2 which extends 15 from the guide wall 560-2 at a perpendicular angle in the opposite direction to the reinforcement wall 570-1 of the first locator pin 550-2, such that each locator pin has a T-shaped transverse cross-sectional shape. Features of the clip arrangement 500 are discussed below in relation to Figures 8 to 11 in which a second part of a vehicle subassembly 300 in accordance with the invention is shown. As in Figure 3, the vehicle subassembly 300 comprises the vehicle component 100 of Figure 1 and a fixed body portion 400 to which the vehicle component 100 is mounted. The fixed body portion 400 comprises a clip aperture 430 in which the at least one locator pin and the retaining clip portion of the clip arrangement 500 are both received. The clip aperture 430 is bounded on at least one side by a clip bearing surface 432 against 25 which the at least one resilient projection 524 is retained. In this manner, the vehicle component 100 is attached to the fixed body portion 400 by the clip arrangement 500. The clip aperture 430 is shaped to correspond generally to the shape of the clip arrangement 500. In the illustrated embodiment, in which the guide wall 560 of each locator pin 550 at either end of the clip support 30 wall is wider than the retaining clip 522, the clip aperture 430 is a generally l-shaped aperture. The l-shaped aperture has a stem region 430-1 which is configured to receive the retaining clip 522, a first bar region 430-2 which is configured to receive the guide wall 560-1 of the first locator pin 550-1, and a second bar region 430-3 which is configured to receive the guide wall 560-2 of the second locator pin 550-2. The guide walls 560 and the clip aperture 430 are sized such that the guide wall 560 of at least one of the locator pins 550 abuts against 35 the side edges of the clip aperture 430 when the clip arrangement 500 is engaged. In this manner, the guide walls 560 act to restrict transverse movement of the clip arrangement 500 relative to the fixed body portion 400. Further, the clip aperture 430 may have a length which corresponds to the total length of the clip arrangement 500 such that the clip arrangement abuts against the end edges of the clip aperture 430 when the clip arrangement 500 is engaged to restrict lengthwise movement of the clip arrangement 500 relative to 40 the fixed body portion 400. In the illustrated embodiment, in which the locator pins 550 comprise reinforcement walls 570 at their outer ends, the reinforcement walls 570 abut against the end edges of the clip aperture 430 19 0654 when the clip arrangement 500 is engaged. In this manner, the locator pins 550 act to restrict lengthwise movement of the clip arrangement 500 relative to the fixed body portion 400. Thus, the locator pins 550 are operable to constrain the vehicle component 100 in relation to the fixed body portion 400 in both directions along two axes. The clip arrangement 500 may be termed a “YZ locator” when the x axis corresponds to the 5 insertion direction, since the clip arrangement 500 can be used to locate the vehicle component 100 relative to the vehicle in both the y and z axes. As illustrated in Figure 10, the guide walls 560 may have a tapered profile which decreases in width from the base 562 towards the tip 568. The tapered profile may comprise at least one flank region 564 between the 10 base 562 and the tip 568 over which the width of the guide wall 560 gradually decreases. The tip 568 may have a curved profile and / or may be joined to an adjacent region by a curved fillet. In this specific embodiment, the clip arrangement 500 has guide walls 560 with a tapered profile which decreases in width from the base 562 towards the tip 568. The tapered profile comprises a base region 562, a flank region 564, an intermediate region 566, and a tip region 568. The base region 562 is configured to abut against side edges of the clip 15 aperture 430 when the clip arrangement 500 is engaged. The flank portion 564 extends between the base region 562 and the intermediate region 566. The width of the guide wall 560 decreases along the height of the flank region 564 from the base region 562 to the intermediate region 566. The intermediate region 566 is connected to the tip region 568. The tip region 568 has a curved profile with a radius of curvature of around 1 mm to 5 mm, for example from 2 mm to 3 mm. The guide wall 560 may have a substantially constant width along one or both of the base region 562 and the intermediate region 566. The guide wall 560 may have a width which decreases gradually, for example at a generally constant rate, along the flank region 564. The various regions of the guide wall 560 may have any suitable width, as desired given the size of the aperture. For example, the base region 562 may have a width of from 5 mm to 15 mm, for example from 7 mm to 10mm, optionally around 9 mm. The locator pin 550 may have any suitable height. The total height of the locator pin 25 550 may be selected based on the geometry of the vehicle component and / or the fixed body portion to which the vehicle component will be connected by the clip arrangement. Optionally, the locator pin 550 has a height of at least 10 mm from the distal edge of the retaining clip portion 510 to the tip 568. That is, the locator pin 550 protrudes beyond the retaining clip portion 510 in the insertion direction by at least 10 mm. Optionally, the locator pin 550 has a height of around 13 mm from the distal edge of the retaining clip portion 510 to the tip 30 568. With reference to Figure 12, a clip arrangement 600 according to an embodiment is illustrated. The clip arrangement 600 is essentially the same as the clip arrangement 200 discussed above in relation to Figures 1 to 6 and similar reference numerals are used to denote similar features. The clip arrangement 600 differs 35 from the clip arrangement 200 in that the guide wall of the locator pin has a slightly different shape. The guide wall 660 has a tapered profile which decreases in width from the base 662 towards the tip 668. The tapered profile comprises a base region 662, a flank region 664, and a tip region 668. The base region 662 is configured to abut against side edges of the clip aperture when the clip arrangement is engaged. The flank portion 664 extends between the base region 662 and the tip region 668. The width of the guide wall 660 decreases along 40 the flank portion from the base region 662 to the tip region 668. The tip region 668 has a generally flat profile and is joined to the flank portion by a fillet 667 having a radius of curvature of around 1 mm to 2 mm. The guide 19 0654 wall 660 may have a width which decreases gradually, for example at a generally constant rate, along the height of the base region 662. The guide wall 660 may have a width which decreases gradually at a first rate along the height of the base region 662 and which decreases gradually at a second rate along the height of the flank region 664, wherein the second rate is higher than the first rate. The base region 662 of the guide 5 wall may have any suitable width, as desired given the size of the aperture. For example, the base region 662 may have a maximum width of from 5 mm to 15 mm, for example from 7 mm to 10mm, optionally around 9 mm. The locator pin 650 may have any suitable height. The total height of the locator pin 650 may be selected based on the geometry of the vehicle component and / or the fixed body portion to which the vehicle component will be connected by the clip arrangement. Optionally, the locator pin 650 has a height of at least 10 mm from 10 the distal edge of the retaining clip portion to the tip 668. That is, the locator pin 650 protrudes beyond the retaining clip portion in the insertion direction by at least 10 mm. Optionally, the locator pin 650 has a height of around 13 mm from the distal edge of the retaining clip portion to the tip 568. Figure 13 illustrates a vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle 10 15 comprises the vehicle subassembly 300 as illustrated in Figures 3 to 6 and Figures 8 to 11. Figure 14 shows a schematic illustration of part of a vehicle 10 illustrated in Figure 13. The vehicle 10 comprises a vehicle body structure 15 having first and second vehicle body panels 20 and 30, and the vehicle subassembly 300 mounted to one or both vehicle body panels 20 and 30. As illustrated, the vehicle subassembly 300 comprises a vehicle component 100 as illustrated in Figure 1 and a fixed body portion 400 to which the vehicle component 100 is mounted. The vehicle component 100 may be any suitable component. In the illustrated embodiment, the vehicle component is a vehicle trim component 100. The fixed body portion 400 may be any part of the vehicle 10, such as part of one or both vehicle body panels 20 and 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixed body portion comprises a lamp assembly 400, such as a rear lamp assembly. 25 It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A vehicle component for a vehicle, the vehicle component having a clip arrangement for attaching the vehicle component to a fixed body portion ofthe vehicle, the clip arrangement extending from a rear surface of the vehicle component and comprising:a retaining clip portion; andat least one locator pin having a guide wall which extends beyond the retaining clip portion to guide the retaining clip portion into a clip aperture in the fixed body portion,wherein the retaining clip portion comprises:a clip support structure having a clip support wall and transverse end walls extending across both ends ofthe clip support wall; anda U-shaped clip mounted over the clip support wall and having at least one resilient projection for engaging with an edge ofthe clip aperture to retain the clip arrangement to the fixed body portion, and wherein at least one ofthe transverse end walls is formed by the at least one locator pin,2. The vehicle component according to claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe transverse end walls is formed by the guide wall ofthe at least one locator pin.

3. The vehicle component according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one locator pin comprises a first locator pin at a first end ofthe clip support wall and a second locator pin at a second end ofthe clip support wall.

4. The vehicle component according to claim 3, wherein the first and second locator pins each define one ofthe transverse end walls ofthe clip support structure.

5. The vehicle component according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one locator pin comprises a reinforcement wall which extends from the guide wall at a perpendicular angle such that the at least one locator pin has a T-shaped transverse cross-sectional shape.

6. The vehicle component according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one locator pin comprises a spacer surface projecting from a wall ofthe at least one locator pin towards the clip support wall to define an end position ofthe clip along the clip support wall which is spaced from the at least one locator pin.

7. A vehicle subassembly comprising the vehicle component of any of claims 1 to 6 and a fixed body portion to which the vehicle component is mounted, wherein the fixed body portion comprises a clip aperture in which the at least one locator pin and the retaining clip portion are both received, and which is bounded on at least one side by a clip bearing surface against which the at least one resilient projection is retained.

8. The vehicle subassembly of claim 7, wherein the clip bearing surface extends along the full length of the clip support wall.

9. The vehicle subassembly of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the clip bearing surface comprises at least one reinforcing rib located part way along the length of the clip bearing surface.

10. The vehicle subassembly of claim 9, wherein the at least one reinforcing rib extends between the clip bearing surface and a support wall spaced transversely from the clip aperture.

11. The vehicle subassembly of any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the guide wall and the clip aperture are sized such that the guide wall abuts against the sides of the clip aperture when the clip arrangement is engaged to restrict transverse movement of the clip arrangement relative to the fixed body portion.

12. The vehicle subassembly of any of claims 7 to 11, wherein the clip aperture has a length which corresponds to the total length of the clip arrangement such that the clip arrangement abuts against the end edges of the clip aperture when the clip arrangement is engaged to restrict lengthwise movement of the clip arrangement relative to the fixed body portion.

13. The vehicle subassembly of any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the fixed body portion is a lamp assembly.

14. A vehicle comprising the vehicle component of any of claims 1 to 6 and / or the vehicle subassembly of any of claims 7 to 13.14

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