AU715899B2

AU715899B2 - Locater pin

Info

Publication number: AU715899B2
Application number: AU23595/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yeap Chin Eng
Original assignee: ITW Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ITW AFC Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1998-04-07
Filing date: 1999-04-06
Publication date: 2000-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-06
Also published as: AU2359599A

Description

V1, P/00/0IlI Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

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Invention Title: LOCATER PIN Applicant: ITW AUSTRALIA PTY LTD the best method of performing it known to me: VT C:\WINWORD\VOLETPHIL\WORKJ'1 1.DOC LOCATER PIN Technical Field The present invention relates to a pin or stud for locating one article with respect to another. The locater pin of the invention is particularly applicable to the task of positioning and locating a window pane or glass panel with respect to the metallic frame for that window in an automobile window assembly, and it will be convenient to herein describe the invention in relation to that exemplary application. It is to be appreciated however that the invention is not limited to that application.

Background of the Invention Locater pins are used in the automobile industry for positioning or locating fixed or static windows such as windscreens in the metal frames of a 15 vehicle chassis during the window assembly process. The metal frames typically include two or more registration holes or slots. The locater pins o* include a flat head and an elongate stem extending from the head. In use, the flat head is rigidly adhered in face to face contact with the window glass at specific positions on the periphery of that glass panel. A sealing and bonding 20 compound, such as urethane, is applied around the perimeter of the glass for bonding the panel to the frame. The glass panel with projecting pins can then be properly located in the frame by positioning the pins in their associated holes a or slots in the frame. The pins eliminate the need for complex holding fixtures for maintaining the glass in position while the urethane cures.

One problem with the current arrangement, however, is that as the vehicle chassis trundles along the production line severe vibrations are often imparted to the glass panels sitting in the frames. The glass panels have limited movement due to the location of the rigidly attached pins in their associated holes, so the vibrations transmit stresses to the glass which is vulnerable to breakage. Breakage of the glass naturally delays the production process and increases overall production cost.

Another similar problem occurs during the service life of the vehicle.

That is, vibration and chassis flexure which occur during ordinary vehicle operation induce stresses between the glass panel and the frame at the locater pins which can cause undesirable squeaking noises as well as failure of the glass.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above problems.

Summary of the Invention According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a locater pin for locating a first article with respect to a second article. The pin has a head portion for attachment to the first article and an elongate stem portion extending from the head portion for receipt in an aperture of the second article to properly locate the first article with respect thereto. The pin further 15 includes stress dissipation means adapted to yield in the event of excessive 10 60 stress being transmitted through the pin between the first and second articles to thereby prevent damage to either or both of the articles.

0" The predetermined stress load beyond which the stress is considered to be "excessive" will naturally depend upon the strength of the first and second 20 articles. Clearly the stress dissipation means of the pin should be adapted to operate at a stress level below that at which the weaker of the two articles will a.

fail. In this way, at a predetermined stress load limit the stress dissipation a means will yield thereby relieving transmission of that stress load to the articles.

The stress dissipation means may be designed to yield in tension, in compression or in transverse shear, or in any combination thereof. In addition, the stress dissipation means may be adapted to yield resiliently or, alternatively, may be adapted to permanently yield.

In a preferred form of the invention the stress dissipation means is in the form of failure means adapted to enable the pin to fail yield permanently) in the event that a stress load in excess of the predetermined limit is transmitted through the pin between the first and second articles. In a particularly preferred form of the invention the failure means is adapted to facilitate failure of the pin by fracture or breaking. It will be appreciated, however, that other modes of failure, such as by stretching or permanent deformation, are also contemplated by the present invention.

In one form of the invention the failure means is adapted for shear fracture transverse the longitudinal extent of the pin in response to excessive transverse stresses arising for example as a result of relative movement between the first and second articles. The failure means may be adapted to cause fracture of the pin in a region of the pin to be located between the first article and the second article. The failure means may be located between the head portion and the stem portion of the pin.

In one form of the invention the stem portion includes a flange member which extends radially outwards from a longitudinal axis of the pin, the flange *~o 0 member being adapted to seat against a peripheral edge region of the aperture in the second article. The flange member also serves to maintain the glass 15 panel spaced at a set distance from the frame. The head portion preferably includes a plate member having a substantially flat top region for adhesive attachment in face-to-face relation to the first article.

In one form of the invention the failure means includes a weakened region or a region of reduced strength making the pin susceptible to fracture in 20 that region. The failure means may therefore include a region of reduced pin cross-sectional area. The failure means may also include a notch for concentrating stress at the region of reduced pin cross-section. In one form of the invention the failure means includes a necked-in region extending between the flange member of the stem portion and the plate member of the head portion.

In one form of the invention the stem portion is tapered at a free end to assist insertion of the pin into the aperture of the second article. The aperture may be in the form of a hole, a slot, or some other opening. The locater pin of the invention may also include fastening means for retaining the pin in the aperture after its insertion. The fastening means may include barbs or projections from the pin's stem portion for engaging an underside of the peripheral edge region of the aperture. Alternatively, the fastening means may include a thread or circumferential ribs on the stem portion for engagement with a fastening element such as a star washer or a threaded nut.

In a preferred application of the present invention, the first article is a sheet of glass or glass panel for an automobile window assembly and the second article is the metal frame defining the window opening in a vehicle chassis. The frame includes a plurality of holes or slots for receiving locater pins according to the present invention. The locater pins are preferably made of a material which will readily break at the failure means under excessive stress before the glass itself is caused to break. The locater pins are desirably formed of a polymer plastic material such as nylon 66 and each pin may be formed as a unitary element in a moulding process.

S:.::According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a window assembly for an automobile including a glass panel secured in a frame and including at least one locater pin as previously described with the head 15 portion of the pin attached to the glass panel and the stem portion of the pin disposed in an aperture in the frame. The present invention also provides a *0 vehicle which includes such a window assembly.

Brief Description of the Drawings 20 For assistance in arriving at an understanding of the present invention embodiments of a locater pin and window assembly according to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The preceding description of the locater pin and window assembly may be read with reference to those drawings. However, as the drawings illustrate embodiments only, their particularity is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective sketch of a utility vehicle or pick-up truck chassis; Fig. 2 is a sectioned side view through an automobile window assembly according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a window assembly according to the invention.

6 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a wagon liftgate window frame for a window assembly according to the invention; Fig. 5 is a detail of pin-receiving slot and locater pin (in section) in the window frame of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a front view of a locater pin according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a top view of the locater pin of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the locater pin of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a sectioned side view of the locater pin of Fig. 6 in the direction of arrows X-X; and Figs. 10 and 11 are perspective views of the locater pin of Fig. 6.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings illustrate schematically the use of a locater S 15 pin according to the invention in an automobile window assembly according to the invention.

Fig. 1 is a sketch of a utility vehicle or pick-up truck chassis (100) and S•shows the frames (101) for the rear 'back-light' window assembly and the 'quarter-light' side window assembly. Each of the frames (101) includes holes (102) or slots (103) for receiving a locater pin to be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 6 to 11 later attached to a glass window panel.

Referring to Fig. 2, a head portion of each locater pin is adhered to a rear or inward facing side of a glass panel (104) for the window assembly.

A number of locater pins are positioned around a periphery of the glass panel (104) for alignment with and receipt within the holes (102) or slots (103) in each frame. A stem portion of each of the pins is received with a respective hole (102) or slot (103). In this way the pins are able to locate the window panel (104) relative to the frame (101). The frame (101) typically includes an outer steel panel (105) and an inner steel panel (106) which are spot welded together at a series of weld points (107) along the periphery of the frame. The steel panels (105, 106) are typically formed from sheet steel having a thickness of about 0.75mm. The head portion of each locater pin may provide a gap or space (108) of about 5mm between the glass panel (104) and the outer frame panel (105) to be filled with a polyurethane sealer/spacer. The stem portion of each pin typically has a diameter of about 6.2mm. The diameter of the holes (102) is usually about 7mm, although after the chassis has been painted this is generally reduced to about 6.8mm.

In the example shown in Fig. 3 a glass window panel (104), suitable for a windscreen or 'back-light', is located relative to the chassis frame (101) by two locater pins, one of which is inserted in a 7mm hole (6.8mm after painting) and the other of which is received in a 7mm x 14mm lateral slot (6.8mm x 13.8mm after painting). In this example no locater pin is required on the lower portion of the glass panel (104).

In the example of a wagon liftgate shown with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, two upper and two lower locater pins are provided since the liftgate may be moved during the vehicle fabrication/assembly process. Accordingly, a a e S 15 additional locater pins give the glass panel (104) added stability against undesirable movement after it has been located in position in its frame (101).

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 11, the present invention provides a locater pin for locating a first article such as a glass panel with respect to a second article such as the frame of an automobile chassis defining a windscreen 20 opening. The pin has a head portion for attachment to the glass panel and this attachment is usually by means of high strength adhesive such as Supa-glue t m The pin also includes an elongate stem portion which extends from the head portion for receipt in an aperture such as a hole or slot in the chassis frame to properly locate the glass panel relative to that frame. The head portion of the locater pin includes a plate member (4) having a substantially flat top region for adhesive attachment in face-to-face relation with an internal surface of the glass panel. The stem portion is tapered at a free end to assist insertion of the pin into the hole or slot in the windscreen frame. The stem portion also includes a flange member (7) which extends radially outward from a longitudinal axis A of the pin distal from the free end The flange member is adapted to seat against a peripheral edge region of the hole or slot in the windscreen frame and to hold the glass spaced from the frame a fixed distance.

The pin of the present invention includes a stress dissipating failure means which is adapted for shear fracture transverse of the longitudinal extent of the pin in the event of a greater than predetermined stress load arising, for example, from excessive vibration or transverse relative movement between the glass panel and the metallic frame after the glass panel has been located in the frame. The failure means includes a region of reduced strength at which the pin is susceptible to fracture. That is, the failure means includes a region of reduced cross-sectional area in the form of necked-in region which extends between the flange member of the stem portion and the plate member of the head portion.

The locater pin of the invention can also include fastening means a'• for retaining the pin in its associated hole or slot after insertion. In this case the 15 fastening means (10) includes circumferential ribs (11) on the stem portion (3) for engagement with a fastening element (not shown) such as a star washer or threaded nut.

By providing the facility for fracture of the pin, the stresses caused by 0% 0vibration and flexing of the chassis can be dissipated at the pin rather than 20 being transmitted to the glass panel where they can lead to breakage of the glass. Accordingly, the delays and increased costs associated with breakages on the production line, and the damage to reputation and replacement costs associated with warranty returns from breakage in service can be minimised with the invention.

Finally, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the construction and arrangement of the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention as described herein.

Claims

1. A locater pin for locating a first article with respect to a second article, including: a head portion for attachment to the first article; and an elongate stem portion extending from the head portion for receipt in an aperture of the second article to properly locate the first article relative thereto; wherein the locater pin further includes stress dissipation means adapted to yield in the event that a stress load in excess of a predetermined limit is transmitted through the pin between the first and second articles to thereby prevent damage to either or both of said articles.

2. A locater pin as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stress dissipation means S- 15 is in the form of failure means adapted to enable the pin to fail in the event that a stress load in excess of the predetermined limit is transmitted through the pin between the first and second articles. p

3. A locater pin as claimed in claim 2 wherein the failure means is adapted to enable the pin to fail by fracture.

4. A locater pin as claimed in claim 3 wherein the failure means is adapted for shear fracture transverse a longitudinal extent of the pin in response to the stress load acting in a transverse direction. A locater pin as claimed in claim 4 wherein the failure means is adapted to enable the pin to fracture in a region of the pin to be located between the first article and the second article.

6. A locater pin as claimed in claim 5 wherein the failure means is located between the head portion and the stem portion of the pin.

7. A locater pin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the stem portion includes a flange member which extends radially outwards from a longitudinal axis of the pin, the flange member being adapted to seat against a peripheral edge region of the aperture in the second article.

8. A locater pin as claimed in claim 7 wherein the head portion includes a plate member having a substantially flat top region for adhesive attachment in face-to-face relation to the first article.

9. A locater pin as claimed in claim 8 wherein the stress dissipation means is located between the flange member of the stem portion and the plate member of the head portion.

910. A locater pin as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the failure S. 15 means includes a region of reduced strength rendering the pin susceptible to failure in that region. 11. A locater pin as claimed in claim 10 wherein the region of reduced strength is a region of reduced transverse cross-sectional area of the pin. 9 12. A locater pin as claimed in claim 12 wherein the failure means includes a 9*99 notch for concentrating stress at the region of reduced transverse cross- sectional area. 13. A locater pin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the stem portion is tapered at a free end thereof to assist insertion of the pin into the aperture of the second article. 14. A locater pin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 further including fastening means adapted for retaining the pin in the aperture after its insertion. 11 A locater pin as claimed in claim 14 wherein the fastening means includes one or more projection from the stem portion of the pin for engaging an underside of a peripheral edge region of the aperture. 16. A locater pin as claimed in claim 14 wherein the fastening means includes a thread or circumferential ribs on the stem portion for engagement with a fastening element. 17. A locater pin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the pin is formed as a unitary element from a polymeric material in a moulding process. 18. A locater pin as claimed in claim 17 wherein the polymeric material is *nylon 66. 00 00 15 19. A window assembly for a vehicle, such as an automobile, including a window frame formed in a chassis of the vehicle and a glass panel positioned and secured in said frame, the window assembly further including at least one locater pin having a head portion attached to the glass panel and a stem portion extending from the head portion and received in an aperture in the frame to properly locate the glass panel relative to the frame; wherein the locater pin further includes stress dissipation means adapted to yield in the event that a stress load in excess of a predetermined limit is transmitted through the pin between the glass panel and the frame to thereby prevent damage to either or both of the glass panel and the frame. A window assembly as claimed in claim 19 wherein the stress dissipation means of the locater pin is in the form of failure means adapted to enable the pin to fail in the event of a stress load in excess of the predetermined limit is transmitted through the pin between the glass panel and the frame. 21. A window assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein the locater pin failure means is adapted to enable the pin to fail by fracture. 22. A window assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein the failure means is adapted for sheer fracture transverse a longitudinal extent of the pin in response to the stress load acting in a transverse direction. 23. A window assembly as claimed in claim 22 wherein the failure means is adapted to enable the pin to fracture in a region of the pin located between the frame and the glass panel. 24. A window assembly as claimed in claim 23 wherein the failure means includes a region of reduced strength rendering the pin susceptible to fracture in that region. o* S 25. A window assembly as claimed in claim 24 wherein the region of 15 reduced strength is a region of reduced transverse cross-sectional area of the pin. l 26. A window assembly as claimed in claim 25 wherein the failure means :i includes a notch for concentrating stress at the region of reduced transverse S cross-sectional area. 27. A window assembly as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 26 wherein the locater pin head portion includes a plate member having a substantially flat top region for adhesive attachment in face-to-face relation to the glass panel, wherein the stem portion includes a flange member which extends radially outwards from a longitudinal axis of the pin such that the flange member seats against a peripheral edge region of the aperture in the frame, and wherein the stress dissipation means is located between the flange member of the stem portion and the plate member of the head portion. 28. A window assembly as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 27 wherein the locater pin further includes fastening means adapted for retaining the pin in the aperture after its insertion. 29. A window assembly as claimed in claim 28 wherein the fastening means includes a thread or circumferential ribs on the stem portion for engagement with a fastening element. A window assembly as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 29 wherein the locater pin is formed as a unitary element from a polymeric material in a molding process. 31. A vehicle such as an automobile incorporating a window assembly as claimed in any one of claims 19 to DATED: 6 April, 1999 0* PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: ITW AUSTRALIA PTY LTD 505 Oli^