GB2065045A - Improvements in the fixing of panels to vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A panel for securing to a part of a vehicle, for example a rear window visor (7) for securing to a vehicle tail-gate (2), is provided with flanges (12) around its peripheral portions (8), to be hooked around an edge of the vehicle part to which it is to be attached. The panel is preferably made of a resilient material such as plastics. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in the fixing of panels This invention relates to the fixing of panels in pos ition, in particular to part of a car. The invention is particularly applicable to the fixing of a rear visor to the rear window of a car, particularly to the tailgate of a"hatchback"car.

Conventional rear window visors extend only over the glass area of the window itself, and require com plicated fixings involving screws and the like to sec ure them in position.

The present invention provides a panel for securing to a part of a vehicle, the panel having inwardly turned flanges around at least a part of its periphery, to be hooked around an edge of the vehicle part to which it is to be attached.

The inwardly turned flange will not normally extend around the entire periphery of the panel. For example where the panel is rectangular the flanges may extend along two opposite sides of the panel or along three adjacent sides, terminating short of the corners of the panel to facilitate snapping the flanges around the edges to which they are to be secured.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure lisa perspective view of the rear of a hatchback car showing the tailgate to which a visor panel is to be attached; Figure 2 is a cross-section on the line ll-ll of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic rear view of the vehicle of Figure 1, showing a visor panel secured in position; and Figures 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views corresponding to Figures 2 and 3 respectively, but showing the attachment of the visor panel.

Referring to the drawings, the vehicle shown in Figure 1 has a tailgate 2 pivotally mounted on the car by hinges 3 along its upper edge, and having a lock 4 on its lower edge. The tailgate includes a window 5, the glass of which is secured in an opening in the tailgate by an elastomeric beading 6.

Figures 2 and 3 show the cross-sectional shape of the tailgate and its relationship with the main part 11 of the car body. Elastomeric extrusions (not shown) am provided around the periphery of the tailgate 2 and/or around the opening in the car body 11 to ensure a close seal between the two when the tailgate is closed.

Figure 4 shows a rear window visor 7 in position on the tailgate. The visor 7 is of a resilient material such as a plastics material. The visor has peripheral portions 8 shaped to extend around the periphery of the tailgate 2. The portions 8 are formed along the upper edge and the two side edges of the visor. To ensure that the visor is resilient enough to snap around the tailgate, the peripheral portions 8 do not meet at the corners 9 so that they can be separately bent outwards.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, it will be seen that the peripheral portions 8 of the visor have along their outer edges inwardly turned flanges 10, 12 which snap resiliently around the edges of the tailgate. The visor can thus easily be attached to the tailgate by hooking the upper flange 10 around the upper edge of the tailgate and swinging it downwardly until the side flanges 12 snap resiliently around the side edges of the tailgate. The visor is thus simply and securely attached and reduces the need for compli cated fixing screws or the like, but can also be detached without difficulty. Additional fixing means such as screws or clips can of course be used if desired for additional rigidity.

CLAIMS:

1. A panel for securing to a part of a vehicle, the panel having inwardly turned flanges around at least a part of its periphery to be hooked around an edge of the vehicle part to which it is to be attached.

2. A panel according to Claim 1 which is a rear window visor for attachment to the tailgate of a hatchback can 3. A panel according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 which is rectangular in shape.

4. A panel according to Claim 3 wherein said flanges are provided along two opposite edges of the panel.

5. A panel according to Claim 3 wherein said flanges are provided along three adjacent sides of the panel.

6. A panel according to Claim 5 wherein the said flanges terminate short of the corners of the panel to facilitate snapping of the flanges around the edges to which they are to be secured.

7. A panel according to any preceding claim which is made of a resilient material.

8. A panel according to Claim 7 which is made of a plastics material.

9. A panel for securing to a part of a vehicle, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by The Tweeddale Press Ltd., Berwick-upon-Tweed, 1981.

Published at the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London,WC2A 1 AY.

from which copies may be obtained.

The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in the fixing of panels This invention relates to the fixing of panels in pos ition, in particular to part of a car. The invention is particularly applicable to the fixing of a rear visor to the rear window of a car, particularly to the tailgate of a"hatchback"car. Conventional rear window visors extend only over the glass area of the window itself, and require com plicated fixings involving screws and the like to sec ure them in position. The present invention provides a panel for securing to a part of a vehicle, the panel having inwardly turned flanges around at least a part of its periphery, to be hooked around an edge of the vehicle part to which it is to be attached. The inwardly turned flange will not normally extend around the entire periphery of the panel. For example where the panel is rectangular the flanges may extend along two opposite sides of the panel or along three adjacent sides, terminating short of the corners of the panel to facilitate snapping the flanges around the edges to which they are to be secured. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure lisa perspective view of the rear of a hatchback car showing the tailgate to which a visor panel is to be attached; Figure 2 is a cross-section on the line ll-ll of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic rear view of the vehicle of Figure 1, showing a visor panel secured in position; and Figures 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views corresponding to Figures 2 and 3 respectively, but showing the attachment of the visor panel. Referring to the drawings, the vehicle shown in Figure 1 has a tailgate 2 pivotally mounted on the car by hinges 3 along its upper edge, and having a lock 4 on its lower edge. The tailgate includes a window 5, the glass of which is secured in an opening in the tailgate by an elastomeric beading 6. Figures 2 and 3 show the cross-sectional shape of the tailgate and its relationship with the main part 11 of the car body. Elastomeric extrusions (not shown) am provided around the periphery of the tailgate 2 and/or around the opening in the car body 11 to ensure a close seal between the two when the tailgate is closed. Figure 4 shows a rear window visor 7 in position on the tailgate. The visor 7 is of a resilient material such as a plastics material. The visor has peripheral portions 8 shaped to extend around the periphery of the tailgate 2. The portions 8 are formed along the upper edge and the two side edges of the visor. To ensure that the visor is resilient enough to snap around the tailgate, the peripheral portions 8 do not meet at the corners 9 so that they can be separately bent outwards. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, it will be seen that the peripheral portions 8 of the visor have along their outer edges inwardly turned flanges 10, 12 which snap resiliently around the edges of the tailgate. The visor can thus easily be attached to the tailgate by hooking the upper flange 10 around the upper edge of the tailgate and swinging it downwardly until the side flanges 12 snap resiliently around the side edges of the tailgate. The visor is thus simply and securely attached and reduces the need for compli cated fixing screws or the like, but can also be detached without difficulty. Additional fixing means such as screws or clips can of course be used if desired for additional rigidity. CLAIMS:

1. A panel for securing to a part of a vehicle, the panel having inwardly turned flanges around at least a part of its periphery to be hooked around an edge of the vehicle part to which it is to be attached.

2. A panel according to Claim 1 which is a rear window visor for attachment to the tailgate of a hatchback can

3. A panel according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 which is rectangular in shape.

4. A panel according to Claim 3 wherein said flanges are provided along two opposite edges of the panel.

5. A panel according to Claim 3 wherein said flanges are provided along three adjacent sides of the panel.

6. A panel according to Claim 5 wherein the said flanges terminate short of the corners of the panel to facilitate snapping of the flanges around the edges to which they are to be secured.

7. A panel according to any preceding claim which is made of a resilient material.

8. A panel according to Claim 7 which is made of a plastics material.

9. A panel for securing to a part of a vehicle, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by The Tweeddale Press Ltd., Berwick-upon-Tweed, 1981.

Published at the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London,WC2A 1 AY.

from which copies may be obtained.

The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.