GB2274872A - Attachment of a vehicle component to a vehicle body panel - Google Patents

Abstract

To attach a vehicle component 2 such as a bumper to a vehicle body panel 3, an integrally formed generally U-shaped channel 4 is formed on the vehicle body panel, a flange 2a is provided on the component to be attached to the body panel, and a wedging member 1 which receives the component flange is fitted into the channel 4 such that when the wedging member and the component flange are slidably engaged between opposing walls of the channel, the flange is clamped against the edge of the component. <IMAGE>

Description

Attachment of a Vehicle Component to a Vehicle Body Panel This invention relates to the attachment of a vehicle component to a body panel of a vehicle and particularly but not exclusively to a body panel of a road vehicle, such as a motor car.

In the manufacture of vehicles, the main body shell comprising an assembly of body panels is produced and to appropriate panels, vehicle components such as, vehicle, embellishments or indeed further panel-like members are attached.

In order to achieve overall smooth contours of the vehicle, gaps between panels and the attachments thereto need to be minimised. However, this requirement leads to difficulties in manufacturing to the necessary close tolerances and also to difficulties on assembly lines where damage to a body panel can occur during the attachment of a component such as mentioned above. Further, when the component has been attached and the vehicle put into service, vibration of, or an impact on, the component can give rise to damage to the adjacent body panel and excessive repair costs.

The latter is a particular problem in relation to the attachment of a vehicle bumper to a body panel.

There have been many proposals made for attaching components to motor vehicles as may be found in the following published patent specifications: US 4145077, US 4402537, US 4895406, EP 417654 A, EP 343546 A, DE-OS 2550019 and DE-OS 3740787.

USP 4145077, EP 343546, DE-OS 3740787 and DE-OS 2550019 relate to the fixing of covers and strips to a vehicle body or to a vehicle bumper by simple clipping for example. USP 4402537 describes a vehicle bumper having portions connected laterally by for example matching serrations on hooked and U-shaped portions or by providing one of the connecting edges with a spring clip. USP 4895406 addresses the problem of securing a bumper cover in flush fitting manner to the adjacent body of a motor vehicle and proposes the use of a mechanically expandable extruded profile to clamp the edge of the cover to the body wherein the clamp is attached to the vehicle and an edge portion of the bumper cover is pressed into contact with the body by application of the clamp on the opposite side.EP 417654A addresses the same problem associated with attaching a bumper to a vehicle body by employing a guide rail attached to the body and presenting a longitudinal slot into which the bumper edge fits and which is thereafter secured by a wedge. The rail may be of injection moulded plastics. The bumper edge may have a face with a toothed cross-section to cooperate with a toothed internal face of the slot.

The above-mentioned proposals are either too simple to give satisfactory holding or are too complex to lend themselves to efficient vehicle assembly. Accordingly, research has continued to find a more satisfactory means to attach a vehicle component to a vehicle body panel.

We have now devised a simple means whereby a vehicle component can be attached to a vehicle body panel both effectively and efficiently.

According to the present invention there is provided an arrangement for attaching a vehicle component to a vehicle body panel, the arrangment comprising an integrally formed generally U-shaped channel on the vehicle body panel, a flange on a component to be attached to the body panel, and a wedging member, the wedging member being shaped to receive the component flange and to fit into the channel such that when the wedging member and the component flange are slidably engaged between opposing walls of the channel, the flange is clamped against the edge of the component.

The vehicle component which is preferably a vehicle bumper or bumper cover may be made of metal or plastics material for example. It is preferred that the edge of the component for attachment to the vehicle panel has an undulating surface cross-sectional shape on at least one side which the moulding contacts when applied, and the surface of the moulding which is contacted by the edge of the component preferably has a cooperating surface cross-sectional shape.

While the overall cross-sectional shape of the moulding can be rectangular or wedge-shaped, more specifically it may be, for example, L-shaped or of a general U-shape. When of Lshape, generally the shorter leg of the L extends across the thickness of the edge of the component when the longer leg is applied to the side such that bottoming of the edge in the U-shaped channel is prevented. When the moulding is of U-shaped cross-section the base of the U may have the same function as the shorter leg of the L-shape. The shape and dimensions of the U are preferably such that the edge of the component fits. The two legs of the U are preferably of different thicknesses and such that in use when the edge of the component is inserted in the U of the moulding the thinner leg is positioned adjacent a leg of the U of the channel leading off an exposed portion of the panel.The overall cross-sectional shape of a U-shaped moulding for example may be rectangular or wedge-shaped but in all cases the overall shape when applied to the edge of the component and the cross-sectional shape of the U of the channel should be such that the combination of the moulding assembled with the edge of the component can be slidably engaged between the opposing walls of the channel in wedging fashion.

Thus if the overall cross-sectional shape of the moulding is rectangular, the cross-section of the U of the channel may be wedge-shaped. It is preferred that the cross-sections of the moulding and the U of the channel are both wedge-shaped.

The bottom of the U of the channel and optionally also the moulding is/are preferably provided with holes whereby screws inserted from the bottom of the U of the channel can be screwed into the moulding to draw it towards the bottom of the channel and secure the moulding and thereby the edge of the component.

The wedging fashion of the assembled combination in the channel enables the edge of the component to be clamped progressively more firmly.

The material of the moulding is preferably one that will at least flex such as a plastics material or a rubber. Thus it is preferably of PVC, polyethylene (linear or branched chain) polypropylene, neoprene or butyl rubber and is preferably produced as a compression moulding, injection moulding or a continuous extrusion.

When the moulding is of generally rectangular or L-shaped cross-section and positioned on one side of the edge of the component it is preferred that a strip of protective material such as adhesive tape is positioned on the other side and between the edge of the component being attached to the body panel and the inside surface of the leg of the U of the channel leading off an exposed portion of the panel. In this way direct contact between the edge of the component and that leg of the U of the channel can be prevented while close proximity of one to the other is possible.

The U-shaped channel integrally formed in the vehicle body panel is positioned such as to receive the edge of the component to be attached to the panel and is preferably such that one leg of the U terminates at a free edge of the panel. Integral forming of the channel in a metal panel may be by pressing or by pressing and rolling, while in a plastics panel the channel may be formed by a thermoforming, draw moulding or other moulding technique.

It is preferred that the U-shape of the channel is wedgeshaped with the width of the channel being smaller at the lower end of the U than at the upper open end.

The means provided by this invention enable a close fit to be achieved between the component and the panel. Further, when the cross-sectional shape of the moulding is U-shaped, the moulding can be fitted along the edge of the component prior to being offered up to the channel. This is also so when the moulding is generally rectangular or L-shaped in cross-section, particularly if an adhesive is employed as may, indeed, be done in all cases. In the latter cases and as indicated earlier, the side of the component edge to which no moulding is applied is preferably provided with a strip of protective material such as adhesive tape to space the component from the channel on that side. Alternatively the tape could be applied to the appropriate leg of the Ushaped channel. In either case the tape may protect the panel from damage during attachment of the component as well as when the vehicle is put into service.

It will be appreciated that the mode of assembly of the component, the moulding and the panel, plus strip of protective material such as tape when employed, can be varied to suit the vehicle production process desired, but in all cases the procedures are simple with few items to be assembled. Thus the moulding might be inserted in the channel before being assembled with the component edge for example.

The integral channel design reduces tolerance build up and may be incorporated in a variety of body panel shapes including long panels and panels with corners.

When cooperating undulations or teeth are formed on the edge of the component and on the moulding, resistance to release of the component such as a bumper under impact, can be particularly improved. The presence of the moulding and/or tape can also protect the body panel from paint damage in the event of such impact.

In a second aspect of this invention there is provided a motor vehicle with a vehicle component attached to a body panel thereof by the means as herein described.

The invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates the attachment of a bumper to a vehicle body panel by means according to this invention.

Figure 2 illustrates in detail an edge moulding as included in the attachment means shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is similar to Figure 1 but illustrates the employment of an alternative edge-moulding.

In the drawings, like parts are correspondingly numbered.

In Figure 1 the bumper 2 of tough plastics material, but optionally of metal, is attached to the metal vehicle body panel 3 provided with a U-shaped channel 4 beyond the exposed portion 9 and which terminates at the free edge 15 of the panel 3. The channel 4 is an integral part of the panel and has been press formed during panel manufacture.

The base of the channel is shown supported by an inner frame 8 of the vehicle. The edge 2a of the bumper 2 attached to the panel 3 is provided with an undulating lower surface cross-sectional shape 7 produced during the moulding of the bumper 2 and the pattern of undulations matches those provided on the inside of the thicker leg of the edge moulding 1 having a generally U-shaped cross-section. The thinner leg 6 of the edge moulding is in contact with the upper surface of the component and with the inside surface of the channel nearer to the exposed panel portion 9. The bottom of the U-shaped channel and the edge moulding are provided with the holes 13 and 14 respectively whereby the screws 5 passing through aligned holes in the inner frame 8 may be employed to draw the moulding and the bumper edge 2a firmly into the channel and secure the bumper to the panel.

The cross-section of the U-shaped channel 4 is slightly wedge-shaped, the spacing of the legs being slightly greater at the open end than at the lower end. Further, as seen better from Figure 2, the edge moulding 1 which is generally of U cross-sectional shape with groove 11 and slots 12 moulded in its thick leg to improve flexibility and economy has an overall wedge shape cross-section.

In attaching the bumper 2 to the panel 3 employing a means according to this invention, the edge 2a of bumper 2 is inserted into the slot 10 of the edge moulding 1 whereby the undulated surfaces coincide. The edge moulding 1 with the edge 2a thus inserted is then offered up in longitudinal alignment with the channel 4 in the body panel 3 and is pushed in sliding fashion directly into the channel and into an initial gripping position. The wedge shape of the channel 4 cross-section and that of the overall crosssection of the edge-moulding causes the legs of the edge moulding to be squeezed towards one another and grip the edge 2a of the bumper 2.The screws 5 are then inserted through the holes 13 provided in the base of the channel and turned to screw into the material of the edge moulding and draw it further into the channel 4 to increase the effect of the cooperating wedge shapes on the clamping of the bumper edge to secure the latter.

As stated above Figure 3 is similar to Figure 1 but employs an alternative edge moulding la which is generally L-shaped in cross-section but again having grooves and slots (not shown) moulded in to increase flexibility and material economy.

In attaching the bumper 2 to the panel 3 in accordance with Figure 3, the edge moulding la having an overall slightly wedge-shaped cross-section and undulated surface 7 consistent with the corresponding portion of the edge moulding shown in Figure 2, is lightly adhered to the underside of the edge 2a of the bumper 2 to be attached to panel 3. A strip of adhesive tape 6a is applied along the upper surface of the edge 2a of the bumper 2 and the thus assembled bumper and edge moulding offered up in longitudinal alignment with the channel 4 and inserted to initially locate them in the channel and initiate the wedging action which is then increased by the insertion and tightening of the screws 5 in the same manner as described with reference to Figure 1.

It will be appreciated that alternative modes of assembly of the edge 2a of the bumper 2 to the edge mouldings 1 and la may be possible.

In all cases however, the assembly and attachment of the bumper to the panel is simple, efficient and effective and permits the gap between the bumper and the exposed panel portion 9 to be minimised while providing protection for the panel paintwork during attachment of the bumper thereto and thereafter when the vehicle is put into service.

Claims (9)

Claims

1. An arrangement for attaching a vehicle component to a vehicle body panel, the arrangment comprising an integrally formed generally U-shaped channel on the vehicle body panel, a flange on a component to be attached to the body panel, and a wedging member, the wedging member being shaped to receive the component flange and to fit into the channel such that when the wedging member and the component flange are slidably engaged between opposing walls of the channel, the flange is clamped against the edge of the component.

2. An arrangment as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the vehicle component is a bumper or bumper cover.

3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the component flange has an undulating surface on a side which, in use, contacts the wedging member.

4. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the surface of the wedging member which is in contact with the flange has a cooperating undulating surface form.

5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the wedging member has a groove formed in it foir receiving the flange.

6. An arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the wedging member has a relieved area in one surface for receiving the flange.

7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a threaded fastener is provided for drawing the wedging member into the channel and securing it therein.

8 An arrangement for attaching a vehicle component to a vehicle body panel, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. The combination of a wedging member and a vehicle component for use in an arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim.