GB2345514A

GB2345514A - Vehicle exhaust tailpipe finisher mounting arrangement with concealed fastener

Info

Publication number: GB2345514A
Application number: GB9900111A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Terence Hughes; Robert Jackson
Original assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 1999-01-06
Filing date: 1999-01-06
Publication date: 2000-07-12
Also published as: GB9900111D0

Abstract

A finisher may enable the visible appearance of an exhaust system of a standard motor vehicle to mimic that of a more powerful or sporty motor vehicle. However, upon closer inspection one clue that reveals that the exhaust system is that of a standard motor vehicle is the presence of a head of a threaded fastener that has been used to secure the finisher to the exhaust pipe. In exhaust systems that do not include a finisher, this feature is not present, since there is no need to pass a threaded fastener into the exhaust pipe. A finisher mounting 30 is disclosed comprising an internally threaded ring 32 for mounting between an inner aperture 40 of an inner finisher member 6 and an outer aperture 42 of an outer finisher member 4, and a threaded member 34 for passing through the outer aperture, threading through the ring and passing through the inner aperture, such that in use the threaded member does not extend beyond the outer aperture.

Description

Finisher Mounting The present invention relates to a mounting for a finisher for a motor vehicle exhaust or tailpipe and to a finisher including such a mounting.

Finishers are typically provided to improve the aesthetic appearance of the exhaust assembly of a motor vehicle where it is visible to those outside the motor vehicle, for example that part of the exhaust system that extends beyond a rear portion of the motor vehicle. Sometimes, finishers are provided to enhance the perceived value or performance of a motor vehicle. For example, a finisher may enable the visible appearance of an exhaust system of a standard motor vehicle to mimic that of a more powerful or sporty motor vehicle.

However, upon closer inspection there are normally clues that reveal that the exhaust system is that of a standard motor vehicle. Finishers are attached to a free end of an exhaust system. One clue is the presence of a head of a threaded fastener that has been used to secure the finisher to the exhaust pipe. In exhaust systems that do not include a finisher, this feature is not present, since there is no need to pass a threaded fastener into the exhaust pipe.

It is an advantage of the present invention that it seeks to eliminate or reduce these problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a finisher mounting comprises an internally threaded ring for mounting between an inner aperture of an inner finisher member and an outer aperture of an outer finisher member, and a threaded member for passing through the outer aperture, threading through the ring and passing through the inner aperture such that in use the threaded fastener does not extend beyond the outer aperture.

Preferably the ring is to be securely mounted on the inner finisher member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention a finisher for a motor vehicle exhaust pipe comprises an inner finisher member, an outer finisher member and a finisher mounting according to a first aspect of the present invention.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figure, Figure 1 which shows in section a finisher including a finisher mounting according to the present invention.

A finisher 2 comprising an outer tubular finisher member 4 and an inner tubular finisher member 6 is shown. The outer tubular member 4 comprises a longitudinal axis 8 extending between a first end 10 of the outer tubular sleeve member and a second end 12. The inner tubular member 6 is located within the outer tubular sleeve member.

The inner tubular member 6 comprises an annular tube, an internal diameter of which is sized to fit around a free end 22 of a motor vehicle exhaust pipe 20. An opening is formed in a portion of an outer surface of the inner tubular member is removed, by cutting or any other suitable method. The finisher is conveniently secured to the free end 22 of the exhaust pipe by way of a concealed finisher mounting 30.

An internally threaded ring 32 is securely mounted to an inner surface 16 of the inner tubular member 6 by way of the opening formed in the inner tubular member prior to assembly of the finisher. The ring 32 is mounted over an inner aperture 40 formed in the inner tubular member. The ring 32 may be welded to the inner tubular member or otherwise secured by any other suitable means. An outer aperture 42 is provided in the outer tubular member which after assembly of the finisher is located over the ring.

A threaded member 34, for example a grub screw, is then passed through the outer aperture 42 and the opening, threaded through the ring 32 and passed through the inner aperture 40. In use, the threaded member may then be driven to engage with an outer surface 24 of the exhaust pipe 20 to secure the finisher to the exhaust pipe. The threaded member is of a size such that when holding the finisher 2 in position it does not extend beyond or out of the outer aperture, that is the threaded member does not extend beyond an outer surface 14 of the outer tubular sleeve member and does not interrupt the line of the outer surface of the finisher.

By the use of the present invention, instead of a head of a fastener, only the aperture in the outer tubular sleeve member through which the fastener passes that will indicate that the exhaust system is provided with a finisher, and is not, in fact, the exhaust system that it seems to be. While there may be other clues, at a first brief inspection a head of a finisher mounting is not visible, and so there is one less clue that the exhaust system is not the one that it first appears to be.

Further, while the fastener may become heated due to contact with the heated exhaust pipe, it will be difficult for the fastener to be touched by unprotected hands since it is located beneath the level of the outer surface of the finisher.

In addition, a finisher mounted to a vehicle exhaust pipe in this way creates an air gap between the thin walIi of the exhaust pipe finisher and the exhaust tailpipe making the outer surface of the finisher cooler than in known finishers and so less hazardous totouch by unprotected skin. The reduced temperature of the outer surface of the finisher also reduces the likelihood of contamination of the exhaust pipe finisher with road tar. Known bright exhaust finishers can suffer discoloration due to the high temperatures to which they are subject. For example blue or straw colouring of such finishers may be due to oxidation of the stainless steel from which such finishers may be manufactured. The cooler outer skin of a finisher secured in the manner of the present invention will be less prone to this problem.

It will be understood that the finisher mounting of the present invention may be used with finishers other than that illustrated.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A finisher mounting comprising an internally threaded ring for mounting between an inner aperture of an inner finisher member and an outer aperture of an outer finisher member, and a threaded member for passing through the outer aperture, threading through the ring and passing through the inner aperture such that in use the threaded fastener does not extend beyond the outer aperture.
2. A finisher mounting according to claim 1, characterised in that the ring is securely mounted on the inner finisher member.
3. A finisher mounting substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1.
4. A finisher for a motor vehicle exhaust pipe comprises an inner finisher member and an outer finisher member characterised in that it further comprises a finisher mounting according to any of claims 1 to 3.