GB2516086A

GB2516086A - Vehicle component for attachment to a vehicle panel

Info

Publication number: GB2516086A
Application number: GB1312421.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yunus Jabalpurwala
Original assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 2013-07-11
Filing date: 2013-07-11
Publication date: 2015-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-11
Also published as: GB201312421D0; GB2516086B

Abstract

A vehicle component (10, Figure 3) for attachment to a vehicle panel (26, Figure 3). the vehicle component (10) comprising a seal seat (22, Figure 1) defining a sealing plane and being adapted to be engaged by a seal (56, Figure 2) to be compressed between the vehicle component (10) and the vehicle panel(26). The vehicle component (10) further comprising a clamp which defines a fixing axis 16b at an angle, preferably substantially a right angle, to the sealing plane. The clamp comprising first 32 and second 34 clamping parts each having a respective clamping surface 36, 38 for clamping the vehicle panel (26) therebetween when the clamping parts are urged towards each other along the fixing axis 16b, wherein the clamping surfaces extend non-perpendicularly to the fixing axis. Preferably the first 32 and second 34 clamping parts are formed separately of the vehicle component (10). The clamp is also claimed as being formed separately of the vehicle component (10).

Description

{DESCRIPTION}

{TITLE}

VEHICLE COMPONENT FOR ATTACHMENT TO A VEHICLE PANEL

S {TECHNICAL FIELD}

The present invention relates to a vehicle component for attachment to a vehicle panel, such as a vehicle panel of an automobile.

{ BAG KG P0 UN D} Certain vehicle components are made separately of a vehicle and then fixed thereto during vehicle assembly, for example by being attached to a vehicle panel.

Vehicle components often include within them electrical components, for example a tail lamp component includes a lamp, control circuitry and associated electrical wiring. Such electrical components must be kept dry to ensure safe and efficient operation.

Electrical components may be individually sealed to prevent water interfering with the operation of the components. However, this increases the complexity of the electrical components, making them more expensive and more difficult to repair or replace. Additionally, sealing an electrical component prevents air flow through the component, which can cause problems with heat dissipation.

This is especially the case, for example, with light fittings, which generate significant heat output.

Instead, it is common to form "wet zones" and "dry zones" of the vehicle, with the electrical components being positioned in a dry zone. A wet zone is a region of the vehicle that is exposed to moisture from the outside of the vehicle. A dry zone is a region of the vehicle that is not exposed to moisture from outside of the vehicle, such as the interior of the vehicle.

In order to fit an electrical component of a vehicle component within a dry zone, a vehicle panel may include an opening that provides access to a dry zone, for example the vehicle interior. When the vehicle component is fixed to the vehicle panel, part of it will cover the opening with the electrical component being positioned within the dry zone. A seal surrounding the opening is compressed between the vehicle panel and the vehicle component to isolate the dry zone.

Ideally, the seal is compressed in a direction perpendicular to its sealing plane. Presently, in order to achieve this objective, when attaching a vehicle component in a sealed manner to a vehicle panel using fixing members such as stud bolts, the respective surface parts of the vehicle panel engaged by each of the fixing members are perpendicular to their respective fixing axes. This is usually accomplished by designing the vehicle panel to have planar surface parts at the S required fixing points which are perpendicular to the fixing axes. However this can require localised distortion of the vehicle panel shape to provide the planar surface parts, with sharp bends in the panel. This can result in thinning, and hence weakening, at the bends in the vehicle panel, which is often less than a millimetre thick. Moreover, with larger components, the distance between the fixing points on the vehicle panel may be relatively large, so that the localised distortion may then need to be greater to obtain the planar surface parts perpendicular to the fixing axes.

{SUMMARY}

Viewed from a first aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle component for attachment to a vehicle panel, the vehicle component comprising a seal seat defining a sealing plane and being adapted to be engaged by a seal to be compressed between the vehicle component and the vehicle panel, the vehicle component further comprising a clamp which defines a fixing axis at an angle to the sealing plane, and the clamp comprising first and second clamping parts each having a respective clamping surface for clamping the vehicle panel therebetween when the clamping parts are urged towards each other along the fixing axis, wherein the clamping surfaces extend non-perpendicularly to the fixing axis.

The vehicle component can be attached to a vehicle panel which, in the region of the fixing axis defined by the clamp, is not perpendicular thereto. In use, the clamping surfaces are to be positioned on opposing sides of the vehicle panel and a force applied along the fixing axis will urge them together so as to clamp the vehicle panel between them. By this arrangement, a force applied along a fixing axis is applied relatively evenly across the clamping surfaces to the vehicle panel.

It is not necessary to form the panel in the region of the fixing axis to be perpendicular thereto. This can avoid localised distortion of the vehicle panel shape, and hence the risk of thinning or tearing of the vehicle panel is reduced.

Thus, even when the vehicle panel, in the region of the fixing axis for attaching the component, is not perpendicular to the fixing axis, a force can still be applied along the fixing axis to effect clamping.

The fixing axis may be at a predetermined angle with respect to the sealing plane. The fixing axis may be substantially perpendicular to the sealing plane, i.e. the angle is substantially a right angle. When the fixing axis is substantially at a right angle to the sealing plane, the seal is not subjected to excessive shear forces S that could cause damage or render it ineffective.

Embodiments in which the clamp defines a fixing axis substantially at a right angle to the sealing plane are ideal. However, a right angle may not be necessary in all cases. If the fixing axis, and hence the direction of compression of the seal, is not at a right angle to the sealing plane, then lateral forces can arise in the seal that cause slipping or tearing of the seal. Different seals have different tolerances, depending for example on their material, thickness, width, etc. However, typical tolerances for the compression direction, above which the seal may become ineffective, may be between 5° and 15°from perpendicular.

In certain embodiments, therefore, the angle between the fixing axis and the sealing plane may be greater than 75° (i.e. less than 150 from perpendicular), or greater than 80° (i.e. less than 10°from perpendicular), or greater than 85° (i.e. less than 5° from perpendicular), or greater than 88° (i.e. less than 2° from perpendicular). The angle between the fixing axis and the sealing plane may be a right angle.

The first and second clamping parts may each be formed separately of the vehicle component.

In this arrangement, the clamp is therefore a separate component. This allows for existing vehicle components, designed to be mounted to a vehicle panel at a region thereof perpendicular to the fixing axis, to be easily modified to be mounted to a region of the vehicle panel that is not perpendicular to the fixing axis without redesigning the entire component.

As the clamp may be formed separately of the vehicle component, the present invention can be seen also to provide, in another aspect, a clamp for attaching a vehicle component to a vehicle panel, the clamp being formed separately of the vehicle component and defining a fixing axis, the clamp comprising first and second clamping parts each having a respective clamping surface for clamping the vehicle panel therebetween when the clamping parts are urged towards each other along the fixing axis, wherein the clamping surfaces extend non-perpendicularly to the fixing axis.

Alternatively, one of the clamping parts may be provided on the component with the other of the clamping parts being provided separately.

By providing one of the clamping parts on the vehicle component, for example by being bonded to or being formed integrally with the vehicle component, S the process of fixing the vehicle component to the vehicle panel then requires fewer steps as the vehicle component may simply be mounted directly in place on the vehicle panel. Whilst this requires the vehicle component to be designed specifically for a single application, it is not unusual for a vehicle components to be designed for a specific application, for example for a specific vehicle.

Whilst the seal seat of the vehicle component may be provided for various types of seal, in certain embodiments the seal seat defines a periphery of a dry zone of the vehicle component. It is important that a seal at the periphery between a dry zone and a wet zone of the vehicle component is correctly compressed so that there is no leakage.

The vehicle component may further comprise an electrical component provided within the dry zone of the vehicle component. When an electrical component is provided within the dry zone, it benefits from effective sealing to prevent water from reaching the component.

The fixing axis may be outside of the dry zone of the vehicle component.

This is useful when the overall size of the vehicle component is larger than that of the dry zone. Thus, for example, the fixing axis may be at one end portion of the vehicle component and the dry zone at an opposite end portion.

The vehicle component may define at least three fixing axes including the fixing axis of the clamp. Where the seal seat defines a periphery of the dry zone of the vehicle component, each of the fixing axes may be outside of the dry zone of the vehicle component.

The seal seat may comprise the surface of a rib. A pair of spaced ribs may be provided, each with a respective seal seat surface.

The vehicle component may comprise an elongate threaded member extending along the fixing axis.

The threaded member may be provided separately of the rest of the vehicle component. It may for example be a bolt which can screw into a corresponding threaded hole in the vehicle component. It may also, for example, be a bolt that passes through a bore in the vehicle component and is screwed into a nut on the other side thereof. In certain preferred embodiments, however, the threaded member has a fixed portion which is fixed to the vehicle component and a projecting portion which projects from the vehicle component. The threaded member may comprise a bolt, which may be a stud bolt.

An elongate threaded member, such as a bolt, is an effective means of S applying an adjustable clamping force along the fixing axis as it allows the clamping force to be gradually increased to a required level by tightening a threaded fastener, such as a nut, onto the elongate threaded member along the fixing axis.

Each clamping surface may be substantially planar. However, optionally, at least one or both of the clamping surfaces may be non-planar, for example curved.

In this specification, a curved clamping surface is considered to extend non-perpendicularly to the fixing axis even if it includes somewhere on the surface a normal line which is coincident with or parallel to the fixing axis.

Whilst the clamping surfaces may be provided by, for example, a moulded surface of the respective clamping part, this is not required. One of the clamping surfaces may be provided by a compliant member to be compressed against the vehicle panel. In certain embodiments, each of the clamping surfaces is provided by a respective compliant member to be compressed against the vehicle panel.

A compliant member will deform to more evenly distribute the force applied by the clamping surface to the vehicle panel. It may accommodate unevenness in the vehicle panel surface or even slight curvatures, allowing for the clamping surface to be a simple shape, for example a planar surface. Additionally, the compliant member may reduce damage to the vehicle panel from excessive clamping forces that could otherwise weaken the vehicle panel.

The vehicle component may comprise a clip for releasably fastening the clamping parts to one another. The clip may comprise first and second interengaging portions, each provided on a respective clamping part. One such portion may comprise an arm and a hook, and the other a stop engageable by the hook.

When both the clamping parts are formed separately of the vehicle component they can be conveniently clipped together as a pair, and then unclipped when they need to be positioned on opposite sides of the vehicle panel.

Furthermore, the clip may allow a clamp formed of separate clamping parts to be mounted to the vehicle panel and held in place by the clip. With one or more clamps thus mounted to the vehicle panel, as appropriate, the vehicle component can then simply be positioned and fastened to the vehicle panel, for example using simple nuts and bolts.

One clamping part may comprise a hollow member extending along the fixing axis and beyond its clamping surface, with the other clamping part being S adapted to receive the hollow member. The hollow member may be provided on either clamping part. The hollow member may be a tubular member.

The hollow member may act as a guide for a fixing member to pass along the fixing axis. The hollow member may also act as a positioning guide to align the clamping parts with one another and/or a hole in the vehicle panel. The hollow member may also be arranged to prevent relative rotation of the clamping parts, for example by the hollow member having a non-circular cross-section perpendicular to the fixing axis.

Furthermore, an outer profile of the hollow member viewed in the plane of the clamping surface preferably has no rotational symmetry. A corresponding hole in the vehicle panel may then also have no rotational symmetry. By virtue of this configuration, the hollow member can only be fitted through the hole in the vehicle panel in a single orientation. This configuration can therefore prevent inadvertent connection of the clamp in the wrong orientation.

In the embodiments in which a clip is provided for releasably fastening the clamping parts to one another, the hollow member may provide part of the clip, e.g. one of the first and second interengaging portions. If the clip comprises an arm, then this arm may be formed by a wall portion of the hollow member, for example.

One or both of the first and second clamping parts may include a plurality of structural ribs formed on a surface thereof, the structural ribs preferably extending substantially parallel with the fixing axis of the clamp. The plurality of ribs may include external structural ribs formed on an outer surface of the respective clamping part. The plurality of ribs may also or alternatively include internal structural ribs formed within a bore or recess of the respective clamping part. The use of structural ribs can increase the strength of the clamp in compression.

Whilst the seal may be provided on the vehicle panel, or even provided separately of both the vehicle component and vehicle panel, the vehicle component preferably comprises the seal which is to be compressed between the vehicle component and the vehicle panel.

Viewed from another aspect, the present invention can also be seen to provide apparatus comprising a vehicle component as described above mounted to a vehicle panel, wherein the vehicle panel is clamped between the first and second clamping parts, and wherein the seal is compressed between the vehicle component and the vehicle panel in the direction of the fixing axis.

S {BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS}

Certain preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: {FlG. 1} Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a tail lamp component; {FlG. 2} Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tail lamp component shown in Figure 1 including a seal; {Fl3. 3} Figure 3 is a cut-away perspective view showing a clamp of a tail lamp component shown in Figure 1 mounted to a vehicle panel; {FIG. 4} Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the fixing axis of the clamp shown in Figure 3; {FlG. 5} Figure 5 is an exploded view of the clamp shown in Figure 3; and {FlG. 6} Figure 6 shows a clamping surface of one of the clamping parts of the clamp shown in Figure 3.

{DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS}

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a tail lamp component 10, which is an embodiment of the vehicle component according to the invention. The tail lamp component 10 is designed to be mounted to a vehicle panel 26 (shown in Figure 3) of a motor vehicle (not shown), such as an automobile. The parts of the tail lamp components seen in Figure 1 are those parts that, in use, will face towards the vehicle panel 26, which is at the rear of the vehicle.

The tail lamp component 10 includes a main body 12, a lamp unit 14, and a plurality of fixing members 16, 17. The tail lamp component 10 defines a wet zone 18 and a dry zone 20, separated by a seal seat 22 (see Figure 1).

The plurality of fixing members 16, 17 comprises three fixing members 16, 17 (third fixing member not shown) in the form of stud bolts 16, 17. The use of at least three fixing members 16, 17 means that a stable sealing force can be applied to the seal. In use, the stud bolts 16, 17 mount the tail lamp component 10 to the S vehicle panel 26. The stud bolts 16, 17 are arranged to pass through corresponding holes in the vehicle panel 26 when tail lamp component 10 is mounted to the vehicle panel 26. The stud bolts 16, 17 are each provided outside of the dry zone 20.

The seal seat extends round the periphery of the dry zone 20 and comprises inner and outer ribs 22a, 22b. Surfaces 23a, 23b of the ribs 22a, 22b define a sealing plane.

Figure 2 shows the same perspective view of the tail lamp component 10 shown in Figure 1, but further showing a seal 56 provided on the seal seat 22. The shape of the seal 56 corresponds substantially to that of the surface of the seal seat 22. The seal 56 extends slightly beyond the edges of the ribs 22a, 22b of the seal seat 22. The seal 56 may be made from any suitable scaling material, such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber. An exemplary seal 56 is cut from a sheet of 5 mm EPDM rubber.

In use, the seal 56 is provided on the surfaces 23a, 23b of the seal seat 22 to be compressed between the surfaces 23a, 23b of the seal seat 22 and a corresponding surface of the vehicle panel 26. The seal 56 is compressed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sealing plane when the tail lamp component 10 is mounted to the vehicle panel 26, and will act to isolate the dry zone 20 from the wet zone 18 of the tail lamp component 10.

The lamp unit 14 is provided within the dry zone 20 of the tail lamp component 10. In use, the dry zone 20 of the tail lamp component 10 is connected with a dry zone of the vehicle via an opening in the vehicle panel 26. The lamp unit is therefore not required to be a sealed component, allowing for simpler cooling and maintenance.

Each stud bolt 16, 17 has a fixed portion 1 6a (see Figure 4) that is fixed within the tail lamp component 10 and a projecting portion 1Gb, 1 7b that projects away from the tail lamp component 10 along a fixing axis. Each of the fixing axes of the stud bolts 16, 17 is substantially perpendicular to the sealing plane of the tail lamp component 10 so as to apply a sealing force to the seal 56 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sealing plane.

Surfaces of the vehicle panel 26 corresponding to two of the stud bolts 17 (one of which is not shown, but is present on the opposite side of the lamp unit 14 from the visible stud bolt 17) are perpendicular to the respective fixing axes of the stud bolts 17. In use, those surfaces of the vehicle panel 26 rest against flanges 1 7c of the stud bolts 17 and nuts 55 are tightened against respective washers on the opposing surfaces of the vehicle panel 26 to clamp the vehicle panel 26 therebetween.

For stud bolt 16, the surface of the vehicle panel 26 local to the stud bolt 16 is not perpendicular to the fixing axis of the stud bolt 16. A clamp 30 is used to allow the stud bolt 16 to be attached to the vehicle panel 26 at this point. In use, a nut 54 is tightened onto the stud bolt 16 to clamp the vehicle panel 26 in the clamp 30.

Figure 3 shows the clamp 30 of the tail lamp component 10 mounted to a hem flange 27 of a vehicle panel 26, Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the clamp 30, and Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the clamp 30.

The clamp 30 comprises a first clamping pad 32 and a second clamping part 34. The first and second clamping parts 32, 34 each define a respective clamping surface, provided by respective compliant members 36, 36, to abut the vehicle panel 26.

The clamp 30 defines a fixing axis, corresponding to the fixing axis of the corresponding stud bolt 16. The fixing axis is defined by a central axis of a bore extending through the first and second clamping pads 32, 34, and through which the projecting portion 1 6b of the stud bolt 16 will, in use, pass. Each of the clamping surfaces is non-perpendicular with the fixing axis of the clamp 30 and corresponds substantially to the respective surface of the vehicle panel 26 to which it will, in use, abut.

The first clamping part 32 includes a hollow tube 40. This extends along the fixing axis from the first clamping pad 32 towards the second clamping pad 32. The hollow tube 40 is thus aligned with the bore of the clamp 30. The second clamping part 34 includes a corresponding recess adapted to receive the hollow tube 40.

The hollow tube 40 acts to position the first and second clamping parts 32, 34 with respect to one another. The hollow tube 40 has a non-circular cross-section and the corresponding recess is configured to prevent relative rotation of the first and second clamping parts 32, 34. In particular, the hollow tube has two flattened side surfaces, which are engaged by corresponding wall portions of the recess.

In use, the hollow tube 40 extends through a hole in the vehicle panel 26 and the projecting portion 1 6c of the stud bolt 16 passes through the hollow tube 40. The hollow tube 40 is designed so that an outer profile of the hollow tube 40, when a section is taken in a plane of the clamping surfaces of the clamping part 32, has no rotational symmetry. This is achieved by the flattened side surfaces being non-parallel with one another. The corresponding hole in the hem flange 27 of the vehicle panel 26 has substantially the same shape as the outer profile. Thus, the shapes of the hollow tube 40 and the corresponding hole ensure that the clamp 30 can only be attached to the vehicle panel 26 in the correct orientation.

Figure 6 shows the shape of the clamping surface of compliant seal member 36 of the first clamping part 32. The compliant member 36 includes a hole 42 through which the hollow member 40 projects. The periphery of the hole 42 corresponds to the outer profile of the section of the hollow tube 40 taken along the clamping surfaces of the seal member 36. As can been seen in Figure 6, the hole 42 includes flattened edges 44, 46 that taper towards one another (towards the right in Figure 6), i.e. corresponding to the flattened surfaces of the hollow tube 40.

The hole 42 can therefore be seen to have no rotational symmetry.

Returning to Figures 4 and 5, a clip is provided for releasably fixing the first and second clamping parts 32, 34 to one another. The clip has a first portion 48 comprising an arm 48a and a hook 48b. The arm 48a cantilevers forwardly from a base of the first clamping part 32, and the hook 48b is provided at the forward end of the arm 48a. The clip has a second portion 50 in the form of a stop 50 formed on the second clamping part 34. When the first and second clamping parts 32, 34 are brought together, the hook 48b of the clip engages the corresponding stop 50 formed on the second clamping part 34. The clip is arranged so that, in use, the arm 48a extends through the hole in the vehicle panel 26.

The length of the arm 48a of the clip is such that, when the hook 48b engages with the stop 50, the clamping surfaces are separated by a distance slightly larger than a thickness of the vehicle panel 26. This allows the clip to be used for smaller thicknesses of panels too, as the clip only needs to serve a positioning function; the clip does not provide any clamping force on the clamp 30.

The clip can be used to hold the clamping parts 32, 34 together to prevent the clamping parts 32, 34 from becoming unintentionally separated from one another before the vehicle component 10 is mounted to the vehicle panel 26.

Furthermore, the clip can also be used to hold the clamp 30 in place on the vehicle panel 26 before the tail lamp component 10 is mounted to the vehicle panel 26.

The clip first portion 48 is provided in a corresponding cut-out of the hollow tube 40 such that the arm 48a of the first portion 48 of the clip forms a wall portion of the hollow tube. In this embodiment, the arm 48a of the first portion 48 of the clip forms one of the flattened surfaces of the hollow tube 40.

The bore in the second clamping part 34 includes a notch 52 aligned with the stop 50, i.e. the bore in the second clamping part 34 has a keyhole shape. The keyhole shape allows a tool (not shown), such as a screwdriver, to be inserted into the notch 52 to release the hook 4Gb from the stop 50 and thereby release the first and second clamping parts 32, 34.

The first and second clamping parts 32, 34 each include a plurality of external structural ribs 58, 60 formed respectively on outer surfaces thereof. The external structural ribs 58, 60 each extend in a direction substantially parallel with the fixing direction of the clamp 30 and thereby increase the strength of the clamp in compression.

The second clamping part 34 further includes a plurality of internal structural ribs 62 formed within the recess. The internal structural ribs 62 also extend substantially parallel with the fixing direction of the clamp 30 and also further increase the strength of the clamp 30 in compression. The internal structural ribs 62 help to overcome the reduced wall thickness of the second clamping part 34 due to the recess.

The following method describes the mounting of the tail lamp component 10 to the vehicle panel 26 using the clamp 30.

The tail lamp component 10 is manufactured separately of the vehicle panel 26 and must therefore be fastened to the vehicle panel 26 during assembly of the vehicle.

The tail lamp component 10 is provided with a clamp 30 for one of the stud bolts 16. The clamp 30 may be already on the bolt 16, loosely held, or may be provided separately. The first and second clamping parts 32, 34 of the clamp are first separated from one another by inserting a tool into the notch 52 so as to release the hook 4Gb of the clip first portion 48 from the stop 50.

The first clamping part 32 is positioned on one side of the vehicle panel 26 with the clamping surface positioned against a surface of the vehicle panel 26. The hollow tube 40 extends through the corresponding hole in the vehicle panel 26.

The asymmetrical shapes of the profile of the hollow tube 40, when viewed in the plane of the clamping surface, and of the corresponding hole in the vehicle panel 26 ensure that the clamp 30 is positioned in the correct orientation.

The second clamping part 34 is positioned on the other side of the vehicle panel 26 with its clamping surface against the surface of the vehicle panel. The hollow tube 40 extends into the second clamping part 34 to position the first and second clamping parts 32, 34 with respect to one another. The clip first portion 48 of the first clamping part 32 engages with the second clamping part 34 holding the first and second clamping pads 32, 34 loosely in place against the vehicle panel 26.

Once clipped to one another through the hole in the vehicle panel 26, the first and second clamping parts 32, 34 will remain in position without needing to be held.

The seal 56 is positioned between the tail lamp component 10 and the vehicle panel 26; the seal 56 may be pre-mounted on the seal seat 22 of the tail lamp component 10 during manufacture of the tail lamp component 10.

The tail lamp component 10 is then positioned with respect to the vehicle panel 26. The projecting portion 16b, 17b of each stud bolt 16, 17 is passed through the respective hole in the vehicle panel 26. Where the clamp 30 is clipped to the vehicle panel 26, the projecting portion 1 6b of the respective stud bolt 16 is passed through the respective hole via the bore of the clamp 30.

When positioned against the vehicle panel 26, the seal 56 surrounds the opening to the dry zone of the vehicle. The seal 56 therefore defines a periphery between the dry zone 18 and the wet zone 20 of the tail lamp component 10. The lamp unit 14 is thus positioned within the dry zone 18 and extends through the opening of the vehicle panel 18 into the dry zone of the vehicle.

The tail lamp component 10 is then urged towards the vehicle panel 26 by tightening nuts 55 onto the stud bolts 17 and nut 54 onto stud bolt 16. Where the part of the vehicle panel 26 at the fixing point is perpendicular to the fixing axis (in the case of the stud bolts 17), the urging clamps the vehicle panel between the flange 1 7c of the stud bolt 17 and a corresponding nut 55, or optionally a washer or the like. Where the vehicle panel is not perpendicular to the fixing axis (in the case of stud bolt 16), the urging compresses the clamp 30 between the corresponding nut 54 and the flange 16c of the stud bolt 16, which in turn urges the first and second clamping parts 32, 34 towards one another, clamping the vehicle panel 26 between the respective clamping surfaces 32, 34.

The tail lamp component 10 may thus be attached to a vehicle panel 26 using a force in a direction perpendicular to the sealing plane. Thus, a seal compressed in that plane experiences only compressive force, and is not subject to shearing forces that can cause slipping or tearing of the seal.

S Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other embodiments are also within the scope of the invention.

For example, the described tail lamp component 10 is merely an example of a vehicle component. The invention encompasses other vehicle components to be attached to vehicle panels, such as other light fitting components, spoilers, etc. Furthermore, whilst the clamp 30 is described as being formed separately of the vehicle component in the described embodiment, it will be understood that either the first or second clamping part 32, 34 may be formed on or integrally with the vehicle component. Also, the features of the first or second clamping parts 32, 34 may be interchanged between one another, for example the clip first portion 48 and/or the hollow tube 40 may be formed instead on the second clamping part 34, with the stop 50 and/or recess then being formed on the first clamping pad 32.

Yet further, whilst the described fixing members are stud bolts 16, 17, it will be understood that other fixing members may be used including various threaded members, such as a headed bolt or a screw, as well as various non-threaded fixing devices such as clips, etc. Also, whilst the described vehicle component includes three fixing members (stud bolts 16, 17 and another like stud bolt 17 but not shown) and one clamp 30, it will be understood that any number of fixing members may be used, as determined by the particular component, and that a clamp as described may be used for any one or more of such fixing members, as determined by the shape of the vehicle panel.

Additionally, whilst the seal seat 22 is shown as comprising inner and outer ribs 22a, 22b, the respective surfaces 23a, 23b thereof defining the sealing plane, a seal seat may be provided comprising a component with a single surface defining the sealing plane.

The invention is therefore not to be seen as being limited to the described embodiment, but should be understood to include all embodiments falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

{CLAIMS} 1. A vehicle component for attachment to a vehicle panel, the vehicle component comprising a seal seat defining a sealing plane and being adapted to be S engaged by a seal to be compressed between the vehicle component and the vehicle panel, the vehicle component further comprising a clamp which defines a fixing axis at an angle to the sealing plane, and the clamp comprising first and second clamping parts each having a respective clamping surface for clamping the vehicle panel therebetween when the clamping parts are urged towards each other along the fixing axis, wherein the clamping surfaces extend non-perpendicularly to the fixing axis.
2. A vehicle component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing axis is substantially perpendicular to the sealing plane.
3. A vehicle component as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the first and second clamping parts is formed separately of the vehicle component.
4. A vehicle component as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein one of the clamping parts is provided on the component and the other of the clamping parts is provided separately.
5. A vehicle component as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the seal seat defines a periphery of a dry zone of the vehicle component.
6. A vehicle component as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fixing axis is outside of the dry zone of the vehicle component.
7. A vehicle component as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an elongate threaded member extending along the fixing axis.
8. A vehicle component as claimed in claim 7, wherein the threaded member has a fixed portion which is fixed to the vehicle component and a projecting portion which projects from the vehicle component.
9. A vehicle component as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the threaded member comprises a bolt.
10. A vehicle component as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein each S clamping surface is substantially planar.
11. A vehicle component as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one of the clamping surfaces is non-planar.
12. A vehicle component as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the clamping surfaces is provided by a compliant member to be compressed against the vehicle panel.
13. A vehicle component as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a clip for releasably fastening the clamping parts to one another.
14. A vehicle component as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one clamping part comprises a hollow member extending along the fixing axis and beyond its clamping surface, and the other clamping part is adapted to receive the hollow member.
15. A vehicle component as claimed in claim 14, wherein an outer profile of the hollow member viewed in a plane of the clamping surface has no rotational symmetry.
16. A vehicle component as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the first and second clamping parts includes structural ribs formed on a surface thereof, the structural ribs extending substantially parallel with the fixing axis of the clamp.
17. A vehicle component as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising the seal to be compressed between the vehicle component and the vehicle panel, the seal being provided on the seal seat in the sealing plane.
18. Apparatus comprising a vehicle component as claimed in any preceding claim mounted to a vehicle panel, wherein the vehicle panel is clamped between the first and second clamping parts, and a seal is compressed between the vehicle component and the vehicle panel in the direction of the fixing axis.S
19. A clamp for attaching a vehicle component to a vehicle panel, the clamp being formed separately of the vehicle component and defining a fixing axis, the clamp comprising first and second clamping parts each having a respective clamping surface for clamping the vehicle panel therebetween when the clamping parts are urged towards each other along the fixing axis, wherein the clamping surfaces extend non-perpendicularly to the fixing axis.
20. A vehicle component for attachment to a vehicle panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
21. A clamp for attaching a vehicle component to a vehicle panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.