GB2610898A

GB2610898A - Mounted panels and methods for installation thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2610898A
Application number: GB2208326.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Venis Paul; Kubiak Monika
Original assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Current assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Priority date: 2021-06-07
Filing date: 2022-06-07
Publication date: 2023-03-22
Also published as: GB202108111D0; GB202208326D0

Abstract

A product comprising a supporting structure 101 to which is attached: (a) at least one panel 102 having a perimeter, a first surface facing substantially towards the supporting structure, and a second surface facing substantially away from the supporting structure, and (b) a flexible, elongate member 103, having a first face and a second face, from which projects one or more protrusions 106, wherein one or more of the protrusions have spaces therebetween (201, Fig.3a), wherein at least part of the perimeter of the panel abuts the first or second face of the elongate member to define the path of the elongate member in that part of the perimeter of the panel, wherein at least a portion of the path of the elongate member in this part of the perimeter of the panel is non-linear. Also described is a method of making the product and its application to a vehicle door.

Description

Mounted Panels and Methods for Installation Thereof The cabins of automobiles and particularly cars have evolved into a space that fulfils multiple roles for the occupants. While a primary function of a vehicle cabin is allowing the user to control the vehicle, the environment that the driver and passengers travel in are increasingly important. Vehicle fittings, furniture and equipment have been developed to cater to these needs and improve and/or maintain a suitable and pleasant environment The primary advantage of a vehicle is the ease of travel which it provides. Part of the ease and convenience of travel stems from the security, safety and comfort during travel provided by the vehicle cabin. The cabin is the interface between the user of the vehicle and the machinery thereof. Thus the cabin is, ideally, designed to match human ergonomics and a comfortable cabin is considered essential, or at least highly desirable, in the vast majority of modern vehicles.

A part of providing a comfortable cabin is insulation and suitable coverings of the interior surfaces of the cabin. Such coverings, which might include upholstery or textiles, provide insulation from temperature changes and from noise. With respect to noise, the noise may be external (e.g. engine noise, road noise, or events external to the car) or can serve to absorb noise generated in the cabin.

In addition the cabin must be unsealed on demand to allow entry and exit of the vehicle user, i.e. there must be doors to the cabin. Furthermore, switchgear, conduits for climate control and other vehicle controls terminate in the cabin. Necessarily, relatively large areas of widely varying shape and contour need to be covered with fabric, such as leather or textile.

Thus subassemblies covered with fabric have been designed and long been used to furnish the interior of vehicle cabins. Installation of such panels has hitherto been via various means. These means normally require fixing of the panel to the supporting substructure of the car, e.g. a door, via mechanical fixings or adhesives. Necessarily replacement of panels installed by these means is difficult, particularly because the fixation means need to be concealed behind the fabric-covered panel. -2 -

Accordingly, replacement of such fabric covered panels can easily lead to their being damaged and the panel having to be replaced or re-covered with fabric (or otherwise refurbished). This is inefficient and expensive in terms of resources expended and the time required by skilled workers.

A commonly used element of the interior textiles and fabrics of car interiors is fabric:piping-. These thin elongate rolls of fabric are mounted on upholstered objects and between panels of fabric to protect the edges of such panels, and for aesthetic effect. 10 Thus there exists a need for products and methods that allow the installation and replacement of fabric covered panels in the interior of automobiles without the panel being damaged. This would ideally yield ease of installation and ease of access to automobile systems and components normally concealed behind the panel when it is installed.

Convenient removal and replacement of such interior panels would thus allow simplified maintenance an upgrading of engineering components housed behind such panels. For example, speakers and ancillary parts of systems for playing recorded, streamed or broadcast sounds, such as music and/or speech. Such simplified removal and replacement might also avoid damage to the fabric of the panel during such a process so that the panel would not need to be re-covered or otherwise refurbished each time it is removed.

Therefore it is an object of the invention to provide products and methods for the more convenient installation and replacement of fabric covered panels in the interior of automobiles. It is a further object of the invention to provide products and methods that allow installation or replacement of such a panel without it being damaged.

The present invention aims to overcome each of these problems.

Accordingly, the invention provides a product comprising: a supporting structure to which is attached: -3 - (a) at least one panel having a perimeter, a first surface facing substantially towards the supporting structure, and a second surface facing substantially away from the supporting structure, and (b) a flexible, elongate member, having a first face and a second face, from which projects one or more protrusions, wherein one or more of the protrusions have spaces therebetween, wherein at least part of the perimeter of the panel abuts the first or second face of the elongate member to define the path of the elongate member in that part of the perimeter of the panel, wherein at least a portion of the path of the elongate member in this part of the perimeter of the panel is non-linear.

The supporting structure may have a cavity or indentation with a perimeter wall for accommodating the components (a) and (b) of the product wherein the cavity may have a perimeter wall and the first face of the elongate member abuts the perimeter of the panel and the second face of the elongate member abuts the perimeter wall of the cavity or indentation.

Thus the shape of the supporting structure may co-operate with or match the shape of the perimeter of the panel. These co-operating or matching structures preferably accommodate the elongate member being installed along all or a part of the perimeter of the panel.

The invention also provides a method of installing a panel in a cooperating location on a supporting structure with an elongate member located between all or part of the perimeter of the panel and the supporting structure, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a panel having a perimeter; b) providing a supporting structure having a cavity or indentation having a perimeter wall for accommodating the panel, c) affixing a flexible, elongate member, having a first face and a second face, from which projects one or more protrusions, wherein one or more of the protrusions have spaces therebetween, to the perimeter of the panel or the perimeter wall of the supporting structure; -4 -d) installing the panel on the supporting structure such that the first face of the elongate member abuts at least part of the perimeter of the panel, and the second face of the elongate member abuts a corresponding part of the perimeter wall of the cavity or indentation, wherein at least a portion of the path of the elongate member in this part of the perimeter of the panel is non-linear.

Thus the invention provides a method of making the product of the invention defined above.

Accordingly, the invention also provides a method of removing a panel in a cooperating location on a supporting structure with an elongate member located between all or part of the perimeter of the panel and the supporting structure, the method comprising the steps of: a) Providing the product of the invention described above; and b) removing the panel from the supporting structure by moving and/or deforming the panel such that the first face of the elongate member no longer abuts the perimeter of the panel.

The deformation involved in the removal of the panel may be temporary. Preferably the panel is biased to return to its original shape.

Necessarily the aspects of the invention providing installation and removal of a panel in a cooperating location on a supporting structure can be combined to yield a method of replacement of a panel in such a cooperating location on a supporting structure.

Preferably, such replacement is achieved without damage to the panel. Alternatively, and advantageously, a different but compatible panel may be retrofitted to the supporting structure to replace the original panel. Thus, advantageously, panels can be serviceable while a replacement panel is installed. This is a particular advantage if the panel is of bespoke design and requires removal for, for example, refurbishment but allows the vehicle to continue to be used with a temporary replacement panel. -5

These methods of installation, refurbishment and replacement are simpler to achieve reliably than those known previously and thus may be carried out by a less skilled worker.

Accordingly, the invention provides a solution to the problems described above. That is, the invention provides products and methods for the more convenient installation and replacement of fabric covered panels in the interior of automobiles. The invention also provides products and methods that allow installation or replacement of such a panel without it being damaged.

All or a portion of the path of the elongate member may be defined by its being abutted on the first and second faces by the perimeter of the panel and the perimeter wall of the supporting structure, respectively.

Preferably the perimeter wall is perpendicular to the plane of the supporting structure.

The product may comprise multiple elongate members. Preferably the different elongate members are installed at different positions along the perimeter of the panel. The separate elongate members may be installed so that they run contiguously along a section of the perimeter, or they may be installed discontinuously, i.e. with gaps between their termini.

The product may comprise multiple panels. Preferably elongate members are installed between adjoining panels.

The elongate member may be substantially planar, i.e. the first and second faces of the elongate member are substantially parallel.

Thus the shape of the supporting structure may co-operate with or match the shape of the perimeter of the panel. These co-operating or matching structures preferably accommodate the elongate member being installed along all or a part of the perimeter of the panel. -6 -

The supporting structure may be a door carrier, preferably for an automobile. The panel may be a door carrier, preferably for an automobile A door carrier is a subassembly of an automobile that provides an internal frame to 5 which components such as door handles and window regulators are attached to create a unified product for installation Thus products of the invention may be for use in an automobile, preferably in a door of an automobile.

Products of the invention may be for installation in an automobile, preferably in a door of an automobile.

A product of the invention may be installed in an automobile according to a method of the invention.

Therefore the invention provides an automobile or other vehicle comprising a product of the invention.

Thus the invention encompasses elongate members with a substantially L-shaped profile having one substantially contiguous vertical arm and a discontinuous second arm. That is, one arm provides a continuous section of material and the other arm is has spaces or gaps in the arm. Accordingly, the continuous arm is able to flex or bend away from a linear path and position of the discontinuous material defines spaces or gaps allow the discontinuous portions of the second arm to move away from or further or closer together to accommodate this movement away from the linear path.

Thus the invention also encompasses elongate members with a substantially L-shaped profile having one substantially contiguous vertical arm and a discontinuous second arm, wherein one arm provides a continuous section of material and the other arm has slices, cuts or gaps in the arm. Accordingly, the continuous arm is able to flex or bend away from a linear path and the size and position of the gaps in the material allows the discontinuous portions of the second arm to move further apart to accommodate this movement away from the linear path. -7 -

Preferably the elongate member bends so the non-linear path it then defines lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first face.

The one or more protrusions may project substantially perpendicularly from the first or second face. This has the advantage of maintaining the protrusions alignment in the same plane when the elongate member is bent according to a non-linear path Similarly the invention encompasses elongate members with a substantially T-shaped profile, wherein the:vertical-arm is contiguous and the two:horizontal arms ofthe T profile are discontinuous.

The product may have a constant width along its length. Accordingly, the cross-sectional profile of the product may be invariant Alternatively, the width of the continuous section of material may vary.

The extremity of the arm of the continuous section of material of the elongate member may have a retaining structure attached along all or part of its length or formed as a part of the elongate member along all or part of its length.

The retaining structure may be of greater width than the material of the elongate member, the retaining structure may protrude above the plane of the panel installed in the supporting structure along part or all of the length of the elongate member. The retaining structure may overlap the edge of the panel, preferably the retaining structure overhangs the edge of the panel.

The addition of such retaining means has the advantage of allowing the arm of the elongate member to protrude above the plane of the panel and overhang the edge of the panel thus blocking passage of the panel past the retaining means and thus keeping the panel installed in the cavity or indentation in the supporting structure.

The retaining structure may be substantially a cylinder with an axis following the course of the length of the elongate member. In this way the cylindrical retaining structure may resemble 'piping_ that is frequently used as a protective means for -8 -covering the join or seems between panels of material covered with textiles or leather. The piping may be 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm or 5 mm in diameter. Preferably the piping is 3 mm in diameter. Such piping can also be used for decorative effect. Accordingly, the cylinder may continuously or discontinuously follow the course of the length of the elongate member.

The retaining means may be made of leather, plastics material, woven cloth, nonwoven cloth or other textile. The retaining means may comprise woven carbon fibre, preferably the woven carbon fibre is comprised in a composite material, most preferably this is a flexible composite material. Preferably the retaining means is made of leather or plastics material.

Similarly, retaining structures of alternative forms may be installed at the extremity of the arm of the continuous section of the material of the elongate member and continuously or discontinuously follow the course of the length of the elongate member.

Such alternative forms of retaining structure might include square, triangular, hexagonal or pentagonal prisms. Such prisons might necessarily be longitudinally aligned with the course of the length of the elongate member. Other alternative forms of retaining structure might be spheres, other geometric solids or three-dimensional shapes arranged ordistributed along the course of the length of the elongate member.

The product may comprise a multiplicity of separate projections of material in the discontinuous arm of the elongate member. That is, there may be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100, or more projections.

Advantageously, strength and resilience for the product is provided by the continuous section and so the length of the product and the number of projections is not limited.

The projections from the product may be of any form to accommodate a non-linear path that the elongate member is bent into. Preferably the projections are triangular, rectangular, trapezoid, square or polygonal. Most preferably the projections are triangular, rectangular or trapezoid. -9 -

The projections may be substantially planar. Thus the projections may be of consistent thickness. This yields the advantage of allowing predicable and reliable fitting of the member to the supporting structure and/or panel. Such consistency along the length of the member also has the advantage that the elongate member may be cut to a desired length for fitting to the supporting structure and/or panel because of the reliable characteristics of the elongate member along its length.

Preferably the projections are arranged as a regular array. There may be regular spacing between the projections. That is, the projections may be in the form of castellations. Regular spacing yields the advantage of simplicity of manufacture. Simplicity of manufacture also yields reliability of manufacture and thus consistent quality of product. Regular spacing of the projections also yields consistent levels of flexibility along the length of the elongate member allowing predicable and reliable fitting of the member to the supporting structure and/or panel. Such consistency along the length of the member also has the advantage that the elongate member may be cut to a desired length for fitting to the supporting structure and/or panel because of the reliable characteristics of the elongate member along its length.

Alternatively, the spacing between the projections may be variable. Varying the spacing between projections has the advantage of providing additionally flexible areas of the elongate member in areas with extended space between projections in order to follow non-linear paths whilst retaining the stability of form provided by the lengths of the elongate member with projections. Thus particular designs of elongate member may be provided for particular installation locations and to allow installation in the context of more complex shapes of supporting structure and panel.

In a case wherein the projections are triangular or trapezoid there may be no space between the bases of the projections arranged along the length of the elongate member. This has the advantage allowing the elongate member to flex in a plane perpendicular to the first face and/or second face of the elongate member such that the spacing between the triangular spaces between the projections widen or narrow to accommodate the degree of flexing. This has the further advantage of each -10 -projection providing an attachment point whilst still maintaining flexibility of the elongate member in the area where an attachment point is provided.

The material of the elongate member may be perforated with holes therethrough.

Preferably the holes are circular. Preferably the perforations are through the portions of the elongate member forming the projections. Most preferably there is a perforation in each projection. These features have the advantage of providing attachment points for the elongate member to the support structure and/or the panel. Uniformity and/or regularity in the pattern of perforation of the projections yields the advantage of simplicity of manufacture. Simplicity of manufacture also yields reliability of manufacture and thus consistent quality of product Uniformity and/or regularity in the pattern of perforation of the projections also yields predicable and reliable fitting of the member to the supporting structure and/or panel. Such consistency along the length of the member also has the advantage that the elongate member may be cut to a desired length for fitting to the supporting structure and/or panel because of the reliable characteristics of the elongate member along its length.

The elongate member may be attached to the supporting structure or panel using an adhesive.

The elongate member may be attached to the supporting structure or panel via perforations in the elongate member. Preferably the attachment is via perforations in one or more projections from the elongate member. Attachment many be achieved by aligning the perforations in the projections with cooperating holes or perforations in the panel or supporting structure and passing a fixing apparatus therethrough. The fixing apparatus may comprise a shaft and a head portion of greater radius. Thus the fixing apparatus can rest in the aligned holes without falling through and thus maintain the relative positions of the elongate member, and the panel or supporting structure. Preferably the shaft of the fixing apparatus comprises on or more barbs to provide a ratchet surface on the shaft so that the pawls of the ratchet prevent removal of the fixing apparatus from the aligned holes. This form of fixing apparatus has the advantages of being installed simply by pushing the ratchet portion through the aligned holes. A further advantage is the fixing apparatus can be simply and/or cheaply made of resilient plastics material. Other fixing apparatus are envisaged, including a threaded bolt passing through the aligned holes and secured in place with a cooperating threaded nut Preferably the fixing apparatus is made of plastics material in order that it might be suitable for one use and then disposal thereof should the elongate member need replacing.

The panel may be made of or comprise metal, plastics material, composites material, ceramics material, textile, or leather. The plastics material may be thermosetting or thermoplastic material. The metal may be steel, aluminium or titanium. The panel may be made of a combination of the materials described herein. Preferably the panel is made predominantly from one of these materials.

The panel may be formed from a precursor material substrate by a multiplicity of different methods including moulding, injection moulding, thermoforming, machining, carving, hydraulic pressing, 3-D printing, lamination of composite materials, combining and shaping composites materials before curing same.

Preferably the panel is substantially rigid or semirigid. However, advantageously, the panel may also be resilient to the extent that the structure of the panel may abut the elongate member and the perimeter of the cavity or indentation such that the resilience of the panel holds the panel in its installed position in the supporting structure by virtue of the compression of the panel and the consequent restoring force that maintains pressure on the elongate member and/or perimeter of the cavity or indentation.

Alternatively, the restoring force maintains the shape of the panel such that it cannot pass the retaining means abutting part or all of the perimeter of the panel. The advantage of the panel being resilient to this extent is that additional fixing means apart from the elongate member may not be required. This has additional advantages in that the panel can be more easily installed and more easily removed, repaired and/or replaced than a panel that is directly affixed via fasteners to the supporting structure.

This has the further advantage that the panel can be of effectively any shape that the path of the elongate member can follow. Thus the panel may be non-planar. Preferably the panel is contoured to have a three-dimensional form.

The supporting structure may also be contoured to have a three-dimensional form.

The supporting structure may be made of metal, plastics material, composites material, ceramics material, textile, or leather. The plastics material may be thermosetting or thermoplastic material. The metal may be steel, aluminium or titanium. The supporting structure may be made of a combination of the materials described herein. Preferably the supporting structure is made predominantly from one of these materials.

The supporting structure may be formed from a precursor material substrate by a multiplicity of different methods including moulding, injection moulding, thermoforming, machining, carving, hydraulic pressing, 3-D printing, lamination of composite materials, combining and shaping composites materials before curing same.

Examples and Description of the Drawings

The invention is now illustrated in the following specific embodiments with reference 20 to the accompanying drawings showing: Fig. 1 shows a picture of a door carrier 101 intended for fixing to the interior surface of an automobile door, which also comprises an insert panel 102 that fits within a cooperating hollow or depression in the door carrier.

Fig. 2: shows a diagram of a cross section through a door carrier 101 intended for fixing to the interior surface of an automobile door, which also comprises an insert panel 102 that fits within a cooperating hollow or depression in the door carrier, and installed within the space between the door carrier 101 and the insert 102 such that the door carrier 101 and the insert 102 each abut either side of it, a piping element 103 that is affixed to the door carrier with a fixing means such as a screw or other fixing 104. Piping element 103 has a substantially vertical section 105 and a substantially horizontal section 106. Section 105 protrudes so that it lies proud of the junction between door carrier 101 and insert 102 in order to provide the appearance -13 -of piping. Section 106 is attached to section 105 but is not visible as it is accommodated in a hollow or depression within the door carrier 101 to accommodate it. Fixation means 104 projects through piping section 106 and door carrier 101 in order to secure piping section 103 in place.

Fig. 3 shows three diagrams of configurations of a structure for piping section 106. In each of these views multiple slots 201 are cut in the elongate strip of 106 in order to allow the piping element 103 to be bent to follow complex curves. The strips 106 also comprise holes at equally distanced positions along the length in order to provide multiple fixing positions for the piping element 103. Fig. 2a shows piping element 103 in a linear confirmation. Fig. 2b shows piping element 103 in a convex configuration wherein the slots widen in order to accommodate curving of piping element 103. Fig. 2c shows piping element 103 in a concave configuration wherein the slots in element 106 are narrowed in order to accommodate this curvature.

Fig. 4 shows a diagram of a section of piping element 105 wherein in this variation piping element 105 has a core 302 that is surrounded or wrapped within a covering layer 301.

Fig. 5 shows a diagram of a door carrier 101 intended for fixing to the interior surface of an automobile door. A piping element 103 is affixed to the door carrier and located within a cooperating hollow or depression in the door carrier. Piping element 103 has a substantially vertical section 105 and a substantially horizontal section 106. The substantially horizontal section 106 has areas of the contiguous horizontal section removed to yield castellated cut-out sections, e.g. 201. Piping element lies between door carrier 101 and insert panel 102 (not shown, cf. Fig. 1).

Fig. 6 shows a diagram of a cross section through the door carrier and piping element shown in Fig. 5 showing door carrier 101 and piping element 103. Piping element 103 has a substantially vertical section 105 and a substantially horizontal section 106 with a castellated cut-out section 201. The location of the cross section is shown by the plane marked AA in Fig. 7.

-14 -Fig. 7 shows a diagram of a door carrier 101 indicating the position of the cross section through the assembly shown in Fig. 5 as shown in Fig. 7.

Example

In a specific embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig. 2 an insert panel 102 and a piping section 103 are installed on a door carrier module.

A door carrier module or simply door carrier, is a larger automotive part that provides an internal frame for a door on which components such as door handles, switchgear, window regulators, etc. are attached in order to form a unified subassembly. Door carrier modules can be made from a variety of materials including sheet metal that is typically hydraulically pressed in a suitable tool to form the three-dimensional structure of the door carrier. Alternatively, injection moulding techniques can provide door carrier modules made using plastics or composite material. Long fibre reinforced thermoplastics are commonly used because they are a lightweight and cost-effective material that can be moulded into complex shapes that allow integration of components.

The insert or panel 102 is a rigid or semi rigid panel of material such as plastics material or a metal panel. Alternatively, the panel might be a composite material such as carbon fibre reinforced resin. Alternatively, the insert or panel may be covered with leather or textile material. The textile would normally cover the face of the insert 102 and be secured on the reverse side of the insert 102 (i.e. the side facing the door carrier unit).

The piping section 103,302 is substantially 'L _shaped core that is covered with leather or fabric material 301 to conform with the 'I_ _ shaped structure of the piping insert.

Thus the insert is installed in the door carrier by first installing the horizontal arm 106 of the L-shaped cross section piping section 103 in a depression or other hollow in the door carrier unit 101 and secured in this location via holes 202 in arm 106 using fixing means 104. The vertical arm of the L-shaped cross section piping section 105 flexes to follow a non-linear course defined by a depression or other hollow in the door carrier unit and the discontinuous material of the horizontal arm of the L 106 accommodates -15 -the bends formed by widening and narrowing the gaps 201 in the material of the horizontal arm (e.g. Figs 3b and 3c).

Preferably the fixing means are studs or pillars with barbed or ratchet bearing surfaces that are pushed through the aligning holes in piping unit 103 and door carrier 101 in order to secure the piping unit in position. Preferably the fixing means are made of plastics material in order that they might be suitable for one use and then disposal thereof should the piping need replacing.

The insert is then installed in the door carrier such that it abuts the piping section and is retained in position by the piping protruding above the plane of the insert and overlapping the edge of the insert. The insert may be temporarily deformed to fit it into position and past the overlap. Thus the insert is retained in position on the door carrier as it cannot move past the overlap without first being deformed.

Thus the vertical portion of the 'I_ _ shaped piping section provides two faces: one of which lies against the substantially vertical or sloping side of the depression in the door carrier in which the piping and insert are accommodated and a substantially parallel other side that abuts the edge of the insert 102.

Thus the edge of the depression in the door carrier and the edge of the insert both contact opposite sides of the upper arm of the 'L _ shaped piping section. The piping section, furthermore, protrudes above the position of the join in order to provide a visible piece of piping and protect the edges of the door carrier and inserted panel.

Thus the invention provides products and methods for the more convenient installation and replacement of fabric covered panels in the interior of automobiles. The invention further provides products and methods that allow installation or replacement of such a panel without it being damaged.

Claims

-16 -Claims 1. A product comprising: a supporting structure to which is attached: (a) at least one panel having a perimeter, a first surface facing substantially towards the supporting structure, and a second surface facing substantially away from the supporting structure, and (b) a flexible, elongate member, having a first face and a second face, from which projects one or more protrusions, wherein one or more of the protrusions have spaces therebetween, wherein at least part of the perimeter of the panel abuts the first or second face of the elongate member to define the path of the elongate member in that part of the perimeter of the panel, wherein at least a portion of the path of the elongate member in this part of the perimeter of the panel is non-linear.
2. A product according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure has a cavity or indentation with a perimeter wall for accommodating the components (a) and (b).
3. A product according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cavity has a perimeter wall, wherein the first face of the elongate member abuts at least part of the perimeter of the panel, and wherein the second face of the elongate member abuts at least part of the perimeter wall of the cavity or indentation.
4. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the perimeter wall is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the supporting structure
5. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the elongate member is substantially planar when unflexed.
6. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more protrusions project substantially perpendicularly from the first or second face of the elongate member.
7. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the protrusions project substantially perpendicularly from a first longitudinal edge of the first or second face of the elongate member.
8. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein a second longitudinal edge of the elongate member is covered with leather, plastics material, woven cloth, or carbon fibre.
9. A product according to claim 8, wherein the second longitudinal edge of the elongate member is of greater width than the distance between first and second faces of the elongate member.
10.A product according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the second longitudinal edge of the elongate member has a retaining structure mounted thereon for keeping the panel attached to the product
11.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the projections are substantially planar.
12.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein there is regular spacing between the projections.
13.A product according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the spacing between the projections is variable.
14.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the projections are rectangular.
15.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the elongate member has one or more holes therethrough.
16.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more projections have holes therethrough.-18 -
17.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the panel is made of a resilient material.
18.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the supporting structure is contoured to have a three-dimensional form
19.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the panel is contoured to have a three-dimensional form
20.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the supporting structure is a door carrier.
21.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the panel is a door carrier.
22.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the door carrier is for an automobile
23.A door comprising a product of any of claims 1-22.
24.An automobile or other vehicle comprising a product of any of claims 1 to 23.
25.A method of installing a panel in a cooperating location on a supporting structure with an elongate member located between all or part of the perimeter of the panel and the supporting structure, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a panel having a perimeter; b) providing a supporting structure having a cavity or indentation having a perimeter wall for accommodating the panel, c) affixing a flexible, elongate member, having a first face and a second face, from which projects one or more protrusions, wherein one or more of the protrusions have spaces therebetween, to the perimeter of the panel or the perimeter wall of the supporting structure; d) installing the panel on the supporting structure such that the first face of the elongate member abuts at least part of the perimeter of the panel, and the second face of the elongate member abuts a corresponding part of the -19 -perimeter wall of the cavity or indentation, wherein at least a portion of the path of the elongate member in this part of the perimeter of the panel is nonlinear.