WO2008002222A1 - A panel mounting device and a panel mounting arrangement for attaching a panel onto a vehicle - Google Patents

A panel mounting device and a panel mounting arrangement for attaching a panel onto a vehicle Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2008002222A1
WO2008002222A1 PCT/SE2006/000820 SE2006000820W WO2008002222A1 WO 2008002222 A1 WO2008002222 A1 WO 2008002222A1 SE 2006000820 W SE2006000820 W SE 2006000820W WO 2008002222 A1 WO2008002222 A1 WO 2008002222A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
panel
mounting
substructure
vehicle
mounting device
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE2006/000820
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Edvard Bang
Original Assignee
Volvo Lastvagnar Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Volvo Lastvagnar Ab filed Critical Volvo Lastvagnar Ab
Priority to PCT/SE2006/000820 priority Critical patent/WO2008002222A1/en
Publication of WO2008002222A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008002222A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62DMOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D29/00Superstructures, understructures, or sub-units thereof, characterised by the material thereof
    • B62D29/04Superstructures, understructures, or sub-units thereof, characterised by the material thereof predominantly of synthetic material
    • B62D29/048Connections therefor, e.g. joints

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a panel mounting device for attaching a panel onto a vehicle, which is capable of absorbing relative movement caused by thermal expansion.
  • the invention also relates to a panel mounting arrangement for mounting a panel onto a substructure of a vehicle using such panel mounting device.
  • US 5,358,302 describes a fastening arrangement of such kind.
  • This arrangement comprises a clip and bracket fastening arrangement for attaching a plastic panel to a substructure of a vehicle, so that said clip and bracket combination accommodates for thermal expansion of the panel as the mounting involves elongated slots through which fastening members are provided. By appropriately arranging these elongated slots, the thermal expansion of the panel may be accommodated in the panel mounting.
  • fastening arrangements allow movement in one or more directions by means of fasteners slidable in slots or fastening arrangements where the fastener itself allows for relative movement.
  • the movements due to thermal expansion may be up to approx. 8-10 mm for large panels, such as sunvisors, chassis skirts, front panels, lists or grills.
  • these vehicle panel mounting arrangements are capable of absorbing thermal expansion of the panel due to the ability of the mounting pins, e.g. screws, to move within the slot, this panel mounting involves the disadvantage of rattling as vibrations coming from e.g. the vehicle drive system or uneven road surfaces. This can contribute to a raise in the noise level of the vehicle during driving.
  • a panel mounting device of the initially mentioned kind wherein said mounting device comprises an elongated member having a first end including first pivotable mounting means for pivotably mounting the device to said substructure, and a second end including second pivotable mounting means for pivotably attaching the device to the panel.
  • the invention concerns a panel mounting arrangement for mounting a panel onto a substructure of a vehicle, which allows for relative movement between said panel and said substructure caused by thermal expansion, said arrangement including at least two panel mounting devices of the above mentioned kind, wherein the panel mounting arrangement comprises a first mounting device having a first elongated member and a second mounting device having a second elongated member, said first and second elongated members being substantially parallel.
  • a mounting device and an associated panel mounting assembly for fastening exterior panels onto a substructure of a vehicle, which allows for movement without having to mount the panel in a loose manner whereby any rattling noise is significantly reduced or even eliminated completely.
  • the first pivotable mounting means is adapted to pivot the mounting device about a first pivot axis
  • said second pivotable mounting means is adapted to pivot the mounting device about a second pivot axis, where said first and second pivot axis are substantially parallel and different from the direction in which the elongated member extends.
  • said first and second pivot axes are substantially perpendicular to the elongated member.
  • the elongated members are approx. 10-50 mm, more preferably 30 mm in length, whereby a movement of 8-10 mm may comfortably be achieved without risking a distortion of the panel or detachment of the mounting device due to the thermal expansion.
  • the panel mounting arrangement for mounting a panel onto a substructure of a vehicle which allows for relative movement between said panel and said substructure caused by thermal expansion, includes that the first pivot axis of the first and second mounting devices are substantially parallel, as well as the second pivot axis of the first and second mounting devices are preferably also substantially parallel.
  • the panel is effectively mounted to the substructure in a parallel swing-like mounting.
  • a plurality of mounting devices are arranged in two or more substantially parallel rows for providing a multiple of mounting points between the panel and the vehicle substructure.
  • a sufficient degree of thermal expansion in the panel may be absorbed without the risk of detaching the panel from the mounting points.
  • vehicle panels in relation to the invention could be an elongated exterior vehicle panel, such as a sunvisor, a cover skirt or the like. However, it is realised that other types of panels could be mounted by the use of the present invention.
  • figure 1 is an exploded detailed view of a panel and a substructure of a vehicle with a panel mounting assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the invention
  • figure 2 is the assembled view of the panel mounting assembly of figure 1
  • figure 3 is a detailed view of the panel mounting devices according to the preferred embodiment of the invention
  • figure 4 is a schematic view of the technical function of the mounting assembly according to the invention.
  • a vehicle panel 1 such as a sunvisor
  • the mounting includes a number of mounting devices 10 preferably arranged in rows of two or more.
  • a section of a panel is shown as an example, where one row with two mounting devices 10 are arranged in each end of the vehicle panel 1 and where only one row is shown in the figures.
  • each of the mounting devices 10 are provided with an elongated member 11 having first pivotable mounting means 12 and second pivotable mounting means 13 at each of the distal ends of the elongated member 11.
  • the row of two mounting devices 10 are mounted at the first pivotable mounting end 12 on a substrate 14 which is fastened to the substructure 3 of the vehicle 2.
  • the mounting devices could alternatively be mounted directly to the substructure.
  • the device 10 is preferably mounted with a first pivot axis of the pivotable mounting means 12 which is approximately perpendicular to the substrate mounting structure 3, 14.
  • the mounting devices are mounted to the panel, which is provided with receiving means 15 for receiving the second mounting means of the distal end of the elongated member 11.
  • the pivot axis for this panel mounting is also preferably perpendicular to the general surface area extension of the panel 2.
  • the substrate 4 may be preferable in the event that the row or rows of mounting devices are to be mounted onto a curved vehicle substructure 3 so that the substrate 4 can be formed to ensure that the pivot axis of the individual mounting devices 10 are at least substantially parallel.
  • the principle idea of the invention is illustrated. Rather than mounting a panel 1 to the substructure 3 of the vehicle by pins, screws or the like through associated slotted openings, the invention set forth a swing-like mounting which is capable of absorbing the relative movements between a panel, e.g. made in plastic, and the substructure, e.g. made in steel, as a result in a change in temperature due to different expansion coefficients in the two materials.

Abstract

The invention concerns a panel mounting arrangement for mounting a panel (1) onto a substructure (3) of a vehicle (2), which allows for relative movement between said panel (1 ) and said substructure (3) caused by thermal expansion, said arrangement including at least two panel mounting devices (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the panel mounting arrangement comprises a first mounting device (10) having a first elongated member (11) and a second mounting device (10) having a second elongated member (11), said first and second elongated members (11) being substantially parallel. By the invention, there is provided a mounting device and an associated panel mounting assembly for fastening exterior panels onto a substructure of a vehicle, which allows for movement without having to mount the panel in a loose manner whereby any rattling noise is significantly reduced or even eliminated completely.

Description

A panel mounting device and a panel mounting arrangement for attaching a panel onto a vehicle
The present invention relates to a panel mounting device for attaching a panel onto a vehicle, which is capable of absorbing relative movement caused by thermal expansion. The invention also relates to a panel mounting arrangement for mounting a panel onto a substructure of a vehicle using such panel mounting device.
US 5,358,302 describes a fastening arrangement of such kind. This arrangement comprises a clip and bracket fastening arrangement for attaching a plastic panel to a substructure of a vehicle, so that said clip and bracket combination accommodates for thermal expansion of the panel as the mounting involves elongated slots through which fastening members are provided. By appropriately arranging these elongated slots, the thermal expansion of the panel may be accommodated in the panel mounting.
From US 3,726,178 is known a plastic panel provided with pins on its inner surface. These pins are arranged around the circumference of the panel. The pins cooperate with a metal frame having slots positioned with their longitudinal axis through the centre of the panel. When subjected to thermal expansion, the pins are arranged to slide in the slots.
Other examples of fastening arrangements for attaching plastic components, such as fenders or grilles to a metal body of a vehicle allowing for thermal expansion of the plastic component are known from US 6,929,313, US6,669,274, US4,973,102 and US 4,573,733.
Common to these fastening arrangements is that they allow movement in one or more directions by means of fasteners slidable in slots or fastening arrangements where the fastener itself allows for relative movement.
The movements due to thermal expansion may be up to approx. 8-10 mm for large panels, such as sunvisors, chassis skirts, front panels, lists or grills. Although these vehicle panel mounting arrangements are capable of absorbing thermal expansion of the panel due to the ability of the mounting pins, e.g. screws, to move within the slot, this panel mounting involves the disadvantage of rattling as vibrations coming from e.g. the vehicle drive system or uneven road surfaces. This can contribute to a raise in the noise level of the vehicle during driving.
On this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a panel mounting arrangement and a panel mounting device therefore, which can eliminate the disadvantages of the known panel mounting systems.
This object is achieved by a panel mounting device of the initially mentioned kind, wherein said mounting device comprises an elongated member having a first end including first pivotable mounting means for pivotably mounting the device to said substructure, and a second end including second pivotable mounting means for pivotably attaching the device to the panel.
Moreover, the invention concerns a panel mounting arrangement for mounting a panel onto a substructure of a vehicle, which allows for relative movement between said panel and said substructure caused by thermal expansion, said arrangement including at least two panel mounting devices of the above mentioned kind, wherein the panel mounting arrangement comprises a first mounting device having a first elongated member and a second mounting device having a second elongated member, said first and second elongated members being substantially parallel.
By the invention, there is provided a mounting device and an associated panel mounting assembly for fastening exterior panels onto a substructure of a vehicle, which allows for movement without having to mount the panel in a loose manner whereby any rattling noise is significantly reduced or even eliminated completely.
Preferably, the first pivotable mounting means is adapted to pivot the mounting device about a first pivot axis, and said second pivotable mounting means is adapted to pivot the mounting device about a second pivot axis, where said first and second pivot axis are substantially parallel and different from the direction in which the elongated member extends. In the preferred embodiment, said first and second pivot axes are substantially perpendicular to the elongated member. Hereby, a relative effortless pivotal movement is ensured, in particular, as the first pivotable mounting means are provided with the first pivot axis having an orientation substantially perpendicular to the substructure, just as the second pivotable mounting means are preferably also provided with the second pivot axis having an orientation substantially perpendicular to the panel.
In a preferable embodiment, the elongated members are approx. 10-50 mm, more preferably 30 mm in length, whereby a movement of 8-10 mm may comfortably be achieved without risking a distortion of the panel or detachment of the mounting device due to the thermal expansion.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the panel mounting arrangement for mounting a panel onto a substructure of a vehicle, which allows for relative movement between said panel and said substructure caused by thermal expansion, includes that the first pivot axis of the first and second mounting devices are substantially parallel, as well as the second pivot axis of the first and second mounting devices are preferably also substantially parallel. By such mounting, the panel is effectively mounted to the substructure in a parallel swing-like mounting.
According to the invention, it is found advantageous in relation to large elongated panels that a plurality of mounting devices are arranged in two or more substantially parallel rows for providing a multiple of mounting points between the panel and the vehicle substructure. Hereby, a sufficient degree of thermal expansion in the panel may be absorbed without the risk of detaching the panel from the mounting points.
The vehicle panels in relation to the invention could be an elongated exterior vehicle panel, such as a sunvisor, a cover skirt or the like. However, it is realised that other types of panels could be mounted by the use of the present invention.
In the following, the invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 is an exploded detailed view of a panel and a substructure of a vehicle with a panel mounting assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; figure 2 is the assembled view of the panel mounting assembly of figure 1 ; figure 3 is a detailed view of the panel mounting devices according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; and figure 4 is a schematic view of the technical function of the mounting assembly according to the invention.
With reference to the figures 1 to 3, the invention is shown with reference to a preferred embodiment, where a vehicle panel 1 , such as a sunvisor, is mounted to a substructure 3 of a vehicle 2. The mounting includes a number of mounting devices 10 preferably arranged in rows of two or more. In the figures, a section of a panel is shown as an example, where one row with two mounting devices 10 are arranged in each end of the vehicle panel 1 and where only one row is shown in the figures. By the invention it is realised that more than two rows each with two or more pivoting mounting devices may be used without departing from the invention.
With reference particularly to figure 3, each of the mounting devices 10 are provided with an elongated member 11 having first pivotable mounting means 12 and second pivotable mounting means 13 at each of the distal ends of the elongated member 11.
A shown in fig. 3, the row of two mounting devices 10 are mounted at the first pivotable mounting end 12 on a substrate 14 which is fastened to the substructure 3 of the vehicle 2. The mounting devices could alternatively be mounted directly to the substructure. The device 10 is preferably mounted with a first pivot axis of the pivotable mounting means 12 which is approximately perpendicular to the substrate mounting structure 3, 14.
At the second pivotable mounting end 13, the mounting devices are mounted to the panel, which is provided with receiving means 15 for receiving the second mounting means of the distal end of the elongated member 11. The pivot axis for this panel mounting is also preferably perpendicular to the general surface area extension of the panel 2. The substrate 4 may be preferable in the event that the row or rows of mounting devices are to be mounted onto a curved vehicle substructure 3 so that the substrate 4 can be formed to ensure that the pivot axis of the individual mounting devices 10 are at least substantially parallel.
In figure 4, the principle idea of the invention is illustrated. Rather than mounting a panel 1 to the substructure 3 of the vehicle by pins, screws or the like through associated slotted openings, the invention set forth a swing-like mounting which is capable of absorbing the relative movements between a panel, e.g. made in plastic, and the substructure, e.g. made in steel, as a result in a change in temperature due to different expansion coefficients in the two materials.
Above, the invention is described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is realised that variations of this embodiment may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims
1. A panel mounting device (10) for attaching a panel (1) onto a substructure (3) of vehicle (2) allowing for relative movement between said panel (1) and said substructure (3) caused by thermal expansion, characterised in that said mounting device (10) comprises an elongated member (11) having a first end including first pivotable mounting means (12) for pivotably mounting the device (10) to said substructure (3), and a second end including second pivotable mounting means (13) for pivotably attaching the device (10) to the panel (1).
2. A panel mounting device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said first pivotable mounting means (12) is adapted to pivot the mounting device (10) about a first pivot axis, and said second pivotable mounting means (13) is adapted to pivot the mounting device (10) about a second pivot axis, where said first and second pivot axis are substantially parallel and different from the direction in which the elongated member (11) extends.
3. A panel mounting device (10) according to claim 2, wherein said first and second pivot axis are substantially perpendicular to the elongated member (11).
4. A panel mounting device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first pivotable mounting means (12) are provided with the first pivot axis having an orientation substantially perpendicular to the substructure (3).
5. A panel mounting device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said second pivotable mounting means (13) are provided with the second pivot axis having an orientation substantially perpendicular to the panel (1 ).
6. A panel mounting arrangement for mounting a panel (1) onto a substructure (3) of a vehicle (2), which allows for relative movement between said panel (1) and said substructure (3) caused by thermal expansion, said arrangement including at least two panel mounting devices (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the panel mounting arrangement comprises a first mounting device (10) having a first elongated member (11) and a second mounting device (10) having a second elongated member (11 ), said first and second elongated members (11 ) being substantially parallel.
7. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the first pivot axis of the first and second mounting devices (10) are substantially parallel.
8. An arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the second pivot axes of the first and second mounting devices (10) are substantially parallel.
9. An arrangement according to any of the claims 6 to 8, wherein a plurality of mounting devices (10) are arranged in two or more substantially parallel rows for providing a multiple of mounting points between the panel (1) and the vehicle substructure (3).
10. An arrangement according to any of the claims 6 to 9, wherein the panel (1) is an elongated exterior vehicle panel, such as a sunvisor, a cover skirt or the like.
PCT/SE2006/000820 2006-06-30 2006-06-30 A panel mounting device and a panel mounting arrangement for attaching a panel onto a vehicle WO2008002222A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/SE2006/000820 WO2008002222A1 (en) 2006-06-30 2006-06-30 A panel mounting device and a panel mounting arrangement for attaching a panel onto a vehicle

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/SE2006/000820 WO2008002222A1 (en) 2006-06-30 2006-06-30 A panel mounting device and a panel mounting arrangement for attaching a panel onto a vehicle

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008002222A1 true WO2008002222A1 (en) 2008-01-03

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/SE2006/000820 WO2008002222A1 (en) 2006-06-30 2006-06-30 A panel mounting device and a panel mounting arrangement for attaching a panel onto a vehicle

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Country Link
WO (1) WO2008002222A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010088772A1 (en) * 2009-02-06 2010-08-12 Magna International Inc. Module load enabling bracket
US10012253B2 (en) 2015-04-24 2018-07-03 Fca Us Llc Self-adjusting bracket assembly and installation method

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5106249A (en) * 1991-01-07 1992-04-21 Ford Motor Company Method and apparatus for joining plastic panels to aluminum space frames
US5358302A (en) * 1993-08-26 1994-10-25 Chrysler Corporation Retaining arrangement for fender
US20020197107A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2002-12-26 Robert Granata Articulating fastener assembly
US20060046039A1 (en) * 2004-08-26 2006-03-02 Bayer Materialscience Ag Composite component

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5106249A (en) * 1991-01-07 1992-04-21 Ford Motor Company Method and apparatus for joining plastic panels to aluminum space frames
US5358302A (en) * 1993-08-26 1994-10-25 Chrysler Corporation Retaining arrangement for fender
US20020197107A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2002-12-26 Robert Granata Articulating fastener assembly
US20060046039A1 (en) * 2004-08-26 2006-03-02 Bayer Materialscience Ag Composite component

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010088772A1 (en) * 2009-02-06 2010-08-12 Magna International Inc. Module load enabling bracket
US8672383B2 (en) 2009-02-06 2014-03-18 Magna International Inc. Module load enabling bracket
US10012253B2 (en) 2015-04-24 2018-07-03 Fca Us Llc Self-adjusting bracket assembly and installation method

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