WO2023250410A1

WO2023250410A1 - Emblem simplified installation and loading on a liftgate

Info

Publication number: WO2023250410A1
Application number: PCT/US2023/068869
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher J. Kuntze; Laurent Gillard; Mahesh R. CHAKORKAR; Nilesh L. MOHARE; Swapnil BELDAR
Original assignee: Magna Exteriors Inc.
Priority date: 2022-06-22
Filing date: 2023-06-22
Publication date: 2023-12-28

Abstract

There is provided an integrated retainer in a panel (18) adapted for a vehicle. At least one emblem (16) is loadable from a back side and is pivotable into place, allowing a simplified emblem and assembly of the emblem to a component while reducing fasteners, eliminating retainer brackets, and being easily installable.

Description

EMBLEM SIMPLIFIED INSTALLATION AND LOADING ON A LIFTGATE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a PCT International Patent Application and claims benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application No. 63/354,283, filed June 22, 2022. The disclosures of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a simplified emblem installation and loading adapted for a vehicle, such as on a vehicle liftgate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Emblems are difficult to install on a motor vehicle, in particular, to be easily installable while also being able to maintain good structure and avoid theft, without costly options.

Known emblems are backside loaded and have operator and tool access issues and are driving high costs and non-feasible options.

There are exterior installed emblems, but the emblem is lighted and must be installed from the backside to maintain a premium appearance and avoid adding extra parts and extra costs.

Accordingly, there is a desire for a robust emblem attachment with operator and tool access and that maintains a low cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided an integrated retainer in at least one panel, e.g., a lower panel. At least one emblem is loadable from the back side of the at least one panel. The at least one emblem operably pivots into place and thereby allows assembly that minimizes fasteners and reduces tool access issues and is easily installable. Aspects of the present invention are operable for reducing fasteners and tool access issues, operably adaptable for snap-in retainers, screw retainers where there is access, and a smaller and more simplified emblem. Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view at an exemplary emblem mounting in a first direction taken at section 1-1 of Fig. 2, in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation view of a liftgate segment with an exemplary emblem region, according to aspects of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view at an exemplary emblem mounting in a second direction taken at section 3-3 of Fig. 4, in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a front elevation view of a liftgate segment with an exemplary emblem region, according to aspects of the present invention; and,

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary additional panel, according to aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

Referring to Figures 1-5 generally, the present invention provides simplified emblem installation and loading adapted for a vehicle component I assembly, preferably for a liftgate. The present invention operably allows avoiding adding extra parts such as retainer brackets. The present invention allows assembly without fasteners or tools in difficult to access locations. The present invention also reduces costs by simplifying assembly and reducing fastener count.

There is provided an emblem with installation arrangement, indicated generally at 10, adapted for being coupled to at least one first panel 12 (e.g., panel outer) through at least one opening 13 shaped to receive at least one emblem 16. At least one second panel 18 (e.g., panel outer lower, panel outer/ reinforcement, etc.) is preferably provided, and operably integrally formed with the first panel 12 or operably connected thereto, e.g., adhesive, mechanical fit, at least one fastener, welded, etc. The second panel 18 includes at least one integrated retainer 14, e.g., at least one clip. The emblem 16 operably loads from a first side, preferably, loads from a back side (e.g., non-show surface side) and is operably pivoted into predetermined place. In accordance with preferred aspects of the present invention, the emblem 16, loading from the rear side of the second panel 18, operably engages the retainer 14 integrated to the second panel 18 and is operably pivoted or otherwise moved into place, thereby reducing the previous fastener and tool access issues. According to preferred aspects of the present invention, the first panel 12 is operably connected to a front side of the second panel 18 and adapted to operably receive the emblem 16 through operably aligning openings 13,13 through the first panel 12 and second panel 18, thereby having the emblem held by the retainer 14 integrated with the second panel 18 while making the emblem 16 visible from the outside (e.g., front, show-surface side of the first panel 12).

Preferably, the emblem 16 is further secured with at least one fastener 24, e.g., screw, bolt, rivet, clip, etc. By way of non-limiting example, the at least one fastener 24 can further assist with preventing the emblem 16 from backing out of a retained position. Snap-in retainers and/or screw retainers where there is access is/are contemplated without departure from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention operably provides capability for a smaller and more simplified emblem. The present invention further operably provides a simplified method of emblem attachment.

By way of non-limiting example, in accordance with aspects of the present invention, the integrated retainer 14 can include at least one lip, ledge, recess, pivot point, mechanical flange fit, and/or channel to assist emblem 16 attachment, e.g., pivot or rotate into place.

The retainer 14 preferably forms a mounting flange, more preferably, substantially a clip. It is understood that the retainer 14 can be part of the second panel 18 (e.g., part of the separate lower panel), or can be part of a separate piece that is not part of the panel 18 and is operably adapted to couple to the assembly 10.

The retainer 14, e.g., at least one mounting flange spanning around all or at least part of the opening 13, could be part of the separate lower panel 18, or the retainer 14 could be formed with a separate piece that is not part of the lower panel 18. The present invention is operably adapted for integration to a liftgate, indicated generally at 20, e.g., composite liftgate, metal I composite liftgate, etc., preferably, generally below a rear window 22. The liftgate can include at least one additional panel 28 (e.g., panel inner) operably coupled to the first panel 18 (e.g., panel outer lower), e.g., with adhesive, welding, and combinations thereof. The emblem 16 is loaded from the rear through at least one access opening 30.

While a liftgate is shown and described, it is understood that the present invention is may be incorporated with any predetermined part, including, but not limited to, an exterior body panel, rear quarter panel, front quarter panel, hood, tailgate, instrument panel, interior panel, interior trim, roof, spoiler, pillar trim, door, door trim, trunk, bumper, rear panel, mirror, and any alternative part suitably operably adapted for at least one emblem.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. An emblem attachment arrangement adapted for a vehicle component, comprising; at least one panel; at least one retainer operably integrated with the at least one panel; and, at least one emblem, said at least one retainer and emblem operably adapted to receive said at least one emblem from a back side of said at least one panel and to secure said at least one emblem to said at least one retainer in a predetermined installed position.

2. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer is operably adapted to allow backside, non-show surface loading of the at least one emblem.

3. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer is adapted to operably attach the emblem to the at least one panel without fasteners.

4. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer is adapted to operably attach the emblem with not more than one fastener.

5. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer is adapted to operably attach the emblem without adding a retainer bracket.

6. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer is adapted to operably attach the emblem without adding parts for attachment.

7. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer is adapted to operably attach the emblem without requiring tool access.

8. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer is adapted to operably attach the emblem by hand.

9. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer is adapted to allow the emblem to be backside loaded and operably pivot said at least one emblem into predetermined installed position.

10. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the emblem is operably adapted for connecting to a liftgate of a motor vehicle.

11 . The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 10, wherein the at least one panel is an outer lower panel.

12. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel is an outer lower panel.

13. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 12, further comprising at least one other panel that is a panel outer operably coupled to a front side of said outer lower panel and adapted to operably receive said at least one emblem through an opening, said at least one emblem held by said at least one retainer.

14. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 13, wherein said at least one panel and at least one other panel form at least one aligning opening to receive said at least one emblem therein.

15. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 13, further comprising at least one inner panel operably coupled to said at least one other panel, said at least one inner panel including at least one opening adapted to allow access to position said at least one emblem to said at least one retainer.

16. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer is a clip.

17. The emblem attachment arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer is integrally formed with the at least one panel adjacent to an opening in the at least one panel operably adapted to retain said at least one emblem from the back of said panel.

18. An emblem system adapted for a motor vehicle, comprising; at least one retainer adapted to operably couple to, or integrally formed with, at least one panel; and, at least one emblem, said emblem operably adapted to connect to said at least one retainer in a predetermined mounted position.

19. The emblem system of claim 18, wherein said emblem is operably rear loaded and operably adapted to pivot into predetermined place for operably securing said at least one emblem with said at least one retainer in a predetermined installed position through an opening in said at least one panel.

20. An emblem attachment arrangement adapted for a liftgate of a motor vehicle component, comprising; at least one first panel; at least one second panel; at least one retainer operably integrally formed with the at least one first panel; and, at least one emblem, said emblem operably rear mountable and operably adapted to pivot into predetermined place for operably securing said at least one emblem with said at least one retainer in a predetermined installed position.