Patent Application
20080157563
The present invention relates to support assemblies which are used in the front end of an automobile; more particularly, the present invention relates to a support member which is used for supporting a front fascia or top cap in an automobile, as well as controlling the relative positioning between a headlamp assembly and the front fascia or top cap in an automobile.
Fascias or top caps are generally known and used throughout various types of automobiles. The fascia or top cap is a portion of the body which is typically positioned near, or below the headlights and grille, and is used for providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance. However, typical fascias, as well as top caps, are lacking in support in an area below the headlights and in front of the grill of the automobile. These fascias and top caps are typically made of a composite material which can be difficult to dimension, as well as position relative to the headlights such that the correct dimensions are achieved.
Often during assembly, due to tolerances and other manufacturing causes, the position of the headlight relative to the fascia or top cap is too large, leaving a gap between the headlight and the fascia or top cap, which detracts from the appearance of the automobile. It is desired to have a minimal gap between the headlight and front fascia or top cap of the automobile.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved way of controlling the dimensions between the headlight and the front fascia or top cap, as well as providing support for the front fascia or top cap.
The present invention is a support system for a panel having a carrier member to which a component support structure is attached, at least one component support structure to which a first externally visible component and the contoured finish panel require attachment, a first attachment structure for providing fixed position attachment of the first externally visible component, and a support member having a contoured surface for support of the contoured finished panel in a fixed position.
The present invention also includes a second attachment structure which provides adjustable positioning of the support member to the support structure such that a close tolerance fit can be facilitated between the first externally visible component and the contoured finish panel by selecting the position of the support member.
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.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
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 the Figures, a support system for a contoured finish panel, more specifically a top cap or a fascia is shown generally at 10. The system 10 includes a carrier member, which in this embodiment is a carrier 12 which is used for supporting various vehicle components, such as a radiator, hood, fan, fan shroud, windshield washer fluid container, various hoses, and the like. Attached on each side of the carrier 12 are lamp supports 14. The lamp supports 14 are attached through the use of an adhesive bond and rivets 16. The adhesive bond is placed between the carrier 12 and the lamp supports 14, the rivets 16 are then attached and hold the carrier 12 and lamp supports 16 together until the adhesive bond cures.
Attached to each of the lamp supports 14 is a bracket headlamp carrier 18, and a support member 20. The bracket headlamp carrier 18 is attached to the carrier 12 through the use of fasteners, shown as bolts 22 in
During assembly, a first externally visible component, which in this embodiment is a lamp assembly in the form of a headlamp 27, is attached to the bracket headlamp carrier 18 using an aperture 28 and tab 30. The tab 30 is received in a slot 32 in the bracket headlamp carrier 18. The tab 30 has a corresponding aperture 34 such that when the aperture 28 and corresponding aperture 34 are aligned, the aperture 28 and corresponding aperture 34 will receive a protrusion from the headlamp 27. Once inserted, the tab 30 is moved in the slot 32 so as to offset the aperture 28 and the aperture 34 of the tab 30, and engage the protrusion of the headlamp 27, securing the headlamp 27 to the bracket headlamp carrier 18. The headlamp 27 also includes a ball which is received in a socket 36. The socket 36 allows for the position of the headlamp 27 to be changed, and compensates for various tolerances.
The support member 20 is connected to the bracket headlamp carrier 18 through the use of an extension 38 which is connected to a bracket 40; the support member 20 is also connected to the lamp support 14 through the use of fastener, such as a screw (not shown) inserted through a slot 42 in a flange 44 and through a corresponding aperture 46 in the lamp support 14. The support member 20 also includes snaps 48, the function of which will be described later, and a contoured surface 50 for supporting the top cap 26.
The headlamp 27 is also attached to the lamp supports 14 through the use of an upper connector 52 and a lower connector 54. The upper connector 52, lower connector 54, the slot 32 and tab 30, and the ball and socket 36 form a first attachment structure for connecting the headlamp 27 to the lamp support 14 and bracket headlamp carrier 18. The flange 44 and the slot 42, and the corresponding aperture 46 form a first attachment point; the extension 38 and bracket 40 form a second attachment point. Both the first attachment point and second attachment point form a second attachment structure for attaching the support member 20 to the lamp support 14 and the bracket headlamp carrier 18.
Once the headlamp 27 is attached to the lamp support 14, and the bracket headlamp carrier 18, the position of the support member 20 can be adjusted using the extension 38 and bracket 40, along with the fastener inserted through the slot 42 and aperture 46. The slot 42 is shaped so as to allow the position of the support member 20 to be adjusted during assembly relative to the lamp support 14. Adjusting the position of the support member 20 relative to the lamp support 14 secures the position of the support member 20, and therefore secures the position of the top cap 26 relative to the headlamp 27, allowing for control over the amount of space between the headlamp 27 and top cap 26. The space between the headlamp 27 and top cap 26 is shown as a gap generally at 29 in
Referring to
The center support 24 also includes a contoured surface 58, which also provides support for the top cap 26. The center support 24 includes a centering aperture 60, a series of grille snaps 62 having an aperture 66, and top snaps 64 having an aperture 68. A second externally visible member, which in this embodiment is an exterior body component in the form of a grille (not shown), is attached to the center support 24 through the use of the grille snaps 62. The grille has extensions (not shown) which include angled tabs and contact surfaces, and are inserted into the grille snaps 62 in the same manner as the extensions 56 of the top cap 26 are inserted into the snaps 48. The grille is properly aligned with the center support 24 by using the centering aperture 60. After the grille is attached, the top cap 26 is attached using a set of extensions (not shown) having an angled tab and contact surface, which are similar to the extensions 56 inserted into the snaps 48, and are inserted into the top snaps 64 in a similar manner that the extensions 56 are inserted into the snaps 48.
The center support 24 is formed such that once the grille and the top cap 26 are both attached to the center support 24, the desired distance between the grille and top cap 26 is achieved to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The top snaps 62, and extensions of the top cap 26 form a first attachment assembly for connecting the top cap 26 to the center support 24, and the grille snaps 62 along with the extensions of the grille form a second attachment assembly for connecting the grille to the center support 24.
It should be noted that the top cap 26 could also be replaced with a fascia. The fascia would also have extensions which would be received by the snaps 48 of the support member 20 and the top snaps 64 of the center support 24, and supported by the contoured surface 50 of the support member 20 and the contoured surface 58 of the center support 24 in the same manner as the top cap 26.
While it has been shown that the support member 20 has been used with the carrier 12 and lamp supports 14, the support member 20 is made through a forming process, such as injection molding, and can be made to fit any type of vehicle having any type of top cap 26 or front fascia.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the essence 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.
