Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Structural detail
Patent
1992-07-24
1993-12-21
Song, Robert R.
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Structural detail
296191, 296 29, 296901, B62D 2904
Patent
active
052716589
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a fender made of plastic for motor vehicles.
Plastic fenders are known, for example, from DE-A-3 007 760. In practice, screws, similar to those used for steel sheet fenders, are used to attach the plastic fenders. The screws allow easy replacement of the fenders. One feature of the plastic fenders is that when heated they expand significantly more than their steel sheet counterparts.
In order for thermal expansion in plastic fenders not to lead to twisting and undesirable deformation, the connection between the fender and body is made such that the fender can move relative to the body. The attachments of the fender to the body are shaped so that one side is rigidly fixed to the body, while the other sides can move. An attachment of this type can be made so that the openings for admitting the screws in the fender are enlarged vis-a-vis the shaft diameter of the screws or are made as an elongated hole. In practice, the side of the fender facing the vehicle doors is generally rigidly attached so that the expansion of the elongated fender is possible only in the direction away from the side doors to the front or to the back. Accordingly the elongated holes for admitting the screws in the upper edge area of the fender also extend in this direction. The attachment openings in the area of the fender facing away from the doors, for a front fender the forward edge area, must be made analogously to this. While movable fixing of the upper edge area of the fender does not entail any additional problems, since the gap between the fender and a flap which connects it to the center of the vehicle remains roughly the same, in practice movement of the forward edge area (here and also for the following description a front fender is always assumed) causes more difficulties. Specifically, several parts, for example a front part and a headlight, connect to the forward edge areas of the fender. If at this point the fender expends to the front, to some extent it is not flush vis-a-vis these parts; optically this is as unattractive as if there were correspondingly large gaps for compensating for this movement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to design the attachment of a plastic fender such that the aforementioned problems in thermal expansion of the fender are prevented.
Because the fender, due to the proposed measures, is held stiff and stationary in its upper, its forward and its rear edge area, the parts which connect to the fender can be attached in the same way as in a fender made of steel sheet.
Special measures which take into account the expansion of the fender are unnecessary. The gaps between the fender and the adjacent parts can accordingly be kept very narrow. Since the fender in its upper, its forward and its rear edge area is held stiff and stationary on the body of the motor vehicle, it can only bulge to the outside with the given fixing and its shape. This effect is hardly perceptible to the eye or if, due to high temperature, serious bulging occurs, is not disruptive since the bulging takes place uniformly.
Washers are arranged between the screw heads and the fender at least in sections for purposes of stationary attachment. These washers have at least one projection on their side acting upon the fender. This design has the advantage that there is positive locking preventing displacement without notch action. When the screws are tightened the spherical cup-shaped projections specifically are pressed into the plastic fender, by means of which the desired form-fit connection is produced.
The problem of the invention can also be solved by embedding the attachment flange of the fender in a steel rail. This attachment flange is also found in conventional fenders made of steel sheet and is used to attach the fender to the screw bed of the body. The proposed fender could therefore be structured like a steel sheet fender. The steel rail embedded in the attachment flange makes the screw area very stiff and in conjunction with the screws admit
REFERENCES:
patent: 1699572 (1929-01-01), Scheid
patent: 4564232 (1986-01-01), Fujimori et al.
patent: 4607878 (1986-08-01), Itoh
patent: 4707020 (1987-11-01), Enokida et al.
patent: 4892348 (1990-01-01), Nozaki
patent: 4912826 (1990-04-01), Dixon et al.
Vergleich zwischen Karosserien aus Kunststoff und aus Leichtmetall, Sep. 1954, pp. 239-241.
Eugen und Bodo Stier, Oberndorf a.N., Sep. 11, 1967.
Haldenwanger Hans-Gunther
Rotte Manfred
Audi AG
Song Robert R.
LandOfFree
Plastic fender for motor vehicles does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Plastic fender for motor vehicles, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Plastic fender for motor vehicles will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-305127