Plastic panel assembly for use in a vehicle

Details Plastic panel assembly for use in a vehicle Plastic panel assembly for use in a vehicle

1997-08-21

2001-09-04

Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Bodies

Structural detail

C296S216090, C296S216060, C052S573100, C052S309130

Reexamination Certificate

active

06283540

ABSTRACT:

With the development of new plastic materials, it is now possible to replace conventional glass panels used in vehicles with light-weight, transparent plastic panel assemblies. For example, fixed vehicle windows may be replaced with plastic panel assemblies. Further, a plastic roof panel may be employed in a sunroof assembly mounted for movement between a closed position with respect to a roof opening and a fully opened position, or a venting position where a rear end of the panel is tilted upwardly with respect to the vehicle roof. Alternatively, the sunroof assembly may be of the type whereby the plastic roof panel may be removed completely from the opening and moved to storage.
The use of plastic panels has been limited due to the thermal expansion properties of plastic material. Plastic panels, when used in vehicles, are exposed to a wide range of temperatures. Thus, thermal expansion of the plastic panel must be accounted for when mounted to a sheet metal frame. To compensate for thermal expansion of the plastic panel, the panel must be mounted so as to be capable of moving relative to the sheet metal frame.
Accordingly, a need exists to provide a plastic panel assembly wherein the plastic panel of the assembly is mounted to a sheet metal frame such that the plastic panel may move relative to the frame in at least one direction upon thermal expansion of the plastic panel.
An object of the present invention is to fulfill the need expressed above. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, this objective is accomplished by providing a plastic panel assembly for use in a vehicle including a sheet metal frame having a central opening therein, and a plastic panel mounted to the sheet metal frame so as to cover the central opening. The plastic panel includes a plurality of pin members extending from a surface thereof and the frame includes a plurality of openings therethrough such that one pin member is disposed through an associated opening. Fastening structure is constructed and arranged with respect to the pin members to retain the plastic panel to the frame so that the panel is prevented from moving relative to the frame in a direction of extension of the pin members while the panel is permitted to move relative to the frame in at least one direction transverse to the direction of extension of the pin members, upon thermal expansion of the panel.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of compensating for thermal expansion of a plastic panel mounted to a sheet metal frame is provided. The method includes fastening the plastic panel to the frame with a fastening structure. The fastening structure is operatively associated with pin members of the panel which are disposed in slots defined in the frame. Thus, the plastic panel is fixed to the frame and prevented from moving in a direction of extension of the pin members. However, the panel is permitted to move relative to the frame due to thermal expansion of the panel, in at least one direction transverse to the direction of extension of the pin members.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the course of the following detailed description and appended claims. The invention may thus be understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein an illustrative embodiment is shown.


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