Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Storm-front shield – apron – or robe
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-05
2001-05-01
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Storm-front shield, apron, or robe
C296S084100, C296S146150, C296S201000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224136
ABSTRACT:
The content of Application No. TOKUGANHEI 10-55394, filed Mar. 6, 1998. in Japan is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a structure for positioning a windshield panel such as a front window panel, a rear windshield and the like, particularly a windshield bonded and fixed on a flange In an opening portion of a vehicle body, and a method of mounting the same.
Conventionally, as a structure of positioning a windshield of a bonding and fixing type, a structure disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 5-32643 is known.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The related structure mentioned above is provided with a notch portion formed on an upper line portion of a flange disposed in a peripheral edge of an opening portion of a vehicle body, a locking piece upward bent from an edge of the notch portion, a contact piece disposed near an upper edge portion of a windshield and engaged with the locking piece, and a hook piece engaged with a lower surface of the edge of the notch portion. The windshield is positioned to the flange by engaging and attaching the hook piece to the lower surface of the notch edge as well as by engaging the contact piece with the locking piece.
However, it is hard to increase an accuracy for bending the locking piece due to a spring back of the bent vehicle body panel, Accordingly, a slippage tends to be generated at an engaging position between the locking piece and the contact piece. When the slippage is generated at the engaging position between the locking piece and the contact piece, the hook piece tends to get out of place from the lower surface of the edge of the notch.
Also, since black print or the like for concealing the bonded portion is applied to the peripheral portion of the windshield, the hook piece or the contact piece can not be seen externally. Accordingly, it is difficult to effect work for engagement between corresponding locking piece and the lower surface of the notch edge, and a completion of the engagement can not be confirmed.
It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a positioning structure by which a windshield is securely and easily positioned with respect to an opening portion of a vehicle body.
In order to achieve the object mentioned above, a structure for positioning a windshield for a vehicle in accordance with the present invention is provided with a flange, a windshield, a hollow and first and Second spacers. The flange is disposed in a peripheral edge of an opening portion of a vehicle body. The flange has a first member and a second member mutually overlapping with each other. The windshield has a peripheral edge bonded on the flange. The hollow is formed between the first member and the second member. The hollow has a first opening. The first spacer has an inserting portion, a first engaging portion and a locating hole. The first spacer is fixed to the flange when the inserting portion is inserted into the hollow from the first opening, and the first engaging portion and the locating hole are exposed from the flange. The second spacer is fixed to a peripheral edge of the windshield. The second spacer has a second engaging portion engageable with the first engaging portion and a locating pin insertable in the locating hole. An insertion of the locating pin into the locating hole guides the second engaging portion to an engaging position with the first engaging portion. The windshield is positioned with respect to the flange when the first and second engaging portions are mutually engaged with each other.
When the windshield is mounted, at first, the first spacer is mounted to the flange by inserting the inserting portion into the hollow from the first opening. Next, the locating pin of the second spacer fixed to the peripheral edge of the windshield is inserted Into the locating hole of the first spacer, and the second engaging portion of the second spacer is engaged with the first engaging portion of the first spacer. Accordingly, the windshield is positioned with respect to the flange. Finally, the peripheral edge of the windshield is bonded on the flange.
In this case, the first and second spacers are securely engaged at a desired position without being affected by a spring back in accordance with a press-molding of the flange. Accordingly, the windshield is securely positioned with respect to the opening portion of the vehicle body. As a result, an accuracy of mounting the windshield is improved.
Also, the insertion of the locating pin into the locating hole guides the second engaging portion to the engaging position with the first engaging portion, so that the first and second engaging portions can easily be engaged with each other. Accordingly, it is possible to easily position the windshield to fix it.
Further even in a case where the peripheral portion of the windshield has black print or the like for concealing the bonded portion thereof, it is possible to engage the first and second engaging portions with each other by inserting the locating pin into the locating hole.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5695236 (1997-12-01), Banno et al.
patent: 5851045 (1998-12-01), Muramatsu
patent: 6070930 (2000-06-01), Takagi et al.
patent: 0191217 (1987-08-01), None
patent: 5-32043 (1993-04-01), None
patent: 11020468 (1999-01-01), None
Dayoan D. Glenn
Engle Patricia
Foley & Lardner
Nissan Motor Co,. Ltd.
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