Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – In situ attached-type channel or trim strip – Vehicle trim
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-24
2001-01-09
Kent, Christopher T. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
In situ attached-type channel or trim strip
Vehicle trim
C052S716100, C052S716800, C052S800120, C296S146900
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170219
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a panel for a vehicle, such as a door panel or a panel that forms a wheel arch section, having a trim member and to a method of mounting the trim member on a flange of the panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a known door panel
1
′ for a vehicle, as shown in
FIG. 8
, a first flange
3
′ is formed on the upper edge of an inner panel
2
′ and a second flange
5
′ is formed on the upper edge of an outer panel
4
′ are joined by spot welding
7
′. As shown in FIGS.
9
(A) and
9
(B), a trim member
11
′ (also known as a weather-strip, a molding or a welt) is mounted to cover the edges (upper ends) of the joined first and second flanges
3
′ and
5
′ by inserting the flanges
3
′ and
5
′ into an insertion groove formed in the trim member
11
′.
Such a trim member
11
′ is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2-68240, for example.
When the first flange
3
′ of the inner panel
2
′ is joined to the second flange
5
′ of the outer panel
4
′, the joined flanges
3
′ and
5
′ are sometimes joined with their positions shifted in a vertical direction, as shown in FIG.
8
. The joined flanges
3
′ and
5
′ also may sometimes be joined with their upper ends partially separated, as shown in FIG.
10
.
As shown in FIG.
9
(A), a distance H′ exists between a reference position P of the outer panel
4
′ and the upper edge of the trim member
11
′. If the first and the second flanges
3
′ and
5
′ are joined with their positions shifted in the vertical direction at the mounting position, as shown in FIG.
9
(B) (i.e., where the upper ends; of the joined flanges
3
′ and
5
′ are inserted into the trim member
11
′), the distance H′ between the reference position P of the door panel, such as the center of hole
6
′ formed in the outer panel
4
′, and the upper edge of the trim member
11
′ increases by the amount L′, which increase corresponds to the above-noted shift of vertical position. As a result, problems arise because the trim member
11
′ is mounted obliquely relative to the upper edge of the joined flanges
3
′ and
5
′, or because the trim member
11
′ interferes with other parts assembled around the trim member
11
′, such as a door glass.
When the flanges
3
′ and
5
′ are joined with the upper ends partially separated, as shown in
FIGS. 10 and 11
, it is difficult to insert the upper ends of the flanges
3
′ and
5
′ into the trim member
11
′. Additionally, the insertion groove of the trim member
11
′ remains open, thus damaging the appearance of the mounted trim member
11
′.
In case of a panel
101
′ that forms a wheel arch section for a vehicle, as shown in FIGS.
12
and
13
(A) to
13
(C), a flange
103
′ is formed by bending the panel
101
′ along the wheel arch section and the flange
103
′ is inserted into an insertion groove formed in a trim member
111
′. In this case, the distance from the bend to the edge of the flange
103
′ tends to vary, such that the distance may be slightly larger or smaller than an ideal distance S. In the alternative, the bend angle tends to vary, such that the bend angle may be larger or smaller than an ideal angle &thgr;. As a result, the trim member
111
′ cannot be mounted in a desired condition, and the appearance of the mounted trim member
111
′ is impaired.
For example, as shown in FIG.
13
(A), a distance G′ exists between the wheel arch bend and the outer edge of the trim member
111
′. This distance G′ is less than the ideal distance G shown in
FIG. 12
, because the actual flange length is less than the ideal flange length D. As shown in FIG.
13
(B), the distance G″ is greater than the ideal distance G, because the actual flange length is greater than the ideal flange length D. Finally, as shown in FIG.
13
(C), the distance G′″ is greater than the ideal distance G, because the bend angle is more acute than the ideal bend angle &thgr;.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above-noted problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for mounting a trim member on a flange of a panel, in which the trim member can be accurately mounted on the flange to produce a panel with a desired outer shape.
This object can be achieved by a method of mounting a trim member on a flange of a panel that comprises the steps of (1) preparing an extrusion molding die having (i) a supply passage for supplying a molding material that will form a trim member, (ii) an extrusion port communicating with the supply passage and (iii) an insertion slit communicating with and extending laterally from the extrusion port for receiving the panel flange, (2) inserting the panel flange into the extrusion port through the insertion slit, thereby defining a molding space that corresponds to the cross section of the trim member between the extrusion port and the flange, (3) extruding the molding material supplied by the material supply passage through the extrusion port and into the molding space, and (4) continuously moving the molding die relative to the flange, while adjusting the insertion depth of the flange into the extrusion port, such that the distance between a reference position on the panel to the trim member is maintained at a desired distance.
Further, even if the panel is a composite panel comprised of a plurality of panel sheets, the trim member is mounted on the joined flanges of the composite panel by extrusion molding in the same manner as described above.
According to the above-mentioned method of mounting a trim member on a flange of a panel, the trim member is continuously extrusion molded along the edge of the flange and is simultaneously mounted on the flange. As a result, even with a flange having a non-uniform width or a distorted edge, the trim member can be accurately mounted on the flange with a desired outer shape. Thus, it is possible to obtain a panel having a good appearance. It is also possible to prevent the trim member from falling off the panel flange, which may be caused by improper mounting of the trim member.
Further, in case of a composite panel, when the flanges of each panel sheet are joined with their position shifted in a vertical direction, or when the flanges are joined with the upper ends partially separated, the trim member can be accurately mounted on the flanges so as to have a desired outer shape. Thus, it is possible to eliminate the problem, in which the trim member is mounted obliquely relative to the upper edge of the joined flanges, or the trim member interferes with other parts assembled around the trim member, such as a door glass.
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Niwa Takeaki
Yada Yukihiko
Dennison, Scheiner Schultz & Wakeman
Kent Christopher T.
Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Wilkens Kevin D.
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