PANEL MOUNTING ASSEMBLY

• US 20120074282A1
• Filed: 09/29/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Willey, Barry A.
• Original Assignee: Willey, Barry A.
• Inventors: Willey, Barry A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,616,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/226.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/004 Mounting of windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/06 the sub-units or components being doors, windows, openable roofs, lids, bonnets, or weather strips or seals therefor assembling sealing arrangements with vehicle parts, e.g. doors, windows B60J10/45
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/08 using bands
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1441 Tangential screw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49948 Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]

Abstract

A clamp, assembly and method for connecting a panel to a vehicle including longitudinally opposed end portions that are initially snap-fit in a loose slip-fit orientation to a vehicle support in order to adjustably fit the panel and finally coupled in a non-slip-fit orientation about a periphery of the contour of the vehicle support to fix the panel.

Claims

1. An clamp for connecting a panel to a vehicle, said clamp comprising:

a longitudinally extending strap portion including a first end portion and a second end portion, the first and second end portions disposed at opposite longitudinal extents of the strap portion;

the first end portion including a projection having a distal end and a lateral element disposed on the projection between the distal end and the strap portion; and

the second end portion including a receptacle having a deflectable element disposed adjacent an opening to the receptacle,

wherein the lateral element defines an effective outer diameter greater than an effective inner diameter defined by the deflectable element such that the first end portion loosely couples the second end portion in a snap-fit connection when the deflectable element is passed over the lateral element.

2. The clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second end portions each have a longitudinal axis disposed to define an acute angle with respect to the strap portion.

3. The clamp as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first through-bore that extends through the projection from the distal end to a proximate end and a near portion of the first through-bore disposed adjacent the proximate end including a non-cylindrical contour.

4. The clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the second end portion has a generally tubular configuration and further includes a pocket disposed opposite the receptacle such that the receptacle and the pocket are defined by a common interior wall.

5. The clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the lateral element is a segmented annular ring.

6. The clamp as recited in claim 1, wherein the deflectable element is a lip disposed about the opening to the receptacle.

7. An assembly for connecting a panel to a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

a clamp including a longitudinally extending strap portion having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first and second end portions disposed at opposite longitudinal extents of the strap portion that couple in a snap-fit connection such that the clamp is disposed in a loose slip-fit orientation about a support structure of the vehicle;

a pin removably coupled to the first end portion and adapted for connection to the panel; and

a fastener inserted through the second end portion to engage the pin and draw the first and second end portions toward one another such that the strap portion is disposed in a substantially contiguous non-slip-fit orientation connection about a periphery of a contour of the support structure.

8. The assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the first end portion includes a projection having a distal end and an annular ring disposed on the projection between the distal end and the strap portion and the second end portion includes a receptacle having a deflectable lip disposed about an opening to the receptacle, and wherein the annular ring has an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the deflectable lip whereby the first end portion loosely couples the second end portion in the snap-fit connection.

9. The clamp as recited in claim 7, wherein the first and second end portions each have a longitudinal axis disposed to define an acute angle with respect to the strap portion.

10. The clamp as recited in claim 8, further comprising a first through-bore that extends through the projection from the distal end to a proximate end and a near portion of the first through-bore disposed adjacent the proximate end including a non-cylindrical contour configured to couple a complementary contour of the pin.

11. The clamp as recited in claim 7, wherein the second end portion has a generally tubular configuration and further includes a pocket disposed opposite the receptacle to engage the fastener such that the receptacle and the pocket are defined by a common interior wall.

12. The clamp as recited in claim 7, wherein the periphery of the contour of the support structure is non-circular.

13. A method of connecting a panel to a vehicle comprising:

wrapping a longitudinally extending strap portion of a clamp about a periphery of a contour of a support structure of the vehicle;

coupling a first end portion and a second end portion of the clamp in a snap-fit connection such that the clamp is disposed in a loose slip-fit orientation about the support structure, the first and second end portions disposed at opposite longitudinal extents of the strap portion;

connecting the panel to a pin;

coupling the pin to the first end portion;

drawing the first and second end portions toward one another with a fastener inserted through the second end portion and engaging the pin such that the strap portion is disposed in a substantially contiguous non-slip-fit orientation about the periphery of the contour of the support structure.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising adjusting the clamp to a desired position on the support structure when disposed in the loose slip-fit orientation.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the clamp is immovable on the support structure when disposed in the non-slip-fit orientation.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the first end portion includes a projection having a distal end and an annular ring disposed on the projection between the distal end and the strap portion and the second end portion includes a receptacle having a deflectable lip disposed about an opening to the receptacle, and wherein the annular ring has an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the deflectable lip whereby the first end portion loosely couples the second end portion in the snap-fit connection.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the first and second end portions each have a longitudinal axis disposed to define an acute angle with respect to the strap portion.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising a first through-bore that extends through the projection from the distal end to a proximate end and a near portion of the first through-bore disposed adjacent the proximate end including a non-cylindrical contour configured to couple a complementary contour of the pin.

19. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the second end portion has a generally tubular configuration and further includes a pocket disposed opposite the receptacle to engage the fastener such that the receptacle and the pocket are defined by a common interior wall.

20. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the periphery of the contour of the support structure is non-circular.