ADJUSTABLE STOPPER ELEMENT WITH IMPROVED FIXATION AND/OR ADJUSTABILITY

• US 20190309555A1
• Filed: 09/19/2017
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: DIEZ HERRERA, Victor, MARTIN MARINO, Ivan, PARES ISANTA, Albert, STELLWAG, Philip, SPANIER, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 10,689,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/16 Making multilayered or multicoloured articles B29C45/0062 takes precedence; feeding colouring materials into the injection unit B29C45/1816
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/30 Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/022 specially adapted for vehicles, e.g. for hoods or trunks
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/025 specially adapted for vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/10 Adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/12 by manual operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/14 with position retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/32 Rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/53 Snapping
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/12 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/46 Injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/674 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/676 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/536 Hoods

Abstract

An adjustable stopper device (1) for a vehicle door or hood, includes a base part (100), and adjustment part (200), a stopper part (300) and a fastening structure (400). The adjustment part is connected to the base part via threads (120, 220) and thereby rotatable around a device axis (210) with respect to the base part (100). The stopper part is configured to contact the vehicle door and to provide an abutment surface (310) for the vehicle door when the vehicle door is closed, wherein the stopper part is connected to the adjustment part and wherein the axial position of the abutment surface is adjustable by turning the adjustment part with respect to the base part around the device axis. The fastening structure fastens the base part to the car body (2). A vehicle with, use of and method for manufacturing such a device are also described.

Claims

1. Adjustable stopper device (1) for a vehicle door or hood, comprising:

a base part (100),

an adjustment part (200), wherein the adjustment part (200) is connected to the base part (100) via threads (120, 220) and thereby rotatable around a device axis (210) with respect to the base part (100),

a stopper part (300) configured to contact the vehicle door and to provide an abutment surface (310) for the vehicle door when the vehicle door is closed, wherein the stopper part (300) is connected to the adjustment part (200) and wherein the axial position of the abutment surface (310) is adjustable by turning the adjustment part (200) with respect to the base part (100) around the device axis (210),

a fastening structure (400) for fastening the base part (100) to the car body (2);

a rotation snap mechanism, which snaps into distinct rotational angle positions, which comprises;

a first cylindrical portion (170) in the base part (100), coaxially positioned with the thread (120) of the base part (100), wherein the inner wall of the first cylindrical portion (170) comprises one or more radially inwards protruding teeth or rips or knobs (171), and

a second cylindrical portion (240) of the adjustment part (200), positioned coaxially with the thread (220) of the adjustment part (200), wherein the outer wall of the second cylindrical portion (240) comprises one or more radially outwards protruding, resilient teeth or rips or knobs (241) which is or are configured to engage with the axially extending teeth or rips or knobs (171) and thereby provide a predefined, resistance to a rotation moment which can be overcome by a predefined threshold moment resulting in a repeated deflection and relaxation of the one or more teeth or rips or knobs (241) of the adjustment part (200) radially inwards and outwards while the adjustment part (200) is being turned around the device axis (210);

wherein the distal end of the first cylindrical portion (170), which is the end at the far side with respect to the position of the adjustment part (200) and/or stopper part (300), is;

closed off by the base part'"'"'s (100) material, or

covered by a sealing cover (800), formed onto the base part (100) by a two-component injection molding.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) comprises a sealing element (500) for sealing against the car body (2) which is surrounding the fastening structure (400), wherein the sealing element (500) is made of plastic and formed adhesively onto the base part (100) by an injection molding step that includes the two-component injection molding.

20. Vehicle comprising a door or hood and a car body (2) and a device (1) according to claim 1.

21. A method of using a device (1) according to claim 1, the method comprising connecting the device to a door or hood or car body of a vehicle.

3-19. -19. (canceled)

22. A method for manufacturing an adjustable stopper device (1) for a vehicle door or hood, comprising

forming a base part (100) by injection molding, thereby forming a thread (120) of the base part (100),

forming an adjustment part (200) by injection molding, thereby forming a thread (220) of the adjustment part (200),

forming a stopper part (300) by injection molding,

building a fastening structure (400) for fastening the base part (100) to the car body;

wherein a sealing closure (172) of a distal end of a first cylindrical portion (170) in the base part (100) is molded in the same step, in which the base part (100) is molded, and out of the same material, wherein the first cylindrical portion (170) is coaxially positioned with the thread (120) of the base part (100) and wherein the distal end of said first cylindrical portion (170) is the end at the far side with respect to the position of the adjustment part (200) and/or the stopper part (300).

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein a sealing element (500) for sealing against the car body (2) around one or more openings of the car body (2), which opening or openings are used to fasten the base part (100) to the car body (2), is overmolded by a two-component injection molding, onto the base part (100).

24. (canceled)

25. A method for manufacturing an adjustable stopper device (1) for a vehicle door or hood, comprising

forming a base part (100) by injection molding, thereby forming a thread (120) of the base part (100),

forming an adjustment part (200) by injection molding, thereby forming a thread (220) of the adjustment part (200),

forming a stopper part (300) by injection molding

building a fastening structure (400) for fastening the base part (100) to the car body;

wherein a sealing element (500) for sealing against the car body (2) around one or more openings of the car body (2), which opening or openings are used to fasten the base part (100) to the car body (2), is overmolded by a two-component injection molding, onto the base part (100);

wherein a sealing cover (800) is molded onto a distal end of a first cylindrical portion (170) in the base part (100) in the same step, in which the sealing element (500) is molded, and out of the same material, wherein the first cylindrical portion (170) is coaxially positioned with the thread (120) of the base part and wherein the distal end of said first cylindrical portion (170) is the end at the far side with respect to the position of the adjustment part (200) and/or the stopper part (300).

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the fastening structure (400) is fixed to the base part (100)

by molding the fastening structure (400) at least partially with the base part (100), when the base part (100) is formed, and/or

by attaching, preferably clipping, the fastening structure (400) or parts of the fastening structure (400) to the preformed base part (100).