Convertible vehicle topwell drainage arrangement

• US 5,527,081 A
• Filed: 03/24/1995
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Pellerito, Paul C., Querro, Randall C., Cottone, Joseph, Rausch, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Application Number:
  US08/409,398
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 296/107, 296/208, 296/124, 137/351, 137/354
• US Class Current: 296/39.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0084 Water draining for non-fixed roofs or roof panels for fixed roofs not integral with roof structure B60R13/06, for fixed roofs integral with roof structure B62D25/07
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/20 Vehicle storage compartments for roof parts or for collapsible flexible tops
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/07 Water drainage or guide means not integral with roof structure B60R13/06, B60J10/25 take precedence; integral with roof structure B62D25/07; drainage openings having movable or removable closures B62D25/24

Abstract

A split-installation drainage arrangement for a convertible vehicle topwell assembly adapted for storage of the top in a downwardly folded position. The plastic shell-like topwell includes a floor molded with right and left side water collecting areas each terminating in a drainage recess. A sub-assembly, adapted for transporting water from an associated recess to the exterior of the vehicle, includes a one-piece discharge fitting and a sealing grommet interconnected by a flexible drain tube. The tube has one end attached to an exit spout of the fitting and its other end adapted for insertion in a body panel aperture by means of a snap-in sealing grommet. The sub-assemblies are readily installed in the vehicle body prior to the installation of the topwell. Each fitting has a collar adapted for snap-in mounting in a body support panel oval-shaped aperture. As a result, the frusto-conical shaped drainage recess exterior male taper surface is located in self-aligned spaced relationship with the interior female taper surface of the subjacent frusto-conical shaped fitting obviating assembly line inter-connections between the floor recess and the support panel fitting.

Claims

1. A topwell assembly drainage arrangement for an automotive vehicle body comprising:

a molded, rigid shell-like topwell assembly for attachment to the vehicle body and made of plastic material molded to conform to an environment of continuous and non-continuous surfaces, comprising a support floor together with side, front and rear walls projecting upwardly from said floor, said floor having a water discharge recess adapted to receive run-off water drainage;

said recess having a frusto-conical shaped side wall defining an upper large diameter inlet opening in the surface of said floor and terminating in a lower small diameter base wall, said base wall having a concentric central outlet hole therein aligned on a principal axis of symmetry of said recess;

a plurality of fasteners for fixedly installing said topwell assembly floor a predetermined dimension above a subjacent horizontally disposed body support panel having an aperture therein;

a water discharge one-piece fitting mounted in said support panel aperture prior to said topwell assembly being installed thereabove, whereby upon said assembly being installed the center of said support panel aperture is aligned on said recess principal axis;

said fitting having an annular body side wall defining an upper large diameter opening and terminating in a lower bottom wall, a collar extending radially outwardly from said upper opening and said bottom wall formed with a downwardly extending spout defining an axial passageway for water exiting said recess; and

said collar having side edges formed with oppositely facing downwardly projecting tabs adapted for snap-in reception in said support panel aperture.

2. The topwell assembly drainage arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body support panel aperture being oval-shaped defined by a pair of opposed parallel transversely extending side edge borders and a pair of opposed half-round end edge borders.

3. The topwell assembly drainage arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fitting bottom wall aperture defining a lower tubular spout extending downwardly therefrom, a flexible tube having one end connected to said spout and its other end extending through an opening in a body inner panel, such that said tube having its other open end positioned in an exterior low pressure area defined intermediate said inner body panel and an outer body panel whereby drain water from said spout is discharged in said low pressure area.

4. The topwell assembly drainage arrangement as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fitting collar being rectangular-shaped defined by a transverse side edges and longitudinal end edges, said collar end edges being formed with oppositely facing downwardly projecting tabs aligned on a transverse center line of said collar, each said tab having an outer face formed with a downwardly and outwardly sloped locking shoulder terminating in outwardly bowed lead-in self-centering cam portion having a radius of curvature substantially equal to but slightly greater than the radius of curvature of the oval-shaped aperture half-round end edge border.

5. The topwell assembly drainage arrangement as set forth in claim 3 wherein said inner panel is an inner rear panel and said outer panel is an outer rear fender panel and wherein said low pressure area is a rear wheel-well.

6. The topwell assembly drainage arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body support panel oval-shaped aperture having an upper surface in flush contact with an opposed undersurface of said fitting collar and wherein said locking shoulder of each said depending tab underlies a portion of said body panel.

7. The topwell assembly drainage arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drainage recess having a frusto-conical shaped side wall formed with a male exterior taper surface defining an upper large diameter circular inlet opening and a lower small diameter circular base wall having a concentric circular opening, and wherein the fitting formed with a frusto-conical shaped funnel wall portion defining a female interior taper surface matching in a predetermined spaced relation said male exterior taper surface.

8. The topwell assembly drainage arrangement as set forth in claim 7 wherein the vertical spacing between topwell floor water run-off collecting areas and said subjacent fitting collar is substantially equal to the spaced clearance between the male and female tapered surfaces.

9. The topwell assembly drainage arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a convertible top automotive vehicle.

12. The discharge fitting as set forth in claim 9 wherein said collar having an undersurface formed with two pair of downwardly projecting snap-in prongs spaced a predetermined dimension inwardly from each collar side edge, each said prong having a retaining shoulder adapted to engage an underside of the support panel thereby insuring positive alignment of said fitting in the support panel aperture.

10. A one-piece discharge fitting adapted for snap-in attachment in an oval-shaped aperture of a body support panel, wherein the aperture defined by a pair of opposed parallel side edges and a pair of opposed half-round end edges having a predetermined radius of curvature, said discharge fitting comprising:

a frusto-conical shaped side wall portion defining an upper large diameter opening and terminating in a lower small diameter bottom wall defining a funnel-shaped cup;

a rectangular-shaped collar extending outwardly from said upper opening and said bottom wall formed with a downwardly extending spout defining an axial passageway for water exiting said spout;

said collar having side and end edges, said end edges being formed with oppositely facing downwardly projecting tabs symmetrically aligned on a major center line axis of said collar;

each said tab having an outer face formed with a downwardly and outwardly sloped locking shoulder terminating in an outwardly bowed lead-in self centering cam portion having a radius of curvature substantially equal to but slightly greater than said predetermined aperture half-round end edge border radius of curvature, and

whereby the support panel having an upper surface flush with an opposed undersurface of said collar and wherein each said tab locking shoulder adapted to underlie a portion of the support panel.

11. The discharge fitting as set forth in claim 10 wherein said collar side and end edges defining radiused corner junctures adapted to overlie said support plate in a flush manner, thereby insuring adequate load transfer between said collar and the subjacent support panel.