Flush fit removable backlight

• US 6,015,181 A
• Filed: 11/12/1997
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anna L. Exner
• Original Assignee: Anna L. Exner
• Inventors: Exner, Anna L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US08/969,051
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 296/107.07, 296/145, 296/146.4, 160/90
• US Class Current: 296/145
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/1815 non-adjustably mounted in and moving with the soft-top cover

Abstract

A flush fit removable backlight assembly for a convertible top. The assembly includes an outer frame member having a substantially flat lower body portion and a generally T-shaped upper body portion. The assembly also includes an inner clamping member having a substantially flat lower clamping portion and a generally C-shaped upper clamping portion. To assemble the removable backlight assembly, the opening of the convertible top is attached to the outer frame member. The backlight is then positioned against the lower body portion of the outer frame member. Then, the upper clamping portion of the inner clamping member interlocks or interengages with the upper body portion of the outer frame member so that the lower clamping portion of the inner clamping member engages the opposite side of the backlight.

Claims

1. A flush fit, removable backlight assembly, comprising:

a backlight;

a frame member having a lower body portion and an upper body portion, said upper body portion including an elongate member disposed generally parallel to said upper body portion, spaced therefrom by an intermediate member and having a cross bar forming a generally T-shaped portion and defining upper and lower channels; and

an elongate clamping member having a lower clamping portion and an upper locking portion, said upper locking portion including elongate, opposed members defining a region adapted to receive said elongate member of said upper body portion of said frame member,

wherein said elongate member of said upper body portion of said frame member interlocks with said elongate opposed members of said upper locking portion of said clamping member, said lower body portion of said frame member engages one side of the backlight and said lower clamping portion of said clamping member engages an opposite side of said backlight.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said clamping member comprises a plurality of discrete segments for facilitating installation of said clamping member.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of notches in said elongate member of said upper body portion of said frame member.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said elongate, opposed members of said upper locking portion of said clamping member include upper and lower hook segments forming a generally T-shaped channel adapted to receive said generally T-shaped portion of said upper body portion of said frame member.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lower body portion of said frame member and said lower clamping portion of said clamping member include substantially flat inner and outer surfaces.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the inner surfaces of said frame member and said clamping member engage opposite sides of the backlight to clamp a cover of a convertible top securely in place.

7. A flush fit, removable backlight assembly for removably mounting a backlight within an opening of a convertible top cover, said assembly comprising:

an outer frame member for framing an outer surface of the backlight, said outer frame member including an elongate member disposed generally parallel to said outer frame member and spaced therefrom by an intermediate member; and

an inner clamping member for embracing an inner surface of the backlight, said inner clamping member including elongate, opposed members defining a region adapted to receive said elongate and intermediate members of said frame member,

wherein said outer frame member interlocks with the said inner clamping member to clamp the backlight.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said outer frame member includes a lower body portion and an upper body portion and said intermediate member extends from said upper body portion.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said inner clamping member includes a lower clamping portion and an upper locking portion and said opposed members extend from said upper locking portion.

10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein said elongate member of said upper body portion of said outer frame member interlocks with said opposed members of said upper locking portion of said inner clamping member.

11. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said inner clamping member is formed of discrete segments, and said outer frame member includes entry notches capable of receiving an end of each discrete segment to be inserted and slid into position.

12. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the top cover extends over an outside surface of said outer frame member and is secured to an inner surface of said outer frame member, the top cover being clamped to the backlight by said outer frame member when said inner clamping member interlocks with said outer frame member.

13. A method of removably mounting a backlight within an opening of a convertible top cover, comprising the steps of:

providing a frame member having an upper locking portion defining at least one notch and a lower clamping portion;

folding a portion of the top cover around the frame member;

securing the portion of the top cover to the lower clamping portion of the frame member;

placing the backlight against the lower clamping portion of the frame member;

providing a clamping member having an upper locking portion and a lower clamping portion; and

interlocking the upper locking portion of the clamping member and the upper locking portion of the frame member by starting at the at least one notch and sliding one of said frame and said clamping members along another of said member 5 in a direction substantially parallel to an edge of said opening

whereby the backlight is clamped between the lower clamping portion of the frame member and the lower clamping portion of the clamping member, and

whereby the top cover is clamped between the backlight and the frame member.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said interlocking step comprises inserting segments of the clamping member through notches in the frame member.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of securing a foam strip to the lower clamping portion of the frame member prior to placing the backlight against the frame member.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said interlocking step includes sliding said clamping member along said frame member.