Automotive deck lid bumper

• US 6,119,306 A
• Filed: 03/23/1999
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Southco Incorporated (South Chester Tube Company)
• Original Assignee: Southco Incorporated (South Chester Tube Company)
• Inventors: Antonucci, Jeffrey L., Weuthen, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Application Number:
  US09/274,858
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 296/207, 16/86 A, 16/86 R, 16/82, 411/417, 411/418, 411/437, 411/550, 411/553, 411/508-510, 24/797, 24/453, 24/585, 24/597
• US Class Current: 16/86.00A
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/022 specially adapted for vehicles, e.g. for hoods or trunks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/548 Trunk lids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 24/48 And cavity for guiding movement of formations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type

Abstract

A deck lid bumper having a stud with a head and a shaft, the head adapted to bump against the deck upon closure of the deck against the bumper, the receptacle adapted to receive the shaft of the stud, the receptacle having means to secure the receptacle in a frame. A frictional surface is provided between the shaft of the stud and the receptacle sufficient to support the stud in a desired position within the receptacle and a lock is provided to lock the shaft portion of the stud into the receptacle by rotating the head of the stud with respect to the receptacle.

Claims

1. A deck bumper comprising:

(a) a stud, having a head portion and a shaft portion, said head portion adapted to bump against said deck upon closure of the deck against the bumper;

(b) a receptacle adapted to receive said shaft portion of said stud, said receptacle having means to secure said receptacle in a frame; and

(c) said shaft portion of said stud having at least one radial tooth and a set of large radial grooves located axially on an outer perimeter of said shaft, said at least one radial tooth on said shaft portion of said stud adapted to resiliently mate with at least one tooth on an inner surface of said receptacle to provide ratcheting-type friction between said shaft portion of said stud and said receptacle sufficient to support said stud in substantially a desired position within said receptacle, said large radial grooves of said shaft portion of said stud comprising teeth adapted to securely mate with said at least one tooth;

whereby a frictional position and a locking position are provided, said stud in said frictional position when said pair of radial teeth engages said at least one tooth on the inner surface of said receptacle and said stud in said locking position when said stud is axially rotated with respect to said receptacle such that said radial grooves on said stud engages said at least one tooth on the inner surface of said receptacle.

2. The deck lid bumper of claim 1, wherein the locking means snaps in place when the stud is fully rotated into a locked position.

3. The deck lid bumper of claim 1, wherein the locking means audibly indicates when the stud is fully rotated into a locked position.

4. The deck lid bumper of claim 1, wherein the head portion adapted to bump against the deck upon closure of the deck against the bumper includes resilient means to cushion the interface between the head portion of the bumper and the deck.

5. A deck bumper comprising:

(a) a stud, having a head portion and a shaft portion, said head portion adapted to bump against said deck upon closure of the deck against the bumper;

(b) a receptacle adapted to receive said shaft portion of said stud;

said receptacle having means to secure said receptacle in a frame; and

(c) said shaft portion of said stud having a pair of radial teeth and a set of large radial grooves adapted to resiliently mate with at least one tooth on an inner surface of said receptacle to provide ratcheting-type friction between said shaft portion of said stud and said receptacle sufficient to support said stud in substantially a desired position within said receptacle, said set of large radial grooves adapted to securely mate with said the at least one tooth on the inner surface of the receptacle;

whereby a frictional position and a locking position are provided, said stud in said frictional position when said pair of radial teeth on said shaft portion of said stud engages said at least one tooth of said plurality of teeth on the inner surface of said receptacle and said stud in said locking position when said stud is axially rotated with respect to said receptacle such that said set of large radial grooves engages said at least one tooth on the inner surface of said receptacle.

6. The deck lid bumper of claim 5, wherein the locking means snaps in place when the stud is fully rotated into a locked position.

7. The deck lid bumper of claim 5, wherein the locking means audibly indicates when the stud is fully rotated into a locked position.