Patent US4868968A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4868968A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for assembling body panels
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1989-02-13
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Granted: 1989-09-26
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Expires: 2009-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for the attachment of plastic outer body panels to automotive vehicle subframes including positioning a cup within apertures in the subframe, applying a thixotropic heat curable plastic/adhesive to the cup, heat curing the plastic/adhesive in situ while forming a blind aperture in the plastic/adhesive, and securing the body panel to the subframe through threaded insertion of a fastener into the blind aperture.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Dixon
- 👤 Derek F. Gentle
- 👤 Adam M. Janotik
- 👤 Lawrence P. Kazyak
- 👤 Tahir M. Mansour
- 👤 Emmanuel P. Papadakis
- 👤 Gordon G. Strosberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:52
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C66/00; B29C66/70; B29C66/74; B29C65/00; B29C65/48; B29C65/4805; B29C65/483; B29C65/4835; B29C65/56; B29C65/562; F; F16; F16B; F16B3/00; F16B3/005; F16B37/00; F16B37/005; F16B37/04; F16B37/048; F16B5/00; F16B5/02; B29C65/02; B29C66/742; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/904; Y10S411/908; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49888; Y10T29/49947; Y10T29/49963; Y10T29/49964
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of assembling plastic body panels to a metallic subframe of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising: forming substantially rectangular apertures in the metallic subframe; inserting a flanged cylindrical cup member into said aperture; applying a heat curable plastic/adhesive to the cup; contacting said plastic/adhesive with a heated die to simultaneously form a blind tapered hole in the plastic/adhesive to define a spacing of an outer surface of the plastic/adhesive with respect to the metallic subframe, and heat curing the adhesive; forming an aperture in the body panel; positioning the body panel in abutting relationship with the spaced surface of the plastic/adhesive to effect registration of the body panel aperture with the plastic/adhesive hole; and securing said body panel to said subframe by threadedly engaging a self-tapping fastener into the plastic/adhesive through the body panel aperture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of assembling plastic body panels to a metallic subframe of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising: forming substantially rectangular apertures in the metallic subframe; inserting a flanged cylindrical cup member into said aperture; applying a heat curable plastic/adhesive to the cup; contacting said plastic/adhesive with a heated die to simultaneously form a blind tapered hole in the plastic/adhesive to define a spacing of an outer surface of the plastic/adhesive with respect to the metallic subframe, and heat curing the adhesive; forming an aperture in the body panel; positioning the body panel in abutting relationship with the spaced surface of the plastic/adhesive to effect registration of the body panel aperture with the plastic/adhesive hole; and securing said body panel to said subframe by threadedly engaging a self-tapping fastener into the plastic/adhesive through the body panel aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a step of forming locking tabs on said cup to restrict rotation of said cup with respect to said subframe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 1, and further comprising the step of inserting a metallic retainer into said plastic/adhesive adjacent said tapered blind aperture during said heating/curing step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of apertures are formed in said metallic subframe and said method is duplicated simultaneously at each of the apertures prior to said positioning step.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of assembling plastic body panels to a metallic subframe of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising: forming substantially rectangular apertures in the metallic subframe; inserting a flanged cylindrical cup member into said aperture; applying a thixotropic plastic/adhesive to the cup; contacting said plastic/adhesive with a heated die to simultaneously form a blind tapered hole in the plastic/adhesive to define a spacing of an outer surface of the plastic/adhesive with respect to the metallic subframe, and heat curing the adhesive; forming an aperture in the body panel; positioning the body panel in abutting relationship with the spaced surface of the plastic/adhesive to effect registration of the body panel aperture with the plastic/adhesive blind hole; and securing said body panel to said subframe by threadedly engaging a self-tapping fastener into the plastic/adhesive through the body panel aperture.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of assembling plastic body panels to a metallic subframe of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising: forming substantially rectangular apertures in the metallic subframe; inserting a flanged cylindrical cup member into said aperture; applying a thixotropic plastic/adhesive to the cup; contacting said plastic/adhesive with a heated die to simultaneously form a blind tapered hole in the plastic/adhesive to define a spacing of an outer surface of the plastic/adhesive with respect to the metallic subframe, and heat curing the adhesive; forming an aperture in the body panel; positioning the body panel in abutting relationship with the spaced surface of the plastic/adhesive to effect registration of the body panel aperture with the plastic/adhesive blind hole; and securing said body panel to said subframe by threadedly engaging a self-tapping fastener into the plastic/adhesive through the body panel aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 5, and further comprising a step of forming locking tabs on said cup to restrict rotation of said cup with respect to said subframe.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 5, and further comprising the step of inserting a metallic retainer into said plastic/adhesive adjacent said blind tapered hole during said heating/curing step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as defined in claim 5, wherein a plurality of apertures are formed in said metallic subframe and said method is duplicated simultaneously at each of the apertures prior to said positioning step.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-25 | 1993-03-27 | 1993-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-25 | 1997-03-27 | 1997-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-25 | 2001-03-27 | 2001-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |