Vehicle lamp installation method and assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10914448-B2
Application number	US-201916241140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2019
Priority date	Jan 7, 2019
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

A vehicle lamp installation method includes, among other things, engaging both a mounting bracket and an outer panel of a vehicle with an alignment fixture that locates the mounting bracket relative to the outer panel in a mounting position. The method further includes securing the mounting bracket to a body structure of the vehicle when the mounting bracket is in the mounting position. A vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a body structure of a vehicle, a mounting bracket secured to the body structure in a mounting position, and an outer panel secured to the body structure. The mounting bracket is located in the mounting position relative to the outer panel using an alignment fixture that engages with both the outer panel and the mounting bracket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle lamp installation method, comprising:
engaging both a mounting bracket and an outer panel of a vehicle with an alignment fixture that locates the mounting bracket relative to the outer panel in a mounting position;
securing the mounting bracket to a body structure of the vehicle when the mounting bracket is in the mounting position; and
securing a lamp to the mounting bracket, wherein, after the securing, the outer panel can be decoupled from the body structure while the lamp remains secured to the mounting bracket, and while the mounting bracket remains secured to the body structure.

2. A vehicle lamp installation method, comprising:
engaging both a mounting bracket and an outer panel of a vehicle with an alignment fixture that locates the mounting bracket relative to the outer panel in a mounting position;
securing the mounting bracket to a body structure of the vehicle when the mounting bracket is in the mounting position;
securing a lamp to the mounting bracket; and
disengaging the alignment fixture from the mounting bracket and the outer panel, the disengaging after the securing of the mounting bracket and before the securing of the lamp.

3. The lamp installation method of claim 1 , wherein the outer panel is coupled to the body structure in an installed position during the engaging and the securing.

4. The lamp installation method of claim 1 , wherein the engaging comprises receiving at least one first pin of the outer panel or the alignment fixture within a corresponding first aperture provided by the other of the outer panel or the alignment fixture, and receiving at least one second pin of the mounting bracket or the alignment fixture within a corresponding second aperture provided by the other of the mounting bracket or the alignment fixture.

5. The lamp installation method of claim 1 , further comprising securing the mounting bracket to the body structure using mechanical fasteners.

6. The lamp installation method of claim 5 , further comprising securing the mounting bracket through access apertures in the alignment fixture.

7. The lamp installation method of claim 1 , wherein the outer panel is a rear quarter panel and the lamp is a rear taillamp.

8. The lamp installation method of claim 1 , wherein the lamp is nested within an opening of the outer panel such that the outer panel extends along an upwardly facing surface of the lamp and further extends along an outboard facing surface of the lamp.

9. A vehicle assembly, comprising:
a body structure of a vehicle;

a mounting bracket secured to the body structure in a mounting position;
an outer panel secured to the body structure, the mounting bracket located in the mounting position relative to the outer panel using an alignment fixture that engages with both the outer panel and the mounting bracket; and
a lamp secured to the mounting bracket, wherein the lamp is nested within an opening of the outer panel such that the outer panel extends along an upwardly facing surface of the lamp and further extends along an outboard facing surface of the lamp.

10. The vehicle assembly of claim 9 , wherein the outer panel is a rear quarter panel and the lamp is a rear taillamp.

11. The vehicle assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of mechanical fasteners that secure the mounting bracket to the body structure.

12. The vehicle assembly of claim 9 , wherein the alignment fixture is configured to engage with the outer panel and the mounting bracket through a plurality of pins received within respective apertures.

13. The vehicle assembly of claim 9 , wherein the outer panel is configured to be removed from the body structure while the mounting bracket remains secured to the body structure.

14. The vehicle assembly of claim 9 , wherein the outer panel is securable to the body structure with a plurality of mechanical fasteners.

15. The vehicle assembly of claim 9 , wherein all portions of the mounting bracket are spaced from all portions of the outer panel.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Marchlewski Jack
• Reiners Robert
• Wagner Darrin Neil

Classifications

• B60Q1/2623 Primary

  Details of the fastening means · CPC title

• B60Q1/2638

  Positioning the device housing by indexing means separate from the fastening means, e.g. pins, rails · CPC title

• B60Q1/2649

  with provision for pre-mounting or temporary holding the device before or during final mounting · CPC title

• F21S43/601 Primary

  characterised by variable optical properties, e.g. involving the use of LCD or movable parts · CPC title

• F21S43/51 Primary

  Attachment thereof · CPC title