Exterior assembly and method for coupling an exterior assembly to a vehicular frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016288735-A1
Application number	US-201514677386-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 2, 2015
Priority date	Apr 2, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicular door garnish assembly and methods of adhesively coupling the vehicular door garnish to the vehicular frame include a vehicular door garnish and an adhesive material applied to at least one of the vehicular door garnish and a portion of vehicular frame at least partially defining a door opening to couple the vehicular door garnish to the vehicular frame.

First claim

1 . A vehicular door garnish assembly comprising:
a vehicular door garnish; and an adhesive material applied between the vehicular door garnish and a portion of a vehicular frame at least partially defining a door opening to couple the vehicular door garnish to the vehicular frame.

2 . The vehicular door garnish assembly of claim 1 wherein the vehicular door garnish comprises a sill portion, an A-pillar portion, and a B-pillar portion.

3 . The vehicular door garnish assembly of claim 1 wherein the vehicular door garnish comprises a single piece substantially U-shaped assembly comprising a bottom sill surface, a rearward-facing front surface, and a forward-facing rear surface.

4 . The vehicular door garnish assembly of claim 3 wherein the vehicular door garnish defines a substantially U-shaped door opening for receiving a door.

5 . The vehicular door garnish assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a plurality of standoffs positioned on the portion of the vehicular frame, each of the plurality of standoffs configured to maintain a bond gap between the portion of the vehicular frame and the vehicular door garnish.

6 . The vehicular door garnish assembly of claim 1 wherein the vehicular door garnish comprises a plurality of standoffs disposed on an underside surface of the vehicular door garnish configured to maintain a bond gap between the portion of the vehicular frame and the vehicular door garnish with the underside surface of the vehicular door garnish coupled to the portion of the vehicular frame by the adhesive.

7 . The vehicular door garnish assembly of claim 1 further comprising a door seal gasket coupled directly to an exterior surface of the vehicular door garnish.

8 . The vehicular door garnish assembly of claim 1 wherein the adhesive material comprises a polyurethane adhesive.

9 . The vehicular door garnish assembly of claim 1 wherein the adhesive material comprises the sole means to couple the vehicular door garnish to the portion of the vehicular frame.

10 . The vehicular door garnish assembly of claim 1 wherein the portion of the vehicular frame is at least partially painted.

11 . A vehicle comprising
a vehicular frame having a portion at least partially defining a door opening; a vehicular door garnish; and an adhesive material applied between the portion of the vehicular frame at least partially defining the door opening and the vehicular door garnish to couple the vehicular door garnish to the vehicular frame.

12 . The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the vehicular door garnish comprises a single piece substantially U-shaped assembly.

13 . The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the adhesive material comprises the sole means of coupling the vehicular door garnish to the portion of the vehicular frame.

14 . The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the vehicular door garnish and the portion of the vehicular frame are painted and the adhesive material couples the painted vehicular door garnish to the painted portion of the vehicular frame.

15 . The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the vehicular door garnish includes a plurality of standoffs disposed on an undersurface of the vehicular door garnish, the plurality of standoffs configured to maintain a bond gap between the undersurface of the vehicular door garnish and the portion of the vehicular frame.

16 . The vehicle of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of standoffs coupled to the vehicular frame to maintain a bond gap between the undersurface of the vehicular door garnish and the portion of the vehicular frame.

17 . A method for coupling a vehicular door garnish to a vehicular frame forming a door opening, the method comprising:
applying an adhesive material to at least one of a vehicular door garnish and a portion of a vehicular frame at least partially defining the door opening; positioning the vehicular door garnish on the portion of the vehicular frame; and curing the adhesive material to couple the vehicular door garnish to the portion of the vehicular frame.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein applying the adhesive material to the at least one of the vehicular door garnish and the portion of the vehicular frame comprises applying the adhesive material to a surface comprising a plurality of standoffs for maintaining a bond gap between the vehicular door garnish and the portion of the vehicular frame.

19 . The method of claim 17 further comprising clamping the vehicular door garnish to the portion of the vehicular frame prior to curing the adhesive material.

20 . The method of claim 17 further comprising painting the vehicular door garnish prior to applying adhesive material to at least one of the vehicular door garnish and the portion of the vehicular frame and prior to setting the vehicular door garnish into the portion of the vehicular frame.

21 . The method of claim 17 further comprising at least one of painting and electrocoating the vehicular frame prior to applying adhesive material to at least one of the vehicular door garnish and the portion of the vehicular frame and prior to setting the vehicular door garnish into the portion of the vehicular frame.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Horner Kurtis
• Bach Edward
• Rompage Adam
• Madsen Aron
• Ordonio Jr Anthony

Classifications

• B62D27/026

  Connections by glue bonding (in general F16B11/00; processes C09J5/00) · CPC title

• B62D65/14

  the sub-units or components being passenger compartment fittings, e.g. seats, linings, trim, instrument panels · CPC title

• B60R13/0243 Primary

  Doors · CPC title

• B60R2013/046

  Foot boards · CPC title

• B60R13/04 Primary

  External} Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices {thereon (fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12) · CPC title