Elastic tube alignment system for precisely locating an emblem lens to an outer bezel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9061403-B2
Application number	US-201213571030-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2012
Priority date	Jul 21, 2011
Publication date	Jun 23, 2015
Grant date	Jun 23, 2015

Abstract

An elastic tube alignment system for the mating an emblem lens to an outer bezel utilizing the principle of elastic averaging. A plurality of geometrically separated elastic tube (male) alignment features are disposed on a first side of the emblem lens, while a plurality of one-to-one corresponding aperture (female) alignment features are provided in the outer bezel. During the mating, each elastic tube and its respective aperture provide elastic deformation, which, on average, precisely aligns the emblem lens with respect to the outer bezel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An elastic tube alignment system for aligning an emblem lens with respect to an outer bezel, comprising:
an emblem lens having an emblem first side;
an outer bezel having a bezel first side;
a plurality of upstanding elastic tubes connected to said emblem first side;
a plurality of apertures formed in said outer bezel, each aperture having an aperture wall;
wherein said plurality of apertures are geometrically distributed in coordinated relationship to a geometrical distribution of said plurality of elastic tubes such that each elastic tube is receivable into a respective aperture;
wherein when each said elastic tube is received into its respective aperture an elastic deformation occurs at an interface between the tube wall and the aperture wall, wherein said elastic deformation is responsive to each said tube wall having a diameter larger than a cross-section of its respective aperture; and
wherein said elastic deformation is elastic averaged over said plurality of elastic tubes such that the first component is precisely located relative to the second component.

2. The elastic tube alignment system of claim 1 , wherein each said tube wall defines a hollow cylinder.

3. The elastic tube alignment system of claim 1 , wherein said elastic deformation comprises resiliently reversible elastic deformation of each said tube wall.

4. The elastic tube alignment system of claim 3 , wherein said elastic deformation further comprises resiliently elastic deformation of each said aperture wall.

5. The elastic tube alignment system of claim 3 , wherein each said tube wall is tapered, wherein the taper provides a smallest diameter distally from the first surface.

6. The elastic tube alignment system of claim 5 , wherein each said aperture has a beveled aperture wall at said cross-section.

7. The elastic tube alignment system of claim 6 , wherein each said aperture is elongated in relation to said cross-section along an elongation axis.

8. The elastic tube alignment system of claim 7 , wherein a joint is formed when said emblem lens is mated to said outer bezel, wherein said elongation axis of each said aperture is oriented parallel in relation to predetermined direction responsive to said joint, wherein said cross-section of said aperture is oriented generally perpendicular in relation to said elongation axis.

9. The elastic tube alignment system of claim 4 , wherein each said aperture has a beveled aperture wall at said cross-section.

10. The elastic tube alignment system of claim 1 , wherein each said aperture is elongated in relation to said cross-section along an elongation axis.

11. The elastic tube alignment system of claim 10 , wherein a joint is formed when said emblem lens is mated to said outer bezel, wherein said elongation axis of each said aperture is oriented parallel in relation to predetermined direction responsive to said joint, wherein said cross-section of said aperture is oriented generally perpendicular in relation to said elongation axis.

12. The elastic tube alignment system of claim 4 , wherein each said tube wall defines a hollow cylinder.

13. The elastic tube alignment system of claim 4 , wherein said elastic deformation provides a stiffened assembly of said first and second components when said first and second components are mutually mated to each other.

14. A method for precisely aligning an emblem lens to an outer bezel during a mating operation, said method comprising the steps of:
providing an emblem lens having an emblem first side;
providing an outer bezel, wherein in said steps of providing, said first emblem side is provided with a plurality of upstanding elastic tubes and a plurality of apertures are formed in said outer bezel, wherein the plurality of apertures are geometrically distributed in coordinated relationship to a geometrical distribution of the plurality of elastic tubes such that each elastic tube is receivable into a respective aperture;
mating the emblem lens to the outer bezel, whereduring the emblem lens is aligned to the outer bezel by each said elastic tube being received into its respective aperture;
elastically deforming an interface between each elastic tube and its respective aperture; and
elastic averaging the elastic deformation over the plurality of elastic tubes such that upon mating, a precise location of the emblem lens with respect to the outer bezel.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said step of elastically deforming comprises resiliently reversible elastic deformation of each elastic tube.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said step of mating forms a joint between said emblem lens and said outer bezel, wherein an elongation axis of each said aperture is oriented parallel in relation to predetermined direction responsive to said joint, and wherein said cross-section of said aperture is oriented generally perpendicular in relation to said elongation axis.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein in said steps of providing, a manufacturing variance of size and position of the elastic tubes and the apertures occurs, wherein the manufacturing variance has an average length of X, and wherein said step of elastic averaging provides a reduced manufacturing variance of length X′, where X′=X√N, wherein N is the number of the elastic tubes.

Assignees

• Colombo Joel
• Morris Steven E
• Richardson Michael D
• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Colombo Joel
• Morris Steven E
• Richardson Michael D

Classifications

• Y10T29/53991

  Work gripper, anvil, or element · CPC title

• Y10T29/49895

  Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"] · CPC title

• B25B27/14

  for assembling objects other than by press fit or detaching same · CPC title

• B25B27/00 Primary

  Hand tools, specially adapted for fitting together or separating parts or objects whether or not involving some deformation, not otherwise provided for (machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects B23P19/00) · CPC title