Elastically averaged vehicle door assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9969257-B2
Application number	US-201615232351-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2016
Priority date	Aug 9, 2016
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle fuel door assembly includes a cover comprising a plurality of alignment features fixedly disposed relative to the cover, the plurality of alignment features formed of an elastically deformable material. The assembly also includes a hinge comprising a plurality of alignment elements fixedly disposed relative to the hinge, each of the alignment features interferingly, deformably and matingly engageable with a respective alignment element, the alignment features elastically deforming to an elastically averaged final configuration that aligns the cover relative to the hinge in six planar orthogonal directions by averaging the elastic deformation of the respective alignment features.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle fuel door assembly comprising:
a cover comprising a plurality of alignment features fixedly disposed relative to the cover, the plurality of alignment features being formed of an elastically deformable material; and
a hinge comprising a plurality of alignment elements fixedly disposed relative to the hinge, each of the alignment features being interferingly, deformably and matingly engageable with a respective alignment element, the alignment features elastically deforming to an elastically averaged final configuration that aligns the cover relative to the hinge in six planar orthogonal directions by averaging the elastic deformation of the respective alignment features, the hinge comprising:
a hinge segment pivotably coupled to a housing;
a hinge wall, the hinge wall comprising a pocket defined by a base wall and at least one perimeter wall, wherein each of the plurality of alignment elements is an opening defined by the perimeter wall and a wall extending from the perimeter wall; and
a connector segment connecting the hinge segment and the hinge wall.

2. The vehicle fuel door assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wall is U-shaped.

3. The vehicle fuel door assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of alignment features comprises a projection extending in a longitudinal direction from a cover wall to an end.

4. The vehicle fuel door assembly of claim 3 , wherein the projection comprises a retention feature extending perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal direction of the projection.

5. The vehicle fuel door assembly of claim 4 , wherein the retention feature is located closer to the end of the projection than to the cover wall.

6. The vehicle fuel door assembly of claim 4 , the projection comprising a plurality of retention features extending from the projection.

7. The vehicle fuel door assembly of claim 3 , wherein each of the walls includes an angled portion at an initial engagement end of the wall to guide the projection into the opening.

8. The vehicle fuel door assembly of claim 4 , wherein the retention feature is in contact with a retention end of each of the walls, and wherein the walls are spaced from the base wall of the pocket.

9. A charge port door assembly comprising:
a cover comprising a plurality of alignment features fixedly disposed relative to the cover, the plurality of alignment features being formed of an elastically deformable material; and
a hinge comprising a plurality of alignment elements fixedly disposed relative to the hinge, each of the alignment features being interferingly, deformably and matingly engageable with a respective alignment element, the alignment features elastically deforming to an elastically averaged final configuration that aligns the cover relative to the hinge in six planar orthogonal directions by averaging the elastic deformation of the respective alignment features, the hinge comprising:
a hinge segment pivotably coupled to a housing;
a hinge wall, the hinge wall comprising a pocket defined by a base wall and at least one perimeter wall, wherein each of the plurality of alignment elements is an opening defined by the perimeter wall and a wall extending from the perimeter wall; and
a connector segment connecting the hinge segment and the hinge wall.

10. The charge port door assembly of claim 9 , wherein the wall is U-shaped.

11. The charge port door assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of alignment features comprises a projection extending in a longitudinal direction from a cover wall to an end.

12. The charge port door assembly of claim 11 , wherein the projection comprises a retention feature extending perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal direction of the projection.

13. The charge port door assembly of claim 12 , wherein the retention feature is located closer to the end of the projection than to the cover wall.

14. The charge port door assembly of claim 12 , wherein the projection comprises a plurality of retention features extending from the projection.

15. The charge port door assembly of claim 11 , wherein each of the walls includes an angled portion at an initial engagement end of the wall to guide the projection into the opening.

16. The charge port door assembly of claim 12 , wherein the retention feature is in contact with a retention end of each of the walls, and wherein the walls are spaced from the base wall of the pocket.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Dallos Jr Robert
• Noll Gordan N
• Lawall Jennifer P
• Morris Steven E

Classifications

• B62D25/24

  Superstructure sub-units with access {or drainage} openings having movable or removable closures; {Sealing means therefor}(inlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05) · CPC title

• B60K2015/053

  with hinged connection to the vehicle body · CPC title

• B60K15/05 Primary

  Inlet covers · CPC title

• B60L53/16

  Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60K2015/0507

  Arrangements for adjusting the inlet cover · CPC title