GB2353577A

GB2353577A - Twist-lock adjustable door buffer

Info

Publication number: GB2353577A
Application number: GB9919901A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shahab Namvari
Original assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 1999-08-24
Filing date: 1999-08-24
Publication date: 2001-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 2019-08-24
Also published as: GB2353577B; GB9919901D0; DE10037587A1

Abstract

A door buffer for use in association with vehicle closures such as doors, tailgates and fuel filler flaps. The buffer (2) comprises a shaft (6) having diametrically opposed flats (14) and engagement projections (8) disposed axially along its length. The shape of the opening (5) is such that when the shaft is in one orientation it is free to move axially within the opening and in a second orientation is prevented from axial movement by the projections (8). The buffer can be easily adjusted to ensure that when closed, the outer panel of a closure is flush with the surrounding body panels.

Description

2353577 Motor Vehicle AssewWy The present invention relates to a motor

vehicle assembly, and in particular for a buffer assembly for use in association with a closure of motor vehicle. Such closures include, but are not limited to doors, tailgates and fuel filler flaps.

It is desirable when assembling a motor vehicle that a panel forming a part of a closure 5 be seated flush with any surrounding panel or panels when the closure is in a closed position. In the case of a fuel filler flap, for example, this is so both for reasons of improved aesthetics and wind resistance.

One way to achieve this result is to place a buffer of an appropriate size in a gap formed between the closure panel and a recessed portion of the surrounding panel or panels. The buffer maintains the closure panel in the correct relative position with respect to the surrounding panel or panels.

However, due. to variations in manufacturing tolerance the gap formed between the closure panel and a recessed portion of the surrounding panel or panels is not always identical as between successively manufactured closures. There is a need for a buffer that can be used to correctly position a closure panel in the correct relative position with respect to a surrounding panel or panels as between successive manufactures.

It is known to provide a buffer assembly in the form of a shaft having a helical thread. The assembly is moulded from a rubber or similar material. A body panel is provided with an opening having a recessed portion to be covered in use by the closure. The recessed portion includes a hole. The buffer is rotated into the hole to an approximate position and the closure moved to a closed position. If the closure is not flush with its surroundings, the closure is opened and the buffer is rotated and the process repeated until the closure panel is maintained in the correct relative position with respect to the surrounding body panel or panels. By repeating this process with each successive manufacture, only a single form of buffer assembly is required.

However, it will be understood that this buffer assembly relies to a large extent on trial and error and the use of skilled labour in its application.. There is a need for a buffer assembly that can be used quickly and simply to correctly position a closure panel in the correct relative position with respect to a surrounding body panel or panels as between successive manufactures of the closure.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a buffer for insertion through an opening comprises a shaft, engagement means disposed axially along the shaft, such that, in use, in a first orientation the shaft may pass axially through the opening and in a second orientation the engagement means prevents axial movement of the shaft through the opening.

Preferably, the engagement means comprises a plurality of valleys and lands.

Preferably, the buffer ftirther comprises positioning means disposed axially along the shaft. More preferably, the positioning means comprises a plurality of resilient members extending radially from the shaft. Preferably, the resilient members extend radially from the lands of the engagement means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a buffer assembly for attachment through an opening in a panel comprises a buffer and an opening in a panel, in which the buffer has a portion which may be moved between a first orientation and a second orientation such that in the first orientation the portion may pass through the opening and in the second orientation the portion is secured axially in position relative to the opening.

Preferably, the portion forms a part of a shaft of the buffer.

Preferably, the portion is rotated between the first orientation and the second orientation. More preferably, the portion is rotated through 90 degrees between the first orientation and the second orientation.

Preferably, the opening is formed in a body panel of a motor vehicle.

Preferably, the opening has a primary axis and a secondary axis normal to the primary axis, the primary axis being longer than the secondary axis.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a buffer in accordance with the present invention in use; Figure 2 shows a section along line H-II of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a section similar to that of Figure 2 taken through a second embodiment of a buffer in accordance with the invention.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, there can be seen a first embodiment of a buffer 2 in accordance with the present invention. A component 4 is shown having an opening 5 therein.

The component may comprise a closure or a panel to be covered by a closure. In the following description the component is considered to be a panel to be covered by a closure.

The buffer 2 is shown extending through the opening 5. That portion extending behind the plane of the component 4 is shown in ghost. The buffer 2 is shown in Figure 1 in a first orientation.

The buffer 2 comprises a shaft 6, engagement means 8 and a head portion 10.

The shaft 6 has a first end 12 and a second end 14. The shaft comprises a first generally planar face 16 and a second generally planar face 18, each running axially along the shaft 6.

The first and second faces of the shaft are disposed substantially parallel to one another. The first and second faces are separated from one another by intermediate faces 20,22.

The engagement means 8 are disposed axially along each of the intermediate faces 20,22 of the shaft. The engagement means 8 comprise a plurality of valleys 24 and lands 26. Each land 26 has an upper edge 28. Considered in section, each of the lands and valleys on one of the intermediate faces are in register with a respective land or valley on another of the intermediate faces. The valleys 24 form a plurality of slots or grooves in the shaft 6 of the buffer.

The head portion 10 is shown arranged at the second end 14 of the shaft 6. The head portion may conveniently be formed with a shaped recess 40. The recess 40 may be substantially square in section as shown in Figure 1. The recess may be of any other convenient shape to be engaged by a suitable tool, for example by an Allen key.

The buffer 2 is made of a suitable material such as rubber. The buffer is conveniently formed by moulding. The buffer is conveniently of unitary construction.

The opening 5 in the illustrated embodiment is of broadly similar shape to a cross section of the shaft defined by the first and second faces and the upper edges of the lands.

In the position shown in Figure 1, the shaft 6 of the buffer 2 rests within the opening 5 having been inserted into the opening 5 by an operator. A closure is then brought slowly into position such that an outer surface (not shown) of the closure is flush with an adjacent panel or panels. As this takes place, an inner surface of the closure makes contact with the head portion 10 of the buffer and pushes the buffer 2 through the opening 5 (arrow A).

The closure is then moved to a position which allows the operator access to the buffer. The operator then turns the buffer 2 from the first orientation to a second orientation (arrow B). The operator may turn the buffer by hand or by the use of a suitable tool inserted into and engaging with the recess.

Turning of the buffer 2 causes the engagement means 8 to engage with the component 4 about a periphery of the opening 5 to retain the buffer 2 in position. The engagement means engage the panel in a manner sufficiently robust to prevent the buffer from working loose due to vibrations operating within the motor vehicle during use. Conveniently, the second orientation is at ninety degrees to the first orientation, i.e. a quarter turn.

In a second embodiment, shown in section in Figure 3, the buffer may additionally incorporate flexible or readily deformable resilient members 30. Like reference numerals are used to refer to parts corresponding to those present in the first embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the resilient members 30 are formed extending from the upper edges 28 of the lands 26 of the engagement means 8.

In use, the buffer 2 is located roughly in position by inserting the buffer 2 in an opening in a component. The resilient members 30 deform and spring back as they pass a periphery of the opening. Once approximately in position, the closure is moved to a closed position. The closure is pushed into a position such that an outer surface of the closure is flush with adjacent panels. The closure is then moved to a position which allows the operator access to the buffer. The operator then turns the buffer from the first orientation to a second orientation to cause the engagement means to engage with the component about a periphery of the opening to retain the buffer in position.

Should this embodiment become loose due to vibrations within the vehicle, the buffer 2 will be retained in the correct position by the resilient members 30. The buffer can then be locked into position once again by rotating the buffer 2 into the second orientation.

It will be understood that the buffer may be located within an opening formed in a panel forming part of the inner surface of the closure or a panel forming at least a part of an opening to be covered by the closure.

Claims

1. A buffer for insertion through an opening comprising a shaft and engagement means disposed axially along the shaft, such that, in use, in a first orientation the shaft may pass axially through the opening and in a second orientation the engagement means prevents axial movement of the shaft through the opening.

2 A buffer according to claim 1, characterised in that the engagement means comprises a plurality of valleys and lands.

3 A buffer according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the buffer further comprises positioning means disposed axially along the shaft.

4 A buffer according to claim 3, characterised in that the positioning means comprises a plurality of resilient members extending radially from the shaft.

A buffer according to claim 2, characterised in that the buffer further comprises a plurality of resilient members extending radially from the lands of the engagement means.

6 A buffer for insertion through an opening substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7 A buffer assembly for attachment through an opening comprises a buffer and an opening, in which the buffer has a portion which may be moved between a first orientation and a second orientation such that in the first orientation the portion may pass through the opening and in the second orientation the portion is secured axially in position relative to the opening.

8 A buffer assembly according to claim 7, characterised in that the portion forms a part of a shaft of the buffer.

9 A buffer assembly according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterised in that the portion is rotated between the first orientation and the second orientation.

A buffer assembly according to claim 9, characterised in that the portion is rotated through 90 degrees between the first orientation and the second orientation.

11 A buffer assembly according to any of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that the opening is formed in a body panel of a motor vehicle.

12 A buffer assembly according to any of claims 7 to 11, characterised in that the opening has a primary axis and a secondary axis normal to the primary axis, the primary axis being longer than the secondary axis.

13 A buffer assembly according to any of claims 7 to 12, characterised in that the portion comprises a plurality of valleys and lands.

14 A buffer assembly according to claim 13, characterised in that the portion further comprises a plurality of resilient members extending radially from the lands.

A buffer assembly for attachment through an opening substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.