Voplex Corporation

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Albert J Gonas

Marvin A Packett

Donald A Street

A retainer for a molded panel has a base 10 with a flat region 15 and projections 13 extending into the material of the molded panel to retain base 10 securely in place. Edge regions 12, extending away from the panel surface, interlock with a cap 11 located to straddle base 10 and have a central region 20 spaced from base 10 to receive and hold a fastener securing the cap, retainer and panel in place. Interchangeable caps 11, made in varying heights to span varying distances between a panel and its anchorage, can be mounted on universal base 10.

Retainer for molded panel

A combination brake light and convenience light for use in the rear of an automotive vehicle is disclosed. A brake light 8 faces and illuminates through the rear window 4, and the convenience light 14 faces forward and downward over the shoulder of a rear seat occupant. A hinged cover 20 over the convenience light 14 serves three purposes: it esthetically covers the light when not in use; it prevents direct incidence of its light upon the driver's rear view mirror or the driver's line of sight; and it operates the on-off switch for the convenience light.

Combination rear window brake light and convenience light

A mount 10 that allows a loop strap 11 to pivot on a horizontal axis between vertical and horizontal positions uses a fixed pivot pin 15 arranged on the horizontal axis for supporting loop strap 11. A sheet metal sleeve 16 wraps loosely around pivot pin 15 and is secured to the ends 17 and 18 of strap 11 so that strap 11 can pivot on pin 15. A cover 20 is arranged over sleeve 16 and strap ends 17 and 18 and has end openings 21 through which pin 15 can pass. A pair of supports 25 and 26 with blind sockets 30 are pressed onto opposite ends 14 of pivot pin 15 and are made to overlap in a central region behind loop strap 11. Overlapping regions 31 and 32 of end supports 25 and 26 are secured to the vehicle so that strap 11 and cover 20 hang downward to conceal the securing mechanism.

Mount for automotive loop strap that pivots on horizontal axis

A roof covering installation includes a pair of side panels having a shape conforming with the sail panels of the vehicle body and a center panel preformed to the contour of the roof panel and adapted to fill the space between the side panels. The side panels and center panel have edge portions which are adapted for mating overlap and are joined together to provide a substrate assembly having a width gauged to the lateral spacing of the sail panels to precisely overlie the roof and sail panels irrespective of dimensional variation in the width of the vehicle body. The roof covering is adhesively secured to the substrate assembly in an off-line assembly, after which the substrate assembly is mounted and secured on the vehicle. The side panels have window openings which register with the window openings of the sail panels and have integrally formed abutment structures which extend around the periphery of the window opening for attachment to the sail panel and which also define a flange structure for receiving a window panel support channel. The edge portions of the substrate assembly may extend beyond the window opening and onto the window panel to change the size of the window.

Growing community of inventors

Grosse Pointe, MI, United States of America

Albert J Gonas