Webasto Sunroofs, Inc.

Robert John Siebelink, Jr

Lloyd George Racine

A plastic panel assembly for use in a vehicle is provided including a sheet metal frame constructed and arranged to be coupled to a vehicle and a plastic panel mounted to the sheet metal frame. The plastic panel includes a plurality of pin members extending from a surface thereof and the frame includes a plurality of openings therethrough such that one pin member is disposed through an associated opening. Fastening structure is constructed and arranged with respect to the pin members to retain the plastic panel to the frame so that the panel is prevented from moving relative to the frame in a direction of extension of the pin members while the panel is permitted to move relative to the frame in a direction transverse to the direction of extension of the pin members, upon thermal expansion of the panel.

Plastic panel assembly for use in a vehicle

A plastic panel assembly for use in a vehicle is provided including a frame structure defining a central opening therein disposed in a plane and a plastic panel structure disposed with respect to the frame structure so that a marginal peripheral portion thereof extending generally in the direction of extent of the plane is coextensive with a marginal peripheral portion of the frame structure and a central portion thereof extends in covering relation with the central opening. The frame structure has a coefficient of thermal expansion less than that of the plastic panel structure. A series of at least three pin and slot connections extend operatively between the coextensive peripheral portions of the structures and are disposed in spaced relation therealong for retaining the coextensive peripheral portions of the structures together. Each pin and slot connection includes a slot formed in one of the structures and a pin secured to another one of the structures and extends transversely through the slot formed in the one structure. Each slot has a longitudinal axis extending in a direction toward a common point. Each pin and slot connection is constructed and arranged to prevent relative movement of the pin within the slot along the plane in one direction within which the pin and slot connection is disposed while allowing relative movement of the pin within the slot along the plane generally in directions away from and toward the common point.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Robert John Siebelink, Jr