The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 26, 1978
Filed:
May. 18, 1977
Jack Purcell, Dearborn, MI (US);
Other;
Abstract
A retainer arrangement is disclosed for securing two or more panels with highly dissimilar coefficients of thermal expansion to an underlying support structure. In automotive applications, for example, the retainer allows the use of body panels of a material such as flexible plastic having a differing coefficient of thermal expansion than the support structure, typically constructed of steel, without inducing distortion, i.e., rippling or buckling of the body panel, as the assemblage is subjected to widely varying temperatures. The retainer comprises a strip mounted to the support structure and is configured to hold an edge of the overlay body panel to perform the retention function, allowing relative linear movement between the retainer and the overlay body panel. In one embodiment, the retainer strip has a flange portion mounted to an outer fender and also has an extended portion overhanging the flange and adapted to receive an offset edge of the overlying body panel. The retainer, if constructed of plastic, may have a stiffening metal insert strengthening this strip. In a second embodiment, the retainer strip is mounted to an inner fender and includes a portion thereof being formed with a groove which is adapted to receive an edge of an outer fender formed from a dissimilar material.