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. 04, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 21, 1997
Robert John Siebelink, Jr., Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Lloyd G. Racine, Shelby Township, MI (US);
Webasto Sunroofs, Inc., Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
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.