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:
Apr. 20, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 19, 2002
Robert Christopher Lydan, Cambridge, CA;
Ronald A. Mueller, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Amell A. Kapadia, Clawson, MI (US);
Decoma Exterior Trim Inc., Concord, CA;
Abstract
A mounting method for mounting a plastic panel ( ) to a vehicle substrate provides a support flange ( ) on an inner surface of the panel. A reference nodule ( ) is positioned on the inner surface of the panel. An elongate bracket ( ) has an upper edge ( ) thereof engaging the support flange ( ). The bracket ( ) has a reference notch ( ) engaging the reference nodule ( ) positioning the bracket ( ) relative to the panel ( ). A plurality of retainers ( ) are mounted on the bracket ( ). A double-sided adhesive tape ( ) has a first adhesive on a first side thereof compatible for adhesion to the bracket ( ) and a second adhesive on a second side thereof compatible for adhesion to the panel ( ). The first side of the adhesive tape ( ) is applied to the bracket ( ) and the second side is applied to the panel ( ). The tape ( ) allows expansion and contraction movement of the panel ( ) while securely retaining the panel ( ) to the vehicle substrate.