Low profile rear lamp applique assembly
AssigneeMagna Exteriors Inc.
InventorBrian M. Cobb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rear liftgate assembly with at least one rear lamp applique assembly and process for manufacturing same. The lamp applique assembly includes a rear lamp applique housing with at least one attachment surface for attaching to an outer panel of the liftgate assembly. A plurality of integrated snap attachment features are provided to connect the lamp applique assembly to the outer panel, thereby eliminating additional bonding and fasteners. A self-sealing wire harness connected accepts an integrated lamp connector, thereby eliminating the need for access openings, to further minimize water intrusion, and eliminate gaskets.
Claims19
A liftgate with integrated light assembly, comprising:
- at least one first panel coupled to at least one second panel;
- a rear lamp applique assembly coupled to said first panel;
- a housing of said rear lamp applique including at least one first attachment surface;
- a second attachment surface provided on said at least one first panel conforming to said at least one first attachment surface,
- at least one reflector of said rear lamp applique connected to said housing;
- at least one lighting source of said rear lamp applique operably coupled to said at least one reflector;
- at least one self-sealing connector operable to connect a wire harness to said housing of said rear lamp applique and creating a weather resistant seal without gaskets between said rear lamp applique and said first panel.
A liftgate with integrated light assembly, comprising:
- at least one first panel bonded to at least one second panel;
- at least one rear lamp applique housing with at least one first conforming attachment surface that correlates to at least one second conforming attachment surface of said first panel;
- at least one integrated snap attachment feature that connects the rear lamp applique housing to said first panel without threaded attachments, datum pins and adhesive;
- a connector operable to connect a wire harness to said rear lamp applique without requiring an access panel and creating a weather resistant seal without gaskets between said rear lamp applique and said first panel;
- and
- wherein the connector is a lateral connector, a straight connector connection, or said housing pivots to a linear connection.
A liftgate assembly, comprising:
- at least one first panel coupled to at least one second panel;
- at least one rear lamp applique housing with at least one first conforming surface and a plurality of attachment features to allow connection to said first panel;
- at least one integrated lamp snap hook connecting the rear lamp applique housing to said first panel;
- at least one assembly pivot region operable to guide movement of said housing;
- at least one self-engaging connector operable to connect a wire harness to said rear lamp applique;
- wherein the housing of the rear lamp applique is a predetermined length and the connector is located at a region that is a predetermined percentage of the length of a longitudinal length line through said housing, wherein a distance from said longitudinal length line is about 15 to 50 percent from either end of the line;
- and
- wherein the first conforming surface on the rear lamp applique aligns to a conforming surface on the liftgate assembly during pivotal movement of said rear lamp applique housing to operably guide said housing to an assembled position to the first panel such that active connection is done with the assembly of the rear lamp applique into position with respect to said first panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.