Overmold bracket with open mounting surface on bracket
AssigneeMagna Exteriors Inc.
InventorsChristopher J. Kuntze, Stanislav Tichy, Gari Schalte, Heiner Salzmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liftgate (10) for a vehicle having at least one overmolding bracket (28) with at least one open mounting surface on the bracket for liftgate hardware attachments. In addition, overmolding the bracket (28) and maintaining at least one hole (26) for tether routing. The liftgate allows the overmolding of the bracket (28) and maintains a lower cost fastener joint that does not require extra components or special components such a compression limiters and rivet nuts or brackets that cannot be overmolded.
Claims18
A liftgate assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
- at least one liftgate panel including at least one reinforcement area;
- at least one overmolded bracket with at least one open mounting surface at at least one predetermined location adapted to selectively operably connect at least one predetermined liftgate attachments;
- at least one aperture maintained through said at least one overmolded bracket adapted to selectively operably connect said at least one predetermined liftgate attachments;
- and
- at least one tether routed through said at least one aperture.
A liftgate assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
- at least one liftgate panel including at least one reinforcement area:
- at least one overmolded bracket with at least one open mounting surface at at least one predetermined location adapted to selectively operably connect at least one predetermined liftgate attachments;
- at least one aperture maintained through said at least one overmolded bracket adapted to selectively operably connect said at least one predetermined liftgate attachments;
- and
- at least one additional overmolded bracket with at least one additional aperture maintained through said at least one overmolded bracket during overmolding, wherein at least one tether is routed through said at least one aperture of said overmolded bracket and/or said at least one tether is routed through said at least one additional aperture of said at least one additional overmolded bracket.
A method of manufacturing a liftgate assembly, comprising:
- providing an injection mold;
- providing at least one bracket with at least one open mounting surface;
- forming at least one hole through said at least one bracket adapted to connect at least one predetermined liftgate attachments;
- molding at least one liftgate panel;
- overmolding said at least one bracket while operably maintaining said at least hole;
- providing at least one tether, said at least one tether routed through said at least one hole;
- and
- connecting said at least one predetermined liftgate attachments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.