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US 12,576,917 B2Granted
Body panel assembly
AssigneeNissan North America, Inc.
InventorBobby Fuentes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A body panel includes a main body and a flexible material portion. The main body has an overall elongated shape that defines a first lengthwise edge, a second lengthwise edge and a bottom edge. The flexible material that extends along a portion of the first lengthwise edge, at least a portion of the second lengthwise edge and along the bottom edge.
Claims20
A body panel comprising:
- a main body having an overall elongated shape defining a first lengthwise edge, a second lengthwise edge and a bottom edge;
- and
- a flexible material portion including a first portion that extends along at least a portion of the first lengthwise edge and contacts a fender panel, a second portion that extends along at least a portion of the second lengthwise edge and contacts a pillar structure, and a bottom portion that extends along at least a portion of the bottom edge, the contact with the fender panel and the pillar structure creating a first gap between the main body, the fender panel and the pillar structure,
- the main body contacting the fender panel at a first location and the flexible material portion contacting the fender panel at a second location with a second gap between the main body and the fender panel between the first location and the second location.
1 more element
A body panel assembly comprising:
- a fender panel made of a metallic material;
- and
- a body panel having a main body and a flexible material, the main body having an overall elongated shape that defines a first lengthwise edge, a second lengthwise edge and a bottom edge, the flexible material including a first portion that extends along at least a portion of the first lengthwise edge and contacts the fender panel, a second portion that extends along at least a portion of the second lengthwise edge and contacts a pillar structure, and a bottom portion that extends along at least a portion of the bottom edge, the contact with the fender panel and the pillar structure creating a first gap between the main body, the fender panel and the pillar structure, the body panel being installed to a vehicle such that the first lengthwise edge contacts the fender panel such that in response to thermal expansion of the fender panel and/or the main body of the body panel, the flexible material is compressed,
- the main body contacting the fender panel at a first location and the flexible material contacting the fender panel at a second location with a second gap between the main body and the fender panel between the first location and the second location.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.