Carrier module and method for side loading carrier module to a vehicle door
OwnerRaymond Edward FORTINinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A carrier module for a motor vehicle having inner and outer door panels defining a door panel structure with an internal door cavity is provided. The carrier module includes a pair of carrier members operably coupled to one another. The carrier members are configured for substantially free movement relative to one another to facilitate installation of the carrier members separately from one another into the internal door cavity through an opening formed in the inner panel and have fasteners preassembled thereto to facilitate attaching the carrier members to the inner panel.
Claims20
A carrier module for a motor vehicle having a door panel structure with an inner panel separating a dry side from a wet side of the door panel structure, the inner panel having at least one opening bounded by a periphery and at least one support feature, the carrier module comprising:
- at least one carrier member;
- and
- at least one alignment member extending outwardly from the at least one carrier member, the at least one alignment member being configured for engagement within the at least one support feature for maintaining the at least one carrier member in a partially assembled position unsecured to the inner panel.
A carrier module for a motor vehicle having a door panel structure with an inner panel and outer panel defining an internal door cavity therebetween, the inner panel having an opening bounded by a periphery sized for receipt of the carrier module therethrough with at least one of a plurality of slots extending into the periphery and a plurality of keyhole shaped openings having an enlarged diameter portion and a reduced width slot portion extending from the enlarged diameter portion, the carrier module comprising:
- a pair of carrier members operably coupled to one another via at least one cable, the pair of carrier members having fastener openings;
- and
- a plurality of fasteners having shanks threaded into the fastener openings, the shanks extending outwardly from the pair of carrier members to enlarged heads spaced from the carrier members, the shanks being configured for sliding receipt within at least one of the plurality of slots extending into the periphery and the reduced width slot portion of the plurality of keyhole shaped openings.
A method of assembling a carrier module to an inner panel of a motor vehicle door, comprising:
- providing a carrier module including fasteners having shanks and enlarged heads, with the shanks being threaded into fastener openings thereof;
- sliding the shanks of the fasteners within at least one of a plurality of slots extending into a periphery bounding an opening in the inner panel and a reduced width slot portion of a plurality of openings extending through the inner panel;
- and
- tightening the fasteners and bringing the enlarged heads into compression relative to the inner panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.