US 7,438,350 B1Granted

Vehicles having fastener extending into apertures of respective body panels and methods

AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.

InventorsMichael V. Peterson, Darin D. King, Stephen Hlopick, Shinichi Karube, Daryl Nolt

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Abstract

Vehicles, such as all terrain vehicles, can be provided with a frame and a fender assembly. The fender assembly can have layered fender panels attached together with a bolt and T-nut. A channel can be formed between the fender panels to facilitate passage of fluid along a predetermined pathway. A seat includes a compression surface for sandwiching the fender assembly with respect to the frame. Front and rear fender assemblies can be attached to the frame by a midpoint fastener passing through respective apertures in each of the front and rear fender assemblies, through a grommet, and into the frame. A stay assembly attaches a mudguard to the fender assembly, and can involve a swivel clip. Methods are also provided.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A vehicle comprising:

a frame defining a threaded aperture;
a first body panel defining a first aperture;
a second body panel defining a second aperture;
a sleeve defining a longitudinally extending sleeve bore, the sleeve extending into the first aperture in the first body panel;
a grommet having a grommet exterior surface and defining a grommet bore extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end, the grommet bore surrounding the sleeve, the grommet exterior surface defining an annular channel having a reduced diameter as compared to longitudinally adjacent annular portions of the grommet disposed upon opposite sides of the annular channel, one of said longitudinally adjacent annular portions defining the first end, the other of said longitudinally adjacent annular portions defining the second end, the second aperture surrounding the annular channel such that a portion of the second body panel is retained within the annular channel, and the first end contacting the first body panel adjacent to the first aperture;
and
a fastener extending through the first aperture and the sleeve bore and into the threaded aperture in the frame, wherein the fastener is configured to compress the grommet between the first body panel and the frame.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.