Panel mounting structure with sound reduction member

Abstract

A panel mounting structure for a vehicle is provided having a substrate; a panel; and a separable sound reduction member disposed between the panel and the substrate and being configured to separate into at least two pieces that each remain in substantially fixed relation to a different one of the panel and the substrate, and having a material selected so that the impact of the pieces with each other causes relatively little sound. The material can be configured to separate to form the at least two pieces due to relative motion between the substrate and panel. In specific embodiments, the sound reduction member can be comprised of a sound reduction member, such as felt, or a sound reduction member layer and an adherent backing layer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.