Panel assembly for a vehicle and a method of supporting the panel assembly
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsJames D. Pettus, Michael J. Green
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A panel assembly for a vehicle and a method of supporting the panel assembly is disclosed. The panel assembly includes a first wall and a bracket adjacent to the first wall. The bracket has a first platform facing the first wall. The panel assembly further includes a first support member attached to the first platform and defining an initial state and a final state. The first support member and the first wall define a first gap therebetween when in the initial state. The first support member is expandable to contact the first wall to remove the first gap when in the final state for supporting the first wall to prevent deformation of the first wall.
Claims18
A panel assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- a first wall;
- a bracket adjacent to the first wall and having a first platform facing the first wall;
- and
- a first support member attached to the first platform and defining an initial state and a final state, with the first support member and the first wall defining a first gap therebetween when in the initial state, and the first support member being expandable to contact the first wall to remove the first gap when in the final state for supporting the first wall to prevent deformation of the first wall.
A vehicle comprising:
- a component;
- a panel assembly coupled to the component and including:
- a first wall;
- a bracket adjacent to the first wall and having a first platform facing the first wall;
- and
- a first support member attached to the first platform and defining an initial state and a final state, with the first support member and the first wall defining a first gap therebetween when in the initial state, and the first support member being expandable to contact the first wall to remove the first gap when in the final state for supporting the first wall to prevent deformation of the first wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.