Hemmed panel
AssigneeVolvo Group North America, LLC
InventorStacey Matheny Spencer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a hemmed panel and a method for fabricating a hemmed panel. The hemmed panel includes an inner panel, an outer panel, and an adhesive. The inner panel is provided with a first face, a second face, and an edge that defines a plurality of cutouts. The outer panel is provided with a first face, a second face, and a border flange. The border flange of the outer panel is hemmed over the edge and the first face of the inner panel to form a hemmed portion on the outer panel. The adhesive bonds the first face of the inner panel to the second face of the outer panel, bonds the hemmed portion of the outer panel to the first face of the inner panel, and is located in the plurality of cutouts.
Claims6
A hemmed panel, comprising:
- an inner panel provided with a first face, a second face, and an edge that defines a plurality of cutouts;
- an outer panel provided with a first face, a second face, and a border flange, which is hemmed over the edge and the first face of the inner panel to form a hemmed portion on the outer panel;
- and
- an adhesive that bonds the second face of the inner panel to the first face of the outer panel, bonds the hemmed portion of the outer panel to the first face of the inner panel, and is located in the plurality of cutouts.
A method for fabricating a hemmed panel, comprising the steps of:
- providing an inner panel that includes a first face, a second face, and an edge that defines a plurality of cutouts;
- providing an outer panel that includes a first face, a second face, and a border flange;
- placing an adhesive between the first face of the outer panel, the second face of the inner panel, and in the plurality of cutouts, whereby the adhesive substantially fills the cutouts and overflows outward from the cutouts;
- and
- hemming the border flange of the outer panel over the edge and the first face of the inner panel to form a hemmed portion on the outer panel, whereby the adhesive between the hemmed portion and the first face of the inner panel is pressed and flows towards a free edge of the hemmed portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.