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US 9,067,379 B2Granted
Stiffened multi-layer compartment door assembly utilizing elastic averaging
AssigneeGM Global Technologies Operations LLC
InventorSteven E. Morris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stiffened multi-layer assembly composed of an inner layer and an outer layer mutually aligned by elastic averaging at the peripheral interface therebetween which provides both a precise alignment and a torsionally stiffened structural configuration when the first and second layers are mutually mated and snapped together to form the stiffened multi-layer assembly.
Claims16
A stiffened multi-layer assembly, comprising:
- an outer layer comprising:
- an outer panel having a periphery;
- and
- a peripheral lip connected with said outer panel and disposed at said periphery thereof, said peripheral lip having a first lip segment having formed therein a plurality of slots, each slot having a pair of slot sidewalls, wherein said outer panel and said peripheral lip form a seat;
- and
- an inner layer comprising:
- an inner panel having a first edge and an oppositely disposed second edge;
- said inner panel further having left and right edges extending between said first and second edges;
- a plurality of tabs connected with said inner panel at said first edge thereof, one tab for each respective slot, each tab comprising a pair of tab bosses;
- an edge lip connected with said inner panel at said second edge;
- a plurality of edge lip bosses being disposed in mutually spaced relation on said edge lip;
- a plurality of left end bosses disposed at said left end;
- and
- a plurality of right end bosses disposed at said right end;
- wherein said multi-layer assembly comprises said inner panel being seated in said seat of said outer layer, wherein said outer layer is precisely aligned with respect to said inner layer by elastic averaging.
12 more elements
A stiffened multi-layer assembly, comprising:
- an outer layer comprising:
- an outer panel having a periphery;
- a peripheral lip connected with said outer panel and disposed at said periphery thereof, said peripheral lip having a first lip segment, said first lip segment having formed therein a plurality of trapezoidal slots, each trapezoidal slot comprising a blind slot wall and mutually opposing first and second slot sidewalls, each of said first and second slot sidewalls being obtusely angled with respect to said blind slot wall;
- wherein said outer panel and said peripheral lip form a seat;
- and
- an inner layer comprising:
- an inner panel having a first edge and an oppositely disposed second edge, said inner panel further having left and right edges extending between said first and second edges;
- a plurality of compound tabs connected with said inner panel at said first edge thereof, a compound tab for each respective trapezoidal slot, each compound slot comprising:
- a pair of left and right tab bosses;
- a central tab member disposed between said left and right tab bosses, wherein said left and right tab bosses are separated from said central tab member by a respective a tab boss spacing;
- an edge lip connected with said inner panel at said second edge;
- a plurality of edge lip bosses being disposed in mutually spaced relation on said edge lip;
- a plurality of left end bosses disposed at said left end;
- and
- a plurality of right end bosses disposed at said right end;
- wherein when said inner panel is seated in said recess, said outer layer is precisely aligned with respect to said inner layer by elastic averaging comprising:
- a) resilient flexing of each said left and right tab boss in relation to its respectively interferingly abutting slot sidewall, b) resilient flexing of at least one of said edge lip and said peripheral lip by interfering abutment of said plurality of edge lip bosses with respect to said peripheral lip, c) resilient flexing of said peripheral lip by interfering abutment with said plurality of left end bosses, and d) resilient flexing of said peripheral lip by interfering abutment with said plurality of right end bosses.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.