Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130019454 | Elastic Tube Alignment System for Precisely Locating an Emblem Lens To an Outer Bezel - An elastic tube alignment system for the mating an emblem lens to an outer bezel utilizing the principle of elastic averaging. A plurality of geometrically separated elastic tube (male) alignment features are disposed on a first side of the emblem lens, while a plurality of one-to-one corresponding aperture (female) alignment features are provided in the outer bezel. During the mating, each elastic tube and its respective aperture provide elastic deformation, which, on average, precisely aligns the emblem lens with respect to the outer bezel. | 01-24-2013 |
20130196089 | EMBLEM ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME - A method of forming an emblem assembly configured for attachment to a vehicle includes positioning a mask adjacent and in contact with a second element so that the mask covers only a selected portion of the second element and does not cover an exposed portion of the second element. The method includes vacuum metalizing a first coating onto only the exposed portion, wherein the first coating has a distal edge surface abutting the mask, and, after vacuum metalizing, removing the mask from the second element to uncover the selected portion. The method includes depositing a back coating onto only the first coating and the selected portion to thereby wrap the back coating around the distal edge surface, and, after depositing, inserting the second element into a first element configured for attachment to the vehicle so that the first coating does not contact the first element to form the assembly. | 08-01-2013 |
20140047691 | ELASTIC CONVEX WALL ALIGNMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRECISELY LOCATING COMPONENTS - An elastic convex wall alignment system for aligning components includes a first component and a second component. The system also has a plurality of upstanding elastic convex walls disposed on at least one of the components, the convex walls each having a convex wall surface and a non-convex wall surface. The system further has a plurality of apertures formed in at least one of the components, each aperture having an aperture wall, the plurality of apertures geometrically distributed in coordinated relationship to a geometrical distribution of the plurality of elastic convex walls such that each elastic convex wall is receivable into a respective aperture, wherein when each elastic convex wall is received into its respective aperture an elastic deformation occurs at an interface between the convex wall and the aperture wall, and wherein the elastic deformation is elastically averaged over the plurality of elastic convex walls. | 02-20-2014 |
20140120273 | METHOD FOR PREVENTING GALVANIC AND CHEMICAL CORROSION IN EMBLEMS CONTAINING SECOND SURFACE DECORATION AND METALLIZATION AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - A display emblem may comprise a metallized layer, a decoration layer, and at least one moisture impermeable layer. | 05-01-2014 |
20140208561 | ELASTIC ALIGNMENT ASSEMBLY FOR ALIGNING MATED COMPONENTS AND METHOD OF REDUCING POSTIONAL VARIATION - An elastic alignment assembly includes a first component having a first engagement surface. Also included is a second component having a second engagement surface and is configured to be mated with the first component. Further included is a receiving feature formed in at least one of the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface. Yet further included is a protrusion comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the protrusion extending away from at least one of the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface, the protrusion formed of an elastically deformable material to elastically deform at a first interface and a second interface upon contact with the receiving feature, wherein the first interface is located proximate the first sidewall and the receiving feature, and wherein the second interface is located proximate the second sidewall and the receiving feature. | 07-31-2014 |
20140208572 | ELASTIC INSERT ALIGNMENT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF REDUCING POSITIONAL VARIATION - An elastic insert assembly for aligning components to each other includes a first component having a first surface and a second surface. Also included is a second component. Further included is a pocket portion of the second component configured to receive the first component therein, the pocket portion defined by at least one sidewall and a base wall, wherein the at least one sidewall extends from the base wall in an angularly outward direction. Yet further included is at least one elastically deformable perimeter wall of the first component, the at least one elastically deformable perimeter wall tapered inwardly from the first surface to the second surface, the at least one elastically deformable perimeter wall formed of an elastically deformable material to elastically deform at an interface between the at least one elastically deformable perimeter wall and the at least one sidewall. | 07-31-2014 |
20140292013 | Elastically Averaged Alignment System - An elastically averaged alignment system includes a first alignment portion comprising an alignment member and a first plurality of elastically deformable alignment elements. The alignment system also includes a second alignment portion comprising an elastically deformable alignment member configured and disposed to be received by and deformably and matingly engaged with the alignment member and a second plurality of elastically deformable alignment elements configured and disposed to deformably and matingly engage the first plurality of deformable alignment elements, wherein the engagement of the alignment member and deformable member and first plurality of elastically deformable alignment elements and the second plurality of elastically deformable alignment elements elastically average a predetermined position of the second alignment portion relative to the first alignment portion. | 10-02-2014 |
20140298638 | ELASTIC CLIP RETAINING ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF MATING STRUCTURES WITH AN ELASTIC CLIP RETAINING ARRANGEMENT - An elastic clip retaining arrangement includes a first structure having a main portion. Also included is a second structure having a plurality of receiving apertures, wherein the second structure is configured to be mated with the first structure. Further included is a plurality of elastically deformable clips extending from the main portion, each of the plurality of elastically deformable clips comprising a neck portion and a head portion, wherein the plurality of elastically deformable clips is configured to elastically deform proximate the neck portion upon contact with the plurality of receiving apertures. | 10-09-2014 |
20140298640 | ELASTIC RETAINING ASSEMBLY FOR MATABLE COMPONENTS AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING - An elastic retaining assembly for matable components includes a first component having a first surface. Also included is a second component having a second surface and a third surface, wherein the second component is configured to be mated with the first component. Further included is a receiving feature formed proximate an engagement side of the second component and defining a pin perimeter surface. Yet further included is an elastically deformable pin operatively coupled to, and extending away from, the first surface, wherein the elastically deformable pin is formed of an elastically deformable material to elastically deform proximate the pin perimeter surface upon contact with the receiving feature. | 10-09-2014 |
20140298962 | ELASTIC AVERAGING ALIGNMENT SYSTEM, METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME AND CUTTING PUNCH THEREFOR - An elastic averaging alignment system includes a first component comprising a surface, a thickness and a plurality of elastically deformable apertures spaced apart on the surface and extending through the thickness, each of the elastically deformable apertures comprising an aperture peripheral shape and having at least one slit extending radially-outwardly therefrom defining at least one elastically deformable wedge member. A method of making a component alignment system includes providing a first component having a surface and a thickness. The method also includes forming a plurality of alignment features through the thickness of the first component, the alignment features comprising a plurality of elastically deformable apertures spaced-apart on the surface and extending through the thickness, each of the elastically deformable apertures comprising an aperture peripheral shape and having at least one slit extending radially-outwardly therefrom defining at least one elastically deformable wedge member. | 10-09-2014 |
20140301103 | ELASTICALLY DEFORMABLE FLANGE LOCATOR ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF REDUCING POSITIONAL VARIATION - An elastically deformable flange locator arrangement includes a first component having a first engagement surface. Also included is a second component configured to be mated with the first component. Further included is a first portion of the second component. Yet further included is a second portion of the second component extending relatively perpendicularly from the first portion proximate a perimeter of the first portion, the second portion having a second engagement surface, wherein the second portion is configured to elastically deform at a first interface upon contact between the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface. | 10-09-2014 |
20140366326 | ELASTICALLY DEFORMABLE RETAINING HOOK FOR COMPONENTS TO BE MATED TOGETHER AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING - An elastically deformable retaining hook for matable components includes a first component having a body portion extending from a first end to a second end. Also included is a second component extending from a first end to a second end. Further included is a slot disposed in the first end of the second component and defined by a first, second, third, and fourth slot wall. Yet further included is a hook portion disposed proximate the first end of the body portion. The hook portion includes a first segment extending angularly from the body portion. The hook portion also includes a second segment extending angularly from the first segment and configured to fittingly engage the slot of the second component, wherein the second segment is formed of an elastically deformable material and configured to elastically deform upon engagement with the first slot wall and the second slot wall. | 12-18-2014 |
20150016918 | ELASTICALLY AVERAGED ALIGNMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - In one aspect an elastically averaged alignment system is provided. The alignment system includes a first component comprising an inner wall defining an alignment aperture, a second component including a receiving aperture, and a fastener configured for insertion into the alignment aperture and the receiving aperture to couple the first and second components. The system further includes an elastically deformable collar inserted onto the fastener. The collar is configured to elastically deform against the inner wall to an elastically averaged final configuration upon insertion into the alignment aperture, thereby coupling the first and second components to facilitate aligning the first component and the second component in a desired orientation. | 01-15-2015 |
20150050068 | ELASTICALLY AVERAGED ALIGNMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS THEREOF - In one aspect, an elastically averaged alignment system is provided. The system includes a first component comprising an alignment member and a second component comprising an inner wall defining an alignment aperture. The alignment aperture is configured to receive at least a portion of the alignment member to couple the first component and the second component. At least one of the alignment member and the inner wall is an elastically deformable material such that when the alignment member is inserted into the alignment aperture, at least one of the alignment member and the inner wall elastically deforms to an elastically averaged final configuration to facilitate aligning the first component and the second component in a desired orientation | 02-19-2015 |
20150078805 | ELASTICALLY AVERAGED ALIGNMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - In one aspect, an elastically averaged alignment system is provided. The system includes a first component including an alignment member, the alignment member including a plurality of segments. The system also includes a second component including an inner wall defining an alignment aperture, the alignment aperture configured to receive the alignment member to couple the first component and the second component. The alignment member is an elastically deformable material such that when the alignment member is inserted into the alignment aperture, the alignment member elastically deforms to an elastically averaged final configuration to facilitate aligning the first component and the second component in a desired orientation. | 03-19-2015 |
20150086265 | SERVICEABLE ALIGNING AND SELF-RETAINING ELASTIC ARRANGEMENT FOR MATED COMPONENTS AND METHOD - A serviceable self-retaining elastic arrangement for mated components includes a first component having at least one protrusion having a retaining rib circumferentially extending around an outer surface of the at least one protrusion. Also included is a second component having at least one elastically deformable beam. Further included is at least one aperture defined by the at least one elastically deformable beam, the at least one aperture configured to receive the at least one protrusion therein and having at least one aperture dimension smaller than at least one protrusion dimension, wherein the at least one elastically deformable beam is elastically deformed in an engaged condition of the at least one protrusion with the at least one elastically deformable beam. | 03-26-2015 |