Adjustable mounting plate

Abstract: An automotive vehicle door striker plate (10) includes first and second parts (22,24) coupled together by an edge flange (26). A continuous slot (28) separates the plate parts except for two bendable portions (30,32). In use, the second plate part (24) is welded to a door closing surface in predetermined arrangement then the door has certain manufacturing operations. Next, the door is removed from the body for accessory mounting (e.g. windows). Finally, on re-attachment of the door to the body, any re-attachment positional adjustment is accomplished by bending the portions (39, 32) by force application.

Description: The present invention relates generally to a plate such as a door striker plate for an automotive vehicle that is welded to a surface of an object during manufacture and to which plate hardware is mounted, and, more particularly, to such a plate that can provide subsequent repositioning of the hardware without disturbing the welded arrangement integrity. In the manufacture and assembly of an automotive vehicle body, the door and related parts (e.g., striker plate) are first assembled to the vehicle body for painting and rust-proofing ("E-coating"). After this, the door is disassembled from the body and provided with accessories (e.g., windows, door locks and other hardware, textile or leather interior covering). Re attachment of the accessoried door to the body can result in damage to door paint or to the accessories if the re-attachment requires positional adjustment. It is therefore a desideratum to provide a means for readjusting a plate previously welded to an object with a minimum effect on adjacent equipment or hardware carried thereby. A primary aim and object of the invention is to provide a door strike or striker plate for an automotive vehicle door which can be subsequently adjusted from an initial fixed positioning arrangement. DE3026174 discloses a structure for mounting a striker on a body of a vehicle for engagement with a door lock mechanism. The striker plate is welded to the vehicle body and has two bolt insert apertures distanced from the weld position. The plate includes deformable portions between the weld position and the bolt insert apertures to allow for positional adjustment there between. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a door striker plate including first and second plates integrally interconnected by bendable means. A slot generally separates the two plate parts except for the readily deformable bendable means, which include a sinuous metal strip, adjacent opposite peripheral edges of the striker plate. A guide opening and at least one threaded sleeve are formed in the first plate part for receiving hardware mounted thereto. Initially during manufacture, the second plate part is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to a desired surface (e.g., door closing surface). Typically, the door has a rust-proof coating applied and the door painted, after which the door is removed and accessories (e.g. windows, locks) are mounted to the door at a different work site. When the door is once again mounted to the vehicle body door opening, it may be necessary to effect slight adjustment of the striker plate mounting arrangement, and this can be done with the described striker plate by applying adjustment corrective force to the second plate part which bends the deformable portions the required amount for correct positioning of the striker plate. Particular embodiments in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which:- FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a mounting plate; FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a partially sectional, left side elevational view of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a top plan view; FIG. 5 is a frontal view of a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a frontal view of a second embodiment; FIG. 7 is a partially sectional, right side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a frontal view of a partly assembled third version of the invention; FIGS. 9 and 10 are frontal views of a final assembly of the FIG. 8 version and a bottom elevational view of FIG. 8, respectively; and FIG. 11 is an elevational view showing a mounting plate in use. Turning now to the drawing, FIGS. 1-4 show an adjustable mounting plate 20 which is not the subject of the present invention but is an example of the type of structure to which the present invention relates. The mounting plate includes first and second plate parts 22 and 24 unitarily coupled together by an outer edge flange 26. The two plate parts and flange are formed from a single sheet of metal, which for this version is preferably steel. A continuous slot 28 separates the plate parts from one another. As will be more particularly described, the slot and detailed formation of the flange provide relatively narrow cross-section bendable portions 30 and 32 on opposite sides of plate 20 located adjacent the two outer ends of the slot 28. In essence, these bendable portions enable bending of the plate parts with respect to each other about the dashed bend line 34, either along this line or normally thereto by exerting a force 36 (arrows FIG. 1), for example. The term "bendable" as used herein refers to a part being deformed to new geometric shape through the application of force, and when the force is removed the part retains the new shape. Typically, the first plate part 22 will be provided with one or more threaded sleeves 38 and 40 or a guide opening 42 via which accessories or apparatus can be mounted. The second plate part 24 on the other hand is secured to a convenient wall member by welding, for example, providing a relatively fixed positional arrangement for the plate 20 to the door. In the case of an automotive door striker, the second plate part is welded to a door surface 44 that closes on the vehicle door opening (FIG. 1). As can be seen best in the elevational views FIGS. 2-4, the flange 26 has a first gap 46 somewhat centered on the second plate part 24, directly opposite the first gap. These gaps separate the flange into first and second flange parts 50 and 52. A first peripheral slot 54 in the flange part 50 extends between the points 56 and 58, respectively slightly spaced from the two gaps. Similarly, a second peripheral slot 60 in flange part 52 extends from points 62 and 64 adjacent the two gaps. For the ensueing description of the use of a mounting plate of this type, reference is made to FIG 1. As shown there, schematically depicted hardware 66 is mounted to the door surface 44 backed up by the strike plate 20 with bolts 68 and 70 extending through door surface openings and received within the threaded sleeves 39 and 40. The second plate part 24 is initially welded to the door. In the event hardware is removed for other door related procedures to be conducted, it may be necessary to readjust the mounting arrangement of the plate 20 after remounting of the hardware, and this can be accomplished by applying force to the hardware or mounting plate in desired direction so that the threaded sleeves or the guide opening will be properly located. For a first version of this invention, reference is now made to FIG. 5 where the mounting plate is enumerated generally as 72. As in the mounting plate of FIG 1, the plate 72 includes a first plate part 74 and second plate part 76 separated by a slot 78 and integrally related by a pair of bendable portions 80 (only one of which is shown). The plate and bendable 30 portions are constructed of a flat metal sheet lying generally in a common plane and do not include a flange as in the mounting plate of FIGS 1-4 Each bendable portion 80 is constructed in a generally elongated sinuous metal strip, the shape of which enhances adjustment bending when required. It is preferred that this version be constructed from a single metal sheet that is not heat treated. The ensuing description of a second version of the invention is given with specific reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. As in the first version, this plate 82 has two generally flat plate parts lying substantially in a single plane (except for threaded sleeves) and separated by an intervening slot. However, a bendable portion 84 (only one of two is shown) that interconnects the plate parts to one another is elongated and formed with several curved parts that do not lie within the common plane of the plate parts (FIG. 7). Also, although one end 86 of the bendable portion 84 interconnects with a plate part adjacent the slot, the other end 88 interconnects with the other plate part at a point remote from the slot. The angular direction and amount of bending adjustment available is considerably enhanced by the described bendable portion construction. It is contemplated that the second version can be 20 further enhanced by forming the plate part surface 81 to be welded into a ripple-shape which enhances weldment integrity. FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 pertain to a third version which includes a base plate 100 (FIG. 8) that can be constructed substantially identical to the second version mounted plate 72 shown in FIG. 5 and for that reason the same enumeration will be used. Plate 72 is preferably constructed of steel that has not been heat treated. An overlay strengthening plate part 102 preferably constructed of heat0hardened steel for added strength is secured onto the second plate part 74 by staked rivets 104, for example, and includes suitable openings for aligning with the threaded sleeves and guides opening of plate part 76. This version may be found especially advantageous for use on trucks, buses or other large vehicles whose doors are of a more rugged construction.

Claims: A mounting plate (10) for fixed attachment to vehicle door surface in a predetermined arrangement, which arrangement can be subsequently modified without disturbing the fixed attachment, comprising: a first plate part (22) fixedly secured to the vehicle door surface, a second plate part (24); and, first and second bendable means (30,32) interconnecting the first and second plate parts (22,24) to one another; the bendable means (30,32) including a metal strip of generally sinuous shape (80) such that the second plate part (24) is movable with respect to the first plate part (22) by applying an adjustment corrective force to the plate so as to bend the bendable means a sufficient amount for proper positioning of the second plate part (24) relative to the first plate part (22). A mounting plate according to claim 1, in which the first and second bendable (30,32) means hold the plate parts (22,24) separated forming a slot therebetween. A mounting plate according to claim 1 or 2, in which the first plate part (22) includes openings (38,40) for mounting accessories thereto and the second plate part (24) is adapted for being secured to the object via a weldment. A mounting plate according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a further plate (102) overlies the second plate part (24), and means (104) for securing the further plate to said second plate part are provided. A mounting plate according to claim 4, in which the securing means is a staked rivet (102). A mounting plate according to claim 4 or 5, in which the plate parts (22,24) and bendable means (30,32,80) are constructed from a single piece of steel that is not heat-hardened and the further plate (102) is constructed from a heat treated steel. A mounting plate according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first plate part (22) includes at least one threaded sleeve (40) and a guide opening (42). A mounting plate according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first and second parts (22,24) include a common outer edge flange (26,36) with a peripherally extending slotted opening (54). A mounting plate according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first and second plate parts (22,24) have surfaces which lie in a common plane, and each bendable means (30,323) is a sinuous metal strip (80) with opposite ends integrally related respectively to the plate parts (22,24) and an intervening portion (50,52) lying outside the common plane.

Inventors: MARKL NORBERT A, MITTS RICHARD K, MARKL, NORBERT A., MITTS, RICHARD K.
Applicants: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: E05B15
IPC codes: E05B15