Patent Publication Number: US-6342286-B1

Title: Embossment for plastic panels

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the embossment arts. It finds particular application to an embossment for plastic panels, covers, housings, and so forth where abnormalities on the show surface created by the embossment are undesirable. 
     FIG. 4 shows a prior art embossment  10  that secures a decorative vehicle door panel  15  to the vehicle. The embossment includes a rectangular base portion  20  known as a “dog house”. The dog house secures the embossment to the door panel and provides support when the panel is attached into a vehicle by securing a screw into a hole  25  at the top of the embossment. The dog house, however, provides limited stability in preventing the embossment from rotating if a screw is applied with force. The prior art design is also difficult to manufacture and involves complex and expensive tooling. Another shortcoming is that when a large mass of plastic, such as the dog house portion, is molded to the back of a plastic panel, the opposite show surface tends to sink or create an abnormality that is undesirable. 
     The present invention provides a new and unique embossment for plastic panels that cures the above problems and others. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a new an unique plastic panel and embossment is provided. The plastic panel has a show surface and an opposite non-show surface. A plurality of support legs are integrally formed to and project out from the non-show surface of the panel at a base. The base has an area of contact with the panel such that abnormalities on the show surface are reduced. An embossment is integrally formed to the plurality of support legs and is spaced from the non-show surface of the panel. The embossment can attach the panel to an object or support the panel away from the object as a standoff. 
     In accordance with a more limited aspect of the present invention, the embossment has a tubular shape. 
     In accordance with yet a more limited aspect of the present invention, the plurality of legs are positioned ninety degrees from each other around the embossment. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a device for attaching a panel to an object, or supports the panel away from the object as a standoff, is provided. A plurality of legs are integrally molded with and project out from the panel where the plurality of legs have a contact area with the panel which reduces abnormalities in the panel during molding of the panel and plurality of legs. An embossment is integrally molded with and projects out from the plurality of legs where the embossment is positioned a selected distance from the panel by the plurality of legs. The embossment can secure the panel to an object or support the panel away from the object as a standoff 
     One advantage of the present invention is that when securing the embossment to a vehicle, the support legs prevent rotation of the embossment caused by, for example, a screw inserted into the embossment. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the support legs simplify the tooling required to form the injection molded parts of the present invention and allow the embossment to be positioned closer to the surface of the panel. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that abnormalities on the show surface are reduced or eliminated since the contact area of the support legs with the panel is small as compared to the bottom area of the embossment. 
     Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following is a brief description of each drawing used to describe the present invention, and thus, are being presented for illustrative purposes only and should not be imitative of the scope of the present invention, wherein: 
     FIG. 1A is an isometric view of an embossment in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 1B is a top view of FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 1C is a side view of FIG. 1B; 
     FIG. 2A is an isometric view of another embossment in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2B is a top view of FIG. 2A; 
     FIG. 2C is a side view of FIG. 2B; 
     FIG. 3A is an isometric view of another embossment in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3B is a top view of FIG. 3A; 
     FIG. 3C is a side view of FIG. 3B; 
     FIG. 4 is a prior art embossment attached to an automotive panel and; 
     FIG. 5 is an embossment attached to a panel and in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to FIGS. 1A-1C, an embossment  50  is shown that serves to attach or connect a plastic panel (not shown) to a desired location, which includes being a standoff for supporting the panel away from the location. The embossment  50  has a tubular shape, but of course, may be formed with square, rectangle, and triangle shapes as well as other shapes as known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embossment  50  is supported by an integrally formed plurality of support legs  55 . At their base  60 , the legs  55  are integrally formed with the panel such that the embossment, the legs, and the panel are integrally formed together using any known plastic molding process. Preferably, these components are formed by injection molded plastic or any other rigid or flexible material as desired. 
     With the present invention, the support legs  55  space the embossment  50  a selected distance away from a surface of the panel, for example, a non-show surface which is not visible after installing the panel. In this manner, the bottom of the embossment, which typically has a large area of plastic, does not contact the panel. Rather, the base of the support legs  55  has a smaller contact area with the panel. By reducing the area of plastic against the surface of the panel, abnormalities on the opposite show surface of the panel are reduced or eliminated. Additionally, the simple configuration of the support legs simplifies the tooling required to form the present invention and allows the embossment to be positioned closer to the panel surface than the prior art designs. 
     In the figures, four (4) support legs  55  are shown which are positioned around the embossment at about 90 degrees from each other in a shape of a plus “+” sign. Of course, it is to be appreciated that other configurations can be used such as two criss-crossing legs, or three or more legs. The legs can be equally spaced or offset by any desired angle. This configuration reduces the amount of plastic against the panel, simplifies tooling, yet provides support for the embossment  50 . 
     The embossment  50  further includes a fastener hole  65  defined through and along the axis of the embossment. The fastener hole  65  receives a fastener such as a screw in order to secure the embossment, and thus the panel, to an object such as a vehicle. The support legs  55  provide a support structure to prevent the embossment from rotating while a force is applied to a screw being inserted into the fastener hole  65 . Alternately, the embossment  50  can be pin-shaped such that it snap-connects to an object. The embossment can also support the panel as a standoff away from the object. 
     With reference to FIGS. 2A-2C and  3 A- 3 C, another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The embossment  50  includes one or more locator ridges  70  which project out from the embossment. The locator ridges maintain the embossment and panel in a proper position during attachment. For example, ridges  70  can be positioned to maintain the embossment in the correct forward and rearward positions as well as the upward and downward position. These locator ridges are known as fore/aft locators and up/down positive locators. FIG. 5 shows a digital image of the embossment of FIGS. 3A-3C formed to a vehicle panel  15 . 
     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims are the equivalence thereof.