Patent Abstract:
The present invention is a component for providing alignment between at least two external components. The present invention is a bracket member having at least two attachment structures, and at least two externally visible components connected to the at least two attachment structures, and the at least two attachment structures provide adjustable positioning between the at least two externally visible components connected to the at least two attachment structures such that the position off the at least two externally visible components can be adjusted relative to one another.

Full Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/881,341, filed Jan. 19, 2007. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to bracket assemblies which are used in the front end of an automobile; more particularly, the present invention relates to a bracket member which is used for controlling the relative positioning between a headlamp assembly, the front fascia or top cap, and a fender in an automobile. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Fascias or top caps, as well as fenders and headlamps, are generally known and used throughout various types of automobiles. The fascia or top cap is a portion of the body which is typically positioned near, or below the headlights and grille, and is used for providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Fenders are a portion of the body which are adjacent to the fascia or top cap, and surrounds the wheel well. These fascias, top caps, and fenders are typically made of a composite material which can be difficult to dimension, as well as position relative to the headlights and one another such that the correct dimensions are achieved. 
     Often during assembly, due to tolerances and other manufacturing causes, the position of the headlight relative to the fascia (or top cap) or the fender is too large, leaving a gap between the headlight and the fascia or top cap, which detracts from the appearance of the automobile. It is desired to have a minimal gap between the headlight and front fascia or top cap, as well as the fascia and front fender of the automobile. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved way of controlling the dimensions between the headlight and the front fascia or top cap, and control the dimensions between the fender and front fascia or top cap. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a component for providing alignment between at least two external components. The present invention is a bracket member having at least two attachment structures, and at least two externally visible components connected to the at least two attachment structures, and the at least two attachment structures provide adjustable positioning between the at least two externally visible components connected to the at least two attachment structures such that the position off the at least two externally visible components can be adjusted relative to one another. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective rear view of a bracket member, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a first perspective rear view of a bracket member, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a second perspective rear view of a bracket member, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of a bracket member, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a front end assembly support system for a top cap with the headlamp removed, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged front view of a bracket member attached to a headlamp support, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of a fender bracket used with a bracket member, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged bottom perspective view of a fender bracket and a bracket member, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a second enlarged perspective view of a fender bracket and a bracket member with the headlamp attached, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective front view of a bracket member used in with the fender and top cap attached, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged perspective view of a bracket member with the headlamp attached, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged rear perspective rear view of a bracket member for a fender and a top cap, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a side perspective view of a bracket member for a top cap with the headlamp attached, according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective top view of a bracket member with the top cap and fender attached, according to the present invention; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     Referring to the Figures generally, a bracket member used for providing proper alignment between a series of externally visible components is shown generally at  10 . The bracket member  10  includes a fascia attachment  12  having a first attachment structure, or U-bracket  14 . The U-bracket  14  includes two flange portions  16 , 18  separated by a gap  20 . The U-bracket  14  connects to more than one externally visible component, such as a fender  22  or a fascia  24 . The U-bracket  14  is also used to provide support for the fender  22  and fascia  24  as well. The fender  22  includes a flange  26 , and the fascia  24  also includes a flange  28 ; both the flanges  26 , 28  are received in between the flange portions of the U-bracket  14 . The fascia attachment  12  has a main aperture  30  which extends through both flange portions  16 , 18  of the U-bracket  14  and aligns with a first aperture  32  on the fascia  24 , a second aperture  34  on the fender  22 . 
     Connected to the bracket member  10  is a fender bracket  36  having a third aperture  38  and a fourth aperture  40 . The third aperture  38  on the fender bracket  32  is aligned with the main aperture  30  of the U-bracket  14 , the first aperture  32  and the second aperture  34 . The fender bracket  32  has a fourth aperture  40  which is aligned with a support aperture  42  on the bracket member  10 . 
     The bracket member  10  also includes a slot  44 , which is formed as part of the bracket member  10 . The slot  44  is made by a first substantially flat portion  46  which is offset from a second substantially flat portion  48  and an extension  50 . The first flat portion  46  has an aperture  52  which is selectively in alignment with a corresponding aperture  54  formed on a tab  56 . The apertures  52 , 54  are used along with a socket  58  for allowing one of the externally visible components mentioned above, in this case a headlamp  60 , to be attached to the bracket member  10 . When the apertures  52 , 54  are aligned, the aperture  52  and corresponding aperture  54  will receive a protrusion having a detent (not shown) from the headlamp  60 . Once inserted, the tab  56  is moved in the slot  44  so as to offset the aperture  52  from the corresponding aperture  54  of the tab  56 . When the tab  56  is moved in the slot  44 , the aperture  54  becomes offset from the aperture  52 , and the aperture  54  has a narrow portion  62  which engages the detent of the headlamp  60 . The headlamp  60  also includes a ball (not shown) which is inserted into the socket  58 , allowing for the position of the headlamp  60  to be changed, and compensate for various tolerances. Once the protrusion is inserted through the apertures  52 , 54 , and the ball is inserted into the socket  58 , headlamp  60  is secured to the bracket member  10 . 
     The bracket member  10  is used as part of a system used for supporting various types of finish panels in an automobile, such as the fender  22  and fascia  24  mentioned above. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the system includes a carrier member, which in this embodiment is a carrier  64  which is used for supporting various vehicle components, such as a radiator, hood, fan, fan shroud, windshield washer fluid container, various hoses, and the like. Attached on each side of the carrier  64  are lamp supports  66 . The lamp supports  66  are attached through the use of an adhesive bond and rivets  68 . The adhesive bond is placed between the carrier  64  and the lamp supports  66 , the rivets  68  are then attached and hold the carrier  64  and lamp supports  16  together until the adhesive bond cures. 
     Attached to each of the lamp supports  66  are the bracket members  10 , and a support member  70 . The bracket member  10  is attached to the carrier  64  through the use of fasteners, shown as bolts  72  inserted through a set of apertures  74  formed as part of the bracket member  10 , and a set of corresponding threaded apertures (not shown) formed in the carrier  64 , best seen in  FIGS. 1-3 ,  5  and  6 . The lamp supports  66  along with the bracket member  10  forms a component support structure. Also attached to each of the headlamp supports  66  is a center support  76 . The support member  70  and the center support  76  are used for supporting a contoured finish panel of the body of a vehicle, which in this embodiment is the fascia  24 . The fascia  24  is used to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance and is typically the same color as the remaining body components. 
     The support member  70  is connected to the bracket member  10  through the use of an extension  78  which is connected to a lower bracket  80  through the use of a snap-fit connection, which allows the extension  78  to pivot about the bracket  80 ; the support member  70  is also connected to the lamp support  66  through the use of a fastener, such as a screw (not shown) inserted through a slot  82  in a flange  84  and through a corresponding aperture  86  in the lamp support  66 . The support member  70  also includes snaps  88 , the function of which will be described later, and a contoured surface  90  for supporting the fascia  24 . 
     The headlamp  60  is also attached to the lamp supports  66  through the use of an upper connector  92  and a lower connector  94 . The upper connector  92 , lower connector  94 , the slot  44  and tab  56 , and the ball and socket  58  form a second attachment structure for connecting the headlamp  60  to the lamp support  66  and bracket member  10 . The flange  84  and the slot  82 , and the corresponding aperture  86  form an attachment point; the extension  78  and bracket  80  form a third attachment structure for attaching the support member  70  to the lamp support  66  and the bracket member  10 . 
     Once the headlamp  60  is attached to the lamp support  66  and the bracket member  10 , the position of the support member  70  can be adjusted using the extension  78  and bracket  80 , along with the fastener inserted through the slot  82  and into the aperture  86 . The slot  82  is shaped so as to allow the position of the support member  70  to be adjusted during assembly relative to the lamp support  66 . Adjusting the position of the support member  70  relative to the lamp support  66  secures the position of the support member  70 , and therefore secures the position of the fascia  24 , relative to the headlamp  60 , allowing for control over the amount of space between the headlamp  60  and fascia  24 . The space between the headlamp  60  and fascia  24  is shown as a gap, generally at  96 , in  FIG. 10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the fascia  24  includes a set of extensions (not shown) having an angled tab (also not shown) which are received into the snaps  88  of the support member  70 . The snaps  88  have a frame member  98  and an aperture  100 . The angled tab of the fascia  24  is inserted through the aperture  100 , and through the use of a snap-fit connection, the extensions of the fascia are connected to the frame member  86 . The contoured surface  90  of the support member  70  provides support for the fascia  24 . 
     The center support  76  also includes a contoured surface  102 , which also provides support for the fascia  24 . The center support  76  includes a centering aperture  104 , a series of grille snaps  106  having an aperture  108 , and top snaps  110  having an aperture  112 . Another externally visible member, which in this embodiment is an exterior body component in the form of a grille (not shown), is attached to the center support  76  through the use of the grille snaps  106 . The grille has extensions (not shown) which include angled tabs, and are inserted into the grille snaps  106  in the same manner as the extensions of the fascia  24  are inserted into the snaps  88 . The grille is properly aligned with the center support  76  by using the centering aperture  104 . After the grille is attached, the fascia  24  is attached using a set of extensions (not shown) having an angled tab and contact surface which are similar to the extensions inserted into the snaps  88 , and are inserted into the top snaps  110  in a similar manner that the extensions are inserted into the snaps  88 . 
     As the fascia  24  is attached to the support member  70 , the flange  26  of the fascia  24  is inserted into the U-bracket  34  of the fascia attachment  12 , along with the flange  28  of the fender  30 . A single fastener, such as a screw, is inserted through the main aperture  30 , the first aperture  32 , the second aperture  34 , and third aperture  38 , rigidly connecting the fender  22 , fascia  24 , and the bracket member  10 . The third aperture  38  of the fender bracket  36  is aligned with the main aperture  30  of the U-bracket  34  because of a guide pin  114  which extends through a secondary aperture  116  on the fender bracket  36 . 
     The center support  76  is formed such that once the grille and the fascia  24  are both attached to the center support  76 , the desired distance between the grille and fascia  24  is achieved to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The top snaps  110 , and extensions of the fascia  24  form a first attachment assembly for connecting the fascia  24  to the center support  76 , and the grille snaps  106  along with the extensions of the grille form a second attachment assembly for connecting the grille to the center support  76 . 
     It should be noted that the fascia  24  could also be replaced with a top cap. The top cap would also have extensions which would be received by the snaps  88  of the support member  70  and the top snaps  110  of the center support  76 , and supported by the contoured surface  90  of the support member  70  and the contoured surface  102  of the center support  76  in the same manner as the fascia  24 . 
     While it has been shown that the bracket member  10  has been used with the carrier  64  and lamp supports  66 , the bracket member  10  is made through a forming process, such as injection molding, and can be made to fit any type of vehicle having any type of fascia  24  or top cap. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the essence of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1