Patents Assigned to Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing North American, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20080181745
    Abstract: A retaining structure and fastener assembly for securing a resin panel to a vehicle body. The panel has an inner surface and a retaining structure extending outwardly from the inner surface. The retaining structure has a retaining wall with a slot for receiving a shoulder of a bolt therethrough, so that a head of the bolt is retained between the inner surface and a washer for securing the panel to the body of the vehicle. The slot is oversized relative to the shoulder of the bolt so as to define a predetermined gap therebetween to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the panel, thereby preventing building of the panel relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing North American, Inc.
    Inventors: Umesh Naik, Yoshinori Kano