INTEGRATED MOTOR VEHICLE HYBRID SHELF ASSEMBLY
A motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly includes a body defining a member of a motor vehicle frame, the body including an aperture having edges. A module is positioned at the aperture, the module defining a load bearing portion of the body replacing a load bearing capability of a body portion removed to define the aperture. Multiple connecting arms extend from the module and beyond the edges of the aperture to support the module on the body, including a first, second, third and fourth connecting arm. Each of the connecting arms is connected to the body using a fastener. Multiple connecting members integrally connect a first reinforcement member surrounding the aperture to a second reinforcement member. The multiple connecting members allow the first and second reinforcement members to be simultaneously co-molded in a single injection molding shot of a polymeric material.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/405,590 filed Jan. 13, 2017, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELDThe invention relates generally to a rear speaker mounting shelf for a motor vehicle with components attached thereto.
BACKGROUNDThe statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art.
In common motor vehicle rear speaker mounting shelf structures, a single plate or multiple plates of steel material are joined typically by welding or fastening to outer frame structure of the vehicle, which are also commonly made of a steel material. Steel material is used for known speaker mounting shelf structures to provide structural strength to support features such as the loads imparted from rear seat belt retractors, seat back latches, deck lid hinges, speaker and woofer attachments and the like. Attached items add weight, torsion load, and other structural loads incorporated into the structural design by adding stiffness or thickness to the plate, which therefore adds cost and weight to the design.
Items attached to known speaker mounting shelf structures are not relied on for structural strength, stiffness or to reduce weight of the shelf structure. This field can therefore benefit from improved rear speaker mounting shelf structure designs.
SUMMARYAccording to several aspects, a motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly includes a body. A module spans a component relief aperture created in the body. The module defines a load bearing portion of the body replacing a load bearing capability of a removed body portion defining the component relief aperture.
In one aspect, the module comprises a polymeric material.
In another aspect, the module includes connecting arms extending beyond an edge of the component relief aperture.
In another aspect, a fastener mechanically attaches each of the connecting arms to the body.
In another aspect, the connecting arms include a first connecting arm, a second connecting arm, a third connecting arm and a fourth connecting arm.
In another aspect, the module is a polymeric material molded by an injection molding operation.
In another aspect, the module defines a first portion of an enclosure and includes at least one fastener receiving aperture for mechanical attachment of an independently provided second portion.
In another aspect, the module is molded-in-place and defines a component receiving module.
In another aspect, multiple connecting members integrally connect a first reinforcement member surrounding the weight reduction aperture to a second reinforcement member.
In another aspect, the connecting members allow the first reinforcement member and the second reinforcement member to be simultaneously co-molded in a single injection molding shot of a polymeric material.
In another aspect, the module includes molded-in-place reinforcement members.
In another aspect, the module includes molded-in-place fastener receiving members.
In another aspect, the module defines a composite material.
According to further aspects, a motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly includes a body formed of a metallic panel. Multiple modules are attached to the body each molded of a polymeric material. Each of the modules defines a first portion of an enclosure and includes at least one fastener receiving aperture for mechanical attachment of an independently provided second portion.
In another aspect, at least one of the modules spans a component relief aperture created in the body.
In another aspect, the at least one module spanning the component relief aperture defines a load bearing portion of the body replacing a load bearing capability of a body portion removed to define the component relief aperture.
In another aspect, multiple connecting members integrally connect each of the modules such that each of the modules are co-molded during a single injection operation.
According to further aspects, a motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly includes a motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly includes a body formed of a metallic panel. Multiple modules attached to the body each molded of a polymeric material. At least one of the modules spans a component relief aperture created in the body. The at least one module spanning the component relief aperture defines a load bearing portion of the body replacing a load bearing capability of a body portion removed to define the component relief aperture. Each of the modules defines a first portion of an enclosure and includes at least one fastener receiving aperture for mechanical attachment of an independently provided second portion.
Further aspects, examples, and advantages will become apparent by reference to the following description and appended drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to the same component, element or feature.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.
With reference to
The body 22 supports multiple components such as a first speaker 30 and a second speaker 32. A component relief aperture 34 is positioned between the first speaker 30 and the second speaker 32, which will be described in greater detail in reference to
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According to several aspects, the component receiving module 78 defines a first half of an enclosure prior to the electrical component being installed, and prior to a separately molded cover (shown and described in reference to
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According to several aspects, a motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly 10 includes a body 22 formed of a metallic panel. Multiple component receiving modules 54, 78, 90, 92 are attached to the body 22 each molded of a polymeric material. At least one of the component receiving modules 54 spans a component relief aperture 34 created in the body 22. The at least one component receiving module 54 spanning the component relief aperture 34 defines a load bearing portion of the body 22 replacing a load bearing capability of a body portion removed defining the component relief aperture 34. Each of the component receiving modules 54, 78, 90, 92 defines a first portion of an enclosure and includes the at least one fastener receiving aperture or blind bore 94 for mechanical attachment of an independently provided second portion or cover 110.
It is noted that items identified herein as being formed using an injection molding process of a polymeric material can also be provided from other polymeric forming processes, and can further be provided as a composite material such as a carbon fiber material. A motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly 10, 66 of the present disclosure offers several advantages. These include having component receiving modules positioned at apertures formed in the body with the component receiving module or modules carrying a portion of the shelf assembly structural load where the aperture is positioned and therefore incorporated into the structural load analysis and design of the shelf assembly. Motor vehicle hybrid shelf assemblies 10, 66 of the present disclosure therefore reduce an overall weight of the shelf assembly by use of a polymeric or composite material for the one or more component receiving modules, which is approximately the same weight or lighter in weight than a weight of the plate material removed to create each aperture. Component receiving modules of the present disclosure are co-molded during molding of other features of the shelf assembly, and further are provided with independent covers, allowing the shelf assembly to be completed up to the point of component installation prior to shipment to the installing activity.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist 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.
Claims
1. A motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly, comprising:
- a body defining a member of a motor vehicle frame; and
- a module spanning a component relief aperture created in the body, the module defining a load bearing portion of the body replacing a load bearing capability of a body portion removed defining the component relief aperture;
- wherein the module includes connecting arms extending beyond an edge of the component relief aperture.
2. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the body includes a weight reduction aperture and the body.
3. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 2, further including multiple connecting members integrally connecting a first reinforcement member surrounding the weight reduction aperture to a second reinforcement member.
4. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 3, wherein the connecting members allow the first reinforcement member and the second reinforcement member to be simultaneously co-molded in a single injection molding shot of a polymeric material.
5. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the module defines a first portion of an enclosure and includes at least one fastener receiving aperture.
6. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 5, further including an independently provided second portion wherein the at least one fastener receiving aperture receives a fastener for mechanical attachment of the second portion to the first portion.
7. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the module is comprised of a polymeric material.
8. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 1, further including a fastener mechanically attaching each of the connecting arms to the body.
9. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the connecting arms include a first connecting arm, a second connecting arm, a third connecting arm and a fourth connecting arm.
10. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the module is a polymeric material molded by an injection molding operation.
11. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the module is molded-in-place and defines a component receiving module.
12. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the module includes molded-in-place reinforcement members, and wherein the module includes molded-in-place fastener receiving members.
13. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the module defines a composite material.
14. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 1, wherein the body is positioned proximate to a rear window of a motor vehicle.
15. A motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly, comprising:
- a body defining a member of a motor vehicle frame, the body including a component relief aperture having edges;
- a module positioned at the component relief aperture, the module defining a load bearing portion of the body replacing a load bearing capability of a body portion removed to define the component relief aperture; and
- multiple connecting arms extending from the module and extending beyond the edges of the component relief aperture.
16. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 15, wherein the component relief aperture is sized larger than the module except where the connecting arms extend beyond the edges of the component relief aperture.
17. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 15, wherein structural loads of the body are transferred through and carried by the module and the connecting arms.
18. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 15, wherein the module defines a component receiving module housing an electrical component.
19. A motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly, comprising:
- a body defining a member of a motor vehicle frame, the body including an aperture having edges;
- a module positioned at the aperture of the body, the module defining a load bearing portion of the body replacing a load bearing capability of a body portion removed to define the aperture;
- multiple connecting arms extending from the module and extending beyond the edges of the aperture to support the module on the body, including a first connecting arm, a second connecting arm, a third connecting arm and a fourth connecting arm, each of the connecting arms connected to the body using a fastener; and
- multiple connecting members integrally connecting a first reinforcement member surrounding the aperture to a second reinforcement member, the multiple connecting members allowing the first reinforcement member and the second reinforcement member to be simultaneously co-molded in a single injection molding shot of a polymeric material.
20. The motor vehicle hybrid shelf assembly of claim 19, wherein the module and the connecting arms are comprised of a polymeric material.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 11, 2018
Publication Date: Jul 19, 2018
Inventors: Suhant Prajwal Reddy Ranga (Novi, MI), Aaron Brion Stachewicz (Troy, MI), James Raymond Norman (St. Clair Shores, MI)
Application Number: 15/868,265