[0001] The present invention relates to a rack and pinion arrangement for gap and flush control,
and more specifically, to a structure comprising a rack and pinion arrangement to control the gap
and flush between an automobile exterior resin part and body panel.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Conventionally, in order to maintain gap and flush with the sheet metal parts, an additional
part like holder is used which is mounted on sheet metal part and the resin part is snapped onto
that holder. Such a holder arrangement to maintain gap and flush has several disadvantages, for
example, due to part quality variations in individual parts, the intended gap and flush is very
difficult to achieve. Further, even if the intended gap and flush is achieved, it is very difficult to
sustain it throughout the product lifecycle as the parts gradually wears off during
assembly/disassembly of parts.
[0003] Fig. 1 illustrates a conventional arrangement to gap and flush. Fig. 1 illustrates a resin part
102, a body panel 104, and a holder 106. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the holder 106 is provided between
the resin part 102 and the body panel 104, and fixes the resin part 102 and the body panel 104.
However, using a holder to fix resin part and the body panel has several disadvantages, for
example, complex assembly of holder onto the body panel. Further, inaccuracy may occur in
holder due to hole mismatch with body panel or movement of mountings with respect to each
other. Furthermore, bumper fitment into holder creates an issue since flange needs to be fitted
perpendicular to the fitment direction. Moreover, the holder gets damaged on
assembly/disassembly, and hence, sustaining design intended gaps and flush remains an issue.
[0004] In view of the above, there is a serious need in the art to devise and practically provide a
solution that eliminates the aforesaid problems and the structural limitations associated with the
conventional arrangement, and at the same time, provides flexibility and ease in the structural
operations and the related parameters.
3
SUMMARY
[0005] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a system to control a gap and
flush between an exterior resin part and a body panel of an automobile. The concepts are further
described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features
or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope
of the claimed subject matter.
[0006] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system to control a gap and flush between
an exterior resin part and a body panel of an automobile. The system includes a rack part molded
into the resin part. Further, the system includes a pinion part fitted on the body panel where the
rack part and the pinion part work as an assembly. The pinion part is free to move only in an
assembly direction and restricts movements of the resin part and the body panel after fitment.
[0007] In an aspect, the system includes a locator provided on the resin part to facilitate location
of the resin part such that the rack and pinion are aligned properly.
[0008] In an aspect, the locator restricts movement of the resin part and the body panel in a
particular direction.
[0009] In an aspect, teeth orientation of the rack part is such that it allows only one direction
movement.
[00010] In an aspect, the pinion is fitted on the body panel by use of a screw.
[00011] In an aspect, the resin part and the body panel are dissembled by removing the screw.
[00012] The solution proposed by the present disclosure as mentioned above controls gap and
flush between automobile exterior resin part and body panel.
[00013] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject
matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4
However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject
matter.
[00014] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will
become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along
with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[00015] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical
embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of
its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed
description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The illustrated embodiments
of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are
designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of
example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods
that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[00016] Fig. 1 illustrates a holder arrangement to fix a resin part with a body panel in
accordance with state-of-the-art.
[00017] Fig. 2 illustrates the resin part fixed with the body panel with rack and pinion
assemblies R1 and R2 and X-Y reference directions in accordance with an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[00018] Fig. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the rack and pinion arrangement R1/R2
in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[00019] Fig. 4 illustrates a sectional view about L-L of a long locator (L) in accordance with
an embodiment of the present disclosure.
5
[00020] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of
illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description
that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed
without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00021] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is
described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the
embodiments are described herein in such details as to communicate the disclosure. However, the
amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of
embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and
alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended
claims.
[00022] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although
not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure.
Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present
disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[00023] The terminology used herein is to describe particular embodiments only and is not
intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and
“the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It
will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or
“including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations,
elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[00024] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts
noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in
succession may be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order,
depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
6
[00025] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used
herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which
example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in
commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their
meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly
formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[00026] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown
by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These
embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the
disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may
be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is,
therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[00027] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in
communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the
contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible
embodiments of the present disclosure.
[00028] Fig. 2 illustrates a resin part 202 fixed with a body panel 204 with rack and pinion
assemblies R1 and R2 and X-Y reference directions. Fig. 2 also illustrates a long locator (L) that
is provided in the resin part 202. The long locator (L) is to facilitate location of the resin part 202
so that the rack and pinion (illustrated in Fig. 3) are aligned properly. Also, the long locator (L)
helps an operator to align the resin part properly onto the body panel.
[00029] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 3 illustrates a crosssectional
view of the rack and pinion arrangement in reference to R1/R2 vertex. Fig. 3 illustrates
a resin part 302 in which a rack part 304 is molded. Further, Fig. 3 illustrates a body panel 306 in
which a pinion part 308 is fitted by use of a screw 314. The rack part 304 and the pinion part 308
works in an assembly and fixes the resin part 302 and the body panel 306 in a particular direction
(Y) i.e., part fitment direction. The pinion part 308 provided on the body panel 306 is free to move
7
only in the fitment direction Y and restricts the movement of the parts after the fitment. During the
assembly, when the resin part 302 is moved in part fitment direction, the teeth of the pinion part
308 engages with the rack part 304 and allows the movement of resin part 302 i.e., by anticlockwise
direction 310 of the pinion part 308. However, during the movement of resin part 302
in opposite to the part fitment direction, the teeth orientation between the pinion part 308 and the
rack part 304 does not allow for the movement i.e., by clockwise direction 312 of the pinion part
308, hence the disassembly or reverse motion is not possible with the given arrangements.
Specifically, the teeth orientation provided on the rack part 304 is such that it only allows
movement in one direction only i.e., in the part fitment direction. Further, the disassembly of the
parts i.e., the resin part 302 and the body panel 306 can be done by opening the complete rack i.e.,
by removing the screw 314 from the body panel 306 in X direction.
[00030] It is further in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein
Fig. 4 illustrates an L-L section view (as shown in Fig. 2) of a long locator (L). As illustrated in
Fig. 4, the long locator (L) is provided on a resin part 402 to facilitate location of the resin part
402 such that the rack and pinion, as illustrated in Fig. 3, are aligned properly. Also the long locator
(L) helps an operator to align the resin part 402 properly onto a body panel 404. After the initial
location, the long locator (L) restricts movement of the resin part 402 and the body panel 404 in X
and Z directions as illustrated in Fig. 4.
[00031] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, there could be one or more rack and
pinion (304, 308) assemblies that can be used depending upon the accessibility constraints and the
requirements thereto, as can be perceived and comprehended by a person skilled in the art.
[00032] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the rack and pinion
assemblies as described hereinabove in the context of the present disclosure can be used on any
exterior part having gap and flush relation with the body panel, as can be perceived and
comprehended by a person skilled in the art.
8
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[00033] With the help of the present disclosure, the intended design gap and flush can be
achieved easily and be sustained irrespective of individual part accuracies. Further, the disclosed
assembly is very easy and simple to use since the part needs to be assembled straight towards the
body panel. Moreover, disassembly of the part is easy by opening the pinion from the body panel,
thereby resulting into operational, structural, and performance advancements.
[00034] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other
and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the
basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The
present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are
included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the present disclosure
when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in
the art.

Claims:We Claim:
1. A system to control a gap and flush between an exterior resin part (302) and a body panel (306)
of an automobile, the system comprising:
a rack part (304) molded into the resin part (302);
a pinion part (308) fitted on the body panel (306), wherein the rack part (304) and the pinion
part (308) work as an assembly, and wherein the pinion part (308) is free to move only in an
assembly direction and restricts movements of the resin part (302) and the body panel (306) after
fitment.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a locator (L) is provided on the resin part (302) to
facilitate location of the resin part (302) such that the rack and pinion (304, 308) are aligned
properly.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locator (L) restricts movement of the resin part
(302) and the body panel (306) in a particular direction.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein teeth orientation of the rack part (304) is such that it
allows only one direction movement.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pinion (308) is fitted on the body panel (306) by
use of a screw (314).
6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the resin part (302) and the body panel (306) are
dissembled by removing the screw (314).