[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to vehicle panel mounting structure and, in particularly, to roof panel mounting structure in which roof garnish is mounted over roof panel of vehicle to avoid creation of gap between the roof garnish and the roof panel during high temperature.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
[002] When panel elements of plastic are mounted on a metallic substructure, the former have a tendency of expanding substantially more when heated. When a connection between the substructure and paneling element does not have the necessary play in order to permit displacements associated with this different expansion characteristic, the paneling element has a tendency of bending and expanding under the effect of heat, for example, when it is exposed to the sun for a long time.
[003] In the roof panel of the vehicle, where roof garnish is mounted over the roof body of the vehicle. The roof garnish is mounted by a plurality of mounting structures having nut and bolt combination on the roof panel. Generally, the roof garnish is mounted at atleast three mounting locations with nut and bolt combination along with clip mounting features. Due to heat, a gap is created in between the roof garnish and the roof panel. Generally, the gap is created in between the roof Garnish mountings where the distance b/w the mountings is more along vehicle length direction. When the roof panel cools down, the gap reduces and comes to initial condition.
[004] As explained above, by providing necessary play between the nut and surface of the roof garnish and allowing the roof garnish to move in longitudinal direction, i.e., vehicle length direction during thermal expansion to cater formation of gap between the roof garnish and the roof panel.
[005] Therefore, there is a requirement to avoid formation of gap between the roof garnish and the roof panel during thermal expansion.

[006] In view of the above, it is beneficial to have a roof panel mounting structure which allows longitudinal movement of the roof garnish during thermal expansion.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[007] The principal object of the present invention is to provide a roof panel mounting structure allowing longitudinal movement of roof garnish during thermal expansion.
[008] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide an integrated nut and spacer to hold or mount the roof garnish over roof panel.
[009] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a gap/play in between the roof garnish and the integrated nut and spacer to allow longitudinal movement of the roof garnish.
[0010] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a longitudinal opening in the roof garnish to allow longitudinal movement of the roof garnish along the integrated nut and spacer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0011] The present subject matter disclosed herein relates to a roof panel mounting structure which maintains a play or gap between roof garnish and roof panel to allow longitudinal movement of the roof garnish during thermal expansion. In the present subject matter, an integrated nut and spacer is provided to mount the roof garnish with the roof panel. The integrated nut and spacer has a bolt through hole which engages with the stem of the bolt to mount the roof garnish over the roof panel. The integrated nut and spacer includes a cylindrical tubular portion at lower section and a radially extending flange portion provided at middle section along axial direction (X-X). At the top or upper section, a nut portion is provided above the flange portion having internal threads to engage with external threads of the stem of the bolt. The mounting of the integrated nut and spacer maintains a vertical gap in between the flange portion and upper surface of the roof garnish to allow longitudinal movement during thermal

expansion of the roof garnish. Due to longitudinal movement, the roof garnish expands in longitudinal direction which is handled by the present roof panel mounting structure.
[0012] In order 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. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit scope of the present subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] 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. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0014] Fig. 1 illustrates structure of integrated nut and spacer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0015] Fig. 2 illustrates cross section along axial direction A-A of the integrated nut and spacer as shown in figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0016] Fig. 3 illustrates roof panel mounting structure with the integrated nut and spacer of figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0017] 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.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0018] The present subject matter disclosed herein relates to a roof panel mounting structure which maintains a play or gap between roof garnish and roof panel to allow longitudinal movement of the roof garnish during thermal expansion. In the present subject matter, an integrated nut and spacer is provided to mount the roof garnish with the roof panel. The integrated nut and spacer has a bolt through hole which engages with the stem of the bolt at nut portion to mount the roof garnish over the roof panel. The integrated nut and spacer includes a cylindrical tubular portion at lower section and a radially extending flange portion provided at middle section along axial direction (X-X). The cylindrical tubular portion has the bolt through hole which has diameter greater than diameter of the bolt stem. At the top or upper section, a nut portion is provided above the flange portion having internal threads to engage with external threads of the stem of the bolt. The mounting of the integrated nut and spacer maintains a vertical gap in between the flange portion and upper surface of the roof garnish to allow longitudinal movement during thermal expansion of the roof garnish. Due to longitudinal movement, the roof garnish expands in longitudinal direction which is handled by the present roof panel mounting structure.
[0019] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts

contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0020] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
[0021] Referring to figure 1 which illustrates structure of integrated nut and spacer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The integrated nut and spacer 100 includes three section such as lower section, middle section, and upper section. At upper section, a nut portion 103 is provided with hexagonal outer surface. The outer surface can be of any shape, such as triangular, rectangular, however it is prefer to have hexagonal shape. A radially extending flange portion 102 is provided at the middle section and a cylindrical tubular portion 101 is provided at lower section.
[0022] Figure 2 illustrates cross section view of the integrated nut and spacer 100 along axial direction A-A as shown in the figure 1. The integrated nut and spacer 100 has a bolt through hole 104 to engage with stem 304a of the bolt 304 (as shown in the figure 3) to mount the roof garnish over the roof panel. The integrated nut and spacer 100 has the cylindrical tubular portion 101 at the lower section. Further, the radially extending flange portion 102 is provided on the cylindrical tubular portion 101 at height 101c from bottom end lOld in axial direction X-X. The radially extending flange portion 102 is formed in circular configuration. The nut portion 103 is provided above the radially extending flange portion 102 to engage with external threads of the stem 304a of the bolt 304.

[0023] Referring to figure 2, the cylindrical tubular portion 101 has internal diameter 101b of the bolt through hole 104 which is greater than internal diameter 103b of the bolt through hole 104 of the nut portion 103. The bolt through hole 104 of the nut portion 103 has internal thread portion 103c which engages with external threads of the stem 304a of the bolt 304. The cylindrical tubular portion 101 has outer diameter 101a which is greater than outer diameter 103a of the nut portion 103. The internal diameter 103 of the bolt through hole 104 of the cylindrical tubular portion 101 is greater than outer diameter of the bolt stem. With the smaller diameter, the bolt stem moves freely inside the bolt through hole 104 of the cylindrical tubular portion 101. Outer diameter 102a of the radially extending flange portion 102 is greater than the outer diameter 101a of the cylindrical tubular portion 101. The radially extending flange portion 102 act as collar which restricts popping out of the roof garnish from the roof panel mounting structure (explained in figure 3). The nut portion 103 has hexagonal outer surface for universal mounting and un-mounting through existing tools. The integrated nut and spacer 100 act as fastener to fasten the roof garnish with the roof panel.
[0024] Figure 3 illustrates roof panel mounting structure to mount roof garnish with roof panel with the integrated nut and spacer 100 as illustrated in the figure 1 and 2. The roof panel mounting structure 300 comprising a roof garnish 301 having mounting portions 301a at plurality of locations where the roof garnish 301 is to be mounted with the roof panel 302. The roof panel 302 has a plurality of roof brackets 303 at various locations corresponding to the mounting portions 301a for mounting the roof garnish 301 with the roof panel 302. The roof bracket 303 is mounted over the roof panel 302 having an opening to receive stem 304a of bolt 304. The mounting portion 301a is provided in the roof garnish 301 having an opening 301b to receive the stem 304a of the bolt 304. The opening 301b is longitudinal opening to allow longitudinal movement of the roof garnish 301 in longitudinal direction. An integrated nut and spacer 305 having a bolt through hole 104 is provided to engage with the stem 304a of the bolt 304 to mount the roof garnish 301 over the roof panel 302. The integrated nut and spacer 305 (same

as integrated nut and spacer 100) has a cylindrical tubular portion 101, a radially extending flange portion 102 and a nut portion 103. The nut portion 103 is provided above the flange portion 102 to engage with external threads of the stem 304a of the bolt 304. The integrated nut and spacer 100 maintains a vertical gap 306 in between the flange portion 102 and upper surface of the mounting portion 301a.
[0025] In an embodiment of the present subject matter as illustrated in the figure 3, diameter of the opening 301b of the mounting portion 301a of the roof garnish 301 is greater than outer diameter 101a of the cylindrical tubular portion 101. The cylindrical tubular portion 101 has smaller diameter as compare to the diameter of the opening 301b to allow longitudinal movement of the roof garnish 301 along the bolt 304. The height 101c of the cylindrical tubular portion 101 is greater than thickness 'd' of the mounting portion 301a. The height 101c of the cylindrical tubular portion 101 forms the vertical gap 306 in between the upper surface of the mounting portion 301a which act as a play to allow movement of the roof garnish 301 in longitudinal direction due to the longitudinal opening 301b during thermal expansion.
[0026] In another embodiment of the present subject matter, the bolt through hole 104 of the nut portion 103 has internal thread portion 103c which engages with external threads of the stem 304a of the bolt 304. The mounting portion 301a has elongated opening 301b to allow longitudinal movement the integrated nut and spacer 305, 100. In the roof panel mounting structure 300, the bottom end lOld of the cylindrical tubular portion 101 rests on the roof bracket 303. Accordingly, there is no direct contact between the roof garnish 301 and the integrated nut and spacer 305. Therefore, the integrated nut and spacer 305 does not press the roof garnish 301 during tightening of the nut of the integrated nut and spacer 305. Accordingly, the vertical gap 306 allows longitudinal movement of the roof garnish 301 along the longitudinal opening 301b with respect to the integrated nut and spacer 305 mounted with the bolt 304 during thermal expansion.

[0027] In the hot conditions, the roof garnish 301 expands and but due to gap between the roof garnish 301 and the integrated nut and spacer 305 specifically, the cylindrical tubular portion 101, the roof garnish 301 moves longitudinally along the longitudinal opening to cater thermal expansion.
5 [0028] The term “vehicle” or “Automobile” as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to any moving vehicle that is capable of carrying one or more human occupants or Goods and is powered by any form of energy. The term “vehicle” is a motor vehicle which includes, but is not limited to: cars, trucks, vans, minivans, hatchback, sedan, MUVs, and SUVs.
10 [0029] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as
15 “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least
20 one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least
25 one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be
30 interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two
9

recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand 5 the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having
10 skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative
15 terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0030] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of
20 components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the
functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps
or components. The present invention contemplates all of these combinations.
Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures
depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other
25 dimensions or geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present
invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated
embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of
other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the
above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof
30 also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention. The present
invention also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the
10

practice of the methods herein. The use of "comprising" or "including" also contemplates embodiments that "consist essentially of or "consist of the recited feature.
[0031] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/component of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.

We claim:

A roof panel mounting structure (300) in which roof garnish (301) is
mounted over roof panel (302) of vehicle, the roof panel mounting structure (300)
comprising:
a roof bracket (303) mounted over the roof panel (302) having an opening to receive stem (304a) of bolt (304);
a mounting portion (301a) provided in the roof garnish (301) having an opening (301b) to receive the stem (304a) of the bolt (304);
characterized in that
an integrated nut and spacer (305) having a bolt through hole (104) engaged with the stem (304a) of the bolt (304) to mount the roof garnish (301) over the roof panel (302), the integrated nut and spacer (305) comprising:
a cylindrical tubular portion (101);
a radially extending flange portion (102) provided on the cylindrical tubular portion (101) at height (101c) from bottom end (lOld) in axial direction (X-X);
a nut portion (103) provided above the flange portion (102) to engage with external threads of the stem (304a) of the bolt (304),
wherein a vertical gap (306) is maintained between the flange portion (102) and upper surface of the mounting portion (301a).
2. The vehicle panel mounting structure (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein diameter of the opening (301b) of the mounting portion (301a) is greater than outer diameter (101a) of the cylindrical tubular portion (101).
3. The vehicle panel mounting structure (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height (101c) of the cylindrical tubular portion (101) is greater than thickness (d) of the mounting portion (301a).

4. The vehicle panel mounting structure (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein internal diameter (101b) of the cylindrical tubular portion (101) is greater than internal diameter (103b) of the nut portion (103).
5. The vehicle panel mounting structure (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bolt through hole (104) of the nut portion (103) has internal thread portion (103c) to engage with external threads of the stem (304a) of the bolt (304).
6. The vehicle panel mounting structure (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein outer diameter (102a) of the flange portion (102) is greater than outer diameter (101a) of the cylindrical tubular portion (101).
7. The vehicle panel mounting structure (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting portion (301a) has elongated opening to allow longitudinal movement the integrated nut and spacer (305).
8. The vehicle panel mounting structure (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom end (lOld) of the cylindrical tubular portion (101) touches the roof bracket (303).
9. An integrated nut and spacer fastener (100) having a bolt through hole (104) to receive stem (304a) of bolt (304) to fasten roof garnish (301) with roof panel (302), the integrated nut and spacer fastener (100) comprising:
a cylindrical tubular portion (101);
a radially extending flange portion (102) provided on the cylindrical tubular portion (101) at height (101c) from bottom end (lOld) in axial direction (X-X);
a nut portion (103) provided above the flange portion (102) to engage with external threads of the stem (304a) of the bolt (304),
wherein internal diameter (101b) of the cylindrical tubular portion (101) is greater than internal diameter (103b) of the nut portion (103),

wherein the bolt through hole (104) of the nut portion (103) has internal threads (103c).
10. The integrated nut and spacer fastener (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein outer diameter (102a) of the radially extending flange portion (102) is greater than outer diameter (101a) of the cylindrical tubular portion (101).