There is disclosed a member for sealing, baffling and/or reinforcing components of an automotive vehicle. The assembly generally includes a carrier, an expandable material and at least one fastener.

A method of assembling a vehicle is disclosed, comprising the steps of (in sequence) providing a chassis structure, affixing a door inner panel to the chassis structure via a hinged attachment, at a location adjacent to a door opening defined by the chassis structure, attaching at least one external body panel to the chassis structure, attaching a door outer panel to the door inner panel via an adhesive fixing. In this way, the door inner panel can be attached in place during the build, at a position tailored to the needs of the seals provided between the door and the chassis structure. Production of the vehicle can continue, and in due course the exterior body panels can be fitted to the chassis structure. The door outer panel can then be attached to the door inner panel, using the tolerance in the adhesive attachment to adjust for panel gap and flushness of fit. The application also relates to a vehicle made in this way.

A method of assembling a vehicle is disclosed, comprising the steps of (in sequence) providing a chassis structure, affixing a door inner panel to the chassis structure via a hinged attachment, at a location adjacent to a door opening defined by the chassis structure, attaching at least one external body panel to the chassis structure, attaching a door outer panel to the door inner panel via an adhesive fixing. In this way, the door inner panel can be attached in place during the build, at a position tailored to the needs of the seals provided between the door and the chassis structure. Production of the vehicle can continue, and in due course the exterior body panels can be fitted to the chassis structure. The door outer panel can then be attached to the door inner panel, using the tolerance in the adhesive attachment to adjust for panel gap and flushness of fit. The application also relates to a vehicle made in this way.

An interchangeable convertible roof apparatus is provided. In another aspect, a lower roof bow pivot is interchangeable between multiple locations depending on which roof cover configuration is desired during top stack mechanism assembly. A further aspect employs identically same side rails, roof bows and linkages between a fastback convertible roof configuration and a squareback convertible roof configuration, except for a roof bow located above and adjacent to a back window (when in a closed position), such as a four-bow, and optionally a mounting bracket. Still another aspect employs a fastener to allow the same fabric roof cover to be interchanged between differently sized configurations when in its closed position. Moreover, a brace stationarily secures a vehicular roll bar to a top stack mechanism of a convertible roof in a rigidly attached manner.

An interchangeable convertible roof apparatus is provided. In another aspect, a lower roof bow pivot is interchangeable between multiple locations depending on which roof cover configuration is desired during top stack mechanism assembly. A further aspect employs identically same side rails, roof bows and linkages between a fastback convertible roof configuration and a squareback convertible roof configuration, except for a roof bow located above and adjacent to a back window (when in a closed position), such as a four-bow, and optionally a mounting bracket. Still another aspect employs a fastener to allow the same fabric roof cover to be interchanged between differently sized configurations when in its closed position. Moreover, a brace stationarily secures a vehicular roll bar to a top stack mechanism of a convertible roof in a rigidly attached manner.

A division bar for an automobile is provided between a movable door glass and a fixed quarter glass. The division bar includes an inner-cabin side member and an outer-cabin side member. The inner-cabin side member is formed by integrally molding a receiving part, an inner-cabin side lip, and a seal part. A core is embedded in the receiving part. The core is bendable in an inner-cabin and outer-cabin direction. The outer-cabin side member is formed by integrally molding an anchoring protrusion, an outer-cabin side lip, and a seal lip. The outer-cabin side member couples to the inner-cabin side member by fitting the anchoring protrusion into the receiving part with the outer-cabin side lip making elastic contact with an outer-cabin side surface of the door glass and with the seal lip making elastic contact with the seal part.

A division bar for an automobile is provided between a movable door glass and a fixed quarter glass. The division bar includes an inner-cabin side member and an outer-cabin side member. The inner-cabin side member is formed by integrally molding a receiving part, an inner-cabin side lip, and a seal part. A core is embedded in the receiving part. The core is bendable in an inner-cabin and outer-cabin direction. The outer-cabin side member is formed by integrally molding an anchoring protrusion, an outer-cabin side lip, and a seal lip. The outer-cabin side member couples to the inner-cabin side member by fitting the anchoring protrusion into the receiving part with the outer-cabin side lip making elastic contact with an outer-cabin side surface of the door glass and with the seal lip making elastic contact with the seal part.

A tool for installing a door striker pin includes: a latch engagement section having a first surface, a striker pin extending from the first surface, and an abutment surface that extends generally orthogonal to the first surface; and a pin positioning section coupled to the latch engagement section and including a positioning surface with a striker pin slot formed therethrough that extends in parallel with the striker pin. The striker pin slot is positioned in the positioning surface such that the striker pin slot is aligned with a striker pin installation location when the striker pin of the latch engagement section is engaged with a latch of a door and the abutment surface rests against a frame to which the door is pivotably coupled.

A tool for installing a door striker pin includes: a latch engagement section having a first surface, a striker pin extending from the first surface, and an abutment surface that extends generally orthogonal to the first surface; and a pin positioning section coupled to the latch engagement section and including a positioning surface with a striker pin slot formed therethrough that extends in parallel with the striker pin. The striker pin slot is positioned in the positioning surface such that the striker pin slot is aligned with a striker pin installation location when the striker pin of the latch engagement section is engaged with a latch of a door and the abutment surface rests against a frame to which the door is pivotably coupled.

A system for bridging a distance between two adjacent components is disclosed, the system including a first component and a second component arranged at a distance from the first component. The system further includes a bridging element arranged to bridge the distance between the first component and the second component. The bridging element may be elastic at least in certain regions and include a first region which is fastened to the first component. The bridging element further has a second region which has a first bearing surface extending towards the first component and a second bearing surface extending towards the second component. A thickness of the bridging element may be defined by the distance between the first contact surface and the second contact surface and selected such that the bridging element limits the distance to a minimum distance.