MODEL VEHICLE BODY PANEL CONNECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

A radio-controlled (RC) model vehicle body assembled with a panel connection system is provided. The system includes a first panel section having a mounting tab offset from a first panel outer surface and a tab mounting hole in the mounting tab. The system also includes a second panel section having a receiving slot and an offset panel mounting hole both offset from the second panel outer surface. The system includes a panel bracket comprising having an offset bracket first section and a bracket second section. The panel bracket further includes a first bracket mount in the offset bracket first section and a second bracket mount in the bracket second section. The second panel section is fastened to the panel bracket using the first bracket mount and the offset panel mounting hole and the mounting tab is inserted into the receiving slot and fastened to the second bracket mount.

Claims

1. A radio-controlled (RC) model vehicle body assembled with a panel connection system comprising; a first panel section comprising; a mounting tab offset from a first panel outer surface; a tab mounting hole in the mounting tab; a second panel section comprising; a receiving slot offset from a second panel outer surface; an offset panel mounting hole offset from the second panel outer surface; a panel bracket comprising; an offset bracket first section; a bracket second section; a first bracket mount in the offset bracket first section; a second bracket mount in the bracket second section; wherein the second panel section is fastened to the panel bracket using the first bracket mount and the offset panel mounting hole; wherein the mounting tab is inserted into the receiving slot and fastened to the second bracket mount.

2. A radio-controlled (RC) model vehicle comprising; a model vehicle body assembled with a panel connection system comprising; a first panel section comprising; a mounting tab offset from a first panel outer surface; a tab mounting hole in the mounting tab; a second panel section comprising; a receiving slot offset from a second panel outer surface; an offset panel mounting hole offset from the second panel outer surface; a panel bracket comprising; an offset bracket first section; a bracket second section; a first bracket mount in the offset bracket first section; a second bracket mount in the bracket second section; wherein the second panel section is fastened to the panel bracket using the first bracket mount and the offset panel mounting hole; wherein the mounting tab is inserted into the receiving slot and fastened to the second bracket mount.

3. A method for assembling a radio-controlled (RC) model vehicle body comprising a panel connection system comprising: fastening a panel bracket to a second panel section using an offset panel mounting hole and a first bracket mount in an offset bracket first section; inserting an offset mounting tab of a first panel section through an offset receiving slot of the second panel section; attaching a tab mounting hole to a second bracket mount in a bracket second section of the panel bracket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Certain embodiments will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements. It should be understood, however, that the accompanying drawings illustrate only the various implementations described herein and are not meant to limit the scope of various technologies described herein. The drawings are as follows:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a slight perspective front, upper, left side view showing a panel section of the front of an RC model vehicle, and an enlargement of a portion of the panel section, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a slight perspective rear, upper, left side view showing another panel section of the rear of the RC model vehicle, and an enlargement of a portion of the panel section, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a slight perspective rear, upper, right-side view of a panel bracket, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic view showing the interaction between the first panel section, second panel section, and panel bracket prior to assembly of the first and second panel sections, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross-section schematic view of showing the interaction between the components of FIG. 4 after assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 6 is a slight perspective front, upper, left-side outer view of the panel sections of FIGS. 1 and 2 after assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 7 is a slight perspective rear, upper, right-side inner view of the panel sections of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, after assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0019] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a schematic of a method of body panel section assembly using a panel connection system, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In the following specification, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known elements have been illustrated in schematic or block diagram form in order not to obscure embodiments of the present disclosure in unnecessary detail.

[0021] Reference throughout the specification to one embodiment, an embodiment, some embodiments, one aspect, an aspect, or some aspects means that a particular feature, structure, method, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearance of the phrases in one embodiment or in an embodiment or in some embodiments in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, methods, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. The words including and having shall have the same meaning as the word comprising.

[0022] Moreover, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

[0023] Radio Controlled (RC) model vehicles have long attempted to accurately reproduce in scale form many of the full-sized vehicles that they imitate. In some cases, the typical scale 1-piece vacuum formed model vehicle body is broken into separate component panel sections, that are then attached together to form a complete scale RC model vehicle body. However, the use of external screws to join individual panel sections together reduces the visual accuracy of the scale model.

[0024] Embodiments of this current disclosure may provide systems, methods, and components, that eliminate the external appearance of screws and other joining mechanisms when securely joining two panel sections together. In addition, multiple panel sections of an RC model vehicle body may be assembled without the use of visible fasteners or via adhesive tapes, or glues.

[0025] Traditionally, panel section connection systems physically coupled multi-piece bodies using external fasteners, adhesive tapes, glue, or melting plastic to weld the panel sections. In many cases, the use of adhesive tapes or other assembly methods did not stand up to repeated use by operators over rough courses or terrain and made the removal of panel section for access to the model vehicle chassis very difficult. Bodies traditionally assembled with fasteners create a very secure assembly, but at the expense of unsightly, exposed fasteners detracting from the scale appearance of the body. Bodies assembled with adhesive tapes have a much more scale appearance but lack the structural integrity offered by a mechanical fastener and lack the ease of removal of a panel section. Adhesive tape solutions also introduce a very common issue of causing peeling paint from the inside of the body panels.

[0026] Referring generally to FIG. 1, an exemplary large front panel section 200 of a scale model vehicle is shown. Panel sections may be needed in situations in which the vacuum formed model vehicle body would have substantial undercutting, beyond the typical flexibility of model vehicle body, causing die lock. Other reasons for sectioning the model vehicle body may include the need for access to certain parts of the model vehicle chassis (not shown in FIG. 1), such as for changing batteries, transmission gears, electronic speed controls, etc., among other reasons not listed. The model vehicle body 100 (see FIG. 6) was created as two panel sections due to the undercutting of the rear bumper and for repair purposes.

[0027] The front panel section 200 comprises an elongated offset mounting tab 210 (i.e., tongue) shown at the rear of the front panel section 200 and in the enlargement. The mounting tab 210 is offset to the inside of the rear of the front panel section 200 and contains a tab mounting hole 220 for assembling with a panel connection bracket 400 (see FIG. 3). The offset mounting tab 210 allows the physical connection between the front panel section 200 and the rear panel section 300 to take place within the confines of the overall outer body structure and design. The mounting tab 210 is offset from the outer surface of the front panel section 200.

[0028] Referring now to FIG. 2, this figure shows an exemplary rear panel section 300 and has an enlargement showing an offset receiving slot 310 located in the front of the rear panel section 300. The receiving slot 310 is sized to allow the mounting tab 210 to be inserted therethrough. As with the mounting tab 210, the receiving slot 310 is offset to the inside of the panel (i.e., where inside and outside respectively refer to inside and outside of the overall outer model vehicle body 100 structure and design). Additionally, an offset rear panel mounting hole 320 is provided above the receiving slot 310. Both the receiving slot and panel mounting hole 320 are offset from the outer surface of the overall model vehicle body 100.

[0029] When the mounting tab 210 is fully inserted into the receiving slot 310, the joint between the two components is located inside of the outer skin of the model vehicle body 100 and significantly hidden from view (see FIG. 6 and enlargement in FIG. 6). To secure mounting tab 210 within receiving slot 310, a panel bracket 400 is used (see FIG. 3). The panel bracket 400 has an offset upper bracket 410 (i.e., an offset bracket first section) containing an upper bracket mount 420 and a lower bracket 430 (i.e., a bracket second section) containing a lower bracket mount 440. The shown exemplary panel bracket 400 has a lower most section for additional mounting options that are not involved in the non-visible fastener panel connection system.

[0030] The offset upper bracket 410 of the panel bracket 400 is securely fastened to the rear panel section 300 using the offset rear mounting hole 320 being fastened to upper bracket mount 420 via a screw (see FIG. 4). As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the offset upper bracket 410 is configured to correspond to the offset panel mounting hole 320. The lower bracket 430 is placed proximate to the inside surface of the rear panel section 300 and vertically inside of the offset receiving slot 310. To facilitate assembly, the rear panel section 300 should be assembled to the panel bracket 400 prior to assembly of the front panel section 200 to the rear panel section 300.

[0031] Assembly of the front panel section 200 to the assembled rear panel section 300 and panel bracket 400 involves inserting the mounting tab 210 through the receiving slot 310 (shown most clearly in FIG. 4). Mounting tab 210 will pass to the inside of the lower bracket 430 and in front of lower bracket mount 440. Once fully inserted, mounting tab 210 is securely fastened from the inside of the front and rear body panels 200 and 300. This is most clearly shown in FIG. 5.

[0032] After fastening via lower bracket mount 440 in the lower bracket 430 and the tab mounting hole 220 in the mounting tab 210, the front panel section 200 is securely coupled with the rear panel section 300. Referring to FIG. 6, the assembled RC model vehicle body 100 is shown from the outside with front panel section 200 fastened to rear panel section 300. As shown in the enlargement, no external fasteners are visible outside of the outer shell of the overall model vehicle body 100 design.

[0033] Generally referring to FIG. 7, as shown from an inside perspective of the RC model vehicle body 100, panel bracket 400 is used to mechanically couple the tab mounting hole 220 of the mounting tab 210 and the rear panel mounting hole 320 together. While a specific configuration of the panel bracket 400 was shown in the interest of descriptive simplicity, various other configurations known to people of skill in the art could be used for the same functionality as panel bracket 400.

[0034] Looking at FIG. 8, this figure shows a flowchart for a method of assembling body panel sections without visible fasteners using a panel connection system. The method includes fastening a panel bracket to a second panel section using an offset panel mounting hole and a first bracket mount in the offset bracket first section. The method further includes inserting an offset mounting tab of a first panel section through an offset receiving slot of the second panel section. In addition, the method includes attaching a tab mounting hole to a second bracket mount in a bracket second section of the panel bracket.

[0035] Although only a few example embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present disclosure may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features.

[0036] It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112, paragraph 6 for any limitations of any of the claims herein, except for those in which the claim expressly uses the words means for together with an associated function.