Outer body panel fastening mechanism

Abstract

An exterior module 3 a vehicle has an inner body panel 15 for mounting one or more components, for example a RADAR, to a vehicle body and an outer body panel 5 with an outboard face 25 providing an ex

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to an outer body panel fastening mechanism. Aspects of the invention relate to an exterior module for a vehicle and to a method of assembly for an exterior module for a vehicle. BACKGROUND It is known to provide an exterior module for a vehicle to mount one or more components to the vehicle. Removal of an outer panel of the exterior module may permit access to, and removal of, the one or more components. It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide an exterior module for a vehicle and a method of manufacturing an exterior module for a vehicle as claimed in the appended claims. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an exterior module for a vehicle comprising: an inner body panel configured to mount one or more components to a vehicle body; an outer body panel providing, by its outboard face, an exterior surface of the vehicle which at least partially covers and restricts access to the one or more components, the outer body panel comprising, at a first edge, a first inboard bracket and, elsewhere than at the first edge, a second inboard bracket; a first fastening mechanism configured to fasten the first inboard bracket to a first edge of the inner body panel; a second fastening mechanism configured to fasten the second inboard bracket to the inner body panel; wherein the inner body panel comprises a conduit extending from the first edge of the inner body panel at least to a fixing feature of the inner body panel, the fixing feature configured to cooperate with the second inboard bracket to enable fastening of the second inboard bracket to the inner body panel, and wherein the second fastening mechanism comprises an elongate member that is secured within the conduit and is actuatable from the first edge of the inner body panel to control fastening and unfastening of the second inboard bracket to the inner body panel, via the fixing feature, by movement of the elongate member along the conduit. The advantage of the fastening and unfastening of the second inboard bracket to the inner body panel described above is provision of a robust fastening mechanism, which will require local release, to be used to secure a vulnerable zone of the outer body panel to the inner body panel even when only one edge of the panel is accessible to a user for the purpose of engaging or releasing the fastening mechanisms. Optionally, the second inboard bracket is located distal to the first edge of the outer body panel. Optionally, the second inboard bracket is located proximal to a second edge of the outer body panel. Optionally, the second inboard bracket is displaced from the first edge of the outer body panel in a direction perpendicular to a direction along which the first edge substantially extends. Optionally, the conduit extends substantially perpendicular to the first edge of the inner body panel. The conduit may comprise an elongate groove in an inboard face of the inner body panel. The advantage of said conduit is to distribute the stress exerted on the elongate member across an extended area of the inner body panel when separation of the inner and outer body panels is attempted. The maximum stress applied at any one point on the elongate member or the inner body panel is therefore reduced. Optionally, the conduit comprises a tubular portion comprising an internal thread, configured to cooperate with an external thread formed on a threaded portion of the elongate member. The advantage of an internal thread on the conduit configured to cooperate with an external thread on the elongate member is the maintenance of the linear position of the elongate member within the conduit without an actuating force being applied to the elongate member. The second fastening mechanism is therefore maintained in a fastening or unfastening state. Optionally, the threaded portion of the elongate member is captured within the tubular portion of the conduit. The tubular portion of the conduit may be longer than the threaded portion of the elongate member and the two openings of the tubular portion may be narrower than the diameter of the threaded portion. The advantage of capturing the threaded portion of the elongate member within the tubular portion is to secure the elongate member within the conduit and constrain the maximum linear insertion and reduction of the elongate member along the conduit. This prevents overstressing parts of the inner body panel as well as accidental removal during servicing. Optionally, the tubular portion of the inner body panel comprises two semitubular halves, which are longitudinally connected by a portion of the inner body panel comprising a crease line configured to enable folding one half onto the other to form the tubular portion. A tab extending from one half is configured to tuck into a slot in the inner body panel which is adjacent the other half to secure the two halves together. The advantage of providing the tubular portion as two semitubular halves which may be secured together is to enable one-piece moulding without the need for a threading slider, which would significantly increase the cost of manufacturing. Optionally, the conduit comprises a portion providing a constriction and the elongate member comprises a rib which has a diameter larger than the constriction. The elongate member is arranged within conduit with the constriction interposed between the rib and first edge of the inner body panel thereby inhibiting retraction of the elongate member along the conduit towards the first edge of the inner body panel. Optionally, the fixing feature comprises an aperture in the inner body panel opening into the conduit, wherein the aperture is configured to enable the positioning of the second inboard bracket within the conduit. Optionally, the elongate member is configured for insertion into and retraction out of an aperture in the second inboard bracket, via movement along the conduit, to respectively latch and unlatch the second inboard bracket. Optionally, the conduit extends beyond the aperture in the inner body panel which opens into the conduit and the conduit thereby provides surfaces on either side of said aperture for bracing the elongate member against removal of the second inboard bracket from the conduit. The advantage of providing surfaces for bracing the elongate member on either side of the fixing feature (aperture) is to prevent an unbalanced turning force being exerted on the elongate member during attempted separation of the outer body panel from the inner body panel. In particular, prevention of an unbalanced turning force is advantageous in examples in which the tubular portion comprises two semitubular halves, because such a turning force could separate the two halves of the tubular portion. Optionally, the fixing feature comprises a deflectable portion of the inner body panel having a hinged connection with the inner body panel, wherein the deflectable portion comprises: a protrusion into the conduit configured to engage the elongate member, wherein movement of the elongate member along the conduit controls deflection of the deflectable portion; and a tab extending away from the first edge and configured to latch and unlatch the second inboard bracket according to the deflection of the deflectable portion. Optionally, the protrusion comprises a collar configured to receive a neck portion of the elongate member to thereby engage the elongate member, wherein movement of the elongate member out of the collar is inhibited by a head portion of the elongate member and a shoulder portion of the elongate member, the head portion and the shoulder portion each being sized to inhibit movement out of the collar. Optionally, the hinged connection of the deflectable portion is provided by a gap in the inner body panel which surrounds the deflectable portion except at two connecting portions, wherein the two connecting portions are configured to define an axis about which the deflectable portion pivots when deflected and to twist to enable pivoting of the deflectable portion. Optionally, the inner body panel is a one-piece moulded structure. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of assembling the exterior module comprising: arranging the elongate member in the conduit of the inner body panel; securing the inner body panel to a vehicle body; mounting the one or more components to the inner body panel; arranging the outer body panel to: at least partially cover and restrict access to the one or more components, align the first inboard bracket with a first edge of the inner body panel, and locate the second inboard bracket in a position to cooperate with the fixing feature of the inner body panel; and fastening the outer body panel to the inner body panel via the first and second inboard brackets using the first and second fastening mechanisms. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an exterior module for a vehicle comprising: an inner body panel configured to mount one or more components to a vehicle body; an outer body panel providing, by its outboard face, an exterior surface of the vehicle which at least partially covers and restricts access to the one or more components, the outer body panel comprising, at a first edge, a first inboard bracket and, elsewhere than at the first edge, a second inboard bracket; a first fastening mechanism configured to fasten the first inboard bracket to a first edge of the inner body panel; a second fastening mechanism configured to fasten the second inboard bracket to the inner body panel; wherein the inner body panel comprises a conduit extending from the first edge at least to a portion of the inner body panel configured to cooperate with the second inboard bracket, and wherein the second fastening mechanism comprises an elongate member that is secured within the conduit and is actuatable from the first edge of the inner body panel to control fastening and unfastening of the second inboard bracket to the inner body panel by movement of the elongate member along the conduit. Optionally, the portion of the inner body panel configured to cooperate with the second inboard bracket comprises an aperture in the inner body panel opening into the conduit, wherein the aperture is configured to enable the positioning of the second inboard bracket within the conduit. In some but not necessarily all examples, the elongate member is configured for insertion into and retraction out of an aperture in the second inboard bracket, via movement along the conduit, to respectively latch and unlatch the second inboard bracket. In some other but not necessarily all other examples, the second fastening mechanism further comprises a pivotable member having a hinged connection with the inner body panel, wherein the pivotable member comprises: a protrusion into the conduit configured to engage the elongate member, wherein movement of the elongate member along the conduit controls pivoting of the pivotable member; and a tab extending away from the first edge and configured to latch and unlatch the second inboard bracket according to the pivoting of the pivotable member. Optionally the pivotable member is formed by a deflectable portion of the inner body panel and the hinged connection is provided by a gap in the inner body panel which surrounds the deflectable portion except at two connecting portions, wherein the two connecting portions are configured to define an axis about which the deflectable portion pivots when deflected and to twist to enable pivoting of the deflectable portion. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an exterior module for a vehicle comprising: an inner body panel configured to mount one or more components to a vehicle body; an outer body panel providing, by its outboard face, an exterior surface of the vehicle which at least partially covers and restricts access to the one or more components, the outer body panel comprising, at a first edge, a first inboard bracket and, elsewhere than at the first edge, a second inboard bracket; a first fastening mechanism configured to fasten the first inboard bracket to a first edge of the inner body panel; and a second fastening mechanism configured to fasten the second inboard bracket to the inner body panel. Within the scope of this application, it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination that falls within the scope of the appended claims. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment 4 can be combined in any way and / or combination that falls within the scope of the appended claims, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGs 1A and 1B illustrate an example of a vehicle; FIGs 2A - 2E illustrate cross-sectional and perspective views illustrating examples of an exterior module of a vehicle; FIGs 3A and 3B illustrate perspective views illustrating examples of a portion of an exterior module of a vehicle; FIG 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a portion of an exterior module of a vehicle; FIGs 5A and 5B illustrate perspective views illustrating examples of a portion of an exterior module of a vehicle; FIG 6 illustrates a perspective view illustrating an example of a portion of an exterior module of a vehicle; FIGs 7A and 7B illustrate schematic views illustrating examples of a portion of an exterior module of a vehicle; FIG 8 illustrates a detail view of an example of a second inboard bracket of a vehicle; FIGs 9A and 9B illustrate schematic views illustrating examples of a portion of an exterior module of a vehicle; FIG 10 illustrates a detail view illustrating an example of a second inboard bracket of a vehicle; FIGs 11A and 11B illustrate detail views of examples of a second inboard bracket and a fixing feature of a vehicle; FIG 12 illustrates a detail view illustrating an example of a fixing feature of a vehicle; FIG 13 illustrates a method of assembly for an exterior module of a vehicle; FIG 14 illustrates a schematic view illustrating an example of an exterior module of a vehicle. The figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and views of the figures can be shown schematically or exaggerated in scale in the interest of clarity and conciseness. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures can be exaggerated relative to other elements to aid explication. Similar reference numerals are used in the figures to designate similar features. For clarity, all reference numerals are not necessarily displayed in all figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following description and the enclosed FIGs relate to various examples of an exterior module 3 for a vehicle 1 comprising: an inner body panel 15 configured to mount one or more components 51 to a vehicle body 37; an outer body panel 5 providing, by its outboard face 25, an exterior surface of the vehicle 1 which at least partially covers and restricts access to the one or more components 51, the outer body panel 5 comprising, at a first edge 7, a first inboard bracket 11 and, elsewhere than at the first edge 7, a second inboard bracket 13; a first fastening mechanism 53 configured to fasten the first inboard bracket 11 to a first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15; a second fastening mechanism 35 configured to fasten the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15; wherein the inner body panel 15 comprises a conduit 19 extending from the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15 at least to a fixing feature 21 of the inner body panel 15, the fixing feature 21 configured to cooperate with the second inboard bracket 13 to enable fastening of the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15, and wherein the second fastening mechanism 35 comprises an elongate member 23 that is secured within the conduit 19 and is actuatable from the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15 to control fastening and unfastening of the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15, via the fixing feature 21, by movement of the elongate member 23 along the conduit 19. A vehicle 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying FIGS 1A and 1B. In some but not necessarily all examples, the vehicle 1 is a passenger vehicle, also referred to as a passenger car or as an automobile. In some other but not necessarily all other examples, embodiments of the invention can be implemented for other applications, such as commercial vehicles. FIG 1A is a front perspective view and illustrates a longitudinal x-axis between the front and rear of the vehicle 1 representing a centreline, an orthogonal lateral y-axis between left and right lateral sides of the vehicle 1, and a vertical z-axis. A forward / fore direction typically faced by a driver’s seat is in the positive x-direction; rearward / aft is -x. A rightward direction as seen from the driver’s seat is in the positive y-direction; leftward is -y. These are a first lateral direction and a second lateral direction. FIG 1B is a side view of also showing the same x, y, and z-axis, with the positive y-direction going into the page. An inboard direction from eitherthe left or right lateral sides of the vehicle 1 is a direction substantially towards the centreline (the longitudinal x-axis). Therefore, from a right lateral side of the vehicle 1, it is a leftward direction and from the left lateral side of the vehicle 1, it is a rightward direction. An outboard direction from eitherthe left or right lateral sides of the vehicle 1 is a direction substantially away from the centreline (the longitudinal x-axis). Therefore, from a right lateral side of the vehicle 1, it is a rightward direction and from the left lateral side of the vehicle 1, it is a leftward direction. An inboard direction from eitherthe front or rear of the vehicle 1 is a direction substantially towards the lateral y-axis. Therefore, from a front of the vehicle 1, it is a rearward direction and from a rear of the vehicle 1, it is a forward direction. An outboard direction from eitherthe front or rear of the vehicle 1 is a direction substantially away from the lateral y-axis. Therefore, from a front of the vehicle 1, it is a forward direction and from a rear of the vehicle 1, it is a rearward direction. The terms “inboard” and “outboard” when used as adjectives to characterise element referred to herein, refer to the direction in which the component is facing or intended to face when installed on the vehicle 1. Accordingly, for example, an “inboard face” is a surface which faces or is intended to face in an inboard direction and an “outboard face” is a surface which faces or is intended to face in an outboard direction. FIGS 2A - 2E illustrate examples of an exterior module 3 of a vehicle 1; FIGs 2A and 2B illustrate crosssections of the exterior module 3; FIG 2C illustrates an example exterior module 3, viewed from its outboard 6 side; and FIG 2D illustrates a view of the example exterior module 3 viewed along a side perpendicular to the outboard side. An exterior module 3, such as a body panel module, may be used to mount one or more components 51 to the vehicle 1. The exterior module 3, or a portion thereof, may also at least partially cover and restrict access to the one or more components 51. Restricted access to the one or more components 51 provides that the one or more components 51 cannot be dismounted undamaged without damage to, or removal from the vehicle 1 of, the exterior module 3 or a portion thereof. The exterior module 3 will be referred to as a body panel module herein, but it will be appreciated that the present disclosure may apply to other forms of exterior module 3. The one or more components 51 may comprise a radar or another electronic component. The term “radar” will be used herein as a stand-in for any suitable component. It will be appreciated that the present disclosure is applicable to other components 51 and is not limited to radars. During the lifetime of the vehicle 1, removal of the radar 51 for repair or replacement may be required; the radar 51 thus must be dismountable from the vehicle body 37. The portion of the body panel module which covers the radar 51 (“outer body panel 5” herein) therefore must also be dismountable from the vehicle body 37 to enable access to the radar 51 for dismounting. For clarity, the outer body panel 5 is not illustrated in FIG 2E. In some but not necessarily all examples access to one or more edges 43, 45, 47 of the inner body panel 15 is restricted. For example, access to one or more edges 43, 45, 47 of the inner body panel 15 may not be possible without removal of the outer body panel 5 from the vehicle body 37 or damage to the outer body panel 5. It therefore may not be possible to provide fastening means to fasten or secure the outer body panel 5 to the vehicle body 37 at the one or more edges 43,45,47 of the inner body panel 15 to which access is restricted. As illustrated in FIG 20, one or more vulnerable zones 39 of the outer body panel 5 are therefore created. Application of an outboard force to a vulnerable zone 39 enables at least partial removal of the outer body panel 5 from the vehicle 1. An outboard force is a force applied to a portion of the outer body panel 5, typically but not exclusively to an edge of the outer body panel 5, in an outboard direction. In the example of FIG 2E, fastening means are provided along one edge only (the first edge 7) of the outer body panel 5, thus creating a safe zone 41 in which removal of the outer body panel 5 by application of an outboard force to a safe zone 41 is inhibited, and a vulnerable zone 39. In order to inhibit theft of, or damage to, the radar, a body panel module is provided in which the outer body panel 5 may be securely fastened to, and unfastened from, a portion of the body panel module which is secured to the vehicle body 37 (“inner body panel 15” herein). The outer body panel 5 is securely fastened to the inner body panel 15 such that the number of vulnerable zones 39 of the outer body panel 5 is reduced, and the number of safe zones 41 of the outer body panel 5 is increased, thus inhibiting removal of the outer body panel 5 attempted by application of an outboard force to one or more edges of the outer body panel 5. 7 The inner body panel 15 is secured to the vehicle body 37 such that at least one tool is required to remove the inner body panel 15 from the vehicle body 37. For example, the inner body panel 15 may be secured to the vehicle body 37 by one or more screws. As illustrated in FIG 2D, the inner body panel 15 is configured to mount the radar 51 to the vehicle body 37. In some but not necessarily all examples the radar 51 is mounted to the vehicle body 37 by being mounted to the inner body panel 15. The radar 51 may be mounted to the inner body panel 15 such that dismounting of the radar 51 from the vehicle body 37 may be carried out without tools. In some but not necessarily all examples the inner body panel 15 is a one-piece moulded structure, for example a plastic one-piece moulded structure. The topography of the inner body panel 15 is at least partially determined based on an optimisation of the moulding process, such that the inner body panel 15 may be moulded as a single part. The outer body panel 5 provides, by its outboard face 25, an exterior surface of the vehicle 1 such as a (Class) A-Surface, which at least partially covers and restricts access to the radar 51 such that the radar 51 cannot be dismounted undamaged without damage to, or removal from the vehicle 1 of, the outer body panel 5. The outer body panel 5 comprises, at its first edge 7, a first inboard bracket 11, an inboard bracket being a bracket protruding, in an Inboard direction, from an inboard face 27 of the outer body panel 5. As illustrated in FIG 2E, the first inboard bracket 11 is configured to be secured to a first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15 by a first fastening mechanism 53. The first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15 and / or the first fastening mechanism 53 are accessible from a securable area 55 of the vehicle 1 without the need for removal of another component from the vehicle body 37. For example, the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15 and / or the first fastening mechanism 53 may be accessible from a trunk of the vehicle 1. Thus, the first inboard bracket 11 may be secured to and unsecured from the first edge 17 of the inner body, by fastening and unfastening the first fastening mechanism 53 from the securable area 55 of the vehicle 1. In some but not necessarily all examples, the first fastening mechanism 53 fastens the first inboard bracket 11 to the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15 such that at least one tool is required to unfasten the first inboard bracket 11 from the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15. In some such examples, the first fastening mechanism 53 comprises one or more screws. Referring back to FIGS 2A and 2B, the outer body panel 5 comprises, elsewhere than at the first edge 7, a second inboard bracket 13. The second inboard bracket 13 is configured to be secured to the inner body panel 15 by a second fastening mechanism 35. In some but not necessarily all examples, the second inboard bracket 13 is located distal to the first edge 7 of the outer body panel 5. Additionally or alternatively, the second inboard bracket 13 can be located proximal to 8 a second edge 9 of the outer body panel 5. In some, but not necessarily all examples, the second inboard bracket 13 is displaced from the first edge 7 of the outer body panel 5 in a direction perpendicular to a direction along which the first edge 7 substantially extends. There is therefore provided a body panel module in which a protective outer body panel 5 is secured to an inner body panel 15 by a first fastening mechanism 53, which secures a first inboard bracket 11 of the outer body panel 5 to a first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15, and a second fastening mechanism 35, which secures a second inboard bracket 13 of the outer body panel 5 to the inner body panel 15. The number of safe zones 41 of the outer body panel 5 is thus increased and the number of vulnerable zones 39 decreased. The inner body panel 15 comprises a conduit 19 extending from the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15 at least to a fixing feature 21 of the inner body panel 15. The conduit 19 is therefore accessible from the securable area 55 of the vehicle 1. In some examples, the conduit 19 extends beyond the fixing feature 21. The fixing feature 21 is configured to cooperate with the second inboard bracket 13 to fasten the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15. In some but not necessarily all examples, the fixing feature 21 comprises a tab 101 (as first shown in FIG 9A) which engages the second inboard bracket 13 to fasten the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15. In some other but not necessarily all other examples, the fixing feature 21 comprises an aperture 33, such as a slot, in the inner body panel 15 which opens into the conduit 19 from the outboard face 29 of the inner body panel 15. The second inboard bracket 13 may be positioned in this aperture 33, such that a fastening mechanism may extend through the fixing feature 21 and an aperture 95 in the second inboard bracket 13 to fasten the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15. The second fastening mechanism 35 comprises an elongate member 23 that is secured within the conduit 19. The elongate member 23 is configured for linear movement along the conduit 19 to enable and control fastening and unfastening of the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15 via the fixing feature 21. The elongate member 23 is configured such that movement of the elongate member 23 in a first direction along the conduit 19 towards the second inboard bracket 13 causes fastening of the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15, and movement of the elongate member 23 in a second direction along the conduit 19 away from the second inboard bracket 13 and toward the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15 causes unfastening of the second inboard bracket 13 from the inner body panel 15. The elongate member 23 may comprise a screw mechanism. For example, the elongate member 23 may be a rod with an in-moulded screw thread for enabling linear movement along the conduit 19. It may be formed from any appropriate material, for example the same material as the inner body panel 15, for example a plastic material. In some but not necessarily all examples, movement of the elongate member 23 in the first direction causes movement of the fixing feature 21 into an engagement position in which the fixing feature 21 engages the second inboard bracket 13 to fasten the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15, and movement of the elongate member 23 in the second direction causes movement of the fixing feature 21 out of the engagement position, into an unengaged position, such that the fixing feature 21 does not engage the second 9 inboard bracket 13 to fasten the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15. In some other but not necessarily all other examples, movement of the elongate member 23 in the first direction moves the elongate member 23 into an engagement position in which the elongate member 23 extends through the fixing feature 21 and engages the second inboard bracket 13, for example by extending into an aperture 95 in the second inboard bracket 13, to fasten the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15, and movement of the elongate member 23 in the second direction moves the elongate member 23 out of the engagement position, into an unengaged position, such that the elongate member 23 does not extend through the fixing feature 21 into the second inboard bracket 13 to fasten the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15. The elongate member 23 is actuatable from the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15. Thus, fastening and unfastening of the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15 may be controlled by actuating the elongate member 23 from the securable area 55 of the vehicle 1 to cause movement of the elongate member 23 in the first direction and the second direction. In some but not necessarily all examples, the maximum range of travel of the elongate member 23 along the conduit 19 is defined by a maximum insertion position and a maximum retraction position. Movement of the elongate member 23 along the conduit 19 in the first direction is inhibited beyond the maximum insertion position and movement of the elongate member 23 along the conduit 19 in the second direction is inhibited beyond the maximum retraction position. As illustrated in FIGs 2A and 2B, the conduit 19 extends substantially perpendicular to the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15. In some but not necessarily all examples, the conduit 19 comprises an elongate groove 49 in an inboard face 31 of the inner body panel 15 such that the conduit 19 braces the elongate member 23 against application of a force in the outboard direction. The stress exerted on the elongate member 23 when an outboard force is applied to the outer body panel 5 is thus distributed across an extended area of the inner body panel 15 and the maximum stress applied to any one point of the inner body panel 15 is reduced. In some but not necessarily all examples, the conduit 19 comprises a tubular portion 57 comprising an internal thread 59 and the elongate member 23 comprises a threaded portion 73 on which an external thread 75 is formed. The internal thread 59 of the conduit 19 is configured to cooperate with the external thread 75 of the elongate member 23. Rotation of the elongate member 23 thus causes movement of the elongate member 23 in the first direction or the second direction. Cooperation of the internal thread 59 of the conduit 19 and the external thread 75 of the elongate member 23 maintains a position of the elongate member 23 along the conduit 19 in the absence of an actuating force being applied to the elongate member 23. The elongate member 23 and / or the fixing feature 21 is therefore maintained in a fastened or unfastened state, e.g., in the engagement position or the unengaged position, until an actuating force is applied to the elongate member 23. FIGs 3 - 6 illustrate examples in which the tubular portion 57 of the inner body panel 15 comprises two semitubular halves 61, 63, which are longitudinally connected by a portion 65 of the inner body panel 15 comprising a crease line 67 configured to enable folding one half 61 onto the other 63 to form the tubular potion. A tab 69 extending from one half 61 is configured to tuck into a slot 71 in the inner body panel 15 which is adjacent the other half 63 to secure the two halves 61,63 together. FIGs 3A and 5A illustrate examples in which the tubular portion 57 is in an open configuration and FIGs 3B, 4, 5B and 6 illustrate examples in which the tubular portion 57 is in a closed configuration. By providing the tubular portion 57 as two semitubular halves 61,63, the inner body panel 15 may be moulded as a single part without the requirement for a threading slider, and the tubular portion 57 may be moved to the closed configuration during assembly. FIGs 3A, 3B and 4 illustrate examples in which the threaded portion 73 of the elongate member 23 is captured within the tubular portion 57 of the conduit 19. In the example of FIGs 3A, 3B and 4, the tubular portion 57 of the conduit 19 is longer than the threaded portion 73 of the elongate member 23 and the two openings 81,83 of the tubular portion 57 are narrower than the diameter of the threaded portion 73. The elongate member 23 is thus secured within the conduit 19 and its movement along the conduit 19 in the first direction and the second direction limited. The maximum insertion position is a position at which a first edge 77 of the threaded portion 73 abuts a first wall 85 of the tubular portion 57, which provides the narrowed first opening 81, and the maximum retraction position is a position at which a second edge 79 of the threaded portion 73 abuts a second wall 87 of the tubular portion 57, which provides the narrowed second opening 83. FIGs 5A, 5B and 6 illustrate examples in which the threaded portion 73 of the elongate member 23 Is longer than the tubular portion 57 of the inner body panel 15. In the examples of FIGs 5A, 5B and 6, but not exclusive to these examples, a rib 89 is provided on the elongate member 23 to limit movement of the elongate member 23 along the conduit 19 in the second direction. The conduit 19 comprises a constriction which is narrower than the diameter of the rib 89 and the elongate member 23 is arranged within the conduit 19 so that the constriction is interposed between the rib 89 and the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15. The rib 89 may be, for example, a raised ring of material encircling the elongate member 23 around its longitudinal axis. The maximum retraction position of the elongate member23 is a position at which the rib 89 abuts a stopper portion 91 of the conduit 19, the stopper portion 91 providing the constriction in the conduit 19 and having an inner diameter less than the diameter of the rib 89. The stopper portion 91 is located in the conduit 19 between the tubular portion 57 and the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15. The rib 89 is located on the elongate member 23 between the threaded portion 73 and the end closest to the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15. The maximum insertion position of the elongate member 23 may be the position in which the elongate member 23 abuts a closed end 93 of the conduit 19. In other examples (not shown), the diameter of the rib 89 could be increased so that it is greater than the diameter of an opening 83 into the tubular portion 57 so that the rib 89 also limits movement of the elongate member 23 along the conduit 19 in the first direction and the maximum insertion position of the elongate member 23 is a position at which the rib 89 abuts the tubular portion 57 of the inner body panel 15. By limiting movement of the elongate member 23 along the conduit 19, accidental removal of the elongate member 23 from the conduit 19 is prevented. There is therefore provided a robust fastening mechanism, which requires release from the securable area 55 of the vehicle 1, to be used to secure the outer body panel 5 to the inner body panel 15 by minimising the number of vulnerable edges of the outer body panel 5 and maximising the number of secure edges of the outer body panel 5, even in examples in which only one edge of the outer body panel 5 is accessible to a user for the purpose of engaging or releasing the fastening mechanisms. FIGs 7A and 7B schematically illustrate an example of a body panel module, in which a portion of the outer body panel 5, the second inboard bracket 13, a portion of the inner body panel 15, a portion of the conduit 19, the fixing feature 21, and the elongate member 23 are illustrated. In the example of FIGs 7A and 7B, the fixing feature 21 comprises an aperture 33 in the inner body panel 15 which opens into the conduit 19 from the outboard face 29 of the inner body panel 15. The aperture 33 is configured to receive the second inboard bracket 13. In this example, the second inboard bracket 13 also comprises an aperture 95. When the second inboard bracket 13 is positioned within the aperture 33 in the inner body panel 15 which opens into the conduit 19, and is thus positioned within the conduit 19, the aperture 95 in the second inboard bracket 13 is placed within that aperture 33 and thus within the conduit 19. The elongate member 23 can extend through the fixing feature 21 and the aperture 95 in the second inboard bracket 13 to fasten the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15. In the example of FIGs 7A and 7B, the conduit 19 extends beyond the second inboard bracket 13 and thus provides surfaces on either side of the fixing feature 21 and the second inboard bracket 13 Into which the elongate member 23 may pass. This braces the elongate member 23 against removal from the conduit 19 by application of an outboard force to the elongate member 23, in particular by preventing an unbalanced turning force being exerted on the elongate member 23 by application of an outboard force to the outer body panel 5. The bracing also inhibits removal of the second inboard bracket 13 from the fixing feature 21. FIG 7A illustrates an example in which the elongate member 23 is in the unengaged position. The elongate member 23 is secured within the conduit 19 and does not extend through the fixing feature 21 or the aperture 95 in the second inboard bracket 13. FIG 7B illustrates an example in which the elongate member 23 is in the engagement position. As illustrated in FIG 7B, rotation of the elongate member 23 causes movement of the elongate member 23 in the first direction, through the fixing feature 21 and into the engagement position. Rotation of the elongate member 23 in an opposite direction causes movement of the elongate member 23 in the second direction, out of the fixing feature 21 and out of the engagement position. The elongate member 23 thus provides a draw bolt-style latch which is movable through the fixing feature 21 and the aperture 95 in the second inboard bracket 13 to fasten and unfasten the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15. A detail view of an example of the second inboard bracket 13 used in the examples of FIGs 7A and 7B from a perspective as if looking along the length of the conduit 19 is shown in FIG 8. FIGs 9A and 9B schematically illustrate an example of a body panel module in which a portion of the inner body panel 15, the second inboard bracket 13, a portion of the conduit 19, the fixing feature 21 and the elongate member 23 are shown. In the example of FIGs 9A and 9B, the fixing feature 21 further comprises a pivotable member 97 having a hinged connection 99 with the inner body panel 15. The pivotable member 97 comprises a protrusion 103 into the conduit 19 configured to engage the elongate member 23 and a tab 101 extending away from the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15. Movement ofthe elongate member 23 controls pivoting of the pivotable member 97. The tab 101 is configured to latch and unlatch the second inboard bracket 13 according to pivoting ofthe pivotable member 97. The tab 101 is able to latch the second inboard bracket 13 by engagement with one or more features ofthe second inboard bracket 13 when the second inboard bracket 13 is positioned within the conduit 19 via the aperture 33 in the inner body panel 15 which opens into the conduit 19. For example, as illustrated in detail in FIGs 10 and 11A, B, the second inboard bracket 13 comprises a barb 105 beneath which the tab 101 may be inserted, through the pivoting ofthe pivotable member 97, so that the barb 105 snags on the tab 101 when movement in an outboard direction is attempted and thus inhibiting withdrawal ofthe second inboard bracket 13 from conduit 19 and separation of the outer body panel 5 from the inner body panel 15. The barb 105 may enable a snap-fit with the inner body panel 15. For example, the barb 105 may enable insertion ofthe second inboard bracket 13 into the conduit 19 while the tab 101 ofthe pivotable member 97 is in a position to snag the barb 105 upon attempted withdrawal from the conduit 19. The snap-fit may be enabled by an ability ofthe barb 105 to flex relative to the second inboard bracket 13 or an ability ofthe tab 101 to flex relative to the pivotable member 97. As illustrated in FIGs 11A, B (showing two different views ofthe same features - one a perspective view, and one a cross-section) and FIG 12, the protrusion 103 comprises a collar 107 configured to receive a neck portion 109 ofthe elongate member23. Movement ofthe elongate member23 out ofthe collar 107 in the second direction is inhibited by a head portion 109 ofthe elongate member 23, the head portion 109 being sized to inhibit that movement ofthe head portion 109 out ofthe collar 107. Movement ofthe elongate member 23 out ofthe collar 107 in the first direction is inhibited by a shoulder portion 109 ofthe elongate member 23, the shoulder portion 109 being sized to inhibit that movement ofthe shoulder portion 109 out of the collar 107. The collar 107 is configured to receive the elongate member 23 such that the head portion 109 is positioned to one side of the collar 107 and the shoulder portion 109 is positioned to another side of the collar 107. 13 As illustrated, the collar 107 may be open at the end of the projection to enable the neck portion 109 of the elongate member 23 to be inserted into the collar 107. FIG 9A illustrates the elongate member 23 and fixing feature 21 in the engagement position. The tab 101 has latched the second inboard bracket 13 and thus fastened the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body portion. As illustrated in FIG 9B, rotation of the elongate member 23 causes movement of the elongate member 23 along the conduit 19 in the second direction. This causes application of a pivoting force which causes the fixing feature 21 to move out of the engagement position shown in FIG 9A into the unengaged position shown in FIG 9B by pivoting the tab 101 away from the second inboard bracket 13 so that the tab 101 unlatches the second inboard bracket 13 and thus unfastens the second inboard bracket 13 from the inner body panel 15. Reversing the rotation of the elongate member 23 causes movement of the elongate member 23 along the conduit 19, in the first direction. This causes the elongate member 23 to apply an opposite pivoting force to the fixing feature 21 which causes the fixing feature 21 to move back into the engagement position shown in FIG 9A by pivoting the tab 101 toward the second inboard bracket 13 so that the tab 101 latches the second inboard bracket 13 and thus fastens the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15. FIG 12 illustrates an example in which the pivotable member 97 comprises a deflectable portion 115 of the inner body panel 15. In the example of FIG 11, the hinged connection 99 of the deflectable portion 115 is provided by a gap 117 in the inner body panel 15 which surrounds the deflectable portion 115 except at two connecting portions 119, 121. Twisting of the two connecting portions 119, 121 enables pivoting of the deflectable portion 115. The two connecting portions 119,121 are configured to define an axis 123 about which the deflectable portion 115 pivots when deflected. There is therefore provided a vehicle 1 comprising the exterior module 3, in which the first edges 7,17 of the inner and outer body panel 5s are accessible from a securable area 55, such as a securable compartment, of the vehicle 1. FIG 13 illustrates a method 130 according to an embodiment of the invention. The method 130 is a method of assembling the exterior module of the vehicle 1. Blocks 131 to 136 may represent steps in the method 130. The illustration of a particular order to the blocks illustrated in FIG 13 does not necessarily imply that there is a required or preferred order for the blocks and the order and arrangement of the blocks may be varied. Furthermore, it may be possible for some steps in the method 130 to be omitted. At block 131, the elongate member 23 is arranged in the conduit 19 of the inner body panel 15 and secured therein, for example by closure of the two halves 61,63 of the tubular portion 57 around the elongate member 23. In some but not necessarily all examples, the elongate member 23 can be moulded with inner body panel 15, for example as an extension from one edge 17, 43,45, 47, as shown in FIG 14, and can then be trimmed away from the inner body panel 15. At block 132, the inner body panel 15 is secured to the vehicle body 37, for example by one or more screws. At block 133, the one or more components 51 are mounted to the inner body panel 15. It will be appreciated that the order in which blocks 132 and 133 are performed does not necessarily matter, though in practice one order may be easier than the other. At block 134, the outer body panel 5 is arranged overthe inner body panel 15 and the one or more components 51 mounted thereto so as to: firstly at least partially cover and restrict access to the one or more components 51; secondly align the first inboard bracket 11 with a first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15; and thirdly locate the second inboard bracket 13 in a position to cooperate with the fixing feature 21 of the inner body panel 15. The latter may, in some but not necessarily all examples, involve positioning the second inboard bracket 13 within the conduit 19 via the aperture 33, which opens into the conduit 19 from the outboard face 29 of the inner body panel 15. During block 134, the elongate member 23 may be positioned such that the second inboard bracket 13 is not engaged. For example, the elongate member 23 may be in a retracted position such as the maximum retraction position. In some such examples, the elongate member 23 may be positioned in its unengaged position and in other such examples the elongate member 23 may position the fixing feature 21 in its unengaged position. The second inboard bracket 13 may therefore be positioned within the conduit 19, via the aperture 33, during block 134, without securement. It will, however, be appreciated that in some, but not necessarily all examples where the second inboard bracket 13 comprises a barb 105, block 134 may be performed with the fixing feature 21 in its engagement position. In such examples, block 134 comprises snap-fitting the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15. At block 135, the first fastening mechanism 53 is used to fasten the first inboard bracket 11 to the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15. At block 136, the second fastening mechanism 55 is used to fasten the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15. This comprises actuating the elongate member 23 from the first edge 17 of the inner body panel 15 to cause movement of the elongate member 23 in a first direction along the conduit 19 away from the first edge 17, towards the second inboard bracket 13. In some but not necessarily all examples, at block 136, the elongate member 23 is moved into an engagement position in which the elongate member 23 extends through the fixing feature 21 and engages the second 15 inboard bracket 13, for example by extending into an aperture 95 in the second inboard bracket 13, to fasten the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15. In some other but not necessarily all other examples, at block 136, the elongate member 23 moves the fixing feature 21 into an engagement position in which the fixing feature 21 engages the second inboard bracket 13 to fasten the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15. It will be appreciated that the order in which blocks 135 and 136 are performed does not necessarily matter, though in practice one order may be easier than the other. It will also be appreciated that it is possible to perform blocks 135 and 136 simultaneously. It will still further be appreciated that, in at least some examples, such as those where block 134 comprises snap-fitting the second inboard bracket 13 to the inner body panel 15, block 136, in as far as it is distinct from block 134, may be omitted. Blocks 135 and 136 more generally comprise fastening the outer body panel 5 to the inner body panel 15 via the first and second inboard brackets 11,13 using the first and second fastening mechanisms 53, 55. It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application. Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described. Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not. Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

Claims

1. An exterior module for a vehicle comprising:an inner body panel configured to mount one or more components to a vehicle body;an outer body panel providing, by its outboard face, an exterior surface of the vehicle which at least partially covers and restricts access to the one or more components, the outer body panel comprising, at a first edge, a first inboard bracket and, elsewhere than at the first edge, a second inboard bracket;a first fastening mechanism configured to fasten the first inboard bracket to a first edge of the inner body panel;a second fastening mechanism configured to fasten the second inboard bracket to the inner body panel;wherein the inner body panel comprises a conduit extending from the first edge of the inner body panel at least to a fixing feature of the inner body panel, the fixing feature configured to cooperate with the second inboard bracket to enable fastening of the second inboard bracket to the inner body panel, andwherein the second fastening mechanism comprises an elongate member that is secured within the conduit and is actuatable from the first edge of the inner body panel to control fastening and unfastening of the second inboard bracket to the inner body panel, via the fixing feature, by movement of the elongate member along the conduit.

2. The exterior module of claim 1, wherein the second inboard bracket is located proximal to a second edge of the outer body panel.

3. The exterior module of any preceding claim, wherein the second inboard bracket is displaced from the first edge of the outer body panel in a direction perpendicular to a direction along which the first edge substantially extends.

4. The exterior module of any preceding claim, wherein the conduit extends substantially perpendicular to the first edge of the inner body panel.

5. The exterior module of any preceding claim, wherein the conduit comprises an elongate groove in an inboard face of the inner body panel.

6. The exterior module of any preceding claim, wherein the conduit comprises a tubular portion comprising an internal thread, configured to cooperate with an external thread formed on a threaded portion of the elongate member.

7. The exterior module of claim 6, wherein the tubular portion of the conduit is longer than the threaded portion of the elongate member and the two openings of the tubular portion are narrower than the diameter of the threaded portion.8, The exterior module of claim 6 or 7, wherein the tubular portion of the inner body panel comprises two semitubular halves, which are longitudinally connected by a portion of the inner body panel comprising a crease line configured to enable folding one half onto the other to form the tubular portion, and wherein a tab extending from one half is configured to tuck into a slot in the inner body panel which is adjacent the other half to secure the two halves together.

9. The exterior module of any preceding claim, wherein the conduit comprises a portion providing a constriction and the elongate member comprises a rib which has a diameter larger than the constriction, and wherein the elongate member is arranged within conduit with the constriction interposed between the rib and first edge of the inner body panel thereby inhibiting retraction of the elongate member along the conduit towards the first edge of the inner body panel.

10. The exterior module of any preceding claim, wherein the fixing feature comprises an aperture in the inner body panel opening into the conduit, wherein the aperture is configured to enable the positioning of the second inboard bracket within the conduit.

11. The exterior module of claim 10, wherein the elongate member is configured for insertion into and retraction out of an aperture in the second inboard bracket, via movement along the conduit, to respectively latch and unlatch the second inboard bracket.12, The exterior module of claim 11, wherein the conduit extends beyond the aperture in the Inner body panel which opens into the conduit and the conduit thereby provides surfaces on either side of said aperture for bracing the elongate member against removal of the second inboard bracket from the conduit.

13. The exterior module of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the fixing feature comprises a deflectable portion of the inner body panel having a hinged connection with the inner body panel, wherein the deflectable portion comprises:a protrusion into the conduit configured to engage the elongate member, wherein movement of the elongate member along the conduit controls deflection of the deflectable portion; anda tab extending away from the first edge and configured to latch and unlatch the second inboard bracket according to the deflection of the deflectable portion.

14. The exterior module of claim 13, wherein the protrusion comprises a collar configured to receive a neck portion of the elongate member to thereby engage the elongate member, wherein movement of the elongate member out of the collar is inhibited by a head portion of the elongate member and a shoulder portion of the elongate member, the head portion and the shoulder portion each being sized to inhibit movement out of the collar.

15. The exterior module of claim 13 or 14, wherein the hinged connection of the deflectable portion is provided by a gap in the inner body panel which surrounds the deflectable portion except at two connectingportions, wherein the two connecting portions are configured to define an axis about which the deflectable portion pivots when deflected and to twist to enable pivoting of the deflectable portion.

16. The exterior module of any preceding claim, wherein the inner body panel is a one-piece moulded structure.

17. A vehicle comprising the exterior module of any of preceding claim, wherein the first edges of the inner and outer body panels are accessible from a securable compartment of the vehicle.

18. A method of assembling the exterior module of any of claims 1 to 16 comprising:arranging the elongate member in the conduit of the inner body panel;securing the inner body panel to a vehicle body;mounting the one or more components to the inner body panel;arranging the outer body panel to:at least partially cover and restrict access to the one or more components,align the first inboard bracket with a first edge of the inner body panel, andlocate the second inboard bracket in a position to cooperate with the fixing feature of the inner body panel; andfastening the outer body panel to the inner body panel via the first and second inboard brackets using the first and second fastening mechanisms.

Images