CN117284229A - Bumper assembly and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A bumper assembly is provided. The bumper assembly includes: a bumper body provided with a joint portion and a holder; a first garnish mounted to the bumper body, and including a garnish body extending substantially along an upper edge of the bumper body, and a fitting portion and a buckle provided at a distance from each other on the garnish body; the first decoration body is suitable for rotating around the joint part after the joint part is jointed with the joint part so as to allow the buckle and the clamping seat to be clamped with each other. The bumper assembly and the vehicle comprising the same according to the present invention allow for more flexible and convenient design and installation of the trim of the bumper assembly, providing a larger design space for the exterior styling of the vehicle.

Description

Bumper assembly and vehicle

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the field of vehicle technology, and more particularly to a bumper assembly with trim.

Background

The bumpers are arranged at the front and rear parts of the vehicle, and can absorb and slow down external impact force to provide safety protection for personnel and pedestrians in the vehicle. Meanwhile, the design of the bumper also directly influences the appearance of the vehicle.

Currently, some bumpers are provided with decorative strips to enhance the design feel and aesthetic appeal of the vehicle appearance. The bumper is generally U-shaped with a central portion and curved portions extending from the lateral ends of the central portion. The trim strip may extend along the contour of the bumper and be snapped to the bumper by a plurality of snaps disposed generally perpendicular to the direction of extension thereof. The plurality of snaps typically have approximately the same orientation for snap fit installation, which would otherwise be difficult to secure each snap in place. Currently, trim strips are often provided that extend along the contour of the central portion of the bumper in order to provide a plurality of snaps that are oriented approximately identically. However, if the molding is designed to extend along the outline of the curved portion, there is a large difference in the extending direction of both ends of the molding, and it is difficult to simultaneously provide the same-orientation snaps at both ends.

It should be understood that the background is only for introducing the technical background related to the inventive concept and is not necessarily prior art.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to solve the problems set forth in the background art above and to provide an improved bumper assembly and a vehicle including the bumper assembly.

To this end, a first aspect of the present invention provides a bumper assembly. The bumper assembly includes: the bumper body is provided with a joint part and a clamping seat; the first decoration comprises a decoration body, a matching part and a buckle, wherein the matching part and the buckle are arranged on the decoration body at intervals; wherein the mating portion is adapted to engage with the engagement portion and the clip is adapted to be snapped with the clip seat to mount the first trim to the bumper body, wherein the first trim is rotatable about the engagement portion after the mating portion engages with the engagement portion to allow the clip and clip seat to be snapped with each other.

In this way, the first garnish may be pre-mounted to the bumper body through the fitting portion and the joint portion, and then the first garnish is rotated around the joint portion so that the first garnish can be further firmly fixed to the bumper body through the snap-fit effect of the snap-fit and the clip seat. This is particularly advantageous in the case of a first trim piece having a relatively large curvature, allowing for easier and stable mounting of the first trim piece.

According to the above technical idea, the first aspect of the present invention may further include any one or more of the following optional forms.

In some alternatives, the mating portion is in the form of a hook and the engagement portion is in the form of a tab.

In some alternatives, the engagement portion is disposed inside the bumper body, and the bumper body is further provided with a slot for the mating portion to engage with the engagement portion through the slot.

In some alternatives, the trim body has a first end and a second end in its direction of extension (i.e., its length direction), the mating portion being disposed at the first end of the first trim body. Optionally, the decoration body is strip-shaped.

In some alternatives, the clip includes a snap hole, the cartridge defines a receiving channel for receiving the clip, the receiving channel has top and bottom walls opposite each other, one of the top and bottom walls has a snap projection disposed thereon and the other has a stop projection disposed thereon, wherein the snap projection is for engaging the snap hole and the stop projection is for abutting a portion of the clip other than the snap hole to collectively limit movement of the clip relative to the receiving channel.

In some alternative forms, the first trim piece includes a plurality of snaps disposed at intervals in the extending direction of the trim piece body, and a plurality of sockets are disposed on the bumper body accordingly.

In some alternatives, the plurality of cartridges includes a first cartridge and a second cartridge, wherein the snap-in projection and the limit projection of the first cartridge are disposed on the top wall and the bottom wall of the receiving channel of the first cartridge, respectively, and the snap-in projection and the limit projection of the second cartridge are disposed on the bottom wall and the top wall of the receiving channel of the second cartridge, respectively.

In some alternative forms, the bumper body includes a central portion and curved portions disposed on both sides of the central portion, and the first trim is mounted to the curved portions.

In some alternatives, the bumper assembly further comprises a second trim piece mounted to the central portion and disposed adjacent to the first trim piece, wherein a protrusion is provided at the second end of the first trim piece, a limit notch is provided at an end of the second trim piece adjacent to the first trim piece, and the limit notch is adapted to engage with the protrusion to limit the second end of the first trim piece.

In some alternatives, the trim body of the first trim piece extends generally along an upper edge of the curved portion.

A second aspect of the invention provides a vehicle comprising a bumper assembly according to the first aspect of the invention.

The bumper assembly and the vehicle comprising the same according to the present invention allow for more flexible and convenient design and installation of the trim of the bumper assembly, providing a larger design space for the exterior styling of the vehicle.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of alternative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters identify the same or similar parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a bumper assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are views from different angles of a first trim piece of the bumper assembly of FIG. 1, respectively;

FIGS. 3A through 3C are views from different angles, respectively, of the portion of the bumper assembly of FIG. 1 provided with the first trim piece;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged partial view of area A in FIG. 3C;

FIGS. 4B and 4C are enlarged partial views of the bumper body and first trim, respectively, of the bumper assembly of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of region B in FIG. 3C; and

fig. 6A and 6B are a partial enlarged view and a sectional view, respectively, of a region C in fig. 3C, in which a bumper body of the bumper assembly is omitted.

Detailed Description

The making and using of the embodiments are discussed in detail below. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating a particular manner of making and using the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The expression of the structural position of the various components of the vehicle as described, such as upper, lower, top, bottom, front, rear, etc., is not absolute, but rather relative. In this application, unless otherwise indicated, these orientation expressions describe the orientation of the various components in the vehicle when the vehicle is in a stationary state on a level road surface. In this application, unless otherwise indicated, the inside or inner surface of a component refers to the side or surface of the component facing the interior of the vehicle, while the outside or outer surface of the component refers to the side or surface of the component facing the exterior of the vehicle.

Fig. 1 to 6B illustrate a bumper assembly 100 and its constituent components according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In some of the figures, reference is made to a vehicle coordinate system, wherein the X-direction is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the Y-direction is the transverse direction of the vehicle, and the Z-direction is the vertical direction of the vehicle. The figures show a bumper assembly (i.e., a front bumper assembly) disposed on the front of a vehicle. A bumper assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described below using a front bumper assembly as an example. It is understood that the bumper assembly according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may also be applied to the rear of a vehicle.

Referring to fig. 1-2B and 4A-5, a bumper assembly 100 includes a bumper body 102 and a first trim 104. The bumper body 102 is provided with an engaging portion 106 (see fig. 4B) and cartridges 108a, 108B (see fig. 4A and 5, which may be collectively referred to as cartridges 108 hereinafter). The first garnish 104 is mounted to the bumper body 102, and the first garnish 104 includes a garnish body 110, and a fitting portion 112 and a buckle 114 provided on the garnish body 110 at a distance from each other. The mating portion 112 may engage the engagement portion 106 and the catch 114 may snap into engagement with the cartridge 108 to prevent the first trim 104 from disengaging the bumper body 102. The first decoration 104 may rotate around the engaging portion 106 after the engaging portion 112 engages with the engaging portion 106 to allow the buckle 114 and the socket 108 to be engaged with each other.

As such, the first garnish 104 can be preinstalled to the bumper body 102 by the fitting portion 112 and the engaging portion 106 (preinstallation structure), and then the first garnish 104 is rotated about the engaging portion 106 so that the first garnish 104 can be further firmly fixed to the bumper body 102 by the snap 114 and the snap seat 108 (snap-fit structure). This is particularly advantageous in the case where the first decorative member 104 has a relatively large curvature, and the first decorative member 104 can be more easily and firmly mounted by the pre-mounting structure and the engaging structure being engaged with each other, as compared with the engaging structure alone, which will be described further below.

Referring to fig. 1 and 3A and 3B, the bumper body 102 may be injection molded. The bumper body 102 may have a symmetrical structure with respect to the XZ plane, and has a substantially U-shape when viewed in the Z direction. The bumper body 102 can include a central portion 116 and curved portions 118 disposed on lateral sides of the central portion 116. The front grille of the vehicle may be disposed primarily at the central portion 116 and the headlight assembly of the vehicle may be disposed primarily at the curved portion 118.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3C, the bumper assembly 100 may further include a second trim 120, the second trim 120 being disposed adjacent to the first trim 104. The first trim 104 may be mounted to the curved portion 118 of the bumper body 102. The second trim 120 may be mounted to the central portion 116 of the bumper body 102. Alternatively, the second trim 120 may be directly or indirectly mounted to the bumper body 102 by way of a threaded connection or snap-fit.

The trim body 110 of the first trim 104 can extend generally along the contour of the bumper body 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the trim body 110 may be in a curved strip shape and generally extend along an upper edge of the curved portion 118 of the bumper body 102. The trim body 110 may have a first end 122 and a second end 124 in its direction of extension (i.e., its length). In the illustrated embodiment, the first end 122 of the trim body 110 is generally aligned with the end 126 of the curved portion 118, and the second end 124 of the trim body 110 abuts the lateral end 128 of the second trim 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the second trim 120 can extend generally along an upper edge of the central portion 116 of the bumper body 102 (i.e., generally along the Y-direction). The second decorative member 120 is provided with one first decorative member 104 on each lateral side thereof, and both the first decorative member 104 and the second decorative member 120 can collectively provide decoration for the entire upper edge of the bumper body 102. It will be appreciated that the bumper assembly 100 can also include other ornamental pieces to provide a more design-like look.

Referring to fig. 3C and 4A-4C, in the illustrated embodiment, the mating portion 112 of the first trim piece 104 can be disposed at the first end 122 of the trim piece body 110. The joint 106 of the bumper body 102 can be correspondingly disposed on the inner side of the curved portion 118. The bumper body 102 can also be provided with a slot 130 adjacent the joint 106 for the mating portion 112 of the first trim piece 104 to engage the joint 106 through the slot 130. In the illustrated embodiment, the mating portion 112 of the first trim piece 104 can be in the form of a hook and the engagement portion 106 of the bumper body 102 can be in the form of a tab.

Referring to fig. 2B, 3C, 4A and 5, the first decorative piece 104 may include a plurality of snaps 114, and the plurality of snaps 114 are spaced apart along the extension direction of the decorative piece body 110. The bumper body 102 can be correspondingly provided with a plurality of cartridges 108.

In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of catches 114 may have substantially the same configuration and extend in substantially the same direction from the trim body 110. Each catch 114 may be in the form of a tab and include a snap-in hole 132.

In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of cartridges 108 may include a first cartridge 108a (see fig. 4A) and a second cartridge 108b (see fig. 5). The first cartridge 108a defines a receiving channel 134a for receiving the catch 114. The receiving channel 134a has a top wall 136a and a bottom wall 138a opposite to each other, the top wall 136a being provided with a snap projection 140a, and the bottom wall 138a being provided with a stopper projection (not shown). The second cartridge 108b defines a receiving channel 134b for receiving the catch 114. The receiving channel 134b has a top wall 136b and a bottom wall 138b opposite to each other, the top wall 136b being provided with a limit projection 142, and the bottom wall 138b being provided with a snap projection 140b.

The first and second cartridges 108a, 108b are similar in principle to the snap 114 snap-fit. Taking the second socket 108b shown in fig. 5 as an example and referring to the orientation shown in fig. 5, the snap-fit protrusion 140b is configured to engage with the snap-fit hole 132 to limit movement of the snap-fit 114 relative to the receiving channel 134b in a horizontal plane, and the stop protrusion 142 is configured to abut against a portion of the snap-fit 114 other than the snap-fit hole 132 to limit movement of the snap-fit 114 relative to the receiving channel 134b in a vertical direction, thereby collectively limiting movement of the snap-fit 114 relative to the receiving channel 134b, thereby impeding movement of the first trim 104 relative to the bumper body 102, ensuring that the first trim 104 is securely mounted to the bumper body 102.

Further, referring to fig. 4A and 5, the limit projection on the bottom wall 138a of the first cartridge 108a may abut against the bottom surface of the corresponding clip 114 to limit downward movement of the clip 114 relative to the receiving channel 134A in the vertical direction (in other words, to block downward movement of the first trim 104 relative to the bumper body 102). The limit projection 142 on the top wall 136b of the second cartridge 108b may abut the top surface of the corresponding catch 114 to limit upward movement of the catch 114 relative to the receiving channel 134b in a vertical direction (in other words, to inhibit upward movement of the first trim 104 relative to the bumper body 102). Therefore, by providing both the first and second cartridges 108a and 108b, the first garnish 104 can be better hindered from moving in the vertical direction with respect to the bumper body 102, thereby firmly mounting the first garnish 104 to the bumper body 102.

It is contemplated that the plurality of cartridges may include one or more first cartridges 108a and one or more second cartridges 108b. It is also contemplated that the plurality of cartridges may each be in the form of a first cartridge 108a or each be in the form of a second cartridge 108b.

Referring to fig. 3C and fig. 6A and 6B, in the illustrated embodiment, the second end 124 of the trim body 110 of the first trim 104 has a protrusion 144. A limit notch 146 is provided at the lateral end 128 of the second trim piece 120 adjacent the first trim piece 104. The limit recess 146 opens toward the inside of the second trim 120, in other words, toward the inside of the vehicle. The protrusion 144 may have a shape that matches the limit recess 146.

The limit notch 146 may engage with the protrusion 144 to limit, for example, displacement of the second end 124 of the first trim piece 104 relative to the lateral end 128 of the second trim piece 120 in the direction of arrow D shown in fig. 6B (in other words, prevent the second end 124 of the first trim piece 104 from tilting), reducing the mating surface difference between the second end 124 of the first trim piece 104 and the lateral end 128 of the second trim piece 120, thereby improving the perceived quality of the vehicle.

The manner in which the bumper assembly 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is assembled will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 6B.

First, referring to fig. 2B and 4A to 4C, the fitting portion 112 of the first garnish 104 is passed through the slit 130 on the bumper body 102, and the first garnish 104 is pushed along the arrow T in fig. 2B, so that the fitting portion 112 of the first garnish 104 is engaged with the engaging portion 106 on the bumper body 102. Then, referring to fig. 2B and fig. 4A and 5, the first decoration 104 is turned around the engaging portion 106 along arrow R in fig. 2B, so that the catch 114 of the first decoration 104 can enter the receiving channel of the card holder 108 on the bumper body 102 and be snapped with the card holder 108.

Next, referring to fig. 1 and 6A and 6B, the second trim 120 is mounted/secured to the bumper body 102 such that the retaining recess 146 at the lateral end 128 of the second trim 120 engages the protrusion 144 at the second end 124 of the first trim 104, thereby retaining the second end 124 of the first trim 104. To this end, both the first trim 104 and the second trim 120 are mounted to the bumper body 102.

Referring to fig. 2B and 3B, it can be appreciated that, with the first decorative piece 104 illustrated, because the first end 122 of the first decorative piece 104 extends generally in the X-direction, which is a large difference from the direction of extension of the second end 124 of the first decorative piece 104, it is difficult to form a clasp at the first end 122 that is generally the same as the clasp orientation of the second end 124 (i.e., generally toward the X-direction) to secure the first end 122. While the bumper assembly 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention presets and fixes the first end 122 portion of the first decor 104 by the pre-installation structure formed by the fitting portion 112 and the joint portion 106, preventing the first end 122 of the first decor 104 from being lifted. Meanwhile, other portions of the first trim 104 may be further fixed to the bumper body 102 by the fastening structure. By the pre-mounting structure and the clamping structure being mated with each other, the first garnish 104 can be more easily and firmly fixed to the bumper body 102.

It should be understood that the various components and features described herein may be made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to, polymers, rubbers, metals, and the like, as well as other suitable materials or combinations of materials known to those skilled in the art. Fig. 1-6B illustrate embodiments showing only the shape, size and arrangement of the various optional components of the bumper assembly according to the present invention, which are however illustrative and not limiting, as other shapes, sizes and arrangements may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

While the foregoing has disclosed the subject matter and the features of the invention, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining the teachings of the invention, may make variations and improvements to the concepts disclosed herein, and fall within the scope of the invention. The above description of embodiments is illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the invention is defined by the claims.

Claims (11)

1. A bumper assembly (100), characterized in that the bumper assembly (100) comprises:

a bumper body (102), wherein the bumper body (102) is provided with a joint (106) and a clamping seat (108);

a first decorative piece (104), the first decorative piece (104) comprising a decorative piece body (110), and a fitting portion (112) and a buckle (114) which are arranged on the decorative piece body (110) at intervals;

wherein the mating portion (112) is adapted to engage with the engagement portion (106) and the clasp (114) is adapted to clasp with the clasp (108) to mount the first trim (104) to the bumper body (102), wherein the first trim (104) is rotatable about the engagement portion (106) after the mating portion (112) engages with the engagement portion (106) to allow the clasp (114) and clasp (108) to clasp with each other.

2. The bumper assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the mating portion (112) is in the form of a hook and the engagement portion (106) is in the form of a protrusion.

3. The bumper assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the engagement portion (106) is disposed inside the bumper body (102), the bumper body (102) further being provided with a slot (130) for the mating portion (112) to engage the engagement portion (106) through the slot (130).

4. The bumper assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the trim body (110) has a first end (122) and a second end (124) in its extension, the mating portion (112) being disposed at the first end (122) of the trim body (110).

5. The bumper assembly (100) of any of claims 1-4, wherein the clip (114) includes a snap hole (132), the cartridge (108) defines a receiving channel (134 a;134 b) for receiving the clip (114), the receiving channel (134 a;134 b) has top and bottom walls (138 a;138 b) opposite each other, one of the top and bottom walls (136 a;136b, 138a;138 b) being provided with a snap protrusion (140 a;140 b) and the other being provided with a limit protrusion (142),

wherein the snap projections (140 a;140 b) are adapted to engage with the snap holes (132) and the limit projections (142) are adapted to abut against portions of the clasp (114) other than the snap holes (132) to collectively limit movement of the clasp (114) relative to the receiving channel (134 a;134 b).

6. The bumper assembly (100) of claim 5, wherein the first trim piece (104) includes a plurality of snaps (114) spaced apart in an extension direction of the trim piece body (110), and wherein the bumper body (102) is correspondingly provided with a plurality of clips (108).

7. The bumper assembly (100) of claim 6, wherein the plurality of cartridges (108) includes a first cartridge (108 a) and a second cartridge (108 b), wherein the snap-in projection (140 a) and the limit projection of the first cartridge (108 a) are disposed on the top wall (136 a) and the bottom wall (138 a) of the receiving channel (134 a) of the first cartridge (108 a), respectively, and the snap-in projection (140 b) and the limit projection (142) of the second cartridge (108 b) are disposed on the bottom wall (138 b) and the top wall (136 b) of the receiving channel (134 b) of the second cartridge (108 b), respectively.

8. The bumper assembly (100) of claim 4, wherein the bumper body (102) includes a central portion (116) and curved portions (118) disposed on either side of the central portion (116), the first trim piece (104) being mounted to the curved portions (118).

9. The bumper assembly (100) of claim 8, wherein the bumper assembly (100) further comprises a second trim piece (120), the second trim piece (120) being mounted to the central portion (116) and disposed adjacent to the first trim piece (104),

wherein the second end (124) of the first trim piece (104) is provided with a protrusion (144), the end of the second trim piece (120) adjacent to the first trim piece (104) is provided with a limit notch (146), and the limit notch (146) is adapted to engage with the protrusion (144) to limit the second end (124) of the first trim piece (104).

10. The bumper assembly (100) of claim 8, wherein the trim body (110) of the first trim piece (104) extends generally along an upper edge of the curved portion (118).

11. A vehicle characterized in that it comprises a bumper assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.