GB2301068A

GB2301068A - Radiator grill for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2301068A
Application number: GB9607920A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Danilo Scalon
Original assignee: Plastal ZCP SpA
Current assignee: Plastal ZCP SpA
Priority date: 1995-05-23
Filing date: 1996-04-17
Publication date: 1996-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2016-04-17
Also published as: GB2301068B; GB9607920D0; ES1034196U; ES1034196Y; ITPN950022V0; IT238848Y1; PL104731U1; PL58211Y1; DE29608461U1; CZ5099U1; SE515620C2; SE9601875L; ITPN950022U1; FR2734538A3; FR2734538B3; SE9601875D0; SI9600127A2

Abstract

The radiator grill comprises a frame 2 mounted on a grill 1 by latch engaging means, such as a plurality of hooking teeth 3 which engage into openings 4,40. The grill is mounted into an opening in the vehicle bodywork 11 by means both of flexible teeth 13, and by the interposition of fork elements 10 and flexible leaf-spring means 15 provided integrally on the periphery of grill member 1. The radiator grill comprises a few simple elements and can be quickly and simply assembled or removed from a vehicle body.

Description

RADIATOR GRILL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES The present invention relates to an improved radiator grill for motor vehicles, in particular motor cars.

As is known, radiator grills are generally made of plastics material and are mounted in front of the radiator of motor vehicles, to the bodywork of which they are to be quickly and securely fixed without warping effects even when the structure of the radiator grill is of relative large dimensions, with a width which is substantially greater than the height. For that purpose, a radiator grill is known for example form Italian utility model application no.

PN93U000007 lodged on 22 March 1993, which comprises a grill member and a frame which are of a width which is substantially greater than the height, in which the frame is latchingly mounted on the grill member by means of elastic teeth which hook into corresponding openings. In turn the grill member is fixed to the edge of an opening provided in the bodywork of a vehicle by means of a plurality of fork elements provided at a larger side of the grill member. The fork elements are capable of receiving the edge of the opening in the bodywork, in interfitting relationship, with the interposition of a flexible seal. In addition a plurality of flexible teeth provided at the remaining edges of the grill member latchingly engage on to the edge of the opening in the bodywork.

That construction is particularly advantageous insofar as it affords a series of advantages: the radiator grill can be fitted in a substantially fast and effective manner, it is not subjected to asymmetrical deformation effects and the components thereof can be dismantled in such a way that they can be re-used.

On the other hand the radiator grill has to be fitted to the bodywork of the motor vehicles with the interposition of a flexible seal which undesirably complicates the structure and manufacture of the radiator grill itself. Indeed the flexible seal is preferably deposited along the edge of the grill member, in the form of a continuous or discontinuous line, with the use of a suitable machine which it would be desirable to eliminate.

Therefore the aim of the present invention is that of providing a radiator grill for a motor vehicle which can not only be quickly fitted and removed and which is substantially free from asymmetrical deformation phenomena, but which also involves a particularly simplified and economic structure, even in the production phase.

According to the present invention, there is provided a radiator grill for a motor vehicle, comprising a frame mounted on a grill member by means of first latching engagement means, the grill member being provided with second engagement means comprising a plurality of fork elements disposed at at least one side of the grill member; a plurality of flexible teeth disposed at the remaining sides of the grill member; and flexible spring means provided integrally on the grill member with the interposition of which said fork elements are capable of receiving in interfitting relationship a corresponding edge of an opening provided in the bodywork of the vehicle, and with the interposition of which spring means said flexible teeth are capable of latchingly engaging on to the edge of said opening.

The invention will be further described by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 diagrammatically shows a rear view of a radiator grill according to the invention, prior to fitting thereof to a motor vehicle; Figures 2 to 4 are views on an enlarged scale in respective sections on lines II-II, III-III, and IV-IV of the radiator grill in Figure 1 after fitting thereof to a motor vehicle; and Figure 5 is a view on an enlarged scale in section taken along line V-V of the radiator grill shown in Figure 4.

With reference to the Figures the radiator grill according to the invention is of the type of relatively large surface dimensions, and more particularly it is made with a structure of plastics material involving a width which is substantially greater than its height.

Substantially as described in above-mentioned Italian utility model application no. PN93U000007 to which reference is made for better understanding, the radiator grill primarily comprises a grill member 1 and a frame 2 or substantially rectangular configuration, with a substantially C-shaped cross-section. Along the longer sides, provided integrally on the internal surface of the frame 2 is a plurality of hooking teeth 3 which are capable of elastically latchingly engaging into corresponding openings 4,40 in the grill member 1.

Preferably, integrally provided on the internal surface of the grill member 1 are further elastic locking teeth (not shown for the sake of simplicity) which in per se known manner are capable of engaging with the teeth 3 when they are fitted into the openings 4,40 for more secure fixing of the frame 2 to the grill member 1.

At a longer side, preferably the lower side, the grill member 1 integrally comprises a plurality of fork elements 10 (see Figure 2) capable of receiving in interfitting relationship, with the interposition of flexible leaf-spring means 15 which will be described hereinafter, a corresponding edge 11 of an opening provided in the bodywork of the motor vehicle (not shown). In the example described herein the spring means 15 are disposed in side-by-side relationship with the fork elements 10 as shown in Figure 1.

At the remaining sides the grill member 1 integrally comprises a plurality of flexible teeth 13 (Figure 3), by means of which the grill member is capable of being latchingly engaged on to the edge 11 of the opening in the bodywork of the motor vehicle, with the interposition of the flexible spring means 15. Therefore, after the frame 2 has been fixed to the grill member 1, the entire radiator grill can be mounted to the bodywork of the motor vehicle by simply engaging the fork elements 10 on to the lower edge 11 of the opening, and then latchingly engaging the remaining sides of the grill 1 on the corresponding sides of the edge 11.

Preferably at least the flexible teeth 13 of the upper edge of the grill member 1 have their free ends shaped with a projecting edge 14 which, when the radiator grill is fitted in position, abut against the edge 11 of the opening in the bodywork. In that way, by making use of the resiliency of the teeth 13, the edge 11 applies to the grill member 1 a centripetal thrust force which prevents disengagement of the fork elements 10 and ensures that in the case of impact the teeth 13 do not break off by flexing towards the exterior.

In any case correct and secure fitting of the radiator grill to the opening in the bodywork is ensured by the flexibility of the spring means 15 (which are more clearly apparent in Figures 4 and 5) which are integrally provided on the radiator grill, in particular the grill member 1. Obviously, according to the requirements involved, a suitable number of flexible spring means 15 may be suitably distributed along the peripheral edge of the grill member 1 for the purpose of providing for optimum co-operation with the edge 11 of the opening in the bodywork. Advantageously the spring means 15 are in direct contact with the edge 11 with which they elastically co-operate, thus rendering superfluous the interposition of any elastic seal which would complicate the structure and assembly of the radiator grill.

In contrast the spring means 15 can be easily provided integrally with the grill member 1 without any structural and/or production complication.

It will be appreciated that the radiator grill described may be the subject of many modifications which still fall within the scope of the invention. In any case it will be apparent that the radiator grill according to the invention is made up of a few simple elements which can be easily assembled by latching engagement in a reversible fashion and which can thus be easily replaced when necessary.

In addition the radiator grill according to the invention can be fitted in position easily and securely and is substantially free from undesirable asymmetrical deformation.

Claims

1. A radiator grill for a motor vehicle, comprising a frame mounted on a grill member by means of first latching engagement means, the grill member being provided with second engagement means comprising a plurality of fork elements disposed at at least one side of the grill member; a plurality of flexible teeth disposed at the remaining sides of the grill member; and flexible spring means provided integrally on the grill member with the interposition of which said fork elements are capable of receiving in interfitting relationship a corresponding edge of an opening provided in the bodywork of the vehicle, and with the interposition of which spring means said flexible teeth are capable of latching engaging on to the edge of said opening.

2. A radiator grill for a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said grill comprises a plurality of flexible spring means which are distributed along the peripheral edge thereof.

3. A radiator grill constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.