GB2344085A

GB2344085A - Attachment structure between a vehicle bumper and grille

Info

Publication number: GB2344085A
Application number: GB9927858A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yasuaki Matsushima
Original assignee: Suzuki Motor Corp
Current assignee: Suzuki Motor Corp
Priority date: 1998-11-30
Filing date: 1999-11-26
Publication date: 2000-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-26
Also published as: GB2344085B; GB9927858D0; JP2000159038A

Abstract

An attachment structure for connecting a bumper 2 and a grille 1 on a vehicle body comprises either one of said bumper or grille having an inserting projection 13 and the other having an insertion opening 24, said bumper and grille having first (27, Fig 5) and second 16 abutment means respectively. Said attachment structure further comprises means (15 and 26, Fig 5) for releasably locking together said inserting projection and said insertion opening. With the inserting projection inserted into said insertion opening in a longitudinal direction R of the vehicle body, such that the two are locked together and said first and second abutment means abut, the inserting projection and the insertion opening position the body parts in a vertical direction, while the abutments position the body parts in a longitudinal direction.

Description

Attachment Structure for Bumper and Grill The present invention relates to an attachment structure for installing a bumper and a radiator grille on the body of a motor vehicle such as an automobile or the like.

One conventional attachment structure for a front bumper and a radiator grille will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1,7, and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a radiator grille 1 is fixed to a vehicle body (not shown) by clips 31 inserted through holes 12 defined in the radiator grille 1, and a front bumper 2 is fixed to the vehicle body by screws 32 through holes 22 defined in the front bumper 2. As shown in FIG. 7, the radiator grille, denoted by 101, and the front bumper, denoted by 102, are coupled to each other by a pin 103 mounted on a lower portion of the radiator grille 101 and inserted in a hole 104 defined in the front bumper 102.

If a structural body such as a bumper member is housed in the front bumper 102, then the bumper member is secured to an upper surface of the front bumper 102 to position the upper surface of the front bumper 102 in the vertical direction.

However, if such a structural body for vertically supporting the front bumper 102 is not present within the front bumper 102, then when the front bumper 102 is deformed in the direction indicated by the arrow D in FIG. 8, the gap 8 between the front bumper 102 and the radiator grille 101 cannot be kept constant.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an attachment structure for installing a radiator grille and a front bumper on the body of a motor vehicle such that a constant gap will be maintained between the radiator grille and the front bumper.

To achieve the above object, an attachment structure for installing a bumper and a grille on a vehicle body, comprising a bumper and grille, either one of said bumper or said grille having an inserting projection and the other of said bumper or said grille having an insertion opening, said bumper having first abutment means and said grille having second abutment means, and further comprising means for releasably locking together said inserting projection and said insertion opening, wherein when said inserting projection is inserted into said insertion opening in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body such that said inserting projection is locked in said insertion opening and said first abutment means and said second abutment means abut against each other, said inserting projection and said insertion opening position said bumper and said grille in a vertical direction of the vehicle body and said first and second abutments position said bumper and said grille in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

Specifically, the inserting projection may be mounted on the bumper, and the insertion opening may be defined in the grille, or the insertion opening may be defined in the bumper, and the inserting projection may be mounted on the grille.

In each case, the locking means may comprise a projection on the inserting projection and a hole in the insertion opening, or the inserting projection may have a hole and the insertion opening may have a projection. The projection may be substantially triangular in cross-sectional shape.

The attachment structure employs a tongue structure for positioning the bumper and the grille in the longitudinal and vertical directions of the vehicle body. The tongue structure allows the grille to exert lifting forces on the bumper.

When the bumper tends to be deformed downwardly, the grille applies forces in the opposite direction, i. e., upwardly, deforming the bumper upwardly. Therefore, the gap between the grille and the bumper in the vertical direction of the vehicle body can be kept constant.

When the inserting projection is inserted into the insertion opening, the first and second abutment means abut against each other thereby positioning the grille and the bumper in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The first and second abutment means are effective in preventing the grille and the bumper from being poorly assembled together due to the inserting projection being excessively inserted into the insertion opening. The grille and the bumper can easily be installed on the vehicle body, and provide a neat appearance. Even when an impact is applied from the front of the vehicle body, since the impact is borne by the bumper and the grille together, the bumper and the grille are prevented from being dislodged from the vehicle body or damaged.

The tongue structure is preferably elastic in nature for allowing the bumper and the grille to disengage easily from each other. Therefore, the bumper and the grille are detachably assembled with each other.

Each of the first and second abutment means may comprise at least one abutment, and one of the first and second abutments preferably comprises a pair of abutments disposed one on each side of the proximal end of the inserting projection.

The inserting projection should preferably have a slanted surface on its distal end for allowing the inserting projection to be easily inserted into the insertion opening, so that the bumper and the grille can be assembled together highly efficiently.

The bumper and the grille can be moulded by a relatively simple molding die assemblies.

When the first and second abutment means abut against each other, the inserting projection should preferably have a distal end positioned in the insertion opening. With this arrangement, the inserting projection can easily disengage from the insertion opening, so that the bumper and the grille can easily be detached from each other.

The bumper and the grille should preferably be made of synthetic resins. Since the bumper and the grille can be fastened to each other without the use of screws, the bumper and the grille can be assembled together in a reduced number of assembling steps at a reduced cost.

The synthetic resins may be ABS (acrylonitrilebutadiene-styrene) which is hard and less deformable, and PP (polypropylene) which is soft and more deformable. Other synthetic resins which are in general use may also be selected. If the bumper has the insertion opening and the grille has the inserting projection, then the bumper should preferably be made of PP and the grille should preferably be made of ABS.

An optimum arrangement of the attachment structure for installing the bumper and the grille on the vehicle body is as follows: when the inserting projection of mounted on the grille of ABS and having the slanted surface on its distal end is inserted, from the front of the vehicle body, into the insertion opening in the bumper of PP, the convex portion or convexity of the triangular cross-sectional shape in the insertion opening is fitted in the hole in the inserting projection to lock the inserting projection in the insertion opening, and the first abutment on the bumper and the second abutment on the grille near the inserting projection abut against each other with the distal end of the inserting projection being positioned in the insertion opening, so that the inserting projection and the insertion opening position the bumper and the grille in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, and the first and second abutments position the bumper and the grille in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

When the inserting projection is inserted into the insertion opening in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, the convex portion or convexity on one of the inserting projection and the insertion opening is fitted in the hole in the other of the inserting projection and the insertion opening to lock the inserting projection in the insertion opening, and the first abutment on the bumper and the second abutment on the grille abut against each other, so that the inserting projection and the insertion opening position the bumper and the grille in a vertical direction of the vehicle body, and the first and second abutments position the bumper and the grille in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Therefore, the gap between the bumper and the grille can be kept constant. The bumper and the grille can efficiently be installed on the vehicle body, provide a neat appearance, and are high resistant to impacts.

If the inserting projection has a slanted surface on a distal end thereof, then the bumper and the grille can be assembled together more efficiently.

If the inserting projection has a distal end positioned in the insertion opening when the first abutment and the second abutment abut against each other, then the bumper and the grille can easily be detached from each other.

If the bumper and the grille are made of synthetic resins, then the number of steps and the cost of assembling the bumper and the grille together can be reduced.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a front bumper and a radiator grille which are to be installed by an attachment structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view of an encircled portion A of the attachment structure shown in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view, as viewed from behind, of the encircled portion A shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 2; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a molding die assembly for molding the front bumper shown in FIG. 4; FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view of an encircled portion A, shown in FIG. 1, of a conventional attachment structure ; and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.

An attachment structure for mounting a bumper and a grille on the body of a motor vehicle such as an automobile or the like according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a radiator grille 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, the radiator grille 1 is substantially horizontally symmetrical in shape and has two horizontally spaced flanges 11 on its upper edge. Each of the flanges 11 has a pair of attachment holes 12 defined therein at a horizontally spaced interval, so that a total of four attachment holes 12 are defined in the two flanges 11.

As shown in FIGS. 1,2, and 3, the radiator grille 1 also has four horizontally spaced teeth (inserting projections) 13 mounted on a lower edge thereof and having substantially the same shape as each other. When the radiator grille 1 is installed on the vehicle body, the teeth 13 project backward, i. e., in the direction indicated by the arrow R in FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIG.

4, each of the teeth 13 has a distal end 13a including an upper surface (when installed on the vehicle body) that is tapered into a linear slanted surface 14 which is inclined downwardly project backward, i. e., in the direction indicated by the arrow R in FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the teeth 13 has a rectangular vertical through hole 15 defined substantially centrally therein. The rectangular vertical through hole 15 is narrow and elongate in the transverse direction of the vehicle body, i. e., in the direction indicated by the arrow W, when the radiator grille 1 is installed on the vehicle body.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, each of the teeth 13 is flanked by a pair of shoulders (second abutments) 16 at its proximal end thereof. The shoulders 16 project from the radiator grille 1 by a distance which is much smaller than the distance by which the teeth 13 project.

A front bumper 2 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front bumper 2 is substantially horizontally symmetrical in shape and has four horizontally spaced flanges 21 on its upper outer edge. Each of the flanges 21 has an attachment hole 22 defined therein, so that a total of four attachment holes 22 are defined in the four flanges 21.

As shown in FIGS. 2, and 3, the front bumper 2 has four horizontally spaced gates (insertion openings) 23 mounted on a central upper inner edge thereof and having substantially the same shape as each other. The gates 23 are positionally aligned with the respective teeth 13 on the radiator grille 1. The gates 23 have respective openings 24 defined therein for receiving the respective teeth 13 therein. The openings 24 are shaped and dimensioned such that the teeth 13 can be inserted respectively through the openings 24. The dimension of the openings 24 in the transverse direction indicated by the arrow W may be larger than the corresponding dimension of the teeth 13 on the radiator grille 1, because the radiator grille 1 and the front bumper 2 would not be poorly assembled together in the absence of high dimensional accuracy.

As shown in FIG. 4, each of the gates 23 has a tongue 25 extending backward from the opening 24, i. e., in the direction indicated by the arrow R, when the front bumper 2 is installed on the vehicle body. The tongue 25 has a retainer (convexity) 26 projecting downwardly from a lower surface thereof. The retainer 26 has a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape and includes two linear slanted surfaces 26a, 26b.

Preferably, the slanted surface 26a is inclined downwardly to the horizontal plane by an angle of 60 and the slanted surface 26b is inclined downwardly to the horizontal plane by an angle of 45 for allowing the radiator grille 1 to be easily detached from the front bumper 2. The retainer 26 is of such dimensions that it can be fitted in the rectangular vertical through hole 15 in the radiator grille 1. When the retainers 26 are fitted respectively in the rectangular vertical through holes 15, the radiator grille 1 and the front bumper 2 are locked together.

The gates 23 are positioned in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body such that when the radiator grille 1 (the holes 15) and the front bumper 2 (the retainer 26) are locked together as shown in FIG. 4, front surfaces (first abutments) 27 of the respective gates 23 abut against the shoulders 16 (second abutments) 16, as shown in FIG. 5. Therefore, the teeth 13 are prevented from being excessively inserted into the corresponding openings 24, and hence the radiator grille 1 and the front bumper 2 are prevented from being poorly assembled together.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front bumper 2 has extensions 28 projecting backward from the gates 23, i. e., in the direction indicated by the arrow R, in vertically spaced relation from the tongues 25.

A process of installing the radiator grille 1 and the front bumper 2 on the vehicle body (not shown) will be described below with reference to FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front bumper 2 is fastened to the vehicle body by screws 32, and head lamps (not shown) are mounted on the vehicle body by screws (not shown). Thereafter, as shown in FIGS.

2,3, and 4, the teeth 13 of the radiator grille 1 are inserted respectively into the gates 23 of the front bumper 2, and the radiator grille 1 is fixed to the vehicle body by clips 31. The retainers 26 are fitted respectively in the rectangular vertical through holes 15 (see FIG. 4), and the shoulders 16 abut against the front surfaces 27 of the gates 23 (see FIG. 5). The radiator grille 1 is thus positioned with respect to the front bumper 2 in the vertical and longitudinal directions of the vehicle body. Therefore, the radiator grille 1 and the front bumper 2 can efficiently be installed on the vehicle body. Since the radiator grille 1 and the front bumper 2 are automatically positioned vertically relatively to each other when installed on the vehicle body, a constant gap 8 is maintained between the radiator grille 1 and the front bumper 2, giving a neat appearance to the radiator grille 1 and the front bumper 2.

The radiator grille 1 and the front bumper 2 are made of synthetic resins. Specifically, the radiator grille 1 is moulded of ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) which is hard and less deformable, and the front bumper 2 is moulded of PP (polypropylene) which is soft and more deformable. Therefore, the tongues 25 of the gates 23 are deformable relatively easily, allowing the retainers 26 of the front bumper 2 to be disengageable from the rectangular vertical through holes 15 in the radiator grille 1. Thus, the radiator grille 1 does not remain permanently fixed to the front bumper 2, but can easily be detached from the front bumper 2 by displacing the tongues 25 upwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4. Furthermore, when the radiator grille 1 and the front bumper 2 are assembled together, the tongues 25 have their rear ends 25a positioned behind the tip ends 13a of the teeth 13 in the direction indicated by the arrow R in FIG. 4, permitting the radiator grille 1 to be easily removed from the front bumper 2 by displacing the tongues 25 upwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 6, each of the gates 23 of the front bumper 2 can be moulded to shape by a molding die assembly including a cavity 33 and a core 34, rather than a complex die structure such as a slide. Thus, the front bumper 2 can be manufactured relatively inexpensively without involving an increase in the manufacturing cost.

In the illustrated embodiment, the retainers 26 are fitted in the rectangular vertical through holes 15, respectively. However, the retainers 26 may be fitted in recesses defined in the respective teeth 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the teeth 13 are mounted on the radiator grille 1, and the gates 23 are mounted on the front bumper 2. However, the gates 23 may be mounted on the radiator grille 1, and the teeth 13 may be mounted on the front bumper 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the radiator grille 1 has the rectangular vertical through holes 15, and the front bumper 2 has the retainers 26. However, the radiator grille 1 may have the retainers 26, and the front bumper 2 may have the rectangular vertical through holes 15.

Claims

Claims 1. An attachment structure for installing a bumper and a grille on a vehicle body, comprising a bumper and a grille, either one of said bumper or said grille having an inserting projection and the other of said bumper or said grille having an insertion opening, said bumper having first abutment means and said grille having second abutment means, and further comprising means for releasably locking together said inserting projection and said insertion opening, wherein when said inserting projection is inserted into said insertion opening in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, such that said inserting projection is locked in said insertion opening and said first abutment means and said second abutment means abut against each other, said inserting projection and said insertion opening position said bumper and said grille in a vertical direction of the vehicle body, and said first and second abutments position said bumper and said grille in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.
2. An attachment structure according to claim 1 wherein the locking means comprises a projection on either one of said inserting projections or said insertion opening and a hole in the other of said inserting projection or said insertion opening.
3. An attachment structure according to claim 2 wherein said projection on said inserting projection or said insertion opening is substantially triangular in cross-sectional shape.
4. An attachment structure according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first abutment means comprising at least one first abutment and the second abutment means comprises at least one second abutment.
5. An attachment structure according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein said inserting projection has a slanted surface on a distal end thereof.
6. An attachment structure according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein said inserting projection has a distal end positioned in said insertion opening.
7. An attachment structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said bumper and said grille are made of synthetic resins.
8. An attachment structure for installing a bumper and a grille on a vehicle body substantially as herein described with reference to figures 1 to 6 of the drawings.