JP2002211443A - Bumper for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bumper for vehicle capable of being prevented from moving close to a hood latch disposed at the rear of a front bumper. SOLUTION: An extension part 14 is formed at the rear end part of the front bumper 10 and extended to the open face side of a hood lock brace 30 of generally U-shape in cross section. The hood latch is held by the hood lock brace 30 and the extension part 14, and the extension part 14 of the front bumper 10 is formed thinner than the wall thickness on the front bumper side. Thus, it becomes difficult to open the front hood 50 by operating a hood latch cable 21 from a position close to a front bumper opening 11 to operate the hood latch 20. When a load acts on the front bumper from the front of a vehicle, the extension part 14 of the front bumper 10 positioned at the hood latch side is easily deformed to prevent the hood lock brace 30 from being damaged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle bumper, and more particularly to a vehicle bumper disposed in front of a hood lock mechanism for locking a front hood of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, as a conventional vehicle bumper,
As shown in FIG. 1, a relatively large front bumper opening 11 may be formed between the front bumper 10 and the front grille 40 to introduce engine cooling air. As shown in FIG. 2, a hood lock mechanism that locks and holds the front hood 50 in a closed state is disposed on the engine side of the front bumper opening 11 for introducing the engine cooling air of the conventional front bumper 10. . Hood latch 20 constituting a food lock mechanism
Is mounted via a bolt 25 in front of a hood lock brace 30 attached between a front cross member upper 32 and a front cross member lower (not shown) constituting a front portion of the vehicle body.

[0003]

However, in the conventional vehicle bumper, a large front bumper opening 11 for introducing the engine cooling air is formed above the front bumper 10, so that the hood latch 20 is inserted through the front bumper opening 11. Hood latch cable 2 connected to the primary latch (not shown)
1 is operated by some method to rotate a primary latch rotatably held by a latch support portion (not shown) in the hood latch 20 and fix the primary latch to the hood inner 51 of the front hood 50. Disengagement with the striker 52, and then rotate the secondary latch 22 rotatably held on the front surface of the latch support to release the engagement between the secondary latch 22 and the striker 52. Therefore, there is a possibility that the front hood 50 may be opened without permission.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle bumper capable of preventing access to a hood latch disposed behind a front bumper. .

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle bumper having a front hood locking mechanism disposed behind a front bumper. A hood lock brace having a substantially U-shaped cross section with an open side and a hood latch installed on the open side of the hood lock brace,
Further, an extension is formed at a part of the rear end of the front bumper, and the extension is extended to the open surface side of the hood lock brace, and a hood latch is formed by the hood lock brace and the extension. It is characterized by being wrapped around.
With this configuration, the hood latch is surrounded by the extended portion of the hood lock brace and the front bumper, so that the hood latch is operated by approaching the front bumper opening for introducing the engine cooling air and operating the hood latch cable. Activate to prevent opening the front hood.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle bumper according to the first aspect, the extending portion is formed so as to surround at least both sides and a bottom of the hood latch. With this configuration,
Since the extension of the front bumper can surround the hood latch so as to surround the hood latch, the operation of the hood latch cable for operating the hood latch is prevented.

[0007] The invention described in claim 3 is claim 1 or 2.
In the vehicle bumper described above, the extending portion is formed such that a thickness on the hood latch side is smaller than a thickness on the front bumper side. With this configuration, the operation of the hood latch is prevented, and the extended portion on the hood latch side is easily deformed. Therefore, when a load is applied from the front of the vehicle, the extended portion on the hood latch side can be easily formed. Deforms to prevent vehicle damage.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle bumper according to any one of the first to third aspects, the extended portion has a weak portion formed at a portion facing the hood lock brace. And With this configuration, the operation of the hood latch is prevented, and the fragile portion formed in the extension portion is easily deformed. Therefore, when a load is applied from the front of the vehicle, the extension portion on the hood latch side is easily formed. To prevent damage to the car body.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle bumper according to the fourth aspect, the weak portion is a notch. With this configuration, the operation of the hood latch is prevented, and the notch portion is formed in the extension portion, so that the extension portion is more easily deformed,
When a load is applied from the front of the vehicle, the extension on the hood latch side is easily deformed to prevent damage to the vehicle body.

[0010] The vehicle bumper according to the present invention is basically constructed as described above, but the extended portion is integrated with a front grill disposed on the front of the front bumper or a cover disposed on the rear surface of the front grill. The extension may be formed to extend to near the front surface of the hood lock brace so as to surround the hood latch. In this case, since the front grill or the cover is a small component as compared with the front bumper which is a large component, it is easy to form the extension.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a front surface of an automobile equipped with a vehicle bumper according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1
As shown in FIG. 1, a relatively large front bumper opening 11 is formed in the upper half of the front bumper 10 between the front hood 50 and the left and right headlights 60 to introduce engine cooling air. The upper half of the opening 11 is covered with a front grille 40 arranged below the front hood 50, and the lower half of the front bumper opening 11 is provided with a cover 43 having ribs 44.
Are arranged. The cover 43 covers the opening end of the front bumper opening 11 to improve the appearance of the front of the vehicle. Also, below the front bumper 10,
A lower opening 12 serving as a main opening for introducing engine cooling air is formed substantially at the center thereof, and openings for disposing fog lamps 61 are formed on both sides. Thus, the required openings are integrally formed in the front bumper 10, and constitute the front design surface of the automobile. Reference numeral 62 denotes a front windshield glass.

As shown in FIG. 2, a front grille 40 and a cover 43 are provided in the front bumper opening 11 together with screws 45 together with the front bumper 10 via positioning pins 41 and bosses 42 formed on the back surface of the front grille 40.
Are joined by Here, the positioning pins 41 formed on the front grille 40 are inserted into the positioning pin insertion holes 16 of the front bumper 10, and the bosses 42 formed on the front grille 40 are inserted into the front bumper 10.
A screw 45 is screwed through the screw insertion hole 17 of FIG. Further, a bumper reinforcing flange 18 is integrally formed at an opening end of the front bumper opening 11, and the bumper reinforcing flange 18 is covered with a cover 43 sandwiched between the front bumper 10 and the front grill 40.

As shown in FIG. 2, an engine side of a front bumper opening 11 of the front bumper 10 is
A hood lock mechanism that locks and holds the front hood 50 in a closed state (the hood latch 20, the striker 52
Etc.) are arranged. A hood latch 20 constituting a hood lock mechanism is mounted via a bolt 25 in front of a hood lock brace 30,
The hood lock brace 30 is attached between a front cross member upper 32 and a front cross member lower (not shown) which are front body components, and has flange portions 31 formed on both sides thereof to form a vehicle front side. Is formed in a substantially U-shaped section. As shown in FIG. 2, the flange portion 31 of the hood lock brace 30 has a wide area at least below the connecting portion of the hood latch cable 21.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the hood latch 20 is provided with a hood inner 5 of a front hood 50.
A primary latch (not shown) engaged with the striker 52 fixed to 1 and a secondary latch 22 are mounted on the shaft. Here, the primary latch is a spring (not shown), and the secondary latch 22 is a spring 24.
Each is urged in a direction to engage with the striker 52. A hood latch cable 21 is connected to the primary latch, and an operation lever 23 is attached to the secondary latch 22.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the front bumper 10 is formed with a bulging portion 13 projecting forward of the vehicle body, and the bulging portion 13 is attached to a hood lock brace 30. Are arranged so as to surround both sides and the bottom. In other words, the bulging portion 13
Is formed so as to surround at least three sides of the hood latch 20 in cooperation with the flange portions 31 located on both sides of the hood lock brace 30 in a state where the hood latch brace 30 is opposed to the hood lock brace 30. Further, the lower surface of the bulging portion 13 is integrally extended to the rear, that is, to the engine room side, and forms an extending portion 14 that covers the bottom of the hood latch 20. The extended portion 14 has a predetermined gap between the rear end of the extended portion 14 and the front portion of the hood lock brace 30 when the front bumper 10 is mounted (when a predetermined load is applied from the front of the vehicle body). The extension 14
Of the hood lock brace 30).

The extended portion 14 is formed to be thinner than the thickness of the lower surface of the bulging portion 13, and a predetermined load is applied from the front of the vehicle body so that the rear end of the thin extended portion 14 is formed. When the hood lock brace 30 comes into contact with the hood lock brace 30, the rear end of the extending portion 14 is easily deformed, so that the hood lock brace 30, which is a vehicle body component, is not damaged. Further, a notch 15 in the vehicle front-rear direction that functions as a fragile portion is formed between the lower surface of the bulging portion 13 and both side portions of the bulging portion 13 to promote the deformation of the extending portion 14. In this embodiment, the cutouts 15 are formed on both sides of the bulging portion 13,
More than two notches can be formed at appropriate portions of the bulging portion or the extending portion.

The vehicle bumper according to the embodiment of the present invention has an extension 1 at a part of the rear end of the front bumper 10.
4, the extending portion 14 is extended to the open surface side of the hood lock brace 30 having a substantially U-shaped cross section with the front side of the vehicle opened, and the hood lock brace 30 and the extending portion 14 are formed.
Is configured to wrap the hood latch 20. The extension portion 14 of the front bumper 10 is formed such that the thickness on the hood latch side, that is, the rear end side is thinner than the thickness on the front bumper side. Accordingly, it is not possible to open the front hood 50 by approaching the front bumper opening 11 for introducing the engine cooling air and operating the hood latch cable 21 in some way to operate the hood latch 20, that is, the primary latch and the secondary latch 22. It will be difficult. Further, when a load is applied from the front of the vehicle, the extension portion 14 located on the hood latch side of the front bumper 10 is easily deformed to prevent the vehicle body constituent member, that is, the hood lock brace 30 from being damaged.

[0018]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the hood latch can be wrapped around the hood lock brace and the extended portion of the front bumper, the engine cooling air is introduced. Since the hood latch cable cannot be operated by approaching the hood latch from the opening of the front bumper, the opening of the front hood by operating the hood latch can be prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the hood latch can be actuated because the extended portion of the front bumper can surround the hood latch. Operation of the latch cable can be prevented.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect, unauthorized opening of the front hood due to unauthorized operation of the hood latch can be prevented, and the hood latch side can be prevented from being opened. Since the extended portion is easily deformed, when a load is applied from the front of the vehicle, the extended portion on the hood latch side is easily deformed, and damage to the vehicle body can be reliably prevented.

According to the invention described in claim 4, claims 1 to 1 are provided.
3. In addition to the effects of the invention described in any one of 3 above, it is possible to prevent unauthorized opening of the front hood due to unauthorized operation of the hood latch and to easily deform the fragile portion formed in the extension of the front bumper. When a load is applied from the front, the fragile portion of the extension portion is easily deformed, and damage to the vehicle body can be prevented.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the fourth aspect of the invention, it is possible to prevent unauthorized opening of the front hood due to unauthorized operation of the hood latch, and to prevent the front hood from being extended to the extended portion. By forming the notch portion, the extension portion is more easily deformed, and when a load is applied from the front of the vehicle, the extension portion on the hood latch side can be easily deformed to prevent damage to the vehicle body. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front surface of an automobile employing a bumper structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which an extension of the front bumper according to the embodiment of the present invention is disposed so as to surround a hood latch of a hood lock brace.

FIG. 4 is a view in the X direction of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a hood latch is provided on the hood lock brace according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Front bumper 11 Front bumper opening 13 Swelling part 14 Extension part 15 Notch part 16 Positioning pin insertion hole 17 Screw insertion hole 18 Bumper reinforcement flange 20 Hood latch 21 Hood latch cable 22 Secondary latch 23 Operation lever 24 Spring 25 Bolt 30 Hood lock Brace 31 Flange 32 Front cross member 40 Front grille 41 Positioning pin 42 Boss 43 Cover 44 Rib 45 Screw 50 Front hood 51 Hood inner 52 Striker

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle bumper having a front hood lock mechanism disposed behind a front bumper, wherein the lock mechanism comprises a hood lock brace having a substantially U-shaped cross section and a release of the hood lock brace. And a hood latch installed on the surface side, and an extended portion is formed at a part of the rear end of the front bumper, and the extended portion is extended to the open surface side of the hood lock brace,
A vehicle bumper, wherein a hood latch is wrapped around the hood lock brace and the extension. 2. The vehicle bumper according to claim 1, wherein the extension portion is formed so as to surround at least both side portions and a bottom portion of the hood latch. 3. The vehicle bumper according to claim 1, wherein the extension portion has a thickness on the hood latch side smaller than a thickness on the front bumper side. 4. The vehicle bumper according to claim 1, wherein the extension portion has a fragile portion formed at a portion facing the hood lock brace. 5. The vehicle bumper according to claim 4, wherein the fragile portion is a notch.