JP2003182482A - Bumper cap fitting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bumper cap fitting structure capable of effectively preventing detachment of a bumper cap from a bumper by adding a fixing structure by a tightening member to a fixing structure by an engagement claw and an engagement hole. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of upper engagement claws 16a-16c provided on an upper part of the bumper cap 3, side engagement claws 17a and 17b provided on right and left sides of the bumper cap 3, and a lower end claw 19 provided on an inner part in the vehicle width direction below the bumper cap 3 are inserted in engagement holes 7a-7c, 11a and 11b, and 13 formed in the bumper (for example, a front bumper) 2 respectively, and fixed to the bumper 2, and an outer part in the vehicle width direction below the bumper cap 3 is fixed to the bumper 2 by a tightening member (for example, a clip 30). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bumper cap mounting structure for mounting a bumper cap on a lower portion of a bumper of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vehicle in which a lower end portion of a bumper is low and a tow hook or the like is hidden by the bumper, a bumper cap is attached to a lower end portion of the bumper corresponding to the tow hook or the like. Then, for example, when the tow hook is used, the above-mentioned bumper cap is removed from the bumper, and the tow rope is hung on the tow hook through the opening covered by the bumper cap.

FIG. 12 shows a conventional bumper cap 50. Conventionally, as shown in the figure, for example, four engaging claws 51 are provided on the bumper cap main body 50a, and these engaging claws 51 are click-engaged with the engaging holes provided in the bumper 52 (see FIG. 13). The cap 50 is attached to the bumper 52. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 53 denotes an insert piece provided on the bumper cap body 50a, and an insert hole (not shown) provided on the bumper when the insert piece 53 is attached to the bumper cap body 50a. The bumper cap 50 is positioned with respect to the bumper 52 by inserting into the bumper 52.

[0004]

However, in the conventional bumper cap mounting structure as described above, the mounting of the bumper cap 50 to the bumper 52 is performed by the engagement claw 51 of the bumper cap 50 and the engagement hole of the bumper 52. Since it is done only by the combined structure, there are the following problems. That is, in a vehicle with a lower bumper lower end, the approach angle θ (the minimum angle formed by the tangent plane from the front lower end 55 of the vehicle 54 to the front tire outer circumference 56 with the ground 57 as shown in FIG. 13) is small. Therefore, it is easy to rub the lower end portion of the bumper 52 with a curb, and the rubbing force at that time causes the bumper cap 5 to rub.
0 may come off the bumper 52. Also,
Even if the bumper cap 50 does not come off from the bumper 52, the main body portion 52a of the bumper 52 is likely to be deformed, so that the mounting structure (fixed structure) using only the engaging claws 51 impairs the overall appearance of the bumper 52. It is the actual situation.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and its purpose is to add a fixing structure by a fastening member in addition to a fixing structure by an engaging claw and an engaging hole. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bumper cap mounting structure having a structure capable of effectively preventing the bumper cap from falling off from the bumper.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, a plurality of upper engaging claws provided on the upper portion of the bumper cap and sides provided on both left and right side portions of the bumper cap. The part engaging claws and the lower engaging claws provided on the lower part of the bumper cap on the inner side in the vehicle width direction are respectively inserted into the engaging holes formed in the bumper to be fixed to the bumper, and An outer portion of the cap in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the bumper by a fastening member. Further, in the present invention, at a position where the fastening member fixes the bumper cap to the bumper, an insertion hole is provided in the bumper, an insertion piece is provided in the bumper cap, and the insertion hole of the bumper is provided with the insertion hole. With the insertion piece of the bumper cap inserted, the fastening member is attached to a portion of the insertion piece that protrudes to the back surface side of the bumper so that the bumper cap can be attached to the bumper. ing. Further, in the present invention, the lowermost end of the fastening member is installed at a position higher than the lowermost end of the lower wall surface of the bumper. Further, in the present invention, a clip is used as the fastening member, and the top of the head of the clip arranged at the lower position is installed at a position higher than the lowermost end of the lower wall surface of the bumper. . Further, in the present invention, a part of the fastening member is brought into contact with the back side surface of the lower wall portion of the bumper. In the present invention, a clip is used as the fastening member,
The outer peripheral portion of the umbrella-shaped portion of the clip is brought into contact with the back side surface of the lower wall portion of the bumper. Further, in the present invention, the bumper is provided with a rib, and the upper end portion of the bumper cap is inserted and arranged in a groove portion formed between the main body portion of the bumper and the rib. Further, in the present invention, a horizontal mounting piece is provided on the back side surface of the bumper and at an upper portion or a lower portion of the insertion hole of the bumper,
The insertion piece of the bumper cap is superposed on the mounting piece portion, and the fastening member is mounted on the superposed portion to be fastened together.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a front portion of an automobile 1 having a bumper cap mounting structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a bumper cap 3 is attached to a lower edge portion of a front bumper 2 (for example, made of synthetic resin) arranged in a front portion of the automobile 1 at a position on the left side in the vehicle width direction. There is. The bumper cap 3 is attached to the front bumper 2 so as to cover substantially downwardly-opened substantially rectangular openings 4 (see FIG. 2) formed on the left edge of the lower edge of the front bumper 2. Under the condition that the cap 3 is attached, the front bumper 2 and the bumper cap 3 together constitute a front bumper assembly having a unified design as a whole. In FIG. 1, 5a is a front hood, 5b is a front fender, and 5c is a pair of left and right headlamps.

Although not shown in the drawings, a tow hook is disposed at the opening 4 of the front bumper 2 and further at a vehicle body position corresponding to the mounting position of the bumper cap 3, and normally, the tow hook is the tow hook. Is covered by the front bumper 2 so that it cannot be seen from the front side. When the tow hook is used, the bumper cap 3 is removed from the front bumper 2, and the tow rope is hung on the tow hook through the opening 4 of the front bumper 2.

The mounting structure of the bumper cap 3 on the front bumper 2 will be described in detail below.

First, the structure of the front bumper 2 will be described. At the upper edge portion 6 of the opening 4 of the front bumper 2,
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the upper engagement holes 7 are provided at both left and right ends.
a and 7b are provided and these upper engaging holes 7 are provided.
An upper engaging hole 7c is provided in the middle of a and 7b.
Further, on the upper edge portion 6, ribs 8a, 8b are provided at positions between the upper engaging holes 7a and 7c and between the upper engaging holes 7c and 7b. Are provided respectively, and as shown in FIG. 10, these ribs 8a, 8
A groove portion (insertion groove) 10 having a substantially U-shaped cross section is formed between the horizontal portion H of b and the main body portion 2a of the front bumper 2. Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, one side engaging hole 1 is provided at each of the left and right portions of the opening 4 of the front bumper 2.
1a and 11b are provided. Also, the wall portions 12a, 1 provided on both left and right sides of the opening 4 of the front bumper 2
The lower engagement hole 13 and the insertion hole 14 are provided in 2b. The lower engagement hole 13 and the insertion hole 14 communicate with each other, for example, by connecting a rectangular hole portion that extends horizontally in the longitudinal direction and a rectangular hole portion formed at the upper center of the hole portion to each other. It has a hat-shaped hole.

On the other hand, the bumper cap 3 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin integrally-molded part, and as shown in FIGS. Shaped bumper cap body 3
a. And this bumper cap body 3a
2 is formed so as to extend substantially horizontally along the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) as indicated by the diagonal line S in FIG. The engaging claws 16a and 16b are provided, and one upper engaging claw 16c is provided between the pair of upper engaging claws 16a and 16b. In addition, these engaging claws 16
a to 16c are formed so as to project to the back surface side of the bumper cap body 3a, and the front bumper 2 described above is also formed.
Are arranged so as to correspond to the engaging holes 7a to 7c, respectively. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, side engaging claws 17a and 17b are provided on the upper side of both sides of the bumper cap body 3a, respectively. The side engaging claws 17a and 17b are formed so as to project to the back surface side of the bumper cap body 3a and correspond to the engaging holes 11a and 11b of the front bumper 2 described above, respectively. It is arranged.

The lower end edge of the bumper cap body 3a is provided with insertion pieces 18 and lower engaging claws 19 projecting to the back side of the bumper cap body 3a at both left and right sides thereof. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the insertion piece 18 arranged at a position on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the lower end portion of the bumper cap 3 has a pair of uprights integrally formed on the lower end edge portion of the bumper cap body 3a. A rectangular board portion 21 is formed so that its front end portion is connected between the pieces 20a and 20b and extends horizontally toward the rear of the vehicle body, and a rectangular piece integrally formed at a central portion of the board portion 21 in the width direction. And a projecting portion 22 of Then, both corners on the rear end side of the base plate portion 21 are cut away to form a tapered surface 23 for insertion guide.
a and 23b (see FIG. 7), and the insertion piece 18a
One clip insertion hole 24 is formed at a substantially central portion of the above so as to penetrate the board portion 21 and the protruding portion 22 in the vertical direction.

The bumper cap 3 having such a structure is attached to the front bumper 2 by the following attaching procedure. First, the upper engaging claws 16 a to 16 of the bumper cap 3
c to the upper engagement holes 7a to 7c of the front bumper 2, the side engagement claws 17a and 17b of the bumper cap 3 to the side engagement holes 11a and 11b of the front bumper 2, and the lower engagement of the bumper cap 3. The claws 19 are respectively inserted into the lower engagement holes 13 of the front bumper 2 and the bumper cap 3
8 is inserted into the insertion hole 14 of the front bumper 2, and at this time, the upper end portion 15 of the bumper cap body 3a is inserted into the front bumper 2 as shown in FIG.
It is inserted and arranged in the groove portion 10. Accordingly, the bumper cap 3 has the engaging claws 16a to 16c, 17a, 17
b and 19 and the engagement holes 7a to 7c, 11a, 11
It is fixed to the front bumper 2 by the engaging action with b and 14. Then, the insertion piece 18 inserted into the insertion hole 14 of the front bumper 2 is arranged so as to project to the lower wall portion 26 of the front bumper 2 on the back surface side of the front bumper 2,
The clip insertion hole 24 of the insertion piece 18 is arranged on the back surface side of the front bumper 2.

After that, the clip 30 is inserted into the clip insertion hole 24 of the insertion piece 18 from below to be engaged (see FIGS. 8 and 9). At this time, as clearly shown in FIG. 9, a top portion α of the head portion 31 of the clip 30 is slightly higher than a lowermost end portion β of the lower wall surface 32 of the front bumper 2 (a position higher by a distance L as shown in FIG. 9). ), And the outer peripheral portion γ of the umbrella-shaped portion 33 of the clip 30 is set in contact with the back side surface 26a of the lower wall portion 26 of the front bumper 2. Along with this, the bumper cap 3
In addition to the fixing by the engaging action of the engaging claw and the engaging hole as described above, the clip 30 as the fastening member is provided.
Is fixed by.

According to such a bumper cap mounting structure, in addition to the fixing of the bumper cap 3 by the engaging claw and the engaging hole, the insertion piece 18 and thus the bumper cap 3 are fixed by the clip 30. Therefore, the fixing strength (holding strength) of the bumper cap 3 can be significantly improved. Therefore, for example, when the lower end of the front bumper 2 contacts a curb or the like, it is possible to effectively prevent the bumper cap 3 from falling off. Can be prevented. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the top portion α of the head portion 31 of the clip 30 (that is, the lowermost end portion of the clip 30 that is the fastening member) is arranged at a position higher than the lowermost end portion β of the lower wall surface 32 of the front bumper 2. Therefore, even if, for example, the lower end of the front bumper 2 comes into contact with a curb or the like, the clip 30 is not damaged, and therefore the bumper cap 3 can be prevented from falling off from the front bumper 2. Further, in the present embodiment, the outer peripheral portion γ of the umbrella-shaped portion 33 of the clip 30 is brought into contact with the back side surface 26a of the lower wall portion 26 of the front bumper 2. Therefore, when mounting the clip 30, the bumper cap is attached. 3 can be pulled into the rear surface side of the front bumper 2, whereby the parting width between the front bumper 2 and the bumper cap 3 can be made constant, and the appearance can be improved. Further, regarding the attachment of the upper end portion 15 of the bumper cap 3, the upper end portion 15 is attached to the ribs 8a, 8b and the main body portion 2a of the front bumper 2.
Since it is arranged to be inserted and arranged in the groove portion 10 formed between the upper end portion 15 and the groove portion 10 (see FIG. 10).
Since the position of the bumper cap 3 is restricted inside, it is possible to prevent the upper end portion 15 of the bumper cap 3 from hanging down and obtain a good appearance.

FIG. 11 shows a bumper cap mounting structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a horizontal mounting piece portion 41 having a clip insertion hole 40 is provided on the back side surface of the front bumper 2 and above the insertion hole 14 of the front bumper 2. Then, the insertion piece 18 of the bumper cap 3 is superposed on the lower surface side of the attachment piece portion 41, and the clip insertion hole 24 of the insertion piece 18 and the clip insertion hole 40 of the attachment piece portion 41 are illustrated in the overlapping portion M. An outer clip (fastening member) is attached (inserted) and fastened together. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment.

According to this structure, the same operational effect as in the case of the above-described first embodiment can be obtained, and the insertion piece 18 of the bumper cap 3 can be obtained by the effect of co-fastening.
It is possible to further improve the holding strength of the bumper cap 3 and to fix the bumper cap 3 to the front bumper 2 more firmly.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.
Various modifications and changes can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the number of engagement holes provided in the front bumper 2 and the number of engagement holes provided in the bumper cap 3 can be appropriately changed as necessary. Further, it is possible to use various fastening members such as bolts and nuts and speed nuts instead of the clip 30. Further, in the above-described second embodiment, the mounting piece portion 41 is provided at the upper portion of the insertion hole 14, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the mounting piece portion 41 is provided at the lower portion of the insertion hole 14. The mounting piece 41
The insert piece 18 may be superposed on the upper surface of the above and may be fastened together with a fastening member such as a clip. Further, the present invention is not limited to the structure in which the bumper cap 3 is attached to the lower portion of the front bumper 2 as in the above-described first and second embodiments, but is a structure for attaching the bumper cap to a rear bumper having a lower lower end. It goes without saying that it is also applicable to.

[0020]

According to the present invention, the plurality of upper engaging claws provided on the upper portion of the bumper cap, the side engaging claws provided on both right and left sides of the bumper cap, and the bumper cap. The lower engaging claws provided in the lower portion of the vehicle width direction inside are respectively inserted into the engaging holes formed in the bumper and fixed to the bumper, and the lower portion of the bumper cap in the vehicle width direction outside is fastened. Since the member is fixed to the bumper, not only the fixing by the engaging claw and the engaging hole but also the fixing by the fastening member is performed on the bumper cap. It is possible to improve the fixing strength (holding strength) of the cap and prevent the bumper cap from coming off from the bumper.

Further, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2, at the position where the bumper cap is fixed to the bumper by the fastening member, an insertion hole is provided in the bumper and an insertion piece is provided in the bumper cap to insert the bumper. With the insert piece of the bumper cap inserted in the hole, the bumper cap can be attached to the bumper by attaching the fastening member to the part of the insert piece that projects to the back side of the bumper. Therefore, even if the lower part of the bumper comes into contact with the curb or the like, it is possible to more reliably prevent the bumper cap from falling off.

Further, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 3, since the lowermost end portion of the fastening member is installed at a position higher than the lowermost end portion of the lower wall surface of the bumper, the fastening member is of the bumper. Since the lower end portion is guarded, it is possible to prevent the fastening member from being damaged and thus prevent the bumper cap from falling off.

Further, in the present invention as set forth in claim 4, a clip is used as a fastening member, and the top of the head of the clip arranged at the lower position is positioned higher than the lowermost end of the lower wall surface of the bumper. Since it is installed, the bumper cap can be attached with a clip that is easy to assemble and the clip can be guarded with the bumper to prevent damage and prevent the bumper cap from falling off. Can be achieved.

Further, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 5, a part of the fastening member is brought into contact with the back side surface of the lower wall portion of the bumper. It is possible to bring about the effect of pulling it to the back surface side of the, and by extension, the parting portion between the bumper and the bumper cap can be set to a predetermined width to improve the appearance.

Further, in the present invention according to claim 6, a clip is used as a fastening member, and the outer peripheral portion of the umbrella-shaped portion of the clip is brought into contact with the back side surface of the lower wall portion of the bumper. , The bumper cap can be attached with a clip that is easy to assemble, and the umbrella-shaped part of the clip can be used to pull the bumper cap toward the back side of the bumper. The parting portion between the cap and the cap can be set to a predetermined width, and the appearance can be improved.

The present invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that a rib is provided on the bumper, and the upper end portion of the bumper cap is inserted and arranged in a groove portion formed between the main body portion of the bumper and the rib. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the upper portion of the bumper cap from hanging down, and it is possible to maintain a good appearance.

According to the present invention of claim 8, a horizontal mounting piece is provided on the back side of the bumper and above or below the insertion hole of the bumper, and the mounting piece has a bumper cap. Since the insertion pieces are overlapped and a fastening member is attached to the overlapped portion for joint tightening, the bumper cap can be more firmly fixed due to the effect of joint tightening. It becomes possible to more effectively prevent the cap from falling off.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a front portion of an automobile including a bumper cap mounting structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a mounting portion of a bumper cap in a front bumper.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a bumper cap attachment portion of a front bumper.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front bumper viewed from a direction indicated by an arrow X in FIG.

5 is a perspective view of the front bumper viewed from a direction indicated by an arrow Y in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bumper cap seen from the back surface side.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the insertion piece in the portion indicated by arrow Z in FIG.

8 is a view seen from the direction of arrow P in FIG.
It is an exploded perspective view showing the state when inserting the insert piece of a bumper cap into the insert hole of the front bumper.

9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line MM in FIG.

10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line NN in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a bumper cap mounting structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a bumper cap conventionally used.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an approach angle of a vehicle.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 car 2 front bumper 2a Main body 3 bumper cap 3a Bumper cap body 4 openings 7a to 7c Upper engaging hole 8a, 8b rib 10 groove 11a, 11b Side engaging holes 13 Lower engaging hole 14 Insert holes 15 Upper end 16a to 16c Upper engaging claw 17a, 17b Side engaging claws 18 Insert 19 Lower engaging claw 24 clip insertion hole 26 Lower wall 26a Back side 30 clips 31 head 32 Lower wall 33 Umbrella 40 clip insertion hole 41 Mounting piece α parietal region β bottom edge γ Perimeter

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of upper engaging claws provided on an upper portion of a bumper cap, side engaging claws provided on both left and right sides of the bumper cap, and a vehicle width direction inner side portion of a lower portion of the bumper cap. The lower engaging claws provided on the bumper are inserted into the engaging holes formed in the bumper and fixed to the bumper, and the lower portion of the bumper cap in the vehicle width direction is fastened to the bumper with a fastening member. Bumper cap mounting structure characterized by being fixed. 2. An insertion hole is provided in the bumper at the fixing position of the bumper cap to the bumper by the fastening member, and an insertion piece is provided in the bumper cap, and the bumper is inserted in the insertion hole of the bumper. With the insert piece of the cap being inserted, the bumper cap is attached to the bumper by attaching the fastening member to a portion of the insert piece that projects to the back surface side of the bumper. The bumper cap mounting structure according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. The bumper cap mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein a lowermost end portion of the fastening member is installed at a position higher than a lowermost end portion of a lower wall surface of the bumper. 4. A clip is used as the fastening member, and the top of the head of the clip arranged at a lower position is installed at a position higher than the lowermost end of the lower wall surface of the bumper. The bumper cap mounting structure according to claim 3, which is characterized in that. 5. The bumper cap mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein a part of the fastening member is brought into contact with a back side surface of the lower wall portion of the bumper. 6. The bumper cap according to claim 5, wherein a clip is used as the fastening member, and an outer peripheral portion of the umbrella-shaped portion of the clip is brought into contact with a back side surface of a lower wall portion of the bumper. Mounting structure. 7. The bumper is provided with a rib, and an upper end portion of the bumper cap is inserted and arranged in a groove portion formed between a main body portion of the bumper and the rib. The bumper cap mounting structure according to any one of items. 8. A horizontal mounting piece is provided on the back side of the bumper and above or below the insertion hole of the bumper, and the insertion piece of the bumper cap is superposed on the mounting piece. The bumper cap mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the fastening member is attached to the overlapping portion and fastened together.