JPH0761330A - Cleaner hose holding structure for head lamp cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the number of part items, to improve the workability, to improve the appearance of a front bumper cover, and to hold a cleaner hose securely. CONSTITUTION:Bumper foam 1 made of resin is arranged in the back surface of a front bumper cover 12, and clamps 56, 58 for holding a cleaner hose 42 are formed at predetermined positions of this bumper foam 14 integrally. Consequently, the cleaner hose 42 of a head lamp cleaner 32 is held by these clamps 56, 58 securely in a predetermined sending route. In comparison with the structure using a separate clamp, a number of part items can be reduced, and the work for fitting a separate clamp is eliminated to improve the workability. Since the clamps 56, 58 are formed integrally with the bumper foam 14, appearance of the front cover 12 is not damaged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaner hose holding structure for a headlamp cleaner applied to a vehicle equipped with a headlamp cleaner for removing dirt on the surface of a headlamp lens.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, the problems to be solved by the invention
There is a vehicle equipped with a headlamp cleaner (washer) for the purpose of removing dirt adhering to the surface of the headlamp lens of the headlamp. This type of headlamp cleaner consists of a cleaner tank that contains the cleaner liquid, a cleaner pump that is provided in this cleaner tank to pump the cleaner liquid, a cleaner nozzle that sprays the cleaner liquid onto the headlamp lens, and this cleaner nozzle and the cleaner pump. And a cleaner hose that connects to and.

Of the constituent elements of these headlamp cleaners, the cleaner hose is generally routed on the back side of the front bumper cover, but in the case of using a resin front bumper cover. If the ribs for mounting the cleaner hose are integrally provided on the back surface of the front bumper cover, sink marks will be generated on the surface of the front bumper cover corresponding to the positions where the ribs are formed, and the appearance quality of the front bumper cover will be deteriorated. . So, in the past,
A method has been adopted in which a hole is provided at an appropriate position of a body-side member for mounting the front bumper, and a clamp for holding a cleaner hose is fitted into the hole. For this reason, it is necessary to use a clamp and to provide a hole, resulting in an increase in cost. In addition, workability is deteriorated because work for forming a hole and work for fitting a clamp into the hole are required.

A technique similar to the above-mentioned conventional technique is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-100552. The structure will be briefly described below.

As shown in FIG. 6, this structure is a structure for holding a harness 106 for connecting a backup lamp 102 and a license lamp 104 arranged at a predetermined position of the rear bumper cover 100. When the harness holding structure is replaced with the cleaner hose holding structure described above, the rear bumper cover 100 corresponds to the front bumper cover, the backup lamp 102 corresponds to the head lamp, and the harness 106 corresponds to the cleaner hose.

The rear bumper cover 100 is made of resin, and lateral ribs 108 are integrally formed on the back surface thereof. On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
Comprising an elastic piece 110A and a harness holder 110B,
The harness 106 is elastically held by the inner harness holding portion 110B. After the harness 106 is held by the harness holding portion 110B, the clamp 110 is fitted to the lateral rib 108, so that the harness 106 is held on the upper surface of the lateral rib 108 by the elastic force of the elastic piece 110A. To be done.

Therefore, when the structure disclosed in this publication is applied as a holding structure for the cleaner hose of the headlamp cleaner, the lateral rib 10 is formed on the rear surface of the rear bumper cover 100.
As described above, the sink marks 112 are formed on the surface side of the lateral rib 108 as described above. Moreover, since a plurality of clamps 110, which are separate parts, are used, the number of parts increases and the cost increases. Further, since work such as fitting the clamp 110 to the lateral rib 108 is required, workability is reduced. That is, although the above-mentioned problems caused by providing holes at appropriate positions of the member on the body side can be solved, other problems still remain.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention is capable of reducing the number of parts, improving workability, and improving the appearance quality of the front bumper cover, and moreover, the headlamp capable of reliably holding the cleaner hose. The purpose is to obtain a cleaner hose holding structure for a cleaner.

[0009]

A cleaner hose holding structure for a headlamp cleaner according to the present invention comprises a tank for containing a cleaner liquid, a spraying device for spraying the cleaner liquid onto the surface of the headlamp lens, and the spraying device and the tank. A front bumper cover to which a headlamp lens is attached, which is applied to a vehicle equipped with a headlamp cleaner including a cleaner hose that connects the headlamp lens and a cleaner hose that pumps the cleaner liquid in the tank to the spraying means through the cleaner hose. It is characterized in that a holding means for holding the cleaner hose in a predetermined route is integrally provided on a resin energy absorber arranged on the back surface of the.

[0010]

According to the above construction, the cleaner hose of the headlamp cleaner is held by the holding means provided on the energy absorber, so that the cleaner hose does not come off from the predetermined route.

Here, in the present invention, since the holding means is integrally provided to the energy absorber (made of resin) arranged on the back surface of the headlamp lens, a structure such as a clamp is used to hold the hose. In comparison, the number of parts can be reduced. Therefore, the cost can be reduced. In addition, this eliminates the work required to attach components such as clamps to the front bumper cover and the body-side member, which has been conventionally required, so that workability is improved. Further, since the energy absorber is provided with the holding means, it is impossible to cause a defect such as a sink mark on the surface of the front bumper cover.

The operation of the headlamp lamp cleaner will be briefly described. When the cleaner pump is driven,
The cleaner liquid in the tank is pressure-fed to the spraying means via the cleaner hose. As a result, the cleaner liquid is sprayed from the spraying means onto the surface of the headlamp lens, and the dirt adhering to the surface of the headlamp lens is removed.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 2, a front bumper 10 is arranged at the front end of the vehicle. The front bumper 10 is a front bumper cover 1 having a predetermined curved shape.
2, a long bumper foam 14 provided on the back surface of the front bumper cover 12 in the middle in the height direction, and a long reinforce hose provided in close contact with the back surface of the bumper foam 14. Ment 16 and.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front bumper cover 12 includes an upper portion 12A extending to a front end portion of a hood panel 18 (shown in FIG. 2) and a lower portion arranged directly above a front spoiler (not shown). 12B and the upper one
An intermediate portion 12C located between 2A and the lower portion 12B,
And is formed by resin molding.

The length of the upper portion 12A of the front bumper cover 12 in the vehicle width direction is shorter than that of the intermediate portion 12C.
And the 1st lens arrangement | positioning part 20 is formed in the connection part of the both ends of this upper part 12A, and the both ends upper part of 12 C of intermediate parts. More specifically, the first lens arrangement portion 20 is
It is formed by raising the peripheral edge from both ends of the upper portion 12A to the upper ends of both ends of the intermediate portion 12C toward the vehicle rear side to provide flanges. This first lens arrangement portion 20
A low-beam side lens 24 of the headlamp 22 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is arranged in the camera.

Also, the upper part 1 of the front bumper cover 12
Second lens placement portions 26 are formed on both sides of the center of 2A (positions adjacent to the first lens placement portion 20).
More specifically, the second lens disposing portion 26 is provided with elliptical through holes on both sides of the center of the upper portion 12A of the front bumper cover 12, and the peripheral edge of the through hole is raised toward the vehicle rear side to form a cylindrical flange. It is formed by providing. The headlamp 2 is provided in the second lens arrangement portion 26.
Two high beam side lenses 28 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) are provided. The low-beam side lens 24 and the high-beam side lens 28 described above correspond to the “headlamp lens” in the present invention.

On the other hand, on the back surface of the intermediate portion 12C of the front bumper cover 12, a bumper foam 14 made of a resin such as urethane is disposed as an energy absorber. A step portion 30 having a predetermined depth is formed on the back surface of the bumper foam 14 along the longitudinal direction of the bumper foam 14, and a reinforcement 16 formed of an aluminum material or the like is closely attached to the step portion 30. It is arranged. Both ends in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement 16 are
The front end portions of a pair of front side members (not shown) that are arranged in parallel to each other on the front side of both width direction ends of the vehicle are connected.

The above is the schematic configuration of the front bumper 10. Next, the configuration of the headlamp cleaner 32 provided in the vehicle according to this embodiment will be described in relation to the front bumper 10.

The headlamp cleaner 32 includes a cleaner tank 34 containing a cleaner liquid, a cleaner pump 36 provided on the side of the cleaner tank 34, and a plurality of cleaner nozzles arranged at predetermined positions of the front bumper cover 12. 38, and cleaner hoses 40 and 42 connecting the respective cleaner nozzles 38 and the cleaner pump 36.

The cleaner pump 36 is provided with a discharge portion 36A, and a cleaner hose 40 is attached to the discharge portion 36A.
One end is inserted and fixed by a clip 44. A proximal end of a substantially H-shaped branch pipe 46 is inserted into the other end of the cleaner hose 40. The branch pipe 46 is for branching the cleaner liquid pumped by the cleaner pump 36 to the left and right headlamps 22 and the low beam side lens 24 and the high beam side lens 28 in the headlamp 22 on the right side of the vehicle. Is. One end of another cleaner hose 42 is inserted into the other end of the branch pipe 46 on the base end side. The base end of a substantially T-shaped branch pipe 50 is inserted into the other end of the cleaner hose 42. The branch pipe 50 is for branching the cleaner liquid pressure-fed through the cleaner hose 42 into the low beam side lens 24 and the high beam side lens 28 in the headlamp 22 on the left side of the vehicle.

A cleaner nozzle 38 as a spraying means is connected to each branch end of each of the branch pipes 46 and 50. FIG. 3 shows the headlight 22 on the right side of the vehicle in an enlarged manner. As shown in this figure, the cleaner nozzle 38 has a disc-shaped spraying portion 38A for spraying the cleaner liquid onto the surface of the low beam side lens 24 or the surface of the high beam side lens 28.
And an L-shaped tubular bent portion 38B connected to the axis of the blowing portion 38A. Of these, the bent portion 38B
Is the lower end of the first lens arrangement portion 20 and the second lens
After being inserted into the elliptical through holes 52 respectively formed at the lower ends of the lens disposing portions 26, the branching ends of the branch pipe 46 are inserted. After the insertion, both are fixed by the clip 44. In addition, the cleaner nozzle 38
Is connected to the branch pipe 46, the cleaner nozzle 3
Only the eight spraying portions 38A are arranged in the first lens arrangement portion 20 or the second lens arrangement portion 26. Further, the leaf spring 5 is provided to prevent the cleaner nozzle 38 from being displaced.
4 (shown in FIG. 1) is inserted and locked. The above-described configuration is the same for the headlamp 22 on the left side of the vehicle.

Now, as shown in FIG. 1, the above-mentioned cleaner hose 42 is placed on the upper end surface of the bumper foam 14. That is, the route along the upper end surface of the bumper foam 14 is the route for handling the cleaner hose.

Here, clamps 56 and 58 as holding means are formed on the upper back surface of the bumper foam 14 described above at a total of three locations on the center and both sides thereof. These clamps 56 and 58 are integrally formed when the bumper foam 14 is molded. Also, the central clamp 56
Is horizontally provided, but the clamps 58 on both sides are provided so as to be inclined by a predetermined angle.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bumper foam 1
The clamp 56 formed in the center of the upper back surface of the No. 4 is formed so as to project from the middle of the general portion 14A of the bumper foam 14 toward the vehicle rear side in an L-shaped cross section (hereinafter, it is horizontally projected toward the vehicle rear side). The portion is referred to as "hose mounting portion 56A", and the portion raised from the rear end portion of this hose mounting portion 56A is referred to as "rise portion 56B". further,
Between the rising portion 56B of the clamp 56 and the general portion 14A of the bumper foam 14, a gap 6 having a gap dimension P is formed.
0 is formed. The clearance dimension P of the clearance 60 is slightly smaller than the diameter dimension of the cleaner hose 42.
Therefore, when the cleaner hose 42 is pushed through the gap 60 and placed on the hose rest 56A of the clamp 56, the cleaner hose 42 does not fall out of the gap 60.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the clamps 5 are formed on both sides of the upper back surface of the bumper foam 14.
8 is basically the same as the configuration of the clamp 56 described above, but the shape is slightly different. That is, the above-mentioned clamp 5
In No. 6, the general portion 14A of the bumper foam 14 does not exist immediately above it, but in the clamp 58, the general portion 14A of the bumper foam 14 exists. Therefore, the clamp 58 includes the general portion 14A of the bumper foam 14, the hose mounting portion 58A that horizontally projects rearward from the middle of the general portion 14A, and the hose mounting portion 58A.
And a rising portion 58B that is raised from the rear end portion. Further, the inside of the clamp 58 is made hollow by setting a substantially trapezoidal block-shaped jig in the mold when the bumper foam 14 is molded. Further, a slit 62 is formed in the height direction middle portion of the rising portion 58B along the direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. The slit width of the slit 62 matches the gap dimension P of the gap 60 described above. Therefore, the cleaner hose 42 is pushed in through the slit 62 and the hose mounting portion 5 of the clamp 58 is pressed.
The cleaner hose 42 does not fall out of the slit 62 when placed on 8A.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below through the work of handling the cleaner hoses 40 and 42.

First, the cleaner hoses 40 and 42 and the branch pipes 46 and 50 are assembled in advance. That is,
The other end of the cleaner hose 40 has a substantially H-shaped branch pipe 4
One end on the base end side of 6 is inserted. Next, one end of the cleaner hose 42 is inserted into the other end of the branch pipe 46 on the base end side. Next, the proximal end of the substantially T-shaped branch pipe 50 is inserted into the other end of the cleaner hose 42.

Next, one end of the cleaner hose 40 is inserted into the discharge portion 36A of the cleaner pump 36, and is clamped with a clip 44 to fix them.

Next, while placing the cleaner hose 42 on the upper end surface of the bumper foam 14, the cleaner hose 42
The middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the is clamped to the central clamp 56.
This locking work is performed by pushing the middle portion of the cleaner hose 42 in the longitudinal direction from the gap 60 of the clamp 56. In the locked state, as shown in FIG. 4, both ends of the hose mounting portion 56A (in FIG. 4, the front end portion and the rear end portion of the paper surface) and the rising portion 56B (similarly,
In FIG. 4, the longitudinal middle portion of the cleaner hose 42 is elastically clamped by the front end and the rear end of the paper) and the general portion 14A of the bumper foam 14.

Similarly, both sides of the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the cleaner hose 42 are locked to the clamps 58 on both sides, respectively. This locking work is performed by the slit 6 of the clamp 58.
It is carried out by pushing both sides of the intermediate portion of the cleaner hose 42 in the longitudinal direction from 2. In the locked state, similarly to the above, both ends of the hose mounting portion 58A and both ends of the rising portion 58B and the general portion 1 of the bumper foam 14 are formed.
Both sides of the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the cleaner hose 42 are elastically sandwiched by 4A and 4A.

After that, the bent portion 3 of each cleaner nozzle 38
8B includes a first lens arrangement portion 20 and a second lens arrangement portion 20
Through the through hole 52 formed in the lens disposing portion 26 of
It is tightened and fixed by. After fixing, the leaf spring 54 is further inserted and locked in the bent portion 38B of the cleaner nozzle 38. As a result, the handling work of the cleaner hoses 40 and 42 is completed.

When dirt is attached to the surfaces of the low beam side lens 24 and the high beam side lens 28, the occupant operates the operating means (not shown) to drive the cleaner pump 36. As a result, the cleaner tank 3
The cleaner liquid in 4 is pressure-fed to each cleaner nozzle 38 via cleaner hoses 40 and 42. For this reason, the cleaner liquid flows from the cleaner nozzle 38 to the lens 2 on the low beam side.
4. The dirt is removed by being sprayed on the surface of the high beam side lens 28.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the clamps 56 and 58 for holding the cleaner hose 42 are integrally formed when the resin bumper foam 14 is molded, the cleaner is formed by using a separate clamp. The number of parts can be reduced as compared with the structure that holds the hose 42. Therefore, the cost can be reduced. Also,
This eliminates the need for a clamp mounting operation such as fitting a clamp as a separate component, so that workability can be improved accordingly.

Further, in the present embodiment, both the gap size of the gap 60 in the clamp 56 and the slit width of the slit 62 in the clamp 58 are set to P, which is slightly shorter than the diameter size of the cleaner hose 42. , 58 can be prevented from coming off. In other words, the clamp 56 of the cleaner hose 42,
A reliable holding state to 58 is obtained.

Further, in this embodiment, the clamps 56, 5 are
Since 8 is formed on the bumper foam 14, sink marks cannot occur on the surface of the front bumper cover 12.
Therefore, the appearance quality of the front bumper cover 12 is not impaired.

In this embodiment, the clamps 56 and 58 are used.
The shape of the cleaner hose 4 is not limited to the shape shown in FIGS.
Any shape (eg, C-shape) that can securely hold 2 can be applied.

Further, in this embodiment, the clamps 56, 58 are provided.
Is configured to elastically clamp the cleaner hose 42, but the function of elastically clamping the cleaner hose 42 is not necessarily required, and any configuration can be used as long as the cleaner hose 42 can be held in a predetermined route. . In other words, even if the cleaner hose 42 does not have a function of elastically sandwiching the cleaner hose 42, it may have a function of preventing the cleaner hose 42 from coming off from a predetermined route.

Further, in this embodiment, the cleaner hose 4
Although the clamps 56 and 58 are provided for holding the second hose, a clamp having the same structure may be provided for holding the cleaner hose 40 in addition thereto.

[0040]

As described above, according to the cleaner hose holding structure of the headlamp cleaner according to the present invention, the cleaner hose is attached to the resin energy absorber arranged on the back surface of the front bumper cover on which the headlamp lens is mounted. Since the holding means for holding in the predetermined routing path is integrally provided, the number of parts is reduced, the workability is improved, and the front bumper cover can be installed more easily than the structure in which the cleaner hose is held by using parts such as clamps. It has an excellent effect that the appearance quality can be improved and the cleaner hose can be surely held.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a front bumper cover having a bumper foam on a back surface thereof and a headlamp cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention in a separated state.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing how a front bumper including the front bumper cover shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a vehicle.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a cleaner nozzle, a branch pipe to which the cleaner nozzle is attached, and the like.

4 is an end view showing an end face shape when cut along line 4-4 in FIG. 1 to show the shape of the central clamp shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

5 is an end view showing an end surface shape when cut along the line 5-5 in FIG. 1 to show the shape of the clamps on both sides shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional example.

7 is an end view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Front bumper cover 14 Bumper foam (energy absorber) 24 Low beam side lens (headlamp lens) 28 High beam side lens (headlamp lens) 32 Headlamp cleaner 34 Cleaner tank 36 Cleaner pump 38 Cleaner nozzle (spraying means) 40 Cleaner hose 42 Cleaner hose 56 Clamp (holding means) 58 Clamp (holding means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tank containing a cleaner liquid, a spraying unit for spraying the cleaner liquid onto the surface of the headlamp lens, a cleaner hose connecting the spraying unit and the tank, and a cleaner liquid in the tank via the cleaner hose. Applied to a vehicle equipped with a headlamp cleaner including a cleaner pump that pressure-feeds the spraying means, to a resin-made energy absorber arranged on the back surface of the front bumper cover on which the headlamp lens is mounted,
A cleaner hose holding structure for a headlamp cleaner, characterized in that holding means for holding the cleaner hose in a predetermined route is integrally provided.