JP3769640B2 - Front bumper cover mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a front bumper cover mounting structure in a vehicle such as a passenger car.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In passenger cars and the like, a structure that absorbs impact energy at the time of a light collision is devised particularly at a front bumper portion. FIG. 4 shows an example of the structure around the conventional front bumper section. In the figure, a front bumper cover 3 is attached to a predetermined part of the front end of the body 1 via a reinforcement 2. In this front bumper cover mounting structure, the energy absorption effect is enhanced by the rotation or twisting action of the applicator 4 during a light collision (indicated by the collision position S) near the bumper center. The energy absorption at this time is mainly performed by the reinforcement 2.
[0003]
Or, in the conventional mounting structure of the front bumper cover of another type (apparatorless type), the front bumper cover 3 is expanded to the upper surface of the headlamp 5 as shown in FIG. In this case, by setting the mounting position of the front bumper cover 3 to the upper part, the front bumper cover 3 is mounted on the mounting seats from the radiator support and the headlamp 5 respectively. Thereby, a large distance between the mounting position of the front bumper cover 3 and the collision position S can be secured.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional front bumper cover mounting structure, for example, the type including the applicator 4 as shown in FIG. 4 increases the cost and the weight. In addition to affecting the assembly workability in the engine compartment, the cost, man-hours, etc. when the applicator 4 is deformed and replaced are increased.
[0005]
In the case of the one shown in FIG. 5 (apparitionerless type), since the large front bumper cover 3 is used, there are dimensional restrictions when molding by a molding machine. Further, since the weight of the front bumper cover 3 is added to the headlamp 5, the installation accuracy of the headlamp 5 is also limited.
[0006]
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a front bumper cover mounting structure that is excellent in energy absorption and that can effectively realize downsizing and weight reduction.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a center stay is fixed to a centab race of a radiator support arranged in a vertical direction at a front end portion of the body, and a rib is formed to protrude from a front bumper cover. The front bumper cover is attached to the front end of the body by engaging with the stay, wherein the rib is formed with an engagement hole, and the center stay has a claw portion that engages with the engagement hole. The front bumper cover is positioned at the front end of the body by projecting, inserting the rib into a fitting hole provided in the center stay, and engaging the claw portion of the center stay in the engagement hole of the rib. When the front bumper cover is pushed backward due to the collision, the engagement between the claw portion of the center stay and the engagement hole of the rib is released, and the rib is deformed by the claw portion. Characterized by being adapted to absorb impact energy by.
[0008]
In the mounting structure of the front bumper cover according to claim 2, the center stay has a guide portion for inserting the rib into the fitting hole.
[0009]
In the present invention, the rib provided on the upper part of the bumper cover is inserted into and engaged with the fitting hole of the center stay provided in the center tab race of the radiator support. In this case, the claw portion of the center stay engages with the engagement hole of the rib, and the rib is positioned and fixed. By adopting such an engagement structure, the engagement with the rib of the claw portion is disengaged particularly during a light collision, but the impact energy at this time is used for the bending deformation of the rib.
[0010]
That is, the impact force at the time of a light collision is absorbed mainly by deformation of the ribs or reinforcement, and is not substantially transmitted to members such as a radiator support. Therefore, the number of parts that are permanently deformed by impact energy at the time of a light collision can be reduced as much as possible, and high energy absorption can be obtained.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a front bumper cover mounting structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0012]
FIG. 1 shows the structure around the front bumper portion in this embodiment. In the figure, a front bumper cover 12 is attached to a predetermined portion of the front end portion of the body 11 via a reinforcement (not shown). In this example, the type is provided with an applicator 13, and the applicator 13 is divided and configured as described later. A radiator support center race 14 is arranged in the vertical direction at the front end of the body 11.
[0013]
In this embodiment, a center stay 15 is fixedly attached to the center race 14 as shown in FIG. The center stay 15 is configured to engage an appropriate position on the upper portion of the front bumper cover 12.
[0014]
In the front bumper cover mounting structure, as shown in FIG. 2, ribs 16 are formed to project at appropriate positions above the front bumper cover 12, and the ribs 16 are formed in fitting holes 17 provided in the center stay 15. It is designed to be inserted from the front side. Further, the center stay 15 has a guide portion 18 when the rib 16 of the front bumper cover 12 is inserted. By providing the guide portion 18 in this manner, the rib 16 can be easily inserted into the fitting hole 17.
[0015]
The center stay 15 has a claw portion 20 that protrudes downward so as to engage with an engagement hole 19 formed in the rib 16. The rib 16 inserted into the fitting hole 17 is positioned and fixed by the engagement between the claw portion 20 and the engagement hole 19.
[0016]
When the bumper is assembled in the above configuration, first, the rib 16 of the front bumper cover 12 is inserted into the fitting hole 17 of the center stay 15 from the front side (represented as F and the rear as R) as shown in FIG. To do. In this case, the leading end of the rib 16 enters the guide portion 18 that is inclined as illustrated. Thereby, the rib 16 can be inserted into the fitting hole 17 smoothly and appropriately.
[0017]
Next, the claw portion 20 of the center stay 15 engages with the engagement hole 19 of the rib 16 as shown in FIG. At this time, the rib 16 exactly contacts the flat portion 21 of the center stay 15 and is supported without rattling. By the engagement of the claw portion 20 and the engagement hole 19, the rib 16 is accurately positioned and fixed in the front-rear direction L and the vertical direction H, respectively. Therefore, the front bumper cover 12 can be accurately positioned and supported with respect to the body 11.
[0018]
In the bumper attached in this way, an operation particularly in the case of a light collision will be considered. Due to the impact energy that could not be absorbed by the bumper reinforcement during a light collision, the upper part of the front bumper cover 12 is pushed backward as shown in FIG. At this time, the engagement between the claw portion 20 of the center stay 15 and the engagement hole 19 of the rib 16 is released, and the claw portion 20 causes the rib 16 to be bent and deformed. That is, the impact energy at the time of a light collision is used for bending deformation of the rib 16 and is not substantially transmitted to members such as a radiator support. Therefore, the number of parts that are permanently deformed by impact energy at the time of a light collision can be reduced as much as possible, and high energy absorption can be obtained.
[0019]
The impact energy is absorbed extremely efficiently as described above, so that the parts that are permanently deformed at the time of a light collision can be substantially only bumper reinforcement, and repair man-hours and repair costs can be greatly reduced. .
[0020]
Further, since the rigidity and strength are improved, the applicator 13 can be divided and downsized as shown in FIG. 1, and the weight and cost can be reduced. Further, when the front bumper cover 12 is attached, it is possible to eliminate the need for fastening parts around the center portion, thereby reducing costs and improving assembling / removing workability.
[0021]
Furthermore, since the applicator 13 is not disposed at the center portion of the front bumper cover 12, the obstacle of the operator during assembly work in the engine compartment is reduced, and workability can be improved. In addition, when adopting this bumper mounting structure, there are few design restrictions and implementation is very easy.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in this type of front bumper cover mounting structure, bumper components such as a bumper retainer are downsized or partially abolished, and at the same time, high energy absorption is realized. Can do. Therefore, in addition to ensuring safety, it is possible to achieve a reduction in size and weight and to substantially reduce costs.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the periphery of a front bumper portion in an embodiment of a front bumper cover mounting structure of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion A in FIG. 1 showing a main configuration in an embodiment of a mounting structure of a front bumper cover of the present invention.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams sequentially illustrating a process at the time of assembling the bumper and an action at the time of a light collision in the embodiment of the mounting structure of the front bumper cover of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the periphery of a front bumper portion in a conventional front bumper cover mounting structure example.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the periphery of a front bumper portion in another example of a conventional front bumper cover mounting structure.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Body 12 Front bumper cover 13 Applicator 14 Centab race 15 Center stay 16 Rib 17 Fitting hole 18 Guide part 19 Engagement hole 20 Claw part 21 Flat part

Claims (2)

A center stay is fixed to the center support race of the radiator support arranged in the vertical direction at the front end of the body, and a rib is formed on the front bumper cover so that the rib is engaged with the center stay. A front bumper cover mounting structure attached to the front end,
An engagement hole is formed in the rib, and a claw portion that engages with the engagement hole is formed to protrude from the center stay.
The front bumper cover is positioned and fixed to the front end of the body by inserting the rib into a fitting hole provided in the center stay and engaging the claw portion of the center stay in the engagement hole of the rib.
When the front bumper cover is pushed backward due to a collision, the engagement between the claw portion of the center stay and the engagement hole of the rib is released, and the rib is bent and deformed by the claw portion so as to absorb impact energy. The mounting structure of the front bumper cover, characterized by The front bumper cover mounting structure according to claim 1 , wherein the center stay has a guide portion when the rib is inserted into the fitting hole .

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