JP7680819B2 - Vehicle Structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle structure that includes front side members arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle and a support member that spans the front side members and to which electrical equipment is attached.

In an electric vehicle, electrical equipment including the motor that is the power source of the electric vehicle is located forward of the dash panel. The electrical equipment is usually attached to a support member that bridges the left and right front side members. The left and right front side members are arranged to extend from front to rear. The support member is a criss-cross shaped member that is made up of a front member, a rear member, and left and right connecting members in a continuous line. The front member and rear member are arranged to extend left and right in the front and rear of the vehicle. The left and right connecting members connect the front member and rear member on the left and right sides of the vehicle.

In the electric vehicle of Patent Document 1, the left and right ends of the front member and rear member are fastened to the left and right front side members.

In the electric vehicle of Patent Document 2, the left and right ends of the front member and the rear member are connected to the left and right front side members by brackets. The bracket is a member configured to have a U-shape when viewed from above the vehicle. The bracket has a front fastening portion, a rear fastening portion, and a connecting portion. The front fastening portion, the rear fastening portion, and the connecting portion are configured as a series. The front fastening portion is arranged so as to overlap both the front side member and the end of the front member, and has an outer region fastened to the front side member and an inner region fastened to the end of the front member. The rear fastening portion is arranged so as to overlap both the front side member and the end of the rear member, and has an outer region fastened to the front side member and an inner region fastened to the end of the rear member. The connecting portion connects the inner region of the front fastening portion and the inner region of the rear fastening portion. A space is provided between the outer region of the front fastening portion and the outer region of the rear fastening portion.

JP 2011-20602 A JP 2019-51914 A

Vehicles are designed to absorb most of the collision load during a frontal collision through deformation of the left and right front side members. From the perspective of effectively absorbing the collision load, it is desirable to appropriately control the buckling of the left and right front side members. When a collision load is input from the tips of the left and right front side members, the left and right front side members buckle in an accordion-like manner, thereby effectively absorbing the collision load.

In the electric vehicle of Patent Document 1, the front member, rear member, and left and right connecting members are configured as a single unit, and the left and right ends of the front member and rear member are directly fastened to the left and right front side members. This firmly fixes the left and right front side members and the support member. Therefore, in the electric vehicle of Patent Document 1, the support rigidity of the electrical equipment is easily ensured during driving. However, in the electric vehicle of Patent Document 1, the left and right connecting members are likely to be stretched during a frontal collision, which may hinder the buckling of the front side members. If the buckling of the front side members is hindered, it becomes difficult to effectively absorb the collision load.

In the electric vehicle of Patent Document 2, the left and right ends of the front member and rear member are connected to the left and right front side members by brackets, and the above-mentioned space is provided in the brackets. Therefore, in the electric vehicle of Patent Document 2, the above-mentioned tension is unlikely to occur in the event of a frontal collision, and buckling of the front side members is easily controlled appropriately. However, in the electric vehicle of Patent Document 2, the above-mentioned space is provided in the bracket, making it difficult to ensure the support rigidity of the electrical equipment while driving.

One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a vehicle structure that can ensure support rigidity while the vehicle is running and can effectively absorb collision loads during a frontal collision.

(1) A vehicle structure according to one aspect of the present invention includes:
Front side members arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle;
A vehicle structure including a support member that is bridged across the front side member and to which an electrical device is attached,
The support member is
a first member fastened to a front of each of the front side members by a first fastening member;
and a second member fastened to the rear of each of the front side members by a second fastening member,
The first member and the second member have a joint portion joined to each other between the first fastening member and the second fastening member,
In the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, at least a portion of the joint is broken as the first fastening member is displaced rearward.

(2) In the vehicle structure of (1) above,
The support member further includes a plate member joined to the first member,
The first member is configured in a cylindrical shape,
The plate material is disposed so as to face the front of the joint,
The second member may have a front end configured to move away from the plate member toward the front.

In the vehicle structure of (1) above, the support member has a first member and a second member that are configured independently of each other, and the first member and the second member are fastened to the front and rear of the left and right front side members, and the first member and the second member are joined to each other. Therefore, the vehicle structure of (1) above can ensure the support rigidity of the electrical equipment when the vehicle is traveling. In addition, the vehicle structure of (1) above is configured so that at least a part of the joint breaks in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle. The buckling of the left and right front side members is unlikely to be hindered by the detachment of at least a part of the joint. Therefore, the vehicle structure of (1) above can appropriately control the buckling of the left and right front side members in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle structure of (1) above can effectively absorb the collision load in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle. The vehicle structure of (1) above can easily reduce costs because it is possible to ensure the support rigidity during normal traveling and to achieve appropriate buckling of the left and right front side members in the event of a frontal collision with a simple configuration.

In the vehicle structure of (2) above, the support member is provided with a plate material, and the plate material is displaced rearward in response to rearward displacement of the first fastening member during a frontal collision. In the vehicle structure of (2) above, the front end of the second member is configured to move away from the plate material as it moves forward, so that the plate material displaced rearward is easily inserted between the second member and the first member. Therefore, in the vehicle structure of (2) above, the joint is easily broken by the plate material. Therefore, in the vehicle structure of (2) above, buckling of the left and right front side members is less likely to be hindered, and buckling of the left and right front side members can be more appropriately controlled.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a vehicle structure according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a first member and a second member of the vehicle structure according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view showing a first member and a second member of the vehicle structure according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a right side view showing a first member and a second member of the vehicle structure of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a right side view showing a first member and a second member of the vehicle structure according to the modified example.

Embodiments and modified examples of the vehicle structure of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5. The same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or equivalent parts. The sizes of the members shown in each drawing are expressed for the purpose of clarifying the description and do not necessarily represent the actual dimensions. In the drawings, "UP" indicates the top of a vehicle equipped with the vehicle structure 1 of the embodiment, "LWR" indicates the bottom, "FR" indicates the front, "RR" indicates the rear, "RH" indicates the right, and "LH" indicates the left. In the following description, "up," "down," "front," "rear," "right," and "left" respectively correspond to the "up," "down," "front," "rear," "right," and "left" of the vehicle.

<<Embodiment>>
[Vehicle structure]
A vehicle structure 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle structure 1 according to the embodiment includes front side members 2 arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle and a support member 3 that bridges the front side members 2. Electrical equipment 4 is attached to the support member 3. The vehicle including the vehicle structure 1 is an electric vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. One of the features of the vehicle structure 1 according to the embodiment is that it satisfies the following requirements (A) and (B).

(A) As shown in Fig. 2, the support member 3 has specific first and second members 31 and 35 which are independent of each other. The first member 31 is fastened to the front of each of the left and right front side members 2 by first fastening members 51 as shown in Fig. 1. The second member 35 is fastened to the rear of each of the left and right front side members 2 by second fastening members 52. The first member 31 and the second member 35 have a joint 55 joined to each other between the first fastening member 51 and the second fastening member 52 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
(B) In the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, at least a part of the joint 55 is broken in association with rearward displacement of the first fastening member 51. "At least a part of the joint 55" means at least a partial area of one joint 55 when there is one joint 55, and means at least one joint 55 of the multiple joints 55 when there are multiple joints 55.

[Front side member]
The left and right front side members 2 are members that form the framework of the front part of the vehicle. The left and right front side members 2 extend in the front-rear direction. The left and right front side members 2 are configured generally symmetrically. Figures 2 to 4 show the right front side member 2. This point is also the same as in Figure 5 which will be referred to in a modified example described later.

Each front side member 2 is provided to extend forward from below the dash panel 91. The dash panel 91 is a member that separates the motor room from the passenger compartment. The dash panel 91 is arranged along the left and right sides. Forward of the dash panel 91, an apron member 92 and a suspension tower 93 are connected to the upper part of each front side member 2 in this order from front to rear.

Each front side member 2 in this example has a recess 21 as shown in FIG. 3. The recess 21 prevents the front wheels (not shown) from interfering with the front side member 2 during steering. The recess 21 is recessed toward the vehicle interior. The recess 21 in this example is an area of each front side member 2 that corresponds to the location where the apron member 92 is connected, and is provided in the area between the first fastening member 51 and the second fastening member 52.

[Support Member]
As shown in Fig. 1, the support member 3 is provided with an electrical device 4 attached thereto. The electrical device 4 is, for example, at least one of a motor, a charger, an inverter, a converter, a power distributor, and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). The electrical device 4 may be an aggregate unit that combines functions such as charging, power conversion, and power distribution. The aggregate unit is, for example, an ESU (Electricity Supply Unit). The electrical device 4 includes an aggregate unit 41 and a motor 42.

As shown in FIG. 2, the support member 3 in this example has a main body member 30, a first member 31, a second member 35, and a plate material 39. In this example, the main body member 30, the first member 31, the second member 35, and the plate material 39 are configured as independent members. Unlike this example, the main body member 30 and the first member 31 may be configured as a series of members, and this series of members, the second member 35, and the plate material 39 may be configured as independent members.

(Main body member)
1, the main body member 30 supports the electrical equipment 4. The main body member 30 has a front member 30a, a rear member 30b, and left and right connecting members 30c. In this example, the front member 30a, the rear member 30b, and the left and right connecting members 30c are configured as members independent of each other.

In this example, the main body member 30 has a rectangular frame shape when viewed from above. The front member 30a is disposed so as to extend left and right in front of the vehicle. The rear member 30b is disposed so as to extend left and right behind the front member 30a. In this example, an aggregation unit 41 is attached to the upper surface of the front member 30a and the upper surface of the rear member 30b by brackets (not shown), and a motor 42 is attached to the lower surface of the front member 30a and the lower surface of the rear member 30b by brackets (not shown). The left connecting member 30c connects the left end of the front member 30a to the left end of the rear member 30b, and the right connecting member 30c connects the right end of the front member 30a to the right end of the rear member 30b.

Unlike this example, the left and right connecting members 30c may connect the middle of the front member 30a and the middle of the rear member 30b so that the shape of the main body member 30 viewed from above is a lattice shape. Unlike this example, the front member 30a, the rear member 30b, and the connecting member 30c may be composed of a single member.

(First member)
The first member 31 is fastened to the front of each of the left and right front side members 2 by a first fastening member 51. The number of first fastening members 51 may be one or more. In this example, the number of first fastening members 51 is one. The first member 31 is fastened to an end of the main body member 30 by a third fastening member 53. That is, the first member 31 is connected to an upper surface of the front side member 2 and an upper surface of the main body member 30. The number of third fastening members 53 may be one or more. In this example, the number of third fastening members 53 is three. One third fastening member 53 fastens the first member 31 to the front member 30a, and two third fastening members 53 fasten the first member 31 to the connecting member 30c.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first member 31 in this example has a first upper plate 32 and a first lower plate 33. When viewed from the right side, the first member 31 in this example has a rectangular tubular shape. The first upper plate 32 is configured in a U-shape that opens downward. The first upper plate 32 has a first ceiling portion 321, a first front wall portion 322, and a first rear wall portion 323. The first ceiling portion 321, the first front wall portion 322, and the first rear wall portion 323 are configured in a continuous manner. The first lower plate 33 is configured in a U-shape that opens upward. The first lower plate 33 has a first bottom portion 331, a first front wall portion 332, and a first rear wall portion 333. The first bottom portion 331, the first front wall portion 332, and the first rear wall portion 333 are configured in a continuous manner. The first ceiling portion 321 and the first bottom portion 331 face each other with a gap therebetween. The first front wall portion 322 and the first front wall portion 332 are overlapped from the front to the rear, and the overlapping area is joined. The first rear wall portion 323 and the first rear wall portion 333 are overlapped from the front to the rear, and the overlapping area is joined. The first fastening member 51 penetrates the first ceiling portion 321 and the first bottom portion 331 to fasten the first member 31 and the front side member 2.

The first upper plate 32 in this example has a notch 321a and an upper curved portion 321b. The notch 321a is provided at the rear of the vehicle exterior as shown in FIG. 3. The edge of the first ceiling portion 321 formed by the notch 321a is configured in an L-shape. The upper curved portion 321b is provided between the notch 321a and the first fastening member 51 as shown in FIG. 4. The upper curved portion 321b in this example is configured to be convex upward. In this example, the length of the upper curved portion 321b along the vehicle width is longer than the length of the plate material 39 joined to the lower surface of the first ceiling portion 321 along the vehicle width. The first lower plate 33 has a notch 331a and a lower curved portion 331b. The notch 331a is provided at the rear of the vehicle exterior. The edge of the first bottom portion 331 formed by the notch 331a is configured in an L-shape. The lower curved portion 331b is provided between the notch 331a and the first fastening member 51. In this example, the lower curved portion 331b is configured to be convex downward. In this example, the length of the lower curved portion 331b along the vehicle width is longer than the length of the plate material 39 joined to the upper surface of the first bottom portion 331 along the vehicle width.

(Second member)
As shown in FIG. 1, the second member 35 is fastened to the rear of each of the left and right front side members 2 by the second fastening member 52. The number of the second fastening member 52 may be one or more. The number of the second fastening member 52 in this example is one. The second member 35 is disposed rearward of the first fastening member 51. The second member 35 in this example is disposed so as to be exposed from the notches 321a and 331a as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Unlike the first member 31, the second member 35 is not fastened to the main body member 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the shape of the second member 35 in this example seen from above is a square shape. In FIG. 3, the vertical dashed line along the vehicle width located on the right side of the paper and the horizontal dashed line extending to the right side of the paper from the lower end of the vertical dashed line indicate the edge of the second member 35. The second member 35 is joined to the first member 31 between the first fastening member 51 and the second fastening member 52.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second member 35 in this example has a second upper plate 36 and a second lower plate 37. When viewed from the right, the second member 35 has a C-shape. The second upper plate 36 is configured in an L-shape. The second upper plate 36 has a second ceiling portion 361 and a second rear wall portion 362. The second ceiling portion 361 and the second rear wall portion 362 are configured in a continuous manner. The second lower plate 37 is configured in an L-shape. The second lower plate 37 has a second bottom portion 371 and a second rear wall portion 372. The second bottom portion 371 and the second rear wall portion 372 are configured in a continuous manner. The second ceiling portion 361 and the second bottom portion 371 face each other with a gap between them. The second rear wall portion 362 and the second rear wall portion 372 are overlapped in the front-rear direction, and the overlapped areas are joined.

3 and 4, the second ceiling portion 361 of this example is joined by a joint 55 around the cutout 321a on the underside of the first ceiling portion 321. In FIG. 3, the joint 55 is indicated by an X mark. In this example, as shown in FIG. 3, the number of joints 55 between the second ceiling portion 361 and the first ceiling portion 321 is three. Two joints 55 are provided forward of the second fastening member 52, and one joint 55 is provided on the vehicle interior side of the second fastening member 52. The number of joints 55 between the second ceiling portion 361 and the first ceiling portion 321 is not limited to three. As shown in FIG. 4, the second bottom portion 371 of this example is joined by a joint 55 around the cutout 331a on the upper surface of the first bottom portion 331. In this example, the number of joints 55 between the second bottom 371 and the first bottom 331 is the same as the number of joints 55 between the second ceiling 361 and the first ceiling 321, but may be different. The location where the joints 55 between the second bottom 371 and the first bottom 331 are provided is the same as the location where the joints 55 between the second ceiling 361 and the first ceiling 321 are provided, but may be different. The joints 55 can be formed by welding such as spot welding (SPW) or spot welding. The second rear wall 362 and the second rear wall 372 are joined to the front surfaces of the first rear wall 323 and the first rear wall 333. The second fastening member 52 fastens the second member 35 and the front side member 2 by penetrating the part of the second ceiling 361 exposed from the notch 321a and the part of the second bottom 371 exposed from the notch 331a.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second ceiling portion 361 in this example has a front end 361a configured to move away from the first ceiling portion 321 as it moves forward. The front end 361a is provided forward of the joint portion 55. The front end 361a in this example is inclined. Unlike this example, the front end 361a may be curved. The second bottom portion 371 in this example has a front end 371a configured to move away from the first bottom portion 331 as it moves forward. The front end 371a is provided forward of the joint portion 55. The front end 371a in this example is inclined. Unlike this example, the front end 371a may be curved.

(plate material)
The plate material 39 breaks at least a part of the joint portion 55 during a frontal collision. The plate material 39 is joined to the first member 31. The number of the plate materials 39 may be one or more. In this example, the number of the plate materials 39 is two.

As shown in FIG. 3, one plate material 39 is joined to the underside of the first ceiling portion 321 by a joint 56. In this example, the number of joints 56 is four. The four joints 56 are provided between the first fastening member 51 and the upper curved portion 321b, two in the front and two in the rear, and two on the left and right. The number of joints 56 is not limited to four. In this example, the length along the vehicle width of the plate material 39 joined to the underside of the first ceiling portion 321 is substantially equal to the length along the vehicle width of the second ceiling portion 361, but may be longer or shorter than the length along the vehicle width of the second ceiling portion 361. The length along the vehicle width of the plate material 39 joined to the underside of the first ceiling portion 321 may be equal to or greater than the outer width of the two left and right joints 55. The outer width of the two left and right joints 55 is the length along the vehicle width between the left end of the left joint 55 and the right end of the right joint 55. As shown in FIG. 4, one plate 39 is joined to the upper surface of the first bottom 331 by a joint 56. In this example, the number of joints 56 between the plate 39 and the first bottom 331 is the same as the number of joints 56 between the plate 39 and the first ceiling 321, but may be different. In this example, the location where the joints 56 between the plate 39 and the first bottom 331 are provided is the same as the location where the joints 56 between the plate 39 and the first ceiling 321 are provided, but may be different. In this example, the length along the vehicle width of the plate 39 joined to the upper surface of the first bottom 331 is the same as the length along the vehicle width of the plate 39 joined to the lower surface of the first ceiling 321, but may be different.

(Positional relationship between the front end and the plate material)
4, the front ends 361a, 371a and the rear ends of the plate members 39 are disposed rearward of the upper curved portion 321b and the lower curved portion 331b. That is, a portion of each plate member 39 overlaps with the upper curved portion 321b and the lower curved portion 331b.

(Behavior during a frontal collision)
During a frontal collision of the vehicle, the load acting on the left and right front side members 2 causes the recesses 21 of the left and right front side members 2 to deform so as to be convex toward the vehicle interior side. The deformation of the recesses 21 toward the vehicle interior side displaces the first fastening member 51 rearward. The rearward displacement of the first fastening member 51 causes the plate members 39 to displace rearward. The rearwardly displaced plate members 39 break at least a part of the joint portion 55 between the second ceiling portion 361 and the first ceiling portion 321, and break at least a part of the joint portion 55 between the second bottom portion 371 and the first bottom portion 331. As a result, the joint strength between the first member 31 and the second member 35 is weakened, and the vicinity of the second fastening member 52 is deformed so as to be convex toward the vehicle exterior side. These deformations cause the left and right front side members 2 to buckle in an accordion-like manner. In this way, the vehicle structure 1 can appropriately control the buckling of the left and right front side members 2, and can effectively absorb the collision load.

Because the first ceiling portion 321 has the upper curved portion 321b and the first bottom portion 331 has the lower curved portion 331b, the first ceiling portion 321 and the first bottom portion 331 are likely to deform in the event of a frontal collision as the first fastening member 51 is displaced rearward as described above. Therefore, each plate material 39 is likely to be displaced rearward. In particular, because the length of the upper curved portion 321b and the lower curved portion 331b along the vehicle width is longer than the length of each plate material 39 along the vehicle width, each plate material 39 is likely to be displaced rearward. Because the length of each plate material 39 along the vehicle width is equal to or greater than the outer width of the two left and right joints 55, at least a portion of the joints 55 is likely to be broken by each plate material 39.

In the example of FIG. 4, the rear end of each plate material 39 is closer to the joint 55 between the second ceiling portion 361 and the first ceiling portion 321, and the joint 55 between the second bottom portion 371 and the first bottom portion 331, compared to the modified example shown in FIG. 5 described later. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 4, when each plate material 39 is displaced rearward as described above during a frontal collision, each plate material 39 is more likely to break at least a part of the joint 55 between the second ceiling portion 361 and the first ceiling portion 321, and the joint 55 between the second bottom portion 371 and the first bottom portion 331, compared to the example of FIG. 5.

In the vehicle structure 1, the front ends 361a, 371a and the respective plate materials 39 of the second member 35 are disposed inside the first member 31. Therefore, in the vehicle structure 1, the front ends 361a, 371a and the edges of the respective plate materials 39 are unlikely to come into contact with the hands of the worker during the assembly work. Therefore, the vehicle structure 1 has excellent assembly workability.

<<Variation>>
A modified vehicle structure will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The modified vehicle structure differs from the vehicle structure 1 of the embodiment in the positions of the front ends 361a, 371a and the rear ends of the plate members 39. As shown in Fig. 5, the front ends 361a, 371a and the rear ends of the plate members 39 may be disposed at positions overlapping the upper curved portion 321b and the lower curved portion 331b.

5, the distance between the first ceiling portion 321 and the front end portion 361a and the distance between the first bottom portion 331 and the front end portion 371a are larger than those in the example of FIG. 4. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 5, when each plate material 39 is displaced rearward as described above during a frontal collision, the plate material 39 joined to the first ceiling portion 321 is more likely to be inserted between the second ceiling portion 361 and the first ceiling portion 321, and the plate material 39 joined to the first bottom portion 331 is more likely to be inserted between the second bottom portion 371 and the first bottom portion 331, compared to the example of FIG. 4. Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 5, the contact area between the plate material 39 and the first member 31 and the contact area between the second member 35 and the first member 31 are smaller than those in the example of FIG. 4, so that rust and abnormal noise caused by vibration during driving are more easily suppressed.

The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is indicated by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

The upper curved portion 321b shown in Figures 4 and 5 may be configured to be convex downward, and the lower curved portion 331b may be configured to be convex upward. In this case, the second ceiling portion 361 is joined by a joint 55 to the periphery of the notch 321a on the upper surface of the first ceiling portion 321. The second bottom portion 371 is joined by a joint 55 to the periphery of the notch 331a on the lower surface of the first bottom portion 331. One plate material 39 is fixed to the upper surface of the first ceiling portion 321. One plate material 39 is fixed to the lower surface of the first bottom portion 331.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 vehicle structure 2 front side member 21 recess 3 support member 30 main body member 30a front member 30b rear member 30c connecting member 31 first member 32 first upper plate 321 first ceiling portion 321a cutout portion 321b upper curved portion 322 first front wall portion 323 first rear wall portion 33 first lower plate 331 first bottom portion 331a cutout portion 331b lower curved portion 332 first front wall portion 333 first rear wall portion 35 second member 36 second upper plate 361 second ceiling portion 361a front end portion 362 second rear wall portion 37 second lower plate 371 second bottom portion 371a front end portion 372 second rear wall portion 39 plate material 4 electrical equipment 41 aggregation unit 42 Motor 51 First fastening member 52 Second fastening member 53 Third fastening member 55, 56 Joint 91 Dash panel 92 Apron member 93 Suspension tower

Claims (2)

Front side members arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle;
A vehicle structure including a support member bridged to the front side member,
The support member is
a first member fastened to a front of each of the front side members by a first fastening member;
a second member fastened to the rear of each of the front side members by a second fastening member;
a main body member arranged to connect the first members and to which electrical equipment is attached;
A plate member fixed to the first member ,
The first member and the second member have a joint portion joined to each other between the first fastening member and the second fastening member,
The plate material is disposed so as to face the front of the joint,
In the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, at least a part of the joint is broken by the plate member displaced rearward in accordance with the rearward displacement of the first fastening member.
Vehicle structure. The first member is configured in a cylindrical shape,
The vehicle structure according to claim 1 , wherein the second member has a front end portion configured to move away from the plate member as it extends forward.

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