cap member

Abstract

The cover member (1) has a curved upper surface (U1) that covers an upper wall portion (U) of a radiator grille (R) from above, the curved upper surface (U1) having: a sealing material arrangement region (R1) in which a foamed sealing material (S) is arranged and surrounded by a frame-shaped protrusion (1b); and a sealing material non-arrangement region (R2) that is arranged adjacent to the sealing material arrangement region (R1) and in which the foamed sealing material (S) is not arranged, the maximum curvature (C1) of the upper surface (U1) in the sealing material arrangement region (R1) being set to be smaller than the maximum curvature (C2) of the upper surface (U1) in the sealing material non-arrangement region (R2).

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-048143, filed on March 18, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to cover components. Background Technology

[0004] Typically, a radiator is located inside the engine compartment, and a grille is positioned in front of the radiator to prevent the intrusion of foreign objects and to shape the vehicle's appearance. The upper wall of the grille is usually located below the hood when the engine compartment is open or closed, and is concealed by the hood when it is closed. Sometimes, a cover component is attached to the upper wall of such a grille, which covers and conceals part of the engine compartment even when the hood is open.

[0005] Existing technical documents

[0006] Patent documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-30961 Summary of the Invention

[0008] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0009] To prevent rainwater or foreign objects from entering the engine compartment, foam sealant is sometimes applied to the upper surface of such cover components. This foam sealant is formed from a cushioning foam material and is compressed and sandwiched between the cover component and the engine hood when the hood is closed, filling the gap between them. This foam sealant is adhered to the upper surface of the cover component using an adhesive. However, if the upper surface of the cover component bends at a large curvature, a portion of the lower surface of the foam sealant may detach from the upper surface of the cover component due to the restoring force of the foam sealant.

[0010] If the foam sealant detaches in this manner, the seal may deteriorate, or the replacement cycle of the foam sealant may become shorter. The upper surface of the cover component often bends to match the shape of the hood, and in cases of significant bending of the hood, areas with large curvatures are prone to form on the upper surface of the cover component.

[0011] The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a cover member for covering the upper wall of a vehicle grille to prevent the foamed sealant material adhered to the upper surface of the cover member by an adhesive from falling off.

[0012] Solution to the problem

[0013] A first aspect of the invention is a cover member having a curved upper surface that covers the upper wall of a vehicle grille from above. The curved upper surface includes: a sealing material placement area having a foamed sealing material disposed thereon and surrounded by a protrusion; and a sealing material non-placement area disposed adjacent to the sealing material placement area and without the foamed sealing material, wherein the maximum curvature of the upper surface in the sealing material placement area is set to be smaller than the maximum curvature of the upper surface in the sealing material non-placement area.

[0014] A second aspect of the invention is that, in the first aspect described above, a platform is provided that protrudes upward relative to the surroundings and extends in the vehicle width direction, wherein the sealing material placement area and the sealing material non-placement area are arranged adjacent to each other on the upper surface of the platform in the extending direction of the platform.

[0015] A third aspect of the invention is that, in the second aspect described above, in a cross-section orthogonal to the extending direction of the platform, the central portion of the non-positioned area of ​​the sealing material is curved downwards, and the central portion has a portion with the greatest curvature in the non-positioned area of ​​the sealing material.

[0016] The effects of the invention

[0017] According to the present invention, the sealing material configuration area where the foamed sealing material is configured is surrounded by a protrusion. Therefore, during the installation operation of the foamed sealing material, the area for applying adhesive or a primer to improve the adhesion between the adhesive and the foamed sealing material can be clearly defined, ensuring that the adhesive or primer is reliably applied to the sealing material configuration area, thereby improving the adhesion strength between the foamed sealing material and the cover member. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the sealing material configuration area is curved with a decreasing maximum curvature relative to the adjacent non-sealing material configuration area. That is, according to the present invention, the upper surface of the sealing material configuration area is a gentler surface than the non-sealing material configuration area. Therefore, the restoring force of the foamed sealing material adhering to such a sealing material configuration area can be reduced, preventing the foamed sealing material from detaching. Therefore, according to the present invention, the cover member covering the upper wall of a vehicle grille can prevent the foamed sealing material adhered to the upper surface of the cover member by adhesive from detaching. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is an enlarged perspective view of the front of a vehicle equipped with the cover component according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a perspective view schematically illustrating a portion of a cover component according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 yes Figure 2AA cross-section view.

[0021] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 BB cross-section. Detailed Implementation

[0022] In the following description, an embodiment of the cover component according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Figure 1 This is an enlarged perspective view of the front of a vehicle equipped with the cover component 1 of this embodiment. Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle includes a radiator grille R (vehicle grille). The radiator grille R is located at the center of the front surface of the vehicle and is positioned in front of the radiator located inside the engine compartment. The radiator grille R is, for example, a component with an electroplated surface on a resin substrate, and is fixed to a frame (not shown). Furthermore, the radiator grille R is positioned below the leading edge of the hood H, which controls the opening and closing of the engine compartment, and has an exterior design portion visible from the outside when the hood H is closed, and a portion not visible from the outside when the hood H is closed. In this embodiment, the radiator grille R has an upper wall portion U, which, as a portion not visible from the outside when the hood H is closed, extends from the back of the exterior design portion toward the rear of the vehicle and is positioned at the uppermost part of the portion not visible from the outside when the hood H is closed. Furthermore, Figure 1 This indicates that the hood H is not completely closed and the upper wall U is visible.

[0024] In this embodiment, the cover member 1 is a plate-shaped member that covers the upper wall portion U of the radiator grille R from above and is disposed inside the engine compartment. Figure 2 This is a perspective view schematically showing a portion of the cover component 1. As shown in the figure, a foamed sealing material S is disposed on the upper surface U1 of the cover component 1.

[0025] The foamed sealing material S is, for example, a sponge-like sealing material made of synthetic rubber, which can be easily compressed and deformed. The foamed sealing material S can be easily elastically deformed, but in the absence of external force, it is a sheet-like component with flat upper and lower surfaces. This foamed sealing material S is adhered to the upper surface U1 of the cover component 1 using a primer and adhesive. Figure 3 yes Figure 2The figure shows a cross-sectional view (AA). As shown in the figure, the thickness of the foamed sealing material S is greater than the distance from the upper surface U1 of the cover member 1 to the lower surface of the closed engine hood H. This foamed sealing material S is compressed and sandwiched between the cover member 1 and the engine hood H, filling the gap between them. In this way, the foamed sealing material S fills the gap between the cover member 1 and the engine hood H, thereby preventing rainwater or foreign objects from entering the engine compartment. Furthermore, one or more foamed sealing materials S are provided relative to the upper surface U1 of the cover member 1.

[0026] In this embodiment, the cover member 1 extends in the vehicle width direction and is configured to cover the left end of the engine compartment from the right end of the engine compartment at the front end. This cover member 1 is formed of resin, for example, by injection molding. Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, in a cross-section orthogonal to the vehicle width direction, the middle portion of the hood H located above the cover member 1 is bent in a downward bulging manner. The cover member 1 also matches the shape of the hood H, and is bent as a whole in a cross-section orthogonal to the vehicle width direction, with its central portion bulging downward.

[0027] like Figure 2 As shown, the cover member 1 has a platform 1a extending in the vehicle width direction. This platform 1a is a portion that protrudes upward from a reference surface, using the surface of the hood H at certain intervals relative to the hood H as a reference surface. In this embodiment, as described above, since the hood H is curved, the reference surface is also curved in the same way as the hood H, and the platform 1a protrudes upward relative to this curved reference surface. That is, compared to the upper surface U2 of the portion adjacent to the upper surface U1 (the upper surface of the platform 1a) of the cover member 1 where the platform 1a is not provided, the platform 1a is positioned above the reference surface.

[0028] like Figure 2 As shown, on the upper surface U1 of such a platform 1a, there is an adjacent sealing material configuration area R1 where foamed sealing material S is configured, and a sealing material non-configuration area R2 where no foamed sealing material S is configured and the upper surface is exposed. Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, sealing material non-configuration areas R2 are arranged adjacent to the left and right sides of the sealing material configuration area R1.

[0029] The sealing material placement area R1 is surrounded by a frame-shaped protrusion 1b provided on the upper surface U1 of the cover member 1. The frame-shaped protrusion 1b protrudes upward from the upper surface U1 of the platform 1a and is configured to surround the sealing material placement area R1 when viewed from above. The leading edge of the frame-shaped protrusion 1b is disposed above the front end of the platform 1a, and the trailing edge of the frame-shaped protrusion 1b is disposed above the rear end of the platform 1a.

[0030] Figure 3It is as described above. Figure 2 The AA cross-section is a cross-section of the area R1 through which the sealing material is configured. Figure 4 yes Figure 2 The BB cross-section is a cross-section through the unconfigured area R2 of the sealing material. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the non-sealing material area R2 bends downward from the center in a cross-section orthogonal to the extending direction (vehicle width direction) of the platform 1a, and the central part has the largest curvature (maximum curvature part C2). Furthermore, as... Figure 3 As shown, the sealing material configuration area R1 also bends downward from the center in a cross section orthogonal to the extension direction (vehicle width direction) of the platform 1a, and the central part has the part with the greatest curvature (the part with the greatest curvature C1).

[0031] exist Figure 3 In the figure, the shape of the platform 1a in the non-sealing material placement area R2 is represented by overlapping virtual lines. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, at the center of a cross-section orthogonal to the extending direction (vehicle width direction) of the platform 1a, the upper surface of the sealing material placement area R1 is a more gently curved surface than the upper surface of the non-sealing material placement area R2. That is, the curvature of the maximum curvature portion C1 of the sealing material placement area R1 is smaller than the curvature of the maximum curvature portion C2 of the non-sealing material placement area R2. Thus, in the cover member 1 of this embodiment, the maximum curvature of the upper surface U1 in the sealing material placement area R1 is set to be smaller than the maximum curvature of the upper surface U1 in the non-sealing material placement area R2.

[0032] As described above, the foamed sealant S is adhered to the sealant placement area R1 by a primer and an adhesive. That is, in this embodiment, the foamed sealant S is adhered to the sealant placement area R1, which has a smaller curvature than the portion C1 with the largest curvature compared to the non-sealant placement area R2.

[0033] Such a cover component 1 of this embodiment is formed, for example, by resin injection molding. That is, molten resin is filled into the interior of a mold having a cavity space that matches the shape of the cover component 1, the molten resin is cooled and solidified, thereby forming the cover component 1. When the foamed sealing material S is adhered to such a cover component 1 of this embodiment, a primer is first applied to the sealing material placement area R1. This primer serves as a base layer for improving the adhesive strength and bonding strength between the adhesive and the cover component 1 of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the area surrounded by the frame-shaped protrusion 1b is the sealing material placement area R1. Therefore, when applying the primer, the operator uses the frame-shaped protrusion 1b as a marker and applies the primer within the area surrounded by the frame-shaped protrusion 1b, thereby making it easy to apply the primer to the sealing material placement area R1. Furthermore, if the adhesive strength between the adhesive and the cover component 1 can be sufficiently ensured even without applying the primer, then the primer may not be applied.

[0034] Next, an adhesive for bonding the foamed sealant S is applied to the sealing material preparation area R1. In this embodiment, the area surrounded by the frame-shaped protrusion 1b is the sealing material preparation area R1. Therefore, when applying the adhesive, the operator uses the frame-shaped protrusion 1b as a marker and applies the adhesive within the area surrounded by the frame-shaped protrusion 1b, thereby making it easy to apply the adhesive to the sealing material preparation area R1.

[0035] After applying the adhesive to the sealing material preparation area R1 in this manner, the foamed sealant S is adhered to the sealing material preparation area R1. In this embodiment, the area surrounded by the frame-shaped protrusion 1b is the sealing material preparation area R1. Therefore, when preparing the foamed sealant S, the operator uses the frame-shaped protrusion 1b as a marker to prepare the foamed sealant S within the area surrounded by the frame-shaped protrusion 1b, thereby making it easy to adhere the foamed sealant S to the sealing material preparation area R1.

[0036] The entire lower surface of the foamed sealant S, adhered to the sealant configuration area R1, engages with the upper surface U1 of the cover member 1 in the sealant configuration area R1. Through the adhesive force, it maintains a curved state that matches the shape of the upper surface U1 of the cover member 1 in the sealant configuration area R1.

[0037] In this embodiment, the cover member 1 covers the upper wall U of the radiator grille R from above. Furthermore, in the cover member 1 of this embodiment, a sealing material placement area R1, which is provided with foamed sealing material S and surrounded by a frame-shaped protrusion 1b, and a sealing material non-placement area R2, which is not provided with foamed sealing material S, are arranged adjacent to each other on a curved upper surface U1. The maximum curvature of the upper surface U1 in the sealing material placement area R1 is set to be smaller than the maximum curvature of the upper surface U1 in the sealing material non-placement area R2.

[0038] According to the cover member 1 of this embodiment, the sealing material placement area R1 where the foamed sealing material S is placed is surrounded by the frame-shaped protrusion 1b. Therefore, during the installation operation of the foamed sealing material S, the area where the adhesive or primer for improving the adhesion between the adhesive and the foamed sealing material S is applied can be clearly defined, and the adhesive or primer can be reliably applied to the sealing material placement area R1, thereby improving the adhesion strength between the foamed sealing material S and the cover member 1. Furthermore, according to the cover member 1 of this embodiment, the sealing material placement area R1 is curved relative to the adjacent non-sealing material placement area R2 with a smaller maximum curvature. That is, according to the cover member 1 of this embodiment, the upper surface of the sealing material placement area R1 is a flatter surface than the non-sealing material placement area R2. Therefore, the restoring force of the foamed sealing material S adhering to such a sealing material placement area R1 can be reduced, and the foamed sealing material S can be prevented from falling off.

[0039] Furthermore, in the cover member 1 of this embodiment, there is a platform 1a that protrudes upward relative to the surrounding area and extends in the vehicle width direction. A sealing material placement area R1 and a sealing material non-placement area R2 are arranged adjacent to each other on the upper surface U1 of the platform 1a in the extending direction of the platform 1a. According to this embodiment of the cover member 1, since the sealing material placement area R1 is provided on the upper surface U1 of the platform 1a, the sealing material placement area R1 is more easily visible.

[0040] Furthermore, in the cover member 1 of this embodiment, in a cross-section orthogonal to the extending direction of the platform 1a, the central portion of the non-sealing material placement area R2 is curved downwards, and the central portion has the largest curvature (maximum curvature portion C2) of the non-sealing material placement area R2. Even with the maximum curvature portion C2 in the central portion of the non-sealing material placement area R2, since the upper surface of the sealing material placement area R1 is a flatter surface compared to the non-sealing material placement area R2, the detachment of the foamed sealing material S can be more effectively prevented.

[0041] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The various shapes and combinations of the constituent components shown in the above embodiments are examples, and various modifications can be made according to design requirements, etc., within the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.

[0042] For example, in the above embodiment, a structure in which both the sealing material placement area R1 and the sealing material non-placement area R2 are provided on the upper surface U1 of the platform 1a has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the platform 1a may be provided partially in the vehicle width direction, and only the sealing material placement area R1 may be provided on the upper surface U1 of the platform 1a.

[0043] Industrial applicability

[0044] According to the present invention, a cover member for covering the upper wall of a vehicle grille can be provided, which can prevent the foamed sealant that is adhered to the upper surface of the cover member by an adhesive from falling off.

[0045] Symbol Explanation

[0046] 1. Cover component

[0047] 1a Platform

[0048] 1b Frame-shaped protrusion (protrusion)

[0049] C1, the part with the greatest curvature

[0050] C2 Maximum curvature

[0051] H hood

[0052] R Radiator grille (vehicle grille)

[0053] R1 Sealing Material Configuration Area

[0054] R2 Sealing Material Non-Configuration Area

[0055] S foamed sealant

Claims

1. A cover member having a curved upper surface that covers an upper wall portion of a vehicle grille from above, the curved upper surface having: a sealing material arrangement region in which a foamed sealing material is arranged and surrounded by a protruding portion; and a sealing material non-arrangement region that is arranged adjacent to the sealing material arrangement region and in which the foamed sealing material is not arranged, a maximum curvature of the upper surface in the sealing material arrangement region is set to be smaller than a maximum curvature of the upper surface in the sealing material non-arrangement region, and the cover member further has a table portion that is arranged protruding upward with respect to the surroundings and extends in a vehicle width direction, the sealing material arrangement region and the sealing material non-arrangement region being arranged adjacent to each other on an upper surface of the table portion in an extension direction of the table portion.

2. The cover member of claim 1, wherein, In a cross section orthogonal to the extension direction of the table portion, a central portion of the sealing material non-arrangement region is curved in a manner that bulges downward, and a portion in which the curvature is the largest in the sealing material non-arrangement region is provided in the central portion.

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