Rear bumper device for vehicles

Abstract

Rear bumper device of a vehicle or motor vehicle, comprising: a rear bumper cover (100) having an exhaust opening portion extending in a forward direction or longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a main rear fairing (300), a portion of which is mounted on or with the exhaust opening portion; and a rear fairing cover (200) coupled to and enclosing or enclosing, or at least partially enclosing or enclosing, an outer periphery of a tubular portion (310) of the main rear fairing (300), wherein the Rear fairing cover (200) has an angled or bent or curved portion (211) to substantially continuously or continuously cover the main rear fairing (300) and the Rear cowl cover (200) to allow exhaust gas to flow therethrough substantially smoothly, wherein a guide portion (240) is formed at or in or on the angled or bent or curved portion (211) to cover the inner periphery of a distal end of the tubular portion (310).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a rear bumper device for vehicles or motor vehicles, which has a rear panel cover through which the exhaust or the exhaust tailpipe of a muffler or exhaust silencer is inserted, as well as passenger vehicles or motor vehicles having such rear bumper devices. Description of the state of the art

[0002] In a vehicle, a rear fascia is mounted on the rear bumper cover or bumper cover in such a way that the exhaust or tailpipe of a muffler or exhaust silencer is or can be installed or inserted through the rear fascia.

[0003] Referring to Fig. 1, a rear fairing 10 composed of a main rear fairing 16, a rear fairing upper cover 12, and a rear fairing lower cover 13 is mounted on the rear bumper cover 20 such that the rear fairing 10 is aligned with the exhaust hole of the rear bumper cover 20.

[0004] When the rear bumper cover 20 and the rear fascia 10 are assembled together, the rear fascia 10 is mounted to the rear bumper cover 20 by means of separate fastening parts 11, and an insert part 15 of the rear fascia 10 through which the exhaust or the exhaust tailpipe of a muffler or the exhaust silencer is inserted or introduced is or is fastened to the rear bumper cover 20 by a welded fastening part 14.

[0005] Since the rear fascia 10 is attached to the rear bumper cover 20 by means of separate fasteners 11, manufacturing and material costs increase, and the additional welding process reduces ease of assembly. Since welded parts are exposed to the outside, the exterior appearance is also likely to deteriorate.

[0006] Meanwhile, referring to Fig. 2, the rear cowl upper cover 12 and the rear cowl lower cover 13 are locked in a surface-matched manner such that they are fitted around the main rear cowl and then welded to the main rear cowl 16. Currently, at the distal end of the main rear cowl 16, in the area A' between the rear cowl covers 12 and 13 and the main rear cowl 16, a step or gap (of approximately 5 mm) different from the original design occurs. In this state, exhaust downflow noise or flow-induced noise is generated in the region A' due to the existence of the discontinuous portion, ie, step or gap, thereby generating vibration noise in the rear cowl 10 when exhaust gas flows through the rear cowl 10 via the exhaust pipe of the muffler.

[0007] Rear bumper devices and passenger vehicles or motor vehicles having rear bumper devices are known from the documents DE 10 2007 037 599 A1, US 2 850 314 A, US 2 979 357 A and JP 2006- 316 705 A. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a rear bumper device or rear bumper assembly (rear bumper device for short) for a vehicle or motor vehicle that can reduce rear seat noise, including noise generated due to vibration in the connection between the main rear fascia and the rear bumper cover, and flow-induced noise. This object is achieved by the features of claims 1 and 11. Further embodiments are evident from the subclaims.

[0009] One aspect of the present invention is directed to a rear bumper assembly or rear bumper device of a vehicle or motor vehicle, comprising a rear bumper cover having an exhaust opening portion extending in a forward direction (e.g., a forward direction) or longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a main rear fascia, a portion of which is mounted on or with the exhaust opening portion, and a rear fascia cover having an outer periphery (e.g.,an outer periphery) of a tubular portion of the main rear cowl and enclosing or enclosing or at least partially enclosing or enclosing the same, the rear cowl cover having an angled or bent or curved portion for substantially continuously coupling the main rear cowl and the rear cowl cover therebetween to allow exhaust gas to flow substantially smoothly therethrough, a guide portion being formed at or in or on the angled or bent or curved portion to cover the inner periphery of a distal end of the tubular portion.

[0010] A gap filler may be filled between the distal end of the tubular portion and the curved portion to improve the continuity between the main rear fascia and the rear fascia cover. The curved portion may define a diameter gradually decreasing toward a longitudinal axis of the main rear fascia in the connecting portion between both the main rear fascia and the rear fascia cover. A locking flange for locking the main rear fascia to the rear bumper cover may be monolithically formed on the main rear fascia. The locking flange may include a bulge portion protruding from the main rear fascia in the rearward direction of the vehicle and / or a locking opening or hole formed therein.which is positioned at the bulge area, whereby a fastening bolt can be clamped or locked thereby.

[0011] The rear cowl cover may include an upper cover and a lower cover that may be coupled to each other. Spot-welded portions to be spot-welded to each other may be formed protrudingly on the sides of the upper cover and the lower cover, respectively. The upper cover and the lower cover may be made monolithic to form a single body.

[0012] The guide area may be filled to improve the continuity between the main rear fairing and the rear fairing cover. A gap filler may be filled between the distal end of the tubular area and the curved area to improve the continuity between the main rear fairing and the rear fairing cover.

[0013] A passenger vehicle or motor vehicle may include any of the bumper devices or bumper assemblies described above. The passenger vehicle or motor vehicle may further include a guide portion formed in or on the curved portion to cover the inner periphery of a distal end of the tubular portion.

[0014] The devices of the present invention have other or novel features and advantages, which will be more fully understood and set forth in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and from the following detailed description of the invention and exemplary embodiments of the invention, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention and embodiments thereof. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS Fig. 1 is a view showing a rear fascia mounted on a rear bumper cover according to the conventional type; Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line AA of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view showing an exemplary rear bumper assembly according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a sectional view according to an explanatory example taken along the line BB in accordance with Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the state in which a main rear cover is secured to a rear bumper cover according to the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing an exemplary rear bumper assembly according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are shown in the accompanying figures and described below. While the invention will be described in connection with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention to such exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended that the invention cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also other embodiments that may be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0016] Referring to Fig. 3 to 5, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a rear cowl cover 200 is mounted on the outer surface of the tubular portion 310 of the main rear cowl 300, which has curved portions 211 bent in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular portion 310. In this configuration, the rear cowl cover 200 and the tubular portion 310 are substantially continuously coupled, so that it is possible to prevent or mitigate noise, such as vibration noise or flow-induced noise, from being generated in the connection region B' between the rear cowl cover 200 and the tubular portion 310.

[0017] In various embodiments, a gap filler or gap filling material may be filled between the bent portions 211 and the tubular portion 310 to improve the continuity or connection or transition therebetween.

[0018] Furthermore, locking flanges 320 for locking the main rear cowl 300 to the rear bumper cover 100 are formed integrally with the main rear cowl 300, so that material costs can be reduced and ease of assembly is improved.

[0019] A rear bumper device according to various embodiments of the present invention has a structure in which the main rear fascia 300 is mounted in an exhaust port portion 110 of the rear bumper cover 100, and the rear fascia cover 200 having bent portions 211 is fitted around the main rear fascia 300.

[0020] The main rear cowl 300 has a tubular portion 310 formed in the central portion of the main rear cowl 300 and extending toward the front of the vehicle (the rightward direction in Fig. 4). The tubular portion 310 is connected to the rear fairing cover 200 and is in communication or contact therewith, so that exhaust gas is or can be guided or discharged through the tubular portion 310 via the exhaust or the exhaust tailpipe of the muffler or the exhaust silencer.

[0021] The rear cowl cover 200 is fitted around the tubular portion 310 in such a manner as to surround the outer surface of the tubular portion 310. Currently, exhaust gas emission noise or flow-induced noise is likely to be generated when the exhaust gas flows through the joint portion B' between the tubular portion 310 and the rear cowl cover 200. This is because the distal end of the tubular portion 310 extends into the joint portion B', creating a step (or a gap).

[0022] However, according to the present invention, bent portions 211 bent in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular portion 310 are formed in the rear cowl cover 200, which is fitted around the outer surface of the tubular portion 310. The bent portions 211 are shaped such that the inner diameter of the rear cowl cover 200 is reduced in the joint portion B'. Accordingly, exhaust gas passed through the exhaust pipe of the muffler can smoothly flow from the rear cowl cover 200 to the tubular portion 310 through the bent portions flush with the distal end of the tubular portion 310. In order to improve the continuity or transition between the rear panel cover 200 and the tubular area 310, a gap filler orA gap-filling material may be embedded between them, as explained or described above. Due to this, rear seat noise, including exhaust downstream noise, vibration noise, and flow-induced noise, is reduced, thereby improving NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) performance.

[0023] Locking flanges 320, which are to be locked to the exhaust port portion 110 of the rear bumper cover 100, are formed near the outer edge of the main rear fascia 300. The locking flanges 320 are defined with locking holes 321 through which fastening bolts 120 are secured. Specifically, the locking flanges 320 are formed integrally with the outer edge of the main rear fascia 300. This can reduce material costs, improve ease of assembly, and ensure rigidity when the rear bumper cover 100 and the main rear fascia 300 are assembled.

[0024] As described above, this rear fascia cover 200 is connected to and in contact with the tubular portion 310 of the main rear fascia 300, and the rear fascia cover 200 is supported by the rear bumper cover 100 via the fastening parts 400. The exhaust pipe of the muffler through which exhaust gas is released is at least partially inserted into the rear fascia cover 200. The exhaust gas passed through the exhaust pipe of the muffler is released to the rear of the vehicle after passing through the rear fascia cover 200 and the main rear fascia 300.

[0025] In various embodiments of the present invention, the rear trim cover 200 is composed of an upper cover 210 and a lower cover 220 that are coupled to each other. The upper cover 210 and the lower cover 220 are fixed to each other by spot welding. For this purpose, spot welding areas 230, which are to be spot welded to each other, are formed protrudingly on the sides of the upper cover 210 and the lower cover 220.

[0026] Referring to Fig. 6, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, guide portions 240 are formed on or in the rear trim cover 200 to cover the connecting portion C' between the tubular portion 310 and the rear trim cover 200.

[0027] The guide portion 240 is positioned on the inner circumference of the tubular portion 310 and extends rearward (the leftward direction in Fig. 6) horizontally from the bent portions 211 of the rear cowl cover 200 to prevent or reduce the introduction of exhaust gas into the connecting portion C'. Accordingly, exhaust gas does not leak through the connecting portion C' and can easily or smoothly flow from the rear cowl cover 200 to the tubular portion 310.

[0028] In various other embodiments of the present invention, the guide portion 240 may be adapted or rounded or filled to improve the continuity or transition between the rear fascia cover 200 and the tubular portion 310.

[0029] In various embodiments of the present invention, the structure of the connection between the main rear fascia 300 and the rear fascia cover 200 is modified such that it is possible to prevent noise such as vibration noise and flow-induced noise from being generated when the main deck cover 300 and the rear fascia cover 200 are assembled. Since the locking flanges 320 are integrally formed with the main rear fascia 300, the ease of assembly of the rear bumper cover 100 and the main rear fascia 300 can also be improved.Due to these facts, in the present invention, it is possible to solve the problems caused in the prior art due to the fact that exhaust passage noise or flow-induced noise is generated due to the presence of a step or a gap in the joint portion A', and the ease of assembly is improved due to the separate formation with fastening parts.

[0030] As can be seen from the above description, the appearance of the final product can be improved and the manufacturing / assembly tolerances between the main rear cowl and the rear cowl cover can be increased due to the fact that the structure of the joint area between the main rear cowl and the rear cowl cover is changed. According to the present invention, rear seat noise, including exhaust passage noise, vibration noise, and flow-induced noise generated at the joint, can also be reduced, and therefore, NVH performance can be improved.

[0031] Furthermore, according to the present invention, since a locking flange is formed integrally with the main rear cover, rigidity can be improved when the rear bumper cover and the main rear cover are assembled together, material costs can be reduced, and ease of assembly can be improved.

[0032] For the purpose of ease of explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms "upper" or "lower", "front" or "rear", etc. are used to describe features of exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as shown in the figures.

Claims

[1] Rear bumper device of a vehicle or motor vehicle, comprising: a rear bumper cover (100) having an exhaust opening portion extending in a forward direction or longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a main rear fairing (300), a portion of which is mounted on or with the exhaust opening portion; and a rear fairing cover (200) coupled to and enclosing or enclosing, or at least partially enclosing or enclosing, an outer periphery of a tubular portion (310) of the main rear fairing (300), wherein the Rear fairing cover (200) has an angled or bent or curved portion (211) to substantially continuously or continuously cover the main rear fairing (300) and the Rear cowl cover (200) to allow exhaust gas to flow therethrough substantially smoothly, wherein a guide portion (240) is formed at or in or on the angled or bent or curved portion (211) to cover the inner periphery of a distal end of the tubular portion (310). [2] Rear bumper device according to claim 1, characterized by that a gap filler or gap filler is filled between the distal end of the tubular portion (310) and the bent or curved portion (211) to improve the continuity or transition between the main rear fairing (300) and the rear fairing cover (200). [3] Rear bumper device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized byin that the curved or bent portion (211) defines a diameter gradually decreasing or reducing in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the main rear fairing (300) in the connecting portion (C') of both the main rear fairing (300) and the rear fairing cover (200). [4] Rear bumper device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that a locking flange or securing flange (320) for locking or securing the main rear fairing (300) to or with the rear fairing cover (200) is formed monolithically on the main rear fairing (300). [5] Rear bumper device according to claim 4, characterized by that the locking flange or securing flange (320) has: a bulge portion projecting from the main rear panel (300) in the rearward or rearward direction of the vehicle; and a locking hole or aperture or a securing hole or aperture positioned at the bulge portion, a securing bolt or locking bolt being secured or locked thereby. [6] Rear bumper device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the rear panel cover (200) has an upper cover (210) and a lower cover (220) which are coupled to one another. [7] Rear bumper device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that spot welding areas (230) which are or are to be spot welded together are formed protrudingly on the lateral sides or sides of the upper cover (210) and the lower cover (220). [8] Rear bumper device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized bythat the upper cover (210) and the lower cover (220) are made monolithic to form a single or one-piece body. [9] Rear bumper device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the guide area (240) is filled or filled to improve the continuity between the main rear fairing (300) and the rear fairing cover (200). [10] Rear bumper device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that a gap filler or gap filling material is filled or provided between the distal end of the tubular portion (310) and in the bent or curved portion (211) in order to improve the continuity or transition or connection between the main rear fairing (300) and the rear fairing cover (200). [11] Passenger vehicle or motor vehicle, characterized bythat the passenger vehicle or motor vehicle comprises any of the above-described bumper devices according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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