Vehicle back door structure

Abstract

To provide a back door structure for vehicle capable of preventing liquid drip of paint dripping onto a design surface of a back door for vehicle during a painting step.SOLUTION: A back door structure 100 for vehicle includes: an outer panel 106 configuring an outer surface of a back door 102 for vehicle where a window frame 104 is formed; and an inner panel 108 which is assembled with the outer panel and composes an inner surface of the back door for vehicle. In the back door structure for vehicle, the outer panel has an upper panel 110 and a lower panel 112 vertically divided within a height range of the window frame. The upper panel is bonded by overlapping the lower panel from outside the vehicle to form a bonding part 114 together with the lower panel. The bonding part tilts downward more as it approaches the window frame.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a back door structure for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] A vehicle back door for a vehicle such as an automobile includes an outer panel that forms the outer surface of the vehicle and an inner panel that is assembled to the outer panel and forms the inner surface of the vehicle (for example, Patent Document 1). In the vehicle door structure described in Patent Document 1, the outer panel is divided into an upper outer panel and a lower outer panel.

[0003] Patent document 1 states that since the outer panel is divided into an upper outer panel and a lower outer panel, the upper outer panel and the lower outer panel can be molded separately using smaller molding dies, thereby improving the formability of the outer panels and the workability during the molding process. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-104376 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the vehicle door structure of Patent Document 1, paint accumulates at the seam (joint) between the upper outer panel and the lower outer panel during the painting process, and the paint remaining at the joint may drip onto the outer surface (design surface) of the vehicle back door, for example, during drying or transportation. If dripping occurs on the design surface of the vehicle back door, a correction operation, i.e., a grinding process for grinding the design surface, is required during the painting process, which impairs workability.

[0006] In view of such problems, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle tailgate structure that can prevent paint from dripping onto the design surface of the vehicle tailgate during the painting process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the vehicle tailgate structure of the present invention is a vehicle tailgate structure comprising an outer panel that forms the outer surface of the vehicle tailgate in which a window frame is formed, and an inner panel that is assembled to the outer panel and forms the inner surface of the vehicle tailgate, the outer panel having an upper panel and a lower panel that are divided vertically within the height range of the window frame, the upper panel is overlapped and joined to the lower panel from the outside of the vehicle and forms a joint together with the lower panel, and the joint is inclined downward as it approaches the window frame. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle back door structure that can prevent paint from dripping onto the design surface of the vehicle back door during the painting process. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic view of a vehicle back door to which a vehicle back door structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied; [Diagram 2] 2 is a diagram showing a main part of the vehicle back door structure of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a main part of a vehicle back door structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram showing a modified example of the vehicle back door structure of FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific values ​​shown in the embodiment are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are given the same reference numerals to avoid repeated explanations, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0011] A vehicle tailgate structure according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an outer panel forming an outer surface of a vehicle tailgate having a window frame, and an inner panel assembled to the outer panel forming an inner surface of the vehicle tailgate, the outer panel having an upper panel and a lower panel divided vertically within the height range of the window frame, the upper panel overlapping and joined to the lower panel from the outside of the vehicle and forming a joint together with the lower panel, and the joint sloping downward as it approaches the window frame.

[0012] In the above configuration, the joint is formed by overlapping the lower end of the upper panel and the upper end of the lower panel, which are divided into upper and lower parts, and is inclined downward as it approaches the window frame. Therefore, as an example, paint that adheres to the upper end of the lower panel during the painting process flows toward the window frame along the inclined upper end of the lower panel at the joint. Note that the paint includes electrodeposition liquid and cleaning liquid that adhere during the immersion process in the body painting line.

[0013] This makes it difficult for paint to accumulate at the joint between the upper panel and the lower panel, and prevents the remaining paint from dripping onto the outer surface (design surface) of the vehicle back door. As a result, defects caused by dripping on the design surface of the vehicle back door can be reduced, and correction work during the painting process, i.e., the grinding process for grinding the design surface, is no longer necessary, reducing the number of labor hours.

[0014] The above-mentioned lower panel has a bulge portion that bulges outward from the joint downward toward the outside of the vehicle, an inclined portion formed on the end face of the bulge portion facing the window frame and inclined so as to approach the window frame as it extends downward from the joint, and a notch portion formed by cutting out the lower end of the inclined portion that reaches the window frame.

[0015] As a result, paint that adheres to the upper end of the lower panel at the joint during the painting process flows along the inclined upper end of the lower panel toward the window frame, and then flows into the inclined portion formed in the bulging part of the lower panel. The paint that has flowed into the inclined portion is then discharged from the notch at the bottom end of the inclined portion into the space between the lower panel and the inner panel.

[0016] According to the above-mentioned configuration, it is possible to prevent paint from dripping onto the design surface of the vehicle back door, thereby reducing defects caused by dripping on the design surface. Therefore, correction work is not required during the painting process, and the number of steps can be reduced. In addition, since the paint is discharged between the lower panel and the inner panel from the notch in the inclined portion, the paint can be made inconspicuous.

[0017] The upper end of the lower panel has a pair of curved ridges that curve away from each other as they move upward at the joint, and each of the pair of ridges has a rounded portion that curves toward the lower end of the upper panel as it moves rearward.

[0018] This allows a gap to be secured between the pair of ridges at the top end of the lower panel and the bottom end of the upper panel at the joint. Therefore, paint that adheres to the top end of the lower panel during the painting process is actively discharged from the gap without accumulating at the joint. This reduces defects caused by dripping on the design surface, eliminates the need for correction work during the painting process, and reduces the number of steps. EXAMPLES

[0019] Fig. 1 is a diagram that shows a vehicle back door 102 to which a vehicle back door structure 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. Fig. 1(a) shows the vehicle back door 102 as viewed from the rear of the vehicle. Fig. 1(b) is a diagram that shows a schematic cross section of the vehicle back door structure 100 of Fig. 1(a) taken along line AA.

[0020] In the following drawings, the front-rear direction of the vehicle is indicated by the arrows FRONT and BACK, the left and right directions of the vehicle width are indicated by the arrows LEFT and RIGHT, and the up-down direction of the vehicle is indicated by the arrows UP and DOWN. In the following description, the vehicle back door structure 100 on the right side of the vehicle back door 102 in FIG. 1(a) is illustrated, but this embodiment may be applied to the left side of the vehicle back door 102.

[0021] The vehicle back door structure 100 is applied to a vehicle back door 102 having a window frame 104 formed therein as shown in Fig. 1(a), and includes an outer panel 106 and an inner panel 108 (see Fig. 2). The outer panel 106 constitutes the outer surface (design surface) of the vehicle back door 102. The inner panel 108 is attached to the outer panel 106 and constitutes the inner surface of the vehicle back door 102.

[0022] The outer panel 106 has an upper panel 110 and a lower panel 112 that are divided into upper and lower parts within the height range of the window frame 104. The upper panel 110 is overlapped and joined to the lower panel 112 from the exterior side of the vehicle as shown in Fig. 1(b), and forms a joint 114 together with the lower panel 112. The joint 114 is formed by overlapping a lower end 116 of the upper panel 110 and an upper end 118 of the lower panel 112.

[0023] In the painting process for painting the vehicle body including the vehicle back door 102, paint W may accumulate on the upper end 118 of the lower panel 112 at the joint 114 as shown in Fig. 1(b). The paint includes electrodeposition liquid and cleaning liquid that adhere during the immersion process in the vehicle body painting line.

[0024] In such a case, the paint W remaining at the joint 114 may drip, for example, during drying or transportation, along the path indicated by arrow B onto the decorative surface 120 of the vehicle back door 102, which is the exterior surface of the lower panel 112. If dripping occurs on the decorative surface 120 of the vehicle back door 102, a grinding process (correction work) is required to grind the decorative surface 120 during the painting process, impairing workability.

[0025] Therefore, in the vehicle tailgate structure 100 of this embodiment, a configuration is adopted that makes it difficult for paint W to accumulate at the joint 114 between the upper panel 110 and the lower panel 112, and prevents paint W remaining at the joint 114 from dripping onto the decorative surface 120 of the vehicle tailgate 102.

[0026] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a main part of the vehicle back door structure 100 of Fig. 1. In the vehicle back door structure 100, the joint 114 is inclined downward as it approaches the window frame 104. Specifically, the upper end 118 of the lower panel 112 at the joint 114 is inclined downward as it approaches the window frame 104, as shown by dotted line C. In addition, the lower end 116 of the upper panel 110 at the joint 114 is also inclined downward as it approaches the window frame 104. For this reason, the parting by the joint 114 between the upper panel 110 and the lower panel 112 is also inclined.

[0027] As a result, the paint W (see FIG. 1(b)) that adheres to the upper end 118 of the lower panel 112 during the painting process flows along the inclined upper end 118 of the lower panel 112 toward the window frame 104 through the path shown by the dotted line D in FIG. 2.

[0028] Therefore, in the vehicle back door structure 100, paint is less likely to accumulate at the joint 114, and it is possible to prevent paint remaining at the joint 114 from dripping onto the design surface 120 of the vehicle back door 102. As a result, defects caused by dripping on the design surface 120 can be reduced, making correction work unnecessary during the painting process and reducing the number of steps.

[0029] The lower panel 112 further has a bulging portion 122, an inclined portion 124, and a cutout portion 126. The bulging portion 122 is a portion that bulges outward from the joint portion 114 downward. The inclined portion 124 is formed on an end surface 128 of the bulging portion 122 on the window frame 104 side, and is inclined so as to approach the window frame 104 as it extends downward from the joint portion 114. The cutout portion 126 is formed by cutting out a lower end 130 of the inclined portion 124 that reaches the window frame 104.

[0030] As a result, the paint not only flows along the sloped upper end 118 of the lower panel 112 through the path indicated by dotted line D toward the window frame 104, but also flows into the sloped portion 124 of the bulge 122 through the paths indicated by dotted lines E and F. The paint that has flowed into the sloped portion 124 then travels through the path indicated by dotted line G from a notch 126 formed by cutting out the lower end 130 of the sloped portion 124, and is discharged into the interior of the panel, i.e., between the lower panel 112 and the inner panel 108.

[0031] In this way, the vehicle tailgate structure 100 not only reduces defects caused by dripping on the design surface 120 of the vehicle tailgate 102, eliminating the need for correction work during the painting process, but also makes the paint less noticeable by discharging the paint into the panel through the cutout 126 of the inclined portion 124.

[0032] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a main part of a vehicle back door structure 100A according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3(a) shows the vehicle back door structure 100A in correspondence with Fig. 2. Fig. 3(b) is an enlarged view showing a part of the vehicle back door structure 100A in Fig. 3(a). Fig. 3(c) is an HH cross-sectional view of Fig. 3(b).

[0033] The vehicle back door structure 100A differs from the vehicle back door structure 100 described above in that a gap 132 is provided between an upper end portion 118A of the lower panel 112A and a lower end portion 116 of the upper panel 110 at a joint portion 114A.

[0034] The upper end 118A of the lower panel 112A has a pair of ridges 134, 136 that curve so as to move away from each other as they move upward at the joint 114A, as shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b). The pair of ridges 134, 136 each have rounded portions 138, 140, as shown in Figure 3(b). The rounded portions 138, 140 have a curved, rounded shape that approaches the lower end 116 of the upper panel 110 as they move rearward, as shown in Figure 3(c).

[0035] In this manner, in the vehicle back door structure 100A, a gap 132 can be secured between the pair of ridge lines 134, 136 of the upper end portion 118A of the lower panel 112A and the lower end portion 116 of the upper panel 110.

[0036] This allows the paint to flow along the inclined upper end 118A of the lower panel 112A through the path indicated by dotted line I toward the window frame 104, and then through the path indicated by point J through the gap 132 secured in the joint 114A into the inclined portion 124.

[0037] In this manner, in the vehicle back door structure 100A, paint adhering to the upper end portion 118A of the lower panel 112A during the painting process is actively discharged from the gap 132 without accumulating at the joint portion 114A. This reduces defects caused by dripping on the design surface 120 of the vehicle back door 102A, eliminates the need for correction work during the painting process, and reduces the number of steps.

[0038] As an example, in the vehicle tailgate structure 100A, the radius of curvature of the rounded portions 138, 140 of the ridge lines 134, 136 is formed to be larger than the radius of curvature of the curved shape of the ridge lines 134, 136, in particular about twice as large, thereby making it easier for the paint to be discharged.

[0039] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a modified example of the vehicle back door structure 100A of Fig. 3. The modified vehicle back door structure 100B differs from the vehicle back door structure 100A in that the joint portion 114B is not inclined.

[0040] As shown in the figure, the joint 114B is formed by overlapping the lower end 116A of the upper panel 110A and the upper end 118B of the lower panel 112B, neither of which is inclined. However, the joint 114B secures a gap 132A between a pair of ridges 134A, 136A of the upper end 118B of the lower panel 112B and the lower end 116A of the upper panel 110A.

[0041] Therefore, in the vehicle tailgate structure 100B, paint can flow along the path indicated by dotted line K along the upper end portion 118B of the lower panel 112B, and then through the path indicated by point L, from the gap 132A secured in the joint 114B into the inclined portion 124.

[0042] Therefore, according to the vehicle back door structure 100B, paint adhering to the upper end portion 118B of the lower panel 112B during the painting process can be actively discharged from the gap 132A of the joint portion 114B. As a result, defects caused by dripping on the design surface 120 of the vehicle back door 102B are reduced, correction work is not required during the painting process, and the number of steps can be reduced.

[0043] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can think of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0044] The present invention can be used in a vehicle back door structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 100, 100A, 100B... vehicle back door structure, 102, 102A, 102B... vehicle back door, 104... window frame, 106, 106A, 106B... outer panel, 108... inner panel, 110, 110A... upper panel, 112, 112A, 112B... lower panel, 114, 114A, 114B... joint, 116, 11 6A...lower end of upper panel, 118, 118A, 118B...upper end of lower panel, 120...design surface of vehicle back door, 122...bulge, 124...inclined portion, 126...notch, 128...end face of bulge, 130...lower end of inclined portion, 132, 132A...gap, 134, 134A, 136, 136A...ridge line, 138, 140...rounded portion of ridge line

Claims

1. A vehicle back door structure including an outer panel forming an outer surface of a vehicle back door having a window frame, and an inner panel assembled to the outer panel forming an inner surface of the vehicle back door, the outer panel has an upper panel and a lower panel that are divided into upper and lower parts within the height range of the window frame, the upper panel is joined to the lower panel from the vehicle exterior side to form a joint portion together with the lower panel, A vehicle back door structure, wherein the joint portion is inclined downward as it approaches the window frame.

2. The lower panel is a bulging portion that bulges downward from the joint toward the vehicle exterior; an inclined portion formed on an end surface of the bulging portion facing the window frame and inclined downward from the joint portion so as to approach the window frame; 2. The vehicle back door structure according to claim 1, further comprising a notch formed by cutting out a lower end of the inclined portion that reaches the window frame.

3. the upper end of the lower panel has a pair of ridge lines that curve upwardly at the joint and move away from each other; 3. The vehicle back door structure according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of ridge lines has a rounded portion that is curved so as to approach a lower end portion of the upper panel as it extends rearward.

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