Vehicle mudguard

Abstract

To obtain a vehicle mudguard that can prevent or restrain a flipped stone or the like from getting caught in a wheel while securing a range for receiving the flipped stone or the like.SOLUTION: A mudguard 20 is attached to a vehicle body such that an attachment base 22 is disposed on a vehicle rear side of a wheel, and a guard part 24 extends from the attachment base 22 toward the vehicle lower side. An intermediate part of the guard part 24 in a vehicle vertical direction is provided with a fragile part 40 configured to be folded along a straight line SL along a vehicle width direction when a load is input from the vehicle rear side to a lower part 24L of the guard part 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mudguard for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to mudguards. Briefly, this prior art has a mounting body that is attached to a mating part on the vehicle body side, a mudguard skirt body that hangs down from the mounting body, and a mounting piece portion that protrudes from the mounting body and has its tip fixed to the mating part. In this prior art, an elastic deformation portion that has a locally increased elasticity compared to other parts of the mounting piece portion is provided at the base of the mounting piece portion where it joins the mounting body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-137135 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the above-mentioned prior art is only capable of absorbing the impact when the skirt body comes into contact with a curb or the like, and there is room for improvement in terms of preventing flying stones and the like from getting caught in the wheels while still ensuring a range for catching them.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle mudguard that can prevent or reduce flying stones and the like from getting caught in the wheels while ensuring a range for receiving flying stones and the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The mudguard for a vehicle according to the first aspect includes a mounting base portion that is attached to the vehicle body on the rear side of the vehicle of the wheel, and a guard portion that extends downward from the mounting base portion on the vehicle side. In the middle portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle of the guard portion, a vulnerable portion is provided that bends along a straight line along the vehicle width direction when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower portion of the guard portion.

[0007] According to the mudguard for a vehicle according to the first aspect, the mounting base portion is attached to the vehicle body on the rear side of the vehicle of the wheel, and the guard portion extends downward from the mounting base portion on the vehicle side. Here, in the middle portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle of the guard portion, a vulnerable portion is provided that bends along a straight line along the vehicle width direction when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower portion of the guard portion. For this reason, the mudguard for a vehicle of the first aspect, for example, compared with a proportionality in which the guard portion bends from the end portion (upper end portion) on the mounting base portion side when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower portion of the guard portion, even when ensuring a range for receiving flying stones or the like in the same manner as the proportionality, it is possible to prevent or suppress the guard portion from being caught by the wheel.

[0008] The mudguard for a vehicle according to the second aspect is the mudguard for a vehicle according to the first aspect, and in the guard portion, in an upper guard portion that is a portion above the vulnerable portion in the vertical direction of the vehicle, a high-rigidity portion is formed that is configured to be supported by the mounting base portion and is continuously provided from the end portion on the mounting base portion side in the upper guard portion to a position adjacent to the vulnerable portion, and that increases the rigidity of the upper guard portion against a load from the rear side of the vehicle.

[0009] According to the vehicle mudguard according to the second aspect, the high-rigidity portion formed on the guard upper portion, which is a portion above the vulnerable portion in the guard portion, is configured to be supported by the mounting base portion and is continuously provided from the end portion on the mounting base portion side in the guard upper portion to the position adjacent to the vulnerable portion, thereby enhancing the rigidity of the guard upper portion against the load from the rear side of the vehicle. For this reason, when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower portion of the guard portion, it is possible to effectively suppress the deformation of the guard upper portion, and it is possible to stably bend at the vulnerable portion in the middle portion in the vehicle vertical direction of the guard portion due to the rigidity difference.

[0010] The vehicle mudguard according to the third aspect is the vehicle mudguard according to the second aspect, wherein the mounting base portion includes a vertical wall portion arranged along the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction, and a lower wall portion extending from the lower end of the vertical wall portion to the rear side of the vehicle, and the high-rigidity portion is connected to the lower surface side of the lower wall portion.

[0011] According to the vehicle mudguard according to the third aspect, since the high-rigidity portion is connected to the lower surface side of the lower wall portion of the mounting base portion, when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower portion of the guard portion, the high-rigidity portion can be stably supported by the mounting base portion. Thereby, it is possible to more effectively suppress the deformation from the end portion on the mounting base portion side of the guard portion.

[0012] The vehicle mudguard according to the fourth aspect is the vehicle mudguard according to the second aspect or the third aspect, wherein a flange portion is formed in a portion of the outer peripheral portion of the guard portion adjacent to the outer space when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a notch portion is formed in a portion of the flange portion located at at least one end in the vehicle width direction of the vulnerable portion. Note that the "outer space" in the "portion adjacent to the outer space when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction" refers to the space existing outside the vehicle mudguard when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0013] According to the vehicle mudguard according to the fourth aspect, it is possible to relatively weaken a portion located at at least one end in the vehicle width direction of a vulnerable portion among portions adjacent to the outer space in the vehicle front-rear direction on the outer peripheral side of the guard portion. Therefore, when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower portion of the guard portion, it can be bent more stably at the vulnerable portion in the middle portion of the guard portion in the vehicle up-down direction due to the rigidity difference.

[0014] The vehicle mudguard according to the fifth aspect is the vehicle mudguard according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, wherein the length in the vehicle up-down direction from the vulnerable portion to the lower end of the guard portion is set shorter than the distance in the vehicle front-rear direction between the vulnerable portion and the wheel.

[0015] According to the vehicle mudguard according to the fifth aspect, when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower portion of the guard portion and it bends at the vulnerable portion in the middle portion of the guard portion in the vehicle up-down direction, it is possible to surely prevent a portion below the vulnerable portion in the guard portion from being caught by the wheel.

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] As described above, according to the vehicle mudguard according to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that it is possible to prevent or suppress being caught by the wheel while securing a range for receiving flying stones and the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12A

Figure 12B

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] A vehicle mudguard according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the arrow FR appropriately shown indicates the front side of the vehicle, the arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle, and the arrow IN indicates the inner side in the vehicle width direction. Also, in each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted for the sake of clarity of the drawing.

[0019] (Configuration of the Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a simplified side view of a part of the rear portion of a vehicle 10 to which a mudguard 20 for a vehicle according to the present embodiment (hereinafter simply abbreviated as "mudguard 20") is attached. The mudguard 20 is provided, as an example, on the vehicle rear side of the left and right wheels 12 (the right wheel is not shown in FIG. 1) at the rear portion of the vehicle 10. The mudguard 20 according to the present embodiment is an element that can be grasped as a rear mudguard. The left and right mudguards 20 are formed in shapes that are reversed left and right with respect to each other. The mudguard 20 includes a mounting base portion 22 that is attached to the vehicle body 14 on the vehicle rear side of the wheel 12, and a guard portion 24 that extends downward from the mounting base portion 22. Note that the guard portion 24 may also be referred to as a mud removal portion.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a view of the attachment state of the mudguard 20 as seen from the front side, FIG. 3 shows a view of the mudguard 20 alone as seen from the front side, and FIG. 6 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the state cut along line 4-4 in FIG. 2. Further, FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the mudguard 20 alone as seen from the front side and obliquely upward from the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the mudguard 20 for a vehicle alone as seen from the front side and obliquely upward from the inner side in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 9, the mounting base portion 22 includes a vertical wall portion 22A arranged along the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction, and a lower wall portion 22B extending rearward from the lower end of the vertical wall portion 22A.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, an inner component portion 22M that constitutes the inner portion in the vehicle width direction of the mounting base portion 22 extends substantially along the vehicle width direction, and an outer component portion 22S that constitutes the outer portion in the vehicle width direction of the mounting base portion 22 is inclined upward in the vehicle width direction and outward. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the mounting base portion 22 includes fastened portions 22X, 22Y, 22Z that are fixed to the fender liner 16 with fasteners 31, 32, 33. In other words, the front side of the mounting base portion 22 is attached to the vehicle body 14 (see FIG. 1) via the fender liner 16.

[0022] Note that the fender liner 16 is provided inside the rear wheel house 18 (see both in FIG. 1) as part of the vehicle body 14, and includes a substantially semi-cylindrical arch portion 16A (only a part is shown in the figure) that is open downward of the vehicle and an extension portion 16B shown in FIG. 6 that extends rearward of the vehicle from the lower end of the arch portion 16A. The arch portion 16A covers the upper part of the wheel 12 (see FIG. 1) from above the vehicle.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the fastened portions 22X, 22Y, and 22Z of the mounting base 22 are set at three locations as an example. The first fastened portion 22X is set at a portion closer to the inner side in the vehicle width direction at the middle portion in the vehicle width direction of the inner component portion 22M, the second fastened portion 22Y is set at the middle portion in the vehicle width direction of the outer component portion 22S, and the third fastened portion 22Z is set on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the outer component portion 22S.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a view of the mounting state of the mudguard 20 as seen from the back side, FIG. 5 shows a view of the mudguard 20 alone as seen from the back side, and FIG. 7 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the state cut along line 7-7 in FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the mounting base 22 includes an extension portion 22C that extends obliquely upward and rearward of the vehicle in the inner component portion 22M.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, fastened portions 22J and 22K are set at two locations as an example in the extension portion 22C. One fastened portion 22J is provided at a portion on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the extension portion 22C and is fixed to the extension portion 16B of the fender liner 16 and a part of the rear wheel house 18 shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 with a fastener 34 as an example. As shown in FIG. 4, the other fastened portion 22K is provided on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the extension portion 22C and is fixed to a part of the rear wheel house 18 with a fastener 35 as an example.

[0026] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the mudguard 20 alone as viewed from the upper oblique side on the rear side and the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the mudguard 20 alone as viewed from the upper oblique side on the rear side and the outer side in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIGS. 5, 10, and 11, the fastened portions 22J and 22K project more rearward in the vehicle than other portions of the extending portion 22C.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 8, at the middle portion in the vehicle vertical direction of the guard portion 24, a fragile portion 40 (relatively fragile portion) is provided that bends along a straight line SL (virtual straight line) along the vehicle width direction when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower portion 24L of the guard portion 24. To supplement the explanation, the mudguard 20 shown in the side view of FIG. 12A, when an obstacle 100 such as a curb hits the lower portion 24L of the guard portion 24 and a load F is input during the reverse movement of the vehicle 10, as shown in the side view of FIG. 12B, the guard portion 24 bends at the fragile portion 40 in the middle portion in the vehicle vertical direction. The position of the fragile portion 40 in the vehicle vertical direction is set in consideration of the height of the assumed obstacle 100 (curb or rock).

[0028] As shown in FIG. 8, in the guard upper portion 24A, which is the portion above the fragile portion 40 in the guard portion 24, a plurality of ribs 42, 43, 44 are formed as high-rigidity portions that are configured to be supported by the mounting base 22 and are continuous from the end on the mounting base 22 side in the guard upper portion 24A to the position adjacent to the fragile portion 40. The plurality of ribs 42, 43, 44 are portions that increase the rigidity of the guard upper portion 24A against the load from the rear side of the vehicle. By providing the plurality of ribs 42, 43, 44, the guard upper portion 24A has higher rigidity against the load from the rear side of the vehicle than other portions of the guard portion 24.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, each of the plurality of ribs 42, 43, 44 extends toward the rear side of the vehicle and is formed in a substantially inverted triangular shape in side view, and is connected to the lower surface side of the lower wall portion 22B (see FIG. 9). The upper end and the front end of each of the plurality of ribs 42, 43, 44 are located near the boundary between the lower wall portion 22B (see FIG. 9) and the vertical wall portion 22A.

[0030] The first rib 42 is provided at the inner end in the vehicle width direction in the guard upper portion 24A. The second rib 43 is provided in a portion on the inner side in the vehicle width direction in the guard upper portion 24A and is spaced apart from the first rib 42 in the vehicle width direction, and is located near the lower side of the vehicle of the first fastened portion 22X of the mounting base 22. The third rib 44 is provided at the middle portion in the vehicle width direction in the guard upper portion 24A, and is located near the lower side of the vehicle of the outer portion in the vehicle width direction in the inner component portion 22M of the mounting base 22.

[0031] Also, as shown in FIG. 8, in a portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the guard upper portion 24A than the third rib 44, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 45A, 45B, 45C smaller than the ribs 42, 43, 44 are provided. Each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs 45A, 45B, 45C extends toward the rear side of the vehicle and is formed in a substantially inverted triangular shape and is connected to the mounting base 22 so as to be supported by the mounting base 22. The plurality of reinforcing ribs 45A, 45B, 45C are arranged at substantially equal intervals.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, a flange portion 46 is formed at a portion of the outer peripheral portion of the guard portion 24 that is adjacent to the outer space in the vehicle longitudinal direction (that is, the right, lower, and left portions). A notch portion 48 is formed at a portion of the flange portion 46 that is located at the inner end in the vehicle width direction of the vulnerable portion 40. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the flange portion 46 is formed, as an example, to extend forward of the vehicle and form an obtuse angle with the general front portion 24F of the guard portion 24. As shown in FIG. 8, the above-described first rib 42 can be understood as a component that also serves as a part of the flange portion 46. Further, the portion provided below the notch portion 48 and the portion continuously provided thereto in the flange portion 46 are set to have a smaller extension amount toward the front side of the vehicle than the first rib 42. Note that the notch portion 48 is an element that can be understood as a rigid body weakening portion in a broad sense.

[0033] Also, as shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 49A, 49B, 49C, 49D configured to be supported by the mounting base portion 22 are provided on the rear surface of the guard upper portion 24A in the vehicle rearward direction. Each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs 49A, 49B, 49C, 49D extends rearward of the vehicle and is connected to the lower surface side of the extending portion 22C of the mounting base portion 22. The reinforcing ribs 49A, 49B are provided corresponding to the left and right portions of one fastened portion 22J, and the reinforcing ribs 49C, 49D are provided corresponding to the left and right portions of the other fastened portion 22K. The extension amount and the vertical length of each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs 49A, 49B, 49C, 49D are set to be smaller than those of the plurality of ribs 42, 43, 44 (see FIG. 8) described above.

[0034] Also, the vehicle vertical length L1 from the vulnerable portion 40 shown in FIG. 2 to the lower end 24Z of the guard portion 24 is set to be shorter than the vehicle longitudinal distance L2 between the vulnerable portion 40 and the wheel 12 shown in FIG. 12A. That is, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12B, it is set such that the guard portion 24 does not contact the wheel 12 when the lower portion 24L of the guard portion 24 is bent forward of the vehicle starting from the vulnerable portion 40.

[0035] (Actions and effects of the embodiment) Next, the operations and effects of the present embodiment will be described.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, in the mud guard 20, the mounting base 22 is attached to the vehicle body 14 on the rear side of the vehicle of the wheel 12, and the guard portion 24 extends from the mounting base 22 to the lower side of the vehicle. Here, at the middle portion in the vehicle vertical direction of the guard portion 24 shown enlarged in FIG. 8 and the like, a fragile portion 40 is provided that bends along a straight line SL along the vehicle width direction when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower portion 24L of the guard portion 24. For this reason, when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower portion 24L of the guard portion 24 in the mud guard 20 of the present embodiment, for example, compared with a proportional case where the guard portion bends from the end portion (upper end portion) on the mounting base side, even when ensuring a range for receiving flying stones or the like similar to the proportional case, it is possible to prevent or suppress the guard portion 24 from being caught by the wheel 12 (see FIG. 1).

[0037] As a supplementary explanation, in the proportional case, for example, when the vehicle is reversing, if the guard portion that contacts the curb or rock bends from the end portion on the mounting base side and the guard portion is pinched between the wheel and the curb or the like, and then the wheel climbs onto the curb or the like, the mud guard will receive a force to be peeled off. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the guard portion 24 from bending from the end portion on the mounting base 22 side (in other words, reduce the deformed portion in side view), so it is possible to avoid a situation like the proportional case.

[0038] Also, for example, if the length of the guard portion in the vehicle vertical direction in the proportional case is shortened, it is possible to avoid the guard portion from being caught by the wheel, but in such a configuration, the range for receiving flying stones or the like becomes narrow. On the other hand, in the mud guard 20 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent or suppress the guard portion 24 from being caught by the wheel 12 (see FIG. 1) while ensuring a range for receiving flying stones or the like (in other words, while ensuring a range capable of preventing flying stones or the like from hitting the vehicle body).

[0039] Further, in the present embodiment, a plurality of ribs 42, 43, 44, which are high-rigidity portions formed in the guard upper portion 24A that is a portion above the vehicle of the guard portion 24 rather than the vulnerable portion 40, are configured to be supported by the mounting base portion 22 and are continuously provided from the end portion on the mounting base portion 22 side in the guard upper portion 24A to the position adjacent to the vulnerable portion 40, thereby enhancing the rigidity of the guard upper portion 24A against loads from the rear side of the vehicle. For this reason, when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower portion 24L of the guard portion 24, it is possible to effectively suppress the deformation of the guard upper portion 24A, and due to the rigidity difference, it is possible to stably bend at the vulnerable portion 40 in the middle portion of the guard portion 24 in the vehicle vertical direction.

[0040] Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the mounting base portion 22 includes a vertical wall portion 22A arranged along the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction, and a lower wall portion 22B extending from the lower end of the vertical wall portion 22A to the rear side of the vehicle, and the ribs 42, 43, 44 are connected to the lower surface side of the lower wall portion 22B. For this reason, when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower portion 24L of the guard portion 24, the ribs 42, 43, 44 can be stably supported by the mounting base portion 22. Thereby, it is possible to more effectively suppress the deformation from the end portion on the mounting base portion 22 side of the guard portion 24.

[0041] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a flange portion 46 is formed in a portion of the outer peripheral portion of the guard portion 24 adjacent to the outer space when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a notch portion 48 is formed in a portion of the flange portion 46 located at the inner end in the vehicle width direction of the vulnerable portion 40. For this reason, it is possible to relatively weaken a portion of the portion of the outer peripheral side of the guard portion 24 adjacent to the outer space when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction and located at the inner end in the vehicle width direction of the vulnerable portion 40. Therefore, when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower portion 24L of the guard portion 24, due to the rigidity difference, it is possible to more stably bend (stably control the bending position) at the vulnerable portion 40 in the middle portion of the guard portion 24 in the vehicle vertical direction.

[0042] Further, in the present embodiment, the length L1 in the vehicle vertical direction from the vulnerable part 40 shown in FIG. 2 to the lower end 24Z of the guard part 24 is set shorter than the distance L2 in the vehicle longitudinal direction between the vulnerable part 40 shown in FIG. 12A and the wheel 12. For this reason, when, for example, an obstacle 100 hits the lower part 24L of the guard part 24 when the vehicle 10 reverses and a load F from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower part 24L of the guard part 24 and the guard part 24 bends at the vulnerable part 40 in the middle part in the vehicle vertical direction as shown in FIG. 12B, it is possible to surely prevent the lower part 24L of the guard part 24 (the part below the vulnerable part 40 on the vehicle lower side) from being caught by the wheel 12.

[0043] As described above, according to the mud guard 20 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent or suppress being caught by the wheel 12 while securing a range for receiving flying stones and the like. Further, from another viewpoint, it is not necessary to change the shape of the vehicle body 14 on the rear side of the wheel 12 in the vehicle as a chipping countermeasure, so it is possible to achieve both the designability of the vehicle body 14 and the chipping countermeasure. Further, when the vehicle 10 is an off-road vehicle, the ability to travel on rough roads can be ensured.

[0044] (Supplementary explanation of the embodiment) In the above-described embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 12B, the mud guard 20 provided on the rear side of the vehicle of the rear wheel 12 has been described. However, the vehicle mud guard of the present invention may be applied to a vehicle mud guard provided on the rear side of the vehicle of the front wheel.

[0045] Further, as a modification of the above-described embodiment, the guard part of the vehicle mud guard is formed in a flat plate shape, and a thin part (a part having a thickness thinner than other parts of the guard part) as a linear vulnerable part is formed along the vehicle width direction in the middle part in the vehicle vertical direction of the guard part. Thus, when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower part of the guard part, it may be configured to bend along a straight line along the vehicle width direction.

[0046] Further, as a modification of the above embodiment, the mounting base of the vehicle mudguard may be configured such that, for example, it does not have a portion corresponding to the lower wall portion 22B of the above embodiment, ribs are formed on the vertical wall portion of the mounting base, and the ribs as the high-rigidity portions formed on the guard portion are continuous with the ribs formed on the vertical wall portion of the mounting base, so that the ribs as the high-rigidity portions are supported by the mounting base.

[0047] Also, in the above embodiment, the plurality of ribs 42, 43, 44 as high-rigidity portions extend to the vehicle front side of the guard portion 24. However, as a modification of the above embodiment, a configuration in which the ribs as high-rigidity portions extend to the vehicle rear side of the guard portion may also be adopted.

[0048] Also, in the above embodiment, a plurality of ribs 42, 43, 44 are provided as high-rigidity portions in the guard portion 24, and such a configuration is preferable. However, as a modification of the above embodiment, a configuration in which only one rib is provided as a high-rigidity portion in the guard portion may also be adopted.

[0049] Also, in the above embodiment, the shapes of the ribs 42, 43, 44 as high-rigidity portions are formed in a substantially inverted triangular shape in side view. However, as a modification of the above embodiment, a configuration in which the shapes of the ribs as high-rigidity portions are formed in a shape other than a substantially inverted triangular shape, such as a fan shape (a shape in which the hypotenuse of the above substantially inverted triangle is formed into an arc) in side view, may also be adopted.

[0050] Also, in the above embodiment, considering the appearance, the notch 48 is formed only in the portion located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the end portion of the vulnerable portion 40 among the flange portions 46 on the outer peripheral side of the guard portion 24. However, as a modification of the above embodiment, notches may be formed in the portions located at both ends in the vehicle width direction of the vulnerable portion (40) of the flange portion (46), or a configuration in which notches are formed only in the portion located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the end portion of the vulnerable portion (40) of the flange portion (46) may also be adopted.

[0051] In the above-described embodiment, the flange portion 46 on the outer peripheral side of the guard portion 24 is formed, as an example, to extend toward the front side of the vehicle and form an obtuse angle with the general front portion 24F of the guard portion 24. However, as a modification of the above-described embodiment, a configuration in which the flange portion on the outer peripheral side of the guard portion extends toward the rear side of the vehicle may be adopted, or a configuration in which the flange portion on the outer peripheral side of the guard portion is formed to be perpendicular to the general front portion of the guard portion may also be adopted.

[0052] Also, as a modification of the above-described embodiment, a configuration may be adopted in which a vulnerable portion (40) is set in a configuration where a portion corresponding to the flange portion 46 of the above-described embodiment is not provided on the guard portion.

[0053] In the above-described embodiment, the length L1 in the vehicle vertical direction from the vulnerable portion 40 to the lower end 24Z of the guard portion 24 is set to be shorter than the distance L2 in the vehicle front-rear direction between the vulnerable portion 40 and the wheel 12, and such a configuration is preferable. However, as a modification of the above-described embodiment, a configuration may be adopted in which the length in the vehicle vertical direction from the vulnerable portion to the lower end portion of the guard portion is set to be equal to or slightly longer than the distance in the vehicle front-rear direction between the vulnerable portion and the wheel.

[0054] Note that the above-described embodiment and the plurality of modifications described above can be implemented in appropriate combinations.

[0055] As described above, an example of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0056] 12 Wheel 14 Vehicle body 20 Vehicle mudguard 22 Mounting base 22A Vertical wall portion 22B Lower wall portion 24 Guard portion 24A Upper guard portion 24L Lower portion of the guard portion 24Z Lower end of the guard portion 40 Vulnerable part 42 Rib (high rigidity part) 43 Rib (high rigidity part) 44 Rib (high rigidity part) 46 Flange part 48 Notch part L1 Length in the vehicle vertical direction from the vulnerable part to the lower end of the guard part L2 Distance in the vehicle longitudinal direction between the vulnerable part and the wheel

Claims

1. An attachment base attached to the vehicle body on the rear side of the vehicle of the wheel, A guard portion extending downward from the attachment base on the vehicle side, Comprising, In the middle part in the vehicle vertical direction of the guard part, a vulnerable part is provided that bends along a straight line along the vehicle width direction when a load from the rear side of the vehicle is input to the lower part of the guard part. A vehicle mudguard.

2. In the guard upper part, which is the part above the vulnerable part in the guard part, it is configured to be supported by the attachment base and is continuous from the end on the attachment base side in the guard upper part to the position adjacent to the vulnerable part. The vehicle mudguard according to claim 1, wherein a high-rigidity part is formed to increase the rigidity of the guard upper part against a load from the rear side of the vehicle.

3. The attachment base includes a vertical wall portion arranged along the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction, and a lower wall portion extending rearward from the lower end of the vertical wall portion. The high-rigidity part is connected to the lower surface side of the lower wall portion. The vehicle mudguard according to claim 2.

4. A flange portion is formed in a portion of the outer peripheral portion of the guard portion adjacent to the outer space when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a notch portion is formed in a portion of the flange portion located at at least one end in the vehicle width direction of the vulnerable portion. The vehicle mudguard according to claim 2.

5. The length in the vehicle vertical direction from the vulnerable part to the lower end of the guard part is set shorter than the distance in the vehicle front-rear direction between the vulnerable part and the wheel. The vehicle mudguard according to claim 1.

Images