Air resistance reducing part

Abstract

To reduce air resistance during traveling and prevent intrusion of rain water or the like into a driving cab.SOLUTION: An air resistance reducing part comprises: a fitting part 12 to be fitted along a peripheral part of a side door 30; and a cover part 11 which, at a portion to be fixed along a front pillar on the peripheral part of the side door 30, projects from the fitting part 12 and is bent toward a rear part of a vehicle, and which, at a portion to be fixed along a roof on the peripheral part of the side door 30, projects from the fitting part 12 and is bent toward a lower part of the vehicle. In the fitting part 12, a flat part which is affixed to the peripheral part of the side door 30 using affixing means, and a groove are formed on a surface facing the peripheral part of the side door 30, and the thicknesses of the cover part 11 and the fitting part 12 are uniformly or almost uniformly formed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air resistance reducing part for reducing the air resistance of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] A side door visor is attached to the upper part of the side door of a vehicle as a rain guard. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration for preventing rainwater flowing from the windshield along the front pillar by the running wind from adhering to the side door glass.

[0003] In such a side door visor, a protruding portion protruding downward in the vehicle exterior direction is provided, and for example, even when the upper part of the side door glass is slightly opened for ventilation, it is possible to prevent rainwater from entering the driver's cab.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in such a side door visor, it is not possible to reduce the air resistance generated as the vehicle runs.

[0006] The present case was conceived by paying attention to such problems, and one of the purposes is to provide an air resistance reducing part that can reduce the air resistance during running and prevent rainwater and the like from entering the driver's cab.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] This invention is made to solve at least a part of the above problems and can be realized as the following aspects or application examples.

[0008] The air resistance reducing part according to this application example is an air resistance reducing part attached to the periphery of the side door along the roof from the front pillar of the vehicle. It has an attachment part attached along the periphery of the side door, and at the part fixed along the front pillar in the periphery of the side door, a cover part that protrudes from the attachment part and curves toward the rear of the vehicle, and at the part fixed along the roof in the periphery of the side door, the cover part that protrudes from the attachment part and curves downward of the vehicle. In the attachment part, a flat part and a groove part that are attached to the periphery of the side door by an attaching means are formed along the front pillar to the roof on the surface facing the periphery of the side door, and the thickness of the cover part and the attachment part is formed uniformly or substantially uniformly.

[0009] According to this application example, by having an attachment part attached along the periphery of the side door, and at the part fixed along the front pillar in the periphery of the side door, a cover part that protrudes from the attachment part and curves toward the rear of the vehicle, and at the part fixed along the roof in the periphery of the side door, the cover part that protrudes from the attachment part and curves downward of the vehicle, it is possible to reduce the air resistance during driving and suppress the intrusion of rainwater and the like into the driver's cab.

[0010] Also, in the attachment part, a flat part and a groove part that are attached to the periphery of the side door by an attaching means are formed along the front pillar to the roof on the surface facing the periphery of the side door, and by forming the thickness of the cover part and the attachment part uniformly or substantially uniformly, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of sink marks and distortion during molding.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce air resistance during running, prevent rainwater and the like from entering the driver's cab, and further suppress the occurrence of sink marks and distortion during molding.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] With reference to the drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The following embodiments are merely examples, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications and applications of technologies not explicitly shown in these embodiments. Each configuration of the following embodiments can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the gist thereof. Also, they can be selectively used or appropriately combined as necessary.

[0014] [1. Configuration] FIG. 1 is a view showing a state in which an air resistance reducing part 1 according to an application example is attached to a side door 30 of a vehicle, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an attachment state of the air resistance reducing part along the line A-A in FIG. 1. Further, FIG. 3 is a view showing the back side of the air resistance reducing part 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0015] In the following description, the forward direction of the vehicle is defined as the front FR, the opposite direction (the backward direction of the vehicle) is defined as the rear RR, and the left and right (left LH and right RH) are defined based on the state where the vehicle faces the front FR. Also, the front-rear direction is also referred to as the vehicle length direction, and the left-right direction is also referred to as the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the direction orthogonal to both the vehicle length direction and the vehicle width direction is referred to as the up-down direction (upward UP and downward DW). The vehicle is on a horizontal road surface and is in a posture where the up-down direction coincides with the vertical direction (the downward direction coincides with the direction of gravity). In this posture, the vertically upward direction is defined as the height direction.

[0016] The air resistance reduction part 1 is fixed at a position along the roof from the front pillar (also referred to as the A pillar) of the vehicle in the peripheral part of the side door 30 of the vehicle.

[0017] The side door 30 is a front side door of a vehicle such as a truck and has a door panel 32. A part of the door panel 32 (the part hidden by the air resistance reduction part 1 in FIG. 1) constitutes the peripheral part of the side door along the roof from the front pillar of the vehicle.

[0018] The air resistance reduction part 1 is retrofitted and attached to the part of the door panel 32 along the roof from the front pillar.

[0019] The air resistance reduction part 1 has a cover part 11 that forms an overall bent and elongated plate shape (boomerang shape), and the longitudinal direction of this cover part 11 is fixed to the upper part of the door panel 32 so as to be along the roof from the front pillar of the vehicle. The cover part 11 is bent in accordance with the angle formed by the front pillar and the roof of the vehicle. The cover part 11 (the air resistance reduction part 1) may be integrally formed of, for example, resin. Also, it is desirable that the cover part 11 is formed of a transparent or translucent resin.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 2, flat mounting surfaces 13a and 13b are formed on the end face on one end side in the short direction (the upper end in the example shown in Fig. 2) of the cover part 11, and these mounting surfaces 13a and 13b are each adhered to the door panel 32 by the seal tape 2. The seal tape 2 is preferably made of a material having elasticity and high watertightness. The seal tape 2 may be a double-sided tape.

[0021] Further, the air resistance reducing part 1 may be screwed to the door panel 32 at fixing parts 21 formed at a plurality of locations in the cover part 11 (three locations at the front, rear, and middle parts of the cover part 11 in the example shown in Fig. 1). These mounting surfaces 13a, 13b and fixing parts 21 constitute a mounting part 12 for attaching the air resistance reducing part 1 to the door panel 32.

[0022] The mounting surfaces 13a and 13b are an example of flat parts adhered to the peripheral part of the side door 30 by the seal tape 2 (adhering means). The end face on which the mounting surfaces 13a and 13b are formed in the cover part 11 may be referred to as a first end face 13. The first end face 13 is formed over the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the cover part 11.

[0023] A protruding part 12a that protrudes upward over the entire length from the front end to the rear end is formed at the end of the cover part 11 on the side of the mounting part 12. Due to this protruding part 12a, the mounting surface 13a is longer than the mounting surface 13b in the short direction (the vehicle up-and-down direction in the part fixed along the roof of the vehicle, and the vehicle front-rear direction in the part fixed along the front pillar of the vehicle).

[0024] Further, due to the formation of the protruding part 12a, the longitudinal length of the first end face 13 (the vehicle up-and-down length in the part fixed along the roof of the vehicle, and the vehicle front-rear length in the part fixed along the front pillar of the vehicle) becomes longer than the plate thickness of the cover part 11, and by ensuring a wide adhesion surface with the door panel 32, the air resistance reducing part 1 can be stably fixed to the side door 30.

[0025] Note that at the end of the mounting portion 12 side of the cover portion 11, the protruding portion 12a protruding upward is continuous with the cover portion 11 in a smooth curved surface.

[0026] The side of the cover portion 11 facing the door panel 32 may be referred to as the back side, and the opposite side may be referred to as the front side. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the right side (RH) is the back side, and the left side (LH) is the front side.

[0027] In the cover portion 11, the portion in front of the bending position in the air resistance reducing part 1 (cover portion 11) (in the example shown in FIG. 1, the fixing portion 21 located in the middle of the cover portion 11) is fixed to the door panel 32 along the front pillar. As a result, the portion in front of the bending position in the air resistance reducing part 1 (cover portion 11) of the first end face 13 extends substantially in the vehicle up-and-down direction along the front pillar. Also, in the portion behind the bending position in the cover portion 11, the first end face 13 extends in the front-rear direction along the roof of the vehicle. Further, near the rear end portion of the first end face 13, a fan-shaped arc is drawn along the shape of the cover portion 11, and the rear end portion thereof extends in the vehicle up-and-down direction.

[0028] Also, in the portion behind the bending position in the air resistance reducing part 1 (cover portion 11), that is, in the portion of the cover portion 11 fixed to the door panel 32 along the roof, as shown in FIG. 2, the cover portion 11 protrudes from the first end face 13 toward the front side and curves downward, and becomes substantially parallel to the door panel 32 near the end portion on the side opposite to the mounting portion 12. Thereby, the cover portion 11 covers the upper end portion of the door panel 32.

[0029] Also, in the portion in front of the bending position in the air resistance reducing part 1 (cover portion 11), that is, in the portion of the cover portion 11 fixed to the door panel 32 along the front pillar, the cover portion 11 protrudes from the first end face 13 toward the front side and curves rearward, and becomes substantially parallel to the door panel 32 near the end portion on the side opposite to the mounting portion 12.

[0030] That is, the cover part 11 has a shape that protrudes from the mounting part 12 and curves in an arc shape toward the rear in the front part of the bending position of the air resistance reducing part 1 (cover part 11). Thereby, the cover part 11 covers the front end part of the door panel 32.

[0031] Also, as shown in FIG. 3, on the back side of the air resistance reducing part 1 (cover part 11), on the first end face 13, a mounting surface 13a and a mounting surface 13b are formed in parallel along the longitudinal direction thereof. Further, a groove 14 is formed between these mounting surfaces 13a and 13b.

[0032] The groove 14 is linearly formed over the entire length from the front end to the rear end of the first end face 13. Also, at the front end and the rear end of the cover part 11, the front end and the rear end of the groove 14 are respectively open downward toward the vehicle (see reference numerals P1 and P2 in FIG. 3).

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the groove 14 is configured as a space sandwiched between opposing groove side faces 14a and 14b. The lower groove side face 14b is formed to be substantially perpendicular to the surface of the door panel 32. On the other hand, the upper groove side face 14a is formed to be parallel or substantially parallel to the front surface of the protruding part 12a.

[0034] In the mounting part 12, the part above the groove 14 may be referred to as an upper mounting base 12b, and the part below the groove 14 may be referred to as a lower mounting base 12c.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the air resistance reducing part 1 shown in FIG. 2.

[0036] The cover part 11 is formed to have a uniform plate thickness a. Also, in the mounting part 12 thereof, the plate thickness a1 of the upper mounting base 12b and the plate thickness a2 of the upper mounting base 12b are also configured to be substantially the same as the plate thickness a.

[0037] [2. Operational Effects] The present embodiment described above has the following effects.

[0038] The air resistance reducing part 1 according to this application example has a shape that protrudes from the mounting part 12 and curves in an arc shape rearward in a portion in front of the bending position in the air resistance reducing part 1 (cover part 11), that is, in a portion fixed to the door panel 32 along the front pillar.

[0039] By attaching the air resistance reducing part 1 to a position along the roof from the front pillar of the vehicle at the peripheral part of the side door 30 of the vehicle, the wind from the front flows rearward along the front surface of the cover part 11, and the air resistance during running can be reduced.

[0040] Also, by adhering the mounting surfaces 13a and 13b formed over the entire longitudinal direction of the cover part 11 and the surface of the door panel 32 with a highly waterproof seal tape 2 on one end side in the short direction of the cover part 11 (the upper end in the example shown in FIG. 1), it is possible to prevent rainwater from entering the back side of the air resistance reducing part 1 even during rainy weather running, and further, it is possible to prevent rainwater from entering the driver's cab even when the upper part of the side door glass is slightly opened for ventilation.

[0041] Also, even when rainwater enters between the mounting surface 13a and the door panel 32, the entered rainwater is discharged through the groove 14 from the front end or the rear end of the groove 14, and it is possible to prevent the rainwater from entering between the mounting surface 13b and the door panel 32. Also by this, it is possible to prevent rainwater from entering the back side of the air resistance reducing part 1.

[0042] By forming a protruding part 12a that protrudes upward over the entire length from the front end to the rear end at the end of the cover part 11 on the side of the mounting part 12, the longitudinal length of the first end surface 13 becomes longer than the plate thickness of the cover part 11, and by ensuring a wide adhesion surface with the door panel 32, the air resistance reducing part 1 can be stably fixed to the side door 30.

[0043] Moreover, by forming the plate thickness of each part of the cover part 11 to be substantially uniform, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of sink marks and distortion during molding.

[0044] In particular, by forming a groove 14 over the entire length from the front end to the rear end of the first end face 13, and forming the groove side face 14a above this groove 14 to be parallel or substantially parallel to the front surface of the protruding part 12a, in the mounting part 12, the plate thickness of each part of the cover part 11 becomes substantially uniform, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of sink marks and distortion during molding of the air resistance reducing part 1.

[0045] FIG. 5 is a view showing an air resistance reducing part 1' as a comparative object formed with a non-uniform plate thickness.

[0046] In the air resistance reducing part 1' illustrated in this FIG. 5, a groove 14 is not formed in the mounting part 12'.

[0047] Compare the air resistance reducing part 1' shown in this FIG. 5 with the air resistance reducing part 1 shown in FIG. 4. The air resistance reducing part 1' illustrated in FIG. 5 does not have an upper mounting base 12b or a lower mounting base 12c as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, the vicinity of the mounting part 12' has a plate thickness b (b > a) that is thicker than the plate thickness a of the cover part 11'. Also, a position close to the mounting part 12' of the air resistance reducing part 1' also has a plate thickness b2 (b2 > a) that is thicker than the plate thickness a of the cover part 11'.

[0048] Thus, when the groove 14 is not formed in the mounting part 12', the plate thickness of the cover part 11' becomes non-uniform, and sink marks and distortion will occur during molding.

[0049] [3. Others] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made and implemented without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0050] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the air resistance reducing part 1 attached to the side door 30 on the left side of the vehicle is shown, but it is not limited thereto. Similarly, the air resistance reducing part 1 can also be attached to the side door 30 on the right side of the vehicle.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0051] 1 Air resistance reducing part 2 Seal tape 11 Cover part 12 Mounting part 12a Protrusion 12b Upper mounting base 12c Lower mounting base 21 Fixing part 30 Side door 31 Side door glass 32 Door panel 13 First end face 13a, 13b Mounting surface (flat part) 14 Groove (groove part) 14a, 14b Groove side face

Claims

【Claim 1】 An air resistance reducing part attached to the periphery of a side door along the roof from the front pillar of a vehicle, comprising: an attachment part attached along the periphery of the side door; and a cover part that protrudes from the attachment part and curves rearward of the vehicle at a portion fixed along the front pillar in the periphery of the side door, and that protrudes from the attachment part and curves downward of the vehicle at a portion fixed along the roof in the periphery of the side door; wherein in the attachment part, a flat part and a groove part that are attached to the periphery of the side door by an attaching means are formed along the front pillar to the roof on a surface facing the periphery of the side door; the cover part and the attachment part are formed to have a uniform or substantially uniform thickness; and characterized by the air resistance reducing part.

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