Spoiler for vehicles

Abstract

To provide a spoiler for vehicles making it possible to make thermal deformation of an upper panel unnoticeable without adopting a method of joining the upper panel and a lower panel.SOLUTION: A spoiler 10 for vehicles includes a resin-made upper panel 12 whose longitudinal direction is aligned with a vehicle width direction, and a lower panel 14 which is made from a resin whose coefficient of linear expansion is smaller than that of the upper panel 12 and on and to which the upper panel 12 is superposed and joined. In the lower panel 14, plural convex parts 16 whose vehicular fore-and-aft direction sides and vehicle lower sides are left open and to which the upper panel 12 is joined are formed with a space between adjoining ones in the vehicle width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle spoiler.

Background Art

[0002] A rear spoiler structure in which the outer peripheral edge of an outer panel (upper panel) is joined to the outer peripheral edge of an inner panel (lower panel) with an adhesive to form a closed cross-sectional space extending in the vehicle width direction between them has been conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this rear spoiler structure, the linear expansion coefficient of the inner panel is set lower than that of the outer panel, and the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion of the outer panel are integrally connected via a bent portion. And the wall thickness of the bent portion is set thinner than the wall thickness of the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion. Thereby, the deformation of the upper surface portion of the outer panel due to heat is made less noticeable.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the upper panel and the lower panel are joined with an adhesive or double-sided tape to form a rear spoiler, the adhesive or double-sided tape can deform flexibly and follow the deformation of the upper panel due to heat, so that the deformation of the upper panel due to heat can be made less noticeable. However, when the upper panel and the lower panel are joined by, for example, ultrasonic welding, it becomes difficult to follow the deformation of the upper panel due to heat, so that it becomes difficult to make the deformation of the upper panel due to heat less noticeable.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle spoiler that can make the deformation of the upper panel due to heat less noticeable regardless of the method of joining the upper panel and the lower panel.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle spoiler according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a resin upper panel whose vehicle width direction is the longitudinal direction, and a resin lower panel having a smaller linear expansion coefficient than the upper panel, and the upper panel is superposed and joined thereto. The lower panel is provided with a plurality of convex portions that are spaced apart in the vehicle width direction and have openings on the vehicle front-rear direction side and the vehicle lower side for joining the upper panel.

[0007] According to the invention described in claim 1, there are provided a resin upper panel whose vehicle width direction is the longitudinal direction, and a resin lower panel having a smaller linear expansion coefficient than the upper panel, and the upper panel is superposed and joined thereto. Here, the lower panel is provided with a plurality of convex portions that are spaced apart in the vehicle width direction and have openings on the vehicle front-rear direction side and the vehicle lower side for joining the upper panel.

[0008] Therefore, even if the upper panel and the lower panel are joined by, for example, ultrasonic welding, each convex portion deforms so as to extend in the vehicle width direction, and the lower panel can follow the deformation of the upper panel due to heat. That is, according to the present invention, the deformation of the upper panel due to heat can be made less noticeable regardless of the method of joining the upper panel and the lower panel.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] As described above, according to the present invention, in the vehicle spoiler, the deformation of the upper panel due to heat can be made less noticeable regardless of the method of joining the upper panel and the lower panel.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, the arrow UP appropriately shown in each figure is the upward direction of the vehicle, the arrow FR is the forward direction of the vehicle, and the arrow RH is the right direction of the vehicle. Therefore, in the following description, when the directions of up and down, front and back, and left and right are described without special mention, they indicate up and down in the vehicle up and down direction, front and back in the vehicle front and back direction, and left and right in the vehicle left and right direction (vehicle width direction).

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, a resin rear spoiler 10 as a vehicle spoiler according to the present embodiment may be attached to the upper rear side of a vehicle (not shown). The rear spoiler 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view with the vehicle width direction as the longitudinal direction, and has a resin upper panel 12 and a resin lower panel 14. Note that the lower panel 14 is formed of a resin material having a smaller linear expansion coefficient than the upper panel 12.

[0013] Further, the lower panel 14 is formed in substantially the same size and shape as the upper panel 12 in plan view, and integrally has a plurality of through holes 14B for weight reduction and a plurality of ribs 14C for ensuring rigidity at predetermined positions. Then, the upper panel 12 is overlapped on the lower panel 14 from above, and at least a part of the outer peripheral edge portions 12A and 14A of each other is joined by ultrasonic welding, so that the rear spoiler 10 is configured.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of convex portions 16 that protrude upward and are open in the front-rear direction and downward are formed at intervals along substantially the entire width direction (longitudinal direction of the lower panel 14) at the front end portion (front side at the outer peripheral edge portion 14A) of the lower panel 14.

[0015] The convex portion 16 has a top wall 16A having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view with the vehicle width direction as the longitudinal direction and a predetermined thickness, and leg walls 16B that are integrally continuous downward from both ends in the vehicle width direction of the top wall 16A with a predetermined thickness. That is, the convex portion 16 is formed in a substantially inverted "U" shape in front view, and its lower side is also open. Note that the upper panel 12 is also joined to the upper surface of the top wall 16A of the convex portion 16 by ultrasonic welding.

[0016] Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a rib 18 having a predetermined thickness and formed in a substantially obtuse isosceles triangle shape in front view is integrally formed at a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction at the boundary portion 16C between the top wall 16A and the leg wall 16B of the convex portion 16. And the plate thickness E of the standing portion 16D, which is on the side opposite to the boundary portion 16C of the leg wall 16B in the vertical direction, is formed to be thinner than the plate thickness of other portions of the lower panel 14.

[0017] Next, the operation of the rear spoiler 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

[0018] As described above, the rear spoiler 10 includes an upper panel 12 made of resin, and a lower panel 14 made of resin that is overlapped with the upper panel 12 and at least a part of the outer peripheral edge portion 12A is joined to at least a part of the outer peripheral edge portion 14A by ultrasonic welding. The lower panel 14 is formed of a resin material having a smaller linear expansion coefficient than the upper panel 12.

[0019] Here, a plurality of convex portions 16 with openings on the front-rear direction side and the lower side are formed at intervals in the vehicle width direction (the longitudinal direction of the lower panel 14) at the front end portion of the lower panel 14 (the front side at the outer peripheral edge portion 14A). And the upper panel 12 is also joined to the upper surface of the top wall 16A of the convex portion 16 by ultrasonic welding.

[0020] Also, the plate thickness E at the standing portion 16D of the leg wall 16B constituting the convex portion 16 is formed thinner than the plate thickness of other portions of the lower panel 14, and a rib 18 having a substantially obtuse-angled isosceles triangle shape in a front view is formed at the boundary portion 16C between the top wall 16A and the leg wall 16B constituting the convex portion 16.

[0021] Therefore, even when the vehicle is placed in a high-temperature environment such as solar radiation and the upper panel 12 is deformed (thermally expanded) by the heat of the solar radiation or the like, each convex portion 16 can be deformed so as to extend in the vehicle width direction (the longitudinal direction of the lower panel 14). Specifically speaking, as the upper panel 12 is deformed (thermally expanded) by heat, each convex portion 16 can be deformed smoothly so that the angle formed by the top wall 16A and the leg wall 16B is maintained (while suppressing the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the top wall 16A from deflecting downward when viewed from the front-rear direction), and the standing portion 16D approaches substantially horizontally.

[0022] That is, the lower panel 14 can follow the deformation (thermal expansion) of the upper panel 12 due to heat without the ultrasonic welding between the upper panel 12 and the convex portion 16 being peeled off. Thus, according to the rear spoiler 10 according to the present embodiment, even though the upper panel 12 and the lower panel 14 are joined by ultrasonic welding, each convex portion 16 can be deformed so as to extend in the vehicle width direction (the longitudinal direction of the lower panel 14). Therefore, regardless of the joining method, the deformation of the upper panel 12 due to heat can be made inconspicuous.

[0023] In addition, when the outer peripheral edge portion 12A of the upper panel 12 and the outer peripheral edge portion 14A of the lower panel 14 (including the upper surface of the top wall 16A of the convex portion 16) are joined by ultrasonic welding, compared with the case where they are joined by an adhesive or double-sided tape, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and when disassembling the rear spoiler 10, there is an advantage that the work (effort) of removing foreign matters (adhesive or double-sided tape) can be saved.

[0024] As described above, the rear spoiler 10 as a vehicle spoiler according to the present embodiment has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the rear spoiler 10 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the illustrated one, and can be appropriately designed and changed within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the plurality of through holes 14B and ribs 14C formed in the lower panel 14 are not limited to those illustrated.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0025] 10 Rear spoiler (vehicle spoiler) 12 Upper panel 14 Lower panel 16 Convex portion

Claims

【Claim 1】 An upper panel made of resin with the vehicle width direction being the longitudinal direction, A lower panel made of resin having a smaller linear expansion coefficient than the upper panel, with the upper panel being overlapped and joined thereto, Comprising, A vehicle spoiler in which a plurality of convex portions are formed at intervals in the vehicle width direction, with the vehicle front-rear direction side and the vehicle lower side being open and the upper panel being joined thereto, on the lower panel.

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