Bumper rubber

Abstract

To provide a bumper rubber capable of increasing friction resistance of a rubber body against a hole edge part of a mounting hole by a friction force application unit, to prevent a height of a pressure receiving part of the bumper rubber from becoming lower unexpectedly due to vibration of a vehicle body or the like.SOLUTION: A bumper rubber 10 comprises: a cylindrical rubber body 11; a pressure-receiving part 12; and a spiral groove 13 formed on an outer periphery of the rubber body, and threadedly engaged with a hole edge part 5a of a mounting hole 5 drilled in a vehicle body panel 4. The spiral groove has: a groove width W1 in a region Y, which adjusts a protruding height of the pressure-receiving part between a pair of upper and lower inner surfaces 15, 16 axially opposed to each other across a groove bottom surface 14, smaller than a thickness t of the hole edge part 5a; an increased friction resistance after height adjustment; and an increased mounting strength of the rubber body to the hole edge part of the mounting hole.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved technology for bumper rubber that reduces impact, vibration, noise, etc., when opening and closing bodies such as an engine hood or trunk lid of an automobile are closed. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional bumper rubber is known from Patent Document 1 below.

[0003] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of an automobile showing a state in which conventional and present invention bumper rubbers are attached to a body panel or engine hood of an automobile, and FIG. 5 is a front view showing the conventional bumper rubber.

[0004] As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the conventional bumper rubber 1 described in Patent Document 1 has a cylindrical rubber body 6 that is attached to an opening / closing member such as an engine hood 3 of an automobile 2 or to a mounting hole 5 formed in a body panel 4 that constitutes an engine room 2a, a pressure-receiving portion 7 at one axial end of the rubber body 6 that elastically contacts the engine hood 3, and a constricted portion 8 formed between the rubber body 6 and the pressure-receiving portion 7.

[0005] In the following, a case where the bumper rubber 1 is attached to a mounting hole 5 formed in a vehicle body panel 4 will be described.

[0006] As shown in Figure 5, the rubber body 6 has a spiral groove 9 formed on its outer periphery that screws into the hole edge 5a of the mounting hole 5, and is attached to the vehicle body panel 4 by screwing it into the mounting hole 5 via this spiral groove 9, and the height of the pressure-receiving part 7 can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of screwing.

[0007] The pressure-receiving portion 7 is formed in a trumpet shape, and when the engine hood 3 is closed, the pressure load causes the pressure-receiving portion 7 to compress and deform, causing the inclined connecting portion to overlap the outer periphery of the constricted portion 8 and bend and deform, thereby absorbing impacts and flapping. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-098448 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] In the bumper rubber 1 of Patent Document 1, the groove width W of the spiral groove 9 of the rubber body 6 is formed uniformly over the entire surface. For this reason, when forming the spiral groove 9, the groove width W is formed to match the wall thickness (plate thickness) t of the vehicle body panel 4, taking into consideration mounting performance such as preventing the rubber body 6 from falling off the hole edge 5a of the mounting hole 5 and preventing rattle.

[0010] However, the thickness t of the vehicle body panel 4 may be formed to be smaller than the groove width W of the spiral groove 9 due to manufacturing errors, processing errors, etc. Also, the groove width W of the spiral groove 9 of the bumper rubber 1 may be formed to be larger than the thickness t of the vehicle body panel 4 due to manufacturing variations, etc.

[0011] For this reason, after the bumper rubber 1 is attached to the mounting hole 5 of the vehicle body panel via the spiral groove 9, it may inadvertently rotate due to vehicle body vibrations while the automobile 2 is running, and become lower than its initial mounting position. In particular, since the weight load of the engine hood 3 is applied to the pressure-receiving portion 7 of the bumper rubber 1, the bumper rubber 1 may easily rotate via the spiral groove due to the aforementioned vehicle body vibrations, and become lower in its mounting position.

[0012] As a result, there is a risk that the lower periphery of the engine hood 3 will interfere with the body panel 4 at the periphery of the opening of the engine compartment 2a, causing abnormal noise or damaging the body panel 4, which may cause technical problems.

[0013] The present invention was devised in consideration of the technical problems with the above-mentioned conventional bumper rubbers, and aims to provide a bumper rubber that uses a frictional force imparting portion to increase the attachment strength of the rubber body to the edge of the mounting hole, thereby preventing the height of the pressure-receiving portion of the bumper rubber from being inadvertently lowered due to vibrations of the vehicle body, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] The invention according to claim 1 of the present application is a bumper rubber having a cylindrical rubber body, a pressure receiving part provided at one end in the axial direction of the rubber body and in elastic contact with an opening / closing member or a mating member, and a spiral groove formed on the outer periphery of the rubber body and screwed into the edge of a mounting hole drilled in the opening / closing member or the mating member to adjust the protruding height of the pressure receiving part, The spiral groove is characterized by having a frictional force imparting portion on its inner surfaces facing each other in the axial direction, which is screwed into at least the edge of the mounting hole to impart frictional resistance between the spiral groove and the edge of the mounting hole in the region within the adjustment range of the protruding height of the pressure-receiving portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, the frictional force-applying portion increases the frictional resistance of the rubber body against the edge of the mounting hole, thereby increasing the mounting strength, thereby preventing the height of the pressure-receiving portion of the bumper rubber from being inadvertently lowered due to vibrations of the vehicle body, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of the front side of an automobile showing a state in which a conventional bumper rubber and a bumper rubber according to the present invention are attached to a body panel or an engine hood of an automobile. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a front view of a bumper rubber according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 10(a) is a front view of a bumper rubber according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. [Figure 4]FIG. 10(a) is a front view of a bumper rubber according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a conventional bumper rubber. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a bumper rubber according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a front view of the bumper rubber according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] In this embodiment, a case will be described in which a bumper rubber is attached to a mounting hole 5 formed in a vehicle body panel 4, as in the prior art.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of mounting holes 5 are formed at predetermined positions in a vehicle body panel 4, which is a mating member having an engine compartment 2a that opens and closes an engine hood 3, which is an opening and closing member, and a bumper rubber 10 according to the present invention is attached to these mounting holes 5.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the bumper rubber 10 is formed as a single unit from an elastic rubber material throughout, and has a cylindrical rubber body 11, a pressure-receiving portion 12 at one axial end of the rubber body 11, which is the upper end in the figure, with which the underside of the engine hood 3 elastically contacts when the hood is closed, and a spiral groove 13 formed on the outer periphery of the rubber body 11 that screws into the hole edge portion 5a of the mounting hole 5 in the vehicle body panel 4.

[0022] The pressure-receiving portion 12 is formed in the shape of a solid, short cylinder together with the rubber body 11, and has an outer diameter d equal to the outer diameter of the rubber body 11, and an upper surface 12a formed flat.

[0023] When the engine hood 3 is closed, the rubber body 11 is designed so that when the underside of the engine hood 3 elastically contacts the upper surface 12a of the pressure-receiving portion 12, the elastic reaction force of the entire body including the pressure-receiving portion 12 dampens and reduces impact, vibration, noise, etc. The shape and size of the rubber body 11 can be set appropriately depending on the application, specifications, use, etc.

[0024] 2, the spiral groove 13 formed on the outer periphery of the rubber body 11 is formed to have a substantially U-shaped cross section, and has a groove bottom surface 14 and a pair of inner surfaces 15, 16 that face each other in the vertical axial direction across the groove bottom surface 14. The spiral groove 13 makes it possible to adjust the height of the pressure-receiving portion 12 according to the amount of screwing into the hole edge portion 5a of the mounting hole 5 of the vehicle body panel 4.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the spiral groove 13 has a groove width relative to the hole edge portion 5a that differs between a region X on the lower side and a region Y on the upper side in the figure, i.e., a region X that is not within the protruding height adjustment range of the pressure-receiving portion 12 and a region Y that is within the protruding height adjustment range.

[0026] That is, the groove width W of the spiral groove 13 in region X between the first groove portion 13a at the lowest level and the second groove portion 13b at the next higher level is set to be the same as or slightly larger than the plate thickness t of the hole edge portion 5a. In contrast, the groove width W1 of the third groove portion 13c in region Y, which is located above the second groove portion 13b in the figure and which adjusts the protruding height of the pressure-receiving portion 12, is set to be smaller than the plate thickness t of the hole edge portion 5a. Therefore, in region Y, the opposing inner surfaces 15, 16 of the spiral groove 13 are configured as frictional force-applying portions for the hole edge portion 5a, and in region Y, after the protruding height of the pressure-receiving portion 12 is adjusted by screwing, a relatively large frictional resistance force is applied by the inner surfaces 15, 16 of the spiral groove 13 to the upper and lower surfaces of the hole edge 5a, which are sandwiched between them. [Actions and Effects of the Bumper Rubber According to the First Embodiment] The effects of the bumper rubber 10 according to the first embodiment will be described below.

[0027] 2, when attaching the bumper rubber 10 of this embodiment to the mounting hole 5 of the vehicle body panel 4, the bumper rubber 10 is held by hand and positioned by placing the lower end of the rubber body 11 against the hole edge 5a of the mounting hole 5, and in this state, the bumper rubber 10 is screwed into the hole edge 5a from the first groove portion 13a to the second groove portion 13b at the bottom of the spiral groove 13. At this point, the groove width W of the first and second groove portions 13a, 13b is, for example, slightly larger than the plate thickness t of the hole edge 5a, and frictional resistance with the hole edge 5a is small, so the bumper rubber 10 can be easily screwed into the mounting hole 5.

[0028] Then, when the bumper rubber 10 is further screwed in up to the region Y that determines the protruding height of the pressure-receiving portion 12, that is, up to the region Y of the third groove portion 13c of the spiral groove 13, since the groove width W1 of the opposing inner surfaces 15, 16 of the spiral groove 13 is smaller than the plate thickness t of the hole edge portion 5a, at the predetermined height position of the pressure-receiving portion 12, the hole edge portion 5a of the mounting hole 5 is strongly pressed in a sandwiched state between the two inner surfaces 15, 16 from above and below, increasing the frictional resistance, and the rubber body 11 can be stably and securely held and fixed to the hole edge portion 5a.

[0029] Therefore, the bumper rubber 10 will not inadvertently rotate in the reverse direction due to vibrations of the vehicle body while driving, and the protruding height position of the pressure-receiving portion 12 will not decrease, and will be able to maintain a predetermined height. As a result, interference between the lower periphery of the engine hood 3 and the body panel 4 at the periphery of the opening of the engine compartment 2a is prevented, and the generation of abnormal noise and damage to the body panel 4 can be suppressed.

[0030] Furthermore, as mentioned above, in region X, which is the initial stage of screwing the spiral groove 13 into the hole edge portion 5a, the groove width W is slightly larger than the plate thickness t of the hole edge portion 5a, so that the rubber body 11 can be screwed in smoothly. Second Embodiment FIG. 3 shows a bumper rubber according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a front view of the bumper rubber and (b) is an enlarged view of part A in (a).

[0031] 3(a) and 3(b), in the bumper rubber 10 of the second embodiment, the groove width W in the region X of the first groove portion 13a on the lowest level and the second groove portion 13b above it is set to be equal to or slightly larger than the plate thickness t of the hole edge portion 5a. In contrast, the groove width of the third groove portion 13c in the region Y, which adjusts the protruding height of the pressure-receiving portion 12 above the second groove portion 13b in the figure, is formed so that a part of the groove width is smaller than the plate thickness t of the hole edge portion 5a.

[0032] That is, the groove width W in region X and the groove width Y of spiral groove 13 are basically set to be approximately the same width as the plate thickness t of hole edge 5a of mounting hole 5, but in region Y, of the opposing inner surfaces 15, 16 of spiral groove 13, the upper surface of the lower inner surface 16 in the figure is formed in a corrugated shape, and a mountain-shaped protrusion 16a on a part of the upper surface of this corrugated portion protrudes toward the upper inner surface 15. Therefore, the groove width W2 between this mountain-shaped protrusion 16a on the upper surface and the lower surface of the upper inner surface 15 is narrower than other general groove widths and is partially smaller than the plate thickness t of hole edge 5a. Therefore, in this embodiment, the protruding mountain-shaped protrusion 16a on the lower inner surface 16 and the lower surface of the upper inner surface 15 form a frictional force applying portion that applies frictional force to hole edge 5a. [Operation and effect of the second embodiment] Therefore, according to this second embodiment, just like the first embodiment, the bumper rubber 10 is positioned with the lower end of the rubber body 11 against the hole edge 5a of the mounting hole 5, and then is screwed into the hole edge 5a of the mounting hole 5 from the first groove portion 13a to the second groove portion 13b at the bottom of the spiral groove 13. At this point, the groove width W of the first and second groove portions 13a, 13b is approximately the same as or slightly larger than the plate thickness t of the hole edge 5a, so frictional resistance with the hole edge 5a is small and the bumper rubber 10 can be easily screwed into the mounting hole 5.

[0033] Then, when the bumper rubber 10 is further screwed in up to the region Y that determines the protruding height of the pressure-receiving portion 12, the groove width W2 is partially made smaller than the plate thickness t of the hole edge portion 5a by the protruding angle-shaped protrusions 16a of the corrugated portion formed on the lower inner surface 16 of the spiral groove 13, so that at the predetermined height position of the pressure-receiving portion 12, the angle-shaped protrusions 16a of the upper inner surface 15 and the lower inner surface 16 strongly press against the hole edge portion 5a in a sandwiched state from above and below, increasing frictional resistance. Therefore, the rubber body 11 can be stably and reliably held and fixed to the hole edge portion 5a.

[0034] Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the bumper rubber 10 will not inadvertently rotate in the reverse direction due to vibrations of the vehicle body while driving, and the protruding height position of the pressure-receiving portion 12 can be maintained at a predetermined height without decreasing. As a result, interference between the lower peripheral edge of the engine hood 3 and the vehicle body panel 4 at the peripheral edge of the opening of the engine compartment 2a is prevented, and the generation of abnormal noise and damage to the vehicle body panel 4 can be suppressed. Third Embodiment FIG. 4 shows a bumper rubber according to a third embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a front view of the bumper rubber and (b) is an enlarged view of part B in (a).

[0035] As shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the bumper rubber 10 of this embodiment has a spiral groove 13 formed in the rubber body 11, whose groove width W is set to be approximately the same as the thickness t of the hole edge 5a of the mounting hole 5. Furthermore, in the Y region of the opposing inner surfaces 15, 16 of the spiral groove 13, a plurality of protrusions 17 are provided on the upper surface of the lower inner surface 16 in the figure, which press against the underside of the hole edge 5a. A plurality of these protrusions 17 are provided at equally spaced positions in the circumferential direction of the lower inner surface 16, and as shown in Figure 3(b), the groove width W3 between each tip 17a and the upper inner surface 15 is smaller than the thickness t of the hole edge 5a. That is, each protrusion 17 is formed in an approximately conical shape, and the groove width W3 between each tip 17a and the upper inner surface 15 is partially smaller than the thickness t of the hole edge 5a, so that each tip 17a presses against the underside of the hole edge 5a of the mounting hole 5. Therefore, each protrusion 17 is configured as a frictional force applying portion that applies frictional resistance between itself and the hole edge 5a. Note that each protrusion 17 can also be formed into a triangular pyramid, a square prism, or the like, in addition to a conical shape. [Operation and effect of the third embodiment] Therefore, when the bumper rubber 10 is screwed from the region X of the first and second groove portions 13a, 13b to the region Y that determines the protruding height of the pressure-receiving portion 12, the groove width W3 is partially made smaller than the plate thickness t of the hole edge portion 5a by the protrusions 17 provided on the lower inner surface 16 of the spiral groove 13, so that at a predetermined height position of the pressure-receiving portion 12, the protrusions 17 on the upper and lower inner surfaces 15, 16 strongly press against the hole edge portion 5a in a sandwiched state from above and below, increasing frictional resistance. Therefore, the rubber body 11 can be stably and reliably held and fixed to the hole edge portion 5a.

[0036] Therefore, as in the first and second embodiments, the bumper rubber 10 will not inadvertently rotate in the reverse direction due to vibrations of the vehicle body while driving, and the protruding height position of the pressure-receiving portion 12 can be maintained at a predetermined height without decreasing. As a result, interference between the lower periphery of the engine hood 3 and the vehicle body panel 4 at the periphery of the opening of the engine compartment 2a is prevented, and the generation of abnormal noise and damage to the vehicle body panel 4 can be suppressed.

[0037] The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and for example, the bumper rubber 10 may be applied to the engine hood 3 in addition to the body panel 4 on the engine room 2a side, and may also be applied to mounting holes formed on the body panel on the trunk room side and on the trunk lid as an opening and closing member.

[0038] The corrugated portion in the second embodiment can be formed only on the upper inner surface 15 instead of the lower inner surface 16, or can be formed on both the inner surfaces 15, 16.

[0039] The protrusions 17 in the third embodiment may be provided only on the upper inner surface 15 instead of the lower inner surface 16, or may be provided on both inner surfaces 15, 16.

[0040] The frictional force imparting portion of the present invention can also be formed in the first groove portion 13a and the second groove portion 13b, so as to be formed over the entire spiral groove 13. However, the frictional force imparting portion in each of the above-described embodiments does not impart a large frictional resistance force sufficient to prevent rotation for adjusting the height of the pressure-receiving portion 12 when attaching the bumper rubber 10 to the attachment hole 5.

[0041] The structure of the bumper rubber 10 is not limited to that of the embodiment, but can be applied to the structure described in the above publication or other structures.

[0042] In each of the above embodiments, the bumper rubber 10 is attached to the mounting hole 5 formed in the vehicle body panel 4, so the pressure-receiving portion 12 is on the upper side in the figure, but depending on the attachment object such as the engine hood 3, the pressure-receiving portion 12 may be on the lower side or side.

[0043] As the bumper rubber based on the embodiment described above, for example, the following aspects are conceivable.

[0044] That is, a preferred embodiment of the bumper rubber according to the present invention is a bumper rubber having a cylindrical rubber body, a pressure receiving part provided at one axial end of the rubber body and in elastic contact with an opening / closing member or a mating member, and a spiral groove formed on the outer periphery of the rubber body and screwed into the edge of a mounting hole drilled in the opening / closing member or the mating member to adjust the protruding height of the pressure receiving part, The spiral groove has a frictional force applying portion on its inner surfaces facing each other in the axial direction, which is screwed into at least the edge of the mounting hole to apply frictional resistance between the spiral groove and the edge of the mounting hole in the region within the adjustment range of the protruding height of the pressure-receiving portion. According to this aspect of the invention, when the rubber body is screwed into the mounting hole of an opening / closing member or the like via the spiral groove, the groove width is smaller than the thickness of the mounting hole edge at the preset protruding height of the pressure-receiving portion, which increases the frictional resistance between the opposing inner surface of the spiral groove and the mounting hole edge. This increases the mounting strength of the rubber body to the mounting hole edge, preventing the height of the pressure-receiving portion of the bumper rubber from being inadvertently lowered due to vehicle vibrations, etc.

[0045] More preferably, the frictional force imparting portion of the spiral groove is configured by making the groove width of the opposing inner surface smaller than the wall thickness of the hole edge portion of the mounting hole.

[0046] According to this aspect of the invention, the upper and lower inner surfaces of the spiral groove press against the edge of the mounting hole in a sandwiched state, providing frictional resistance, thereby increasing the mounting strength of the bumper rubber to the mounting hole.

[0047] More preferably, the frictional force imparting portion of the spiral groove is configured by providing a wave-shaped mountain-shaped protrusion on at least one side of the opposing inner surfaces, protruding toward the inner surface of the other side and pressing against the edge of the mounting hole.

[0048] According to this aspect of the invention, the edge of the mounting hole is clamped and pressed between one inner surface of the spiral groove and the mountain-shaped convex portion, thereby providing frictional resistance, thereby increasing the mounting strength of the bumper rubber to the mounting hole.

[0049] More preferably, the frictional force applying portion of the spiral groove is configured by providing a plurality of protrusions on at least one side of the opposing inner surfaces, the protrusions being in pressure contact with the edge of the mounting hole.

[0050] According to this aspect of the invention, the edge of the mounting hole is pressed in a sandwiched state by the protrusions provided on at least one of the upper and lower inner surfaces of the spiral groove and the inner surface of the other, providing frictional resistance, thereby increasing the mounting strength of the bumper rubber to the mounting hole. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1... Conventional bumper rubber 2. Automobiles 3. Engine hood 4...Body panel 5...Mounting hole 5a…hole edge 10...Bumper rubber 11...Rubber body 12...Pressure receiving part 13...Spiral groove 13a...First groove portion 13b...Second groove portion 13c...Third groove section 14…Groove bottom surface 15...Upper inner surface 16...Inner surface of the lower side 16a...Corrugated part of the mountain-shaped convex part 17...Protrusion W...Groove width of X area W1: Groove width between both inner surfaces of Y area W2: Groove width between the upper inner surface and the mountain-shaped convex part W3: Groove width between the upper inner surface and the protrusion

Claims

1. A bumper rubber having a cylindrical rubber body, a pressure receiving part provided at one axial end of the rubber body and in elastic contact with an opening / closing member or a mating member, and a spiral groove formed on the outer periphery of the rubber body and screwed into the edge of a mounting hole drilled in the opening / closing member or the mating member to adjust the protruding height of the pressure receiving part, The bumper rubber is characterized in that the spiral groove has frictional force applying portions on two axially opposing inner surfaces that apply frictional resistance between the spiral groove and the edge of the mounting hole, at least in the area that is screwed into the edge of the mounting hole to adjust the protruding height of the pressure-receiving portion.

2. The bumper rubber according to claim 1, A bumper rubber characterized in that the friction force imparting portion of the spiral groove is configured by making the groove width between the two opposing inner surfaces smaller than the thickness of the hole edge portion of the mounting hole.

3. The bumper rubber according to claim 1, A bumper rubber characterized in that the frictional force imparting portion of the spiral groove is configured by providing a wave-shaped, mountain-shaped convex portion on at least one side of the two opposing inner surfaces, which protrudes toward the inner surface of the other side and presses against the edge of the mounting hole.

4. The bumper rubber according to claim 1, A bumper rubber characterized in that the frictional force imparting portion of the spiral groove is configured by providing a plurality of protrusions on at least one side of the two opposing inner surfaces that press against the edge of the mounting hole.

5. The bumper rubber according to claim 3, A bumper rubber characterized in that the friction force imparting portion of the spiral groove is configured by providing a wavy portion on both opposing inner surfaces that presses against the hole edge of the mounting hole.

6. The bumper rubber according to claim 4, A bumper rubber characterized in that the friction force imparting portion of the spiral groove is configured by providing a plurality of protrusions on both of the two opposing inner surfaces that press against the hole edge of the mounting hole.

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