Vehicle structure

Abstract

The goal is to more appropriately reinforce the exterior materials selected according to the vehicle model. [Solution] The exterior material (garnish 20) has an outer wall portion 21 positioned on the outside of the vehicle than the vehicle body (back door 10), and side wall portions (upper side wall portion 22, lower side wall portion 23) extending toward the vehicle body from the end of the outer wall portion 21, and a fastening portion (first fastening portion 31) is integrally formed so as to be positioned closer to the vehicle body than the outer wall portion 21, and an absorber member 50 capable of absorbing impact loads applied from the outside is detachably attached at least one of the following locations: a first position 101 formed between the outer wall portion 21 and the fastening portion, and a second position 102 formed adjacent to the fastening portion from one direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle structure in which an exterior member fixed to a vehicle body is provided with a window portion for exposing an electrical component to the outside of the vehicle and a fastening portion fastened to the vehicle body.

Background Art

[0002] In this type of vehicle structure, the exterior member is fastened and fixed to the vehicle body so as to be exposed to the outside. Inside the exterior member, electrical components such as a door handle member and a lamp member are arranged so as to be exposed to the outside of the vehicle. For example, in the vehicle of Patent Document 1, the rear door opening thereof is configured to be openable and closable by a tailgate door. A resin garnish (exterior member) is fixed to this tailgate door (vehicle body) so as to extend in the vehicle width direction. The garnish is a plate material bent into a substantially triangular shape in a cross-sectional view, and integrally has a lower wall portion forming a bottom wall, a rear wall portion rising from the rear end of the lower wall portion, and an upper wall portion obliquely extending forward from the upper end of the rear end portion. Inside the garnish, a door switch (corresponding to a handle member) is arranged so as to be exposed to the outside of the vehicle through a window portion provided in the lower wall portion.

[0003] The above-described exterior member is fastened and fixed to the vehicle body through a plurality of integrally formed fastening portions. For example, in the above-described garnish, fastening portions are provided on the left and right sides of the window portion, respectively. The left and right fastening portions are integrated so as to be obliquely spanned between the rear wall portion and the lower wall portion of the garnish. The left and right fastening portions are formed in a substantially T-shaped cross section. That is, a rib is provided at the central position of the fastening portion so as to obliquely extend downward and rearward, and the end of this rib is integrated near the lower end of the lower wall portion. In the above technology, from the viewpoint of preventing sink marks and the like during molding, the fastening portion and the ends of its ribs are integrated with the garnish in a tapered and thinned state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-162372 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] In this type of vehicle, the impact load during a vehicle collision may be applied to a portion of the exterior material that protrudes from the vehicle body. Therefore, it is desirable to appropriately reinforce the areas of the exterior material that are subjected to impact loads, thereby suppressing excessive crushing deformation of the exterior material while protecting the internal electrical components. The areas of the exterior material that need to be reinforced usually differ depending on the vehicle type, so there is a need to appropriately select the areas to be reinforced. For example, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, the garnish (exterior material) extends in the vehicle width direction, so it is desirable to appropriately select and reinforce a portion of this garnish in the vehicle width direction. However, in the above-mentioned technology, multiple ribbed fastening parts are integrally formed at appropriate intervals in the vehicle width direction, and there was no idea to reinforce selected fastening parts from among them. The present invention was devised in view of the above points, and the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to more appropriately reinforce the appropriate locations of the exterior material selected according to the vehicle type. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a means to solve the above problems, the vehicle structure of the first invention is provided with an exterior material fixed to the vehicle body, having a window portion that exposes the internal electrical components to the outside of the vehicle, and a plurality of fastening portions that are fastened and fixed to the vehicle body, arranged in one direction in which the exterior material extends. In this type of vehicle structure, it is desirable that the appropriate parts of the exterior material selected according to the vehicle type be reinforced more appropriately in the event of a vehicle collision. Therefore, the exterior material of the present invention has an outer wall portion that is positioned outside the vehicle body, and a side wall portion that extends from the end of the outer wall portion toward the vehicle body, and the fastening portions are integrally formed so that they are positioned closer to the vehicle body than the outer wall portion. An absorber member capable of absorbing an impact load applied from the outside is detachably attached at least one of the following locations: a first position formed between the outer wall portion and the fastening portion, and a second position formed adjacent to the fastening portion from one direction. In the present invention, the absorber member positioned at least one of the first and second positions of the exterior material makes it difficult for the exterior material to be excessively crushed when an impact load is applied. Furthermore, by making the absorber components detachable, it becomes possible to more appropriately reinforce the exterior materials selected according to the vehicle model.

[0007] The vehicle structure of the second invention is such that, in the vehicle structure of the first invention, the vehicle body has a main body and a fastened portion protruding from the main body, and the fastening portion is fastened and fixed to the fastened portion. The absorber member is positioned in a second position, protruding towards the main body side from the fastening portion in the fastened state. In the present invention, when an impact load is applied to the exterior material, the absorber member in the second position is the first to hit the vehicle body. This allows the absorber member to receive the impact load more appropriately.

[0008] The third invention is that, in the vehicle structure of the second invention, the absorber member is formed in the shape of a vertical wall extending from the outer wall side of the exterior material to the vehicle body side. In the present invention, the vertical wall-shaped absorber member can more reliably receive the impact load applied to the outer wall.

[0009] The vehicle structure of the fourth invention is a vehicle structure of any of the first to third inventions in which the absorber member integrally comprises a first absorber portion located at a first position and a second absorber portion located at a second position. In this invention, impact loads can be received by multiple absorber portions. Furthermore, by attaching multiple absorber portions to the exterior material simultaneously, it becomes possible to more reliably reinforce the appropriate parts of the exterior material. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the first invention of the present invention, the appropriate parts of the exterior material selected according to the vehicle type can be reinforced more appropriately. According to the second invention, the appropriate parts of the exterior material can be reinforced even more appropriately. According to the third invention, the appropriate parts of the exterior material can be reinforced even more appropriately. According to the fourth invention, the appropriate parts of the exterior material can be reinforced more reliably. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view of the vehicle showing the back door. [Figure 2] This is a schematic perspective view of the inside of the garnish showing the handle components. [Figure 3] This is a general perspective view of the garnish. [Figure 4] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle showing the first absorber section and the fastening section. [Figure 5] This is a schematic perspective view of the garnish showing the absorber member and fastening part. [Figure 6] This is a schematic perspective view of the garnish near the central window. [Figure 7] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle showing the second absorber section. [Figure 8] This is a schematic enlarged perspective view of the garnish showing the mounting area. [Figure 9] This is a schematic perspective view of the garnish showing another absorber member and fastening portion. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 9. Each figure shows arrows indicating the front-rear direction, left-right direction (vehicle width direction), and up-down direction (vehicle height direction), based on the state in which the exterior material is arranged on the vehicle body. In each figure, the main components of this embodiment are shown with solid lines, and the illustration of other vehicle components may be simplified or omitted.

[0013] First, let's describe the vehicle 2 shown in Figure 1. In this vehicle 2, the rear door opening 3 on the rear surface is configured to be openable and closable by a vertically rotating back door 10. The back door 10 is a component that makes up part of the vehicle body and is formed in a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from above. A garnish 20 is fixed to the lower part of the back door 10 so as to protrude toward the rear of the vehicle. The garnish 20 is an exterior material (mainly made of resin) that makes up the outer surface of the vehicle 2 and is formed to extend in the width direction of the vehicle, so as to roughly cross the lower part of the back door 10.

[0014] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the garnish 20 is configured to accommodate a handle member 4 for the back door 10, and a right lamp member 5 and a left lamp member 6 (in Figure 2, for convenience, only the handle member is shown). The garnish 20 is formed so that multiple window sections (such as the central window section 24) communicate with the outside of the vehicle, thereby allowing the various electrical components mentioned above to be exposed to the outside. Multiple or single electrical components can be arranged inside the garnish 20, and examples of such electrical components include, in addition to the above-mentioned components, vehicle electrical components such as a backup monitor, various sensors, and speakers for voice alarms.

[0015] Referring also to FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of fastening portions (a first fastening portion 31, a second fastening portion 32, and other fastening portions 33, which will be described later) are integrally formed at appropriate intervals in the vehicle width direction on the garnish 20. The garnish 20 is fixed to the lower part of the back door 10 through the plurality of fastening portions, and is arranged so as to project toward the rear side (outer side of the vehicle) of the vehicle with respect to the back door 10. In the above-described vehicle structure, it is assumed that an impact load F at the time of a rear-end collision of the vehicle is applied to a part of the garnish 20 extending in the vehicle width direction. For this reason, it is desirable to reinforce an appropriate portion of the garnish 20 to protect the electrical components while suppressing excessive crushing deformation thereof, but the appropriate portion to be reinforced varies depending on the vehicle type and the like. Therefore, in the vehicle structure of the present embodiment, an appropriate portion of the garnish 20 (exterior material) selected according to the vehicle type is more appropriately reinforced by an absorber member 50 described later. Hereinafter, the vehicle structure will be described in detail in the order of the garnish 20, the first fastening portion 31, the second fastening portion 32, etc., and the absorber member 50.

[0016] [Garnish] First, as described above, the garnish 20 shown in FIG. 1 extends in the vehicle width direction (one direction) at the lower part of the back door 10. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this garnish 20 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section with the front side open from an outer wall portion 21, an upper side wall portion 22, and a lower side wall portion 23. Referring to FIG. 4, the outer wall portion 21 is formed in a vertical wall shape extending in the vertical direction and is disposed at a position rearward (outer side of the vehicle) of the back door 10. The upper side wall portion 22 obliquely extends forward and upward from the upper end of the outer wall portion 21, and the front end of the upper side wall portion 22 is applied to the main body portion 11 of the back door 10 (a portion other than a fastening portion 12 to be described later) via a sealing material 70. The lower side wall portion 23 is bent forward from the lower end of the outer wall portion 21, and the front end of the lower side wall portion 23 is applied to the main body portion 11 of the back door 10.

[0017] [Window portion] Then, referring to FIG. 3, a central window portion 24 for a handle member is provided at a position slightly to the left of the center on the lower wall portion 23 of the garnish 20. Also, a left window portion 26 for a left lamp member is provided at the left position of the lower wall portion 23, and a right window portion 25 for a right lamp member is provided at the right position of the lower wall portion 23. The central window portion 24, the right window portion 25, and the left window portion 26 are each formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the vehicle width direction, and are configured to expose the corresponding electrical components to the outside of the vehicle. According to the above-described configuration, since the handle member 4 shown in FIG. 1 is exposed to the outside of the vehicle through the central window portion 24, the lock of the back door 10 can be released by pushing the handle member 4. Also, the right lamp member 5 and the left lamp member 6 can illuminate an appropriate position of the vehicle 2, such as a license plate.

[0018] [Fastening portion] Next, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of fastening portions are integrally formed at appropriate intervals in the vehicle width direction on the garnish 20, so that the entire formation location has a lattice structure (in FIG. 3, for the sake of convenience, reference numerals are attached to some of the fastening portions, and a common reference numeral 33 is attached to the other fastening portions). That is, a first fastening portion 31 is provided at a position adjacent to the left of the central window portion 24, and a second fastening portion 32 is provided at a position adjacent to the right of the central window portion 24 on the garnish 20 shown in FIG. 3. Further, fastening portions 33 are also provided at the left and right ends of the garnish 20, at the right position of the right window portion 25, and at the left position of the left window portion 26, respectively. Here, the fastening portions adjacent to the window portion have substantially the same basic configuration, and furthermore, the fastening portions located on both sides of the window portion (for example, the first fastening portion 31 and the second fastening portion 32) have a左右 symmetric shape. Therefore, the details of the first fastening portion 31 and the second fastening portion 32 arranged in the vehicle width direction (one direction) with respect to the central window portion 24 will be described below as an example.

[0019] The first fastening portion 31 described above is located to the left of the central window portion 24, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. This first fastening portion 31 is formed as a strip-shaped plate that is diagonally stretched between the lower end of the upper wall portion 22 and the front end of the lower wall portion 23, and is positioned closer to the back door 10 (forward) than the outer wall portion 21. The rear end portion 311 of the first fastening portion 31 extends to the rear and is integrated with the upper wall portion 22, and the front end portion 312 of the first fastening portion 31 is bent at approximately a right angle to the underside of the vehicle and is integrated with the lower wall portion 23. A shaft-shaped first fastener 41 is fixed to the first fastening portion 31 in a recess 411 located approximately in the center of the first fastening portion 31 in the front-rear direction, so as to intersect at approximately a right angle. The base end of this first fastener 41 is fixed so as to protrude to the underside of the first fastening portion 31. The tip of the first fastener 41 protrudes upward from the first fastening portion 31 and extends toward the fastened portion 12 of the back door 10, which will be described later.

[0020] Referring to Figures 3 and 5, the first fastening portion 31 is open on its left side, while a first vertical wall portion 313 is provided on its right side. As shown in Figure 5, this first vertical wall portion 313 is formed as a vertical wall that is continuous from the first fastening portion 31 to the lower wall portion 23 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The first vertical wall portion 313 is continuous with the front end portion 312 of the first fastening portion 31, while a first through portion 314 (gap) extending vertically is formed between the rear end of the first vertical wall portion 313 and the outer wall portion 21. In the middle of this first through portion 314, a pair of upper and lower slits S1 and S2 are provided so as to extend toward the front of the vehicle, thereby forming a first flexible piece 315 that can bend and deform from side to side.

[0021] Referring also to Figures 3 and 6, the second fastening portion 32 of the garnish 20 has a shape that is substantially symmetrical to the first fastening portion 31 and is located to the right of the central window portion 24. This second fastening portion 32 is also diagonally extended between the upper wall portion 22 and the lower wall portion 23, and is fixed by inserting a second fastener 42. The right side of the second fastening portion 32 is open, while the left side is provided with a second vertical wall portion 323. Furthermore, a second through portion 324 with a second flexible piece 325 is formed between the second vertical wall portion 323 and the outer wall portion 21.

[0022] Here, the main body 11 of the back door 10 shown in Figure 4 is provided with multiple fastening points 12 that protrude toward the rear of the vehicle, corresponding to the number of fastening points (for convenience, only one fastening point is shown in Figure 4). The main body 11 on which the fastening points 12 are provided is tilted downwards as it approaches the front of the vehicle, and the fastening points 12 protrude at approximately a right angle to this tilted main body 11. Referring to Figures 2 and 4, when fixing the garnish 20, for example, the first fastener 41 protruding from the first fastening point 31 is inserted through the corresponding fastening point 12 and fastened. At this time, the garnish 20 is configured to be fastened to the fastening points 12 together with the handle member 4 described above. That is, the first fastener 41 of the first fastening point 31 is inserted through the left end of the handle member 4, and the second fastener 42 of the second fastening point 32 is inserted through the right end of the handle member 4. In this state, the garnish 20 can be fixed to the back door 10 together with the handle member 4 by fastening the first fastening portion 31 and the second fastening portion 32 to the corresponding fastened portion 12. The garnish 20 is then fixed to the back door 10 with a gap X between the first fastening portion 31 and the main body portion 11 corresponding to the protruding dimension of the fastened portion 12.

[0023] [Absorber component] Next, referring to Figures 5 and 6, the absorber member 50 is a member capable of absorbing impact loads applied from the outside, and can be attached to the garnish 20 in a detachable manner, as will be described later (in Figure 6, for convenience, a reference numeral is used for one absorber member, and a reference numeral for another absorber member is used in parentheses). Multiple or single absorber members 50 can be attached to the garnish 20 at appropriate positions, and the configuration of each absorber member 50 is generally the same. In addition, a pair of left and right fastening parts located on either side of the window section are each fitted with absorber members 50 of a symmetrical shape (see, for example, the absorber member in Figure 5 and another absorber member in Figure 9). The details of the absorber member 50 disposed at the first fastening part 31 will be described below as an example.

[0024] The absorber member 50 shown in Figure 5 has a first absorber portion 51, a second absorber portion 52, and a mounting portion 53. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the first absorber portion 51 is formed in a roughly triangular prism shape that follows the spatial shape between the outer wall portion 21 and the first fastening portion 31 in a side view. The width dimension W of the first absorber portion 51 is roughly equal to the distance from the right side to the left side of the first fastening portion 31. Therefore, the first absorber portion 51 is configured to be inserted into the position between the outer wall portion 21 and the first fastening portion 31, i.e., the first position 101, when it is placed on the lower side wall portion 23 of the garnish 20. Furthermore, the first absorber portion 51 is provided with an upper recess 511 that is recessed downwards on a part of its upper surface, thereby avoiding interference with the first fastener 41 and the recess.

[0025] Referring also to Figures 4 and 5, the first absorber portion 51 has an open upper surface, while its first rear plate portion 60 and first lower plate portion 61 are arranged to form a roughly L-shape in side view. Here, the first rear plate portion 60 stands upright along the outer wall portion 21 of the garnish 20. The first lower plate portion 61 extends forward from the lower end of the first rear plate portion 60 and can be positioned on the lower wall portion 23 of the garnish 20. The right end portion 60E of the first rear plate portion 60, as shown in Figure 5, protrudes slightly to the right of the first lower plate portion 61 so that it can be inserted into the first through portion 314 of the first fastening portion 31.

[0026] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the first absorber portion 51 is provided with a plurality of first diagonal ribs 71, a right vertical rib 73, and a central vertical rib 74 (for convenience, in each figure, the rear first diagonal ribs are given a common reference numeral, and the front first diagonal ribs are given a common reference numeral in parentheses). These plurality of first diagonal ribs 71 extend diagonally from the upper side to the lower and rear side of the first absorber portion 51, and are arranged with appropriate spacing between them. The rear first diagonal ribs 71 are configured to reinforce the outer wall portion 21 of the garnish 20 by being extended diagonally from their upper side between the first rear plate portions 60. The front first diagonal ribs 71 are configured to reinforce the lower wall portion 23 of the garnish 20 by being extended from the upper side between the first lower plate portions 61. Also, on the right side of the first absorber portion 51 shown in Figure 5, a right vertical rib 73 is provided that stands upright, and a central vertical rib 74 is provided in the center. The right longitudinal rib 73 and the central longitudinal rib 74 are provided so as to traverse the first absorber portion 51. The first diagonal rib 71, the right longitudinal rib 73, and the central longitudinal rib 74 are formed with approximately the same thickness in the direction in which they extend.

[0027] Referring to Figures 2 and 5, the second absorber portion 52 is integrated with the first absorber portion 51, adjacent to its left side. The second absorber portion 52 is larger than the first absorber portion 51 in a side view. As shown in Figure 2, the left side of the second absorber portion 52 is open, while the second rear plate portion 62, the second lower plate portion 63, and the second upper plate portion 64 are provided to surround that left side. Referring to Figure 5, the second rear plate portion 62 is continuous with the first rear plate portion 60 in the vehicle width direction, and the second lower plate portion 63 is continuous with the first lower plate portion 61 in the vehicle width direction. The central part of the second upper plate portion 64 is inclined downwards towards the front, following the shape of the main body portion 11 of the back door 10. Furthermore, the upper end of the second upper plate portion 64 extends approximately horizontally and continues to the second rear plate portion 62, and the lower end of the second upper plate portion 64 extends approximately vertically and continues to the second lower plate portion 63. In addition, a vertical plate portion 65 is provided in the second absorber portion 52 to close its right side. The second absorber portion 52 is formed as a long vertical wall in the front-to-back direction, as the vertical plate portion 65 stands upright from the rear end to the front end and continues to the other wall portions.

[0028] Referring also to Figures 5 and 7, the second absorber portion 52 is formed to be relatively large so that it can be fitted into the space enclosed by the main body portion 11 and the garnish 20 of the back door 10. For this reason, the second absorber portion 52 can be positioned not in the first position described above, but in a position adjacent to the left side of the first fastening portion 31, i.e., the second position 102. Furthermore, the second absorber portion 52 is provided with a notched side recess 521 on its right edge so that it does not interfere with the first fastener 41 and the handle member 4.

[0029] Referring to Figure 7, the second absorber portion 52 at the second position 102 is positioned as a vertical wall extending from the outer wall portion 21 of the garnish 20 towards the main body portion 11 of the back door 10. In this second absorber portion 52, the second upper plate portion 64 protrudes forward of the first fastening portion 31. This allows the gap X between the first fastening portion 31 and the main body portion 11 to be filled by the second absorber portion 52. The central portion of the second upper plate portion 64, which slopes downward towards the front, is positioned closer to the main body portion 11 than the first fastening portion 31, or even in contact with the main body portion 11. Inside the second absorber portion 52, similar to the first absorber portion 51, there are multiple second diagonal ribs 72 extending diagonally downward and to the rear from the second upper plate portion 64 (for convenience, in each figure, the rear second diagonal ribs are given a common reference numeral, and the front second diagonal ribs are given a common reference numeral in parentheses). Therefore, the second absorber portion 52 is also configured to reinforce the outer wall portion 21 and the lower wall portion 23 of the garnish 20 through the action of its second diagonal rib 72.

[0030] [Mounting part] Next, referring to Figures 5 and 6, the absorber member 50 has an attachment portion 53 integrally provided at the right end 60E of its first absorber portion 51 (first rear plate portion 60). This attachment portion 53 is formed in a tapered triangular cross-section and protrudes from the right end 60E. Also referring to Figure 8, in the absorber member 50, the attachment portion 53 is formed at the same height as the flexible piece of the fastening portion (for example, the first flexible piece 315 of the first fastening portion 31), with the state in which the first absorber portion 51 is positioned at the first position 101 as a reference. With the above configuration, for example, when the first absorber portion 51 is positioned at the first position 101, the first rear plate portion 60 is inserted into the first through portion 314. At this time, the attachment portion 53 protruding from the first rear plate portion 60 bends the first flexible piece 315 and is positioned to the left of the first through portion 314, and then locks into the first flexible piece 315 when it returns to its original position. Furthermore, when the first absorber portion 51 is removed from the first position 101, the first rear plate portion 60 is detached from the first through portion 314. At this time, the mounting portion 53 protruding from the first rear plate portion 60 is removed from the first through portion 314 by bending the first flexible piece 315. With the above configuration, the absorber member 50 can be detachably attached to a specific fastening portion (first fastening portion 31 in each figure) selected from among multiple fastening portions by the action of the mounting portion 53.

[0031] [Vehicle structure] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, in the structure of the vehicle 2 described above, it is assumed that an impact load during a rear-end collision will be applied to the area around the central window portion 24 for the steering wheel member. For this reason, in this type of vehicle structure, it is desirable to appropriately reinforce the area around the central window portion 24 (appropriate location) of the garnish 20 shown in Figure 1 to protect the steering wheel member 4. Accordingly, in the garnish 20 shown in Figures 5 and 6, an absorber member 50 capable of absorbing impact loads is detachably attached to a first position 101 formed between the outer wall portion 21 and the first fastening portion 31, and to a second position 102 adjacent to the first fastening portion 31 etc. from the vehicle width direction (one direction). With the above configuration, by making the absorber member 50 detachable, the appropriate location of the selected garnish 20 can be reinforced more appropriately. Furthermore, the action of the absorber members 50 positioned at the first position 101 and the second position 102 makes it less likely for the garnish 20 to be excessively crushed when an impact load is applied. Therefore, the installation procedure for the absorber member 50 will be explained below, and its function will be explained in more detail using the absorber member 50 positioned at the first fastening portion 31 as an example.

[0032] [Installation of absorber components] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, prior to fixing the garnish 20, the absorber member 50 is attached to the first fastening portion 31. At this time, the first absorber portion 51 of the absorber member 50 is inserted into the first fastening portion 31 and positioned at the first position 101. As a result, the absorber member 50 is attached by locking its mounting portion 53 to the first flexible piece 315 (see Figure 8). By positioning the first absorber portion 51 at the first position 101, the second absorber portion 52, which is integrated with this first absorber portion 51, is positioned at the second position 102, which is to the left of the first fastening portion 31. Similarly, another absorber member (50) is attached to the second fastening portion 32 shown in Figure 9. In this case, another first absorber portion (51) is inserted into the second fastening portion 32 from the right side (positioned at the first position), so that another second absorber portion (52) is positioned to the right of the second fastening portion 32 (second position). The garnish 20 in this state is then fixed to the back door 10 along with the various electrical components shown in Figure 1. As a result, one absorber member 50 is positioned to the left of the central window section 24, and another absorber member (50) is positioned to the right of the central window section 24.

[0033] [The function of shock absorber components during a vehicle rear-end collision] Referring to Figures 6 and 7, in the vehicle structure described above, the impact load F during a rear-end collision is applied to the outer wall portion 21 of the garnish 20 (near the central window portion 24). In the fastened state of the absorber member 50, the second absorber portion 52 positioned at the second position 102 protrudes further toward the main body portion 11 (front side) of the back door 10 than the first fastening portion 31. As a result, the second upper plate portion 64 of the second absorber portion 52 makes contact with the main body portion 11 first, and the impact load F is received by this second absorber portion 52. In this case, the second absorber portion 52 becomes a vertical wall extending front to back, which allows it to receive the impact load F applied to the outer wall portion 21 more reliably. Furthermore, the second diagonal rib 72 of the second absorber portion 52 reinforces the outer wall portion 21 side and the lower wall portion 23 side of the garnish 20, and the deformation of the second absorber portion 52 allows it to absorb the impact load F. According to the above configuration, the first absorber portion 51 suppresses excessive crushing deformation of the garnish 20, thereby providing better protection for the handle member 4 shown in Figure 2.

[0034] Referring also to Figures 4 and 6, even if the second absorber portion 52 is crushed, the first absorber portion 51 located at the first position 101 reinforces the space between the first fastening portion 31 and the outer wall portion 21. That is, the first diagonal rib 71, the right vertical rib 73, and the central vertical rib 74 of the first absorber portion 51 shown in Figure 5 reinforce the outer wall portion 21 side and the lower wall portion 23 side of the garnish 20. Furthermore, the outer wall portion 21 to which the impact load F is applied is reinforced by the contact of the first rear plate portion 60 of the first absorber portion 51, and the impact load F can be absorbed by the deformation of the first absorber portion 51. With the above configuration, the tower structure of the garnish 20 is maintained as much as possible by the action of the second absorber portion 52, thereby providing more appropriate protection to the handle member 4 shown in Figure 2.

[0035] In the garnish 20 shown in Figure 6, another absorber member 50 attached to its second fastening portion 32 performs a similar function, allowing the area around the central window portion 24 to be appropriately reinforced from both sides. Thus, with the above-described configuration, the combined action of the absorber member 50 and the other absorber member 50 makes it possible to protect the handle member 4 while suppressing excessive crushing deformation of the central portion of the garnish 20. This prevents the handle member 4 from being caught between the rearward-crushed outer wall portion 21 and the main body portion 11 of the back door 10, thereby suppressing malfunctions such as malfunctions of the handle member 4.

[0036] As explained above, in this embodiment, the absorber members 50 positioned at the first position 101 and the second position 102 of the garnish 20 (exterior material) make it less likely for the garnish 20 to be excessively crushed when subjected to an impact load. Furthermore, by making the absorber members 50 detachable, the appropriate parts of the garnish 20 selected according to the vehicle model can be reinforced more appropriately. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the appropriate parts of the garnish 20 selected according to the vehicle model can be reinforced more appropriately.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the impact load applied to the garnish 20 causes the absorber member 50 at the second position to first strike the back door 10 (vehicle body). This allows the absorber member 50 to receive the impact load more effectively. In addition, in this embodiment, the vertical wall-shaped absorber member 50 (second absorber portion 52) can more reliably receive the impact load applied to the outer wall portion 21. In addition, in this embodiment, the impact load can be received by multiple absorber portions. And by attaching multiple absorber portions to the garnish 20 simultaneously, it becomes possible to more reliably reinforce the appropriate parts of the garnish 20.

[0038] The vehicle structure of this embodiment is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various other embodiments are possible. For example, in this embodiment, an example is described in which an absorber member is attached to a fastening part near the central window to protect the handle member. The absorber member can be attached to at least one of a plurality of fastening parts, and the fastening part to which it should be attached can be appropriately selected according to the location where the impact load is applied and the configuration of the electrical components. For example, the garnish shown in Figure 3 may be configured to protect the handle member, the right lamp member, and at least one of the left lamp member, in which case an absorber member can be attached to at least one of the left and right fastening parts of the corresponding window. Furthermore, the garnish (exterior material) can be attached to an appropriate position in the height direction of the back door, and the configuration of this embodiment can be applied to any exterior material having a tower structure, in which case the exterior material can be fixed to an appropriate part of the vehicle body such as the rear, right side, or left side of the vehicle. The configuration of the exterior material and the vehicle body can be changed as appropriate, and the configuration of the fastening part and the fastened part can also be changed as appropriate.

[0039] Furthermore, while this embodiment illustrates the configuration of the absorber member, it is not intended to limit the configuration of the absorber member. For example, the shape and dimensions of the absorber member can be appropriately changed according to the tower structure of the garnish. The second absorber portion may be in contact with the vehicle body from the beginning, or a gap may be provided if it is the first to be in contact with the vehicle body when an impact load is applied. The absorber member can have at least one of a first absorber portion and a second absorber portion, and can be positioned at at least one of the first and second positions. For example, the absorber member can have only a first absorber portion and a mounting portion. Alternatively, the absorber member can have only a second absorber portion and a mounting portion, in which case the first rear plate portion and the mounting portion are integrally provided on the second absorber portion. The first absorber portion and the second absorber portion can also be configured to be detachable. The first absorber portion and the second absorber portion can be formed to be approximately the same shape and size, and there may or may not be a difference in their rigidity. Furthermore, the first and second absorber sections can have various rib structures, such as diagonal ribs and longitudinal ribs. Each rib can be formed to extend in the direction of load input (for example, extending in the longitudinal or vertical direction of the vehicle as shown in Figures 5 and 8), and can also be formed in a grid pattern.

[0040] Furthermore, the mounting portion can take various detachable structures in addition to the configuration described above, and can take various structures such as fitting structures, locking structures, and engaging structures. The position of the mounting portion can also be set as appropriate, and it is possible to provide the mounting portion on the first lower plate portion of the first absorber portion, and to provide a through portion and a flexible piece portion on the lower end side of the lower wall portion of the first fastening portion. If the rigidity of the absorber member can be ensured, it is also possible to detachably attach the mounting portion provided on the fastening portion side to the through portion and flexible piece provided on the absorber member side. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 2 vehicles 3. Rear door opening 4 Handle component 5 Right lamp component 6. Left lamp component 10. Back door (vehicle body of the present invention) 11 Main body 12 Part to be fastened 20 Garnish (Exterior material of the present invention) 21 Exterior wall 22 Upper side wall portion (side wall portion of the present invention) 23 Lower side wall portion (side wall portion of the present invention) 24 Central window section 25 Right window section 26 Left window section 31 First fastening part 311 Rear end (of the first fastening part) 312 (Front end of the first fastening part) 313 First vertical wall section 314 First penetration part 315 First flexible piece 32 Second fastening part 321 Rear end (of the second fastening section) 322 (Front end of the second fastening section) 323 Second vertical wall section 324 Second penetration part 325 Second flexible piece 33 Fastening section 41 First fastener 42 Second fastener 411 Recess 50 Absorber component 51 First absorber part 511 Upper recess 52 Second absorber area 521 Side recess 53 Mounting part 531 (Tip of the mounting part) 60 First rear plate part 61 First lower plate part 62 Second rear plate part 63 Second lower plate part 64 Second upper plate part 65 Vertical board section 71 First diagonal rib 72 Second diagonal rib 73 Right vertical rib 74 Central vertical rib 101 First Position 102 Second position

Claims

1. In a vehicle structure in which an exterior material fixed to the vehicle body is provided with a window portion that exposes internal electrical components to the outside of the vehicle, and a plurality of fastening portions that fasten and fix to the vehicle body, arranged in one direction in which the exterior material extends, The exterior material has an outer wall portion positioned on the outside of the vehicle body and a side wall portion extending toward the vehicle body from the end of the outer wall portion, and the fastening portion is integrally formed so as to be positioned closer to the vehicle body than the outer wall portion. A vehicle structure in which an absorber member capable of absorbing an externally applied impact load is detachably attached at least one location between the outer wall portion and the fastening portion, and between a first position formed between the fastening portion and a second position formed adjacent to the fastening portion from one direction.

2. The vehicle body has a main body and a fastening portion that protrudes from the main body, and the fastening portion is fastened and fixed to the fastening portion. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the absorber member is positioned at the second position in a state that protrudes toward the main body portion than the fastening portion in the fastened state.

3. The vehicle structure according to claim 2, wherein the absorber member is formed in the shape of a vertical wall extending from the outer wall side of the exterior material toward the vehicle body side.

4. The vehicle structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the absorber member integrally comprises a first absorber portion disposed at the first position and a second absorber portion disposed at the second position.

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