Vehicle cleaner and method for assembling a vehicle cleaner

Abstract

To provide a new vehicle cleaner with a simple configuration. [Solution] The vehicle cleaner is a vehicle cleaner that is installed in an opening formed in a part of the body panel of a vehicle, and comprises a case 20 having a housing space 20a formed inward from the opening, a nozzle unit 22 which is partially housed in the housing space 20a, a cover 24 fixed to the tip 22a of the nozzle unit 22 which closes the front of the case 20 when the nozzle unit 22 is not in use, and a fastening member which fastens the nozzle unit 22 to the case 20. The nozzle unit 22 is fixed to the case 20 with the fastening member, sandwiching the surface surrounding the housing space 20a.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle cleaner used for vehicle lamps.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a vehicle cleaner that sprays a cleaning liquid onto a transparent cover of a vehicle lamp to remove dirt adhering to the cover is known. For example, the vehicle cleaner described in Patent Document 1 includes a cylindrical first bracket provided in an opening formed in a part of a vehicle body panel of a vehicle, a cylinder supported by the first bracket, and a piston supported so as to be able to move forward and backward with respect to the cylinder. An actuator having a piston, an injection nozzle provided near the tip of the piston for injecting a cleaning liquid onto a cleaning object of the vehicle in a state where the piston protrudes from the opening, and a cover provided at the tip of the piston for closing the opening in a state where the piston is drawn into the cylinder, and a second bracket that can be attached to the vehicle body panel and positions the actuator with respect to the opening in a state of being engaged with the first bracket.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above-described vehicle cleaner, when attaching the first bracket of the actuator to the flange of the bumper, the first bracket and the flange are screwed together with the second bracket sandwiched between the first bracket and the vehicle body panel. In addition, it is also necessary to fix the second bracket to the back of the bumper with double-sided tape. Therefore, the number of parts and the assembly man-hours increase.

[0005] This invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and one of its exemplary objectives is to provide a new vehicle cleaner with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, a vehicle cleaner according to one aspect of the present invention is a vehicle cleaner that is mounted in an opening formed in a part of a vehicle body panel, and comprises a case having a housing space formed inward from the opening, a nozzle unit partially housed in the housing space, a cover fixed to the tip of the nozzle unit and closing the front of the case when the nozzle unit is not in use, and a fastening member for fastening the nozzle unit to the case. The nozzle unit is fixed to the case by the fastening member with the surface surrounding the housing space in between.

[0007] According to this embodiment, a vehicle cleaner with a simple configuration and a small number of parts can be realized.

[0008] The nozzle unit may include an attachment fixed to a case, a cylinder supported by the attachment, and a piston supported so as to be able to move back and forth relative to the cylinder.

[0009] The piston may be configured to protrude forward from the housing space due to the pressurization of the cleaning fluid that passes through and is sprayed, and to retract into the housing space when the pressurization of the cleaning fluid is released. This makes it less likely for the nozzle unit to fall out of the case, as its movement is restricted by the housing space, even if the nozzle unit tries to move backward due to the reaction force when the piston protrudes forward.

[0010] The fastening member is a screw, and the attachment has a screw hole on its rear surface into which the screw is fastened, and a projection that is positioned in a hole provided in the case, and the case has a first hole on its rear surface through which the screw passes, and a second hole into which the projection fits, and the screw may be inserted from the rear side of the first hole and fastened into the screw hole. This allows the attachment to be fixed in a predetermined position inside the case without increasing the number of screws.

[0011] The attachment may have a locking portion that engages with a locking portion formed on the case when it is installed into the housing space from the front side of the case. This allows the attachment to be fastened to the case with screws while it is temporarily fixed to the case, and also makes it less likely for the nozzle unit including the attachment to be pushed forward when fastening with screws, thus simplifying assembly.

[0012] The attachment may have a shape that prevents it from rotating within the housing space. This prevents the attachment from rotating within the housing space due to the torque when the screws are tightened.

[0013] Another aspect of the present invention is a method for assembling a vehicle cleaner. This method is for assembling a vehicle cleaner that is fitted into an opening formed in a part of a vehicle body panel, and includes the steps of: preparing a case having a housing space formed to extend inward from the opening; fitting a nozzle unit into the housing space from the front side of the case; and fastening the nozzle unit from the rear side with fastening members, sandwiching the rear surface of the housing space.

[0014] According to this embodiment, the nozzle unit can be installed into the housing space from the front side of the case, which has a wide working area.

[0015] The process of attaching the nozzle unit may include a step of securing a cover to the tip of the nozzle unit, which closes the front of the case when the nozzle unit is not in use. This allows the nozzle unit to be installed into the housing space of the case with the cover secured to the tip of the nozzle unit.

[0016] Any combination of the above components, or those obtained by converting the expression of the present invention among manufacturing methods, devices such as lamps and lighting, etc., are also effective as aspects of the present invention.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, a new vehicle cleaner with a simple structure can be realized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] It is a front view of a vehicle equipped with the vehicle cleaner according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] It is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the vehicle lamp of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view of a cleaner mounted in an opening formed in a design part constituting a part of the vehicle body panel. [Figure 4] It is an exploded perspective view of the cleaner shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view of the cleaner shown in FIG. 3 as seen from the rear obliquely upward. [Figure 6] It is an exploded perspective view of the cleaner shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] It is a top view of the nozzle unit according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8] It is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the cleaner according to the present embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view of a cleaner according to a modification of the present embodiment. [Figure 10] It is an exploded perspective view of the cleaner shown in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 11(a) is a perspective view of a resin clip according to a modification of the present embodiment, and FIG. 11(b) is a perspective view showing a state in which a pin is pushed into a grommet in the resin clip shown in FIG. 11(a). [Figure 12] FIG. 12(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the resin grip shown in FIG. 11(a), and FIG. 12(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a state in which a case and an attachment are fastened with the resin grip according to the modification. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, based on preferred embodiments. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in each drawing will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, the embodiments are illustrative and not limiting, and not all features or combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention.

[0020] First, an example of a vehicle cleaner according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, "left-right direction," "front-rear direction," and "up-down direction" refer to relative directions set for the vehicle and vehicle cleaner shown in the figures, for the sake of explanation. Figure 1 is a front view of a vehicle equipped with the vehicle cleaner according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the vehicle lighting fixture of the vehicle shown in Figure 1. The vehicle lighting fixtures shown in Figures 1 and 2 are vehicle headlights and are configured to form light distribution patterns for low beam and high beam.

[0021] The vehicle 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises a pair of vehicle lights 14 provided at the left and right ends of the vehicle's bumper 12 (an example of a body panel), and a vehicle cleaner (hereinafter referred to as cleaner 18) attached to a decorative component 16 below each vehicle light 14. The cleaner 18 is a device that sprays cleaning fluid onto the vehicle lights 14 (headlamps in Figure 1) to remove dirt and snow adhering to the lights and clean the lights.

[0022] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a cleaner 18 that is installed in an opening 16a formed in a design component 16 that constitutes part of a vehicle body panel. Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaner 18 shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cleaner 18 shown in Figure 3, viewed from the rear diagonally above. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaner 18 shown in Figure 5.

[0023] As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the cleaner 18 comprises a case 20 with a housing space 20a formed inward from an opening 16a, a nozzle unit 22 partially housed in the housing space 20a, a cover 24 fixed to the tip 22a of the nozzle unit 22 and closing the front of the case 20 when the nozzle unit 22 is not in use, and screws 26 as fastening members for fastening the nozzle unit 22 to the case 20. The nozzle unit 22 is fixed to the case 20 with screws 26 across the surface surrounding the housing space 20a. This makes it possible to realize a cleaner 18 with a simple configuration and a small number of parts.

[0024] Figure 7 is a top view of the nozzle unit 22 according to this embodiment. Figure 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the cleaner 18 according to this embodiment. The nozzle unit 22 includes an attachment 28 fixed to the case 20, a cylinder 30 supported by the attachment 28, and a piston 32 (see Figure 8) supported so as to be able to move back and forth relative to the cylinder 30. A hole or pipe is connected to the rear end of the cylinder 30, and cleaning fluid from a tank located elsewhere in the vehicle is supplied to the nozzle unit 22.

[0025] The piston 32 protrudes forward from the housing space 20a due to the pressurization of the cleaning fluid that passes through and is sprayed inside, and the cleaning fluid is sprayed from the spray nozzle 32a toward the vehicle light fixture 14. The piston 32 is also configured to retract into the housing space 20a when the pressurization of the cleaning fluid is released. The force that causes the piston 32 to protrude forward or retract backward can be provided by a biasing member such as a spring or a driving force such as a motor. As a result, even if the entire nozzle unit 22 tries to move backward due to the reaction force when the piston 32 protrudes forward, its movement is restricted by the housing space 20a, making it less likely for the nozzle unit 22 to fall out of the case 20.

[0026] The attachment 28 has a screw hole 28a on its rear side through which a screw 26 is fastened, and a projection 28b that is positioned in a hole provided in the case 20. The case 20 has a first hole 20c on its rear side through which the screw passes, and a second hole 20d into which the projection 28b fits. The screw 26 is inserted from the rear side of the first hole 20c and fastened in the screw hole 28a. In other words, the screw 26 is fastened in the screw hole 28a of the attachment 28 of the nozzle unit 22, sandwiching the rear surface 20b among the multiple surfaces surrounding the housing space 20a. This allows the attachment 28 to be fixed in a predetermined position within the case 20 without increasing the number of screws 26 (even with just one screw 26).

[0027] The attachment 28 has locking portions 28c and 28d that lock onto locking portions 20e and 20f formed on the case 20 when it is mounted into the housing space 20a from the front side of the case. The locking portions 20e and 20f are notched openings formed on the left and right sides of the multiple surfaces surrounding the housing space 20a. The locking portion 28c is a flexible tongue portion that protrudes forward from the rectangular body of the attachment 28. The locking portion 28d is a protruding portion provided on the left side of the rectangular body of the attachment 28. This allows the attachment 28 to be fastened to the case 20 with screws 26 while the attachment 28 is temporarily fixed to the case 20. In addition, the nozzle unit 22 including the attachment 28 is less likely to be pushed forward when fastening with screws 26, making assembly easier.

[0028] Furthermore, the attachment 28 has a rectangular (front view) shape that does not rotate within the rectangular (front view) housing space 20a. As a result, the attachment 28 does not rotate within the housing space 20a due to the torque when the screw 26 is tightened.

[0029] The assembly method for the cleaner 18 according to this embodiment is a method for assembling a cleaner 18 that is mounted in an opening 16a formed in a part of the bumper 12 of a vehicle 10. This method includes the steps of: preparing a case 20 having a housing space 20a formed so as to extend inward from the opening 16a; mounting a nozzle unit 22 into the housing space 20a from the front side of the case 20; and fastening the nozzle unit 22 from the rear side with screws 26, sandwiching the rear surface 20b of the housing space 20a. This allows the nozzle unit 22 to be mounted into the housing space 20a from the front side of the case 20, which has a wide working area.

[0030] Furthermore, the assembly method according to this embodiment includes a step of fixing a cover 24, which closes the front of the case 20 when the nozzle unit 22 is not in use, to the tip 22a of the nozzle unit 22, before the step of attaching the nozzle unit 22. This allows the nozzle unit 22 to be attached to the housing space 20a of the case 20 with the cover 24 fixed to the tip of the nozzle unit 22.

[0031] (modified version) Figure 9 is a perspective view of a modified example of the cleaner 34 of this embodiment. Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaner 34 shown in Figure 9. In the following description, components identical to those of the cleaner 18 described above will be given the same reference numerals and names, and their descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

[0032] The modified cleaner 34 differs from the cleaner 18 in that the nozzle unit 36 ​​is fastened to the case 38 from below with a screw 26. This allows the nozzle unit 36 ​​to be fixed to the case 38 with the screw 26 even if there is no working space behind the case 38, as long as there is space below the case 38. Also, since the nozzle unit 36 ​​is not pushed forward when the screw 26 is fastened from below, there is no need to provide a locking part or a locking part like in the cleaner 18.

[0033] Figure 11(a) is a perspective view of a modified resin clip according to this embodiment, and Figure 11(b) is a perspective view showing the resin clip shown in Figure 11(a) with the pin pushed into the grommet. Figure 12(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the resin grip shown in Figure 11(a), and Figure 12(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the state in which the case and attachment are fastened together with the modified resin grip.

[0034] As shown in Figures 11(a) and 12(a), a resin clip 40, which is an example of a fastening member, has a grommet 42 and a pin 44. When the pin 44 is inserted into the grommet 42, a part of the shaft portion 44a of the pin 44 pushes open the leg portion 42a of the grommet 42. As a result, as shown in Figure 12(b), the expanded leg portion 42a fixes the resin clip 40 to the attachment 28, preventing it from coming loose, and fastens the case 20 and the attachment 28 together.

[0035] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the present invention also includes combinations and substitutions of the configurations of the embodiments as appropriate. Furthermore, it is possible to appropriately rearrange the combinations and processing order in the embodiments or to make various design changes and other modifications to the embodiments based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and such modified embodiments may also be included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 10 Vehicle, 12 Bumper, 14 Vehicle light fixture, 16 Design part, 16a Opening, 18 Cleaner, 20 Case, 20a Housing space, 20b Rear, 20c First hole, 20d Second hole, 20e Locking part, 22 Nozzle unit, 22a Tip, 24 Cover, 26 Screw, 28 Attachment, 28a Screw, 28b Projection, 28c Locking part, 28d Locking part, 30 Cylinder, 32 Piston, 32a Spray nozzle, 34 Cleaner, 36 Nozzle unit, 38 Case.

Claims

1. A vehicle cleaner that is installed in an opening formed in a part of the vehicle body panel, In a case where a storage space is formed inward from the aforementioned opening, A nozzle unit, part of which is housed in the aforementioned housing space, A cover fixed to the tip of the nozzle unit, which closes the front of the case when the nozzle unit is not in use, The nozzle unit has a fastening member for fastening it to the case, A vehicle cleaner characterized in that the nozzle unit is fixed to the case by fastening members on either side of the surface surrounding the housing space.

2. The nozzle unit described above is An attachment fixed to the aforementioned case, A cylinder supported by the aforementioned attachment, A piston supported so as to be able to move back and forth relative to the cylinder, A vehicle cleaner according to claim 1, characterized by having the following features.

3. The vehicle cleaner according to claim 2, characterized in that the piston is configured to protrude forward from the containment space by pressurizing the cleaning fluid that passes through and is sprayed inside, and to retract into the containment space when the pressurization of the cleaning fluid is released.

4. The fastening member is a screw, The attachment has a screw hole formed on its rear surface, into which the screw is fastened, and a projection that is positioned in a hole provided in the case. The case has a first hole through which the screw passes and a second hole into which the projection fits on its rear surface. The vehicle cleaner according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the screw is inserted from the rear side of the first hole and fastened into the screw hole.

5. The vehicle cleaner according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the attachment has a locking portion that engages with a locking portion formed on the case when it is mounted into the housing space from the front side of the case.

6. The vehicle cleaner according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the attachment has a shape that does not rotate in the housing space.

7. A method for assembling a vehicle cleaner that is installed in an opening formed in a part of a vehicle body panel, A step of preparing a case having a storage space formed so as to extend inward from the opening, A step of installing the nozzle unit into the housing space from the front side of the case, The process involves fastening the nozzle unit from the rear side with fastening members, sandwiching the rear surface of the aforementioned housing space, A method for assembling a vehicle cleaner, characterized by including [a certain element].

8. Before the step of attaching the nozzle unit, The method for assembling a vehicle cleaner according to claim 7, characterized in that it includes the step of fixing a cover that closes the front of the case when the nozzle unit is not in use to the tip of the nozzle unit.

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