Vehicle cargo box

Abstract

Provided at intervals in the vehicle width direction and to one of a lower side joining part (1806) of an outer lower panel (18) and an upper side joining part (2004) of an outer upper panel (20) are plurality of joining protruding parts (28) that protrude toward the other one of the lower side joining part (1806) and the upper side joining part (2004) and that extend in the vertical direction. Joining of the outer lower panel (18) and the outer upper panel (20) is achieved by the top surfaces (2804) of the joining protruding parts (28) being joined with said other one of the lower side joining part (1806) and the upper side joining part (2004). The lower side joining part (1806) is positioned lower than an upper edge (1808) of the outer lower panel (18). The outer lower panel (18) is joined to the outer upper panel (20) such that the upper edge (1808) has a gap (30) with respect to the outer upper panel (20).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to vehicle cargo boxes. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Vehicles equipped with a cargo box, such as a pickup truck, are available (see Patent Document 1). Since shipping boxes have vertical walls that form a closed cross section by joining multiple panel members, the upper ends of the joints between the panel members that face upward are prone to collecting rainwater during rainfall, raising concerns about the formation of rust. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-94888 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Therefore, in the past, it was necessary to fill the upper ends of the joints of the panel members with a sealant to prevent rust, which resulted in increased costs. Furthermore, in cases where the vertical wall portion has an upper edge portion that covers the upper end of the joint portion of the panel members from above, the location of the upper edge portion makes it difficult to fill the sealant into the upper end of the joint portion of the panel members, and some kind of improvement is required. The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a cargo box for a vehicle which can omit the step of filling with a sealant to prevent rust, and which is advantageous in terms of reducing costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the present invention is a cargo box for a vehicle having a vertical wall portion that forms a closed cross section with an outer panel and an inner panel, the outer panel having an outer lower panel disposed opposite the inner panel, and an outer upper panel that is joined to an upper portion of the outer lower panel and extends upward, forming an upper edge portion of the vertical wall portion, the outer lower panel and the outer upper panel each having a lower side joint portion and an upper side joint portion that are joined to each other, The present invention is characterized in that a plurality of joining convex portions are provided at intervals in the vehicle width direction on one of the upper side joints of the outer lower panel, the joining of the outer lower panel and the outer upper panel being achieved by joining the top surface of the joining convex portion to the other of the lower side joint or the upper side joint, the lower side joint being located below the upper edge of the outer lower panel, and the outer lower panel being joined to the outer upper panel with a gap between the upper edge and the outer upper panel. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, during rainfall, for example, water flowing from above along the outer upper panel is guided into the inside of the vertical wall portion through the gap between the upper edge of the outer lower panel and the outer upper panel, and is discharged downward through between the joining convex portions. Therefore, water does not accumulate between the upper outer panel and the upper edges of the lower outer panel, so the need for filling the vertical wall with sealing material to prevent rusting can be eliminated, which is advantageous in terms of reducing costs. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 2 is a perspective view of a vertical wall portion according to an embodiment, as viewed from the rear of the vehicle. FIG. [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view of a vertical wall portion according to an embodiment, as viewed from the front of the vehicle. FIG. [Diagram 3]2 is a perspective view of a vertical wall portion according to an embodiment with an outer lower panel removed, as viewed from the rear of the vehicle. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a vertical wall portion according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 10(A) and 10(B) are enlarged cross-sectional views of the upper portion of the vertical wall portion, where 10(A) shows a cross-section at the top surface of the joining convex portion, and 10(B) shows a cross-section at the gap portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vertical wall portion according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the symbol FR indicates the front of the vehicle, the symbol UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle, the symbol IN indicates the inside in the vehicle width direction, and the symbol OUT indicates the outside in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle to which the vertical wall portion of this embodiment is applied is a pickup truck, which is a frame vehicle having a cabin and a cargo box mounted on a ladder frame. The cargo box is configured to include a rectangular floor surface, a back panel that stands up from the front end of the floor surface and is provided on the rear surface of the cabin, a pair of side panels that stand up from both ends of the floor surface in the vehicle width direction, and a rear gate 10 shown in Fig. 1 that stands up from the rear end of the floor surface. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the vertical wall portion of this embodiment is applied to the rear gate 10, but the present invention can of course also be applied to the back panel or side panel. The rear gate 10 (vertical wall portion) is provided so as to be able to swing between a closed position in which the rear portion of the cargo box is closed and an open position in which the rear portion of the cargo box is open.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 4, the rear gate 10 (vertical wall portion) includes a gate body 12 and an upper edge portion 14. The lower end of the gate body 12 is rotatably supported on the floor surface via a support shaft. Both ends of the gate body 12 in the vehicle width direction are locked to the rear ends of a pair of side panels via a locking mechanism, so that the rear gate 10 is maintained in the closed position, and the rear gate 10 can be swung to the open position by releasing the locking mechanism. The gate body 12 includes an inner panel 16 and an outer panel, and is formed to have a closed cross-sectional structure. The outer panel has an outer lower panel 18 arranged opposite the inner panel 16, and an outer upper panel 20 joined to the upper part of the outer lower panel 18 and extended upward, forming the upper edge portion 14A of the vertical wall portion. The inner panel 16, the outer lower panel 18, and the outer upper panel 20 are made of steel plates. The outer lower panel 18 is formed to have a thickness greater than that of the inner panel 16. The outer upper panel 20 is formed to have a thickness greater than that of the outer lower panel 18. 4, the inner panel 16 is disposed in front of the outer lower panel 18 and the outer upper panel 20. The lower end of the inner panel 16 and the lower end of the outer lower panel 18 are joined together by, for example, hemming.

[0010] As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a plurality of water drainage holes 22 are provided near the lower end of the inner panel 16 at intervals in the vehicle width direction. A plurality of working holes 24 are provided at intervals in the vehicle width direction on the upper part of the inner panel 16 for wiring brake lights and the like to be attached to the outer lower panel 18. These working holes 24 are closed by cover members (not shown). A lower end 2002 of the outer upper panel 20 is overlapped with an upper end 1602 of the inner panel 16 from the rear of the vehicle and joined by welding. The outer lower panel 18 includes a rear surface 1802 that extends continuously upward from its lower end and constitutes the rear surface of the tailgate 10, an inclined surface 1804 that displaces slightly upward as it extends from the upper end of the rear surface 1802 toward the front of the vehicle, a lower side joint 1806 that displaces upward from the rear end of the inclined surface 1804 and toward the front of the vehicle, and an upper edge 1808 located above the lower side joint 1806. Additionally, an upper side joint portion 2004 located in the vertical middle portion of the outer upper panel 20 is overlapped with a lower side joint portion 1806 located below an upper edge 1808 of the outer lower panel 18 from the rear of the vehicle and joined by welding. The lower end 2002 of the outer upper panel 20 extends substantially in the vertical direction. An inclined portion 2006 that gradually displaces toward the rear of the vehicle as it extends upward is formed between the lower end 2002 of the outer upper panel 20 and the upper-side joint portion 2004. The upper-side joint portion 2004 is formed by an inclined surface that gradually displaces toward the front of the vehicle as it extends upward from the upper end of the inclined portion 2006. The upper end 12A of the gate body 12 is formed by joining an upper-side joint portion 2004 in the vertical direction of the outer upper panel 20 and a lower-side joint portion 1806 of the outer lower panel 18.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the upper edge 14 is provided so as to cover the upper end 12A of the gate body 12 from above by a portion of the outer upper panel 20 that protrudes upward from the upper end 12A of the gate body 12. The upper edge portion 14 includes an upright surface portion 1402 that rises upward from the upper side joint 2004 of the outer upper panel 20, an upper surface portion 1404 that extends from the upper end of the upright surface portion 1402 toward the rear of the vehicle, and a bent surface portion 1406 that extends downward from the rear end of the upper surface portion 1404. The lower end of the bent surface portion 1406 is located above the middle portion of the inclined surface 1804 of the outer lower panel 18 in the extending direction. In this embodiment, the upper end 12A of the gate body 12, i.e., the portion of the outer upper panel 20 protruding upward from the upper end of the upper-side joint portion 2004, is formed as an inclined surface portion 2008 that displaces toward the front of the vehicle as it extends upward. The standing surface portion 1402 stands upward from the front end of the inclined surface portion 2008. Further, caps (not shown) are attached to both ends of the upper edge 14 in the vehicle width direction to close the space formed by the upright surface portion 1402, the upper surface portion 1404, and the curved surface portion 1406. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 26 denotes a pair of rope hooks for fastening ropes to be hung on luggage loaded in the packing box. The pair of rope hooks 26 are provided on both sides of the width of the upper edge 14, protruding downward from the inside of the upright surface portion 1402 and the upper surface portion 1404.

[0012] Next, a joining structure between the lower side joint portion 1806 of the outer lower panel 18 constituting the upper end 12A of the gate body 12 and the upper side joint portion 2004 in the vertical direction of the outer upper panel 20 will be described. As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5(A), a plurality of joining convex portions 28 are provided at intervals in the vehicle width direction at the upper side joint 2004 of the outer upper panel 20, protruding toward the lower side joint 1806 of the outer lower panel 18. As shown in FIG. 3, the joint convex portion 28 has a pair of side surfaces 2802 that rise toward the rear of the vehicle from the upper joint portion 2004 spaced apart in the vehicle width direction, and a top surface 2804 that connects the rear ends of the pair of side surfaces 2802 and extends in the vertical direction. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in this embodiment, the joining convex portion 28 is provided at locations other than both ends of the upper end 12A of the gate body 12 in the vehicle width direction, and is not provided at both ends of the upper end 12A of the gate body 12 in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the distance between adjacent joining convex portions 28 provided on both sides of the rear gate 10 in the vehicle width direction is formed to be smaller than the distance between adjacent joining convex portions 28 provided in the middle part of the rear gate 10 in the vehicle width direction.

[0013] As shown in Figures 4 and 5(A), the joining of the lower side joint 1806 of the outer lower panel 18 and the upper side joint 2004 of the outer upper panel 20 is achieved by joining the top surface 2804 of the joining convex portion 28 to the lower side joint 1806 of the outer lower panel 18 by welding. The lower-side joint portion 1806 to which the top surface 2804 of the joint convex portion 28 is joined is formed of a single flat surface extending over the entire length in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 5(B), a gap 30 is formed between adjacent joining convex portions 28 in the vehicle width direction, allowing water to flow into the inside of the gate body 12. In other words, the outer lower panel 18 is joined to the outer upper panel 20 with the upper edge 1808 thereof being spaced from the outer upper panel 20 with a gap 30 therebetween. Also, as shown in Figure 2, at both ends of the lower side joint 1806 or the upper side joint 2004 in the vehicle width direction, a space 32 is formed between the outer lower panel 18 and the outer upper panel 20, which allows water to flow into the inside of the gate body 12.

[0014] Next, the function and effect of the rear gate 10 of this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, a plurality of joining convex portions 28 that protrude toward the other and extend in the vertical direction are provided at intervals in the vehicle width direction on either the lower side joint 1806 of the outer lower panel 18 or the upper side joint 2004 of the outer upper panel 20, and the outer lower panel 18 and the outer upper panel 20 are joined by joining the top surface 2804 of the joining convex portion 28 to the other of the lower side joint 1806 or the upper side joint 2004, and the lower side joint 1806 is located below the upper edge 1808 of the outer lower panel 18, and the outer lower panel 18 is joined to the outer upper panel 20 with a gap 30 between the upper edge 1808 and the outer upper panel 20. Therefore, for example, when it rains, rainwater that flows down the upper edge 14 (outer upper panel 20) to the upright surface 1402 above the upper end 12A of the gate body 12, or more specifically, rainwater that reaches the space between the upright surface 1402 and the upper edge 1808, is guided through the gap 30 into the interior of the rear gate 10, flows downward through the joining convex portion 28, and is then discharged to the outside of the rear gate 10 through the drainage hole 22. In other words, a gap 30 is provided between the upright surface 1402 of the upper edge portion 14 (outer upper panel 20) and the upper edge 1808 of the outer lower panel 18 to prevent water from accumulating, and a passage is formed at the joint between the outer upper panel 20 and the outer lower panel 18 to allow water to flow downward, thereby actively draining water through the inside of the rear gate 10. Therefore, the process of filling the upper end 12A of the gate body 12 (ie, the upper end edge 1808 of the outer lower panel 18) with a sealant to prevent rust can be omitted, which is advantageous in terms of reducing costs. In particular, when an upper edge portion 14 is provided covering the upper end 12A of the gate body 12 as in this embodiment, the task of filling the gap between the lower side joint 1806 of the outer lower panel 18 and the upper side joint 2004 of the outer upper panel 20 with sealant, specifically, the task of filling the gap between the upright surface portion 1402 and the inclined surface portion 2008 and the upper edge 1808, is difficult due to the location of the upper edge portion 14, so omitting the task of filling the sealant is more advantageous in terms of reducing costs. In addition, by providing multiple joining convex portions 28 at the upper end 12A of the gate body 12, i.e., at the joint between the outer upper panel 20 and the outer lower panel 18, multiple longitudinal sections extending in the vertical direction are formed at the joint, thereby increasing the strength and rigidity of the upper end 12A of the gate body 12, which is advantageous in terms of improving durability.

[0015] In addition, in this embodiment, the upper edge portion 14 comprises an upright surface portion 1402 that rises upward from the upper side joint 2004 of the outer upper panel 20, an upper surface portion 1404 that extends from the upper end of the upright surface portion 1402 toward the rear of the vehicle, and a curved surface portion 1406 that extends downward from the rear end of the upper surface portion 1404, thereby increasing the strength and rigidity compared to when they are formed as a single flat surface. Therefore, the upper edge portion 14 is more advantageous in improving the strength and rigidity of the rear gate 10 and in improving its durability.

[0016] In addition, in this embodiment, both ends of the gate body 12 in the vehicle width direction are locked to the rear ends of a pair of side panels via a locking mechanism, so that a greater load is likely to be applied to both side portions in the vehicle width direction compared to the middle portion of the gate body 12 in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, the distance between adjacent joining convex portions 28 provided on both sides of the rear gate 10 in the vehicle width direction is formed to be smaller than the distance between adjacent joining convex portions 28 provided in the middle portion of the rear gate 10 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, more joining convex portions 28 are provided on both side portions in the vehicle width direction of the gate body 12, which are more likely to be subjected to larger loads, than on the middle portion, and these joining convex portions 28 are joined to the lower side joining portion 1806 of the outer lower panel 18, which is advantageous in increasing the strength and rigidity of both side portions in the vehicle width direction of the gate body 12 and improving the durability of the rear gate 10.

[0017] In addition, when the vehicle is moving or stopped, the wheels at both ends in the vehicle width direction are not positioned on the same horizontal plane, but one of the wheels is positioned higher or lower, and when it rains, rainwater tends to accumulate on the upright surface portion 1402 above the upper end 12A of the gate body 12, or between the inclined surface portion 2008 and the upper edge 1808, at one end of the upper end 12A of the gate body 12 in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, at both ends of the lower side joint 1806 or the upper side joint 2004 in the vehicle width direction, a space 32 is formed between the outer lower panel 18 and the outer upper panel 20, which allows water to flow into the inside of the gate body 12. Therefore, when it rains, rainwater that tends to accumulate on the upright surface portion 1402 above the upper end 12A of the gate body 12 at one end in the vehicle width direction of the upper end 12A of the gate body 12, or rainwater that tends to accumulate between the inclined surface portion 2008 and the upper edge 1808, is guided through the space 32 into the inside of the rear gate 10 and drained to the outside of the rear gate 10 through the drainage hole 22, which is advantageous in preventing the upper end 12A of the gate body 12 (i.e. the upper edge 1808 of the outer lower panel 18) from rusting.

[0018] In addition, in this embodiment, since the joining convex portion 28 is provided on the outer upper panel 20, the lower side joining portion 1806 of the outer lower panel 18 to which the top surface 2804 of this joining convex portion 28 is joined can be formed as a single flat surface extending over the entire length in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, when the rear gate 10 is viewed from the rear of the vehicle, the joint with the joining convex portion 28 is hidden by the outer lower panel 18, which is formed of a single flat surface, which is advantageous in ensuring the design of the rear gate 10.

[0019] In the present embodiment, the thickness of the outer upper panel 20 is greater than the thickness of the outer lower panel 18 . Therefore, providing a joining convex portion 28 on the thicker outer upper panel 20 is more advantageous in increasing the strength and rigidity of the upper end 12A of the gate body 12, and is more advantageous in improving the strength and rigidity of the gate body 12 and the durability of the gate body 12.

[0020] In this embodiment, the joining convex portion 28 is provided at the upper side joint 2004 of the outer upper panel 20 and the top surface 2804 of the joining convex portion 28 is joined to the lower side joint 1806 of the outer lower panel 18. However, conversely, the joining convex portion 28 may be provided at the lower side joint 1806 of the outer lower panel 18 and the top surface 2804 of the joining convex portion 28 may be joined to the upper side joint 2004 of the outer upper panel 20, and the same effect can be achieved in this case as well. However, in this case, when the rear gate 10 is viewed from the rear of the vehicle, the joining convex portion 28 provided on the outer upper panel 20 becomes visible, and therefore, in order to ensure the design, it becomes necessary to attach a special design part to the rear surface of the outer upper panel 20 to hide the joining convex portion 28. Therefore, the configuration according to this embodiment is advantageous in terms of ensuring the design of the rear gate 10 while suppressing an increase in costs.

[0021] Although various embodiments have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modified or revised examples within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the components in the above-mentioned embodiments may be arbitrarily combined within the scope of the invention.

[0022] This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Patent Application No. 2022-058365) filed on March 31, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] 10 Rear gate (vertical wall) 12 Gate body 12A top end 14 Upper edge 1402 Upright surface section 1404 Top part 1406 Bent surface part 16 Inner Panel 1602 Top 18 Outaroa Panel 1802 Rear 1804 Slope 1806 Lower side joint 1808 Top edge 20 Outer upper panel 2002 bottom end 2004 Upper joint 2006 Slope 2008 Slope section 22 Drain hole 24 Working hole 26 Rope Hook 28 Convex part for joining 2802 Pair of sides 2804 Top surface 30 Gap 32 Space

Claims

1. A cargo box for a vehicle having a vertical wall portion that forms a closed cross section with an outer panel and an inner panel, The outer panel includes an outer lower panel disposed opposite the inner panel, and an outer upper panel joined to an upper portion of the outer lower panel and extending upward, the outer upper panel constituting an upper edge portion of the vertical wall portion, the outer lower panel and the outer upper panel each have a lower-side joint portion and an upper-side joint portion that are joined to each other, A plurality of joining convex portions are provided at intervals in a vehicle width direction on either one of the lower side joint portion of the outer lower panel and the upper side joint portion of the outer upper panel, the joining convex portions protruding toward the other and extending in a vertical direction, the outer lower panel and the outer upper panel are joined by joining a top surface of the joining convex portion to the other of the lower-side joining portion or the upper-side joining portion, The lower-side joint portion is located below an upper end edge of the outer lower panel, and the outer lower panel is joined to the outer upper panel with a gap between the upper end edge and the outer upper panel. A vehicle luggage box characterized by:

2. The upper edge portion includes an upright surface portion that stands upward from the upper-side joint portion of the outer upper panel, an upper surface portion that extends from an upper end of the upright surface portion toward the rear of the vehicle, and a curved surface portion that extends downward from the vehicle rear end of the upper surface portion.

2. The vehicle luggage box according to claim 1.

3. The interval between adjacent joining convex portions on both sides in the vehicle width direction is smaller than the interval between adjacent joining convex portions in the middle portion in the vehicle width direction.

3. A luggage box for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A space is formed between the outer lower panel and the outer upper panel at both ends of the lower side joint portion or the upper side joint portion in the vehicle width direction.

3. A luggage box for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The joining convex portion is provided on the outer upper panel, The lower-side joint portion to which the top surface of the joint convex portion is joined is formed by a single flat surface extending over the entire length in the vehicle width direction.

3. A luggage box for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The thickness of the outer upper panel is greater than the thickness of the outer lower panel.

3. A luggage box for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2.

Images