Vehicle front end structure

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle front end portion structure comprising a radiator grill (1) which includes a cover attachment portion (7) provided so as to protrude from an upper portion of the radiator grill (1) toward a vehicle rear side, with an upper bar cover (3) being detachably fixed to an upper surface of the cover attachment portion (7). A rib (15) opposing an end portion of the cover attachment portion (7) on the vehicle rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction is integrally formed on the upper bar cover (3).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle front end structure. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional vehicle front end structure is shown in FIG. 9. This vehicle front end structure has a radiator grille 51 extending in the vehicle width direction, an upper bar 52 (part of a radiator support) extending in the vehicle width direction and disposed at a distance from the radiator grille 51 toward the rear of the vehicle, and an upper bar cover 53 covering from above an opening formed between the radiator grille 51 and the upper bar 52. The upper bar cover 53 is removably fixed to the upper surface of a cover mounting portion 54 and the upper surface of the upper bar 52 with clips 55. As shown in FIG. 10, the cover mounting portion 54 is a plate piece provided so as to protrude toward the rear of the vehicle from the upper part of the radiator grille 51. A similar vehicle front end structure is also shown in Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 6481731 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The inventors of the present application have focused on the need to improve the support rigidity of the upper part of radiator grille 51 in order to reduce the bending moment applied to the legs of a pedestrian when a vehicle employing the vehicle front end structure shown in Figures 9 and 10 collides with the pedestrian.

[0005] 9 and 10, the upper bar cover 53 is generally made of a material such as resin, and is relatively easily deformed by external forces. Therefore, if the radiator grille 51 collides with a pedestrian while the vehicle is moving, the force acting from the pedestrian on the radiator grille 51 will deform the upper bar cover 53, and the deformation of the upper bar cover 53 will displace the upper part of the radiator grille 51 toward the rear of the vehicle relative to the lower part of the radiator grille 51, which may cause the radiator grille 51 to collapse toward the rear of the vehicle. If the radiator grille 51 collapses toward the rear of the vehicle, the upper parts of the thighs of the pedestrian who collided with the radiator grille 51 will be displaced toward the rear of the vehicle relative to the lower parts of the thighs, and a bending moment will be applied to the legs of the pedestrian, increasing the injury value to the pedestrian. Therefore, the inventors of the present application considered improving the support rigidity of the upper part of the radiator grille 51 in order to reduce the bending moment applied to the pedestrian's legs when the radiator grille 51 collapses toward the rear of the vehicle when the radiator grille 51 collides with a pedestrian while the vehicle is moving.

[0006] Here, one possible method for improving the support rigidity of the upper part of the radiator grille 51 is to add a reinforcing bracket (a metal member extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle) separate from the upper bar cover 53 to connect the upper part of the radiator grille 51 to the upper bar 52, so that the upper part of the radiator grille 51 is supported not only by the upper bar 52 but also by the reinforcing bracket. However, adding a reinforcing bracket increases costs and the number of parts required.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a low-cost front end structure for a vehicle that is less likely to cause the radiator grille to collapse toward the rear of the vehicle when the radiator grille collides with a pedestrian while the vehicle is moving. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a vehicle front end structure for a vehicle having the following configuration. a radiator grille extending in a vehicle width direction at a front end of the vehicle; an upper bar extending in a vehicle width direction and disposed at a distance from the radiator grille toward the rear of the vehicle; an upper bar cover that covers from above an opening formed between the radiator grille and the upper bar, The radiator grille has a cover mounting portion that protrudes from an upper portion of the radiator grille toward the rear of the vehicle, The upper bar cover is removably fixed to an upper surface of the cover mounting portion, A vehicle front end structure, characterized in that a rib that faces the rear end of the cover mounting portion in the vehicle front-rear direction is integrally formed on the upper bar cover.

[0009] A configuration may be employed in which a groove-shaped reinforcing bead extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is formed in the upper bar cover.

[0010] The reinforcing bead and the cover attachment portion may be positioned on the same straight line extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0011] The reinforcing bead may be formed so that the bottom of the reinforcing bead has a portion that overlaps the upper surface of the cover mounting portion, and the overlapping portion may be fixed to the upper surface of the cover mounting portion.

[0012] A configuration may be employed in which a raised portion is formed at the center of the bottom of the reinforcing bead in the vehicle width direction, the raised portion extending continuously in the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0013] The cover mounting portion can be configured as a box-shaped structure having a rear end wall facing the rib in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, an upper wall extending forward in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle from the upper end of the rear end wall and connecting to the radiator grille, a lower wall extending forward in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle from the lower end of the rear end wall and connecting to the radiator grille, and a connecting wall vertically connecting one end of the upper wall in the vehicle width direction and one end of the lower wall in the vehicle width direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, the rear end of the cover mounting portion, which protrudes from the upper part of the radiator grille toward the rear of the vehicle, and the rib formed integrally with the upper bar cover are arranged opposite each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Therefore, when the upper part of the radiator grille is displaced toward the rear of the vehicle, the rear end of the cover mounting portion is received by the rib of the upper bar cover, The radiator grille is prevented from collapsing toward the rear of the vehicle. Therefore, when the radiator grille hits a pedestrian while the vehicle is moving, the radiator grille is prevented from collapsing toward the rear of the vehicle, and the bending moment applied to the pedestrian's legs can be reduced. Furthermore, preventing the radiator grille from collapsing can be achieved simply by modifying the shape of the upper bar cover without adding any additional members separate from the upper bar cover, which is low cost. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a bonnet hood (not shown) of a vehicle is opened upward in a vehicle front end structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state in which the upper bar cover of FIG. 1 is removed. [Figure 3] A plan view of the area around the reinforcing bead of the upper bar cover shown in Figure 1, seen from above. [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view along line IV-IV in Figure 3 [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view along line VV in Figure 4 [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view along line VI-VI in Figure 4 [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Figure 4 [Figure 8] 5 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the reinforcing bead and cover mounting portion shown in FIG. 4, viewed obliquely from below on the rear side of the vehicle. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a conventional vehicle front end structure corresponding to FIG. 1. [Figure 10]Cross-sectional view along line XX in Figure 9 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] A vehicle front end structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. This vehicle front end structure has a radiator grille 1 extending in the vehicle width direction, an upper bar 2 (see Figure 2) extending in the vehicle width direction at a distance from the radiator grille 1 toward the rear of the vehicle, and an upper bar cover 3 covering from above an opening formed between the radiator grille 1 and the upper bar 2.

[0017] A pair of left and right headlamps 4 that illuminate the area ahead of the vehicle are provided on both sides of the radiator grille 1 in the vehicle width direction. A front bumper 5 extending in the vehicle width direction is provided below the radiator grille 1. The radiator grille 1 is a component formed with a plurality of outside air intakes 6 that penetrate in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle so that outside air can be taken in while the vehicle is traveling, and is fixed in an upright position at the front end of the vehicle.

[0018] As shown in Figure 2, the radiator grille 1 has a cover mounting portion 7 that protrudes from the top of the radiator grille 1 toward the rear of the vehicle. The cover mounting portion 7 is formed in a cantilever shape with its front end in the vehicle longitudinal direction as a fixed end fixed to the upper rear surface of the radiator grille 1 and its rear end in the vehicle longitudinal direction as a free end. A plurality of cover mounting portions 7 (four in the figure) are provided at intervals in the vehicle width direction of the radiator grille 1.

[0019] The upper bar 2 is a structural member of the vehicle body and is made of metal (steel or the like). Both ends of the upper bar 2 are fixed to a pair of left and right upper frames (not shown), which are structural members of the vehicle body. The upper bar 2 forms part of a radiator support that supports a radiator (not shown) so as to face the radiator grille 1 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, so that outside air taken in through the radiator grille 1 as the vehicle travels is directed into the radiator (not shown).

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the upper bar cover 3 is removably fixed to the upper surface of the cover mounting portion 7 of the radiator grille 1 and the upper surface of the upper bar 2 by clips 8. As shown in Figure 2, the cover mounting portion 7 has a clip insertion hole 9 for attaching the clip 8 (see Figure 1), and the upper surface of the upper bar 2 also has a clip insertion hole 10 for attaching the clip 8. The clip 8 is a resin fastener for removably fixing vehicle components such as the upper bar cover 3. The clip 8 is a well-known device made up of a flanged hollow shaft that is inserted into the clip insertion holes 9, 10, and a pushing member that is pushed into the hollow shaft to expand and deform the portion of the hollow shaft that is inserted into the clip insertion holes 9, 10.

[0021] As shown in Figure 1, the upper bar cover 3 has a plurality of reinforcing beads 11 formed at positions corresponding to a plurality of cover mounting portions 7 (see Figure 2). The upper bar cover 3 is integrally molded from resin. The reinforcing beads 11 are groove-shaped molded portions that extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and are formed when the upper bar cover 3 is molded. The reinforcing beads 11 are formed so that the upper surface of the upper bar cover 3 is recessed in a groove-like shape and the lower surface is convex to correspond to the recess.

[0022] 3, the reinforcing bead 11 and the cover mounting portion 7 are positioned on the same straight line extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle (left-right direction in the figure). The width of the reinforcing bead 11 in the vehicle width direction (up-down direction in the figure) is set to be the same as or larger than the width of the cover mounting portion 7 in the vehicle width direction, and the cover mounting portion 7 is contained within the width of the reinforcing bead 11.

[0023] 3 and 4 , the reinforcing bead 11 is formed so that the end of the bottom 12 of the reinforcing bead 11 that faces the front of the vehicle overlaps the upper surface of the cover mounting portion 7. A clip insertion hole 13 for attaching a clip 8 is formed in the end of the bottom 12 of the reinforcing bead 11 that faces the front of the vehicle. The clip 8 is pressed into the clip insertion hole 13 in the bottom 12 of the reinforcing bead 11 and the clip insertion hole 9 in the cover mounting portion 7, and the bottom 12 of the reinforcing bead 11 is fixed to the upper surface of the cover mounting portion 7 by the clip 8.

[0024] As shown in Figures 4 and 7, a raised portion 14 that extends continuously in the vehicle longitudinal direction is formed in the center of the bottom 12 of the reinforcing bead 11 in the vehicle width direction. The raised portion 14 is a bank-shaped molded portion that rises continuously in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The raised portion 14 is molded so that the upper surface of the bottom 12 rises in a bank-like shape and the lower surface of the bottom 12 is concave corresponding to the rise.

[0025] As shown in Figures 4 and 6, a rib 15 is integrally formed on the upper bar cover 3, facing the rear end of the cover mounting portion 7 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The rib 15 is formed in a plate shape that protrudes downward from the underside of the bottom portion 12 of the reinforcing bead 11. The rib 15 has multiple rib main body portions 15a formed at intervals in the vehicle width direction and rib connecting portions 15b that connect the multiple rib main body portions 15a. Each rib main body portion 15a is a plate-shaped portion that extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction and has a thickness direction that is the vehicle width direction. The rib connecting portion 15b is a plate-shaped portion that extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction and has a thickness direction that is the vehicle longitudinal direction. The front end of each of the multiple rib main body portions 15a is connected to the rib connecting portion 15b. The reinforcing bead 11, the rib main body portions 15a, and the rib connecting portion 15b are seamlessly molded integrally from resin.

[0026] As shown in Figures 4 and 8, the cover mounting portion 7 is a box-shaped structure having a rear end wall 16 that faces the rib 15 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, an upper wall 17 that extends forward in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle from the upper end of the rear end wall 16 and connects to the radiator grille 1, a lower wall 18 that extends forward in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle from the lower end of the rear end wall 16 and connects to the radiator grille 1, and a connecting wall 19 (see Figure 5) that vertically connects one end of the upper wall 17 in the vehicle width direction and one end of the lower wall 18 in the vehicle width direction.

[0027] The rear end wall 16 vertically connects the rear end of the upper wall 17 to the rear end of the lower wall 18. The cover mounting portion 7 also has an intermediate wall 20 that vertically connects the upper wall 17 and the lower wall 18 between the radiator grille 1 and the rear end wall 16. The rear end wall 16, upper wall 17, lower wall 18, connecting wall 19, and intermediate wall 20 are molded seamlessly from resin.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4 , in the vehicle front end structure of this embodiment, the rear end (rear end wall 16) of the cover mounting portion 7, which protrudes from the top of the radiator grille 1 toward the rear of the vehicle, and the rib 15 formed integrally with the upper bar cover 3 are arranged opposite each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Therefore, when the top of the radiator grille 1 is displaced toward the rear of the vehicle, the rear end of the cover mounting portion 7 is received by the rib 15 of the upper bar cover 3, preventing the radiator grille 1 from collapsing toward the rear of the vehicle. Therefore, when the radiator grille 1 shown in FIG. 1 hits a pedestrian while the vehicle is moving, the radiator grille 1 is prevented from collapsing toward the rear of the vehicle, and the bending moment applied to the pedestrian's legs can be reduced. Furthermore, preventing the radiator grille 1 from collapsing can be achieved by simply modifying the shape of the upper bar cover 3 without adding any additional members separate from the upper bar cover 3, resulting in low cost.

[0029] 1, this vehicle front end structure has groove-shaped reinforcing beads 11 formed in the upper bar cover 3 that extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, making the upper bar cover 3 less likely to deform due to external forces in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Therefore, when the radiator grille 1 collides with a pedestrian while the vehicle is moving, deformation of the upper bar cover 3 due to the force acting on the radiator grille 1 from the pedestrian is prevented, and the radiator grille 1 can be effectively prevented from collapsing toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0030] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, in this vehicle front end structure, the reinforcing bead 11 and the cover mounting portion 7 are positioned on the same straight line extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. Therefore, when the radiator grille 1 collides with a pedestrian and a pressing force acts from the radiator grille 1 to the rear of the vehicle on the upper bar cover 3 via the cover mounting portion 7, the reinforcing bead 11 portion of the upper bar cover 3 functions like a tension rod, effectively preventing deformation of the upper bar cover 3.

[0031] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, in this vehicle front end structure, the reinforcing bead 11 is formed so that the bottom 12 of the reinforcing bead 11 has a portion that overlaps the upper surface of the cover mounting portion 7, and this overlapping portion is fixed to the upper surface of the cover mounting portion 7 with a clip 8.Therefore, when the radiator grille 1 collides with a pedestrian, the force acting from the radiator grille 1 to the upper bar cover 3 can be directly supported by the reinforcing bead 11 portion of the upper bar cover 3, effectively preventing deformation of the upper bar cover 3.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4 and 7, this vehicle front end structure has a raised portion 14 that extends continuously in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle formed at the center of the vehicle width direction of the bottom 12 of the reinforcing bead 11, making it possible to effectively increase the bending rigidity of the reinforcing bead 11 portion of the upper bar cover 3.

[0033] 4 and 5, this vehicle front end structure employs a box-shaped structure as the cover mounting portion 7, the structure having a rear end wall 16 facing the rib 15 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, an upper wall 17 extending forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction from an upper end of the rear end wall 16, a lower wall 18 extending forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction from a lower end of the rear end wall 16, and a connecting wall 19 connecting one end of the upper wall 17 and the lower wall 18 in the upper and lower directions, thereby providing high bending rigidity to the cover mounting portion 7. Therefore, when a collision with a pedestrian causes the upper part of the radiator grille 1 to be displaced toward the rear of the vehicle and the end (rear end wall 16) of the cover mounting portion 7 on the rear side of the vehicle is received by the rib 15 of the upper bar cover 3, it is possible to keep the bending deformation occurring in the cover mounting portion 7 small, and it is possible to effectively prevent the radiator grille 1 from colliding toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0034] 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 conceive of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the components of the above embodiments may be combined in any manner as long as they do not deviate from the spirit of the invention.

[0035] This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Patent Application No. 2022-045231) filed on March 22, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 radiator grill 2 Upper Bar 3 Upper bar cover 7 Cover mounting part 15 Ribs 11 Reinforcing bead 12 Bottom 14 Ridge 15 Ribs 16 Back end wall 17 Upper Wall 18 Lower wall 19 Connecting wall

Claims

1. a radiator grille extending in a vehicle width direction at a front end of the vehicle; an upper bar extending in a vehicle width direction and disposed at a distance from the radiator grille toward the rear of the vehicle; an upper bar cover that covers from above an opening formed between the radiator grille and the upper bar, The radiator grille has a cover mounting portion that protrudes from an upper portion of the radiator grille toward the rear of the vehicle, The upper bar cover is removably fixed to an upper surface of the cover mounting portion, A vehicle front end structure, characterized in that a rib that faces the rear end of the cover mounting portion in the vehicle front-rear direction is integrally formed on the upper bar cover.

2. 2. The vehicle front end structure according to claim 1, wherein the upper bar cover is formed with a groove-shaped reinforcing bead extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

3. 3. The vehicle front end structure according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing bead and the cover mounting portion are positioned on the same straight line extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

4. 4. The vehicle front end structure according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing bead is formed so that a bottom portion of the reinforcing bead has a portion that overlaps the upper surface of the cover mounting portion, and the overlapping portion is fixed to the upper surface of the cover mounting portion.

5. 4. The vehicle front end structure according to claim 2, wherein a raised portion extending continuously in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is formed at the center of the bottom of the reinforcing bead in the vehicle width direction.

6. 3. The vehicle front end structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover mounting portion is a box-shaped structure having a rear end wall that faces the rib in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, an upper wall that extends forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction from the upper end of the rear end wall and connects to the radiator grille, a lower wall that extends forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction from the lower end of the rear end wall and connects to the radiator grille, and a connecting wall that vertically connects one end of the upper wall in the vehicle width direction and one end of the lower wall in the vehicle width direction.

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