Vehicle grille and method for designing a vehicle grille

The vehicle grille design allows for easy height adjustment of the upper garnish by using a height-defining projection and through holes, addressing interference issues with headlights and simplifying assembly.

JP7870841B2Active Publication Date: 2026-06-05FALTEC CO LTD

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
FALTEC CO LTD
Filing Date
2023-10-26
Publication Date
2026-06-05

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The deformation of a vehicle grille or its supporting parts causes the upper garnish to shift slightly, leading to interference with headlights, necessitating redesign and potentially large-scale mold remaking.

Method used

A vehicle grille design that includes a lower part fixed to an external component, an upper part supporting the upper garnish, and a height-defining projection allowing vertical adjustment of the upper part relative to the lower part, with through holes and pin members for precise positioning.

Benefits of technology

Enables easy adjustment of the upper garnish's height without altering the grille's overall shape, preventing interference with headlights and simplifying assembly.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure 0007870841000001
    Figure 0007870841000001
  • Figure 0007870841000002
    Figure 0007870841000002
  • Figure 0007870841000003
    Figure 0007870841000003
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

A vehicle grill (1) supports a second external component (102) positioned above a first external component (101) and comprises: a lower part (6) fixed to an external component (103); an upper part (5) that has the second external component (102) fixed thereto, is positioned at least partially above the lower part (6), and is fastened to the lower part (6); and a height regulating section (10) for regulating the vertical position of the upper part (5) with respect to the lower part (6).
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle grill and a method for designing a vehicle grill. This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-171323 filed in Japan on October 26, 2022, and incorporates its content herein.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle provided with a vehicle front grill. As shown in Patent Document 1, the vehicle front grill is disposed at the front part of the vehicle. Further, such a vehicle front grill is generally located between two headlights disposed at the front part of the vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Incidentally, the vehicle grille disclosed in Patent Document 1, such as the front grille for a vehicle, is an exterior part that is visible from the outside of the vehicle. Such a vehicle grille may also be used as a support for other exterior parts. For example, a vehicle grille positioned between two headlights may be used as a support for an upper garnish located above the two headlights. However, deformation of the vehicle grille itself or deformation of the vehicle parts that support the vehicle grille may cause the assembled upper garnish to shift slightly downward from its original installation position. In such cases, the upper garnish may interfere with the headlights. In other words, when a vehicle grille supports a second exterior part located above a first exterior part, the second exterior part may interfere with the first exterior part. When the first and second exterior parts interfere in this way, it becomes necessary to redesign the overall shape of the vehicle grille, and if necessary, large-scale measures such as remaking the mold are required.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to make it possible to easily adjust the height position of the second exterior part in a vehicle grille that supports a second exterior part located above a first exterior part. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention employs the following configuration as a means to solve the aforementioned problems.

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention is a vehicle grille supporting a second exterior part located above a first exterior part, comprising: a lower part fixed to an external part; an upper part to which the second exterior part is fixed and which is at least a portion located above the lower part and fastened to the lower part; and a height-defining portion that defines the vertical position of the upper part relative to the lower part.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is, in the first aspect, the height-regulating portion comprises a height-regulating projection provided on one of the lower part and the upper part and abutting the other from the vertical direction.

[0009] A third aspect of the present invention is that, in the second aspect, the height-defining projection is provided extending linearly in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0010] A fourth aspect of the present invention is that, in the first aspect, the height-defining portion comprises a plurality of first through holes formed in either the lower part or the upper part, a plurality of second through holes formed in the other of the lower part or the upper part corresponding to each of the plurality of first through holes, and a pin member inserted through and locked into one of the plurality of first through holes and one of the plurality of second through holes, wherein the vertical distance between two adjacent first through holes among the plurality of first through holes is different from the vertical distance between two adjacent second through holes among the plurality of second through holes corresponding to those two first through holes.

[0011] A fifth aspect of the present invention is, in the fourth aspect, that two adjacent first through holes among the plurality of first through holes are arranged at a certain distance from each other in the vertical direction, and the vertical position of the plurality of second through holes is constant.

[0012] A sixth aspect of the present invention is that, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, a plurality of the height-regulating parts are provided arranged in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0013] A seventh aspect of the present invention is a vehicle grille according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, comprising a temporary retaining claw portion provided on one of the lower part and the upper part, and a locking portion provided on the other of the lower part and the upper part, which is capable of locking the temporary retaining claw portion.

[0014] An eighth aspect of the present invention is a vehicle grille according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, comprising a plurality of decorative parts visible from the outside, wherein the plurality of decorative parts are attached to the lower part.

[0015] A ninth aspect of the present invention is a method for designing a vehicle grille that supports a second exterior part located above a first exterior part, wherein the vehicle grille comprises a lower part fixed to an external part, an upper part to which the second exterior part is fixed and which is at least a part of which is located above the lower part and fastened to the lower part, and a height defining part that defines the vertical position of the upper part with respect to the lower part, and the method comprises a shape provisional determination step for provisionally determining the shapes of the lower part and the upper part, a position relationship confirmation step for confirming the position relationship between the first exterior part and the second exterior part using the lower part and the upper part whose shapes have been provisionally determined in the shape provisional determination step, a height adjustment step for adjusting the vertical position of the upper part with respect to the lower part using the height defining part based on the confirmation result of the position relationship confirmation step, and a determination step for determining the vertical position of the upper part with respect to the lower part based on the adjustment result of the height adjustment step.

[0016] A tenth aspect of the present invention is, in the ninth aspect, the height-defining portion comprises a height-defining projection provided on one of the lower part and the upper part and abutting the other from the vertical direction, wherein the height adjustment step adjusts the amount of vertical protrusion of the height-defining projection, and the determination step determines the shapes of the lower part and the upper part, including the height-defining projection whose protrusion amount has been adjusted in the height adjustment step.

[0017] An eleventh aspect of the present invention is, in the ninth aspect, the height-defining portion comprises a plurality of first through holes formed in either the lower part or the upper part, and a plurality of second through holes formed in the other of the lower part or the upper part, corresponding to each of the plurality of first through holes, wherein the vertical distance between two adjacent first through holes among the plurality of first through holes is different from the vertical distance between two adjacent second through holes among the plurality of second through holes corresponding to those two first through holes, and in the height adjustment step, one first through hole is selected from the plurality of first through holes and one second through hole is selected for inserting a pin member, and in the determination step, the pin member is inserted and locked into the selected one first through hole and one second through hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, the vehicle grille is divided into an upper part and a lower part. Furthermore, the height-defining section allows the height-direction position of the upper part relative to the lower part to be changed. Therefore, for example, if it becomes necessary to correct the positional relationship of the second exterior part with respect to the first exterior part, the height-direction position of the second exterior part with respect to the first exterior part can be adjusted by adjusting the height-direction position of the upper part with respect to the lower part using the height-defining section, without having to reconsider the overall shape of the vehicle grille. Thus, according to the present invention, in a vehicle grille supporting a second exterior part located above the first exterior part, the height-direction position of the second exterior part can be easily adjusted. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a vehicle equipped with a radiator grille according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a radiator grille in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a rear view showing a schematic configuration of a radiator grille in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]It is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is a schematic exploded view of the upper part and the lower part of the radiator grill in the first embodiment of the present invention as seen from the rear. [Figure 6] It is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5 in a state where the upper part and the lower part of the radiator grill in the first embodiment of the present invention are fixed. [Figure 7] It is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 5 in a state where the upper part and the lower part of the radiator grill in the first embodiment of the present invention are fixed. [Figure 8] It is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 5 in a state where the upper part and the lower part of the radiator grill in the first embodiment of the present invention are fixed. [Figure 9] It is a flowchart for explaining a design method of the radiator grill in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is a front view showing the upper part and the lower part of the radiator grill in the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] It is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 10. [Figure 12] It is a front view showing the arrangement of a plurality of first through-holes and a plurality of second through-holes in the second embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of a vehicle grill and a design method of a vehicle grill according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, an example in which the vehicle grill of the present invention is applied to a radiator grill will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the radiator grill and can be applied to a grill installed on a vehicle. Hereinafter, the front-rear direction of the vehicle on which the vehicle grill of the present invention is provided may be simply referred to as the "front-rear direction", the width direction of the vehicle may be simply referred to as the "width direction" (or "vehicle width direction"), and the up-down direction of the vehicle may be simply referred to as the "up-down direction" (or "height direction").

[0021] A first embodiment of the present invention is described below. Figure 1 is a front view of a vehicle 100 equipped with the radiator grille (vehicle grille) of this embodiment. The radiator grille 1 of this embodiment is a front grille installed at the front of the vehicle 100, positioned in front of the radiator located inside the engine compartment. This radiator grille 1 is an exterior part mainly made of resin.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 100 has two headlights 101 (first exterior parts) that are spaced apart in the vehicle width direction (horizontal direction). The headlights 101 are lighting devices that illuminate the front of the vehicle and are also exterior parts that are visible from the outside of the vehicle 100 and form the appearance of the vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 also has an upper garnish 102 (second exterior part) located above the headlights 101. The upper garnish 102 is a plate-shaped exterior part with the vehicle width direction as its longitudinal direction. One end of the upper garnish 102 in the longitudinal direction is located above one of the two headlights 101, and the other end in the longitudinal direction is located above the other of the two headlights 101.

[0023] The headlight 101 is fixed to the vehicle body frame, for example, and is not directly supported by the radiator grille 1. On the other hand, the upper garnish 102 is directly supported by the radiator grille 1, which is fixed to the bumper and vehicle body frame. In other words, in this embodiment, the radiator grille 1 supports the upper garnish 102, which is a second exterior component located above the headlight 101, which is a first exterior component. The upper garnish 102 has its central part in the vehicle width direction connected to the radiator grille 1, and both ends in the vehicle width direction protrude outward from the radiator grille 1 in the vehicle width direction.

[0024] Figure 2 is a front view showing the schematic configuration of the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment. Figure 3 is a rear view showing the schematic configuration of the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Figure 3.

[0025] As shown in Figures 2-4, the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment comprises a grille body 2, a first decorative part 3, and a second decorative part 4. The grille body 2 is fixed to, for example, the bumper or body frame of the vehicle 100 and supports the first decorative part 3 and the second decorative part 4. The grille body 2 also supports the upper garnish 102 from below.

[0026] For example, as shown in Figures 2-4, the grill body 2 comprises an upper part 5, a lower part 6, and screws 7. Figure 5 is a schematic exploded view of the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 as seen from the rear. As shown in Figure 5, the radiator grill 1 of this embodiment is divided into an upper part 5 and a lower part 6. In Figure 5, the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 are shown spaced apart in the vertical direction.

[0027] The upper part 5 is a resin part that forms the upper part of the grill body 2. At least a portion of the upper part 5 is located above the lower part 6. The upper part 5 has a front part 5a and an upper wall part 5b, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, for example. The front part 5a is the part that is fixed to the lower part 6. In this embodiment, the front part 5a has a first part that extends vertically at a position above the lower part 6, a second part that extends rearward from the lower end of the first part, and a third part that extends downward from the rear end of the second part, and is formed in a crank shape when viewed in the width direction. However, the front part 5a is not limited to this shape, and can have any shape as long as it has a surface that faces downward and is located above the lower part 6 (corresponding to the lower surface of the second part in this embodiment). Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Figure 5 with the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 fixed together.

[0028] As shown in Figure 6, the front portion 5a of the upper part 5 has a wall surface 5a1 that is located above the lower part 6 and faces downward. That is, the wall surface 5a1 corresponds to the lower surface of the second portion. The wall surface 5a1 is provided with a height-defining projection 5c that protrudes downward. In other words, in this embodiment, the upper part 5 has a height-defining projection 5c that protrudes downward. The height-defining projection 5c corresponds to a height-defining section 10 that defines the vertical position of the upper part 5 relative to the lower part 6. To put it another way, the height-defining section 10 in this embodiment includes a height-defining projection 5c.

[0029] The height-defining projection 5c is a projection that abuts the lower part 6 from above. In other words, the lower end of the height-defining projection 5c abuts the lower part 6 from above. This height-defining projection 5c defines the vertical positional relationship between the upper part 5 and the lower part 6. For example, if the amount of protrusion of the height-defining projection 5c from the wall surface 5a1 is large, the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 will be positioned further apart vertically than when the amount of protrusion is small.

[0030] In other words, if the position of the lower part 6 is fixed, the greater the protrusion of the height-regulating projection 5c, the higher the upper part 5 will be positioned. Also, if the position of the lower part 6 is fixed, the smaller the protrusion of the height-regulating projection 5c, the lower the upper part 5 will be positioned.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, multiple height-regulating protrusions 5c (i.e., height-regulating parts 10) are provided arranged in the width direction of the vehicle 100 (the vehicle width direction when the radiator grille 1 is attached to the vehicle 100). Two height-regulating protrusions 5c are arranged in close proximity to each other to form a pair, and multiple pairs may be provided along the vehicle width direction. By providing multiple height-regulating protrusions 5c in this way, the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 come into contact with each other at multiple points via the height-regulating protrusions 5c, thereby preventing the upper part 5 from tilting relative to the lower part 6 when viewed from the front of the vehicle.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, each height-regulating projection 5c is provided extending linearly along the front-rear direction of the vehicle 100 (the front-rear direction of the vehicle when the radiator grille 1 is attached to the vehicle 100). Therefore, each height-regulating projection 5c can contact the lower part 6 over a wide range in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the upper part 5 from tilting relative to the lower part 6 when viewed from a direction along the vehicle width.

[0033] Returning to Figure 4, the upper wall portion 5b is formed projecting rearward from the upper end of the front portion 5a and is a plate-like portion to which the upper garnish 102 is fixed. That is, the upper wall portion 5b extends rearward from the upper end of the first portion of the front portion 5a. The upper wall portion 5b supports the upper garnish 102 from below. Since the upper garnish 102 is fixed to the upper wall portion 5b of the upper part 5 in this way, it moves upward when the upper part 5 moves upward. In other words, the greater the projection of the height-defining projection 5c, the higher the upper part 5 is positioned, and therefore the upper garnish 102 is also positioned higher. Conversely, the smaller the projection of the height-defining projection 5c, the lower the upper part 5 is positioned, and therefore the upper garnish 102 is also positioned lower.

[0034] As described above, the headlight 101 is not directly connected to the radiator grille 1. Therefore, the greater the protrusion of the height-regulating projection 5c, the further the upper garnish 102 supported by the radiator grille 1 moves upward, away from the headlight 101. Conversely, the smaller the protrusion of the height-regulating projection 5c, the further the upper garnish 102 supported by the radiator grille 1 moves downward, closer to the headlight 101.

[0035] As shown in Figure 5, the front part 5a of the upper part 5 is provided with a temporary holding opening 5a2 (locking part). In this embodiment, two temporary holding openings 5a2 are provided in the upper part 5. Each temporary holding opening 5a2 is formed to penetrate the vehicle 100 in the front-rear direction, and the protruding part 6b1 of the temporary holding claw part 6b of the lower part 6, which will be described later, is inserted into it. Note that the number of temporary holding openings 5a2 and temporary holding claw parts 6b is not limited to two, and three or more may be provided.

[0036] Furthermore, the front part 5a of the upper part 5 is provided with multiple screw insertion holes 5d. These screw insertion holes 5d are holes through which screws 7 are inserted to fasten the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 together.

[0037] As shown in Figure 4, the lower part 6 is a resin part that forms the lower part of the grille body 2. The lower part 6 is fixed to external parts 103 (parts of the vehicle 100 that are different from the radiator grille 1) such as the bumper and body frame. The lower part 6 has a base 6a, a temporary holding claw portion 6b, a support wall 6c, and a protruding wall 6d, as shown in Figure 5, for example.

[0038] The base portion 6a is the main structural part of the radiator grille 1 and has a plurality of openings 6a1 that penetrate in the front-to-back direction. In this embodiment, each opening 6a1 is formed in a rectangular shape with the vehicle width direction as the longitudinal direction. The plurality of openings 6a1 are arranged in the vertical direction. Such a base portion 6a has a plurality of horizontal bars 6a2 provided between the openings 6a1. The shape of each opening 6a1 is not particularly limited. Furthermore, for example, in electric vehicles that do not have an internal combustion engine, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which there are no openings 6a1.

[0039] Each horizontal bar 6a2 is provided with multiple mounting parts 6a3 for attaching the second decorative part 4. The upper edge 6a4 of the base 6a is the part to which the upper part 5 is attached. This upper edge 6a4 is provided with claw openings 6a5 corresponding to the installation positions of each temporary holding claw part 6b. These claw openings 6a5 are provided so as to penetrate the base 6a in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 100. With these claw openings 6a5 provided, the temporary holding claw part 6b can be elastically deformed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 100.

[0040] Furthermore, the upper edge 6a4 of the base 6a is provided with multiple female threaded portions 6a6 into which screws 7 are screwed. Each female threaded portion 6a6 is positioned to overlap with the screw insertion hole 5d of the upper part 5 when the upper part 5 is attached to the lower part 6. The lower part 6 and the upper part 5 are fastened together by screwing the screws 7 inserted through the screw insertion hole 5d into each female threaded portion 6a6. In addition, the upper edge 6a4 of the base 6a is provided with multiple mounting portions 6a7 for attaching the first decorative part 3.

[0041] Such a base portion 6a is fixed to an external component 103 such as a bumper or body frame via a mounting portion (not shown). In other words, in this embodiment, the lower part 6 is fixed to an external component 103 such as a bumper or body frame.

[0042] The temporary retaining claw portion 6b is provided so as to hang down from the upper edge (i.e., the downward-facing inner surface) of each claw opening 6a5 of the base portion 6a. In this embodiment, since there are two claw openings 6a5, there are also two temporary retaining claw portions 6b. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of Figure 5 in a state in which the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 are fixed together. As shown in Figure 7, each temporary retaining claw portion 6b is formed to a thickness that allows it to flex and deform in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 100. In addition, each temporary retaining claw portion 6b has a projection 6b1 that protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle 100.

[0043] Each temporary retaining claw portion 6b elastically deforms toward the front of the vehicle 100 when the protruding portion 6b1 of each temporary retaining claw portion 6b comes into contact with the upper part 5 as it moves from top to bottom when the upper part 5 is attached to the lower part 6. Subsequently, each temporary retaining claw portion 6b returns to its original shape when the temporary retaining opening 5a2 provided in the upper part 5 reaches the protruding portion 6b1. As a result, the protruding portion 6b1 of the temporary retaining claw portion 6b enters the temporary retaining opening 5a2. This entry of the protruding portion 6b1 of the temporary retaining claw portion 6b into the temporary retaining opening 5a2 prevents the upper part 5 from being pulled upward from the lower part 6. Note that the vertical size of the temporary retaining opening 5a2 is larger than the vertical width of the protruding portion 6b1. Therefore, even when the protruding portion 6b1 is inserted into the temporary retaining opening 5a2, the upper part 5 can still move slightly up and down relative to the lower part 6. Therefore, the vertical position adjustment of the upper part 5 using the height-regulating projection 5c is not hindered by the projection 6b1.

[0044] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of Figure 5, showing the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 fixed together. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the support wall 6c is connected to a portion of the base 6a located below the claw opening 6a5. The support wall 6c protrudes from the base 6a toward the rear of the vehicle 100 and is then bent upward. Such a support wall 6c has a vertical wall portion 6c1 parallel to the rear surface of the base 6a. That is, the support wall 6c has a front-rear extension portion 6c2 extending rearward from the base 6a and a vertical wall portion 6c1 extending upward from the rear end of the front-rear extension portion 6c2. The vertical wall portion 6c1 is positioned spaced rearward from the base 6a when viewed from the vehicle width direction. The distance between the rear surface of the base 6a and the front surface of the vertical wall portion 6c1 is such that the lower edge portion (i.e., the third portion) of the front part 5a of the upper part 5 can be inserted. Therefore, the lower edge of the upper part 5 can be inserted between the base 6a and the vertical wall 6c1. When the upper part 5 is inserted between the base 6a and the vertical wall 6c1, the base 6a is positioned in front of the lower edge of the upper part 5, and the vertical wall 6c1 is positioned behind the lower edge. As a result, the upper part 5 is restricted from moving in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 100. In other words, in this embodiment, the upper part 5 attached to the lower part 6 is sandwiched between the base 6a and the vertical wall 6c1, thereby restricting the longitudinal movement of the vehicle 100.

[0045] The protruding wall 6d is a wall portion that protrudes upward from the lower edge (i.e., the upward-facing inner surface) of the claw opening 6a5. This protruding wall 6d is located in front of the lower edge of the upper part 5, which is situated between the base portion 6a and the vertical wall portion 6c1. By providing such a protruding wall 6d, the upper part 5, which is attached to the lower part 6, is restricted from moving forward by the protruding wall 6d in addition to the base portion 6a. Therefore, the movement of the upper part 5, which is attached to the lower part 6, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 100 can be restricted more reliably.

[0046] Each screw 7 is inserted through a screw insertion hole 5d provided in the upper part 5 and then screwed into the female threaded portion 6a6 of the lower part 6. These screws 7 fasten the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 together as described above. The fastening structure between the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 is not limited to screws 7 screwed into the female threaded portion 6a6, but may also be a fastening structure using bolts and nuts, or a pin member with an elastically deformable locking claw. In this embodiment, the vertical size of the screw insertion hole 5d is larger than the outer diameter of the screw 7, so even when the screw 7 is inserted through the screw insertion hole 5d, the upper part 5 has vertical movement relative to the lower part 6. For this reason, even after adjusting the vertical position of the upper part 5 using the height-regulating projection 5c, the screws 7 can be properly screwed into the female threaded portion 6a6.

[0047] The first decorative part 3 is a resin part that covers the connection between the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 from the front of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 4, the first decorative part 3 has locking claws 3a that protrude toward the rear. Multiple locking claws 3a are provided. Each locking claw 3a is inserted into a mounting portion 6a7 provided on the lower part 6 and is locked to the lower part 6. By locking these locking claws 3a to the lower part 6, the first decorative part 3 is fixed to the lower part 6.

[0048] The second decorative part 4 is a resin part positioned in front of the horizontal bar portion 6a2 of the lower part 6. As shown in Figure 4, multiple second decorative parts 4 are provided for each horizontal bar portion 6a2. Each second decorative part 4 has a locking claw 4a that protrudes toward the rear. Multiple locking claws 4a are provided for each second decorative part 4. Each locking claw 4a is inserted into a mounting portion 6a3 provided on the lower part 6 and is locked to the lower part 6. The second decorative part 4 is fixed to the lower part 6 by the locking of these locking claws 4a to the lower part 6.

[0049] When assembling the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment with this configuration, first attach the upper part 5 to the lower part 6. At this time, the lower edge of the front part 5a of the upper part 5 is inserted between the base 6a of the lower part 6 and the vertical wall portion 6c1 of the support wall 6c. In this state, move the upper part 5 downward relative to the lower part 6.

[0050] As a result, the protruding portion 6b1 of the temporary holding claw portion 6b of the lower part 6 fits into the temporary holding opening 5a2 provided in the front portion 5a of the upper part 5. This prevents the upper part 5 from coming out of the lower part 6 in the vertical and widthwise directions. In addition, since the front portion 5a of the upper part 5 is sandwiched between the base portion 6a of the lower part 6 and the vertical wall portion 6c1 of the support wall 6c, the upper part 5 is restricted from moving in the front-rear direction relative to the lower part 6. Therefore, even before fastening with the screws 7, the upper part 5 is in a state of temporary holding on the lower part 6.

[0051] Furthermore, the height-regulating projection 5c provided on the upper part 5 abuts against the upper end of the base 6a of the lower part 6, thereby determining the height position of the upper part 5 relative to the lower part 6. The amount of protrusion of the height-regulating projection 5c is set in advance so that the upper garnish 102 does not interfere with the headlight 101. Therefore, by the height-regulating projection 5c abutting against the upper end of the base 6a of the lower part 6, the height position of the upper part 5 is determined to be a position where the upper garnish 102 does not interfere with the headlight 101.

[0052] Next, the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 are fastened together with screws 7. Then, the first decorative part 3 is attached to the lower part 6. Also, the second decorative part 4 is attached to the lower part 6. Note that the timing of attaching the first decorative part 3 and the second decorative part 4 can be changed.

[0053] Next, with reference to Figure 9, the design method for the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment will be described. In other words, the design method for the radiator grille 1 described below is a design method for the radiator grille 1 that supports the second exterior part (upper garnish 102) located above the first exterior part (headlight 101).

[0054] In the design method for the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment, first, the shapes of the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 are provisionally determined (shape provisional determination step S1). Here, the amount of protrusion of the height-defining projection 5c provided on the upper part 5 is provisionally determined. For example, it is preferable to set the amount of protrusion of the height-defining projection 5c here to an amount that can be increased later. In other words, it is preferable that the shape of the upper part 5 is such that it can be moved upward later relative to the lower part 6. Furthermore, it is preferable to set the amount of protrusion of the height-defining projection 5c here to an amount that can be decreased later. In other words, it is preferable that the shape of the upper part 5 is such that it can be moved downward later relative to the lower part 6.

[0055] Next, the positional relationship between the headlight 101 and the upper garnish 102 is confirmed (positional relationship confirmation step S2). Here, the positional relationship between the headlight 101 and the upper garnish 102 is confirmed using the upper part 5 and lower part 6 whose shapes were provisionally determined in the shape provisional determination step S1. In positional relationship confirmation step S2, the positional relationship between the headlight 101 and the upper garnish 102 may also be confirmed by simulation. However, it is better to confirm the positional relationship between the headlight 101 and the upper garnish 102 by actually creating and assembling the actual parts.

[0056] Next, the amount of protrusion of the height-regulating projection 5c is adjusted (height adjustment step S3). Here, the amount of protrusion of the height-regulating projection 5c is adjusted based on the confirmation result of the positional relationship confirmation step S2. For example, if the confirmation result of the positional relationship confirmation step S2 is obtained that the upper garnish 102 interferes with the headlight 101, the amount of protrusion of the height-regulating projection 5c is increased. By increasing the amount of protrusion of the height-regulating projection 5c, the position of the upper part 5 is raised, and at the same time, the position of the upper garnish 102 can be raised. Therefore, interference between the upper garnish 102 and the headlight 101 can be avoided.

[0057] The upper part 5 is formed by resin injection molding. Therefore, the amount of protrusion of the height-defining projection 5c can be adjusted by adjusting the shape of the mold used during injection molding. For example, to increase the amount of protrusion of the height-defining projection 5c, it can be easily increased by removing a part of the mold.

[0058] Furthermore, if it is confirmed that the upper garnish 102 is too far above the headlight 101, the amount of protrusion of the height-regulating projection 5c is reduced. By reducing the amount of protrusion of the height-regulating projection 5c, the position of the upper part 5 is lowered, and at the same time, the position of the upper garnish 102 can be lowered. Therefore, the gap between the upper garnish 102 and the headlight 101 can be reduced.

[0059] Next, the shapes of the lower part 6 and the upper part 5 are determined (determination step S4). Here, the shapes of the lower part 6 and the upper part 5 are determined so as to include the height-specified protrusion 5c whose protrusion amount was adjusted in the height adjustment step S3. In other words, the shape of the upper part 5 is determined based on the protrusion amount of the height-specified protrusion 5c adjusted in the height adjustment step S3. If there is no room to increase or decrease the protrusion amount of the height-specified protrusion 5c, the shape of the lower part 6 may be changed to determine the height position of the upper part 5.

[0060] The shapes of the first decorative part 3 and the second decorative part 4 can be determined separately from the process shown in Figure 9, for example. Therefore, the shapes of the first decorative part 3 and the second decorative part 4 can be determined after the shapes of the lower part 6 and the upper part 5 have been determined. Alternatively, the shapes of the first decorative part 3 and the second decorative part 4 may be determined before the shapes of the lower part 6 and the upper part 5 have been determined. Furthermore, the shapes of the first decorative part 3 and the second decorative part 4 may be determined in parallel with the shapes of the lower part 6 and the upper part 5.

[0061] By manufacturing a radiator grille 1 designed according to this embodiment, it is possible to mass-produce a radiator grille 1 that allows for an appropriate positional relationship between the upper garnish 102 and the headlight 101.

[0062] The radiator grille 1 of this embodiment supports an upper garnish 102 located above the headlight 101. The radiator grille 1 of this embodiment also comprises a lower part 6 and an upper part 5. The lower part 6 is fixed to an external part 103. The upper part 5 is to which the upper garnish 102 is fixed and is located above the lower part 6 and fastened to the lower part 6. Furthermore, the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment has a height-defining projection 5c provided on the upper part 5, which is one of the lower part 6 and the upper part 5, and which abuts the lower part 6 from above.

[0063] In this embodiment, the radiator grille 1 is divided into an upper part 5 and a lower part 6. Furthermore, by adjusting the height dimension of the height-defining protrusion 5c, the height position of the upper part 5 relative to the lower part 6 can be changed. Therefore, for example, if it becomes necessary to correct the positional relationship of the upper garnish 102 with respect to the headlight 101, the height position of the upper garnish 102 with respect to the headlight 101 can be adjusted by adjusting only the height dimension (i.e., the amount of protrusion) of the height-defining protrusion 5c, without having to reconsider the overall shape of the radiator grille 1. Thus, in this embodiment, the height position of the upper garnish 102 can be easily adjusted.

[0064] Furthermore, in the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment, the height-regulating protrusions 5c are arranged in multiple locations in the width direction of the vehicle 100. As a result, in the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment, the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 come into contact at multiple locations in the width direction of the vehicle, which prevents the upper part 5 from tilting relative to the lower part 6 when viewed from the front of the vehicle 100.

[0065] Furthermore, in the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment, the height-regulating projection 5c is provided extending linearly in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 100. Therefore, the height-regulating projection 5c can contact the lower part 6 over a wide range in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Consequently, the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment can prevent the upper part 5 from tilting relative to the lower part 6 when viewed from a direction along the vehicle width.

[0066] Furthermore, the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment includes a temporary holding claw portion 6b provided on the lower part 6, which is one of the lower part 6 and the upper part 5. Also, the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment includes a temporary holding opening 5a2 provided on the upper part 5, which is the other of the lower part 6 and the upper part 5, and which can engage the temporary holding claw portion 6b.

[0067] In this embodiment of the radiator grille 1, the upper part 5 can be temporarily held in place by the lower part 6 before fastening the lower part 6 to the upper part 5 during assembly. Therefore, the fastening work between the lower part 6 and the upper part 5 can be performed while the positional relationship between the lower part 6 and the upper part 5 is stable.

[0068] Furthermore, the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment includes a plurality of decorative parts (first decorative part 3 and second decorative part 4) that are visible from the outside. These first decorative part 3 and second decorative part 4 are attached to the lower part 6. In other words, in the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment, all decorative parts are attached to the lower part 6. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the weight of the decorative parts from being placed on the upper part 5, and to prevent the position of the upper garnish 102 from changing by attaching the decorative parts.

[0069] Furthermore, the design method for the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment is a design method for the radiator grille 1 that supports the upper garnish 102 located above the headlight 101. The design method for the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment includes a shape preliminary determination step S1, a positional relationship confirmation step S2, a height adjustment step S3, and a final determination step S4.

[0070] The shape determination step S1 is a step in which the shapes of the lower part 6 and the upper part 5 are determined. The positional relationship confirmation step S2 is a step in which the positional relationship between the headlight 101 and the upper garnish 102 is confirmed based on the shape determined in the shape determination step S1. The height adjustment step S3 is a step in which the amount of protrusion of the height-specified projection 5c is adjusted based on the confirmation result of the positional relationship confirmation step S2. The determination step S4 is a step in which the shapes of the lower part 6 and the upper part 5 are determined, including the height-specified projection 5c whose amount of protrusion was adjusted in the height adjustment step S3.

[0071] According to the design method of the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment, if it becomes necessary to correct the positional relationship of the upper garnish 102 with respect to the headlight 101 during the positional relationship confirmation step S2, the position of the upper garnish 102 in the height direction with respect to the headlight 101 can be adjusted by adjusting only the height dimension (i.e., the amount of protrusion) of the height-specifying protrusion 5c, without having to reconsider the overall shape of the radiator grille 1. Therefore, according to the design method of the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment, the positional relationship between the upper garnish 102 and the headlight 101 can be appropriately set.

[0072] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In this embodiment, components equivalent to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted or simplified.

[0073] Figure 10 is a front view showing a portion of the upper part 5 and a portion of the lower part 6 of the radiator grill 1 in this embodiment. Figure 10 shows the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 connected to each other by a pin member 11, which will be described later. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI of Figure 10. Figure 12 is a front view showing the arrangement of a plurality of first through holes 8 and a plurality of second through holes 9 in this embodiment, where (a) shows the arrangement of a plurality of first through holes 8 formed in the upper part 5, and (b) shows the arrangement of a plurality of second through holes 9 formed in the lower part 6. The upper part 5 and the lower part 6 in this embodiment are made of resin, but are not limited to this and may be made of metal, wood, or the like.

[0074] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the lower end of the front portion 5a of the upper part 5 (i.e., the third portion) has a plurality of first through holes 8 that penetrate in the front-rear direction. The upper end of the base portion 6a of the lower part 6 has a plurality of second through holes 9 that penetrate in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, both the first through holes 8 and the second through holes 9 extend through in the front-rear direction (i.e., horizontal direction), but they may also extend in a direction slightly inclined from the horizontal direction; in other words, they may extend in a direction other than the vertical direction.

[0075] In this embodiment, the plurality of first through holes 8 comprises four first through holes 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d, and the plurality of second through holes 9 comprises four second through holes 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d. In this embodiment, the number of plurality of first through holes 8 and plurality of second through holes 9 is four, but is not limited to this, and may be two, three, or five or more. The plurality of first through holes 8 and plurality of second through holes 9 correspond to each other. That is, the first through hole 8a and the second through hole 9a correspond to each other, the first through hole 8b and the second through hole 9b correspond to each other, the first through hole 8c and the second through hole 9c correspond to each other, and the first through hole 8d and the second through hole 9d correspond to each other. "Corresponding" means that the pin member 11 can be inserted through the corresponding first through holes 8 and second through holes 9.

[0076] In this embodiment, a pin member 11 is inserted through and locked into the first through hole 8c and the second through hole 9c. The pin member 11 has a shaft portion 11a extending in the front-rear direction, a head portion 11b provided at the front end of the shaft portion 11a, and two locking claws 11c provided at the rear end of the shaft portion 11a, the spacing between them being elastically adjustable. The head portion 11b is locked to the front surface of the base portion 6a, and the two locking claws 11c are locked to the rear surface of the lower end of the front portion 5a. The locking of the pin member 11 connects the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 to each other, and defines the vertical position of the upper part 5 relative to the lower part 6. In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the shaft portion 11a of the pin member 11 is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the first through hole 8 and the second through hole 9. However, the outer diameter of the shaft portion 11a may be smaller than the inner diameter of the first through hole 8 and the second through hole 9, as long as no problems arise in terms of positioning accuracy.

[0077] In this embodiment, a pin member 11 equipped with a locking claw 11c is used, but the invention is not limited to this. Instead of the pin member 11, a fastening member consisting of a bolt and a nut may be used, or one of the first through hole 8 and the second through hole 9 may be configured as a female screw hole, and a male screw may be screwed into the female screw hole.

[0078] As shown in Figure 12(a), the multiple first through holes 8 formed in the upper part 5 are arranged in a direction slightly inclined from the width direction (i.e., the horizontal direction). That is, the first through hole 8a is located above the first through hole 8b in the vertical direction, the first through hole 8b is located above the first through hole 8c in the vertical direction, and the first through hole 8c is located above the first through hole 8d in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, two adjacent first through holes 8 are arranged with a certain distance between them in the vertical direction. That is, the vertical distance h1 between the first through hole 8a and the first through hole 8b, the vertical distance h2 between the first through hole 8b and the first through hole 8c, and the vertical distance h3 between the first through hole 8c and the first through hole 8d are equal to each other. The values ​​of distances h1, h2, and h3 are, for example, 0.5 mm, but other values ​​may also be used. In this embodiment, the values ​​of distances h1, h2, and h3 are equivalent, but they may be different from each other.

[0079] As shown in Figure 12(b), the multiple second through holes 9 formed in the lower part 6 are arranged in the width direction (i.e., the horizontal direction). That is, the vertical positions of the multiple second through holes 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d are constant. For this reason, the vertical distance between two adjacent first through holes 8 among the multiple first through holes 8 is different from the vertical distance between two adjacent second through holes 9 among the multiple second through holes 9 corresponding to those two first through holes 8. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the multiple second through holes 9 may also be arranged in a direction slightly inclined from the width direction (i.e., the horizontal direction), similar to the multiple first through holes 8. In this case as well, the inclination angle of the arrangement must be different from the inclination angle of the arrangement of the first through holes 8. That is, the vertical distance between two adjacent first through holes 8 among the multiple first through holes 8 should be different from the vertical distance between two adjacent second through holes 9 among the multiple second through holes 9 corresponding to those two first through holes 8.

[0080] The widthwise positions of the multiple first through holes 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d are equivalent to the widthwise positions of the multiple second through holes 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d.

[0081] In this configuration, by inserting and locking the pin member 11 into one of the multiple first through holes 8 and one of the multiple second through holes 9, the vertical position of the upper part 5 relative to the lower part 6 can be defined. For example, if the pin member 11 is inserted into the first through hole 8a and the second through hole 9a, the upper part 5 can be positioned relatively lower relative to the lower part 6 compared to if the pin member 11 is inserted into the first through hole 8b and the second through hole 9b. In other words, by selecting one of the multiple first through holes 8 and one of the multiple second through holes 9, and inserting the pin member 11 into the selected first through hole 8 and second through hole 9, the vertical position of the upper part 5 relative to the lower part 6 can be adjusted and defined.

[0082] In addition, as with the first embodiment, in this embodiment the upper part 5 may be provided with a temporary holding opening 5a2, and the lower part 6 may be provided with a temporary holding claw portion 6b and a support wall 6c.

[0083] Next, the design method for the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment will be described. In the description of the design method, the explanation will be omitted or simplified for steps that are the same as those in the first embodiment. First, the shape determination step S1 and the positional relationship confirmation step S2 are performed, similar to the first embodiment.

[0084] Next, based on the results of the positional relationship confirmation step S2, one first through-hole 8 is selected from a plurality of first through-holes 8, and one second through-hole 9 is selected from a plurality of second through-holes 9 for inserting the pin member 11 (height adjustment step S3). That is, one first through-hole 8 and one second through-hole 9 are selected so that the upper garnish 102 is positioned appropriately above the headlight 101. In selecting the first through-hole 8 and the second through-hole 9, the pin member 11 may be temporarily inserted into these through-holes, or a rod member having an outer diameter equivalent to the shaft portion 11a of the pin member 11 may be inserted into these through-holes to select the appropriate through-hole.

[0085] Next, the pin member 11 is inserted through the selected first through hole 8 and the second through hole 9 and locked in place (determination step S4). This defines the vertical position of the upper part 5 relative to the lower part 6, and the upper garnish 102 supported by the upper part 5 is positioned in an appropriate upward position relative to the headlight 101.

[0086] At this point, the design method for the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment is complete. However, in the radiator grille 1 of this embodiment, the pin members 11 are not inserted into the unselected first through-holes 8 and second through-holes 9 and are not used. Since the first decorative part 3 and the second decorative part 4 are provided in front of the first through-holes 8 and second through-holes 9, the first through-holes 8 and second through-holes 9 cannot be seen from the outside of the vehicle 100, and the unselected first through-holes 8 and second through-holes 9 may remain in the radiator grille 1 during mass production. On the other hand, since the height adjustment process S3 and the determination process S4 make it clear which of the first through-holes 8 and second through-holes 9 are unselected, the injection molding mold may be modified to eliminate the unselected first through-holes 8 and second through-holes 9. That is, the protrusions of the mold that protrude into the cavity to form the unselected through-holes may be shaved off and removed.

[0087] The radiator grille 1 (vehicle grille) of this embodiment includes a lower part 6 that supports an upper garnish 102 (second exterior part) located above the headlight 101 (first exterior part) and is fixed to an external part 103, an upper part 5 to which the upper garnish 102 is fixed and at least a portion of which is located above the lower part 6 and fastened to the lower part 6, and a height regulating part 10 that defines the vertical position of the upper part 5 relative to the lower part 6. The height-regulating section 10 comprises a plurality of first through holes 8 formed in either the lower part 6 or the upper part 5, a plurality of second through holes 9 formed in the other part of the lower part 6 or the upper part 5 corresponding to each of the plurality of first through holes 8, and a pin member 11 inserted and locked into one of the plurality of first through holes 8 and one of the plurality of second through holes 9. The vertical distance between two adjacent first through holes 8 is different from the vertical distance between two adjacent second through holes 9 corresponding to those two first through holes 8. Two adjacent first through-holes 8 among the multiple first through-holes 8 may be arranged at a certain distance apart in the vertical direction, and the vertical positions of the multiple second through-holes 9 may remain constant. Multiple height-regulating sections 10 may be provided, arranged in the width direction of the vehicle 100. The radiator grille 1 may include a temporary retaining claw portion 6b provided on one of the lower part 6 and the upper part 5, and a temporary retaining opening 5a2 (retained portion) provided on the other of the lower part 6 and the upper part 5, which can engage the temporary retaining claw portion 6b. The radiator grille 1 is equipped with multiple decorative parts 3 and 4 that are visible from the outside, and these decorative parts 3 and 4 may be attached to the lower part 6.

[0088] The design method for the radiator grille 1 (vehicle grille) in this embodiment, which supports the upper garnish 102 (second exterior part) located above the headlight 101 (first exterior part), comprises a lower part 6 fixed to an external part 103, an upper part 5 to which the upper garnish 102 is fixed and which is at least a part of which is located above the lower part 6 and fastened to the lower part 6, and a height regulating part 10 which defines the vertical position of the upper part 5 relative to the lower part 6, and the lower part 6 and the upper part The process includes: a shape determination step S1 to tentatively determine the shape of part 5; a positional relationship confirmation step S2 to confirm the positional relationship between the headlight 101 and the upper garnish 102 using the lower part 6 and upper part 5 whose shapes were tentatively determined in the shape determination step S1; a height adjustment step S3 to adjust the vertical position of the upper part 5 relative to the lower part 6 using the height setting section 10 based on the confirmation result of the positional relationship confirmation step S2; and a determination step S4 to determine the vertical position of the upper part 5 relative to the lower part 6 based on the adjustment result of the height adjustment step S3. In the design method for the radiator grille 1 in this embodiment, the height-defining section 10 includes a plurality of first through-holes 8 formed in either the lower part 6 or the upper part 5, and a plurality of second through-holes 9 formed in the other of the lower part 6 or the upper part 5, corresponding to each of the plurality of first through-holes 8. The vertical distance between two adjacent first through-holes 8 is different from the vertical distance between two adjacent second through-holes 9 corresponding to those two first through-holes 8. In the height adjustment step S3, one first through-hole 8 is selected from the plurality of first through-holes 8, and one second through-hole 9 is selected from the plurality of second through-holes 9. In the determination step S4, the pin member 11 is inserted and locked into the selected one first through-hole 8 and one second through-hole 9.

[0089] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The shapes and combinations of the components shown in the above embodiments are examples, and can be modified in various ways based on design requirements, etc., without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0090] For example, the above embodiment described a configuration in which the height-defining projection 5c is provided on the upper part 5. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the lower part 6 may be provided with a height-defining projection that abuts the upper part 5 from below. In other words, the vehicle grille may be provided with a height-defining projection on one of the lower part 6 and the upper part 5, and abutting the other from the vertical direction.

[0091] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a configuration was described in which a temporary holding claw portion 6b is provided on the lower part 6 and a temporary holding opening 5a2 is provided on the upper part 5. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a configuration in which a temporary holding claw portion is provided on the upper part 5 and a temporary holding opening 5a2 is provided on the lower part 6 can also be adopted.

[0092] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a configuration was described in which the locking portion to which the temporary holding claw portion 6b can be locked is the temporary holding opening 5a2. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which, instead of the temporary holding opening 5a2, a projection or recess to which the temporary holding claw portion 6b can be locked is provided as the locking portion.

[0093] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a configuration in which the radiator grille 1 includes decorative parts (first decorative part 3 and second decorative part 4) has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. A vehicle grille can also be configured without decorative parts. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0094] 1. Radiator grille (vehicle grille) 2. Grill body 3. First decorative part (decorative part) 4. Second decorative part (decorative part) 4a Locking claw 5 Upper parts 5a front 5a1 Wall surface 5a2 Temporary holding opening (locking part) 5b Upper wall 5c Height-regulated protrusion 5d Screw insertion hole 6 Lower parts 6a base 6a1 opening 6a2 Horizontal bar section 6a3 Mounting part 6a4 Upper edge 6a5 Claw opening 6a6 Female thread section 6a7 Mounting part 6b Temporary holding claw portion 6b1 Protrusion 6c supporting wall 6c1 Standing wall part 6d protruding wall 7 screws 8, 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d 1st through hole 9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d 2nd through hole 10 Height regulation section 11 Pin member 100 vehicles 101 Headlight (First Exterior Part) 102 Upper garnish (second exterior part) 103 External parts

Claims

1. A vehicle grille that supports a second exterior component located above a first exterior component, A lower part that is fixed to an external component, The second exterior part is fixed, and at least a portion of it is located above the lower part, and the upper part is fastened to the lower part, A height defining section that defines the vertical position of the upper part relative to the lower part, and Equipped with, The height-regulating portion is a height-regulating projection provided on one of the lower part and the upper part, and which abuts the other from the vertical direction. A temporary holding claw portion is provided on one of the lower part and the upper part, A locking portion is provided on the other side of the lower part and the upper part, and is capable of locking the temporary holding claw portion. Equipped with, The aforementioned height-regulating projection is provided at a different position from the aforementioned temporary holding claw portion. Vehicle grille.

2. The vehicle grille according to claim 1, wherein the height-regulating projection is provided extending linearly in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle grille according to claim 1, wherein the height-regulating sections are arranged in the width direction of the vehicle and provided in multiple locations.

4. It is equipped with multiple decorative parts that are visible from the outside, A vehicle grille according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the multiple decorative parts are attached to the lower part.

5. A method for designing a vehicle grille that supports a second exterior component located above a first exterior component, The aforementioned vehicle grille, A lower part that is fixed to an external component, The second exterior part is fixed, and at least a portion of it is located above the lower part, and the upper part is fastened to the lower part, A height defining section that defines the vertical position of the upper part relative to the lower part, and Equipped with, A shape determination step for provisionally determining the shapes of the lower part and the upper part, A positional relationship confirmation step is performed to confirm the positional relationship between the first exterior part and the second exterior part using the lower part and the upper part whose shapes were provisionally determined in the aforementioned shape provisional determination step, Based on the results of the positional relationship confirmation step, a height adjustment step is performed to adjust the vertical position of the upper part relative to the lower part using the height setting section. Based on the adjustment results of the height adjustment step, a determination step is made to determine the vertical position of the upper part relative to the lower part. It has, The height-regulating portion is a height-regulating projection provided on one of the lower part and the upper part, and which abuts the other from the vertical direction. In the height adjustment step, the amount of vertical protrusion of the height-specifying projection is adjusted. In the determination step, the shapes of the lower part and the upper part are determined, including the height-specified protrusion whose protrusion amount has been adjusted in the height adjustment step. The aforementioned vehicle grille, A temporary holding claw portion is provided on one of the lower part and the upper part, A locking portion is provided on the other side of the lower part and the upper part, and is capable of locking the temporary holding claw portion. Equipped with, The aforementioned height-regulating projection is provided at a different position from the aforementioned temporary holding claw portion. How to design a vehicle grille.

6. A vehicle grille that supports a second exterior component located above a first exterior component, A lower part that is fixed to an external component, The second exterior part is fixed, and at least a portion of it is located above the lower part, and the upper part is fastened to the lower part, A height defining section that defines the vertical position of the upper part relative to the lower part, and Equipped with, The aforementioned height-defining section is, A plurality of first through holes formed in either the lower part or the upper part, A plurality of second through holes are formed in the lower part and the other part of the upper part, corresponding to each of the plurality of first through holes, A pin member inserted through and locked into one of the plurality of first through holes and one of the plurality of second through holes. Equipped with, The vertical distance between two adjacent first through-holes among the plurality of first through-holes is different from the vertical distance between two adjacent second through-holes among the plurality of second through-holes corresponding to those two first through-holes. Vehicle grille.

7. Two adjacent first through holes among the plurality of first through holes are arranged with a certain distance between them in the vertical direction. The vehicle grille according to claim 6, wherein the vertical position of the plurality of second through holes is constant.

8. A method for designing a vehicle grille that supports a second exterior component located above a first exterior component, The aforementioned vehicle grille, A lower part that is fixed to an external component, The second exterior part is fixed, and at least a portion of it is located above the lower part, and the upper part is fastened to the lower part, A height defining section that defines the vertical position of the upper part relative to the lower part, and Equipped with, A shape determination step for provisionally determining the shapes of the lower part and the upper part, A positional relationship confirmation step is performed to confirm the positional relationship between the first exterior part and the second exterior part using the lower part and the upper part whose shapes were provisionally determined in the aforementioned shape provisional determination step, Based on the results of the positional relationship confirmation step, a height adjustment step is performed to adjust the vertical position of the upper part relative to the lower part using the height setting section. Based on the adjustment results of the height adjustment step, a determination step is made to determine the vertical position of the upper part relative to the lower part. It has, The aforementioned height-defining section is, A plurality of first through holes formed in either the lower part or the upper part, Corresponding to each of the aforementioned plurality of first through holes, a plurality of second through holes are formed in the lower part and the other part of the upper part. Equipped with, The vertical distance between two adjacent first through-holes among the plurality of first through-holes is different from the vertical distance between two adjacent second through-holes among the plurality of second through-holes corresponding to those two first through-holes. In the height adjustment step, one first through-hole is selected from the plurality of first through-holes for inserting the pin member, and one second through-hole is selected from the plurality of second through-holes. In the aforementioned determination step, the pin member is inserted and locked into the selected first through hole and the selected second through hole. How to design a vehicle grille.