Vehicle front structure

Abstract

A front pillar disposed at a vehicle-widthwise end part of a windshield includes a pillar skeleton member of a vehicle body and a pillar garnish extending vertically along an outer surface of the pillar skeleton member. A lower end part of the pillar garnish disposed inside the hood of the vehicle includes a first fixed part fixed to a front-surface side of the pillar skeleton member, and a second fixed part fixed to a side-surface side of the pillar skeleton member crossing the first fixed part.

Description

Vehicle front structure

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

[0002] If the gap between the front pillar of a vehicle and the hood or fender becomes large, wind will enter the hood or fender through this gap while the vehicle is running, generating aerodynamic noise, so a molding made of an elastic material such as rubber may be inserted into this gap to close the gap. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a molding is inserted in a sliding manner into the gap between the front pillar and the front fender after they are attached to the vehicle body, thereby closing the gap.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which a fender garnish is provided between a front pillar and a fender panel, and the outer surface of the fender garnish is formed to form a continuous surface with the front pillar and the fender panel.

[0004] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-39431 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-169815

[0005] In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the generation of aerodynamic noise is suppressed by preventing wind from entering the fender through the gap between the front pillar and the front fender. However, the gap between the front pillar and the front fender, which constitutes the design surface, becomes larger, and a molding is inserted into this gap, which poses an issue with the appearance of the vehicle.

[0006] In the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, the front pillar, fender garnish, and fender panel form a continuous design surface to improve the appearance of the vehicle, but this increases the number of parts and requires high precision in the shape of the fender garnish, which results in problems such as increased labor required to assemble the front pillar and higher manufacturing costs.In addition, providing the fender garnish between the front pillar and the fender panel increases the number of joints connecting the components.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle front structure in which the lower part of the front pillar is arranged inside the hood of the vehicle, with a simple and easy-to-assemble configuration, by reducing the gap between the outer surface of the lower part of the front pillar and the outer edge of the hood, thereby providing an attractive vehicle front structure.

[0008] The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following configuration: [1] A vehicle front structure, wherein a front pillar disposed at an end of a windshield in the vehicle width direction includes a pillar frame member of a vehicle body and a pillar garnish extending in the vertical direction along an outer surface of the pillar frame member, and the lower end of the pillar garnish disposed inside a vehicle hood has a first fixing portion fixed to a front side of the pillar frame member and a second fixing portion intersecting the first fixing portion and fixed to a side side of the pillar frame member.

[0009] According to the present invention, in a vehicle front structure in which the lower part of the front pillar is located inside the hood of the vehicle, the pillar garnish that forms the outer surface of the front pillar can be accurately assembled with a simple and easy-to-assemble configuration. As a result, the gap between the lower part of the front pillar and the outer edge of the hood can be reduced, improving the appearance of the components that make up the design surface.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a vehicle front structure. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main portion showing a connection portion between a front pillar and a hood. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the front pillar. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a main portion showing a side outer on the inside of the hood. Fig. 5 is a front perspective view of a pillar garnish. Fig. 6 is a rear perspective view of the pillar garnish. Fig. 7 is a side view of a main portion showing the hood in an open state. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a main portion showing an attachment mode of the pillar garnish.

[0011] Hereinafter, a vehicle front structure according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment shows only one example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Various modifications and improvements can be made to this embodiment, and such modifications and improvements can also be included in the present invention.

[0012] In this embodiment, the direction of travel of the vehicle is referred to as "front," and the rear of the vehicle when traveling backward is referred to as "rear." The left side of the vehicle in the direction of travel is referred to as "left," and the right side of the vehicle in the direction of travel is referred to as "right." Furthermore, the left-right direction and the vehicle width direction are synonymous, and the front-rear direction and the vehicle direction are synonymous.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a vehicle front structure. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main portion showing a connection between a front pillar and a hood. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the front pillar. A vehicle front 100 has a pair of front pillars 10 arranged on both the left and right sides of a windshield 1 (only one of the front pillars 10 is shown in FIG. 1). A hood 3 is provided in front of the windshield 1 to cover the top of an engine compartment (not shown). The hood 3 is supported so as to be movable up and down around its rear end as a fulcrum, opening and closing the engine compartment. A hood outer edge 3a at the rear end of the hood 3 extends in the vehicle width direction to the outside of the front pillar 10 in the vehicle width direction, and covers the outer surface of the lower part of the front pillar 10 that extends into the engine compartment.

[0014] The front pillar 10 is disposed to separate the windshield 1 from the side window 2, and is a component that constitutes a pillar framework component at the front of the cabin. The front pillar 10 has a side outer 20 and a pillar garnish 30 attached to the outer surface of the side outer 20. The pillar garnish 30 is attached to each of a pair of left and right side outers 20. Note that the pillar garnish 30 may be provided on only one of the left and right side outers 20.

[0015] Next, the configuration of the side outer 20 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a main portion of the side outer on the inside of the hood. The side outer 20 is a columnar member that extends at an angle in the front-to-rear and up-down directions, and has an outer upper portion 20a that extends downward and forward from both left and right ends of the front end of the cabin ceiling 4, and a curved portion 20b that curves downward from the lower end of the outer upper portion 20a inside the hood 3 in the closed state.

[0016] The outer upper portion 20a has a glass placement portion 20a1 on which the vehicle width directional end portion of the windshield 1 is placed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and a pillar fixing portion 20a2 in which fixing holes 24 for pinning the pillar garnish 30 are provided along the longitudinal direction. The fixing holes 24 are arranged in a staggered pattern along the longitudinal direction, with inner fixing holes 24A arranged on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the pillar fixing portion 20a2 and outer fixing holes 24B arranged on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the pillar fixing portion 20a2. This configuration can be seen in FIG. 3 .

[0017] A step 23 is formed between the glass mounting portion 20a1 and the pillar fixing portion 20a2, and the mounting position of the windshield 1 mounted on the glass mounting portion 20a1 is determined by the step 23. This configuration can be seen in Figures 1 to 4.

[0018] The curved portion 20b has a front curved portion 20b1 extending downward and forward from the glass mounting portion 20a1, and a side curved portion 20b2 extending downward and forward from the pillar fixing portion 20a2, and is provided with an attachment portion 25 for fixing the lower end of the pillar garnish 30. The attachment portion 25 has an attachment bracket 26 and a fastening portion 27. This configuration can be seen in FIG. 4 .

[0019] The mounting bracket 26 is a plate-like member fixed to the side outer 20, and has a base end 26a fixed to the side curved portion 20b2 by welding or the like, and an extension portion 26b extending in an L-shape from the base end 26a toward the front of the front curved portion 20b1. A front fixing hole 26c into which a fixing screw 38, described below, is fastened, is formed at the tip side of the extension portion 26b. The front fixing hole 26c at the tip of the extension portion 26b is located at a position spaced forward from the front curved portion 20b1 and is located on or in the vicinity of an imaginary line extending from the glass mounting portion 20a1 of the outer upper portion 20a.

[0020] The fastening portion 27 has a mounting hole 27a formed in the side curved portion 20b2 in the vehicle width direction, and a grommet 27b that fits into the mounting hole 27a. The grommet 27b has a side fixing hole 27c formed therein, into which a fixing screw 39 (described later) is fastened.

[0021] The mounting portion 25 is disposed in the engine compartment, which opens and closes by vertically rotating the hood 3. Therefore, by rotating the hood 3 upward to open the engine compartment, the mounting work for the lower end of the pillar garnish 30 to the side outer side 20 (curved portion 20b) can be performed.

[0022] Next, the configuration of the pillar garnish 30 will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the pillar garnish. Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the pillar garnish. The pillar garnish 30 has an inner member 31 and an outer member 32 attached to the outside of the inner member 31.

[0023] The inner member 31 extends vertically along the outer upper portion 20a and has a curved, arc-shaped cross section so as to cover the pillar fixing portion 20a2. An elastic member 33 is provided on the inner side of the inner member 31 in the vehicle width direction to clamp the edge of the windshield 1 placed on the windshield placement portion 20a1.

[0024] The inner member 31 has a fixing pin 34 consisting of a trim clip or the like that is fixed to a fixing hole 24 provided in the pillar fixing portion 20a2 of the outer upper portion 20a, and a lower end fixing portion 35 that is fixed to an attachment portion 25 provided in the curved portion 20b.

[0025] The fixing pins 34 include inner fixing pins 34A that are fixed to the inner fixing holes 24A and outer fixing pins 34B that are fixed to the outer fixing holes 24B, and a plurality of each are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the inner member 31. This configuration can be seen in FIG. 6.

[0026] The lower end fixing portion 35 has a plate-shaped first fixing portion 35A extending forward of the front curved portion 20b1 of the side outer 20, and a plate-shaped second fixing portion 35B intersecting the first fixing portion 35A and extending along the side curved portion 20b2 of the side outer 20.

[0027] The first fixing portion 35A has a fixing hole for fastening to (the front fixing hole 26c of) the mounting bracket 26. As a result, the first fixing portion 35A is fixed at a position spaced forward from the front curved portion 20b1, by pressing it against an imaginary plane extending from the glass mounting portion 20a1 of the outer upper portion 20a. The second fixing portion 35B has a fixing hole for fastening to (the side fixing hole 27c of the fastening portion 27 provided on) the side curved portion 20b2. As a result, the second fixing portion 35B is fixed by pressing it against the side curved portion 20b2.

[0028] The outer member 32 is formed slightly wider in the width direction than the inner member 31 and covers the entire width of the inner member 31. The outer member 32 has a smoothly curved outer peripheral surface, resulting in excellent design. The outer member 32 is attached and fixed to the outer surface of the inner member 31 using tap screws or the like. The lower end of the outer member 32 is formed shorter than the inner member 31. As a result, the lower end of the pillar garnish 30 exposes the lower end of the inner member 31, and the lower end has a step 36 recessed in the width direction along the shape of the outer end of the hood 3 in the vehicle width direction. The shape of the step 36 is formed to minimize the gap formed between the vehicle width direction end of the hood 3 and the front pillar 10 in the closed state.

[0029] Next, a method for attaching the pillar garnish will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Figure 7 is a side view of the main parts showing the hood in an open state. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the main parts showing how the pillar garnish is attached. First, the hood 3 is rotated upward to open the engine compartment. Next, the inner member 31 of the pillar garnish 30 is aligned with the pillar fixing portion 20a2 of the outer upper portion 20a, and the fixing pin 34 on the inner member 31 is inserted into the fixing hole 24 on the pillar fixing portion 20a2 to fix the pillar garnish. This allows the pillar garnish 30 to be smoothly and easily positioned in a predetermined position on the side outer 20. This configuration can be seen in Figure 7.

[0030] 8 , when the pillar garnish 30 is fixed to the pillar fixing portion 20a2 on the side outer 20, the first fixing portion 35A of the inner member 31 abuts against the tip end of the mounting bracket 26, and the second fixing portion 35B of the inner member 31 abuts against the fastening portion 27 of the side curved portion 20b2, thereby fixing the lower end fixing portion 35 of the inner member 31 to the curved portion 20b side of the side outer 20. Specifically, the first fixing portion 35A is fastened to the front fixing hole 26c of the mounting bracket 26 with a fixing screw 38, and the second fixing portion 35B is fastened to the side fixing hole 27c of the fastening portion 27 with a fixing screw 39. In this way, the pillar garnish 30 is assembled to the side outer 20 to form the front pillar 10.

[0031] (Effects) According to the above-described configuration, the first fixing portion 35A of the lower end fixing portion 35 of the pillar garnish 30 is fixed to the front side of the side outer 20 via the mounting bracket 26, and the second fixing portion 35B is fixed to the vehicle width direction outer side surface of the side outer 20 via the fastening portion 27. This improves the assembly accuracy of the pillar garnish 30. In particular, because rattle in the vehicle width direction at the lower end of the pillar garnish 30 is suppressed, the gap between the pillar garnish 30 and the hood outer edge 3a of the hood 3 in the closed state can be reduced. This eliminates the need to provide an elastic member between the pillar garnish 30 and the hood outer edge 3a, thereby improving the appearance of the design surface of the front pillar 10. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent wind from entering the hood 3 through the gap between the front pillar 10 and the hood outer edge 3a while the vehicle is traveling.

[0032] In addition, a step 36 is formed at the lower end of the outer member 32, which is recessed to conform to the shape of the hood outer edge 3a, which varies depending on the vehicle model, so the gap between the front pillar 10 and the hood outer edge 3a can be reduced regardless of the vehicle model.

[0033] In addition, the pillar garnish 30 can be easily positioned at a predetermined position on the side outer 20 by inserting the fixing pin 34 of the inner member 31 into the fixing hole 24 of the pillar fixing portion 20a2, so that the work of attaching and fixing the lower end fixing portion 35 to the mounting portion 25 can be carried out smoothly and easily.

[0034] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications and improvements can be made as appropriate.

[0035] As described above, this specification discloses the following: (1) A vehicle front structure, in which a front pillar disposed at a vehicle width direction end of a windshield includes a pillar frame member of a vehicle body and a pillar garnish extending vertically along the outer surface of the pillar frame member, and the lower end of the pillar garnish disposed inside a vehicle hood has a first fixing portion fixed to the front side of the pillar frame member and a second fixing portion intersecting the first fixing portion and fixed to the side side of the pillar frame member. According to this configuration, the lower portion of the pillar garnish is attached and fixed to the front and side of the pillar frame member inside the vehicle hood, thereby enabling the pillar garnish forming the outer surface of the front pillar to be accurately assembled with a simple and easy-to-assemble configuration. This reduces the gap between the lower portion of the front pillar and the outer edge of the hood, improving the appearance of the components constituting the design surface.

[0036] (2) The vehicle front structure according to (1), wherein the pillar garnish has an inner member attached to the pillar frame member and an outer member fixed to the inner member and covering the outside of the inner member. This configuration allows the inner member attached to the pillar frame member to be separated from the outer member that forms various design surfaces depending on the vehicle model, thereby improving versatility.

[0037] (3) The vehicle front structure according to (2), wherein the inner member has the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion, and a mounting bracket to which the first fixing portion is fixed is provided inside the hood at a position spaced forward from the front surface of the pillar frame member. With this configuration, the first fixing portion can be arranged on an extension line of the pillar frame member, the middle portion of which is bent downward, thereby improving the degree of freedom in the fixing position of the pillar garnish.

[0038] (4) The vehicle front structure according to (3), wherein the mounting bracket has a base end portion fixed to a side surface of the pillar frame member, and an extension portion extending in an L-shape from the base end toward the front of the pillar frame member and to which the first fixing portion is fixed. With this configuration, the mounting bracket can be configured simply and at low cost.

[0039] (5) The vehicle front structure according to (4), wherein the extension portion is provided with a front fixing hole for fixing the first fixing portion, and a side fixing hole for fixing the second fixing portion is provided on a side surface of the pillar frame member on the inside of the hood. This configuration allows for improved assembly accuracy of the pillar garnish in the vehicle width direction with a simple configuration.

[0040] (6) The vehicle front structure according to any one of (2) to (5), wherein a step is formed at a lower end of the outer member along the outer edge of the hood in a closed state. This configuration makes it possible to further reduce the gap between the outer edge of the hood in a closed state and the outer surface of the front pillar.

[0041] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Windshield 2 Side glass 3 Hood 4 Ceiling portion 10 Front pillar 20 Side outer (pillar frame member) 20a Outer upper portion 20a1 Glass mounting portion 20a2 Pillar fixing portion 20b Curved portion 20b1 Front curved portion 20b2 Side curved portion 23 Step portion 24 Fixing hole 24A Inner fixing hole 24B Outer fixing hole 25 Mounting portion 26 Mounting bracket 26a Base end portion 26b Extension portion 26c Front fixing hole 27 Fastening portion 27a Mounting hole 27b Grommet 27c Side fixing hole 30 Pillar garnish 31 Inner member 32 Outer member 33 Elastic member 34 Fixing pin 34A Inner fixing pin 34B Outer fixing pin 35 Lower end fixing portion 35A First fixing portion 35B Second fixing portion 36 Step portion 100 Front portion of vehicle

Claims

1. A vehicle front structure, in which a front pillar arranged at the end of the windshield in the vehicle width direction comprises a pillar frame member of the vehicle body and a pillar garnish extending in the vertical direction along the outer surface of the pillar frame member, and the lower end of the pillar garnish arranged inside the vehicle hood has a first fixing part fixed to the front side of the pillar frame member and a second fixing part intersecting the first fixing part and fixed to the side side of the pillar frame member.

2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, wherein the pillar garnish comprises an inner member attached to the pillar frame member, and an outer member fixed to the inner member and covering the outside of the inner member.

3. The vehicle front structure according to claim 2, wherein the inner member has the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion, and a mounting bracket to which the first fixing portion is fixed is provided inside the hood at a position spaced forward from the front surface of the pillar frame member.

4. The vehicle front structure according to claim 3, wherein the mounting bracket has a base end portion that is fixed to the side surface of the pillar frame member, and an extension portion that extends in an L-shape from the base end portion toward the front of the pillar frame member and to which the first fixing portion is fixed.

5. A vehicle front structure as described in claim 4, wherein a front fixing hole for fixing the first fixing part is provided in the extension part, and a side fixing hole for fixing the second fixing part is provided in a side surface of the pillar frame member on the inside of the hood.

6. A vehicle front structure as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a step is formed at the lower end of the outer member along the outer edge of the hood in the closed state.

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