Vehicle rear structure

Abstract

This vehicle rear structure comprises: a bumper disposed at the rear of a vehicle; a sensor arranged on an opposite surface that is a surface on a side opposite to a design surface of the lower wall part of the bumper; and a cover member covering the sensor. The cover member includes: a first wall extending upward from the vicinity of a front end of the opposite surface of the lower wall part; and a second wall extending rearward from the first wall and facing the opposite surface of the lower wall part. The sensor is arranged in a space surrounded by the first wall and the second wall.

Description

Vehicle rear structure

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle rear structure.

[0002] A sensor disposed inside a rear bumper is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The sensor in Patent Document 1 is fixed to the surface of the rear bumper opposite to the design surface (hereinafter referred to as the opposite surface).

[0003] Patent No. 7435805

[0004] The wind from the vehicle travelling on the other side of the rear bumper enters and swirls around, creating air resistance for the vehicle. Stones and mud from the road surface kicked up by the tires can easily get into the other side of the rear bumper due to the wind from the vehicle travelling on the other side, which can damage the sensor.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a rear structure for a vehicle that can protect sensors while reducing air resistance.

[0006] The vehicle rear structure of the present disclosure comprises a bumper arranged at the rear of the vehicle, a sensor arranged on the opposite surface of the lower wall portion of the bumper, which is the surface opposite the decorative surface, and a cover member covering the sensor, wherein the cover member has a first wall extending upward from near the front end of the opposite surface of the lower wall portion, and a second wall extending rearward from the first wall and facing the opposite surface of the lower wall portion, and the sensor is arranged in a space surrounded by the first wall and the second wall.

[0007] According to this vehicle rear structure, the sensor is covered by the first and second walls of the cover member. The cover member prevents wind from entering the opposite side of the bumper while the vehicle is traveling, and also prevents the sensor from being damaged by stones or mud on the road surface.

[0008] 5 is a diagram showing a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; a diagram showing the opposite side of a bumper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; a diagram showing a rear view of a bumper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; a cross-sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 3; a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 3; an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 5; a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 3.

[0009] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the front side of the vehicle is designated F, the rear side B, the right side R, the left side L, the upper side U, and the lower side D. In the following description, the left-right direction will be referred to as the vehicle width direction.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle rear structure 1 includes a bumper 2, a sensor 4, a cover member 6, and a pair of left and right airflow rectifiers 8. The vehicle rear structure 1 of this embodiment is the rear bumper and its surrounding structure of a hatchback vehicle having a rear hatch C1. However, the shape of the vehicle C is not limited to this and may be any shape.

[0011] The bumper 2 is disposed at the rear of the vehicle C. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 , the bumper 2 has a design surface 20, an opposite surface 21, a support portion 22, a recess 23, a pair of left and right storage portions (an example of a bumper protrusion) 24, a bumper garnish (an example of a bumper protrusion) 25, a lower wall portion 26, and a rear wall portion 27.

[0012] The design surface 20 is located on the outside of the vehicle C and is visible to the user. The opposite surface 21 is the surface opposite (backside of) the design surface 20. The lower wall portion 26 forms the lower surface of the bumper 2. The rear wall portion 27 forms the rear surface of the bumper 2.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 5 , the support portion 22 is disposed at the front end of the lower wall portion 26 of the bumper 2. The support portion 22 has a flange surface 22 a and an extended surface 22 b. The flange surface 22 a is a portion of the support portion 22 that extends in the front-rear direction. The support portion 22 is fixed to a vehicle body C2 of the vehicle C located above the opposite surface 21 with fastening members such as bolts. The extended surface 22 b extends obliquely upward and forward toward the vehicle body C2 of the lower wall portion 26. In this embodiment, the support portion 22 is a resin bracket integrally molded with the bumper 2. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6 , the extended surface 22 b is connected to a front end 23 b of the recess 23 of the lower wall portion 26 of the bumper 2 via a hinge portion 22 c. The hinge portion 22 c is formed thinner than the lower wall portion 26, thereby allowing the support portion 22 to be folded upward relative to the lower wall portion 26. 2, in this embodiment, two support portions 22 are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction, but the number of support portions 22 may be changed as appropriate.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 3, the recess 23 is a portion recessed upward from the design surface 20 toward the opposite surface 21 in the center portion in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle C. In this embodiment, the recess 23 is a diffuser that reduces air resistance under the floor of the vehicle C. As shown in Fig. 7, the pair of left and right storage portions 24 are portions in which the design surface 20 is recessed toward the front and protrudes to the opposite surface 21. In this embodiment, the storage portions 24 are used to attach exterior parts such as reflectors or turn signals.

[0015] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the bumper garnish 25 is disposed above the recess 23. The bumper garnish 25 is a decorative resin part that makes the design surface 20 look like a grille. The bumper garnish 25 has a plurality of ribs 25a that protrude rearward from the design surface 20. As shown in Figure 5, a sensor fixing base (an example of a base) 10 that fixes the sensor 4 is disposed on the opposite surface 21 of the bumper garnish 25. In this embodiment, the sensor fixing base 10 is made of resin. The sensor fixing base 10 is fixed by welding to a plate-like member 25b that protrudes from the opposite surface 21 of the bumper garnish 25. By having the plate-like member 25b protrude from the opposite surface 21 of the ribs 25a in this manner, recesses in the design surface 20 become less noticeable.

[0016] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the sensor 4 is disposed on the surface 21 opposite the recess 23. In this embodiment, the sensor 4 is a kick sensor that opens the rear hatch C1 when it detects the foot of a user of the vehicle C. As shown in Figure 4, the sensor 4 has a sensor main body 4a and a sensor bracket 4b. The sensor main body 4a extends in the vehicle width direction along the surface 21 opposite the recess 23 (see Figure 3). The sensor bracket 4b extends upward from the sensor main body 4a. The sensor bracket 4b is fixed to the sensor fixing base 10.

[0017] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the cover member 6 covers the sensor 4. As shown in Figures 2, 4, and 5, the cover member 6 has a first wall 61, a second wall 62, a plurality of protrusions 63, a plurality of fixing portions 64, and a plurality of grooves 65. As shown in Figure 5, the first wall 61 extends upward from near the front end 23b of the opposite surface 21 of the recess 23 (near the front end 23b of the lower wall portion 26). As shown in Figure 2, the second wall 62 extends rearward from the upper end of the first wall 61 and faces the opposite surface 21 of the lower wall portion 26. The second wall 62 is formed in a shape that increases in width in the vehicle width direction as it extends rearward.

[0018] The multiple protrusions 63 are portions of the first wall 61 that protrude forward. In this embodiment, the protrusions 63 are provided at positions adjacent in the vehicle width direction to the portions of the front surface of the first wall 61 that contact the support portion 22. One protrusion 63 is disposed on the inner side of the right support portion 22 in the vehicle width direction, and two protrusions 63 are disposed on either side of the left support portion 22 (see FIG. 2 ). However, the number of protrusions 63 may be changed as appropriate.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 4 , the protrusion 63 protrudes forward beyond the front end 23b of the lower wall portion 26 of the recess 23. A gap S is provided between the lower surface 63a of the protrusion 63 and the front end 23b. That is, the protrusion 63 protrudes forward beyond the front end 23b of the lower wall portion 26 and is open downward, forming a gap S that communicates between the protrusion 63 and the front end 23b of the lower wall portion 26 and the inner space of the cover member 6. Water that enters the vicinity of the sensor 4 drips down along the opposite surface 21 of the recess 23 and is discharged through this gap S. In other words, the gap S is a drainage hole. In this embodiment, three gaps S are provided, the same number as the number of the protrusions 63. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cover member 6 is formed of a foam.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 2, the rear end of the second wall 62 of the cover member 6 is fixed to the rear wall portion 27 of the bumper 2. In this embodiment, the cover member 6 has fixing portions 64 arranged at two ends in the vehicle width direction and three in the center. As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 7, the fixing portions 64 include a through hole 64a and a flange receiving surface 64b.

[0021] 5 , the central fixing portion 64 is fixed by a fastening member (for example, a bolt or a tapping screw) to a boss portion 10a extending forward from the sensor fixing base 10. That is, the sensor fixing base 10, which fixes the second wall 62 of the cover member 6, is disposed on the bumper garnish 25 (an example of a bumper protrusion). Fixing the cover member 6 to the sensor fixing base 10 in this manner can prevent the occurrence of a sink mark on the design surface 20.

[0022] As shown in Figure 7, the fixing portions 64 at both ends are fixed by fastening members to boss portions 24a disposed on the opposite surface 21 of the housing portion 24. That is, the fixing portion 64 for fixing the second wall 62 of the cover member 6 is provided on the surface opposite the location where an exterior component is attached (the housing portion 24 in this embodiment). By fixing the cover member 6 to the opposite surface 21 of the housing portion 24 in this way, even if a recess occurs on the design surface 20, it can be hidden by an exterior component such as a reflector or a turn signal, making it invisible to the user. Furthermore, by fixing both left and right end portions of the rear end portion of the second wall 62 at the position where it is widest in the vehicle width direction, the cover member 6 is stably fixed.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 6 , the recessed groove 65 is a groove formed by recessing the front surface of the first wall 61 rearward to conform to the shape of the support portion 22. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 , the recessed groove 65 is provided on the lower end side of the first wall 61, and the fixing portion 64 (fixing point) at the rear end of the second wall 62 is located above the recessed groove 65. The recessed groove 65 includes a bottom surface 65a. The bottom surface 65a is an inclined surface facing downward and diagonally forward in accordance with the inclination of the extension surface 22b when the support portion 22 is fixed to the vehicle body C2.

[0024] 5 and 6 , the support portion 22 is folded upward at the hinge portion 22c to come into contact with the front surface of the first wall 61 of the cover member 6. In this manner, the cover member 6 is fixed with the front surface of the first wall 61 sandwiched between the support portion 22. More specifically, the rear end of the second wall 62 is fixed to the rear wall portion 27 of the bumper 2 and the front side of the first wall 61 comes into contact with the support portion 22, so that the cover member 6 is fixed in a sandwiched state between the rear wall portion 27 and the support portion 22.

[0025] In this embodiment, the support portion 22 also abuts against the groove 65. As a result, the support portion 22 fits into the groove 65 at a position where the support portion 22 abuts against it. By fitting the support portion 22 into the groove 65 in this manner, the position of the front side (first wall 61 side) of the cover member 6 in the vehicle width direction is restricted. This facilitates positioning of the cover member 6. Furthermore, since the abutting position of the support portion 22 does not shift, the cover member 6 can be reliably fixed to the bumper. Furthermore, by making the bottom surface 65a of the groove 65 an inclined surface facing downward and diagonally forward in accordance with the inclination of the support portion 22, the support portion 22 can sandwich the first wall 61 of the cover member 6 at a diagonal position relative to the fixing point at the rear end of the second wall 62. This more reliably fixes the cover member 6.

[0026] 2, the airflow rectifying vanes 8 are disposed on both sides of the recess 23 in the vehicle width direction. The airflow rectifying vanes 8 are formed of arc-shaped plate-like members that slope downward toward the rear, and guide the air under the bumper.

[0027] In the vehicle rear structure 1 configured in this manner, the sensor 4 is covered by the first wall 61 and the second wall 62 of the cover member 6. The cover member 6 prevents wind from entering the opposite surface 21 of the bumper 2 while the sensor 4 is protected from damage by stones or mud on the road surface.

[0028] Furthermore, the vehicle rear structure 1 can prevent water from accumulating inside the cover member 6 by allowing water to be discharged from the gap S. In this embodiment, the support portion 22 is further disposed adjacent to a plurality of protrusions 63. The protrusions 63 can guide the support portion 22 into the recessed grooves 65 when the hinge portion 22c of the support portion 22 is folded upward.

[0029] Furthermore, in the vehicle rear structure 1, the cover member 6 is fixed to the sensor fixing base 10 and the boss portion 24a, so that the cover member 6 can be fixed without causing a sink mark on the design surface 20.

[0030] As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a vehicle rear structure 1 that can protect the sensor 4 while reducing air resistance.

[0031] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. In particular, the multiple modifications described in this specification can be combined as needed.

[0032] (a) In the above embodiment, the sensor is described as a kick sensor, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The sensor may be a sensor other than a kick sensor.

[0033] (b) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the cover member 6 was made of foam, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The cover member 6 may be made of, for example, a resin material.

[0034] 1: Vehicle rear structure, 2: Bumper, 4: Sensor, 6: Cover member, 8: Straightening plate, 10: Sensor fixing base, 20: Design surface, 21: Opposite surface, 22: Support portion, 23: Recess, 23b: Front end, 26: Lower wall portion, 27: Rear wall portion, 24: Storage portion, 25: Bumper garnish, 61: First wall, 62: Second wall, 63: Protrusion, 63a: Lower surface, 64: Fixing portion, 65: Groove, 65a: Bottom surface, C: Vehicle, C2: Vehicle body, S: Gap

Claims

1. A vehicle rear structure comprising: a bumper arranged at the rear of a vehicle; a sensor arranged on the opposite surface of a lower wall portion of said bumper, which is the surface opposite to the decorative surface; and a cover member covering said sensor, wherein said cover member has a first wall extending upward from near the front end of the opposite surface of said lower wall portion, and a second wall extending rearward from said first wall and facing the opposite surface of said lower wall portion, and said sensor is arranged in a space surrounded by said first wall and said second wall.

2. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 1, wherein the bumper has a support portion that extends upward from the front end of the lower wall portion and is fixed to the vehicle body, and the rear end of the second wall is fixed to the rear wall portion of the bumper and the front side of the first wall abuts against the support portion, so that the cover member is fixed in a sandwiched state between the rear wall portion and the support portion.

3. A vehicle rear structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the cover member has a recessed groove into which the support portion fits at a portion of the front surface of the first wall that abuts against the support portion, and the support portion abuts against the bottom surface of the recessed groove.

4. A vehicle rear structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein the groove is provided on the lower end side of the first wall, the fixing point of the rear end of the second wall is located above the groove, the support part extends obliquely upward and forward from the front end of the lower wall part, and the bottom surface of the groove is an inclined surface facing obliquely downward and forward to match the inclination of the support part.

5. A vehicle rear structure according to claim 2, wherein the first wall has a plurality of protrusions that protrude forward at positions adjacent in the vehicle width direction to the portion of the front surface with which the support portion abuts.

6. A vehicle rear structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the protrusion protrudes forward from the front end of the lower wall portion and is open downward, forming a gap between the front end of the lower wall portion and the protrusion that communicates with the inside of the cover member.

7. A vehicle rear structure as described in claim 1, wherein the lower wall portion of the bumper has a recess in the center in the vehicle width direction that is recessed upward from the design surface to the opposite surface, the sensor is disposed on the opposite surface of the recess, and the vehicle further comprises air deflectors on both sides of the recess in the vehicle width direction that guide air under the bumper.

8. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 2, wherein the bumper has a bumper protrusion that protrudes forward or rearward from the rear wall portion, and a base that fixes the second wall of the cover member is disposed on the bumper protrusion.

9. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 2, wherein an exterior part is attached to the rear wall of the bumper, and a fixing part for fixing the second wall of the cover member is provided on the surface opposite to the part where the exterior part is attached.

10. A vehicle rear structure as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the support portion is integrally formed with the lower wall portion of the bumper via a hinge portion, and the support portion is folded upward at the hinge portion to abut against the front surface of the first wall of the cover member.

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