Wind noise reduction member

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a wind noise reduction member capable of facilitating mounting without processing a roof bar and enhancing the degree of freedom in positioning with respect to the roof bar. [Solution] This member for reducing wind noise occurring due to a roof carrier 50 attached to the roof of a vehicle is characterized in having an attachment part 12 being flexible and engaged with the outer circumference of one of the carrier bars 52 structuring the roof carrier 50, the attachment part 12 having two or more contact parts and at least one non-contact part, between the attachment part 12 and the outer circumferential surface of the carrier bar 52.

Description

Wind noise reduction component

[0001] The present invention relates to a wind noise reduction member, and more particularly to a member suitable for reducing wind noise generated when a roof rack is attached to a vehicle.

[0002] Various technologies have been proposed to reduce wind noise from roof racks attached to vehicles. For example, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 involves attaching an attachment to the entire roof bar, which has a rectangular cross-section, so that the cross-sectional shape of the roof bar becomes streamlined. While a streamlined cross-sectional shape of the roof bar can be expected to have a rectifying effect, given that wind noise is generated even with roof bars that have an elliptical cross-section, it is not realistic to expect much reduction in wind noise from this method.

[0003] Furthermore, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2 involves arranging the roof bar to cover its longitudinal direction with a hollow mounting portion through which the roof bar is inserted, and having a rectifier plate protrude from this mounting portion toward the roof. With such technology, it is thought that the wind flowing between the roof carrier and the roof can be suppressed by the action of the rectifier plate, thereby reducing wind noise that resonates in the interior space of the vehicle. However, if the hollow portion of the mounting portion in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2 is too large relative to the cross-sectional shape of the roof bar, it may cause dissonant noise due to rattling, and if it is too small, it will be impossible to insert the roof bar, requiring strict dimensional control and resulting in poor productivity.

[0004] Furthermore, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3 is to arrange a connecting member in the longitudinal middle part of the roof bar so as to connect the roof and the roof bar. According to such a configuration, it is possible to cause turbulence in the airflow passing between the roof bar and the roof by the connecting member, and it is said that the wind noise can be suppressed. However, Patent Document 3 does not disclose the attachment means of the connecting member, and it is conceivable that measures such as processing the roof bar or replacing the roof bar itself may be necessary. Also, considering the stability of the member, the connecting member needs to be fixed to the roof bar. Therefore, it is difficult to change the position of the connecting member once it is positioned.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-47945 Utility Model Registration No. 3084828 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-141870

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a wind noise reduction member that can be easily attached without processing the roof bar and can increase the degree of freedom in positioning with respect to the roof bar.

[0007] The wind noise reduction member according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a member that reduces wind noise generated due to a roof carrier attached to the roof of a vehicle, has flexibility, and causes deflection to be locked to one outer circumference of a carrier bar constituting the roof carrier. The attachment portion has, between the attachment portion and the outer peripheral surface of the carrier bar, two or more contact portions and at least one non-contact portion.

[0008] Further, in the wind noise reduction member having the above characteristics, the attachment portion may form a closed space, and by elastically deforming the closed space, a space through which the carrier bar can be inserted may be formed. By having such characteristics, there is no risk of falling off, and it is also possible to freely change the arrangement angle of the protruding portion and the like.

[0009] Furthermore, in a wind noise reduction member having the above-described features, the mounting portion may be a resin spring with a notch, and the mounting to the carrier bar may be achieved by expanding the notch. With these features, it becomes possible to attach and detach the member without removing the carrier bar.

[0010] Furthermore, in a wind noise reduction member having the above-described features, it is preferable that the outer circumference of the mounting portion has a projection with a resistance surface in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the carrier bar. Having such features makes it possible to effectively generate turbulence in the wind that enters between the roof of the vehicle and the roof carrier.

[0011] Furthermore, in a wind noise reduction member having the above-described characteristics, it is preferable that the protruding portion is formed such that its base end is wider than its tip end, with a mountain-shaped cross-section. Having such characteristics increases the rigidity of the protruding portion, allowing it to function effectively even during high-speed driving.

[0012] With a wind noise reduction member having these characteristics, installation is made easy without modifying the roof bars, and the degree of freedom in positioning relative to the roof bars is also increased.

[0013] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of the wind noise reduction member according to the first embodiment. This is a side view showing the configuration of the wind noise reduction member according to the first embodiment. This is a side view showing the wind noise reduction member according to the first embodiment in a bent state. This is a diagram showing the cross-sectional shape of the carrier bar that locks the wind noise reduction member according to the first embodiment. This is a side view showing the wind noise reduction member according to the first embodiment locked to the carrier bar. This is a perspective view showing a state in which multiple wind noise reduction members are locked to one carrier bar. This is a perspective view showing the configuration of a roof carrier equipped with a carrier bar to which the wind noise reduction member according to the first embodiment is locked. This is a side view showing an example of a case in which the shape of the protruding part of the wind noise reduction member according to the first embodiment is changed. This is a diagram showing an example of a wind noise reduction member that is attached to a carrier bar having a rectangular cross-section. This is a perspective view showing the configuration of the wind noise reduction member according to the second embodiment. This is a side view showing the configuration of the wind noise reduction member according to the second embodiment. This is a diagram showing the cross-sectional shape of the carrier bar that locks the wind noise reduction member according to the second embodiment. This is a side view showing the state in which the notch of the wind noise reduction member according to the second embodiment is widened and covers the lower half of the carrier bar. This is a side view showing the wind noise reduction member according to the second embodiment with the notch widened to cover the lower half and one shoulder portion of the carrier bar. This is a side view showing the wind noise reduction member according to the second embodiment attached to the carrier bar. This is a side view showing an example of a wind noise reduction member without a protruding portion.

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the wind noise reduction member of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are some of the preferred forms for carrying out the present invention, and even if some of the configuration is changed, it can still be considered part of the present invention, as long as the effects are achieved.

[0015] [First Embodiment: Configuration] First, the wind noise reduction member according to the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the wind noise reduction member according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the wind noise reduction member according to the first embodiment, and Figure 3 is a side view showing the wind noise reduction member according to the first embodiment in a bent state.

[0016] The wind noise reduction member 10 according to this embodiment has a mounting portion 12 and a protruding portion 14 and is made of a flexible member. The flexible member referred to here may be any resin material such as an elastomer (thermosetting, thermoplastic) including a thermosetting elastomer such as rubber. In this embodiment, the carrier bar 52 of the roof carrier 50 (which is attached to the roof of a vehicle not shown) to which the wind noise reduction member 10 is attached has a circular cross-sectional shape, and in the following description, an example of a form corresponding to the carrier bar 52 will be given.

[0017] The mounting portion 12 is a part for locking onto the carrier bar 52. In this embodiment, the mounting portion 12 has a cross-sectional shape that constitutes a closed space 12a (through hole) for inserting the carrier bar 52. Therefore, when locking the mounting portion 12 onto the carrier bar 52, the method of inserting the carrier bar 52 into the closed space 12a from the side of the mounting portion 12 is adopted. As shown in Figure 2, the mounting portion 12 is configured such that the cross-sectional shape of the closed space is elliptical, and the closed space 12a has a major axis a and a minor axis b. Here, the minor axis b of the closed space 12a is preferably slightly shorter than the diameter (outer diameter) of the carrier bar 52, which has a circular cross-sectional shape, and the major axis a is preferably slightly longer than the diameter (outer diameter) of the carrier bar 52. Furthermore, the circumference length of the ellipse constituting the closed space 12a is configured to be longer than the outer circumference length of the carrier bar 52.

[0018] When the outer circumference of the mounting portion 12 on the long axis a side is pressed, it is elastically deformed as shown in Figure 3, and the long axis a and short axis b become axis a1 and axis b1, respectively. By making the length of each axis longer than the diameter of the carrier bar 52, it becomes possible to insert the carrier bar 52 into the closed space 12a. After inserting the carrier bar 52 into the mounting portion 12, releasing the pressure on the long axis a (axis a1) side causes the mounting portion 12 to deform back to its original shape. At this time, the inner circumferential surface of the mounting portion 12 on the short axis b side comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the carrier bar 52, preventing it from returning to its original shape. Therefore, as shown in Figure 5, the mounting portion 12 has at least two contact points (short axis b side) between itself and the outer circumferential surface of the carrier bar 52, and a non-contact area is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the part corresponding to the long axis a.

[0019] Therefore, the mounting portion 12 generates frictional force on the outer surface of the carrier bar 52 while biasing the inner surface on the short axis b side, while the inner surface on the long axis a side remains in contact. As a result, after mounting, it becomes easy to rotate the carrier bar 52 and slide the carrier bar 52 in the longitudinal direction, and it is also possible to maintain the position due to frictional force.

[0020] The protruding portion 14 is an element that acts as a so-called baffle plate, causing turbulence in the airflow generated when the vehicle is in motion, on the outer circumference of the mounting portion 12. In this embodiment, the mounting portion 12 has an elliptical cross-section, with a vertex P on the extension of the minor axis b, and is formed in a mountain shape with sides that draw arc-shaped tangents from this vertex P to two points on the outer circumference of the major axis a side of the mounting portion 12. By making the protruding portion 14 in this form, it is possible to give rigidity to the protruding portion 14 while forming the entire wind noise reduction member 10 from a soft material. Therefore, it is possible to exert its effect even when the vehicle is traveling at high speed.

[0021] [Function and Effects] Next, with reference to Figures 3 to 7, the method of using the wind noise reduction member 10 with the above configuration will be explained. In this embodiment of the wind noise reduction member 10, as described above, the closed space 12a in the mounting portion 12 is compressed to make the closed space 12a closer to a circular shape, and the carrier bar 52 is inserted into the closed space 12a.

[0022] As shown in Figure 7, the carrier bar 52 to which the wind noise reduction member 10 is attached is located at the front of the roof carrier 50 (the front in the direction of vehicle travel). There is no limit to the number of wind noise reduction members 10 that can be attached to the carrier bar 52, but it is best to select a number that can enhance the wind noise reduction effect depending on the length of the roof bar 52 and the shape of the vehicle's roof. Also, there are no restrictions on the attachment position, but if two or more wind noise reduction members 10 are placed, it is best to ensure that the spacing between the wind noise reduction members 10 is even.

[0023] By attaching the wind noise reduction member 10 to the carrier bar 52 located at the front of the roof carrier 50 in this manner, turbulence is created in the wind that enters between the roof carrier 50 and the roof when the vehicle is in motion, thereby suppressing noise.

[0024] Furthermore, the wind noise reduction member 10 is secured to the carrier bar 52 by a mounting portion 12 having two or more contact points and at least one non-contact point. Therefore, the position (angle) of the protruding portion 14 and the position of the wind noise reduction member 10 relative to the carrier bar 52 can be freely changed.

[0025] In the above embodiment, the shape of the protruding portion 14 was described as a mountain shape with arc-shaped sides arranged from the apex P toward the mounting portion 12. However, the specific shape of the protruding portion 14 is not limited as long as it can generate turbulence in the airflow between the roof carrier 50 and the roof. For example, as shown in Figure 8, the protruding portion 14 may be formed in the shape of a fin consisting of a single projection.

[0026] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, since the cross-sectional shape of the carrier bar 52 was circular, the cross-sectional shape of the mounting portion 12 of the wind noise reduction member 10 was elliptical. However, if the cross-sectional shape of the carrier bar 52 is elliptical or rectangular as shown in Figure 9, it is advisable to change the cross-sectional shape of the wind noise reduction member 10 to match that shape. Specifically, as shown in Figure 9, it is advisable to provide a bellows-shaped expandable portion 12b on the side constituting the mounting portion 12. This is because, with such a configuration, two or more contact points and at least one non-contact point are provided between the inner circumferential surface of the mounting portion 12 and the outer circumferential surface of the carrier bar 52. Thus, a configuration that can be positioned by utilizing the elastic deformation of the mounting portion 12 can be considered part of the present invention.

[0027] [Second Embodiment: Configuration] Next, with reference to Figures 10 and 12, the configuration of the wind noise reduction member 10A according to the second embodiment will be described in detail. The wind noise reduction member 10A according to this embodiment also has a mounting portion 12 and a protruding portion 14, similar to the wind noise reduction member 10 according to the first embodiment described above. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings for parts that have the same function, and detailed explanations will be omitted. In this embodiment, the carrier bar 52 is one that has a cross-section that approximates an ellipse shape, as shown in Figure 12, a so-called aero shape.

[0028] The differences between the wind noise reduction member 10A according to this embodiment and the wind noise reduction member 10 according to the first embodiment lie in the constituent materials and the form of the mounting portion 12. Specifically, the constituent material of the wind noise reduction member 10 according to this embodiment is harder and more springy than the constituent material of the wind noise reduction member 10 according to the first embodiment. Examples of specific constituent materials include PP (polypropylene) and ASA (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate).

[0029] Furthermore, the mounting portion 12 of the wind noise reduction member 10A according to this embodiment has a notch 16. As described above, the wind noise reduction member 10A according to this embodiment is made of a springy material. Therefore, by bending the mounting portion 12, the notch 16 can be expanded and attached to the carrier bar 52. Accordingly, the mounting portion 12 of the wind noise reduction member 10A according to this embodiment is shaped to conform to the outer circumference of the carrier bar 52 and has a notch 16. Specifically, it has a contact portion that covers the lower half 52a and the upper shoulder portion 52b of the carrier bar 52, and a notch 16 that is a non-contact portion on a part of the upper surface of the carrier bar 52.

[0030] The protruding portion 14 has a base end at a position that becomes the lower end of the mounting portion 12 when locked, and is shaped like an inverted triangle that tapers towards the tip, and is formed along the width direction of the mounting portion 12.

[0031] [Function and Effects] As shown in Figure 13, the wind noise reduction member 10A with this configuration covers the lower half 52a of the carrier bar 52 by bending and elastically deforming the mounting portion 12 so as to expand the notch portion 16. Next, as shown in Figure 14, one end of the mounting portion 12, which is divided by the notch portion 16, is engaged with the shoulder portion 52b of the carrier bar 52. From the state shown in Figure 14, the mounting portion 12 is further pushed onto the carrier bar 52, causing the mounting portion 12 to engage with the other shoulder portion 52b. At this point, because the mounting portion 12 is elastically deformed, the expanded notch portion 16 returns to its original shape as it passes through the shoulder portion 52b of the carrier bar 52, returning to a shape that conforms to the outer circumferential surface of the carrier bar 52.

[0032] The wind noise reduction member 10A installed in this manner, like the wind noise reduction member 10 according to the first embodiment, can create turbulence in the wind that enters between the roof carrier 50 (see Figure 7) and the roof when the vehicle is in motion, thereby suppressing noise. Furthermore, the wind noise reduction member 10 with the above configuration can be attached and detached without removing the carrier bar 52 from the roof carrier 50.

[0033] Furthermore, the wind noise reduction member 10A is secured to the carrier bar 52 by a mounting portion 12 which has two or more contact points and a non-contact portion provided by a notch 16. Therefore, the position of the wind noise reduction member 10A relative to the carrier bar 52 can be freely changed.

[0034] Furthermore, the wind noise reduction member 10A according to the above embodiment produces a noise suppression effect by generating turbulence in the wind entering between the roof carrier 50 and the roof, depending on its shape. For this reason, if it is possible to generate turbulence in the wind entering between the roof carrier and the roof by adjusting the thickness of the mounting portion 12, etc., the protruding portion 14 can be omitted, as shown in Figure 16.

[0035] 10, 10A... Wind noise reduction member, 12... Mounting part, 12a... Closed space, 12b... Telescopic part, 14... Protruding part, 16... Notch part, 50... Roof carrier, 52... Carrier bar, 52a... Lower half part, 52b... Shoulder part.

Claims

1. A wind noise reducing member for reducing wind noise caused by a roof carrier attached to the roof of a vehicle, wherein the member is flexible and has a mounting portion that allows it to bend and engage with the outer circumference of one of the carrier bars constituting the roof carrier, and the mounting portion has two or more contact points and non-contact points between itself and the outer surface of the carrier bar.

2. The wind noise reduction member according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting portion constitutes a closed space, and by elastically deforming the closed space, a space through which the carrier bar can be inserted is formed.

3. The wind noise reducing member according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting portion is a resin spring having a notch, and the mounting is achieved by expanding the notch.

4. The wind noise reduction member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outer circumference of the mounting portion has a projection with a resistance surface in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the carrier bar.

5. The wind noise reducing member according to claim 4, characterized in that the protruding portion is formed such that its base end is wider than its tip end, with the cross-sectional shape being mountain-shaped.

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