Cowl cover device

Abstract

A cowl cover device (16) comprises: a cowl cover (21) that is attached to an edge (14a) of a windshield (14); and a support body (22) that is a body separate from the cowl cover (21), is attached to the cowl cover (21), and supports the windshield (14). The cowl cover (21) includes a cover portion (25) which covers the edge (14a) from the front surface side of the windshield (14). The support body (22) includes: an elastically deformable fixed part (51) that is fixed to the cowl cover (21); and a support part (52) that comes into abutment with the edge (14a) from the rear surface side of the windshield (14), and elastically holds the windshield (14) between the support part and the cover portion (25) side due to elastic deformation of the fixed part (51).

Description

Cowl Cover Device

[0001] The present invention relates to a cowl cover device including a cowl cover attached to an end portion of a windshield.

[0002] There is a cowl top cover disposed in a so-called cowl portion between the front end portion of the windshield of an automobile and the rear side portion of the bonnet hood. The cowl top cover covers the cowl portion to improve the appearance. The cowl top cover includes a plate-like cover main body portion that covers the cowl portion. The rear end portion of the cover main body portion is attached to the front end portion of the windshield, and the lower front side of the cover main body portion is attached to the vehicle body. A seal member is attached to the upper front side of the cover main body portion, and this seal member is in close contact with the lower surface of the rear end of the bonnet hood in a closed state to block hot air and odors from the engine room.

[0003] As such a cowl cover device, a plurality of clips, for example, separate from the cowl top cover, are attached to the rear end portion of the cover main body portion of the cowl top cover, and a configuration is known in which the front end portion of the windshield is clamped vertically between these clips and the cover main body portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] However, in this configuration, a gap may occur between the clip and the windshield depending on variations in the thickness of the windshield.

[0005] In this regard, a structure is known in which an elastically deformable support portion that directly supports the windshield is integrally provided at the rear end portion of the cover main body portion (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and Patent Document 3).

[0006] However, when the windshield is directly supported by an elastically deformable support, the support may deform over time due to vibrations and heat during driving, or the weight of the windshield. This deformation can remain, potentially creating a gap between the windshield and the cover body. Therefore, to prevent abnormal noises (low-pitched noises) from being generated by the repeated momentary contact and separation of the windshield and the cover body due to vibrations, it is necessary to cover the contact area with the windshield using expensive materials such as adhesive tape (e.g., Teflon® tape).

[0007] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-167952, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-83593, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-262763

[0008] As mentioned above, there is a need to suppress the generation of abnormal noise in cowl cover devices inexpensively and over the long term.

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a cowl cover device that can suppress the generation of abnormal noises inexpensively and over a long period of time.

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention provides a cowl cover device comprising: a cowl cover attached to the edge of a windshield; and a support body separate from the cowl cover, attached to the cowl cover, and supporting the windshield. The cowl cover includes a covering portion that covers the edge of the windshield from the surface side of the windshield. The support body includes an elastically deformable fixing portion fixed to the cowl cover; and a support portion that abuts against the edge of the windshield from the back side of the windshield and elastically clamps the windshield between itself and the covering portion due to the elastic deformation of the fixing portion.

[0011] With the above configuration, even if there are variations in the dimensions of the windshield, deterioration or thermal deformation occurs over time in the cowl cover, or vibrations occur during driving, the elastic deformation of the fixing part allows the support part to maintain contact with the windshield for a long period of time without the use of separate parts. Therefore, the generation of abnormal noise caused by momentary contact and separation between the support part and the windshield can be suppressed inexpensively and over a long period of time.

[0012] The cowl cover includes a receiving portion that opens towards the windshield, and the fixing portion includes a fixing portion main body that is inserted into the receiving portion and fixed to the receiving portion, and an elastic portion that is located above the fixing portion main body with a space between it and the fixing portion main body, is elastically deformable in the vertical direction relative to the fixing portion main body, and has an end portion that extends from the receiving portion, and the support portion may be provided protruding from the end side of the elastic portion.

[0013] According to the above configuration, the support is fixed by inserting the main body of the fixing part into a receiving part that opens on the windshield side of the cowl cover, and a support part is provided projecting from the end of the elastic part that extends above the main body of the fixing part, with a space between them. This makes it easy to firmly fix the support to the cowl cover while maintaining the state in which the support part abuts the windshield by elastically deforming in the vertical direction relative to the main body of the fixing part.

[0014] The fixing portion may include a restricting portion that protrudes from at least one of the fixing portion body and the elastic portion toward the other, and restricts the vertical elastic deformation range of the elastic portion relative to the fixing portion body.

[0015] According to the above configuration, the restricting part restricts the vertical elastic deformation range of the elastic part relative to the main body of the fixed part, preventing the elastic part from deforming more elastically than necessary relative to the main body of the fixed part. This prevents the support part from separating from the windshield, and the generation of abnormal noise can be suppressed for a longer period of time.

[0016] The fixing portion may be located above the elastic portion and may include a contact portion that is inserted into the receiving portion and comes into contact with the inner surface of the receiving portion.

[0017] According to the above configuration, the contact area between the fixing part and the receiving part is increased by the fixing part body and contact part, making it less likely for the support to detach from the cowl cover.

[0018] The fixing portion may include a connecting portion that connects the fixing portion body and the elastic portion.

[0019] According to the above configuration, the fixing part can be easily attached to the receiving part, and the strength of the fixing part can be improved.

[0020] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the cowl cover device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, at a position corresponding to line I-I in Figure 5, when it is not attached to the windshield. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cowl cover device according to Figure 1, at a position corresponding to line I-I in Figure 5, showing one example of it being attached to the windshield. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cowl cover device according to Figure 1, at a position corresponding to line I-I in Figure 5, showing another example of it being attached to the windshield. Figure 4 is a view of the cowl cover device according to Figure 1, as seen from arrow A in Figure 5. Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the cowl cover of the cowl cover device according to Figure 1. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a vehicle equipped with the cowl cover device according to Figure 1. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cowl cover device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when it is not attached to the windshield. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cowl cover device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, when it is not attached to the windshield.

[0021] The configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0022] In Figure 6, 10 represents the body of a vehicle, an automobile. On the body 10, a cowl cover device 16 is positioned in the cowl portion 15 between the hood 12, which is a mating member covering the engine compartment 11, and the windshield 14, which is a windshield located at the front of the passenger compartment 13. Hereafter, directions such as front / rear, up / down, and both sides will be explained based on the straight-ahead direction of the body 10. In the figure, the direction of arrow F is the front, the direction of arrow R is the rear, the direction of arrow U is up, the direction of arrow D is down, and the direction of arrow W is the sideways direction, which is the width direction of the vehicle.

[0023] The cowl section 15, also known as an airbox, is formed in a trough shape with an open top, using a cowl top panel (not shown) as a body component, for example, made of sheet metal. The cowl section 15 is connected to the air intake section of an air conditioning system (not shown) that introduces outside air into the passenger compartment 13. On the left side of the cowl section 15, a motor that drives the wiper arm of a wiper (not shown) is located.

[0024] The hood 12 is a bonnet hood located at the front of the vehicle body 10 that covers the engine compartment 11 in an openable and closable manner. Although not shown in the figure, the hood 12 is formed either as a single unit or as separate parts, consisting of an outer hood portion located on the outside, i.e., the upper side when closed, and an inner hood portion located inside the outer hood portion, i.e., the lower side when closed, with a small gap between them.

[0025] The cowl cover device 16 includes a cowl top cover 21, which is a cowl cover that covers the cowl portion 15. The cowl cover device 16 also includes a clip 22, which is a separate support that is attached to the cowl top cover 21.

[0026] The cowl top cover 21 shown in Figures 1 to 6 takes an appropriate shape depending on the shape of the engine compartment 11 and hood 12, and the arrangement of the wipers. The cowl top cover 21 is formed in a long, roughly plate-like shape with its longitudinal direction running along both sides of the vehicle body 10, i.e., the vehicle width direction, using, for example, a hard synthetic resin, to cover the upper part of the cowl portion 15, i.e., the cowl top panel, and improve the appearance (Figure 5). In other words, the cowl top cover 21 is formed to extend in the vehicle width direction. The cowl top cover 21 has a covering portion 25 that covers the front edge portion 14a, which is the edge of the windshield 14. The cowl top cover 21 has a drainage gutter portion 26. The cowl top cover 21 has a receiving portion 27 to which a clip 22 is attached. The cowl top cover 21 has an opposing portion 31 that faces the lower part of the hood 12. The cowl top cover 21 has a vertical wall portion 32 that serves as a partition wall between the cowl portion 15 and the engine compartment 11. The cowl top cover 21 is equipped with a body mounting portion 33 that is supported on the vehicle body 10 side. The cowl top cover 21 is equipped with a rib 34 that serves as a cover reinforcement portion. The cowl top cover 21 may have a grid-like air intake 35, also called an air intake, that allows outside air to be introduced into the cowl portion 15, and multiple wiper pivot holes 36, which are circular holes through which the wiper shaft passes (Figure 5). The cowl top cover 21 covers the cowl portion 15 above the cowl top panel at the position of the front edge 14a of the windshield 14, thereby dividing the space between the hood 12 and the cowl portion 15, i.e., between the engine compartment 11 and the cowl portion 15.

[0027] The covering portion 25 is the rear edge portion of the cowl top cover 21, which is the edge on the windshield 14 side. The covering portion 25 is formed, for example, in a plate shape and extends in the vehicle width direction. The rear edge side, which is the leading edge side of the covering portion 25, is a lip portion 25a that elastically contacts the surface of the windshield 14. A sealing member 38 is attached to the lower side, which is the rear side of the covering portion 25.

[0028] The sealing member 38 is elastically sandwiched between the upper side, which is the surface side of the front edge 14a of the windshield 14, and the lower side, which is the rear side of the cowl top cover 21, thereby closing the gap between the windshield 14 and the cowl top cover 21. In Figures 2 and 3, the shape of the sealing member 38 when no external force is applied is shown by dashed lines.

[0029] The gutter section 26 separates the water channel between the cover section 25 and the cowl top cover 21, guiding water that has entered below the cowl top cover 21 to relatively lower positions such as both ends in the vehicle width direction. The gutter section 26 is bent in an L-shape and protrudes from the rear side of the cover section 25 toward the rear side, which is the windshield 14 side. The gutter section 26 separates the insertion space 39 between the cover section 25 and the cover section 25 into which the front edge 14a of the windshield 14 is inserted.

[0030] The receiving portion 27 is divided in a U-shape in cross-section by a gutter portion 26 and a partition portion 41 protruding from the gutter portion 26. The receiving portions 27 are formed at multiple locations, for example, spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction. These receiving portions 27 open on the rear side, which is the windshield 14 side, and the clips 22 are inserted and fixed from the rear. Each of these receiving portions 27 has a reinforcing portion 42 formed on the front side, which is opposite to the mounting side of the clip 22. Each of these receiving portions 27 has a locking portion 43 formed as a receiving portion-side fixing portion for locking and fixing the clip 22.

[0031] The compartment 41 is formed by bending in an L-shape from the lower part of the gutter 26 toward the rear side, which is the windshield 14 side. The compartment 41 integrally includes a protruding part 45, which is a wall portion that protrudes downward from the lower part, which is the rear side of the gutter 26, and an extending part 46 that extends from the protruding part 45 toward the rear side, which is the windshield 14 side.

[0032] The protruding portion 45 is a stopper portion against which the clip 22 inserted into the receiving portion 27 abuts. The protruding portion 45 is a restricting wall portion that restricts the insertion position (insertion amount) of the clip 22 into the receiving portion 27.

[0033] The extension portion 46 is formed parallel (including approximately parallel) to the gutter portion 26. A locking portion 43 is formed on the extension portion 46.

[0034] The reinforcing portion 42 is, for example, a rib, and is formed on the back surface of the cowl top cover 21, extending from the gutter portion 26 to the partition portion 41 (protruding portion 45).

[0035] In this embodiment, the locking portion 43 is a hole formed by penetrating the extension portion 46 in the vertical direction, which is the thickness direction.

[0036] The opposing portion 31 shown in Figure 5 is located on the upper front side of the cowl top cover 21. The opposing portion 31 is, for example, elongated in the vehicle width direction and plate-shaped along the front-rear direction. A hood seal (not shown) is attached to the upper part of the opposing portion 31, which is pressed against the lower rear surface of the hood 12 shown in Figure 6. This hood seal adheres to the hood 12 in a liquid-tight manner when it is closed, thereby blocking hot air and odors from the engine compartment 11.

[0037] The vertical wall portion 32 shown in Figure 5 is located on the front side of the cowl top cover 21 and branches downward from the opposing portion 31, protruding from it. That is, the vertical wall portion 32 is located on the lower front side of the cowl top cover 21. The vertical wall portion 32 is formed in a plate shape along the vertical direction and is longitudinal in the vehicle width direction, dividing the space between the cowl portion 15 shown in Figure 6 and the engine room 11. That is, the vertical wall portion 32 shown in Figure 5 is located adjacent to the engine room 11 shown in Figure 6 and is interposed between the engine room 11 and the cowl portion 15.

[0038] The vehicle body mounting portion 33 shown in Figure 5 is formed at the lower end of the vertical wall portion 32. The vehicle body mounting portion 33 is formed as a substantially horizontal plate that is placed on and supported on the vehicle body side member. Although not shown, the vehicle body mounting portion 33 has multiple mounting parts such as mounting holes and is fixed to the vehicle body side member using fasteners such as rivets.

[0039] Multiple ribs 34 are arranged in the vehicle width direction, for example, along the front surface of the vertical wall portion 32, that is, along the vertical direction toward the engine room 11 side as shown in Figure 6.

[0040] On the other hand, the clips 22 shown in Figures 1 to 4 support the windshield 14. The clips 22 are attached to and fixed to each receiving portion 27 of the cowl top cover 21. Each clip 22 has an elastically deformable fixing portion 51 that is fixed to the cowl top cover 21. Each clip 22 has a support portion 52 that abuts against the front edge 14a of the windshield 14 from the lower side, which is the back side.

[0041] The fixing part 51 is the base part that forms the lower part of the clip 22. The fixing part 51 comprises a fixing part body 55, an elastic part 56, and a restricting part 57. The fixing part 51 is the part that is inserted into the receiving part 27 from the rear and fixed.

[0042] The main body portion 55 of the fixing part constitutes the lower side surface of the fixing part 51. When the fixing part 51 is fixed to the receiving part 27, the main body portion 55 of the fixing part contacts the lower inner surface of the receiving part 27, i.e., the partition portion 41 (protruding portion 45 and extended portion 46). The main body portion 55 of the fixing part has a locking portion 55a formed thereon as a support-side fixing part. The locking portion 55a is to be locked to the locking portion 43, and in this embodiment, it is provided as a claw-shaped projection from the lower part of the main body portion 55. In this embodiment, the locking portion 55a is provided as a projection on the clip 22 (fixing part 51) side and the locking portion 43, which is a hole, is formed on the cowl top cover 21 (receiving part 27) side, however, the locking portion 43 on the cowl top cover 21 (receiving part 27) side may be claw-shaped and the locking portion 55a on the clip 22 (fixing part 51) side may be a hole.

[0043] The elastic part 56 has a space part (slit part) 59 between it and the fixed part main body part 55, is located above the fixed part main body part 55, and is formed to be elastically deformable in the vertical direction relative to the fixed part main body part 55. The elastic part 56 is formed in a plate shape. The front end part side, which is the base end part with respect to the fixed part main body part 55, is fixed, and the rear end part 56a side, which is the end part (tip end part), is in a free end state. The front end part side of the elastic part 56 is in contact with the upper inner surface of the receiving part 27, that is, the lower part of the gutter part 26. The rear end part 56a side of the elastic part 56 extends rearward with respect to the receiving part 27 and is located there. For this reason, the support part 52 continuous with the rear end part 56a side of the elastic part 56 is located behind the receiving part 27. The elastic part 56 is gradually inclined upward from the front end part toward the rear end part 56a. For this reason, the space part 59 between the elastic part 56 and the fixed part main body part 55 is formed to gradually become wider vertically from the front side to the rear side.

[0044] The restricting part 57 restricts the vertical elastic deformation range of the elastic part 56 relative to the fixed part main body part 55. The restricting part 57 protrudes from at least one of the fixed part main body part 55 and the elastic part 56 toward the other. In the present embodiment, the restricting part 57 protrudes from the elastic part 56 toward the fixed part main body part 55. The restricting part 57 protrudes at a position behind the support part 52 at the rear end part 56a of the elastic part 56. For this reason, the restricting part 57 is located in the space part 59.

[0045] The support portion 52, also called the glass engagement portion, abuts against the front edge portion 14a of the windshield 14 from the back side and elastically holds the windshield 14 between itself and the cover portion 25 due to the elastic deformation of the fixing portion 51. The support portion 52 is formed in a pin shape (columnar shape) along the vertical direction. The support portion 52 is formed to be narrow in the vehicle width direction, and its vertical dimension is set to be larger than its horizontal dimension. The lower end of the support portion 52 is connected to the fixing portion 51, and its upper end, which is the tip, is a free end. That is, the support portion 52 protrudes upward relative to the fixing portion 51. Specifically, the support portion 52 protrudes upward from the rear end portion 56a of the elastic portion 56 of the fixing portion 51, which extends to the rear from the receiving portion 27. The upper end of the support portion 52, which contacts the lower surface side, which is the back side of the windshield 14, is spherical and is formed to gradually narrow upward. Therefore, the support portion 52 is formed to make point-like contact with the windshield 14. The support portion 52 is located below the sealing member 38. That is, the upper end of the support portion 52 is positioned opposite the sealing member 38 and away from the sealing member 38. The support portion 52 itself is a rigid body and is able to maintain its shape so as not to deform (or hardly deform) under the load of the windshield 14.

[0046] When assembling the cowl cover device 16, clips 22 are attached to each of the receiving portions 27 of the pre-molded cowl top cover 21. The clips 22 are aligned with the receiving portions 27, and when the fixing portion 51 is inserted from the rear of the receiving portion 27, the fixing portion body 55 moves forward into the receiving portion 27 along the extension portion 46 of the compartment portion 41, and the locking portion 55a comes into contact with the extension portion 46, causing the fixing portion body 55 to elastically deform upward. When the locking portion 55a moves to the position of the locking portion 43, the fixing portion body 55 deforms back and engages with the locking portion 43, thereby fixing it to the receiving portion 27. In this state, the fixing portion body 55 comes into contact with the compartment portion 41 (protruding portion 45 and extension portion 46), and the front end side of the elastic portion 56 comes into contact with the gutter portion 26.

[0047] And in the state before the assembly of the cowl cover device 16 shown in FIG. 1 (the state where no load is applied to the clip 22), the gap G between the covering portion 25 and the upper end portion of the support portion 52 of the clip 22 is smaller than the plate thickness (thickness) t of the windshield 14 (front edge portion 14a). That is, the position of the upper end portion of the support portion 52 is set to interfere with the windshield 14.

[0048] In this state, when the cowl cover device 16 is attached to the vehicle body 10, when the front edge portion 14a of the windshield 14 is pushed in so as to be sandwiched between the lip portion 25a of the covering portion 25 of the cowl top cover 21 and the upper end portion of the support portion 52 of each clip 22, the lip portion 25a of the covering portion 25 is elastically deformed upward due to contact with the surface of the windshield 14, and the support portion 52 of each clip 22 is pushed downward due to contact with the back surface of the windshield 14, and the rear end portion 56a side of the elastic portion 56 of the fixing portion 51 connected to the lower end portion of this support portion 52 elastically deforms downward so as to narrow the space portion 59 (the difference between the gap G and the plate thickness t), and a biasing force is generated to press the support portion 52 upward, that is, against the back surface of the windshield 14 (FIG. 2). The sealing member 38 is sandwiched between the back side of the covering portion 25 of the cowl top cover 21 and the surface of the windshield 14 and deformed to close the gap between the covering portion 25 and the surface of the windshield 14. For this reason, it is possible to prevent water from entering the passenger compartment 13 or the like, and in the state where the hood 12 is closed, the hood seal is deformed to adhere to the hood 12, shielding the hot air and odors from the engine room 11 and preventing them from being taken into the passenger compartment 13 from the air intake 35.

[0049] That is, even if there are variations in the plate thickness t of the windshield 14 or the like, the support portion 52 follows the position of the back surface of the windshield 14 due to the elastic deformation of the fixing portion 51 (elastic portion 56) of the clip 22. At this time, since the support portion 52 itself is a rigid body, deformation or breakage does not occur due to the assembly load.

[0050] In this assembled state, the elasticity of the lip portion 25a of the covering portion 25 of the cowl top cover 21 and the fixing portion 51 (elastic portion 56) of the clip 22 applies a substantially constant load to the windshield 14. As a result, the gap between the covering portion 25 and the upper end of the support portion 52 of the clip 22 is kept substantially constant, and the amount of deformation of the fixing portion 51 (elastic portion 56) and the lip portion 25a is similarly restricted. This prevents gaps from forming between the covering portion 25 (lip portion 25a) and the surface of the windshield 14, and between the back surface of the windshield 14 and the support portion 52. In other words, the elastic deformation of the fixing portion 51 of the clip 22 allows the support portion 52 to follow dimensional changes due to vibrations during driving or variations in the thickness t of the windshield 14, maintaining the assembled state.

[0051] Furthermore, even if the gap between the gutter section 26 (compartment section 41) and the cover section 25 (the opening of the insertion space section 39) widens due to variations in the thickness t of the windshield 14, vibrations during driving, thermal deformation of the cowl top cover 21, or deterioration over time, causing the position of the support section 52 to change, the restricting section 57 contacts the main body section 55 of the fixing section to suppress elastic deformation exceeding a certain level, thereby maintaining the state in which the windshield 14 and the support section 52 are in contact (Figure 3).

[0052] As described above, according to this embodiment, a clip 22, which is formed separately from the cowl top cover 21, is attached to the cowl top cover 21 which is attached to the front edge 14a of the windshield 14. The clip 22 comprises an elastically deformable fixing portion 51 that is fixed to the cowl top cover 21, and a support portion 52 that abuts the front edge 14a of the windshield 14 from the back side. The support portion 52 elastically clamps the windshield 14 between itself and the covering portion 25 of the cowl top cover 21 due to the elastic deformation of the fixing portion 51. Therefore, even if there are variations in the dimensions of the windshield 14, or if the cowl top cover 21 deteriorates over time or undergoes thermal deformation, or if vibrations occur during driving, the elastic deformation of the fixing portion 51 allows the support portion 52 to maintain contact with the windshield 14 for a long period of time. Therefore, the generation of abnormal noises (low-frequency noises) caused by the momentary contact and separation between the support part 52 and the windshield 14 can be suppressed inexpensively and over a long period of time.

[0053] In this embodiment, the support portion 52 that directly contacts the windshield 14 is a rigid body, and a biasing force (reaction force) is applied to the support portion 52 by the elastic deformation of the fixing portion 51, which is located away from the windshield 14. Therefore, deformation of the support portion 52 over time due to the load of the windshield 14 can be suppressed, and the support portion 52 and the windshield 14 can maintain contact over a long period of time. In addition, since the support portion 52 contacts the windshield 14 at a substantially constant position, the biasing force applied from the support portion 52 to the windshield 14 by the elastic deformation of the fixing portion 51 can be stabilized.

[0054] The clip 22 is fixed by inserting the main body portion 55 of the fixing portion 51 into the receiving portion 27 which is open on the rear side of the cowl top cover 21, on the windshield 14 side. The support portion 52 is provided projecting from the rear end 56a of the elastic portion 56, which is located above the main body portion 55 and has a space 59 between it and the main body portion 55, and extends toward the receiving portion 27. This makes it easy to firmly fix the clip 22 to the cowl top cover 21 while the elastic portion 56 elastically deforms vertically relative to the main body portion 55, thereby maintaining the support portion 52 in contact with the rear side of the windshield 14.

[0055] The restricting portion 57 restricts the vertical elastic deformation range of the elastic portion 56 relative to the fixed portion body 55, preventing the support portion 52 from separating from the windshield 14 due to excessive elastic deformation of the elastic portion 56 relative to the fixed portion body 55. As a result, abnormal noises (low-frequency noises) generated by contact between the support portion 52 and the windshield 14 due to vibrations or other factors while the support portion 52 and the windshield 14 are separated can be suppressed for a longer period of time.

[0056] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 7. Note that components and operations similar to those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0057] In the second embodiment, a contact portion 61 is formed above the elastic portion 56 in the fixing portion 51 of the clip 22 of the first embodiment described above.

[0058] The contact portion 61 is located on the opposite side of the fixing portion body 55 from the elastic portion 56 and constitutes the upper surface of the fixing portion 51. The contact portion 61 is connected to the front end of the fixing portion body 55 and is formed in a plate shape substantially parallel to the elastic portion 56 and the fixing portion body 55. Therefore, when the clip 22 is attached to the receiving portion 27, at least the upper, lower, and front portions of the fixing portion 51 are in planar contact with the inner surface of the receiving portion 27.

[0059] In this way, by forming the contact portion 61, which is inserted into the receiving portion 27 and contacts the inner surface of the receiving portion 27, above the elastic portion 56, the area in which the fixing portion 51 contacts the receiving portion 27 is increased by the fixing portion body portion 55 and the contact portion 61. In other words, substantially the entire outer surface of the fixing portion 51 can be brought into contact with the inner surface of the receiving portion 27, making it more difficult for the clip 22 (fixing portion 51) to come off the cowl top cover 21 (receiving portion 27).

[0060] In other words, in this embodiment, the contact portion 61 and the main body portion 55 of the fixing portion each contact the inner surface of the receiving portion 27, and the elastic portion 56 is located between these contact portions 61 and the main body portion 55 of the fixing portion. Therefore, even if the elastic portion 56 elastically deforms vertically, the contact area between the fixing portion 51 and the inner surface of the receiving portion 27 does not change, and the clip 22 (fixing portion 51) can be kept in a state that is less likely to come off the cowl top cover 21 (receiving portion 27).

[0061] Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 8. Note that components and operations similar to those in the above embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0062] In the third embodiment, the fixing portion 51 of the clip 22 of the first embodiment is connected to the main body portion 55 of the fixing portion and the rear end portion 56a of the elastic portion 56 by a connecting portion 64.

[0063] The connecting portion 64, together with the main body portion 55 and the elastic portion 56, gives the fixing portion 51 a box-like shape, that is, a closed shape on the front, back and top and bottom. The connecting portion 64 is formed to protrude outward from the space portion 59. That is, when the elastic portion 56 deforms, the connecting portion 64 does not enter between the space portions 59, but remains outside the space portions 59.

[0064] Furthermore, by connecting the main body portion 55 and the elastic portion 56 with the connecting portion 64, the fixing portion 51 can be easily attached to the receiving portion 27, and the strength of the fixing portion 51 can be improved by making it box-shaped, making it less susceptible to damage.

[0065] Furthermore, the connecting portion 64 of the third embodiment can also be applied to the second embodiment.

[0066] In each of the embodiments described above, the restricting portion 57 is not an essential component, and the relative vertical elastic deformation range of the elastic portion 56 with respect to the fixed portion body 55 can also be restricted by the distance of the space 59 between the fixed portion body 55 and the elastic portion 56.

[0067] The configuration for fixing the clip 22 to the receiving portion 27 may involve not only engagement between the locking portion 43 and the locking portion 55a, but also, for example, a projection on one side and a recess or notch on the other side, with the clip being fixed by fitting or press-fitting between the projection and the recess or notch. In other words, any configuration other than those described in the embodiments above can be used to fix the clip 22 to the receiving portion 27.

[0068] The cowl top cover 21 is provided on parts of the vehicle body 10 other than the front, and can be positioned to cover, for example, the cowl portion between the rear glass, which serves as a windshield, and the (rear) compartment.

[0069] The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-206030 (Filing Date: November 27, 2024) are incorporated herein by reference.

[0070] 14 Windshield as a windshield 14a Front edge as the edge 16 Cowl cover device 21 Cowl top cover as the cowl cover 22 Clip as the support 25 Covering part 27 Receiving part 51 Fixing part 52 Support part 55 Fixing part main body 56 Elastic part 56a Rear end as the end 57 Regulating part 59 Space 61 Contact part 64 Connecting part

Claims

1. A cowl cover device comprising: a cowl cover attached to the edge of a windshield; and a support body separate from the cowl cover and attached to the cowl cover for supporting the windshield, wherein the cowl cover includes a covering portion that covers the edge of the windshield from the surface side of the windshield; and the support body includes an elastically deformable fixing portion fixed to the cowl cover; and a support portion that abuts the edge of the windshield from the back side of the windshield and elastically clamps the windshield between itself and the covering portion due to the elastic deformation of the fixing portion.

2. The cowl cover device according to claim 1, wherein the cowl cover includes a receiving portion that opens toward the windshield side, the fixing portion includes a fixing portion main body that is inserted into the receiving portion and fixed to the receiving portion, and an elastic portion that is located above the fixing portion main body with a space between it and the fixing portion main body, is elastically deformable in the vertical direction relative to the fixing portion main body, and has an end portion that extends toward the receiving portion, and the support portion is provided protruding toward the end portion of the elastic portion.

3. The cowl cover device according to claim 2, wherein the fixing portion is provided to protrude from at least one of the fixing portion body and the elastic portion toward the other, and includes a restricting portion that restricts the vertical elastic deformation range of the elastic portion relative to the fixing portion body.

4. The cowl cover device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the fixing portion is located above the elastic portion and includes a contact portion that is inserted into the receiving portion and contacts the inner surface of the receiving portion.

5. The cowl cover device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the fixing portion includes a connecting portion that connects the fixing portion main body and the elastic portion.

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