Vehicle front assembly, method for assembling thereof, and vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle front assembly, comprising a bumper soft nose, a connecting bracket and a headlamp, the bumper soft nose having an elongate shape and comprising an end portion in its length direction, wherein the connecting bracket is provided between the end portion of the bumper soft nose and the headlamp, the connecting bracket is fixedly connected to the headlamp, and the end portion of the bumper soft nose is fixedly connected to the connecting bracket. By providing the connecting bracket, thereby eliminating the need to extend the two ends of the bumper soft nose for direct connection to the vehicle sheet metal, the fixing structure is simple and easy to install, which ensures the rigidity of the bumper soft nose at the front corner of the vehicle and can also satisfy the vehicle's styling requirements.

Description

VEHICLE FRONT ASSEMBLY, METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THEREOF, AND VEHICLERELATED FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of vehicle components, and more particularly, to a vehicle front assembly comprising a bumper soft nose, a method for assembling thereof and a vehicle.BACKGROUND

[0002] With the increasing number of vehicles on the roads, pedestrian safety has drawn considerable attention. Most pedestrian collision accidents involve moving vehicles. In such accidents, a standing or walking pedestrian is struck by the front of a vehicle and accelerated almost instantly to match the vehicle speed, and then continues to move forward due to the vehicle’s braking. During the process, the front or front edge of the vehicle often strikes the upper leg of the pedestrian, such as the thigh or pelvic region, resulting in serious limb injury. In order to reduce injury when the vehicle accidentally collides with a pedestrian, some vehicles are equipped with elongated plastic components in front of the hood, referred to as “soft nose” of the bumper. The design of the bumper soft nose aims to provide buffering and reduce the impact on pedestrians during collision, and its working area usually extends from the front end of the vehicle to the left and right sides until the position above the headlamps.

[0003] However, in the prior art, in order to realize the fixed installation of the bumper soft nose, it is often necessary to extend the bumper soft nose from the front end of the vehicle to the left and right sides beyond the headlamps, so as to be connected to the vehicle sheet metal, for instance. Although this method ensures the fixation of the bumper soft nose, it cannot meet the styling requirements of some vehicles. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new technical solution that can not only realize the fixed installation of the bumper soft nose, but also ensure the rigidity of the left and right ends of the bumper soft nose while maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle.SUMMARY

[0004] In view of the above issues, the present disclosure provides a vehicle front assembly, a method for assembling thereof and a vehicle, which can realize the fixed installation of the bumper soft nose, ensure the rigidity of the bumper soft nose at the front corner of the vehicle,1NTD215445and concurrently satisfying the vehicle’s styling requirements.

[0005] To this end, a first aspect of the present disclosure provides a vehicle front assembly, comprising a bumper soft nose, a connecting bracket and a headlamp, the bumper soft nose having an elongate shape and comprising an end portion in its length direction, wherein the connecting bracket is provided between the end portion of the bumper soft nose and the headlamp, wherein the connecting bracket is fixedly connected to the headlamp, and the end portion of the bumper soft nose is fixedly connected to the connecting bracket.

[0006] According to the above technical concept, the present disclosure may further include any one or more of the following alternative forms.

[0007] According to some alternative forms, the connecting bracket has a sheet-like structure adapted to the shape of the headlamp to be substantially fitted with the headlamp.

[0008] According to some alternative forms, a plurality of stiffeners are provided in substantially parallel rows on a surface of the connecting bracket away from the headlamp.

[0009] According to some alternative forms, the connecting bracket is fixedly connected to the headlamp by means of at least two first screw connection portions spaced apart from each other.

[0010] According to some alternative forms, the headlamp is provided with at least one locating pin protruding towards the connecting bracket, and the connecting bracket is provided with at least one guiding slot adapted to the at least one locating pin.

[0011] According to some alternative forms, the bumper soft nose is provided with at least one clip protruding towards the connecting bracket, and the connecting bracket is provided with at least one snapping slot adapted to the at least one clip.

[0012] According to some alternative forms, the connecting bracket is further fixedly connected to the bumper soft nose by means of at least one second screw connection portion spaced apart from the at least one snapping slot.

[0013] A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for assembling the vehicle front assembly applied to the first aspect, wherein the method comprises following sequential steps: providing the bumper soft nose, the connecting bracket and the headlamp; fixedly connecting the connecting bracket to the headlamp; and fixedly connecting the bumper2NTD215445soft nose to the connecting bracket.

[0014] A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a vehicle comprising the vehicle front assembly according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0015] According to some alternative forms, the end portion of the bumper soft nose does not extend beyond the headlamp in a transverse direction of the vehicle.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the application of the vehicle front assembly and its assembly method according to the present disclosure has various beneficial effects, in particular: by providing the connecting bracket and fixedly connecting it to the headlamp, and then fixedly connecting the two ends of the bumper soft nose to the connecting bracket, which requires the two ends of the bumper soft nose need to be extended to be directly connected to the vehicle sheet metal, the fixedly connection of the short dimension bumper soft nose is realized, ensuring the strength and rigidity of the bumper soft nose at the front comer of the vehicle, and satisfying the vehicle’s styling requirements.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood through the following preferred embodiments described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar components.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a vehicle front assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a bumper soft nose of the vehicle front assembly.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a connecting bracket of the vehicle front assembly.

[0021] FIG. 4 is an assembly view of the connecting bracket of the vehicle front assembly and the headlamp.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic view taken along the section A- A of FIG. 1.3NTD215445

[0023] Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to the exact scale. It should be understood that these drawings are not only intended to explain and illustrate the present disclosure, but also contribute to the definition of the present disclosure if necessary.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The implementation and usage of the embodiments are discussed in detail below. However, it is understood that the specific embodiments discussed herein are merely intended to illustrate specific ways of implementing and using the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0025] The directional terms and positional terms in the present disclosure may be explained with reference to the exemplary structures shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. The terms “first”, “second”, etc. are used to describe various elements without intending to define the positional, temporal or importance relationship of these elements, and such terms are used only to distinguish one element from another. In the specification and the accompanying drawings, the “Z” direction corresponds to the vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane XY, the “Y” direction corresponds to the transverse direction of the vehicle (i.e., the width direction), and the “X” direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (i.e., the length direction).

[0026] The present disclosure aims to provide an improvement to the vehicle front assembly, by providing the connecting bracket and fixedly connecting it to the headlamp, and then fixedly connecting the two ends of the bumper soft nose to the connecting bracket, so as to realize the fixed installation of the bumper soft nose, thereby eliminating the need to extend the two ends of the bumper soft nose for direct connection to the vehicle sheet metal, resulting in a fixing structure that is simple and easy to install, which ensures the rigidity of the bumper soft nose at the front corner of the vehicle and can also satisfy the vehicle’s styling requirements.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a schematic structural view of a vehicle front assembly of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a reference structural schematic view of a bumper soft nose in FIG.1. The vehicle front assembly in FIG. 1 comprises a bumper soft nose 100, a headlight 200, and a connecting bracket 300(not shown in FIG. 1), and the bumper soft nose 100 has an elongated shape, extends from a front end of the vehicle to left and right sides, and comprises an end portion 110 in its length direction. In order to meet the vehicle’s styling requirements,4NTD215445the bumper soft nose 100 does not extend outward beyond the headlamp 200 in the Y direction, and the connecting bracket 300 is provided between the bumper soft nose 100 and the headlamp 200 in the Z direction. In the perspective shown in FIG. 1, the connecting bracket 300 is hidden behind the back of the bumper soft nose 100 thereby making the connecting bracket 300 invisible from the outside of the vehicle.

[0028] The headlamp 200 is fixedly connected to a vehicle sheet metal or other structures of the vehicle, and the connecting bracket 300 is fixedly connected to the headlamp 200 and the bumper soft nose 100, respectively. Those skilled in the art should know that, at both ends of the bumper soft nose 100 in the present disclosure, it is difficult to extend a sheet metal bracket from the vehicle body to be fixedly connected to the bumper soft nose 100, which affects the rigidity of the bumper soft nose 100 at the comer of the vehicle and affects the pedestrian safety during vehicle collisions. By providing the connecting bracket 300, the end portion 110 of the bumper soft nose 100 is fixedly connected to the connecting bracket 300, and the connecting bracket 300 is fixedly connected to the headlamp 200, the end portion 110 of the bumper soft nose 100 is fixed, thereby ensuring the rigidity of the bumper soft nose 100 at the comer of the vehicle, and also satisfying the vehicle’s styling requirements.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a connecting bracket 300, and the connecting bracket 300 is generally a sheet-like structure. Specifically, the connecting bracket 300 is provided with a plurality of stiffeners 330 on a surface away from the headlamp 200, and the plurality of stiffeners 330 are arranged in substantially parallel rows, for example. The connecting bracket 300 is made as lightweight as possible by its sheet-like structure, and its structural strength is enhanced by providing a plurality of stiffeners 330.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the headlamp 200 comprises a lens that is directly visible from the outside of the vehicle, as well as a housing 220, electronic components, etc. that are not directly visible from the outside of the vehicle. The sheet-like shape of the connecting bracket 300 is adapted to the shape of the housing 220 of the headlamp 200, so that the connecting bracket 300 substantially fits the housing 220 to save the arrangement space of the vehicle.

[0031] The connecting bracket 300 is fixedly connected to the lapping surface of the housing 220 of the headlamp 200 by means of at least two first screw connection portions 310 spaced apart from each other, and the at least two first screw connection portions 310 are arranged as widely apart as possible in the Y direction. The first screw connection portion 310 comprises a hole 311 on the connecting bracket 300 and a first screw 312. The screw is a metal member, which effectively ensures the connection strength between the connecting bracket 300 and the headlamp 200. In addition, the headlamp 200 is provided with at least one locating pin 210,5NTD215445for example two locating pins 210, as shown protruding towards the connecting bracket 300, and the connecting bracket 300 is provided with at least one guiding slot 320, for example two guiding slots 320 as shown, adapted to the corresponding locating pins 210. Preferably, the two locating pins 210 are arranged as widely apart as possible in the Y direction, positioned parallel to each other, and distributed in the X direction relative to the aforementioned at least two first screw connection portions 310 to ensure the connection strength between the connecting bracket 300 and the headlamp 200.

[0032] With reference to FIG. 2, 3, and 5, the bumper soft nose 100 is provided with at least one clip 120, for example two clips 120 as shown, protruding towards the connecting bracket 300, and each clip 120 could be pre-assembled on the bumper soft nose 100 in advance. The connecting bracket 300 is provided with at least one snapping slot 340, for example two snapping slots 340 as shown, adapted to the clips 120, the extension directions of the slot holes of the two snapping slots 340 are parallel to each other, and the two snapping slots 340 are spaced apart from each other in the Y direction. At least one second screw connection portion 350 is further provided between the bumper soft nose 100 and the connecting bracket 300, and the second screw connection portion 350 and the two snapping slots 340 are spaced apart from each other in the X direction. The second screw connection portion 350 comprises a boss hole 351 on the connecting bracket 300 and a second screw 352, the boss of the boss hole 351 protrudes towards the soft bumper nose 100. The distance between the connecting bracket 300 and the soft bumper nose 100 can be shortened by providing the boss, thereby avoiding the use of an excessively long second screw and enabling the connecting bracket 300 and the soft bumper nose 100 to be matched more closely and firmly. In order to further increase the fastening strength between the bumper soft nose 100 and the connecting bracket 300, the clips 120 are configured as metal clips. Preferably, the extension direction of the slot hole of the snapping slot 340 is in the XY plane, then the snap-fit direction of the clip 120 when the clip 120 is snapped with the snapping slot 340 is also disposed in the XY plane. Since the bumper soft nose 100 is part of the vehicle’s appearance surface, there are stringent requirements for its fitting and alignment after installation. The snap-fit direction of the clip and the snapping slot is restricted to the XY plane, which can facilitate the adjustment of the mold of the bumper soft nose in the pre-production phase of the vehicle, and facilitate the tuning of the mold. Similarly, the boss surface of the boss hole 351 is disposed within the XY plane, i.e., the extension direction of the second screw is disposed in the Z direction, which can facilitate the matching and adjustment of the installation position of the bumper soft nose 100.

[0033] The present disclosure also provides a method for assembling the vehicle front6NTD215445assembly as described above, comprising the following sequential steps: providing the bumper soft nose 100, the connecting bracket 300 and the headlamp 200; fixedly connecting the connecting bracket 300 to the headlamp 200; and fixedly connecting the bumper soft nose 100 to the connecting bracket 300.

[0034] Specifically, the two clips 120 are pre-installed on the bumper soft nose 100 in advance, and the bumper soft nose 100, the connecting bracket 300 and the headlamp 200 are provided. On the general installation production line of the vehicle, the headlamp 200 is first fixedly connected to the vehicle sheet metal, the connecting bracket 300 is reversely inserted along the extension direction of the locating pin 210 of the headlamp 200, so that the guiding slot 320 of the connecting bracket 300 is matched with the locating pin 210 until the connecting bracket 300 is in place, and after the first screw 312 passes through the hole 311 on the connecting bracket 300 and is fastened to the headlamp 200, so as to realize the fixedly connection of the connecting bracket 300 and the headlamp 200; then the clip 120 of the bumper soft nose 100 is aligned with the slot hole of the snapping slot 340 of the connecting bracket 300, the bumper soft nose 100 is inserted along the extension direction of the slot hole until the bumper soft nose 100 is in place, and finally, the second screw 352 is driven into the boss hole 351 of the connecting bracket 300 and is fastened to the connecting bracket 300, so as to realize the fixedly connection of the connecting bracket 300 and the bumper soft nose 100, so that the end portion 110 of the bumper soft nose 100 is fixedly connected to the vehicle, and the two ends of the bumper soft nose do not need to be extended to be directly connected to the vehicle sheet metal, the fixing structure is simple and easy to install, ensuring the rigidity of the bumper soft nose at the front comer of the vehicle, and meeting the vehicle’s styling requirements.

[0035] In some embodiments, the present disclosure also provides a vehicle comprising the vehicle front assembly as described above, especially a vehicle in which the end portion 110 of the bumper soft nose 100 does not extend beyond the headlamp 200 in a Y direction of the vehicle.

[0036] The technical content and technical features of the present disclosure have been disclosed above, however, it can be understood that under the inventive idea of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art can combine different embodiments or examples described in the present disclosure and the features of different embodiments or examples, but all fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0037] The description of the above embodiments is exemplary rather than limitative, and 7NTD215445the protection scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims.8NTD215445

Claims

CLAIMS1. A vehicle front assembly, comprising a bumper soft nose (100), a connecting bracket (300) and a headlamp (200), the bumper soft nose (100) having an elongate shape and comprising an end portion (110) in its length direction,wherein the connecting bracket (300) is provided between the end portion (110) of the bumper soft nose (100) and the headlamp (200),wherein the connecting bracket (300) is fixedly connected to the headlamp (200), and the end portion (110) of the bumper soft nose (100) is fixedly connected to the connecting bracket (300).

2. The vehicle front assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting bracket (300) has a sheet-like structure adapted to the shape of the headlamp (200) to be substantially fitted with the headlamp (200).

3. The vehicle front assembly according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of stiffeners (330) are provided in substantially parallel rows on a surface of the connecting bracket (300) away from the headlamp (200).

4. The vehicle front assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connecting bracket (300) is fixedly connected to the headlamp (200) by means of at least two first screw connection portions (310) spaced apart from each other.

5. The vehicle front assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the headlamp (200) is provided with at least one locating pin (210) protruding towards the connecting bracket (300), and the connecting bracket (300) is provided with at least one guiding slot (320) adapted to the at least one locating pin (210).9NTD2154456. The vehicle front assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bumper soft nose (100) is provided with at least one clip (120) protruding towards the connecting bracket (300), and the connecting bracket (300) is provided with at least one snapping slot (340) adapted to the at least one clip (120).

7. The vehicle front assembly according to claim 6, wherein the connecting bracket (300) is further fixedly connected to the bumper soft nose (100) by means of at least one second screw connection portion (350) spaced apart from the at least one snapping slot (340).

8. A method for assembling the vehicle front assembly according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the method comprises following sequential steps:providing the bumper soft nose (100), the connecting bracket (300) and the headlamp (200);fixedly connecting the connecting bracket (300) to the headlamp (200); andfixedly connecting the bumper soft nose (100) to the connecting bracket (300).

9. A vehicle comprising the vehicle front assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the end portion (110) of the bumper soft nose (100) does not extend beyond the headlamp (200) in a transverse direction (Y) of the vehicle.10NTD215445

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