Rear bump stop bracket

Abstract

This rear bump stop bracket comprises: a bump plate part provided at a position facing a bump stopper in a manner being separated downward from the lower surface of a rear side frame; a pair of first leg parts respectively joined at positions on the inner side and the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the rear side frame; a pair of second leg parts respectively joined at front and rear positions between the pair of first leg parts in the vehicle width direction of the rear side frame; a pair of first connection parts connecting the pair of first leg parts and the bump plate part; and a pair of second connection parts connecting the pair of second leg parts and the bump plate part. In at least one corner among four corners where the pair of first connection parts and the pair of second connection parts are adjacent to each other, a cutout extending toward the bump plate part from between each first leg part and the corresponding second leg part adjacent to the first leg part is formed.

Description

Rear bump stop bracket

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a rear bump stop bracket.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a rear bump stop bracket fixed to a lower portion of a rear side frame. The rear bump stop bracket includes a pair of bracket side surfaces facing a pair of rear side frame side surfaces, and a bracket lower surface spaced downward to face the rear side frame lower surface and connecting lower ends of the pair of bracket side surfaces. The bracket lower surface is widened to one side or both sides in a vehicle width direction relative to the rear side frame lower surface, and between the rear side frame side surface and the bracket side surface on the one side or both sides where the bracket lower surface is widened in the vehicle width direction, a reinforcing plate joined to the rear side frame side surface and extending downward from the rear side frame side surface is interposed.

[0003] According to the rear bump stop bracket disclosed in Patent Document 1, even when a bump rubber abuts against the bracket lower surface during travel on a rough road and the bracket lower surface is elastically deformed upward, the abutment of the bracket lower surface against the lower edge of the reinforcing plate can suppress further upward deformation of the bracket lower surface, thereby improving the durability of the bump bracket.

[0004] International Publication No. 2022 / 113541

[0005] Since the reinforcing plate joined to the rear side frame side surface and extending downward from the rear side frame side surface is interposed between the rear side frame side surface and the bracket side surface disclosed in Patent Document 1, the rigidity of the rear side frame is increased, and the flexibility of the rear side frame is impaired. Therefore, there is a possibility that the rear side frame cannot follow a torsional input to the rear side frame.

[0006] In view of the foregoing circumstances, an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a rear bump stop bracket capable of securing flexibility of a rear side frame while suppressing deformation of a bracket lower surface (bump plate portion).

[0007] A rear bump stop bracket according to at least one embodiment of the present invention is a rear bump stop bracket fixed to the rear side frame of a vehicle so as to face a bump stopper fixed to the leaf spring of the vehicle, comprising: a bump plate portion provided so as to be spaced downward from the lower surface of the rear side frame at a position facing the bump stopper; a pair of first legs joined to the inner and outer positions in the vehicle width direction of the rear side frame, respectively; a pair of second legs joined to the front and rear positions between the pair of first legs in the vehicle width direction of the rear side frame, respectively; a pair of first connecting portions connecting each of the pair of first legs to the bump plate portion; and a pair of second connecting portions connecting each of the pair of second legs to the bump plate portion, wherein at least one corner of the four adjacent corners between each of the pair of first legs and each of the pair of second legs is formed, and a notch is formed extending toward the bump plate portion from between each of the pair of first legs and each of the pair of second legs adjacent to each of the pair of first legs.

[0008] According to the above configuration, since the rear side frame is equipped with a pair of second legs that are joined to the lower surface of the rear side frame, deformation of the bump plate can be suppressed. Furthermore, at least one of the four corners where each of the pair of first connecting parts and each of the pair of second connecting parts are adjacent is formed, and a notch is formed extending toward the bump plate from between each of the pair of first legs and each of the pair of second legs adjacent to each of the pair of first legs, so that the flexibility of the rear side frame can be ensured.

[0009] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to ensure the flexibility of the rear side frame while suppressing deformation of the bump plate portion.

[0010] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the bump stopper, rear side frame, and rear bump stop bracket. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a rear bump stop bracket according to an embodiment fixed to the rear side frame. Figure 4 is a view of the rear bump stop bracket according to an embodiment fixed to the rear side frame shown in Figure 2, viewed from the front in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. Figure 5 is a view of the rear bump stop bracket according to an embodiment fixed to the rear side frame shown in Figure 2, viewed from the inside in the vehicle's width direction. Figure 6 is a V-V cross-sectional view of the rear bump stop bracket according to an embodiment fixed to the rear side frame shown in Figure 2.

[0011] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc., of the components described as embodiments or shown in the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are merely illustrative examples. For example, expressions describing relative or absolute arrangements such as "in a certain direction," "along a certain direction," "parallel," "orthogonal," "center," "concentric," or "coaxial" should not only strictly represent such arrangements, but also represent states of relative displacement with tolerances, or angles or distances that allow the same function to be obtained. Furthermore, expressions describing shapes such as square or cylindrical should not only represent geometrically precise square or cylindrical shapes, but also shapes including concave and concave parts, chamfered parts, etc., to the extent that the same effect can be obtained. On the other hand, expressions such as "equipped," "possess," "features," "includes," or "has" a single component are not exclusive expressions that exclude the existence of other components.

[0012] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the rear bump stop bracket 1, bump stopper 2, and rear side frames 4 and 5. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the rear bump stop bracket 1 according to an embodiment fixed to the rear side frame 4. Figure 3 is a view of the rear bump stop bracket 1 according to the embodiment fixed to the rear side frame 4 shown in Figure 2, viewed from the front in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, and Figure 4 is a view of the rear bump stop bracket 1 according to the embodiment fixed to the rear side frame 4 shown in Figure 2, viewed from the inside in the vehicle's width direction. Figure 5 is a V-V cross-sectional view of the rear bump stop bracket 1 according to the embodiment fixed to the rear side frame 4 shown in the figure.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the rear bump stop bracket 1 according to this embodiment limits the stroke amount of the leaf spring 3 together with the bump stopper 2, and prevents the leaf spring 3 from interfering with the rear side frame 4 by the bump stopper 2 colliding with the rear bump stop bracket 1. The rear bump stop bracket 1 is made of metal such as steel plate, and the bump stopper 2 is made of rubber. The rear bump stop bracket 1 according to this embodiment is fixed to the rear side frames 4 and 5 of the vehicle so as to face the bump stopper 2 which is fixed to the leaf spring 3 of the vehicle.

[0014] As shown in Figure 2, the rear bump stop bracket 1 according to this embodiment is constructed by bending a metal plate of uniform thickness, for example, a steel plate, but is not limited to this, and may also be constructed by drawing a metal plate.

[0015] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the rear bump stop bracket 1 according to this embodiment includes a bump plate portion 10, a pair of first leg portions 11, 12, a pair of second leg portions 13, 14, a pair of first connecting portions 15, 16, and a pair of second connecting portions 17, 18.

[0016] The bump plate portion 10 is the part that the bump stopper 2 collides with, and is provided so as to be spaced downward from the lower surface of the rear side frame 4 (5) at a position opposite to the bump stopper 2. Each of the pair of first legs 11 and 12 is joined to the inner and outer positions in the vehicle width direction of the rear side frame 4 (5), and each of the pair of second legs 13 and 14 is joined to the front-rear position between the pair of first legs 11 and 12 in the vehicle width direction of the rear side frame 4 (5). Each of the pair of first legs 11 and 12 is joined to both sides of the rear side frame 4 (5), and each of the pair of second legs 13 and 14 is joined to the lower surface of the rear side frame 4 (5). Each of the pair of first legs 11 and 12 is formed along the side surface of the rear side frame 4 (5), and the surface along the side surface of the rear side frame 4 (5) becomes the joining surface. Each of the pair of first legs 11 and 12 is joined to the rear side frame 4(5) by arc welding, but is not limited to this. Each of the pair of second legs 13 and 14 is formed along the lower surface of the rear side frame 4(5), and the surface along the lower surface of the rear side frame 4(5) becomes the joining surface. Each of the pair of second legs 13 and 14 is joined to the rear side frame 4(5) by arc welding, but is not limited to this. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, when the rear side frame 4(5) is joined by combining two groove-shaped frames, and there is a seam on the lower surface of the rear side frame 4(5), the pair of second legs 13 and 14 are branched as 13A and 13B respectively and joined to the lower surface of the rear side frame 4(5).

[0017] The pair of first connecting portions 15 and 16 are the parts that connect the pair of first leg portions 11 and 12 to the bump plate portion 10. At least one of the pair of first connecting portions 15 and 16 bulges out in the vehicle width direction from the side of the rear side frame 4 (5). For example, the first connecting portion 15, which is on the inside in the vehicle width direction of the pair of first connecting portions 15 and 16, extends directly downward in the vehicle height direction from the first leg portion 11, which is on the inside in the vehicle width direction of the pair of first leg portions 11 and 12, and connects to the bump plate portion 10, while the first connecting portion 16, which is on the outside in the vehicle width direction, extends from the first leg portion 11, which is on the outside in the vehicle width direction, and gradually bulges outward in the vehicle width direction from downward in the vehicle height direction, and connects to the bump plate portion 10. Of the pair of first leg portions 11 and 12, the first connecting portion 15, which is on the inside in the vehicle width direction, is connected so as to curve toward the bump plate portion 10, while the first connecting portion 16, which is on the outside in the vehicle width direction, is connected so as to curve toward the bump plate portion 10 more gently than the first connecting portion 15.

[0018] As shown in Figure 4, the pair of second connecting portions 17 and 18 are the parts that connect the pair of second leg portions 13 and 14 to the bump plate portion 10. The pair of second connecting portions 17 and 18 do not need to be the same length; for example, the second connecting portion 18 at the rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is formed to be longer than the second connecting portion 17 at the front, but this is not limited to this. Each of the pair of second connecting portions 17 and 18 is connected to each of the pair of second leg portions 13 and 14 in a gently curving manner, and is connected in a gently curving manner toward the bump plate portion 10.

[0019] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, at least one of the four corners 21, 22, 23, 24 adjacent to each of the pair of first connecting parts 15, 16 and each of the pair of second connecting parts 17, 18, a notch 25 (26, 27, 28) is provided in the corner 21 (22, 23, 24), where each of the pair of first legs 11, 12 and each of the pair of second legs 13, 14 adjacent to each of the pair of first legs 11, 12 are adjacent to each of the pair of first legs 11, 12, toward the bump plate part 10. Since it is at least one of the four corners 21 (22, 23, 24), the notch 25 (26, 27, 28) may be provided in one or more of the four corners 21 (22, 23, 24).

[0020] At least one corner portion 21(22, 23, 24) is at least two corner portions 21, 23(22, 24), and at least two corner portions 21, 23(22, 24) may be located diagonally when the bump plate portion 10 is viewed from the rear side frame 4(5). Since there are at least two corner portions 21, 23, there may be two or more corner portions 21, 22, 23, of which two corner portions 21, 23(22, 24) are located diagonally. As a result, the notches 25, 28 are also formed at diagonally opposite positions when the bump plate portion 10 is viewed from the rear side frame 4(5).

[0021] Preferably, at least one corner portion 21 (22, 23, 24) is one of four corner portions 21, 22, 23, 24 adjacent to each of the pair of first connecting portions 15, 16 and each of the pair of second connecting portions 17, 18. However, it is not limited to this. As a result, notches 25, 26, 27, 28 are also provided at each of the four corner portions 21, 22, 23, 24.

[0022] The notches 25 (26, 27, 28) extend at least below the lower surface of the rear side frame 4 (5). The notches 25 (26, 27, 28) may extend to a position halfway in the vehicle height direction of at least one of the pair of second connecting portions 17, 18. It is preferable, but not limited to, that the notches 25 (26, 27, 28) extend to the bump plate portion 10.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the tips of the notches 27 (25, 26, 28) are formed in an arc shape.

[0024] According to the rear bump stop bracket 1 of this embodiment, since it is equipped with a pair of second legs 13 and 14 that are joined to the lower surface of the rear side frame 4 (5), deformation of the bump plate portion 10 can be suppressed. Furthermore, at least one corner 21 (22, 23, 24) of the four corners 21, 22, 23, 24 where each of the pair of first connecting portions 15 and 16 and each of the pair of second connecting portions 17 and 18 are adjacent, notches 25 (26, 27, 28) are formed that extend toward the bump plate portion 10 from between each of the pair of first legs 11 and 12 and each of the pair of second legs 13 and 14 adjacent to each of the pair of first legs 11 and 12, so that the flexibility of the rear side frame 4 can be ensured.

[0025] Furthermore, since notches 25 (26, 27, 28) are formed in at least one of the four corners 21, 22, 23, 24, the inside of the rear bump stop bracket 1 can also be painted by allowing paint to penetrate the inside of the rear bump stop bracket 1 even after the rear bump stop bracket 1 has been fixed to the rear side frame 4.

[0026] Furthermore, since the notches 25 (26, 27, 28) extend to the bump plate portion 10, the rear bump stop bracket 1 can be manufactured by bending.

[0027] Furthermore, the fact that the tips of the notches 25 (26, 27, 28) are formed in an arc shape helps to prevent stress concentration.

[0028] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and includes modified forms of the embodiments described above, as well as forms that combine these forms as appropriate.

[0029] 1 Rear bump stop bracket 2 Bump stopper 3 Leaf spring 4, 5 Rear side frame 10 Bump plate section 11, 12 First leg section 13, 14 Second leg section 15, 16 First connection section 17, 18 Second connection section 21, 22, 23, 24 Corner section 25, 26, 27, 28 Notch

Claims

1. A rear bump stop bracket fixed to the rear side frame of a vehicle so as to face a bump stopper fixed to the leaf spring of the vehicle, comprising: a bump plate portion provided at a position facing the bump stopper so as to be spaced downward from the lower surface of the rear side frame; a pair of first legs joined to the inner and outer positions in the vehicle width direction of the rear side frame, respectively; a pair of second legs joined to the front-rear positions between the pair of first legs in the vehicle width direction of the rear side frame, respectively; a pair of first connecting portions connecting each of the pair of first legs to the bump plate portion; and a pair of second connecting portions connecting each of the pair of second legs to the bump plate portion, wherein at least one of the four adjacent corners between each of the pair of first connecting portions and each of the pair of second connecting portions is formed, and a notch is formed extending from between each of the pair of first legs and each of the pair of second legs adjacent to each of the pair of first legs toward the bump plate portion.

2. The rear bump stop bracket according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of first legs is joined to the side surfaces of the rear side frame, and each of the pair of second legs is joined to the lower surface of the rear side frame.

3. The rear bump stop bracket according to claim 1, wherein the at least one corner portion is at least two corner portions, and two of the at least two corner portions are located diagonally opposite each other when the bump plate portion is viewed from the rear side frame.

4. The rear bump stop bracket according to claim 1, wherein the at least one corner is one of four corners adjacent to each of the pair of first connecting portions and each of the pair of second connecting portions.

5. The rear bump stop bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the notch extends to the bump plate portion.

6. The rear bump stop bracket according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the notch is formed in an arc shape.

7. The rear bump stop bracket according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the pair of first connecting portions bulges out in the vehicle width direction from the side surface of the rear side frame.

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