Fender panel support structure for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9446794-B2
Application number	US-201414906201-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2014
Priority date	Jul 18, 2013
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

First bracket including first upper wall wherein first leg extending downward from, first flange extending from lower end of first leg; second bracket including second upper wall overlapped on first upper wall, second leg extending downward from second upper wall, and second flange extending from lower end of second leg. First and second flanges are fixed to vehicle body member, and upper portion of fender panel is connected to second upper wall. Second leg includes structure that deforms when impact load is input from fender panel to second upper wall to cause second upper wall together with fender panel to be displaced horizontally. Fender panel support structure includes connector coupling first and second upper walls together with certain clamping force that when certain impact load is input from fender panel to second upper wall, second upper wall is displaced against clamping force until it is separated from first upper wall.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fender panel support structure for a vehicle, comprising:
a first bracket including a first upper wall, a first leg extending downward from the first upper wall, and a first flange extending from a lower end of the first leg;
a second bracket including a second upper wall overlapped on the first upper wall, a second leg extending downward from the second upper wall, and a second flange extending from a lower end of the second leg,
wherein the first and second flanges are fixed to a vehicle body member, and an upper portion of a fender panel is connected to the second upper wall,
wherein the second leg includes a deformable structure that deforms when an impact load is input from the fender panel to the second upper wall to cause the second upper wall together with the fender panel to be displaced generally horizontally; and
a connector coupling the first and second upper walls together with a certain clamping force such that when a certain impact load is input from the fender panel to the second upper wall, the second upper wall is displaced against the clamping force until it is separated from the first upper wall.

2. The fender panel support structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the second leg of the second bracket extends transverse to a vehicle width, and the second upper wall of the second bracket extends away from the vehicle width center.

3. The fender panel support structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the second upper wall together with the fender panel is displaced toward the vehicle width center.

4. The fender panel support structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein both the first and second upper walls are shaped in a flat plate and inclined downward as they near a vehicle width center so that the second upper wall is slid on the inclined first upper wall.

5. The fender panel support structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the first upper wall defines a notch extending from its edge on the near side from the vehicle width center, and the second upper wall and the fender panel each define a connector hole, and
the connector comprising a bolt inserted through the notch and the connector holes, and a nut screwed onto the bolt, the bolt and the nut being tightened each other to couple the first and second upper walls together with a certain clamping force and fixedly attach the fender panel to the second upper wall, and the notch allowing the second upper wall to be displaced toward the vehicle width center until it is separated from the first upper wall.

6. The fender panel support structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the fender panel includes an attachment edge attached to the second upper wall, and a rising section extending obliquely upward from the attachment edge as it separates away from the vehicle width center so that the attachment edge receives a force directed toward the vehicle width center when a downward impact load is input to the rising section.

7. The fender panel support structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the deformable structure of the second leg is a bend located in a middle of the height of the second leg such that the second leg is slanting toward the vehicle width center as it nears the top.

Assignees

• Toyota Tekko Kk

Inventors

• Kobayashi Hideyuki

Classifications

• B62D25/163 Primary

  Mounting devices · CPC title

• B60R2021/343

  using deformable body panel, bodywork or components · CPC title

• B62D21/15 Primary

  having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body (bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F) · CPC title

• B62D24/00

  Connections between vehicle body and vehicle frame (B62D23/00, B62D33/077 take precedence) · CPC title