JP7480574B2 - Pillar garnish - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a pillar garnish that is attached to a pillar of a vehicle.

In order to prevent aerodynamic noise caused by wind entering through the gap between the left and right ends of the vehicle's windshield and the front pillar garnish while driving, to prevent water from entering through the gap, or to improve the appearance, a configuration is sometimes adopted in which a molding is attached to the front end of the back surface of the front pillar garnish to close the gap. When attaching this molding, a marking line indicating the molding's attachment position is often drawn in advance on the back surface of the front pillar garnish, and the molding is then visually aligned to the marking line and fixed with a fixing means such as double-sided tape. However, this method has problems in that it requires a lot of time to attach the molding, resulting in low productivity, and it is difficult to maintain a high level of accuracy in the attachment position.

In order to improve the accuracy of the molding's mounting position, for example, the following Patent Document 1 proposes a configuration in which a molding 1 is fixed to a pillar cover 4 using a clip 2. A locking pin 21 protrudes from the surface of a mounting base 20 of the clip 2, and an engagement portion 22 having an engagement groove 23 is formed at one end of the mounting base 20. Meanwhile, a plurality of engagement holes 43 are formed in the inner cover plate 4b of the pillar cover 4, and a plate-shaped support leg 11 is formed in the molding 1. The locking pin 21 formed in the clip 2 is inserted into the engagement hole 43, and the support leg 11 is fitted into the engagement groove 23 of the engagement portion 22, thereby attaching the molding 1 to the pillar cover 4 (see paragraphs 0012-0022, figures 1-3, etc. of Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-279991 A

According to the configuration of Patent Document 1, the molding 1 is fixed to the pillar cover 4 using clips 2, which is thought to ensure a certain level of installation position precision, but since the pillar cover 4 and the molding 1 must be connected to multiple clips 2, it is time-consuming and difficult to say that it is easy to work with. Moreover, since it is necessary to perform processing such as drilling holes in each of the pillar cover 4 and the molding 1, and a specially shaped clip 2 is required, there is a high possibility that the cost will be high.

Therefore, the objective of this invention is to ensure the accuracy of mounting the molding to the front pillar garnish using a simple structure.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
A garnish body that is long in the vertical direction and is provided on the outer surface side of a front pillar of a vehicle;
a molding attached along the up-down direction to a rear surface side of an inner end portion of the garnish body in the vehicle width direction that faces an end portion of the windshield in the vehicle width direction;
Equipped with
The garnish body has a locking protrusion protruding from a back surface side of an inner end portion of the garnish body to define an attachment position of the molding,
The molding constitutes a pillar garnish having a base attached to the back side of the inner end of the garnish body outside the locking protrusion in the vehicle width direction, a locking lip extending from the base toward the front side of the vehicle and abutting against the locking protrusion to be locked, and an abutment lip extending from the base toward the windshield and contacting the windshield.

In the above configuration,
It is preferable that the locking projection protrudes toward the windshield as it moves inward in a vehicle width direction.

In the above configuration,
It is preferable that the garnish main body is composed of an outer member provided on the front side of the vehicle and an inner member provided on the back side of the outer member, the inner end of the outer member protruding inwardly further than the inner end of the inner member, and the locking protrusion be formed by the inner end of the inner member.

In the above configuration,
It is preferable that a tip of the locking lip abuts against a rear surface of the outer member.

In the above configuration,
It is preferable that the position where the locking lip abuts against the outer member is located inside the position where the locking lip is locked by the locking projection.

In this invention, with the above-mentioned configuration, the molding can be positioned simply by abutting the locking lip formed on the molding against the locking protrusion formed on the garnish body, so the molding can be attached accurately to the front pillar garnish with a simple configuration.

1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a pillar garnish according to the present invention (attached to a front pillar); FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pillar garnish shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of a pillar garnish according to the present invention.

The pillar garnish 1 according to the present invention is provided on the front pillar P of a vehicle as shown in FIG. 1. A first embodiment of the pillar garnish 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. In the following description, when the pillar garnish 1 is attached to the vehicle as shown in FIG. 1, the side closer to the roof R of the vehicle will be referred to as the "upper", the opposite side as the "lower", the side closer to the windshield G as the "inner", and the opposite side as the "outer". The pillar garnish 1 mainly comprises a garnish main body 2 and a molding 3 (hereinafter, this molding 3 will be referred to as the inner molding 3).

The garnish body 2 is a vertically long member that is attached to the outer surface of the vehicle's front pillar P. The garnish body 2 according to this embodiment is composed of an outer member 4 that is attached to the front surface of the vehicle, and an inner member 5 that is attached to the back surface of the outer member 4.

The surface of the outer member 4 is painted to improve the appearance of the vehicle. The back surface of the outer member 4 is inclined so as to approach the windshield G, forming a thick portion 6 on the inside of the outer member 4, the thickness of which increases toward the inside. The inner member 5 is formed with a number of through holes 7. Clips 8 and trim clips 9 that secure the garnish main body 2 to the front pillar P are attached to the through holes 7. A rubber molding (hereinafter, this molding will be referred to as the inner lip molding 10) is provided on the inner lower end of the back surface of the inner member 5.

The inner end of the outer member 4 protrudes inward from the inner end of the inner member 5, and a step is formed between the inner end of the outer member 4 and the inner end of the inner member 5. The step (the inner end of the inner member 5) acts as a locking protrusion 11 that determines the mounting position of the inner molding 3. The locking protrusion 11 protrudes toward the windshield G as it moves inward in the vehicle width direction.

The upper and lower ends of the surface of the inner member 5 are provided with rubber moldings (hereinafter, these moldings are referred to as the upper end lip molding 12 and the lower end lip molding 13, respectively) so as to be sandwiched between the outer member 4. The upper end lip molding 12 reduces aerodynamic noise and improves watertightness between the roof R and the front pillar P of the vehicle, and the lower end lip molding 13 reduces aerodynamic noise and improves watertightness between the front fender F and the front pillar P. The outer member 4 and the inner member 5 are integrated by an integration means such as double-sided tape 14. The hard rubber 15 and the pad 16 are attached to the back side of the inner member 5. The hard rubber 15 and the like serve as a cushioning material for the front pillar P and to maintain the posture of the pillar garnish 1. The provision of the hard rubber 15 and the like also prevents abnormal noise caused by contact between the front pillar P and the pillar garnish 1.

As in this embodiment, it is preferable to make the garnish body 2 a two-piece structure consisting of an outer member 4 and an inner member 5, since clips 8 for fixing to the front pillar P can be attached to the inner member 5.

The inner molding 3 is a member made of an elastic material such as rubber that is attached vertically to the back side of the inner end of the garnish body 2 in the vehicle width direction that faces the end of the windshield G in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the inner molding 3 has a base 17, a locking lip 18, and an abutment lip 19.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the base 17 is attached to the back side of the inner end of the garnish body 2 by a fixing means 20 such as double-sided tape, outside the locking protrusion 11 in the vehicle width direction. The inside of this base 17 is slightly bent toward the windshield G to fit along the locking protrusion 11.

The locking lip 18 extends from the base 17 toward the vehicle surface (outer member 4 side). The locking protrusion 11 (tip of the inner member 5) abuts both the base of the locking lip 18 and the base 17 at the protruding portion toward the windshield G side. This abutment positions the locking lip 18 (inner molding 3) at a predetermined mounting position. In this way, there is no need to draw a marking line for positioning on the garnish main body 2 (rear surface of the inner member 5). The locking lip 18 formed on the inner molding 3 can be positioned simply by abutting the locking protrusion 11 formed on the garnish main body 2 with the locking lip 18 formed on the inner molding 3, so that the mounting accuracy of the inner molding 3 to the pillar garnish 1 can be ensured with a simple configuration. The tip of the locking lip 18 abuts almost perpendicularly against the rear surface of the thick portion 6 formed on the outer member 4.

The contact position of the locking lip 18 with the outer member 4 is located forward of the locking position of the locking lip 18 with the locking projection 11 of the inner member 5. In this way, when a reaction force acts from the contact lip 19 toward the tip of the base 17 as the windshield G comes into contact with the windshield G, this reaction force is appropriately distributed to both the inner member 5 and the outer member 4. This prevents the reaction force from concentrating on a part of the inner molding 3 (particularly the branching portion of the base 17 and the locking lip 18), which would otherwise reduce the durability of the inner molding 3.

The abutment lip 19 extends from the base 17 toward the windshield G, and its tip comes into contact with the windshield G. At this time, a reaction force from the windshield G (see the arrow in FIG. 2) acts on the abutment lip 19, which may generate a rotational force against the abutment lip 19. The base of the locking lip 18 of the inner molding 3 is supported by the inner end of the inner member 5, and the tip of the locking lip 18 is stably supported on the back surface of the outer member 4 (thick portion 6). In addition, the locking protrusion 11 supporting the inner molding 3 protrudes toward the windshield G as it moves inward in the vehicle width direction, ensuring a resistance against the rotational force. For this reason, the abutment lip 19 is firmly pressed against the windshield G.

As described above, the locking lip 18 abuts against the back surface of the outer member 4, and the abutment lip 19 abuts against the windshield G, completely closing the gap between the outer member 4 and the windshield G, suppressing aerodynamic noise caused by the gap. In addition, the inner molding 3 hides the internal components of the pillar garnish 1 (mainly the inner member 5), improving the appearance. In addition, the locking lip 18 and the abutment lip 19 are in a state of tension with each other between the outer member 4 and the windshield G, and the branching portion of the base 17 and the locking lip 18 straddles the locking protrusion 11. For this reason, for example, even if snow or rain on the windshield G is scraped off by the wiper and the inner molding 3 is pushed outward by the load from the snow or rain, the load is appropriately distributed to the locking protrusion 11 side, and the load acts in a concentrated manner on the base 17, preventing the inner molding 3 from peeling off from the inner member 5. In addition, foreign matter such as sand and mud is less likely to get into the gap between the outer member 4 and the windshield G, making it easy to clean.

In the above, the tip of the locking lip 18 is in contact with the outer member 4, but the locking lip 18 can be locked to the locking projection 11 of the inner member 5 without contacting the outer member 4. In this case, at least the positioning effect of the inner molding 3 relative to the garnish main body 2 (inner member 5) is achieved, and depending on the length of the locking lip 18 and the size of the contact surface between the locking lip 18 and the inner member 5, a predetermined effect of suppressing aerodynamic noise, improving appearance, preventing peeling of the inner molding 3, and preventing entry of foreign objects is achieved.

As in the above embodiment, a thick portion 6 is formed at the front end of the outer member 4, and the locking lip 18 abuts against this thick portion 6 perpendicularly, which is preferable in that it provides a stable resistance to the locking lip 18, but it is also possible to configure the outer member 4 without the thick portion 6.

A second embodiment of the pillar garnish 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 4. The pillar garnish 1 according to the second embodiment is the same as the pillar garnish 1 according to the first embodiment in that it has a garnish main body 2 and an inner molding 3 as its main components, but differs in that the garnish main body 2 is composed only of an outer member 4.

An inwardly rising locking protrusion 11 is formed on the back side of the inner end of the outer member 4. The inner molding 3 has a base 17, a locking lip 18, and an abutment lip 19, similar to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the base 17 is attached to the back side of the inner end of the garnish body 2 by a fixing means 20 such as double-sided tape, outside the locking projection 11 in the vehicle width direction. The locking lip 18 extends from the base 17 toward the front side of the vehicle (outer member 4). The tip of the locking lip 18 abuts against the back side of the outer member 4, and the locking projection 11 abuts against both the locking lip 18 and the base 17. This abutment positions the locking lip 18 (inner molding 3) at a predetermined mounting position. In this way, as with the first embodiment, the mounting accuracy of the inner molding 3 to the pillar garnish 1 can be ensured with a simple configuration.

The above embodiments are merely examples, and the shape, arrangement, material, etc. of each component can be modified as appropriate as long as the object of the invention, which is to ensure the accuracy of mounting the molding 3 to the front pillar garnish 1 with a simple configuration, can be achieved.

1 Pillar garnish 2 Garnish body 3 Molding (inner molding)
Reference Signs List 4: outer member 5: inner member 6: thick portion 7: through hole 8: clip 9: trim clip 10: inner lip molding 11: locking projection 12: upper end lip molding 13: lower end lip molding 14: double-sided tape 15: hard rubber 16: pad 17: base 18: locking lip 19: contact lip 20: fixing means R: roof G: windshield P: front pillar F: front fender

Claims (5)

A garnish body that is long in the vertical direction and is provided on the outer surface side of a front pillar of a vehicle;
a molding attached along a vertical direction only to a rear surface side of an inner end portion of the garnish body in a vehicle width direction that faces an end portion of the windshield in the vehicle width direction;
Equipped with
The garnish body has a locking protrusion protruding from the back surface side of the inner end portion of the garnish body to define the attachment position of the molding,
The molding has a base portion attached to a back surface side of an inner end portion of the garnish body on the outer side of the locking protrusion in the vehicle width direction, a locking lip extending from the base portion to the front surface side of the vehicle and abutting against the locking protrusion to be locked, and a contact lip extending from the base portion to the windshield side and contacting the windshield,
The pillar garnish , wherein the locking projection abuts only against a root portion of the locking lip and the base portion . The pillar garnish according to claim 1 , wherein the engaging projection projects toward the windshield as it moves inward in the vehicle width direction. A pillar garnish as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the garnish main body is composed of an outer member provided on the front side of the vehicle and an inner member provided on the back side of the outer member, the inner end of the outer member protruding inwardly further than the inner end of the inner member, and the locking protrusion is formed by the inner end of the inner member. 4. The pillar garnish according to claim 3, wherein a tip of the locking lip abuts against a rear surface of the outer member. 5. The pillar garnish according to claim 4, wherein a position where the locking lip abuts against the outer member is located inside a position where the locking lip is locked by the locking projection.

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