Description:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
39 OF 1970
&
THE PATENT RULES 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SEE SECTIONS 10 & RULE 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION

“A REAR BUMPER OF A VEHICLE”
2. APPLICANTS (S)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS

MARUTI SUZUKI INDIA LIMITED

Indian
1, Nelson Mandela Road, Vasant Kunj,
New Delhi - 110070
India
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

 
A REAR BUMPER OF A VEHICLE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a rear bumper of a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the rear bumper of the vehicle, where the rear bumper is designed and developed to facilitate efficient draining of water and like fluids.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Due to daily usage of vehicles, dirt along with dry mud often gets accumulated and clogged up in the internal channels of the vehicle. However, since these mud and dirt are non-visible, water tends to seep through this internal channels, thus forming a mud like consistency with dust during rain or during washing of the vehicle. This muddy dust further finds passage through the channels between backdoor and rear bumper of the vehicle, and seeps through exterior surface of the rear bumper, thereby resulting in visible mud tracks known an “mud bleeding” or “mud weeping”.
[0003] In an existing design of rear bumper area of the vehicle, there exists no such provisions to facilitate collection of dirty/muddy water and therefore aforementioned condition cannot be addressed suitably. Hence, upon washing the car or due to rain, the water collects all the dirt from body of the vehicle and drains same into the rear bumper area of the vehicle. The mud further dries up and leaves marks, which often leaves visible sign even when the vehicle is cleaned thoroughly. These marks appear as a line of dirt flowing from the channel between backdoor and the rear bumper and is prominently visible on an exterior surface of the rear bumper area of the vehicle, as can be seen in Figure 1. Therefore, aesthetic appeal of the vehicle is compromised by such arrangements.
[0004] Towards this direction, in order to circumvent the above-mentioned limitations, automobile manufacturers are coming up with an improved design of the rear bumper area of the vehicle, such that dirty/muddy water can be drained directly to ground without deteriorating aesthetic appeal of the vehicle.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0006] It is an object of the present subject matter to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks existing in the prior art systems and methods.
[0007] It is a principal object of the present disclosure to design and develop a bumper of a vehicle so as to prevent the condition of mud bleeding or mud weeping.
[0008] It is a significant object of the present disclosure to design and develop a rear bumper of a vehicle such that the rear bumper is capable of facilitating drainage of water and like fluids.
[0009] It is an object of the present disclosure to design and develop the rear bumper of the vehicle so as to improve overall drain management of the water or fluids from vehicle without compromising on aesthetic appearance of the vehicle.
[0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter, will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description, taken into consideration with accompanied drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a rear bumper of a vehicle. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a rear bumper of a vehicle to facilitate draining of water and like fluids.
[0013] In an aspect, the rear bumper comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, with the outer surface having a top portion having a plurality of recesses, the plurality of recesses positioned adjacent to one another in vertical direction and is being configured to receive water and like fluids, where the each of the plurality of recesses define a hole at outer edge of the top portion.
[0014] In an aspect, there is provided a cowl box, mounted underneath the plurality of recesses on the inner surface to receive the water and like fluids through the plurality of holes of plurality of recesses and where the cowl box is configured to facilitate draining of the received water and like fluids.
[0015] In an aspect, the plurality of recesses is positioned along length of the top portion of the outer surface of the rear bumper.
[0016] In an aspect, each of the plurality of recesses is having a continuous profile through entire edge of the rear bumper.
[0017] In an aspect, each of the plurality of recesses comprises of indirect slots inclined in downward direction facing the cowl box to facilitate transfer of water and like fluids into the cowl box.
[0018] In an aspect, the cowl box is coupled to the inner surface of the rear bumper through screw and nut mechanism, ultrasonic spot welding and like mechanism.
[0019] In an aspect, the cowl box comprises of a first top surface and a second top surface, where the second top surface is provided at center of the first top surface forming a step profile along edges with the first top surface to facilitate collection of water and like fluids into the cowl box.
[0020] In an aspect, the first top surface and the second top surface of the cowl box is having a slope both along horizontal and vertical direction in order to facilitate guidance of water and like fluids due to gravity directly to a plurality of orifices positioned at center of the second top surface.
[0021] In an aspect, there is provided a longitudinal channel affixed to the plurality of orifices, with the longitudinal channel being coupled to the inner surface of the rear bumper through a plurality of clamps, in order to allow passage of water and like fluids into an external environment.
[0022] In an aspect, there is provided a sealer between the cowl box and the rear bumper to prevent leakage of water and like fluids.
[0023] In an aspect, each of the plurality of recesses is provided with an overlapping ladder shaped structure configured to streamline flow of water and like fluids into an external environment without affecting aesthetics of the vehicle.
[0024] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0025] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING(S)
[0026] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is given with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to refer like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which
[0027] Figure 1 depicts an existing arrangement of a rear bumper of a vehicle;
[0028] Figure 2 depicts an inner surface of the rear bumper along with a cowl box in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0029] Figure 3 depicts a perspective view of the plurality of recesses in the outer surface of the rear bumper in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0030] Figure 4 (a-d) illustrates different views of the invention in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] Figure 5 (a-b) depicts side view of a longitudinal channel in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0032] Figure 6 illustrates a section of plurality of recesses depicting an overlapping ladder shaped structure.
[0033] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] A few aspects of the present disclosure are explained in detail below, with reference to the various figures. Example implementations are described to illustrate the disclosed subject matter, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a number of equivalent variations of the various features provided in the description that follows.
[0035] While the embodiments of the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof have been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0036] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, system, assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.
[0037] The present disclosure is related to a rear bumper of a vehicle, where the rear bumper is designed and developed in order to overcome issue of “mud bleeding”. The rear bumper has been designed to facilitate efficient drain management of dirty/muddy water accumulated in the internal channel to ground without impacting on aesthetic appeal of the vehicle. The structural attributes of the rear bumper have been detailed in the subsequent sections.
[0038] Referring to figures, a rear bumper (100) may comprise of an inner surface (102) and an outer surface (104), respectively. Figure 2 depicts the outer surface (104) of the rear bumper (100) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0039] In an aspect, the outer surface (104) of the rear bumper (100) may comprise of a top portion (104-1), where the top portion (104-1) is having a plurality of recesses (108) positioned adjacent to one another in vertical direction. Herein, the plurality of recesses (108) is a grilled like structure integrated to the top portion (104-1) of the rear bumper (100) of the vehicle. More so, the plurality of recesses (108) are having continuous profile along entire edge of the top portion of the rear bumper (100). The plurality of recesses (108) are configured to receive water, dirty/muddy water and like fluids flowing through the channel between the backdoor and the rear bumper (100) of the vehicle.
[0040] In an aspect, each of the plurality of recesses (108) defines a hole at an outer edge of the top portion (104-1), the hole being not visible to customer or from exterior surface of the vehicle.
[0041] In an aspect, there may be further provided a cowl box (106) mounted underneath the plurality of recesses (108) on the inner surface (102) of the rear bumper (100). The cowl box (106) is coupled to the inner surface (102) of the rear bumper (100) through different mechanisms, namely, a screw and nut mechanism, ultrasonic spot welding or some other mechanism.
[0042] In an aspect, the cowl box (106) may function as a sink and is configured to receive the water, dirty/muddy water and like fluids through each of the plurality of holes present in the plurality of recesses (108) and facilitate draining of the received fluids into the ground.
[0043] In an aspect, the cowl box (106) comprises of a first top surface (106-1) and a second top surface (106-2). Herein, the first top surface (106-1) and the second top surface (106-2) are positioned such that the second top surface (106-2) is present at center of the first top surface (106-1).
[0044] In an aspect, the first top surface (106-1) and the second top surface (106-2) of the cowl box (106) is having a slope both along horizontal and vertical direction to facilitate suitable guidance of water and like fluids. Further, the second top surface (106-2) is also forming a step like profile along edges with the first top surface (106-1). The step like profile helps the water and like fluids to flow from the first top surface (106-1) and get collected into the second top surface (106-2).
[0045] Figure 3 depicts a perspective view of the plurality of recesses (108) in the outer surface (104) of the rear bumper (100) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As can be observed from the figure, each of the plurality of recesses (108) comprises of indirect slots with each slot being inclined in downward direction facing the cowl box (106). Due to inclination of the indirect slots of the plurality of recesses (108) in downward direction, the water and like fluids are transmitted to the cowl box (106) through each of the plurality of holes, simultaneously killing direct visibility of the slots (108).
[0046] Figure 4 (a-d) illustrates different views of the present invention in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As can be observed from the figure, the water and like fluids are transmitted directly to a plurality of orifices (110) positioned at center of the second top surface (106-2) due to force of gravity. Moreover, as also can be observed in Figure 5 (a), there are also provided plurality of longitudinal channels (112) affixed to the plurality of orifices (110), where the longitudinal channels (112) are coupled to the inner surface (102) of the rear bumper (100) through a plurality of clamps (114).
[0047] In an aspect, herein the longitudinal channel (112) allows direct passage of the water and like fluids into an external environment without impacting on the exterior surface of the rear bumper (100) of the vehicle. Furthermore, with the direct passage of the fluid through the longitudinal channel, the electrical circuits and wires present in the vicinity of the rear bumper are also safeguarded, which otherwise could have got short circuited, due to water or fluids.
[0048] In an aspect, moreover, as shown in Figure 5 (b), there is provided a sealer (116) between the cowl box (106) and the rear bumper (100) of the vehicle so as to prevent leakage of water. The sealer (116) may cover the entire periphery of the rear bumper (100) of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the sealer (116) may be fabricated by using EPDM in case the sealer (116) or sealing is temporary.
[0049] In another embodiment, the sealer (116) may be fabricated by using silicon in case the sealer (116) or sealing is permanent.
[0050] In this context, it may be noted that the plurality of recesses (108) may facilitate drainage of wastewater and like fluids with or without the presence of cowl box (106). Further, referring to a sectional view of the plurality of recesses (108) in Figure 6, each of the plurality of recesses (108) are also provided with an overlapping ladder shaped structure (602) which not only streamlines drainage of water in absence of the cowl box (106). More so, the plurality of recesses (108) facilitates the same without appearing in the line of sight and thus do not affect aesthetics of the vehicle.
[0051] In this manner, therefore, the rear bumper (100) as disclosed in the present subject matter is facilitating drainage of water and like fluids without impairing aesthetic appeal of the vehicle to the customers.

[0052] Technical advantages
All in all, the invention disclosed in the present disclosure is having the following advantages:
i) The present invention facilitates drainage of water and like fluids in the external environment without impacting on aesthetic appearance of the vehicle.
ii) The present invention also facilitates an improvement in overall drain management of the vehicle.
iii) The arrangement disclosed in the present invention is robust and rigid.

Equivalents
[0053] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized, as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various systems that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the above-mentioned description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0054] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to package features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/device of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.
[0055] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0056] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present invention contemplates all these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention. The present invention also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature.

, Claims:We Claim:

1. A rear bumper (100) of a vehicle to facilitate draining of water and like fluids, the rear bumper (100) comprising:
an inner surface (102) and an outer surface (104), with the outer surface (104) having
a top portion (104-1) having a plurality of recesses (108), wherein the plurality of recesses (108) are positioned adjacent to one another in vertical direction and is being configured to receive water and like fluids, with each of the plurality of recesses (108) defining a hole at outer edge of the top portion (104-1).

2. The rear bumper (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cowl box (106) is mounted underneath the plurality of recesses (108) on the inner surface (102) to receive the water and like fluids through the plurality of holes of the plurality of recesses (108) and wherein the cowl box (106) is configured to facilitate draining of the received water and like fluids.

3. The rear bumper (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of recesses (108) is positioned along length of the top portion (104-1) of the outer surface (104) of the rear bumper (100).

4. The rear bumper (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of recesses (108) is having a continuous profile through entire edge of the rear bumper (100).

5. The rear bumper (100) as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of recesses (108) comprises of indirect slots inclined in downward direction facing the cowl box (106) to facilitate transfer of water and like fluids into the cowl box (106).

6. The rear bumper (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cowl box (106) is coupled to the inner surface (102) of the rear bumper (100) through screw and nut mechanism, ultrasonic spot welding and like mechanism.

7. The rear bumper (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cowl box (106) comprises of a first top surface (106-1) and a second top surface (106-2), wherein the second top surface (106-2) is provided at center of the first top surface (106-1) forming a step profile along edges with the first top surface (106-1) to facilitate collection water and like fluids into the cowl box (106).

8. The rear bumper (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first top surface (106-1) and the second top surface (106-2) of the cowl box (106) is having a slope both along horizontal and vertical direction to facilitate guidance of water and like fluids due to gravity directly to a plurality of orifices (110) positioned at center of the second top surface (106-2).

9. The rear bumper (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein there is provided a longitudinal channel (112) affixed to the plurality of orifices (110), with the longitudinal channel (112) being coupled to the inner surface (102) of the rear bumper (100) through a plurality of clamps (114), in order to allow passage of water and like fluids into an external environment.

10. The rear bumper (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is provided a sealer (116) between the cowl box (106) and the rear bumper (100) to prevent leakage of water and like fluids.

11. The rear bumper (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of recesses (108) are provided with an overlapping ladder shaped structure (602) configured to streamline flow of water and like fluids into an external environment without affecting aesthetics of the vehicle.

Dated this 21st day of February, 2024

SONAL MISHRA
IN/PA – 3929
OF L. S. DAVAR & CO.,
APPLICANT’S AGENT