The present disclosure, in general, relates to a front body structure of an automotive vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to bumper garnish holding assembly that maintains appearance quality requirements, such as gap and level difference, between the bumper garnish with the vehicle side body.
BACKGROUND
[0002] For many years, automotive vehicles have been provided with front and rear bumpers to cushion the vehicle in the event of an impact. Also, for many years, automotive vehicles have been provided with numerous body and/or fascia panels coupled thereto to form the outer shell of the vehicle body.
[0003] Nowadays, to enhance the appearance of a front facia panel of the vehicle body, a bumper garnish 102, as show in FIG. 1, is provided on a top portion of a front bumper 112. The bumper garnish 102 is placed between a hood 104 and a pair of front head lamps 106. The bumper garnish 102 is connecting aright-hand, RH, side fender 108 to a left-hand, LH, side fender of a vehicle side body. Also, the bumper garnish 102 is placed or flow above top surfaces of the pair of front head lamps 106.
[0004] However, in the state of the art, there is challenge of placing the bumper garnish 102 between the hood 104 and the head lamps 106 as well as maintaining appearance quality requirements, such as gap and level difference 110, between the bumper garnish 102 or the bumper 112 with the fender 108.

[0005] In the state of the art, the bumper garnish 102 is connected or coupled with the fenders 108 using plastic snap locks which over a period of time may not maintain the desired or defined gap and level difference.
[0006] In some vehicles, to maintain the desired gap and level difference, a holder is used between the bumper 112 and the fenders 108. An exemplary holder 202 is shown in FIG. 2. As can be seen, the holder 202 is mounted on the fender 108 with the help of screws 204-1, 204-2. Further, for mounting of the holder 202, a flange down is required in the fender 108. Hence, a modification in the fender 108 is required to mount the holder 202.
[0007] Yet further, as shown in FIG. 3, the holder 202 may have a snap 302 to control level difference, a rib 304 for gap control, and screw 306 for holder mounting on the fender 108. The screw 306 may not control gap or level difference of the assembled parts, and hence rib 304 is additionally required. Hence, the issues with such holder 202 is that it has certain dimensional requirements to package itself between the bumper garnish 102 and the fender. Also, with such holder 202, the bumper garnish 102 can be supported only in a vehicle width wise direction.
[0008] Therefore, there is a requirement of designing a new holder that can overcome the issues related to the packaging of the holder in between the bumper and the fenders, while ensuring to maintain the appearance quality requirements, such as gap and level difference, between the bumper garnish and the fenders.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0009] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.

[0010] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a bumper garnish holding assembly for holding a bumper garnish on a vehicle side body.
[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide the bumper garnish holding assembly having snap and holes arrangements that maintain the appearance quality requirements, such as gap and level difference, between the bumper garnish and fenders of the vehicle side body.
[0012] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide the bumper garnish holding assembly that provide an easy attachment of the bumper garnish on the vehicle side body.
[0013] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide the bumper garnish holding assembly that requires less maintenance.
[0014] These and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present disclosure is illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0015] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a bumper garnish holding assembly for holding a bumper garnish on a vehicle side body. 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.
[0016] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a bumper garnish holding assembly for holding a bumper garnish on a vehicle side body.

The holding assembly includes a holder structure mounted beneath a longitudinal end of the bumper garnish to lock the bumper garnish with a fender of the vehicle side body. The holder structure is having a side wall facing the fender. The side wall is formed with a first snap, a second snap oriented at an angle with the first snap, and a first screw boss. The first snap, and the second snap are passed through corresponding holes formed in the bumper garnish and are snap locked in the corresponding holes formed in the fender, so as to fit the bumper garnish on the vehicle side body.
[0017] In an aspect, the side wall is formed with a primary locator that passes corresponding locating recesses formed in the bumper garnish and the fender.
[0018] In an aspect, the shape of the primary locator corresponds to the shape of the recesses formed in the bumper garnish and the fender.
[0019] In an aspect, the holder structure includes a rear wall, oriented perpendicular to the side wall, connected at one vertical rear edge of the side wall, wherein the rear wall being extending with a horizontal flange having a second screw boss at its top surface, and wherein said horizontal flange having a vertical face, overlapping the rear vertical edge of the side wall, with a third screw boss facing the fender.
[0020] In an aspect, the first screw boss formed on the holder structure receives a first screw through a corresponding first hole formed on the bumper garnish to establish a first positive connection between the holder structure and the bumper garnish.
[0021] In an aspect, the second screw boss formed on the holder structure receives a screw through a corresponding second hole formed on the bumper garnish to establish a second positive connection between the holder structure and the bumper garnish.

[0022] In an aspect, the third screw boss formed on the holder structure receives a third screw inserted through corresponding holes formed on the bumper garnish and the fender to establish a positive connection between the holder structure, the bumper garnish, and the fender,
[0023] In an aspect, the side wall is formed with a pair of gap control ribs to maintain a predefined gap between the holder structure and the bumper garnish.
[0024] In an aspect, the bumper garnish is formed with a pair of gap control ribs towards the fender to maintain a predefined gap between the bumper garnish and the fender.
[0025] In an aspect, the second snap is formed with an intermediate notch that is shaped for preassembly of the holder with the bumper garnish.
[0026] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made regarding the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0027] 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 like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices,

systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates a typical front facia of a vehicle;
[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional holder for mounting the bumper garnish on the fender;
[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed view of the conventional holder;
[0032] FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate different views of a holder structure proposed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates a bumper garnish in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0034] FIG. 6 illustrates an intermediate step of creating a sub-assembly of the holder and the bumper garnish in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 7A illustrates a perspective view of the created sub-assembly of the holder and the bumper garnish in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0036] FIGS. 7B-7E illustrate different cross-sectional views of snap and positive locks along reference lines C-C, D-D, E-E, F-F, and G-G formed on the sub-assembly, shown in FIG. 7A, of the holder and the bumper garnish, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 8 depicts a right-hand, RH, side fender of a vehicle side body in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0038] FIGS. 9A-9C & 10A illustrate different views of a holder assembly holding the bumper garnish on the fender with the help of the holder, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0039] FIGS. 10B-10E illustrate different sectional views of the holder assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0040] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for 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
[0041] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to con all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0042] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "a," "an", and "the" includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0043] The present disclosure proposes a holder or a holding structure to overcome the packaging issues and to maintain the appearance quality requirements, such as gap and level difference, between a bumper garnish and fenders.

[0044] FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate different views of a holder or a holder structure 400 proposed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The holder 400 mounted beneath a longitudinal end of a bumper garnish to lock the bumper garnish with a fender of a vehicle side body. In the description hereinafter, the holder 400 can be interchangeably referred to as holder structure without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0045] In FIG. 4A, the holder 400 is shown for locking the bumper garnish with a right-hand, RH, side fender. Similar symmetry would be provided for the holder provided for a left-hand, LH, side fender.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 4A, the holder 400 is having a side wall 402 facing a right-hand, RH, side fender 108-R and a rear wall 404 oriented perpendicular to the side wall 402. The rear wall 404 is connected at one vertical rear edge of the side wall 402. Further, in an aspect, the rear wall 404 is extending with a horizontal flange 404-HF.
[0047] The side wall 402 is formed with a first snap 406, a second snap 408 oriented at an angle with the first snap 406, a first screw boss 410, a primary locator 412, and a pair of gap control ribs 414.
[0048] Further, the horizontal flange 404-HF of the rear wall 404 is formed with a second screw boss 416 at its top surface. Also, the horizontal flange 404-HF is having a vertical face, overlapping the rear vertical edge of the side wall 402. Said vertical face is formed with a third screw boss 418 facing the RH side fender 108-R.
[0049] FIG. 4B shows an inner side of the holder 400 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0050] FIG. 4C shows a view of the holder 400 from the side wall 402. As can be seen from FIG. 4C, the primary locator 412 is designed with a shape for adjusting holder position as per fender position variation.

[0051] FIG. 4D shows a sectional view of the second snap 408 along a reference line A-A shown in FIG. 4C. As can be seen from FIG. 4D, the second snap 408 is formed with an intermediate notch 408-N that is shaped for preassembly of the holder 400 with the bumper garnish.
[0052] FIG. 4E shows a sectional view of the first snap 406 along a reference line B-B shown in FIG. 4C.
[0053] The holder 400 shown in FIGS 4A-4E is mounted beneath one of longitudinal ends of the bumper garnish 500 shown in FIG. 5. As per an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the bumper garnish 500 may include a side wall 502 having a first snap hole 504 to receive the first snap 406 of the holder 400, a second snap hole 506 to receive the second snap 408 of the holder 400, a locator hole 508 to receive the locator 412 of the holder 400, a first screw boss hole 510 formed above the first screw boss 410 of the holder 400, a third screw boss hole 512 formed above the third screw boss 418 of the holder 400, and a pair of gap control ribs 514.
[0054] Further, the bumper garnish 500 may include a second screw boss hole 516 on a rear flange 518. The second screw boss hole 516 is formed above the second screw boss 416 of the holder 400.
[0055] FIG. 6 illustrates an intermediate step of creating a sub-assembly 600 of the holder 400 and the bumper garnish 500 by moving the holder 400 beneath the bumper garnish 500. The sub-assembly 600 is created by locking the first snap 406 in the first snap hole 504, locking the second snap 408 in the second snap hole 506, inserting the locator 412 in the locator hole 508, followed by establishing two positive connections. The two positive connections include a first connection established by inserting a first screw 602 through the first screw boss hole 510 and locking in the first screw boss 410, and a second

connection established by inserting a second screw 604 through the second screw boss hole 516 and locking in the second screw boss 416.
[0056] FIG. 7A illustrates a perspective view of the created sub-assembly 600 of the holder 400 and the bumper garnish 500 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0057] FIGS. 7B-7E illustrate different cross-sectional views of snaps and positive locks along reference lines C-C, D-D, E-E, F-F, and G-G formed on the sub-assembly 600, shown in FIG. 7A, of the holder 400 and the bumper garnish 500, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in section C-C in FIG. 7B, first, the holder 400 is located in the bumper garnish 500 with the help of locator 412. Then, as shown in sections in D-D and F-F in FIGS. 7C and 7F, the holder 400 is snap-locked in the bumper garnish 500 with the help of the second snap 408 and first snap 406 with the second snap hole 506 and the first snap hole 504 respectively. Further, as shown in sections E-E & G-G in FIGS. 7D & 7E, the sub-assembly 600 shape will hold the bumper garnish 500 together for screw mounting. Following this, the screws 602, 604 fasten the holder 400 with the garnish bumper 500.
[0058] FIG. 8 depicts a right-hand, RH, side fender 800 of a vehicle side body in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The fender 800 includes a third screw boss hole 802 for inserting a bolt 902 (FIG. 9B) through the third screw boss hole 512 and locking into the third screw boss 418. Further, the fender 800 includes a first snap hole 804 to receive and lock the first snap 406, a second snap hole 806 to receive and lock the second snap 408, and a locator hole 808 to receive the locator 412.
[0059] FIGS. 9A-9C & 10A illustrate different views of a holder assembly 900 holding the bumper garnish 500 on the fender 800 with the help of the holder 400, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0060] As shown in section H-H & l-l in FIGS. 10B & 10C, the locator 414 of the holder may help to locate the bumper garnish 500 along with the fender 800. Thereafter, as shown in section J-J & K-K in FIGS. 10D & 10E, the first snap 406 and the second snap 408 of the holder 400 are controlling the gap and level difference requirement between the bumper garnish 500 and the fender 800.
[0061] Further, as shown in section L-L in FIGS. 10F, the third screw or the bolt 902 is placed such a way to pull the bumper garnish 500 towards the fender 800 to optimize the gap control.
[0062] Yet further, to avoid the over travel, the gap control ribs 414, as shown in sections J-J & K-K in FIGS. 10D & 10E, are provided on the holder 400 in addition to the gap control ribs 514 provided on the bumper garnish 500.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0063] There is a plurality of features which are listed as technical advantages below:
[0064] The present disclosure provides a bumper garnish holding assembly for holding a bumper garnish on a vehicle side body.
[0065] The present disclosure provides a bumper garnish holding assembly that will maintain appearance quality requirements such as gap and level difference between the bumper garnish and the fenders.

[0066] The present disclosure provides a bumper garnish holding assembly that can provide easy installation of the bumper garnish on the vehicle side body.
[0067] The present disclosure provides a bumper garnish holding assembly that provide a proper packaging of a holder between the bumper garnish and the fender.
[0068] The present disclosure provides a bumper garnish holding assembly which is simple in design and very cost effective.
[0069] The present disclosure provides a bumper garnish holding assembly in which variations, in X, Y, Z directions, in the bumper garnish and the fender can be countered with the help of a locator shape, so that the bumper garnish position can be easily adjusted accordingly to the fender position.
Equivalents
[0070] 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 embodiment 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 arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter.
[0071] 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 following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0072] 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 embodiment 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 arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter. 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 following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.

WE CLAIM:

1. A bumper garnish holding assembly (900) for holding a bumper
garnish (500) on a vehicle side body, the holding assembly (900)
comprising:
a holder structure (400) mounted beneath a longitudinal end of the bumper garnish (500) to lock the bumper garnish (500) with a fender (800) of the vehicle side body, holder structure (400) is having a side wall (402) facing the fender (800), said side wall (402) being formed with a first snap (406), a second snap (408) oriented at an angle with the first snap (406), and a first screw boss (410),
wherein the first snap (406), and the second snap (408) are passed through corresponding holes (504, 506) formed in the bumper garnish (500) and are snap locked in the corresponding holes (804, 806) formed in the fender (800), so as to fit the bumper garnish (500) on the vehicle side body.
2. The holding assembly (900) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side wall (402) is formed with a primary locator (412) that passes corresponding locating recesses (508; 808) formed in the bumper garnish (500) and the fender (800).
3. The holding assembly (900) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shape of the primary locator (412) corresponds to the shape of the recesses (508; 808) formed in the bumper garnish (500) and the fender (800).
4. The holding assembly (900) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder structure (400) includes a rear wall (404), oriented perpendicular to the side wall (402), connected at one vertical rear edge of the side

wall (402), wherein the rear wall (404) being extending with a horizontal flange (404-HF) having a second screw boss (416) at its top surface, and wherein said horizontal flange (404-HF) having a vertical face, overlapping the rear vertical edge of the side wall (402), with a third screw boss (418) facing the fender (800).
5. The holding assembly (900) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first screw boss (410) formed on the holder structure (400) receives a first screw (602) through a corresponding first hole (510) formed on the bumper garnish (500) to establish a first positive connection between the holder structure (400) and the bumper garnish (500).
6. The holding assembly (900) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second screw boss (416) formed on the holder structure (400) receives a second screw (604) through a corresponding second hole (516) formed on the bumper garnish (500) to establish a second positive connection between the holder structure (400) and the bumper garnish (500).
7. The holding assembly (900) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the third screw boss (418) formed on the holder structure (400) receives a third screw (902) inserted through corresponding holes (512; 802) formed on the bumper garnish (500) and the fender (800) to establish a positive connection between the holder structure (400), the bumper garnish (500), and the fender (800).
8. The holding assembly (900) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side wall (402) is formed with a pair of gap control ribs (414) to maintain

a predefined gap between the holder structure (400) and the bumper garnish (500).
9. The holding assembly (900) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bumper garnish (500) is formed with a pair of gap control ribs (514) towards the fender (800) to maintain a predefined gap between the bumper garnish (500) and the fender (800).
10.The holding assembly (900) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second snap (408) is formed with an intermediate notch (408-N) that is shaped for preassembly of the holder (400) with the bumper garnish (500).