[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to a vehicle construction and more particularly, relates to a cowl side garnish that covers a region disposed between a windshield, fender and a bonnet/hood of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
[002] In order to enhance the appearance of an area around an engine room in a vehicle, cowl garnishes are being widely used in recent years. The cowl garnish is installed in a space between a fender and a rear corner of a hood, and covers the part of an engine room, thereby improving the appearance of an area around the engine room. The cowl garnish is prone to hinder the vehicle from absorbing energy from externally applied impacts appropriately.
[003] To conceive the above phenomena, a breaking / rupture zone is generally provided currently only in center cowl garnish considering the adverse impact energy absorption only at center portion of vehicle. However, conventional solutions do not provide optimum results for impacts near hood rear-end regions, in case a pedestrian's head strikes at side hood rear-end region during an impact. Further, the breaking / rupture zone being provided on the center cowl garnish considering central impacts will not be able to distribute load effectively in cases of side hood rear-end impacts. This may cause major injury to pedestrian, and hence pedestrian's safety is compromised with conventional solutions.
[004] Indian Patent publication IN201714038917A provides: a cowl top garnish 4 has a garnish center part 7 on a vehicle inner side and a garnish end portion 8 on a vehicle outer side in a vehicle width direction, has a valley-shaped portion 9 formed along a vehicle longitudinal direction between the garnish center part 7 and the garnish end portion 8, the garnish center part 7 and the garnish end portion 8 are located by sandwiching the valley-shaped portion 9, a cowl side garnish 5 is arranged so as to cover the valley-shaped portion 9, one end portion 5a of the cowl side garnish 5 is fixed to the garnish center part 7, while the other end

portion 5b of the cowl side garnish 5 is fixed to the garnish end portion 8, and a top surface portion 8a of the garnish end portion 8 is provided at a position higher than a top surface portion 7a of the garnish center part 7.
[005] However, the assembly, shape, operation and location of the parts mentioned in the prior art are not similar with the present disclosure. Further, the cowl top garnish as disclosed in the Indian Patent prior art provides a conventional solution wherein the breaking / rupture zone is provided with the center cowl garnish.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[006] The principal objective of the present invention is to provide a cowl side garnish with improved load distribution capability during a pedestrian impact in side hood rear-end regions to provide increased pedestrian safety.
[007] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a simple, cost effective, and efficiently designed cowl side garnish that is distinct from all conventional designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[008] The present invention relates to a cowl side garnish for a vehicle. The cowl side garnish includes a first segment defining a fender side connecting edge; and a second segment extending from the first segment, the second segment configured to be secured to a cowl center garnish, wherein, the first segment transitions towards the second segment through an intermediate inclined portion, the intermediate inclined portion having a breaking zone extending along the intermediate inclined portion across the cowl side garnish.
[009] In order 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 scope of the present subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] 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 described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods 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:
[0011] Fig. 1 illustrates a cowl garnish structure for a vehicle (not shown);
[0012] Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a cowl side garnish in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0013] Fig. 3a illustrates a cross sectional view of the cowl side garnish about a plane A-A of Fig. 2;
[0014] Fig. 3b illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of the cowl side garnish of Fig. 3 a;
[0015] Fig. 4a and 4b respectively illustrate the cowl side garnish of Fig. 2 before and after an impact;
[0016] Fig. 5 illustrates a graph providing a comparison of impact acceleration vs. time between conventional cowl garnish designs (curve 500b) and the cowl side garnish as per present disclosure (curve 500a); and
[0017] Fig. 6a - 6b illustrate different designs of the cowl side garnish (100) in accordance with different embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0018] 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.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0019] The present disclosure presents embodiments for a cowl side garnish for a vehicle. The cowl side garnish includes a first segment defining a fender side connecting edge; and a second segment extending from the first segment, the second segment configured to be secured to a cowl center garnish, wherein, the first segment transitions towards the second segment through an intermediate inclined portion, the intermediate inclined portion having a breaking zone extending along the intermediate inclined portion across the cowl side garnish.
[0020] 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 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 following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0021] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject

matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
[0022] Fig. 1 illustrates a cowl garnish structure (90) for a vehicle (not shown). 5 The cowl garnish structure (90) is generally provided on front of a vehicle, such that the cowl garnish structure (90) is generally secured with a hood, a fender, and a windshield of the vehicle. In an example, the cowl garnish structure (90) includes a cowl center garnish (110), and a plurality of cowl side garnish (100) configured to be secured with the cowl center garnish (110).
10 [0023] Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one of the plurality of cowl side garnish (100) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the cowl side garnish (100) includes a first segment (102) defining a windshield side connecting edge (104) and a fender side connecting edge (106). In an alternate embodiment, first segment (102) may include only the fender side
15 connecting edge (106), and no windshield side connecting edge (104). In an example, the windshield side connecting edge (104) may be configured to be secured to the windshield of the vehicle, and the fender side connecting edge (106) is configured to be secured to the fender of the vehicle. The first segment (102) may be secured to the windshield and the fender of the vehicle by using
20 state of the art joining techniques as known to a person skilled in the art such as snap fit, lug fit, bolt connection etc.
[0024] Further in an embodiment, the cowl side garnish (100) includes a second segment (108) extending from the first segment (102). In an example, the second segment (108) is configured to be secured to a cowl center garnish (110). Further, 25 in an example, the second segment (108) is snap fitted to the cowl center garnish (110). Alternatively, the second segment (108) may be secured to the cowl center garnish (110) by using state of the art joining techniques as known to a person skilled in the art such as lug fit, bolt connection etc.
[0025] In an embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the first segment (102) transitions 30 towards the second segment (108) through an intermediate inclined portion (112).
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Further in an embodiment, the intermediate inclined portion (112) includes a breaking zone (114) extending between the windshield side connecting edge (104) and the fender side connecting edge (106). In an embodiment, the breaking zone (114) extends along the intermediate inclined portion (112) in the direction of 5 impact load across the cowl side garnish (100). In an example, an orientation of the breaking zone (114) may be linear, non-linear, or arcuate along the intermediate inclined portion (112) across the cowl side garnish (100).
[0026] Fig. 3a illustrates a cross sectional view of the cowl side garnish (100) about a section A-A of Fig. 2. Fig. 3b illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of
10 the cowl side garnish (100) of Fig. 3a. As shown, the intermediate inclined portion (112) includes the breaking zone (114). In an embodiment, the breaking zone (114) defines a notched/recessed channel (115) running along the intermediate inclined portion (112) across the cowl side garnish (100). In an example, the notched/recessed channel (115) may include a V notch, U notch, square notch, or
15 any other regular or irregular geometrical orientation known to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
[0027] In a practical scenario, the cowl side garnish (100) is provided on the vehicle such that the breaking zone (114) lies in the direction of an impact (See Figs. 4a-4b) and along the intermediate inclined portion (112) (See Fig. 2). In an 20 example, the impact may be striking of head of a pedestrian. In an embodiment, the cowl side garnish (100) is configured to break about the breaking zone (114) during the impact. Figs. 4a and 4b respectively illustrate the cowl side garnish (100) before and after an impact “F”.
[0028] In an embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4a and 4b, when the impact “F” is 25 applied on the cowl side garnish (100), the cowl side garnish (100) breaks along the breaking zone (114) and distributes the load of the impact “F” as F1 towards the fender through the first segment (102) and as F2 towards the cowl center garnish (110) through the second segment (108). In the present invention, the cowl side garnish (100) does not hinder the vehicle from absorbing energy from 30 externally applied impacts as impact energy is absorbed by the fender through the
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first segment (102) and by the cowl center garnish (110) through the second segment (102), as against conventional solutions, wherein energy is absorbed by center cowl garnish. Further, the current invention provides load distribution towards the fender and the cowl center garnish (110) after breaking of the cowl 5 side garnish (100) about the breaking zone (114), as against bearing of the load by conventional center cowl garnish even after breaking.
[0029] Fig. 5 illustrates a graph (500) providing a comparison of impact acceleration vs. time between conventional cowl garnish designs (curve 500b) and the cowl side garnish (100) as per current disclosure (curve 500a). A relative 10 comparison shows that impact acceleration (500a) is less for the cowl side garnish (100) of current disclosure as compared to impact acceleration (500b) associated with the conventional cowl garnish designs. Hence, the cowl side garnish (100) with a breakable zone (114) as shown in Fig. 2 reduces injuries to pedestrian’s head during an impact, as compared to the conventional cowl garnish designs.
15 [0030] Fig. 6a – 6b illustrate different designs of a cowl side garnish (600) with a breakable zone (614) in accordance with different embodiments of the present disclosure. In these embodiments, the cowl side garnish (600) includes a first segment (602) defining a fender side connecting edge (606). The cowl side garnish (600) further includes a second segment (608) extending from the first
20 segment (602). The second segment (608) is configured to be secured to a cowl center garnish (not shown), wherein, the first segment (602) transitions towards the second segment (608) through an intermediate inclined portion (612), the cowl side garnish (600) having a breaking zone (614) in the impact direction extending along the intermediate inclined portion (612) across the cowl side garnish (600).
25 [0031] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural 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/component
30 of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is
8

intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.

We claim:

A cowl side garnish (100) for a vehicle, the cowl side garnish (100) comprising:
a first segment (102) defining a fender side connecting edge (106); and
a second segment (108) extending from the first segment (102), the second segment (108) being configured to be secured to a cowl center garnish (110), wherein, the first segment (102) transitions towards the second segment (108) through an intermediate inclined portion (112), the cowl side garnish (100) having a breaking zone (114) in an impact direction extending along the intermediate inclined portion (112) across the cowl side garnish (100).
The cowl side garnish (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first segment
(102) defines a windshield side connecting edge (104) configured to be
secured to a windshield of the vehicle, and the fender side connecting edge
(106) is configured to be secured to a fender of the vehicle.
The cowl side garnish (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second
segment (108) is snap fitted to the cowl center garnish (110).
The cowl side garnish (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the breaking
zone (114) extends along the intermediate inclined portion (112).
The cowl side garnish (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein an orientation of
the breaking zone (114) is one of linear, non-linear, or arcuate as provided
along the intermediate inclined portion (112).
The cowl side garnish (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the breaking
zone (114) defines a notched/recessed channel (115) running across the
intermediate inclined portion (112).
The cowl side garnish (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
notched/recessed channel (115) is one of a V notch, U notch, square notch,
and any other regular or irregular geometrical orientation.

The cowl side garnish (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cowl side
garnish (100) is configured to break about the breaking zone (114) based on
an impact (F), the breaking zone (114) being in the direction of the impact
(F).
The cowl side garnish (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the breaking
zone (114) distributes the load of the impact (F) into a fender direction (Fl),
and a cowl center direction (F2).