[001] The present subject matter generally relates to mounting of a cowl structure, and in particular, to a cowl structure between a front cowl garnish and a windshield of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[002] FIG. 1 describes a conventional a cowl structure 100, depicting a front cowl garnish 104, a windshield 106, and a body panel 108. In conventional structure, an integrated channel is provided behind the front cowl garnish 104 to collect rain water and a seal 102 is provided that is overlapped with the windshield 106 for minimizing the rain water getting collected in the channel that is behind the windshield 106. This type of structure has a number of disadvantages, such as, but not limited to, time taken to assemble the parts being more and the process in itself being complex and difficult, owing to the assembly direction and channel insertion direction being different. Further, there is no support/structure provided which may prevent the front cowl garnish to slide down on application of load (direction of load shown in figure 1) and disengage from the windshield. Additionally, the level difference between the front cowl garnish top surface (or seal top surface) and windshield becomes more, thereby degrading the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle.

[003] In view of the abovementioned structural limitations and deficiencies in the solutions available in state-of-the-art, there is a practical need to devise and provide a solution that eliminates the aforesaid deficiencies, in the form of simple and convenient yet sophisticated structure of assembly between the front cowl garnish and the windshield, as described and claimed herein in the context of the present subject matter.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[004] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to the cowl structure. 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.

[005] The present subject matter relates to a cowl structure between a front cowl garnish and a windshield. The cowl structure includes a seal further comprising of a front portion having an upward opening U-shaped section for receiving an upper end of the front cowl garnish. Further, the seal includes a middle portion having a downward opening U-shaped section for resting on an upward protruding portion of a body panel and a rear portion having a lip which rests on the windshield.

[006] In an aspect, the U-shaped sections of the seal have metal inserts.

[007] In an aspect, the upward protruding portion is protruded towards a gap between the upper end of the front cowl garnish and a lower end of the windshield.

[008] In an aspect, the upward protruding portion is housed in the downward opening U-shaped section at the middle portion of the seal.

[009] In an aspect, the upward protruding portion is fixed to the body panel running parallel to the lower end of the windshield.

[0010] In an aspect, the upper end of the front cowl garnish is parallel in direction with the front portion of the seal.

[0011] In an aspect, the upward protruding portion fixed to the body panel is parallel in direction with the middle portion of the seal.

[0012] In an aspect, the upward protruding portion is an integral part of the body panel.

[0013] In an aspect, the upward protruding portion is fixed to the body panel using fixing methods, such as, welding, bolting, and fastening .

[0014] Other objects, features and advantages of the present subject matter will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the subject matter, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0015] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the present subject matter, it is believed that the present disclosure will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like reference numerals designate like structural and other elements, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional cowl structure in accordance with state-of-the-art.

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a cowl structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the cowl structure as illustrated in Fig. 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0019] 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 illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0020] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the subject matter is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the subject matter. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present subject matter as defined by the appended claims.

[0021] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present subject matter, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.

[0022] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “consisting” and/or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

[0023] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.

[0024] In addition, the descriptions of “first”, “second”, “third”, and the like in the present invention are used for the purpose of description only, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defining “first” and “second” may include at least one of the features, either explicitly or implicitly.

[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0026] Referring to FIGs. 2 and 3, there is described a cowl structure 200 between a front cowl garnish 204 and a windshield 206 of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The cowl structure 200 includes a seal 202. The seal 202 includes a front portion 210 (as illustrated in Fig. 3) having an upward opening U-shaped section for receiving an upper end 218 of the front cowl garnish 204. The seal 202 also includes a middle portion 212 (as illustrated in Fig. 3) having a downward opening U-shaped section for resting on an upward protruding portion 214. Further, the seal 202 includes a rear portion 216 having a lip 220 extended in rearward direction of the vehicle and resting on the windshield 206.

[0027] It is in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter that the cowl structure 200 includes the upward protruding portion 214 (as illustrated in Fig. 3) that is protruded towards a gap between the upper end 218 of the front cowl garnish 204 and a lower end 222 of the windshield 206. The upward protruding portion 214 is housed in the downward opening U-shaped section at the middle portion 212 of the seal 202. Further, the upward protruding portion 214 is a metallic part (for example, sheet metal or any other suitable material as can be comprehended by a person skilled in the art) which is fixed to the body panel 208 running parallel to a lower end 222 of the windshield 206. The upward protruding portion 214 is fixed to the body panel 208 using fixing methods, such as, welding, bolting, fastening, etc, as can be perceived by a person skilled in the art. In an alternative embodiment, the upward protruding portion 214 is a non-metallic part which is fixed to the body panel 208 using joining methods, such as, bolting, fastening, etc, as can be perceived by a person skilled in the art.

[0028] It is further in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter that the upward protruding portion 214 of the cowl structure 200 forms an integral part of the body panel 208 i.e., to form a single unit or in other words, the body panel 208 has an upward protruding portion 214 formed during its manufacturing process . The cowl structure 200 includes the upper end 218 of the front cowl garnish 204 that is parallel to the front portion 210 of the seal 202. Also, the upward protruding portion 214 fixed on the body panel 208 is parallel to the middle portion 212 of the seal 202. The parallelism formed between the upper end 218 and the front portion 210, and the upward protruding portion 214 and the middle portion 212 ensures ease of assembly of the seal 202 on the body panel 208, and the front cowl garnish 204 on the seal 202.

[0029] Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter, the U-shaped sections of the seal 202 have metal inserts, thereby helping improve the connections with the front cowl garnish 204 and the upward protruding portion 214 of the vehicle.

[0030] According to a further embodiment of the present subject matter, the sequence of assembly of the cowl structure 200 includes progression of the upward protruding portion 214 towards the body panel 208. Thereafter, the windshield 206 is fixed towards the body panel 208 on the assembly line, and the downward opening U-shaped section at the middle portion 212 of the seal 202 is mounted on the upward protruding portion 214. Lastly, the upper end 218 of the front cowl garnish 204 is fitted in the upward opening U-shaped section 210 of the seal 202.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES

[0031] With the help of the present disclosure, proposing a separate seal mounted on a body panel portion, and the seal having a groove for mounting a cowl garnish, the assembly of the parts become fairly simple and easy as it is done only in a single direction.

[0032] The present subject matter is further enabled to provide a support structure for the cowl garnish, thereby preventing the cowl garnish from sliding down on application of the load. Additionally, the arrangement of the assembly as proposed in the present subject matter results in an aesthetic appeal considering the minimized level difference between the seal and a vehicle windshield.

[0033] Furthermore, the cowl structure of the type as proposed in the present subject matter makes sure no separate adhesive is required to fix the seal with the windshield or any other part as had been the case in the solutions available in state-of-the-art, thereby making the assembly cost effective.

[0034] Furthermore, each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the “invention” may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the “invention” will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.

[0035] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims.

[0036] Furthermore, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.

[0037] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.

[0038] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the present disclosure is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

Claims:We Claim:
1. A cowl structure (200) between a front cowl garnish (204) and a windshield (206), the cowl structure (200) comprises:
a seal (202) comprising:
a front portion (210) having an upward opening U-shaped section for receiving an upper end (218) of the front cowl garnish (204);
a middle portion (212) having a downward opening U-shaped section for resting on an upward protruding portion (214) of a body panel (208); and
a rear portion (216) having a lip (220) resting on the windshield (206).

2. The cowl structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the U-shaped sections of the seal (202) have metal inserts.

3. The cowl structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upward protruding portion (214) is protruded towards a gap between the upper end (218) of the front cowl garnish (204) and a lower end (222) of the windshield (206).

4. The cowl structure (200) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the upward protruding portion (214) is housed in the downward opening U-shaped section at the middle portion 212 of the seal 202.

5. The cowl structure (200) as claimed in any of claims 1 and 3, wherein the upward protruding portion (214) is fixed to the body panel (208) running parallel to the lower end (222) of the windshield (206).
6. The cowl structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper end (218) of the front cowl garnish (204) is parallel in direction with the front portion (210) of the seal (202).

7. The cowl structure (200) as claimed in any of claims 1 and 5, wherein the upward protruding portion (214) fixed to the body panel (208) is parallel in direction with the middle portion (212) of the seal (202).
8. The cowl structure (200) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the upward protruding portion (214) fixed to the body panel (208) is an integral part of the body panel (208).

9. The cowl structure (200) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the upward protruding portion (214) is fixed to the body panel (208) using fixing methods, such as, welding, bolting, and fastening.