[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to a structure of a fender lining in a vehicle. More particular, to a guiding or self-aligning structure of the fender lining to facilitate mating and alignment of the fender lining with a side sill guard on a vehicle assembly line.
BACKGROUND:
[002] In general, in a vehicle assembly line which can also be referred as a vehicle fitment line a liner is attached to a main white body of a vehicle prior being attached to a side sill guard. This mechanism is usually followed as a part of a multiple integration strategy or in accordance with assembly line sequence. Once a liner has been attached to a main white body of a vehicle a side sill guard is subsequently attached to a liner using clip fasteners. During such an assembly process, the operator encounters a blind spot at the lower portion of a vehicle body and as a consequence the alignment of a liner with a side sill guard gets affected thereby leads to parts deformation and increasing the assembly time of a vehicle.
[003] In the prior art document US10363969B2, a rocker molding is provided which includes a side wall part and an extending part. Further, a rear liner is attached to the extending part and the outer surface comprises of a first and a second protruding portions. An edge of the rear liner on the side far from the vehicle width center and an edge of the second protruding strip part of the extending part on the side near the vehicle width center position in the vehicle width direction extend in parallel.
[004] In another prior art document JP4257170B2, a side splash guard is provided installed at a lower part of side body panel towards the longitudinal direction of a vehicle body and at a front portion of the side splash guard a front wall is present which faces the front side of a vehicle body. Further, the guard comprises of a side and a bottom walls and a cut part for absorbing the expansion or contraction of the side splash guard.
[005] Another prior art document JP2000016342A, provides a synthetic resin side mud guard fitted to a rocker part of a lower edge of a side surface part of a vehicle body so as to cover the rocker part. A fitting piece is connected to an end of a body of the side mud guard, extending from an end of the rocker part through a thin-walled integral hinge, is provided, and returned by the integral hinge, and the fitting piece is screwed to the end of the rocker part. Locking means to lock the fitting piece to the end of the side mud guard are provided on the end of the side mud guard body.
[006] Technical problem: During an assembly of a fender lining with a side sill guard, a blind spot is created on a rear portion of the side sill guard for an operator which leads to a misalignment of the fender lining mounting flange with the side sill guard flange and thus, hindering the process of fastening on a vehicle assembly line. Such a misalignment also causes deformations in the fender lining or the side sill guard and increases the assembly time of a vehicle on the vehicle assembly line.
[007] This problem also is exacerbated when the fender lining suffers a damage or wear and tear during mating with the side sill guard leading to an increase in the vehicle assembly time and resulting into a loss of productivity and decrease in efficiency of the complete vehicle assembling process.
[008] As the side sill guard is a large sized non-structural resin parts that tends to sag/bend while handling. Also, manufacturing tolerances play a significant role while locating the side sill guard flange with fender lining mounting flange.
[009] Therefore, there is need in the art to provide a self-aligning or guiding structure which facilitates the assembly of fender lining with the side sill guard on a vehicle assembly line such that there is no deformation of the fender lining structure and the time consumed in such an assembly process is also reduced to a large extent.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[0010] It is therefore the object of the subject matter to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks in prior structures.
[0011] The principal objective of the present subject matter is to provide a guiding structure for facilitating mating and alignment of a fender lining with a side sill guard on a vehicle assembly line.
[0012] Another object of the present subject matter is to reduce assembly time of a vehicle on a vehicle assembly line.
[0013] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a method for assembly of the fender lining structure and the side sill guard in the vehicle assembly line.
[0014] Another object of the present subject matter is to prevent deformation of the fender lining structure during fastening of the fender lining with the side sill guard.
[0015] 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 accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0016] One or more drawbacks of conventional mechanism for assembling a fender lining with a side sill guard are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the fender lining structure as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0017] The present subject matter relates to a fender lining structure for assembling a fender lining with a side sill guard in a vehicle. The fender lining structure defines an arc shape structure configured to mount underbody of a vehicle. The fender lining structure comprising a guiding flange provided at a lower portion of the fender lining structure, the guiding flange having a first side edge and a second side edge; a mounting flange provided at the lower portion of the fender lining structure; a guiding structure defined a L shaped structure where horizontal portion extend along the first side edge of the guiding flange in vehicle forward direction (X) and vertical portion extend forward in vehicle width direction (Y) from edge portion of the horizontal portion; and a plurality of ribs joins tip of the vertical portion and the first side edge and define a sliding profile.
[0018] In an aspect, a gap along vehicle length direction (X’) is provided in between the vertical portion of the guiding structure and the mounting flange.
[0019] In an aspect, an open notch-shaped section is provided in between joining of the guiding flange and the mounting flange at top portion of the guiding structure directed inwards to the fender lining.
[0020] In an aspect, the plurality of ribs are in triangular shape and equally spaced on the guiding structure.
[0021] In an aspect, the guiding structure is manufactured by means of molding process.
[0022] In an aspect, the fender lining structure is composed of a plastic resin material.
[0023] Another embodiment of the present subject matter discloses a method for assembly of a fender lining structure and a side sill guard in a vehicle. The method comprising mounting the fender lining structure underbody of a fender of the vehicle; mounting the side sill guard on side sill of the vehicle; mounting a first mating flange of the side sill guard with mounting flange of the fender lining structure; and mounting a second mating flange of the side sill guard with a guiding flange of the fender lining structure, wherein the guiding flange comprises a guiding structure on inner surface to facilitate alignment of the second mating flange with the guiding flange.
[0024] In an aspect, the fender lining structure comprises an open-notch shaped section to facilitate bending of the guiding flange during alignment of the second mating flange of the side sill guard with the guiding flange.
[0025] In an aspect, the fender lining structure is assembled with the side sill guard by means of clip fasteners or clipping studs or any other form of clipping.
[0026] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0027] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] 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, 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 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:
[0029] Fig. 1a illustrates a projected side view of an interface of a fender lining structure and a side sill guard in a vehicle body, in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0030] Fig. 1b illustrates a front perspective of before-assembly view of a fender lining and a side sill guard in a vehicle body, in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0031] Fig. 1c illustrates a front perspective of after-assembly view of a fender lining and a side sill guard in a vehicle body, in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0032] Fig. 1d illustrates an isometric view of a fender lining structure at an interface of a fender lining and a side sill guard in a vehicle body, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0033] Fig. 2a illustrates a three-dimensional view of an alignment between a fender lining and a side sill guard, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0034] Fig. 2b, 2c, and 2d illustrate different views, for example, front view in Fig. 2b, rear view in Fig. 2c, and left side view in Fig. 2d of the fender lining structure when viewing from front end of the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0035] Fig. 3 illustrates a rear view of a guiding structure on a guiding flange of the fender lining structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0036] Fig. 4 illustrates a method for assembly of the fender lining structure and the side sill guard on vehicle assembly line, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0037] 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:
[0038] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure 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 disclosure. 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 scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0039] 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 disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0040] 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” 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.
[0041] 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.
[0042] Unless and 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.
[0043] 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.
[0044] The present subject matter describes a structure of a fender lining. The fender lining structure defines an arc shape structure which is configured to mount under body of the vehicle, specifically wheel well to protect fender of the vehicle from dust and concrete particles. The fender lining structure is mounted on the wheel well at front lower portion and rear lower portion with bumper and side sill guard, respectively. The present fender lining structure that can guide an alignment of the fender lining with the side sill guard during the assembly of a vehicle on an assembly line. Firstly, the fender lining structure is mounted on a main white body of the vehicle prior being attached to the side sill guard. This mechanism was usually followed as a part of a multiple integration strategy or in accordance with assembly line sequence. Once the fender lining was attached to a main white body of a vehicle, a side sill guard was subsequently attached to the fender lining using clip fasteners.
[0045] However, during such an assembly process, the operator encountered a blind spot at the lower portion of a vehicle body and as a consequence chances of a misalignment of the lining with the side sill guard thus, increasing the assembly time of the vehicle. The present fender lining structure provides a guiding mechanism to ensure a correct alignment of the fender lining with the side sill guard in a vehicle body assembly.
[0046] The present subject matter relates to the fender lining structure at rear lower portion which facilitates mounting of the side sill guard. Therefore, the present disclosure avoids explanation of other features of the fender lining structure.
[0047] As shown in Fig. 1a, arrow YY’ indicates vehicle width direction, arrow XX’ indicated vehicle length direction. Specifically view from the fender lining structure, arrow X indicates vehicle forward direction, X’ indicates vehicle rearward direction, arrow Y indicates vehicle rightward direction, and arrow Y’ indicates vehicle leftward direction.
[0048] Referring to FIG.1a which illustrates a projected side view of an interface of a fender lining and a side sill guard in a vehicle body, a fender lining structure 100 is attached to a side sill guard 200 of a vehicle body. The connecting area 101 illustrates a detailed view of the interface between the fender lining structure 100 and the side sill guard 200 at a rear lower portion of the fender lining structure 100 of the vehicle body. The fender lining structure 100 is fastened to the side sill guard 200 by means of clipping fasteners 104 or clipping studs or any other form of clipping mechanisms.
[0049] Further, in FIG. 1b illustrates a front view of the fender lining structure 100 and the side sill guard 200 before-assembly stage during the vehicle assembly process and FIG. 1c illustrates a front view of the fender lining structure 100 and the side sill guard 200 after-assembly stage during the vehicle assembly process which shows the mechanism of mating of the two parts, i.e., the fender lining structure 100 and the side sill guard 200 of the vehicle in accordance with the present subject matter.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 1b, the fender lining structure 100 includes a guiding flange 102 and a mounting flange 103 which are provided at rear lower portion that is towards the side sill of the vehicle. The guiding flange 102 and the mounting flange 103 at a lower rear portion of the fender lining structure 100 for connecting the fender lining structure 100 with the side sill guard 200. The guiding flange 102 guides the side sill guard 200. The side sill guard 200 mounts on the mounting flange 103 at one portion and on the guiding flange 102 at other portion. Both the guiding flange 102 and the mounting flange 103 are disposed in lateral direction (vehicle width direction) of the fender lining structure 100. The guiding flange 102 in combination with the side sill guard 200 act as splash guard.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 1b and FIG. 1d, the side sill guard 200 comprises a first mating flange 201 and a second mating flange 202. The first mating flange 201 is configured to join with the mounting flange 103 and the second mating flange 202 is configured to join with the guiding flange 102. The mounting flange 103 is provided to guide the second mating flange 202 of the side sill guard 200 to align with the guiding flange 102 of the fender lining structure 100 for joining/mounting via fasteners. The guiding flange 102 has a first side edge 102a and a second side edge 102b. The first side edge 102a is provided towards outer side of the vehicle to receive the second mating flange202 of the side sill 200. The second side edge 102b is provided on the opposite end of the first side edge 102a. The second side edge 102b faces inner portion of the vehicle under body whereas the first side edge 102a faces outer side of the vehicle.
[0052] An open notched shaped section 106 is provided in between the guiding flange 102 and the mounting flange 103. The open notched shaped section 106 allows the mounting flange 102 to flex/bend upto Y deg while accommodating the second mating flange 202 of the side sill guard 200 with manufacturing tolerances (for example, Z mm) thereby preventing deformation of the second mating flange 202 and the guiding flange 102.
[0053] Fig. 2a, Fig. 2b, Fig. 2c, and Fig. 2d illustrate an assembled front view of the fender lining structure and the side sill guard, front view in Fig. 2b from vehicle front side viewing, side view in Fig. 2c from vehicle side and back view of the fender lining structure in Fig. 2d from vehicle rear side viewing in forward direction of the fender lining structure 100. As shown in Fig. 1d, the guiding flange 102 and the mounting flange 103 are separated by the open notch-shaped section 106 and a gap 105 is defined in between the guiding flange 102 and the mounting flange 103 along vehicle length direction (XX’) to receive the second mating flange 202 of the side sill guard 200.
[0054] As shown in Fig. 2c, and Fig. 3 that illustrate a rear view of the lower portion of the fender lining structure 100 when viewing from rear side of the vehicle. The guiding flange 102 defines a guiding structure 300 that is disposed on an inner surface facing the mounting flange 103 or facing the second mating flange 202 of the side sill guard or facing the side sill of the vehicle. The guiding structure 300 defines a L shaped structure where horizontal portion 300a extend along the first side edge 102a of the guiding flange 102 in vehicle forward direction (X) and a vertical portion 300b extend forward in vehicle width direction (Y’) from edge portion 300ab of the horizontal portion 300a. Further, a plurality of ribs 301 joins tip of the vertical portion 300b and the first side edge 102a to define a sliding profile/ inclined profile.
[0055] The horizontal portion 300a defines a width 300c which is less than width 300d of the vertical portion 300b. In another embodiment, width 300c of the horizontal portion 300a is more than the width 300d of the vertical portion 300b. In yet another embodiment, the width 300c of the horizontal portion 300a is equal to the width 300d of the vertical portion 300b.
[0056] The plurality of ribs 301 defines a triangular shape, specifically, right angle triangle where longest side, i.e., hypotenuse define the sliding profile and other vertical and horizontal sides join with vertical and horizontal sides of the L shaped guiding structure 300. Each of the rib from the plurality of ribs 301 are equally spaced from each other on inner surface of the L shaped structure. The sliding profile of the plurality of ribs 301 faces the mounting flange 103 to facilitate alignment of the guiding flange 102 and the second mating flange 202 for mounting.
[0057] In an embodiment, the guiding structure 300 is an integrated part of the fender lining structure 100 and manufactured by means of molding process. In another embodiment, the guiding structure 300 can be a separate part that can be attached with the first side edge 102a of the guiding flange 102 to facilitate mounting of the side sill guard 200. The guiding structure 300 can be attached by means of any adhesive material or by means of welding, such as spot welding or by means of fasteners. The guiding structure 300 may be made of same material as of the fender lining structure 100 or may be made of different material. In an embodiment, the fender lining structure is made of plastic resin material.
[0058] The sliding profile of the plurality of ribs 301 ensures intended alignment of the guiding flange 102 of the fender lining structure 100 and the second mating flange 202 of the side sill guard 200 for a proper fastening without any chances of deformation in the fender lining. The fender lining structure 100 further includes an open notch-shaped section 106 provided on the top portion of the guiding structure 300 and directed inwards towards the fender lining. The open notch-shaped section 106 facilitates the fastening of the fender lining structure 100 with the side sill guard 200 during the assembly of a vehicle.
[0059] Fig. 4 illustrates a method 400 for assembly of the fender lining structure 100 with the side sill guard 200 in the vehicle.
[0060] At step 401, the method includes mounting the fender lining structure 100 with underbody of a fender of the vehicle.
[0061] At step 402, the method includes mounting the side sill guard 200 on side sill of the vehicle.
[0062] At step 403, the method includes mounting a first mating flange 201 of the side sill guard 200 with the mounting flange 103 of the fender lining structure 100.
[0063] At step 404, the method includes mounting a second mating flange 202 of the side sill guard 200 with a guiding flange 102 of the fender lining structure 100. The guiding flange 102 comprises a guiding structure 300 on inner surface to facilitate alignment of the second mating flange 202 with the guiding flange 102. An open-notch shaped section 106 provide on the fender lining structure 100 facilitates bending of the guiding flange 102 during alignment of the second mating flange 202 of the side sill guard 200 with the guiding flange 102. After aligning the fender lining structure 100 with the side sill guard 200, the fender lining structure 100 and the side sill guard 200 are joined by means of clip fasteners 104 or clipping studs or any other form of clipping.
[0064] 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.”
[0065] 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 of 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.
[0066] 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 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.
[0067] Reference Numerals
Reference Numeral Description
100 Fender lining structure
101 Joining portion
102 Guiding flange
103 Mounting flange
104 Clipping fasteners or clipping studs or any other form of clipping mechanism on the side sill guard
105 Gap
106 Open notch-shaped section
102a First side edge
102b Second side edge
200 Side sill guard
201 First mating flange
202 Second mating flange
300 Guiding structure
301 Plurality of ribs
300a Horizontal portion
300b Vertical portion
300ab Edge of the horizontal portion
300c Width of the horizontal portion 300a
300d Width of the vertical portion 300b

We claim:

1. A fender lining structure (100) defines an arc shape structure configured to mount underbody of a vehicle, the fender lining structure (100) comprising:
a guiding flange (102) provided at a rear lower portion of the fender lining structure (100), the guiding flange (102) define a first side edge (102a) and a second side edge (102b);
a mounting flange (103) provided at the rear lower portion of the fender lining structure (100); and
characterized in that,
a guiding structure (300) defined a L shaped structure where horizontal portion (300a) extend along the first side edge (102a) of the guiding flange (102) in vehicle forward direction (X) and vertical portion (300b) extend forward in vehicle width direction (Y) from edge portion (300ab) of the horizontal portion (300a); and
a plurality of ribs (301) joins tip of the vertical portion (300b) and the first side edge (102a) to define a sliding profile.

2. The fender lining structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a gap (105) along vehicle length direction (X’) is provided in between the vertical portion (300b) of the guiding structure (300) and the mounting flange (103).
3. The fender lining structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an open notch-shaped section (106) is provided in between joining of the guiding flange (102) and the mounting flange (103) at top portion of the guiding structure (300) directed inwards to the fender lining structure (100).
4. The fender lining structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of ribs (301) are in triangular shape and equally spaced on the guiding structure (300).
5. The fender lining structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding structure (300) is manufactured by means of molding process.
6. The fender lining structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, the fender lining structure (100) is composed of a plastic resin material.
7. A method (400) for assembly of a fender lining structure (100) and a side sill guard (200) in a vehicle, the method (400) comprising:
mounting (401) the fender lining structure (100) underbody of a fender of the vehicle;
mounting (402) the side sill guard (200) on side sill of the vehicle;
mounting (403) a first mating flange (201) of the side sill guard (200) with a mounting flange (103) of the fender lining structure (100); and
mounting (404) a second mating flange (202) of the side sill guard (200) with a guiding flange (102) of the fender lining structure (100),
wherein the guiding flange (102) comprises a guiding structure (300) on inner surface to facilitate alignment of the second mating flange (202) with the guiding flange (102).
8. The method (400) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fender lining structure (100) comprises an open-notch shaped section (106) to facilitate bending of the guiding flange (102) during alignment of the second mating flange (202) of the side sill guard (200) with the guiding flange (102).
9. The method (400) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fender lining structure (100) is assembled with the side sill guard (200) by means of clip fasteners (104) or clipping studs (104) or any other form of clipping (104a, 104b).