Description:A FENDER MOUNTING BRACKET

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter described herein relates to a fender mounting in a vehicle. The present invention is particularly related to a fender mounting bracket for mounting a front fender panel and a side sill guard of a vehicle to counter the load acting on the fender mounting due to the weight of the fender, the fender cladding and the side sill guard in a vehicle running condition.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present subject matter. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] The fender is an outer plate of a vehicle body. Its primary purpose is to prevent sand, mud, rocks, liquids, and other road spray from being thrown into the air by the rotating tire.
[0004] The fender panel is mostly a styling-driven component that is installed in a variety of locations throughout the vehicle body (more specifically on the vehicle side body near tires). The maximum length of the fender is at the A-Pillar area, as shown in FIG.1 (a) (running from the dash area on the top to the sill area at the bottom).
[0005] FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 1(b) illustrate a conventional fender mounting bracket. Under vehicle operating conditions, the maximum load due to the weight of the fender and side sill guard occurs at the two mounting locations (101) along the length (102) of the fender panel (103). As a result, the fender design at the mounting locations (101) is particularly important. Due to the weight of the fender panel (103), styling components such as fender cladding and side sill guard are positioned on the fender bracket (104), and therefore stresses are developed at the fender mounting locations (101) on the A-pillar/side sill mounting location.
[0006] In an existing design, the fender mounting locations (101) in the fender bracket (104) and the side sill guard mounting location (105) in the fender bracket (104) are both along the fender mounting axis.
[0007] But due to change in styling, the mounting point of the side sill guard with the fender is shifted in the WL direction. This eccentricity between side sill guard mounting point and fender mounting points results in uneven bending of the fender bracket and significant stress in the mounting area. Therefore, panel cracking occurs when high stresses are generated at fender mounting location.
[0008] The current fender bracket design is not capable of withstanding additional stress. Further, changing the styling surface is one possible solution to the problem, but this will have an impact on the vehicle's appearance and will also increase development costs which is not recommended.
[0009] Therefore, it is required to provide a design that mitigates the stresses uniformly by distributing them across the fender bracket.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] It forms an object of the present disclosure to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks/limitations in the existing solutions available in the form of related prior arts.
[0011] It is a primary object of the present disclosure to provide a design of a fender mounting bracket that mitigates the high stresses developed at the mounting face thereby preventing panel cracking.
[0012] It is another object of the present disclosure to eliminate the changes in styling surfaces of fender panel thereby reducing development costs.
[0013] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide stiffness in the bracket to reduce high displacement in the fender panel mounting and sill cladding mounting region.
[0014] 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
[0015] A solution to one or more drawbacks of existing technology and additional advantages are provided through 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.
[0016] The present disclosure provides a solution in the form of a fender mounting bracket for mounting a front fender panel and a side sill guard of a vehicle. The fender mounting bracket has a plane having two surfaces, wherein one surface is a curved surface and another surface is a step surface continuing from the curved surface, wherein a first mounting hole is provided on the step surface and a plurality of second and third mounting holes is provided on ends of the curved surface, longitudinal legs protruding out of the fender mounting bracket, wherein a first leg protrudes on a right side of the step surface and is extended to be welded to a front door hinge reinforcement, wherein a second leg protrudes from a left side of the curved surface of the fender mounting bracket and is welded to a side body outer panel, wherein the first leg and the second leg are positioned in along the fender mounting axis.
[0017] In an aspect, the first leg has a longitudinal bead.
[0018] In an aspect, the first leg is extended to be welded to a front door hinge reinforcement at a plurality of welding spots.
[0019] In an aspect, the third and fourth legs are extended from a top side of the fender mounting bracket and wherein the third and fourth legs are parallel to each other.
[0020] In an aspect, a fifth leg is provided on lower end of the curved surface.
[0021] In an aspect, the first and the second mounting holes are provided along the fender mounting axis.
[0022] In an aspect, the first and the second holes are adapted to connect the fender with the fender mounting bracket using nuts and bolts.
[0023] In an aspect, the third hole is adapted to connect the side sill guard with the fender mounting bracket.
[0024] 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 ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0025] 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 present disclosure 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:
[0026] Fig. 1(a) illustrates an A-pillar of the vehicle according to the prior art;
[0027] Fig. 1(b) illustrates fender panel and side sill guard mounting locations on the fender bracket according to the prior art;
[0028] Fig. 2 illustrates the fender mounting bracket according to the present disclosure;
[0029] Fig. 3 illustrates an isometric view of the fender mounting bracket according to the present disclosure;
[0030] Fig. 4 illustrates an assembly of the fender panel on the fender mounting bracket according to the present disclosure.
[0031] 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 OF INVENTION
[0032] 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 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 spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0033] 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.
[0034] 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 be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0035] 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.
[0036] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration of specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0037] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0038] The present invention discloses a fender mounting bracket for mounting a fender panel and a side sill guard. The fender mounting bracket reduces stresses developed at a bottom of an A-pillar/side sill mounting location due to the weight of the fender panel and styling components like fender cladding and side sill guard. The fender mounting bracket is provided with extended legs along the fender mounting axis to enhance the stiffness at the A-pillar/side sill mounting location.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 2, discloses the fender mounting bracket (200) provided at the bottom of the A-pillar/side sill mounting location. The fender mounting bracket (200) is used for mounting the fender panel (103) and the side sill guard. The fender mounting bracket (200) is mounted on the side body outer panel (210).
[0040] The fender mounting bracket (200) includes a plane (201) that has two surfaces. One surface is a curved surface (202) and another surface is a step surface (203) that is continuing from the curved surface (202). The step surface (203) has a first mounting hole (204), while the curved surface (202) has a second and third mounting holes (205, 206).
[0041] The fender mounting bracket (200) further includes longitudinal legs (207, 209, 211, 212, 213) that protrude out of the fender mounting bracket (200) from the right side, left side, top side, and bottom-left side and get welded onto the side body panel (210).
[0042] In detail, the curved surface (202) has two mounting holes, i.e. the second mounting hole (205) and the third mounting hole (206). Each of the second and the third mounting holes (205, 206) is located at the opposite ends of the curved surface (202). A distance “d” in WL direction is provided between the second mounting hole (205) and the third mounting hole (206). The second mounting hole (205) is for mounting the fender panel (103) and the third mounting hole (206) is for mounting the side sill guard.
[0043] Further, the first mounting hole (204) is provided on the step surface (203) that is a continuing surface adjoining the curved surface (202). The step surface (203) is given to enhance the rigidity of the fender mounting bracket (200). The first mounting hole (204) is also for accommodating or mounting the fender panel (103). Therefore, both the first mounting hole (204) and the second mounting hole (205) are for mounting the fender panel (103).
[0044] To increase rigidity of the fender mounting bracket (200), two longitudinal legs are provided along the fender mounting axis (A-A). The first leg (207) protrudes from the right side of the step surface (203) and is extended to be welded to a front door hinge reinforcement (208) and the second leg (209) protrudes from the left side of the curved surface of the fender mounting bracket (200) and is welded to the side body outer panel (210). The first leg (207) and the second leg (209) are positioned along the fender mounting axis (A-A). The first leg (207) and the second leg (209) along the fender mounting axis (A-A) help in reducing the bending moment across the TL and BL directions, thereby reducing high displacement and stress in that region.
[0045] Furthermore, the third and fourth legs (211, 212) are extended from a top side of the fender mounting bracket (200) and are welded to the side body outer panel (210). The third and the fourth legs (211, 212) are positioned parallel to each other. A fifth leg (213) is protruded from lower end of the curved surface (202) that has the third mounting hole (206). The fifth leg (213) is provided along the side sill guard mounting axis (B-B).
[0046] Referring to FIG. 3, an isometric view of the fender mounting bracket (200) is shown. The curved surface (202) has the second and the third mounting holes (205, 206) that are provided at the opposite ends. The second and the third mounting holes (205, 206) are provided at a distance “d”in WL direction.
[0047] The step surface (203) includes the first mounting hole (204), and the first and the second mounting holes (204, 205) are for mounting the fender panel (103) whereas the third mounting hole (206) is provided for mounting the side sill guard at a distance below the fender panel (103).
[0048] Further, the third and the fourth legs (211, 212) are protruded from the top side of the fender mounting bracket (200) and are welded to the side body outer panel (210). The first leg (207) protrudes from the right side of the step surface (203) and is extended to be welded to the front door hinge reinforcement (208).
[0049] In order to provide additional rigidity, two welding spots (302a, 302b) are provided on the extended portion of the first leg (207). In addition to the extended portion provided on the first leg (207), a longitudinal bead (301) is provided on the first leg (207) to increase the rigidity of the first leg (207) as the force of deformation is highest in that region. The extended portion of the first leg (207) provides a larger surface area for connection with the front door hinge reinforcement (208). Therefore, extra support during vehicle cornering conditions as well as vehicle braking conditions is obtained.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 4, the fender panel (103) assembled on the fender mounting bracket (200) is disclosed. The fender panel (103) is mounted on the first and the second mounting holes (204, 205). The first and the second mounting holes (204, 205) are adapted to connect the fender panel (103) with the fender mounting bracket (200) by use of nuts and bolts.
[0051] Further, the fender panel (103) is provided with a step surface (401) corresponding to the step surface (203) provided in the fender mounting bracket (200) to enhance the rigidity of the mounting location. Along with the step surface (401), beads (402a, 402b) are also given for added stiffness at the bottom of the A-pillar/side sill mounting location.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0052] With the help of the solution as proposed herein in the context of the present disclosure, the fender mounting bracket mitigates the high stresses developed at the bottom of the A-pillar/side sill mounting location thereby preventing fender panel cracking.
[0053] With the application of the proposed fender mounting bracket, changes in styling surfaces of fender panel are eliminated thereby reducing development costs.
[0054] Lastly, the fender mounting bracket provides more stiffness and helps to reduce high displacement in the region.
[0055] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to disclosures 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. Also, 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 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 construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0056] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present disclosure 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 disclosure, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Also, while a feature of the present disclosure 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 disclosure. The present disclosure also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature. , Claims:We claim:
1. A fender mounting bracket (200) for mounting a front fender panel (103) and a side sill guard of a vehicle, the fender mounting bracket (200) comprises:
a plane (201) having two surfaces, wherein one surface is a curved surface (202) and another surface is a step surface (203) continuing from the curved surface (202),
wherein a first mounting hole (204) is provided on the step surface (203) and a plurality of second and third mounting holes (205, 206) is provided on ends of the curved surface (202); and
a plurality of longitudinal legs protruding out of the fender mounting bracket (200), wherein a first leg (207) protrudes from a right side of the step surface (203) and is extended to be welded to a front door hinge reinforcement (208),
wherein a second leg (209) protrudes from a left side of the curved surface (202) of the fender mounting bracket (200) and is welded to a side body outer panel (210),
wherein the first leg (207) and the second leg (209) are positioned along the fender mounting axis (A-A).

2. The fender mounting bracket (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first leg (207) has a longitudinal bead (301).

3. The fender mounting bracket (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first leg (207) is extended to be welded to a front door hinge reinforcement (208) at a plurality of welding spots (302a, 302b).

4. The fender mounting bracket (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third and fourth legs (211, 212) are extended from a top side of the fender mounting bracket (200) and wherein the third and fourth legs (211, 212) are parallel to each other.
5. The fender mounting bracket (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fifth leg (213) is provided on lower end of the curved surface (202).

6. The fender mounting bracket (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and the second mounting holes (204, 205) are provided along the fender mounting axis (A-A).

7. The fender mounting bracket (200) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first and the second holes (204, 205) are adapted to connect the fender (103) with the fender mounting bracket (200) using nuts and bolts.

8. The fender mounting bracket (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third hole (206) is adapted to connect the side sill guard with the fender mounting bracket (200).