The present disclosure, in general, relates to a fender panel structure for a vehicle and in particular, a fender panel mounting structure on A-pillar of the vehicle. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to upper mounting structure offender panel structure at A-pillar in passenger vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention.
[0003] In general, all vehicles especially automobiles comprise a fender which is mounted at A-Pillar at rear end and at longitudinal member or headlamps at front end. The fender panel is a framing over wheel of the automobiles to prevent sand, mud, rocks, liquids, and other road spray from being thrown into the air by the rotating tire. The existing design offender panel, with sharp styling features, is not able to counter the loads acting on the fender mounting location due to weight of the fender, its surrounding parts, and fender cladding in vehicle running condition, which may result in panel cracking. The existing fender panel structure requires changes in styling surfaces to counter the load, which leads to higher development costs.
[0004] Therefore, in order to overcome the limitations of the existing fender panel structure, there is need in the art to provide for a structure to effectively counter the stresses developed due to load acting on the fender panel mounting locations due to weight of the fender, fender cladding and surrounding parts in vehicle running condition.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] It is therefore the object of the invention to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks in prior art system provide a fender panel mounting structure to mount the fender panel at A-pillar where the fender panel

upper mounting location is mounted on the A-pillar to counter the load acting on the fender mounting due to weight of the fender, fender cladding, weight of surrounding parts in vehicle running condition.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide cost effective way to counter the loads without changing the styling surface.
[0007] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a fender panel mounting structure to mount the fender panel at A-Pillar to counter the loads acting on the fender mounting due to weight of the fender, fender cladding, weight of surrounding parts in vehicle running condition.
[0009] 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.
[0010] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a fender panel mounting structure for a vehicle. A fender panel defines an upper mounting portion and a lower mounting portion along vehicle height direction. The upper mounting portion is provided to join with dash area of A-pillar and the lower mounting portion is provided to join with sill area of the A-pillar of the vehicle. The upper mounting portion comprises a connecting face extending angularly towards vehicle inside in vehicle width direction from outer surface of the fender panel and a mounting face extending angularly toward in vehicle height direction from end of the connecting face. To cater the stress generated at the upper mounting portion, a dart shape bead structure is provided at joining of the mounting face and the connecting face.

[0011] In an aspect, the dart shape bead structure defines a triangular shaped profile with rounded corners and a converging end.
[0012] In an aspect, a base end of the dart shape bead structure is provided on the mounting face and the converging end of the dart shape bead structure extends in the connecting face, where the base end is wider than the converging end.
[0013] In an aspect, the dart shape bead structure is integrated with the connecting face and the mounting face with fillets.
[0014] In an aspect the mounting face has a mounting hole to receive a fastener.
[0015] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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 DRAWINGS
[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. 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 and/or methods in

accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0019] Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of the side fender panel mounted on A-pillar of the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0020] Fig. 2 illustrates a zoomed view of the upper mounting portion of the fender panel mounted on the A-pillar of Fig. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0021] Fig. 3 illustrates a bead structure provided at the upper mounting portion of the fender panel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] 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 spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0023] 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.
[0024] 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.
[0025] 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.
[0026] 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.
[0027] The present subject matter discloses a fender panel mounting structure to mount a fender panel at A-pillar in a vehicle. The present subject matter has been developed to effectively counter stresses and to improve the rigidity at the fender panel mounting in the vehicle. The fender panel faces high stress due to the high angle between the fender mounting face and the styling surface, due to which bending moment is high resulting in higher stress at the mounting location. The present structure of fender panel provides numeral advantages, such as mitigates the high stresses developed at the mounting face thereby preventing fender panel cracking. Further, the present invention eliminates the requirement of change in styling surface of fender thereby reducing the cost incurred in development or remaking offender panel.
[0028] As shown in fig. 1, arrow X indicates longitudinal direction along vehicle length, arrow Y indicates vertical direction along vehicle height, and arrow Z indicates transverse direction along vehicle width.

[0029] As shown in figure 1, the present subject matter discloses a fender panel structure 200 having mounting provisions as front end 200a and at rear end 200b. In an aspect, the fender panel structure 200 can have mounting provisions at other locations as well apart from the mounting provisions at front end 200a and at rear end 200b. The rear end 200b of the fender panel structure 200 is mounted on A-pillar 100 of the vehicle 300, generally at two locations, such as at upper location or top location and at lower location or bottom location. Although, two mounting locations at the rear end 200b are shown in figure 1, more than two mounting locations can be provided. Accordingly, combination of mounting locations of the fender panel structure 200 with the A-pillar in the present subject matter is referred as fender panel mounting structure. The fender panel structure 200 defines an upper mounting portion 201 and a lower mounting portion 202 at rear end 200b. The upper mounting portion 201 and the lower mounting portion 202 are placed in a direction along vehicle height 'Y'. The upper mounting portion 201 is provided to join with dash area of the A-pillar 100 and the lower mounting portion 202 is provided to join with sill area of the A-pillar 100 of the vehicle 300.
[0030] As shown in figure 2, the upper mounting portion 201 which further comprises a connecting face 201b which extends angularly towards vehicle inside in the vehicle width direction (Z) from outer surfaces 200c, 200d of the fender panel structure 200. The outer surfaces 200c, 200d define styling surface of the fender panel structure 200 which remain visible from side of the vehicle 300. The outer surfaces 200c, 200d of the fender panel structure 200 are two styling surfaces extending along vehicle length direction 'X' to define curve profile for wheel cut.
[0031] The upper mounting portion 201 further comprises a mounting face 201a which extends angularly in the vehicle height direction ' Y' from an end of the connecting face 201b.
[0032] Referring to figure 3, a dart shape bead structure 204 is provided at joining of the mounting face 201a and the connecting face 201b of the upper

mounting portion 201. The dart shape bead structure 204 is a triangular-shaped profile with rounded corners and a converging end.
[0033] The dart shape bead structure 204 defines a base end 204b and a converging end 204a. The base end 204b of the dart shape bead structure 204 is provided on the mounting face 201a and the dart shape bead structure 204 extends in the connecting face 201b and converges to define converging end 204a. The base end 204b of the dart shaped bead structure 204 is wider than the converging end 204a. The dart shape bead structure 204 is integrated with the connecting face 201b and the mounting face 201a with fillets.
[0034] In an aspect, the dart shape bead structure 204 is designed such that larger area of the dart shape bead structure 204 lies on the mounting face 201a and smaller area of the dart shape bead structure 204 lies on the connecting face 201b.
[0035] The fender panel mounting structure 200 has the mounting face 201a which provides a mounting hole to receive a fastener to mount the fender panel structure 200 with the A-pillar 100 at upper mounting location 201.
[0036] Thus, the fender panel structure 200 with a dart shape bead structure 204 provided at joining of the mounting face 201a and the connecting face 201b stiffens the fender panel structure 200 and reduces the stresses developed at upper mounting location and improves the rigidity of the mounting face 201a of fender panel structure 200 of the vehicle 300.
Technical advantages:
[0037] With the present disclosure, the stresses developed at fender panel mounting location due to weight of fender panel, fender cladding and weight of surrounding parts under vehicle running condition are countered effectively and diverted to other parts in a uniform manner.
[0038] With the present disclosure, the rigidity at the mounting face of the fender panel structure of the vehicle is improved.
[0039] With the present disclosure, the development and styling costs of the fender panel structure is reduced.

[0040] With the present disclosure, sharp styling features can be incorporated at A-pillar mounting area to enhance overall appearance of the vehicle.
[0041] It should be understood, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the discussion herein, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as "receiving," or "determining," or "retrieving," or "controlling," or "comparing," or the like, refer to the action and processes of an electronic control unit, or similar electronic device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the control unit's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the control unit memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.
[0042] Further, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the 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.
[0043] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
[0044] 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.
[0045] Reference Numerals

Reference Numeral Description
100 A-pillar
200 Fender panel structure
200a Front end of the fender panel structure
200b Rear end of the fender panel structure
200c, 200d Outer styling surfaces of the fender panel structure
201 Upper mounting portion
201a A mounting face
201b A connecting face
202 A lower mounting portion
203 Frond end mounting portion
204 Dart shape bead structure
204a Converging end of the dart shape bead structure
204b Base end of the dart shape bead structure

Claim:

1. A fender panel structure (200) for a vehicle (300) comprising:
an upper mounting portion (201) and a lower mounting portion (202) along vehicle height direction (Y), wherein the upper mounting portion (201) is provided to join with dash area of A-pillar (100) and the lower mounting portion (202) is provided to join with sill area of the A-pillar (100) of the vehicle (300);
the upper mounting portion (201) comprises:
a connecting face (201b) extending angularly towards vehicle inside in vehicle width direction (Z) from outer surfaces (200c, 200d) of the fender panel structure (200); and
a mounting face (201a) extending angularly in vehicle height direction (Y) from an end of the connecting face (201b);
characterized in that
a dart shape bead structure (204) is provided at joining of the mounting face (201a) and the connecting face (201b).
2. The fender panel structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dart shap e bead structure (204) defines a triangular shaped profile with rounded corne rs and a converging end.
3. The fender panel structure (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein a base end ( 204b) of the dart shape bead structure (204) is provided on the mounting fac e (201a) and a converging end (204a) of the dart shape bead structure ( 204) extends in the connecting face (201b), where the base end (204b) is wider than the converging end (204a).
4. The fender panel structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dart shap e bead structure (204) is integrated with the connecting face (201b) and the m ounting face (201a) with fillets.
5. The fender panel structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mountin g face (201a) has a mounting hole to receive a fastener.

6. The fender panel structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein larger area of the dart shape bead structure (204) lies on the mounting face (201a) and smaller area of the dart shape bead structure (204) lies on the connecting face (201b).