TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to a system for attaching a front upper grill to a vehicle, e.g., car, truck, utility vehicle, and the like, and, more particularly, to a connection structure for attaching the front upper grill to the vehicle via at least three hook shape reinforcements.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Systems for attaching front upper grills to vehicles are known in the art. Conventionally, metal/plastic clips are used to attach middle and lower edge regions of a front upper grill to a vehicle’s grill opening reinforcement (GOR) structure in front of the vehicle's radiator, and bolts are used to attach the upper region of the front upper grill under a vehicle hood with the GOR structure.
[0004] Unfortunately, the metal/plastic clips of the front upper grill are press-fitted in recesses of a plastic reinforcement formed over the metallic body sheet, which may break or disengage from the recesses during rough operating conditions. Also, such easy disengagement of the metal/plastic clips allows mechanics to open the front upper grill from the lower region during servicing of parts, which is against the servicing manuals. Not only mechanics, but thieves can also take advantage of such removable press-fit connection of the metal/plastic clips to open the vehicle hood for stealing engine components.
[0005] Yet further, after years of conventional driving, the recesses of the plastic reinforcement may be damaged due to regular disengagement of the metal/plastic clips from the said recesses. Such damage of the reinforcement may have to be borne by the owner of the vehicle.
[0006] In view of the above, it will be apparent to the skilled artisan that there exists a need in the art for an improved system (structure) for attaching the front upper grill to a vehicle(s).
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0007] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0008] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide a connection structure for attaching the front upper grill to a vehicle via at least three hook shape reinforcements.
[0009] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a connection structure having one hook-shaped reinforcement for attachment of a middle lower region of a front upper grill and two hook-shaped reinforcements for attachment of both lower ends of a front upper grill.
[0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a connection structure having one hook-shaped reinforcement for attachment of a middle lower region of a front upper grill with a front bumper.
[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a connection structure, which after opening of the hood, allows for removing the front upper grill from upper region constrained under the vehicle hood.
[0012] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY
[0013] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a connection structure for attaching the front upper grill to the vehicle via at least three hook shape reinforcements. 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.
[0014] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a connection structure for attaching a front upper grill to a vehicle. The connection structure includes one central hook-shaped reinforcement, integrally formed at a central lower region of the front upper grill, for mounting of the front upper grill on a front bumper assembly; and two edge hook-shaped reinforcements for mounting both extreme lower ends of the front upper grill on the front bumper assembly.
[0015] In an aspect, each of the edge hook-shaped reinforcements includes a base flange and a hook portion. The base flange lies flat with the front bumper assembly in such a way that recess in the base flange sits in front of the recess of the front bumper assembly and the hook portion grips a top edge of the front bumper assembly. In said aspect, the hook portion has a hook groove size which is dependent on the thickness of the front bumper assembly.
[0016] In an aspect, the central hook-shaped reinforcement and the edge hook-shaped reinforcement are formed from a rigid material having a limited tolerance zone.
[0017] In an aspect, the two edge hook-shaped reinforcements on lower edges of the front upper grill ensure that a lower claw-shaped section of the front upper grill holds the front bumper assembly.
[0018] 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1A and 1B illustrate a conventional connection structure of attaching a front upper grill to a vehicle;
[0021] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate different views of an edge hook-shaped reinforcement for attachment of each of the lower ends of a front upper grill, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0022] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate different views of a central hook-shaped reinforcement for attachment of a central lower region of a front upper grill, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] 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.
[0024] 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.
[0025] 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.
[0026] 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.
[0027] 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.
[0028] Embodiments explained herein pertain to a connection structure for attaching the front upper grill to the vehicle via at least three hook shape reinforcements. Regardless of their specific construction, a side view of a connection structure of attaching a front upper grill to a vehicle is shown in FIG. 1A. The conventional connection structure includes a front upper grill 102 mounted in between a front hood 104 and a front bumper assembly 106. In an aspect, the front hood 104 and the front bumper assembly 106 are supported on the body in white (BIW) or metallic body sheet 108 of the vehicle.
[0029] The front upper grill 102, from its upper region, is mounted under the hood 104 to a vehicle’s grill opening reinforcement (GOR) structure 112 using a couple of bolts 110. Further, metal/plastic clips 114 are used to attach middle and lower edge regions of the front upper grill 102 along with front bumper assembly 106 to the GOR structure 112 in front of the vehicle's radiator (FIG. 1B). Such GOR structure 112 for the front upper grill 102 ensures the restriction on the bending of the front upper grill 102 and thereby making the removal of the front upper grill 102 very difficult in the closed condition of the front hood 104. This, in turn, avoids theft of the engine components installed under the front hood 104.
[0030] However, this GOR structure 112 for rigidity of the front upper grill 102 increases the weight of the connection structure of attaching the front upper grill 102. This, in turn, increases the cost of molding parts utilized for GOR structure 112. Also, in case of minor collision, if the front upper grill 102 is damaged then complete grill has to be replaced along with the GOR structure 112, which is again an increase in maintenance cost which has to be borne by the owner of the vehicle.
[0031] Also, as mentioned above, the metal/plastic clips 114 of the front upper grill 102 are press-fitted in recesses of the GOR structure 112 formed over the metallic body sheet, which may break or disengage from the recesses during rough operating conditions. Also, such easy disengagement of the metal/plastic clips 114 allows mechanics to open the front upper grill 102 from the lower region during servicing of parts, which is against the servicing manuals. Not only mechanics, but thieves can also take advantage of such removable press-fit connection of the metal/plastic clips 114 to open the front hood 104 for stealing engine components.
[0032] To resolve the aforementioned issues, a connection structure of attaching the front upper grill 102 to a vehicle is proposed herein in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the connection structure proposed herein, at least three hook-shaped reinforcements are provided to attach the front upper grill 102 with the front bumper assembly 106. Amongst the three hook-shaped reinforcements, two edge hook-shaped reinforcements 202 (FIG. 2A) are provided for attachment of both extreme lower ends of the front upper grill 102 on the front bumper assembly 106. These two hook-shaped reinforcements 202 on extreme lower ends ensure that a lower claw-shaped section of the front upper grill 102 holds the front bumper assembly 106.
[0033] As can be seen from FIG. 2B, each of the edge hook-shaped reinforcements 202 is having a base flange 204, where the base flange includes a recess having a size corresponding to the size of recesses formed in the front bumper assembly 106. Each of the edge hook-shaped reinforcement 202 further includes a hook portion 206 having hook groove size which is dependent on the thickness of the front bumper assembly 106.
[0034] In an aspect, during implementation, the base flange 204 of the edge hook-shaped reinforcement 202 lies flat with the front bumper assembly 106 in such a way that recess in the base flange 204 sits in front of the recess of the front bumper assembly 106 and the hook portion 206 grips a top edge of the front bumper assembly 106. In such implementation, in case anyone wants to remove the front upper grill 102 from the lower region, the edge hook-shaped reinforcement 202 moves in the direction of arrow 208 (FIG. 2B) so as to further lock the front upper grill 102. Thus, the front upper grill 102 can only be removed after disassembly of the edge hook-shaped reinforcement 202 from the upper area of the front upper grill 102 and from inside the vehicle hood region.
[0035] In an aspect as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in addition to the edge hook-shaped reinforcements 202, the connection structure has one central hook-shaped reinforcement 302 integrally formed at a central lower region of the front upper grill 102 on the front bumper assembly 106. The central hook-shaped reinforcement 302 is formed for attachment of the front upper grill 102 with the front bumper assembly 106.
[0036] Thus, in the connection structure proposed herein, at least three hook-shaped reinforcements 202, 302 are provided to attach the front upper grill 102 with the front bumper assembly 106. Also, in an aspect, the at least three hook-shaped reinforcements 202, 302 can be formed from a suitable rigid material including, but not limited to, aluminum, hard plastic, cast iron, an engineering resin, and the like.
[0037] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention 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.

We claim:
1. A connection structure for attaching a front upper grill (102) to a vehicle, comprising:
one central hook-shaped reinforcement (302), integrally formed at a central lower region of the front upper grill (102), for mounting of the front upper grill (102) on a front bumper assembly (106); and
two edge hook-shaped reinforcements (202) for mounting both extreme lower ends of the front upper grill (102) on the front bumper assembly (106).
2. The connection structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the edge hook-shaped reinforcements (202) comprises a base flange (204) and a hook portion (206), and wherein the base flange (204) lies flat with the front bumper assembly (106) in such a way that recess in the base flange (204) sits in front of the recess of the front bumper assembly (106) and the hook portion (206) grips a top edge of the front bumper assembly (106).
3. The connection structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hook portion (206) has a hook groove size which is dependent on the thickness of the front bumper assembly (106).
4. The connection structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central hook-shaped reinforcement (302) and the edge hook-shaped reinforcements (202) are formed from a rigid material having a limited tolerance zone.
5. The connection structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two edge hook-shaped reinforcements (202) on lower portion of the front upper grill (102) ensures that a lower claw-shaped section of the front upper grill (102) holds the front bumper assembly (106).