[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to wheel housing lining for motor vehicles and, more particularly, to a fender lining structure for a wheel housing of a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. 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] Fender lining structure for a wheel housing of motor vehicles, generally, includes a shell of plastic material adapted approximately to the contour of the wheel housing and secured thereto. The purpose of this fender lining structure is to protect the sheet metal wheel housing positioned above a wheel from corroding and sand-blasting effect of muddy water thrown up by the wheel when in motion. Additionally, the fender lining structure also reduces unwanted sounds which will be produced when stones and gravel directly impinge sheet metal wheel housing during the motion of the wheel.
[0004] However, the issues with the existing fender lining structure are that outer edges of the fender lining structure have constant contact with the sheet metal wheel housing and continuous micromotion with respect to the sheet metal wheel housing, thereby leading to peeling of the paint from the sheet metal wheel housing. Also, this issue gets worse with the fact that the muddy water splashed from the rotating wheel is generally get accumulated between the outer edges of the fender lining structure and the peeled paint region of the sheet metal wheel housing. This in turns leads causes the rusting of the peeled paint region.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for an improved fender lining structure which prevents the accumulation of muddy water as well as micromotion between the fender lining structure and the sheet metal wheel housing.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0007] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide a fender lining structure which prevents the accumulation of muddy water as well as micromotion between the fender lining structure and the sheet metal wheel housing.
[0008] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a fender lining structure with improved stiffness and rust prevention configuration.
[0009] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a fender lining structure which reduces fender lining deflection in the traverse direction.
[0010] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0011] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a fender lining structure which prevents the accumulation of muddy water as well as micromotion between the fender lining structure and the sheet metal wheel housing. 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.
[0012] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a fender lining structure for a wheel housing of a motor vehicle. The fender lining structure

includes a rib structure formed in a wheel arc area and at lateral outward direction of the motor vehicle; and a channel structure extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and formed at outer edge of the fender lining structure in wheel arc area, in such a way that ribs of the rib structure terminate at the channel structure.
[0013] In an aspect, the fender lining structure is a shell of plastic material having the contour of wheel housing and secured thereto.
[0014] In an aspect, a number of Ethylene Propylene Terpolymer (EPT) sealers are mounted at multiple locations on an outer edge of the channel structure facing the sheet metal body of the motor vehicle.
[0015] In an aspect, the ribs of the rib structure extend in a vertical direction with respect to the channel structure.
[0016] In an aspect, the channel structure has a U-shape cross section. Also, the U-shape cross-section of the channel structure has water drain holes sides at both ends.
[0017] 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
[0018] 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:

[0019] FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a conventional fender lining structure;
[0020] FIG. IB illustrates a cross-sectional line diagram of the conventional fender lining structure;
[0021] FIG. 2A-2B illustrates a cross-sectional line diagram of a fender lining structure formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the fender lining structure formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0023] FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate perspective views of rib structure of the fender lining structure formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the fender lining structure in an assembled condition in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] 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.
[0026] 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.
[0027] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As
5 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
10 or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
components and/or groups thereof.
[0028] 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
15 sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts
involved.
[0029] 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
20 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.
[0030] Embodiments explained herein pertain to a fender lining structure
25 which prevents the accumulation of muddy water as well as micromotion between
the fender lining structure and the sheet metal wheel housing. Regardless of their
specific construction, a perspective view of the conventional fender lining
6

structure 100 is shown in FIG. 1A. The conventional fender lining structure 100
has issues with muddy water accumulation on its outer edges. While the splashed
muddy water falls on the conventional fender lining structure 100, the muddy
water follows a pathway towards the outer edges of the conventional fender lining
5 structure 100 and accumulates there, which with time causes rusting to the nearby
metal parts. Also, as explained above, and as shown in FIG. 1B, the outer edges of
the conventional fender lining structure 100 have constant contact with the sheet
metal wheel housing 102 and have continuously micromotion with respect to the
sheet metal wheel housing 102, thereby leading to peeling off the paint from the
10 sheet metal wheel housing 102.
[0031] To this, the present disclosure provides a fender lining structure 200
(FIG. 2) which prevents the accumulation of muddy water as well as micromotion fender lining structure 200 between the fender lining structure and the sheet metal wheel housing. The fender lining structure 200 is a shell of plastic material having
15 the contour of the sheet metal wheel housing 102 and secured thereto. The plastic
material forming the shell is a Polymer/plastic material or PP material which is adapted from sheet material by warm working to the contour of the sheet metal wheel housing 102 and is secured in the sheet metal wheel housing 102 by adhesion, gripping, screws or the like. Further, injection molding manufacturing
20 process is used to manufacture the fender lining structure.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional line diagram of the fender lining
structure 200 formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The fender lining structure 200 includes a rib structure 202 formed in a wheel arc area and at the laterally outward direction of the motor vehicle.
25 [0033] Further, the fender lining structure 200 includes a channel structure
204 extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and formed at the outer edge of the fender lining structure 200 in the wheel arc area, in such a way that ribs 402 of the rib structure 202 terminates at the channel structure 204 (FIGS. 4A and 4B).
7

Further, as can be seen from FIG. 2, the channel structure 204 has a U-shape
cross-section to provide stiffness and water flow pathway. Also, in an aspect, a
gap is maintained between the U-shape cross-section channel structure 204 and
the rib structure 202 to allow smooth draining of the muddy water. Thus, the U-
5 shape ensures that the water entering from engine bay area or from a splash of
rotating wheels won’t accumulate near the outer edges of the fender lining
structure 200.
[0034] Further, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, and 5 with the configuration
of the channel structure 204 and the rib structure 202 in accordance with the
10 present disclosure, the ribs 402 of the rib structure 202 provides pathways 302 to
the muddy water splashed from the rotating wheels. Since the ribs 402 ends before the channel structure 204, the ribs 402 guides and drops the muddy water in the channel structure 204 which further guides the muddy water to either water drain holes 204-1, 204-2 at its both ends on the outer edge of the fender lining structure
15 200.
[0035] Further, in an aspect, the fender lining structure 200 includes a number
of Ethylene Propylene Terpolymer (EPT) sealers 304 mounted at multiple
locations on the outer edge of the channel structure 204 facing the sheet metal
body 102 of the motor vehicle. The EPT sealer 304 prevents direct contact
20 between the fender lining structure 200 and the sheet metal wheel housing 102.
This, in turn, mitigates the chances of micromotion between the fender lining structure 200 and the sheet metal wheel housing 102, thereby mitigating rust in the sheet metal wheel housing 102 due to paint peel off.
[0036] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the fender lining structure 200 in its
25 assembled state, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In
the assembled state, the fender lining structure 200 of the present disclosure prevents the accumulation of muddy water as well as micromotion between the fender lining structure as the details described above in the present disclosure.
8

[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.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0038] The present disclosure provides a fender lining structure which prevents the accumulation of muddy water as well as micromotion between the fender lining structure and sheet metal wheel housing.
[0039] The present disclosure provides a fender lining structure having a channel structure of U-shape to provide stiffness and water flow path.
[0040] The present disclosure provides a U-shape channel structure in the fender lining structure to ensure that the water entering from engine bay area or from a splash of rotating wheels won't accumulate near the outer edges of the fender lining structure.

We claim:

A fender lining structure (200) for a wheel housing (102) of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a rib structure (202) formed in a wheel arc area and at the lateral outward direction of the motor vehicle; and
a channel structure (204) extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and formed at the outer edge of the fender lining structure (200) in wheel arc area, in such a way that ribs (402) of the rib structure (202) terminates at the channel structure (204).
The fender lining structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fender lining structure (200) is a shell of plastic material having the contour of the wheel housing (102) and secured thereto.
The fender lining structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fender lining structure (200) comprising a number of Ethylene Propylene Terpolymer EPT sealers (304) mounted at multiple locations on the outer edge of the channel structure (204) facing the wheel housing (102) of the motor vehicle.
The fender lining structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ribs (402) of the rib structure (202) extend in a vertical direction with respect to the channel structure (204).

The fender lining structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel structure (204) has a U-shape cross section.
The fender lining structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the U-shape cross-section of the channel structure (204) has water drain holes (204-1, 204-2) at its both ends.