[0001] The present disclosure relates to a rear body structure of a vehicle equipped with a rear end trim. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a rear body structure of a vehicle, in which a rear end member is designed for supporting and protecting the rear end trim.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Conventionally, as shown in FIGS 1A-1C, a rear end portion (rear body structure) 100 of a vehicle includes a rear end panel 102 forming a rear wall below a back door 104 and includes a rear end member 106 forming a closed cross-section cooperatively with the rear end panel 102. Further, a rear bumper 108 is provided to cover a lower portion of the rear end panel 102. Similarly, a synthetic-resin-made rear end trim 110 is provided to cover a surface of the rear end member 106 to improve appearances and restrain damages of articles loaded in a luggage compartment. As can be seen from FIG. 1B, the length “A” of the luggage compartment extends from a rear seat 112 till the rear end trim 110. Further, the luggage compartment has a floor panel 114 which includes a spare tire pan 116 to store a spare tire 118 therein.
[0003] FIG. 1C shows an enlarged view of a portion “X” of the closed cross-section formed by the rear end panel 102 and rear end member 106. In the enlarged view of the portion “X”, it can be seen that the rear end trim 110 is packaged at a distance “B” from the rear end member 106. Also, as can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the spare tire pan 116 is arranged close to the rear end trim 110 (or the rear end member 106) to allow a passenger to easily take out the spare tire 118 from the spare tire pan 116. With such an arrangement of the spare tire pan 116, a small distance “C” is generally available between the spare tire envelope 120 and the rear end trim 110. Therefore, due to the small distance “C” between the spare tire envelope 120 and the rear end trim 110, there is a possibility that the spare tire 118 may interfere with the rear end trim 110 while removal of the spare tire 118 from the spare tire pan 116 and may damage the rear end trim 110 with repeated interference.
[0004] Accordingly, there is a concern that while improper removal of the spare tire 118, the spare tire 118 may have touch mark on the rear end trim 110 and eventually damage it aesthetically. Also, since the spare tire pan 116 is arranged close to the rear end trim 110 (or the rear end member 106), with the decreased vehicle length and increased demand in luggage space, the closed cross-section formed cooperatively with the rear end panel 102 and the rear end member 106 may be subject to high stress.
OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0005] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0006] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a rear body structure that eases the removal of a spare tire and reduces the stress on the panel.
[0007] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a rear end member that is designed for supporting and protecting a rear end trim attached to the rear end member.
[0008] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide a rear end trim which allows the easy removal of the spare tire from a spare tire pan and which improves the luggage compartment space.
[0009] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0010] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a rear body structure of a vehicle. 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.
[0011] The present disclosure relates to a rear body structure of a vehicle. The rear body structure includes a rear end member forming a closed cross-section cooperatively with a rear end panel of the vehicle; a horizontal bead formed at a middle portion of the rear end member; and a rear end trim attached on the rear end member, the rear end trim covers the rear end member from a top surface thereof till the horizontal bead.
[0012] In an aspect, the rear end member has a step portion connecting an upper portion of the rear end member and a lower portion of the rear end member which is positioned in front of and below the upper portion. The upper portion includes the top surface of the rear end member and the lower portion includes the horizontal bead.
[0013] In an aspect, the rear end panel is provided behind the rear end member to form the closed cross-section extending in the vehicle width direction cooperatively with the rear end member.
[0014] In an aspect, the middle portion of the rear end member bisects the closed cross-section into a first side and a second side, and wherein the first side is having a through-hole and the second side is having a groove towards the rear end panel.
[0015] In an aspect, the groove comprises a non-uniform section.
[0016] In an aspect, the horizontal beads having diminishing sections from its center to either side.
[0017] In an aspect, the rear end trim is attached to the rear end member through one or more locking clips to be inserted into holes formed in the rear end trim and the rear end member.
[0018] In an aspect, the rear end trim is made of synthetic resin.
[0019] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0020] 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
[0021] 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. 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:
[0022] FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate a rear body structure of a vehicle as per the state of the art;
[0023] FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of a rear end structure of a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 2B illustrates a rear end member of the rear end structure of the vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0025] FIGS. 2C-2D illustrate cross-sectional views of the rear end structure shown in FIG. 2A in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0026] 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.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] 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.
[0028] 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.
[0029] The terminology used herein is to describe 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 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.
[0030] 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.
[0031] 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.
[0032] 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 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.
[0033] 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.
[0034] FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate a rear body structure 200 of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The rear end structure 200 is connected to a rear end of the floor panel 114 (FIG. 2C) and has the closed cross-section which extends in the vehicle width direction to increase the torsional rigidity of the vehicle body.
[0035] The rear body structure 200 includes, but not limited to, a rear end panel 102 forming a rear wall below a back door 104 and a rear end member 106 forming a closed cross-section (box section) cooperatively with the rear end panel 102 of the vehicle. In an aspect, the rear end panel 102 is provided behind the rear end member 106 and extends in the vehicle width direction.
[0036] Further, the rear end member 106 is formed integrally by means of pressing a long metal plate. The rear end member 106 has a step portion (not shown in figures) connecting an upper portion 202 (FIG. 2B) of the rear end member 106 and a lower portion 204 (FIG. 2A) of the rear end member (106) which is positioned in front of a spare tire 118 and below the upper portion 202.
[0037] In an aspect, a horizontal bead 206 formed at a middle portion 108 of the upper portion 202 of the rear end member 106. The rear end member 106, on which the horizontal bead 206 is formed, faces toward a luggage compartment of the vehicle.
[0038] In an aspect, the horizontal bead 206 is having diminishing cross-sections from its center to either longitudinal side. In other words, the cross-section of the horizontal bead 206 continuously decreases in the vehicle width direction from the center of the horizontal bead 206, thereby improving the torsional rigidity of the horizontal bead 206.
[0039] On the upper portion 202 of the rear end member 106, a rear end trim 208 attached on the rear end member 106. In an aspect, the rear end trim 208 is made from synthetic resin. Further, the rear end trim 208 is attached to the rear end member 106 through one or more locking clips to be inserted into respective clip holes formed in the rear end trim 208 and the rear end member 106.
[0040] The rear end trim 208 is designed with reduced length and is provided to cover the rear end member 106 from a top surface thereof till the horizontal bead 206. By limiting the length of the rear end trim 208 till the horizontal bead 206, the horizontal bead 206 will receive all the hitting from the spare tire 118 during the removal of the spare tire 118 from the spare tire pan 116 with the rear end trim 208, as can be assumed from spare tile envelope 120 shown in FIG. 2D. Also, since the rear end trim 218 is now provided with a reduced length, cost and weight saving merits are achieved in the manufacturing of the rear end trim. Further, since the reduced-length rear end trim 218 is not covering the lower portion 204 of the rear end member 106, the space in the luggage compartment is increased due to elimination of clearance space “B” (FIG. 1C) required between the rear end trim and the lower portion 204 of the rear end member 106. As can be seen from FIG. 2C, the length A’ is the increased length of the luggage compartment i.e. space from the rear seat 112 till the rear end member 106.
[0041] Yet further, as shown in FIG. 2B, a middle portion 210 of the rear end member 106 bisects the closed cross-section (box section) into a first side 212 and a second side 214. The first side 212 is having a through-hole 216 for backdoor opener cable and the second side 214 is provided with a groove 218 towards the rear end panel 102. The groove 218 is formed with a non-uniform section which is optimized for providing more strength to the rear end member 106. Such introduction of the groove 218 on the rear end member 106 results in a considerable reduction in stress value on the rear end member 106.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0042] The present disclosure thus provides a rear body structure 200 of a vehicle, which has the following advantages:
• No hitting of the spare tire with the rear end trim.
• More luggage space due to the elimination of clearance space between the rear end trim and the rear end panel.
• Cost and weight-saving merit in the rear end trim.
• More strength due to the addition of groove shape in the box section.
Equivalents
[0043] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure 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 present disclosure when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

Claims:1. A rear body structure (200) of a vehicle, comprising:
a rear end member (106) forming a closed cross-section cooperatively with a rear end panel (102) of the vehicle;
a horizontal bead (206) formed at a middle portion (208) of the rear end member (106); and
a rear end trim (208) attached on the rear end member (106), the rear end trim (208) covers the rear end member (106) from a top surface thereof till the horizontal bead (206).
2. The rear body structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear end member (106) has a step portion connecting an upper portion (202) of the rear end member (106) and a lower portion (204) of the rear end member (106) which is positioned in front of a spare tire (118) and below the upper portion (202), and wherein the horizontal bead (206) is formed at the upper portion (202).
3. The rear body structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear end panel (102) is provided behind the rear end member (106) to form the closed cross-section extending in the vehicle width direction cooperatively with the rear end member (106).
4. The rear body structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the middle portion of the rear end member (106) bisects the closed cross-section into a first side (212) and a second side (214), and wherein the first side (212) is having a through-hole (216) and the second side (214) is having a groove (218) towards the rear end panel (102).
5. The rear body structure (200) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the groove comprises a non-uniform section.
6. The rear body structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the horizontal bead (206) having diminishing cross-sections from its center to either longitudinal side.
7. The rear body structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear end trim (208) is attached to the rear end member (106) through one or more locking clips to be inserted into respective clip holes formed in the rear end trim (208) and the rear end member (106).