[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to a vehicle construction and more particularly, relates to a rear bumper assembly.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
[002] Conventionally, multiple pieces or components or bumpers are generally snap-fitted to each other. Hence, chances of relative motion between the components of the bumpers are high, which could lead to a "V" gap or a "non-uniform gap" and level difference creation, and eventually rattling.
[003] Hence, a solution is desired to achieve better control over gap and flushness between the bumper components.
[004] Japanese Patent publication JP5947321B2 provides - To provide a bumper mounting structure that is easy to attach and detach, and that is free from damage to part of a bumper face during its attachment and detachment. Solution - To detach a bumper face 1, a part in the vicinity of a bumper side wall 6, of a wheel house flange 12 of the bumper face 1 is grasped, and, in this state, is pushed to be opened toward the outside front R of a vehicle body. Thereby, among notch parts 15 formed in the bumper side wall 6b of the bumper face 1, a notch part 15a close to the wheel house flange 12 first deforms in a lengthwise direction of the bumper side wall 6al. As a result of this, a leading end of the bumper side wall 6b 1 close to the wheel house flange 12 of the bumper face 1 is lifted upward, and deforms so as to incline from its leading end to its basal end. Consequently, a lock hole 7 of the bumper side wall 6b 1 moves above an upper part of a claw part 8, with the result that the claw part 8 is detached from the lock hole 7 of the bumper side wall 6bl.

[005] However, the assembly, shape, operation and location of the parts mentioned in the prior art are not similar to the present disclosure.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[006] The principal objective of the present invention is to provide a multi piece rear bumper assembly for a vehicle with effective gap and level difference control.
[007] Another objective of the present subject matter is to provide a simple, cost effective, and efficiently designed rear bumper assembly that is distinct from all conventional designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[008] The present invention relates to a rear bumper assembly for a vehicle. The rear bumper assembly includes a plurality of side members, each of the plurality of side members having a non-linear flange defined by a curvilinear part and an angular part extending angularly from the curvilinear part; and a central member configured to be secured to the plurality of side members, the central member defining a plurality of non-linear portions to correspondingly overlap and receive the non-linear flange to define a non-linear joint, wherein, the non-linear flange defines a plurality of female snaps and at least one female receptacle to respectively receive corresponding plurality of male snaps and at least one male part of the non-linear portions to achieve the non-linear joint, wherein, a coupling of the at least one female receptacle and the at least one male part is a positive mounting arrangement.
[009] In order 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 scope of the present subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] 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. 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 or methods 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:
[0011] Fig. 1 illustrates a rear bumper assembly for a vehicle (not shown) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0012] Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a portion of the rear bumper assembly of Fig. 1;
[0013] Fig. 3a illustrates a portion of the rear bumper assembly of Fig. 1 depicting a non-linear joint;
[0014] Fig. 3b provides an enlarged view of the non-linear joint of Fig. 3a;
[0015] Fig. 3c provides a flipped view of Fig. 3b; and

[0016] Fig. 4 provides a sectional view of the rear bumper assembly along a plane A-AofFig. 3 a.
[0017] 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.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0018] The present disclosure presents embodiments for a rear bumper assembly for a vehicle. The rear bumper assembly includes a plurality of side members, each of the plurality of side members having a non-linear flange defined by a curvilinear part and an angular part extending angularly from the curvilinear part; and a central member configured to be secured to the plurality of side members, the central member defining a plurality of non-linear portions to correspondingly overlap and receive the non-linear flange to define a non-linear joint, wherein, the non-linear flange defines a plurality of female snaps and at least one female receptacle to respectively receive corresponding plurality of male snaps and at least one male part of the non-linear portions to achieve the non-linear joint, wherein, a coupling of the at least one female receptacle and the at least one male part is a positive mounting arrangement.
[0019] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various arrangements that, although not

explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the 5 concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the 10 following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0020] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be 15 noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
20 [0021] Fig. 1 illustrates a rear bumper assembly (100) for a vehicle (not shown) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the rear bumper assembly (100) includes a plurality of side members (102), and a central member (104) configured to be secured to the plurality of side members (102).
25
[0022] Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a portion of the rear bumper
assembly (100) depicting the side member (102) of the plurality of side members
(102) and a break view of the central member (104). As shown, each of the
plurality of side members (102) includes a non-linear flange (103) defined by a
30 curvilinear part (103a) and an angular part (103b) extending angularly from the
6

curvilinear part (103a). Further, the central member (104) defines a plurality of non-linear portions (106) to correspondingly overlap and receive the non-linear flange (103). In an embodiment, the plurality of non-linear portions (106) overlap and receive the non-linear flange (103) as a sandwiched orientation to define a 5 non-linear joint (108), as shown in Fig. 3a. In an embodiment, a portion (106b) of the plurality of non-linear portions (106) overlap and receive the angular part (103b) of the non-linear flange (103) as a sandwiched orientation.
[0023] Referring to Figs. 2 and 3a collectively, the non-linear flange (103) defines 10 a plurality of female snaps (110) and at least one female receptacle (112) to respectively receive corresponding plurality of male snaps (114) and at least one male part (116) of the non-linear portions (106) to achieve the non-linear joint (108). In an example, the at least one female receptacle (112) is provided on the angular part (103b). Further in an example, at least one female snap (110a) (as 15 shown in fig. 3c) of the plurality of female snaps (110) is provided proximally to the at least one female receptacle (112). In an embodiment, the least one female snap (110a) are configured to be secured with corresponding at least one male snap (114a) (as shown in fig. 3c) of the plurality of male snaps (114). Fig. 3b provides an enlarged view of the non-linear joint (108). As shown, coupling of the 20 at least one female receptacle (112) and the at least one male part (116) is a positive mounting arrangement. Further, the non-linear joint (108) defines a uniform gap “G” along a joinery (108a) between the plurality of side members (102) and the central member (104).
25 [0024] Fig. 3c provides a flipped view of Fig. 3b. As shown, the at least one female receptacle (112) and the at least one male part (116) are coupled through screws (118), and the least one female snap (110a) is coupled to the at least one male snap (114a). Fig. 4 provides a sectional view of the rear bumper assembly (100) along a plane A-A of Fig. 3a.
7

[0025] The sandwich like arrangement, and the positive mounting arrangement along with conventional snap fits as provided to the rear bumper assembly (100) as described earlier provides minimal relative movement between the side members (102) and the central member (104) about the non-linear joint (108), and in turn a better control over the uniform gap "G". Thereby, minimizing the chances of a "V" gap or a "non-uniform gap", a level difference creation, and rattling.
[0026] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/component of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.

We claim:

A rear bumper assembly (100) for a vehicle, the rear bumper assembly (100) comprising:
a plurality of side members (102), each of the plurality of side members (102) having a non-linear flange (103) defined by a curvilinear part (103a) and an angular part (103b) extending angularly from the curvilinear part (103a); and
a central member (104) configured to be secured to the plurality of side members (102), the central member (104) defining a plurality of non-linear portions (106) to correspondingly overlap and receive the non-linear flange (103) to define a non-linear joint (108),
wherein, the non-linear flange (103) defines a plurality of female snaps (110) and at least one female receptacle (112) to respectively receive corresponding plurality of male snaps (114) and at least one male part (116) of the non-linear portions (106) to achieve the non-linear joint (108),
wherein, a coupling of the at least one female receptacle (112) and the at least one male part (116) is a positive mounting arrangement.
The rear bumper assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one female receptacle (112) is provided on the angular part (103b). The rear bumper assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one female snap (110a) of the plurality of female snaps (110) is provided proximally to the at least one female receptacle (112). The rear bumper assembly (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the least one female snap (110a) are configured to be secured with corresponding at least one male snap (114a) of the plurality of male snaps (114). The rear bumper assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non¬linear joint (108) defines a uniform gap "G" along a joinery (108a) between the plurality of side members (102) and the central member (104).

The rear bumper assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least
one female receptacle (112) and the at least one male part (116) are coupled
through screws (118).
The rear bumper assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a portion
(106b) of the plurality of non-linear portions (106) overlap and receive the
angular part (103b) of the non-linear flange (103) as a sandwiched
orientation.