Title of Invention

"A FENDER LINING"

Abstract

A fender lining is provided so that muddy water is prevented from leaking to an outer surface of a bumper to thereby eliminate contamination of the outer surface of the bumper to enhance the appearance. A recess portion 18 extending in a back-and-forth direction of a vehicle is formed substantially in a central portion in a transverse direction of the vehicle of a lining plate surface 16 of the fender lining arranged inside of a fender panel. A bottom portion 19 of the recess portion 18 is formed at a lower portion than a joint surface between the fender panel and the bumper. Furthermore, vertical walls 20 in the transverse direction of the vehicle on the tip end portion side of a lower surface of the lining plate surface 16. A side wall 21 extending in a back-and-forth direction of the vehicle is formed on the fender panel side from the recess portion 18 of the lower surface of the lining plate surface 16. Thus, the muddy water flowing through the fender lining 15 is interrupted by the vertical walls 20 and the side wall 21 and is discharged to the lower portion of the vehicle body from the recess portion 18 and the vertical walls 20.

Full Text

1. Field of the invention The present invention relates to a fender lining disposed between a fender panel and a bumper and a vehicle body side member, with a lining plate surface being formed on a front side and more particularly, to a fender lining that improves the surface of a lining plate to be disposed on a front side of the vehicle. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in Figs. 7 to 9, a fender lining 5 for rust proof is provided between a fender panel 2 and a bumper 3 of a vehicle and a member on the vehicle side, i.e., an apron panel 4 (see Fig. 8). As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, this fender lining 5 is substantially composed of a lining plate surface 6 disposed on a front side of the vehicle 1 and a curved surface 7. The lining plate surface 6 extends forwardly along a joint portion A (see Fig. 8) between the bumper 3 and the fender panel 2 with its tip end being assembled into the vehicle body by a lamp support panel 8 (see Fig. 10). In this case, the fender lining 5 is fixed to the fender panel 2, the apron panel 4 or the like by a clip (not shown). In Figs. 7 to 9, reference numeral 9 denotes a tire. Reference numeral 10 in Figs. 7, 9 and 10 denotes a head lamp. Also, in Figs. 7, 9 and 10, reference numeral 11 i denotes a front hood. Incidentally, Japanese Utility Model Examined Publication No. Sho 60-39339 discloses a conventional fender protector. In this publication, in order to discharge water, that enters an air box together with air through an air introduction port of a cowl top panel from a cowl grille, to a rear end portion from above a fender protector, two partitioning walls used also as reinforcement ribs are projectingly formed on a top surface of the fender protector and a water drain path is formed between these two partitioning walls (based upon the description of lines 5 to 10 of column 3 on page 2 of the above-described publication). Also, Japanese Utility Model Examined Publication No. Sho 64-7110 discloses a mud dropping preventing structure for a fender liner. In this publication, a vertical wall rising upwardly is integrally formed over a full width at a front end portion of the fender liner provided between the fender panel and the fender apron (based upon the description of line 21 of column 2 on page 1 to line 1 of column 3 on page 2 of that publication). In the above-described pieces of prior art, as shown in Figs. 7 and 11, the muddy water W entrained by the tire 9 flows forwardly along the curved surface 7 of the fender lining 5, and as shown in Fig. 8, flows on the side of the bumper 3 from the joint surface A between the fender panel 2 and the bumper 3 and as shown in Fig. 10, flows to the front side of the bumper 3 from a joint surface B between the head lamp 10 and the bumper 3, resulting in contamination of an outer surface of the bumper 3. Thus, an appearance in the vicinity of the bumper 3 becomes worse. Incidentally, in the fender protector disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Examined Publication No. Sho 60-39339, even if the partitioning walls used as the reinforcement ribs are formed on the surface of the fender protector facing the tire, there is still a fear that the muddy water would enter the joint surface of the fender panel and the bumper. Also, in the mud dripping preventing structure of the fender liner disclosed}, in Japanese Utility Model Examined Publication No. Sho 64-7110, the muddy water that flows on the front side of the fender liner is prevented by the vertical wall provided on the fender liner to avoid the contamination of the top surface of the bumper. However, the muddy water flowing along the surface of the fender liner facing the tire would be introduced into the joint surface between the bumper and the fender panel. Accordingly, there is provided a fender lining disposed between a fender panel and a bumper and a vehicle body side member, with a lining plate surface being formed on a front side, characterized in that a recess portion extending in a back-and-fourth direction of the vehicle is formed in a central portion, in a transverse direction of the vehicle, of said lining plate surface, and a bottom portion of said recess portion is formed at a lower level than that of a joint surface between said fender panel and said bumper. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing defects inherent in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a fender lining in which a lining plate surface extending along a joint surface between a fender panel and a bumper so that muddy water is prevented from dropping onto an outer surface of the bumper, thereby eliminating contamination of the outer surface of the bumper and improving the appearance. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fender lining disposed between a fender panel and a bumper and a vehicle side member, with a lining plate surface being formed on a front side, characterized in that: a recess portion along a back-and-forth direction of the vehicle is formed substantially in a central portion, in a transverse direction of the vehicle, of the lining plate surface, and a bottom portion of the recess portion is formed at a lower level than that of a joint surface between the fender panel and the bumper. With such a structure, the muddy water flowing forwardly along the fender lining may flow to the recess portion side inside of the vehicle body. At the same time, the muddy water is adapted to drop from the bottom portion of the above-described recess portion to the lower portion of i the vehicle body to be discharged. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the muddy water from entering the joint surface between the fender panel and the bumper and the joint surface of between the head lamp and the bumper. In the first aspect of the present invention, according to a second aspect of the invention, it is characterized in that an outer plate surface portion. On the fender panel side from the recess portion, of the lining plate surface is slanted downwardly toward the inside of the vehicle body side. With such an arrangement, the muddy water flowing forwardly along the fender lining may positively flow to the recess portion side inside of the vehicle body by the slanted outer plate surface portion to be dropped and discharged to the lower portion of the vehicle body from the recess portion. In the first or second aspect of the present invention, according to a third aspect of the invention, it is characterized in that vertical walls in a transverse direction of the vehicle is formed on a lower surface on a tip end portion side of the lining plate surface and a side wall extending in the back-and-forth direction of the vehicle is firmed on the lower surface of the outer plate surface portion so as to form a substantially L-shape with the vertical wall. With such an arrangement, the muddy water flowing forwardly along the fender lining may positively flow to the recess portion side inside of the vehicle body to be dropped to the lower portion of the vehicle body to be discharged from the recess portion. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the muddy water from entering the joint surface between the fender panel and the bumper fay the side wall in the back-and-forth direction of the vehicle, and at the same time, it is possible to prevent the muddy water from entering the joint surface between the bumper and the head lamp by the vertical walls in the transverse direction of the vehicle. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a fender lining disposed between a fender panel and a bumper and a vehicle side member, with a lining plate surface being formed on a front side is characterized in that: vertical walls extending in a transverse direction of a vehicle are formed pn a lower surface on a tip end portion side of the lining plate surface, and a side wall extending in a back-and-forth direction of the vehicle is formed on the lower surface of an outer portion of the lining surface so as to form a substantially L-shape with the vertical wall. With such an arrangement, with respect to the muddy water flowing forwardly along the fender lining, it is possible to prevent the muddy water from flowing along the lining plate surface in a traverse direction from entering the joint surface between the fender panel and the bumper by the side wall to be dropped down to the ground along the side wall to be discharged. Also, the muddy water flowing forwardly along the lining plate surface is interrupted by the vertical walls. It is possible to prevent the muddy water from entering the joint surface between the bumper and the head lamp. At the same time, it is possible to drop down the muddy water to the lower portion of the vehicle body along the vertical walls to be discharged. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE*-DRAwlNGS In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a fender lining according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fender lining shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line C-C of Fig. 1 mounted on the inside of the fender panel; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fender lining, shown in Fig. 3 taken along the line D-D of Fig. 3 mounted on the inside of the fender panel; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a fender lining in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, mounted on the inside of the fender panel, corresponding to Fig. 10; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the fender lining shown in Fig. 5, corresponding to Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a front side elevational view of a vehicle on which a conventional fender lining is mounted; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a frontal view of the vehicle on which the conventional fender lining is mounted; Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F-F of Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the fender lining shown in Fig. 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION QF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference Figs. 1 and 2 while giving the same reference numerals to the same or like components shown in Figs. 7 to 11. Fig. 1 shows a rust-proofing fender lining 15 disposed between the fender panel 2 and the bumper 3 (also refer to Figs. 7 to 9) and the vehicle side member, i.e., inside of the apron panel 4. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 8 in which this fender lining 15 is provided. The fender lining 15 is substantially composed of a lining plate surface 16 and a curved surface 17. A recess portion 18 along a back-and-force direction of the vehicle is formed substantially in a central portion of this lining plate surface 16 in a transverse direction of the vehicle. A bottom portion 19 of this recess portion 18 is formed at a lower position than the joint surface A (see Fig. 2) between the fender panel 2 and the bumper 3 and at a lower position than the joint surface B (described later and see Fig. 5) between the bumper 3 and the head lamp 10. Furthermore, an outer plate surface portion 16a, located on the fender panel 2 side from the recess portion 18, of the lining plate surface 16 is slanted downwardly inside of the vehicle body, i.e., toward the recess portion 18. With such an arrangement, the muddy water W flowing forwardly along the curved surface 17 of the fender lining 15 will flow to the recess portion 18 side inside of the vehicle body from the slanted outer plate surface portion 16a of the lining plate surface 16. Since the bottom portion 19 of the recess portion 18 is formed at the lower level than that of the joint surface A between the fender panel 2 and the bumper 3 and that of the joint surface B (see Fig. 5 to be described later) between the bumper 3 and the head lamp 10, the muddy water W drops to be discharged to the lower portion of the vehicle body from the bottom portion 19 of the recess portion 18 without entering the joint surfaces A and B. In an embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, vertical walls 20 in a transverse direction of the vehicle are formed on the top end portion side on the lower surface of the lining plate surface 16 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and furthermore, a side wall 21 extending in the backhand-forth direction of the vehicle is formed on the lower surface of the outer plate surface portion 16a so as to intersect with the vertical wall 20, i.e., to form an L-shape. With such an arrangement, the muddy water W flowing forwardly along the curved surface 17 of the fender lining 15 will flow to the recess portion 18 side inside of the vehicle body by the slanted outer plate surface portion 16a of the lining plate surface 16. Since the bottom portion 19 of the recess portion 18 is formed at a lower level than the joint surfaces A and B (see Fig. 5 to be described later), and furthermore, the vertical walls 20 and the side wall 21 are formed on the lining plate surface, the muddy water W will never enter the joint surfaces A and B. The muddy water W drops to the lower portion of the vehicle body to be discharged by the bottom portion 19 of the recess portion 18 and the vertical walls 20. In an embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6, vertical walls 20 in the traverse direction of the vehicle are provided on both sides on the lower surface of the lining plate 16 on the tip end portion side where the recess portion 18 is not formed, a side wall 21 extending in the back-and-forth direction of the vehicle is provided on the lower surface of the outer plate surface portion 16a on the fender panel 2 side. With such an arrangement, the muddy water W flowing forwardly along the curved surface 17 of the fender lining 15 is interrupted by the side wall 21 and the vertical walls 20 so as not to enter the joint surfaces A and B. The muddy water W drop to the lower portion of the vehicle body to be discharged by the side wall 21 and the vertical walls 20. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the muddy water flowing forwardly along the fender lining may flow on the recess portion side inside of the vehicle body. Furthermore, since the bottom portion of the recess portion is formed at the lower level than the joint surface between the fender panel and the bumper and the joint surface between the bumper and the head lamp, it is possible the muddy water drops from the bottom portion of the above-described recess portion to the lower portion of the vehicle body to be discharged. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the muddy water from entering each joint surface described above. Thus, the outer surface of the bumper is not contaminated and the appearance may be kept well. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the muddy water flowing forwardly along the fender lining may positively flow to the recess portion inside of the vehicle body. The muddy water may drop to the lower portion of the vehicle body to be discharged from the recess portion. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the muddy water flowing forwardly along the fender lining may positively flow to the recess portion inside of the vehicle body and may drop the muddy water to the lower portion of the vehicle body to be discharged from the recess portion. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the muddy water from entering the joint surface between the fender panel and the bumper and the joint surface between the bumper and the head lamp by the side wall and the vertical walls of the lining plate surface. Also, it is possible to discharge the muddy water flowing forwardly on the lining plate surface to the lower portion of the vehicle body by the vertical walls. Thus, the outer surface of the bumper is not contaminated and the appearance may be kept well. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the muddy water flowing forwardly along the fender lining from entering each joint portion by the side wall in the back-and-forth direction of the vehicle and the vertical walls in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Then, it si possible to drop the muddy water to the lower portion of the vehicle body by the vertical walls and the side wall to be discharged. Thus, the outer surface of the bumper is not contaminated and the appearance may be kept well. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from its spirit nor its scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the embodiments according to the present invention is provided for the purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. - WE CLAIM:- 1. A fender lining (15) disposed between a fender panel (2) and a bumper (3) and a vehicle body side member (4), with a lining plate surface (16) being formed on a front side, characterized in that a recess portion (18) extending in a back-and-fourth direction of the vehicle is formed in a central portion, in a transverse direction of the vehicle, of said lining plate surface (16), and a bottom portion (19) of said recess portion (18) is formed at a lower level than that of a joint surface (B) between said fender panel (2) and said bumper (3). 2. The fender lining as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer plate surface portion (16a), on the fender panel (2) side from said recess portion (18), of said lining plate surface (16) is slanted downwardly toward inside of a vehicle body. 3. The fender lining as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein vertical walls (20) extending in a transverse direction of the vehicle is formed on a lower surface on a tip end portion side of said lining plate surface (16) and a side wall (21) extending in the back-and-forth direction of the vehicle is formed on the lower surface of said outer plate surface portion (16a) so as to form a L-shape with the vertical wall (20). 4. A fender lining disposed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

1187-del-1999-abstract.pdf

1187-del-1999-claims.pdf

1187-del-1999-correspondence-others.pdf

1187-del-1999-correspondence-po.pdf

1187-del-1999-description (complete).pdf

1187-del-1999-drawings.pdf

1187-del-1999-form-1.pdf

1187-del-1999-form-13.pdf

1187-del-1999-form-19.pdf

1187-del-1999-form-2.pdf

1187-del-1999-form-3.pdf

1187-del-1999-form-5.pdf

1187-del-1999-gpa.pdf

abstract.jpg