Front end module structure of vehicle

Details Front end module structure of vehicle Front end module structure of vehicle

1998-03-23

2001-04-17

Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)

Motor vehicles

Power

Radiators and condensers, mounting

C296S190050

Reexamination Certificate

active

06216810

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a front end module structure of a vehicle which is composed of a resin-made front end panel adapted to retains at least a radiator of the vehicle.
Conventionally, this type of front end module structure is known, for example, which is illustrated in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-105115. This conventional structure has a resin-made front end panel adapted to be mounted to opposed front side members of a vehicle and having at least a retaining portion by which a radiator of the vehicle is retained. The front end panel of this conventional structure has an upper reinforcement portion that are fixed at both ends to opposed front fender reinforcements of the vehicle, respectively. However, in the above-described conventional structure, the upper reinforcement portion is made of resin as in the case of the radiator retaining portion. Therefore, the upper reinforcement portion is disadvantageous in terms of the rigidity. Especially, for example, in a case where a lock device for retaining a bonnet of the vehicle is provided on this upper reinforcement portion, the upper reinforcement portion does not sufficiently bear the load at the locking time and therefore is likely to become short of the strength.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made under the above-mentioned circumstances and has an object to provide a front end module structure of a vehicle in which there is enhanced the rigidity of the upper reinforcement portion of the front end panel.
To attain the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a front end module structure of a vehicle comprising a resin-made front end panel adapted to be mounted at both ends on a pair of opposed front side members of the vehicle and having at least a radiator retaining portion adapted to retain the radiator thereto, an upper reinforced portion adapted to be fixed to a pair of opposed front fender reinforcements of the vehicle and opposed rib-like flanges downwardly extending from the upper reinforced portion, and a metal-made reinforcement member molded integrally with the upper reinforced portion and having a plurality of holes in which the resin material of the upper reinforced portion is filled.
According to the present invention, there is further provided a front end module structure of a vehicle which comprises a front end panel mounted on front side members of the vehicle, the front end panel including a metal-made upper reinforcement extending in the widthwise direction of the vehicle and having a horizontally thrown U-shaped, or closed, sectional configuration and a resin-made main body formed integrally with the upper reinforcement and so formed in the upper reinforcement that a part thereof may intrude into the sectional configuration thereof, the resin-made main body having formed therein at least a retaining portion, by which a radiator is retained, and an upper reinforcement portion fixed to front fender reinforcements of the vehicle.
According to this technical means, there is provided a metal-made upper reinforcement. Therefore, the upper reinforcement portion of the front end panel is reinforced by this upper reinforcement. As a result of this, the rigidity of the upper reinforcement portion of the front end panel is enhanced.
More preferably, there is provided a bent or folded flange formed by cutting out a lower wall of the upper reinforcement and downwardly extending so that the bent flange may be substantially parallel with a front wall of the upper reinforcement, a vertical frame portion of the retaining portion being formed so as to cover the bent flange.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3583756 (1971-06-01), Wilfert
patent: 4530147 (1985-07-01), Mattei et al.
patent: 4904511 (1990-02-01), Barberis
patent: 5077885 (1992-01-01), Kanemitsu et al.
patent: 5123695 (1992-06-01), Kanemitsu
patent: 5271473 (1993-12-01), Ikeda et al.
patent: 5575526 (1996-11-01), Wycech
patent: 5597047 (1997-01-01), Thompson et al.
patent: 5658041 (1997-08-01), Girardot et al.
patent: 0658470B1 (1997-05-01), None
patent: 5-105115 (1993-04-01), None

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