WO2010058871A1

WO2010058871A1 - Support panel assembly for rear lamp of vehicle and method of manufacturing the same

Info

Publication number: WO2010058871A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/006909
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ki Taek Kim
Original assignee: Renault S. A. S.
Priority date: 2008-11-21
Filing date: 2008-11-21
Publication date: 2010-05-27
Also published as: KR101510207B1; CN102264577A; KR20110118635A

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a support panel assembly (30) for a rear lamp of a vehicle which can be processed into a complicated shape such that complicated and various shaped rear lamps can be applied to a vehicle body and a method of manufacturing the same. A support panel assembly (30) according to an embodiment of the present invention is obtained by processing a plurality of panels (40, 50, 60) using a bending process and coupling the panels (40, 50, 60) to one another, thereby satisfying the demand in complex and various styles for the rear and maintaining stiffness and strength inherent in support panels.

Description

SUPPORT PANEL ASSEMBLY FOR REAR LAMP OF VEHICLE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE

SAME Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a support panel assembly for a rear lamp of a vehicle and a method of manufacturing the same, and, more particularly, to a support panel assembly of a structure to mount various shaped rear lamps to a vehicle body and a method of manufacturing the same.. Background Art

[2] Generally, a vehicle has lamp devices as lighting means during the driving of the vehicle at night and various signal means during the driving of the vehicle.

[3] Among them are rear combination lamps (hereinafter, referred to as 'rear lamps') mounted at opposite-side edges of the rear of a vehicle body. Each of the rear lamps is a part constituted by a brake light, a tail light, and a direction indcating light. The rear lamps are used as means to inform a driver driving a following vehicle of driving intention and state of the vehicle concerned.

[4] Generally, each of the rear lamps includes a lamp housing constituting the overall rear framework thereof, a reflector mounted in front of the lamp housing to reflect light, and a bulb mounted in front of the reflector, and a lens mounted in front of the bulb and the reflector.

[5] The rear lamps with the above-stated construction are mounted at the opposite-side edges of the rear of the vehicle body. The vehicle body is provided with rear lamp support panels to which the rear lamps are mounted.

[6] To mount the rear lamps to the vehicle body, the rear lamp support panels are fixed to side outer panels of the vehicle body by welding, and the lamp housings of the respective rear lamps are securely coupled to the corresponding rear lamp support panels by bolts.

[7] Each rear lamp support panel functions to maintain strength and stiffness necessary as a structure to securely support various shaped rear lamps and, at the same time, to form the vehicle body and to prevent introduction of water or foreign matter such as dust into a separation space between each rear lamp and the corresponding rear lamp support panel. [8] To fαlfill such junctions, a conventional rear lamp support panel is formed by press

(plastic working) and is mounted to a vehicle. However, it is difficult to manufacture rear lamp support panels having shapes corresponding to complicated and various lamp styles due to the limitation in process of the press (plastic working).

[9] Consequently, when complicated and various shaped rear lamps are applied to the vehicle body, a separation space between each rear lamp and a corresponding rear lamp support panel increases, with the result that leakage may occur or foreign matter may be introduced into the vehicle body. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[10] Therefore, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a support panel assembly for a rear lamp of a vehicle which can be processed into a complicated shape such that complicated and various shaped rear lamps can be applied to a vehicle body and a method of manufacturing the same.

[11] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a support panel assembly for a rear lamp of a vehicle which is capable of preventing the introduction of foreign matter between the support panel assembly and a corresponding rear lamp while securely fixing various shaped rear lamps to a vehicle body and a method of manufacturing the same.

[12] It is a farther aspect of the present invention to provide a support panel assembly for a rear lamp of a vehicle which can be manufactured with reduced costs even when the support panel assembly is formed in a complicated structure and a method of manufacturing the same. Technical Solution

[13] In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a support panel assembly for a rear lamp of a vehicle, fixed to an outer panel constituting a side of a rear of a vehicle body to support the rear lamp, wherein the support panel assembly includes a first support panel having a first bent part, the first support panel being mounted to the outer panel to form a base to fix the rear lamp and a second support panel having a second bent part, the second support panel being coupled to at least one side of the first support panel to form a receiving space to allow a central part of the rear lamp to be located therein.

[14] The first support panel may include a side part coupled to a side of the outer panel and a rear part bent from the side part by the first bent part to be coupled to a rear of the cxiter panel.

[15] The second bent part may include a pair of second bent parts, and the second support panel may be bent by the pair of second bent parts to have three planes such that the second support panel is coupled to an edge of the rear part of the first support panel.

[16] The rear part may be provided at the edge thereof with a rear flange bent from the rear part, and the second support panel may be coupled to the rear flange.

[17] In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a support panel assembly for a rear lamp of a vehicle, fixed to an cuter panel constituting a side of a rear of a vehicle body to support the rear lamp, wherein the method includes bending a first panel of a plate shape, such that the first panel is mounted to one side of the outer panel, to prepare a first support panel, bending a second panel of a plate shape, such that the second panel is mounted to the other side of the outer panel and has a receiving space to allow a central part of the rear lamp to be located therein, to prepare a second support panel, and coupling the first and second support panels to each other.

[18] The preparing the first support panel may include bending a one-side edge of the bent first panel to form a rear flange configured to be coupled to the second support panel.

[19] The preparing the second support panel may include bendng opposite sides of the plate-shaped second panel in one direction. Advantageous Effects

[20] The support panel assembly for the rear lamp of the vehicle and the method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention with the above-stated construction have the effect of processing a plurality of support panels by press and bending, and coupling the support panels to one another, to constitute the support panel assembly, thereby satisfying the demand in complex and various styles for the rear lamp and, at the same time, maintaining stiffness and strength inherent in the support panels.

[21] Also, it is possible for the support panel assembly to be formed into a complicated shape, thereby minimizing a separation space between the support panel assembly and the rear lamp and thus preventing the introduction of water or foreign matter into the vehicle body. Brief Description of the Drawings

[22] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a place where a rear lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted; [23] FIG. 2 is a separated perspective view illustrating the rear lamp according to the embodiment of the present invention, separated from a vehicle body; [24] FIG. 3 is a separated perspective view illustrating a support panel assembly for a rear lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, separated from the vehicle body; [25] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the support panel assembly for the rear lamp according to the embodiment of the present invention; [26] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a process of forming a first support panel of the support panel assembly for the rear lamp according to the embodiment of the present invention; [27] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a process of forming a second support panel of the support panel assembly for the rear lamp according to the embodiment of the present invention; and [28] FIG. 7 is a separated perspective view illustrating a rear lamp and a support panel assembly for the rear lamp according to another embodiment of the present invention, separated from the vehicle body while being also separated from each other.

Mode for the Invention [29] Now, support panel assemblies for rear lamps of vehicles according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [30] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a place where a rear lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted, FIG. 2 is a separated perspective view illustrating the rear lamp according to the embodiment of the present invention, separated from a vehicle body, and FIG. 3 is a separated perspective view illustrating a support panel assembly for a rear lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, separated from the vehicle body. [31] As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is constructed in a structure in which outer panels 10 are provided at opposite sides of the rear of the vehicle body, and a rear lamp 20 is mounted to each outer panel 10. [32] At the rear of the rear lamp 20 is provided a wire 21 to supply power to the rear lamp

20. The rear lamp according to this embodiment may have the same structure as the rear lamp previously described in the background art, and therefore, a description thereof will not be given. [33] To mount the rear lamp 20 to the corresponding outer panel 10, as shown in FIG. 2, a support panel assembly 30 to support the rear lamp 20 is coupled to the outer panel 10.

[34] As shown in FIG. 3, the outer panel 10 has a through-hole 11 corresponding to the shape of the rear lamp 20. At the edge of the through-hole 11 is formed a flange 12, which is configured to be coupled to the support panel assembly 30 by welding, in a protruding fashion.

[35] In this embodiment, the through-hole is formed as shown in FIG. 3, although the through-hole may be formed in various shapes over the side and rear of the vehicle body based on the shape of the rear lamp.

[36] The support panel assembly 30 is coupled to the corresponding outer panel 10 by welding to seal between the support panel assembly 30 and the outer panel 10. The through-hole 11 of the outer panel 10 is formed into a shape corresponding to that of the rear lamp 20. Consequently, when the shape of the rear lamp 20 is complicated, the through-hole 11 has a complicated shape corresponding to that of the through-hole 11.

[37] At this time, to couple the support panel assembly 30 to the through-hole 11 having the complicated shape by welding, it is required for the support panel assembly 30 to be formed into a complicated shape corresponding to that of the through-hole 11.

[38] However, the conventional rear lamp support panel is formed by pressing (plastically working) a single thin sheet panel, with the result that forming the conventional rear lamp support panel into a complicated shape is limited.

[39] On the other hand, the rear lamp support panel assembly 30 for the rear lamp for the vehicle according to this embodiment is obtained by assembling a plurality of panels to one another and coupling the assembled panels to the flange 12 of the through-hole 11. Consequently, it is possible to form the rear lamp support panel assembly 30 into a complicated shape.

[40] Hereinafter, the rear lamp support panel assembly 30 will be described in detail.

[41] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the support panel assembly for the rear lamp according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a process of forming a first support panel of the support panel assembly for the rear lamp accordng to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a process of forming a second support panel of the support panel assembly for the rear lamp according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[42] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the support panel assembly 30 may include a first support panel 40 mounted to the outer panel 10, after being bent, to form a base to fix the rear lamp 20 and a second support panel 50 mounted to the first support panel 40, after being bent, to form a receiving space 31 to allow the central side of the rear lamp 20 to be located therein.

[43] As shown in FIG. 5, the first support panel 40 is pressed into a shape corresponding to that of the correspondng outer panels.

[44] In the first support panel 40 is formed a wire hole 45 to guide the wire 21 of the rear lamp 20 into the vehicle body by press. In this way, the external appearance of the first support panel 40 is completed.

[45] Subsequently, the first support panel 40 is bent. By bending, the first support panel

40 includes a side part 41 corresponding to the side of the outer panel 10, a rear part 42 bent from the side part 41 to correspond to the rear of the outer panel 10, and a first bent part 43 located between the side part 41 and the rear part 42.

[46] Consequently, the side part 41 of the first support panel 40 is mounted to the side of the outer panel 10, and the rear part 42 of the first support panel 40, bent in the rearward direction of the cuter panel 10, is mounted to the rear of the outer panel 10.

[47] The side part 41 and the rear part 42 may be formed into a plane shape by press. Alternatively, the side part 41 and the rear part 42 may be formed into a non-plane shape correspondng to the rear shape of the rear lamp 20 by press.

[48] The side part 41 has an edge 41a formed to come into contact with the flange 12 of the through-hole 11.

[49] Preferably, the wire hole 45 is formed in the rear part 42, and the edge of the rear part 42 is bent rearward to form a rear flange 44, which is configured to be coupled to the second support panel 50.

[50] The second support panel 50 is coupled to the rear flange 44 of the first support panel by weldng. The second support panel 50 is bent into a shape to define a space sufficient to receive the rear of the rear lamp 20 such that the second support panel 50 is coupled to the first support panel 40.

[51] At this time, the shape of the second support panel 50 and the coupling relationship between the first and second support panels 40 and 50 may be various depending upon the shape of the rear lamp 20.

[52] In this embodment, as shown in FIGS 4 and 6, the second support panel 50 is pressed and then bent, such that the second support panel 50 correspondng to the height and width of the rear 42 of the first support panel 40, to define a space sufficient to allow the central side of the rear lamp 20 to be located therein.

[53] The second support panel 50 is bent to include a top part 51 having a length correspondng to an upper part 44a of the rear flange, a vertical part 52 having a length correspondng to a side part 44b of the rear flange, and a bottom part 53 having a length correspondng to a lower part 44c of the rear flange. Between the top part 51 and the vertical part 52 and between the vertical part 52 and the bottom part 53 are formed a pair of bent parts 54 by bendng.

[54] The second support panel 50, includng the top part 51, the vertical part 52, and the bottom part 53 partitioned by the bent parts 54, is coupled to the rear flange 44 of the rear part 42 by welding.

[55] In this embodment, the support panel assembly may farther include a third support panel 60 coupled to the second support panel 50 by weldng.

[56] The third support panel 60 is provided to form a trunk-side connection part (not shown). The third support panel 60 may be pressed and then bent. Alternatively, the third support panel 60 may be only pressed into a simple shape.

[57] Also, the third support panel 60 may be omitted as needed, or an addtional panel may be added to constitute the support panel assembly.

[58] That is, only two panels may be used to constitute the support panel assembly. When the shape of the through-hole and the rear lamp is farther complicated, on the other hand, three or more panels may be used to constitute the support panel assembly such that the support panel assembly has a shape correspondng to the complicated shape of the rear lamp.

[59] In this embodment as described above, the through-hole 11 of the outer panel 10 is formed based on the shape of the rear lamp 20, the first support panel 40 is formed by pressing a thin sheet and bendng the side part of the pressed sheet into a shape correspondng to the side of the through-hole 11 of the outer panel 10, the second support panel 50 is formed by pressing a thin sheet and bendng the side part of the pressed sheet into a shape correspondng to the rear of the through-hole 11 of the outer panel 10, the first support panel 40 and the second support panel 50 are coupled to each other by weldng to constitute the support panel assembly 30, and the support panel assembly 30 is coupled to the outer panel 10 by weldng, whereby the support panel assembly 30 is mounted to the outer panel 10.

[60] Subsequently, the rear lamp is fixed to the support panel assembly 30 by screws to complete the assembly of the rear lamp 20.

[61] Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing the support panel assembly for the rear lamp accordng to an embodment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[62] The support panel assembly manufacturing method accordng to this embodment may include bending a first panel 40 to prepare a first support panel 40, a bending a second panel 50 to prepare a second support panel 50, and coupling the first and second panels 40 and 50 to each other.

[63] As shown in FIG. 5, the first panel 40 is prepared in the shape of a plate having a wire hole 45 by plastic working.

[64] Subsequently, the first panel 40 is bent to form the first support panel 40 into a shape that can be mounted to one side of the outer panel 10.

[65] That is, the first support panel 40 is bent to include a side part 41 corresponding to the side of the outer panel 10 and a rear part 42 corresponding to the rear of the outer panel 10.

[66] At this time, the edge of the rear part 42 is bent again to form a rear flange 44, which is configured to be coupled to the second support panel 50.

[67] As shown in FIG. 6, the second panel 50 is prepared in the shape of a plate by plastic working.

[68] Subsequently, the second panel 50 is bent to define a receiving space 31 to allow the central side of the rear lamp 20 to be located therein.

[69] That is, opposite sides of a vertical part 51 formed at the middle side of the second support panel 50 are bent such that the vertical part 51 has a height corresponding to the height H of the first support panel 40, and a top part 52 formed at the upper end of the vertical part 51 and a bottom part 53 formed at the lower end of the vertical part 51 are brought into tight contact with the upper and lower ends of the rear part 42 of the first support panel 40, respectively.

[70] The first and second support panels 40 and 50 formed as described above are coupled to each other by welding the second support panel 50 to the rear flange of the first support panel 40.

[71] A third support panel may be further formed by bending based on the shape of the rear lamp 20 and the periphery, and then the third support panel may be coupled to the first and second support panels.

[72] Consequently, it is possible to form a support panel assembly by processing a plurality of support panels made of thin sheet steel material the prediction and process of which are easy by press and bending and coupling the support panels to one another by welding, thereby satisfying the demand in complex and various styles for a rear lamp and, at the same time, maintaining stiffness and strength inherent in the support panels. In addition, it is possible to minimize a separation space between the support panel assembly and the rear lamp, thereby preventing the introduction of water or foreign matter into the vehicle body.

[73] FIG. 7 is a separated perspective view illustrating a rear lamp and a support panel assembly for the rear lamp according to another embodiment of the present invention, separated from the vehicle body while being also separated from each other.

[74] This embodiment is identical in construction to the previous embodiment except the shape of a rear lamp 120, a support panel assembly 130 for the rear lamp, and an outer panel 100.

[75] Therefore, components of this embodiment identical to those of the previous embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will not be given.

[76] As shown in FIG. 7, the outer panel 100 may be provided at the side thereof with a through-hole 101 having a shape more complicated than that of the previous embodiment.

[77] Correspondingly, the support panel assembly 130 may be formed into a complicated shape. A first support panel 140 constituting the support panel assembly 130 includes an upper side part 141 corresponding to the upper side of a through-hole 101 and a lower side part 142 corresponding to the lower side of the through-hole 101. The first support panel 140 may include a rear part identical to that of the previous embodiment.

[78] The support panel assembly 130 may fiirther include a second support panel 150 and a third support panel 160 identical to those of the previous embodiment. Even in this case, the second support panel and the third support panel may be modified depending upon the rear structure of the rear lamp.

[79] After the first support panel 140, the second support panel 150, and the third support panel 160 are coupled to one another by welding in the same manner as the previous embodiment, the support panel assembly 130 is coupled to a flange 102 of the through- hole 101 by welding, with the result that the support panel assembly 130 is fixed to the outer panel 100.

[80] Subsequently, the rear lamp 120, formed into a shape corresponding to the through- hole 101 of the outer panel 100, is coupled to the support panel assembly 130 for the rear lamp, whereby the installation of the rear lamp 120 is completed.

[81] Consequently, it is possible to easily install a rear lamp of a more complicated shape in a vehicle by pressing and bending a plurality of panels into a shape corresponding to the through-hole of the outer panel, coupling the panels to each other by welding, fixing the support panel assembly to the outer panel, and mounting the rear lamp to the support panel assembly.

Claims

[1] A support panel assembly for a rear lamp of a vehicle, fixed to an outer panel constituting a side of a rear of a vehicle body to support the rear lamp, wherein the support panel assembly comprises: a first support panel having a first bent part, the first support panel being mounted to the outer panel to form a base to fix the rear lamp; and a second support panel having a second bent part, the second support panel being coupled to at least one side of the first support panel to form a receiving space to allow a central part of the rear lamp to be located therein.

[2] The support panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first support panel comprises a side part coupled to a side of the outer panel and a rear part bent from the side part by the first bent part to be coupled to a rear of the cuter panel.

[3] The support panel assembly according to claim 2, wherein the second bent part comprises a pair of second bent parts, and the second support panel is bent by the pair of second bent parts to have three planes such that the second support panel is coupled to an edge of the rear part of the first support panel.

[4] The support panel assembly according to claim 3, wherein the rear part is provided at the edge thereof with a rear flange bent from the rear part, and the second support panel is coupled to the rear flange.

[5] A method of manufacturing a support panel assembly for a rear lamp of a vehicle, fixed to an cuter panel constituting a side of a rear of a vehicle body to support the rear lamp, wherein the method comprises: bending a first panel of a plate shape, such that the first panel is mounted to one side of the outer panel, to prepare a first support panel; bending a second panel of a plate shape, such that the second panel is mounted to the other side of the outer panel and has a receiving space to allow a central part of the rear lamp to be located therein, to prepare a second support panel; and coupling the first and second support panels to each other.

[6] The method according to claim 5, wherein the preparing the first support panel comprises bending a one-side edge of the bent first panel to form a rear flange configured to be coupled to the second support panel.

[7] The method according to claim 5, wherein the preparing the second support panel comprises bending opposite sides of the plate-shaped second panel in one direction.