Bracket stiffening assembly for a vehicle grille

A bracket stiffening assembly for a vehicle grille includes a body member configured to be mounted to a central portion of the vehicle grille and first and second mounting members configured to be mounted to a perimeter portion of the vehicle grille. A first stiffening arm extends in a first direction between the first mounting member and the body member. A second stiffening arm extends in a second direction between the second mounting member and the body member. A third stiffening arm extends in the first direction between the first mounting member and the body member. The third stiffening arm is vertically spaced from the first stiffening arm. A fourth stiffening arm extends in the second direction between the second mounting member and the body member. The fourth stiffening arm is vertically spaced from the second stiffening arm.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a bracket stiffening assembly for a vehicle grille. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle grille assembly of a vehicle in which a bracket stiffening assembly is secured to an outer grille member to increase the rigidity of the vehicle grille assembly.

Background Information

A vehicle grille assembly includes a mesh member having mesh openings to allow airflow therethrough for engine cooling. However, increasing a size of the mesh openings to increase airflow can negatively impact the performance and appearance of the vehicle grille assembly. Additionally, aesthetic design changes to the vehicle grille assembly can negatively impact the performance of the vehicle grille assembly.

SUMMARY

In view of the state of the known technology, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a bracket stiffening assembly for a vehicle grille including a body member configured to be mounted to a central portion of the vehicle grille and first and second mounting members configured to be mounted to a perimeter portion of the vehicle grille. A first stiffening arm extends in a first direction between the first mounting member and the body member. A second stiffening arm extends in a second direction between the second mounting member and the body member. A third stiffening arm extends in the first direction between the first mounting member and the body member. The third stiffening arm is vertically spaced from the first stiffening arm. A fourth stiffening arm extends in the second direction between the second mounting member and the body member. The fourth stiffening arm is vertically spaced from the second stiffening arm.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a vehicle grille assembly including an outer grille member, a mesh member and a bracket stiffening assembly. The outer grille member has a perimeter portion defining an opening. A mesh member is secured to the outer grille and has mesh to cover the outer grille opening. The mesh member has a top end, a bottom end and a central portion disposed therebetween. The bracket stiffening assembly includes a body member mounted to the central portion of the mesh member, and first and second mounting members mounted to the perimeter portion of the outer grille member. First and second stiffening arms extend between the body member and the first and second mounting members, respectively. The first stiffening arm extends across the outer grille opening and is spaced from the top and bottom ends of the mesh member. The second stiffening arm extends across the outer grille opening and is spaced from the top and bottom ends of the mesh member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Selected exemplary embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawing figures. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the exemplary embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Referring initially toFIG. 1, a vehicle10is illustrated in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle10includes various conventional elements such as a body structure12, which includes fenders14, a hood16, a bumper assembly18and headlamp assemblies20. These elements are peripheral to a vehicle grille assembly22, such that further description is omitted for the sake of brevity.

The vehicle grille assembly22includes an outer grille member24, a cover, or mesh, member26and a stiffening bracket assembly28, as shown inFIGS. 1, 4 and 5. As shown inFIG. 1, for example, an emblem30can be mounted to the vehicle grille assembly22.

The outer grille member24has a perimeter portion32defining an opening34, as shown inFIG. 4. The perimeter portion32has a top portion36, a bottom portion38and opposing first and second side portions40and42connecting the top and bottom portions36and38, such that the defined opening34is substantially rectangular. Outer openings44and46can be further defined in the first and second side portions40and42of the outer grille member24.

The perimeter portion32of the outer grille member24has an outer surface48and an inner surface50, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4. The outer surface48faces externally of the vehicle10, and the inner surface50faces toward an engine compartment (not shown) of the vehicle10. A first locating member52extends outwardly from the first side portion40. A second locating member54extends outwardly from the second side portion42. A plurality of fastener openings56and58are disposed on the first and second side portions40and42. As shown inFIG. 4, three fastener openings56are disposed on the first side portion40and three fastener openings58are disposed on the second side portion42.

The mesh member26has a perimeter portion60, as shown inFIG. 4. The perimeter portion60of the mesh member26has a top end62, a bottom end64and opposing first and second side ends66and68. A plurality of laterally extending slats70,72and74extend between the first and second side ends66and68. As shown inFIG. 4, three slats70,72and74extend between the first and second side ends66and68, although any suitable number of slats can be used. A central portion76is substantially centrally located within the perimeter portion60of the mesh member26. The central portion76is configured to receive an emblem30, as shown inFIG. 1. A fastener opening51is disposed in the central portion76of the mesh member26. A plurality of mounting tabs53extend outwardly from the perimeter portion60of the mesh member26. Each mounting tab53includes at least one fastener opening55. The mounting tabs53can also include a locator opening57.

A mesh80extends within the areas defined by the perimeter portion60, the central portion76and the laterally extending slats70,72and74, as shown inFIG. 4. The mesh80defines a plurality of mesh openings82through which air can flow into the engine compartment.

Outer mesh members84and86are configured to be received by the outer openings44and46in the outer grille member24. The outer mesh members84and86are substantially similar to the mesh member26but without a central portion configured to receive the emblem.

The bracket stiffening assembly28, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, includes a body member88and first and second mounting members90and91. A first stiffening arm92extends from the body member88to the first mounting member90. A second stiffening arm93extends from the body member88to the second mounting member91. A third stiffening arm94extends from the body member88to the first mounting member90. A fourth stiffening arm95extends from the body member88to the second mounting member91. The first and third stiffening arms92and94preferably extend in a first direction from the body member88to the first mounting member90. The second and fourth stiffening arms93and95preferably extend in a second direction, which is preferably substantially opposite to the first direction, from the body member88to the second mounting member91. Although the stiffening bracket assembly28is shown having four stiffening arms, any suitable number of stiffening arms can be used. For example, the stiffening bracket assembly can have two stiffening arms in which one stiffening arm extends from the body member88to each of the mounting members90and91, or the stiffening bracket assembly can have five stiffening arms in which a fifth stiffening arm extends from the first mounting member90to the second mounting member91(shown in phantom lines inFIG. 5).

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the first stiffening arm92is vertically spaced from the third stiffening arm94. The second stiffening arm93is vertically spaced from the fourth stiffening arm95. The body member88, the first stiffening arm92, the first mounting member90and the third stiffening arm94define a first open area96. The body member88, the second stiffening arm93, the second mounting member91and the fourth stiffening arm95define a second open area97. The first and second open areas96and97are disposed on opposite sides of the body member88. Upper surfaces81,82,83and84of each of the stiffening arms92,93,94and95, respectively, are contoured.

The first mounting member90has a locator opening61and a first fastener opening63, as shown inFIG. 3. The first mounting member90can have a second fastener opening65. The first fastener opening63is disposed adjacent the locator opening61and the second fastener opening65is spaced from the locator opening61.

The second mounting member91has a locator opening67and a first fastener opening69, as shown inFIG. 3. The second mounting member91can have a second fastener opening71. The first fastener opening69is disposed adjacent the locator opening67and the second fastener opening71is spaced from the locator opening67.

The body member88has a recessed portion therein73. A fastener opening75is disposed in the recessed portion73of the body member88. An upper surface77of the body member88is contoured such that the upper surfaces81,77and82define a continuously contoured surface that extends from the first mounting member90to the second mounting member91.

The bracket stiffening assembly28is preferably integrally formed as a unitary member in any suitable manner, such as by blow molding. The stiffening arms, such as the third and fourth stiffening arms93and95shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, are hollow when the bracket stiffening assembly28is made by a blow molding process. The bracket stiffening assembly28can be made of any suitable material, such as plastic or metal. The outer grille member24and the mesh member28can be made of any suitable material, such as plastic or metal. The mesh member28can be painted, plated, and/or adorned with chrome, gold or other colored finishes adhered thereto for aesthetic purposes.

The outer grille member24is secured to the vehicle body structure12in a conventional manner. The outer grille member24is secured to the front of the body structure12between front ends of the fenders14and above the bumper assembly18, as shown inFIG. 1. The locator openings57of the mounting tabs53of the mesh member26receive the first and second locator members52and54, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, thereby properly positioning the mesh member26with respect to the outer grille member24. The fastener openings55in the mounting tabs53of the mesh member26are aligned with the fastener openings56and58in the perimeter portion32of the outer grille member24. The perimeter portion60of the mesh member26overlies the perimeter portion32of the outer grille member24such that the mesh member26completely covers the outer grille member opening34. The outer mesh members84and86are secured to the outer grille member24in a conventional manner such that the entirety of the side openings44and46in the outer grille member24are covered by the outer mesh members84and86. The mesh member26is secured on a rear side of the outer grille member24.

The first and second locator openings61and67in the first and second mounting members90and91of the bracket stiffening assembly28receive the first and second locator members52and54of the outer grille member24, thereby properly positioning the bracket stiffening assembly28with respect to the outer grille member24and the mesh member26. Fasteners59are inserted through fastener openings63,65,69and71of the bracket stiffening assembly28, through the fastener openings55in the mounting tabs53of the mesh member26and into the fastener openings58of the outer grille member24. Another fastener59can be inserted through the fastener opening75in the body member88of the bracket stiffening assembly28, through the fastener opening51in the central portion76of the mesh member26and into a fastener opening in the emblem30. The bracket stiffening assembly28is secured on rear sides of the outer grille member24and the mesh member26.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 5, the bracket stiffening assembly28is substantially concealed from view in a horizontal direction on an outer side of the outer grille member24. The bracket stiffening arms92,93,94and95are disposed behind the laterally extending slats70and72of the mesh member26. The upper surfaces of the stiffening arms92,93,94and95are contoured to match the shape of the mesh openings82to facilitate substantially concealing the stiffening bracket assembly28from view in a horizontal direction on an outer side of the outer grille member24. The bracket stiffening assembly28provides increased rigidity to the vehicle grille assembly22.

In another exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 5, a fifth stiffening arm41extends from the first mounting member90to the second mounting member91. The fifth stiffening arm41has a shape corresponding to the bottom portion38and the side portions40and42of the perimeter portion32of the outer grille member24, thereby facilitating substantially concealing the fifth stiffening arm41from view in a horizontal direction on an outer side of the outer grille member24. The fifth stiffening arm41is disposed behind the perimeter portion32of the outer grille member26such that the fifth stiffening arm41does not impair the flow of air through the vehicle grille assembly22.

As shown inFIG. 5, the stiffening arms92,93,94and95are vertically spaced from the top end62and the bottom end64of the perimeter portion60of the mesh member26. The stiffening arms92,93,94and95are vertically spaced from the top portion36and the bottom portion38of the perimeter portion32of the outer grille member24. The stiffening arms92,93,94and95extend across the outer grille opening34. The stiffening arms92,93,94and95are disposed behind the laterally extending slats70and72of the mesh member26and have contoured surfaces corresponding to the shape of the mesh openings82such that the bracket stiffening member does not impair the flow of air through the vehicle grille assembly22. The first and second open areas96and97are disposed in the outer grille member opening34to allow air to flow therethrough.

As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the stiffening arms92,93,94and95are horizontally spaced from the laterally extending slats70and72of the mesh member26. An inner surface of the laterally extending slat70is spaced from an outer surface of the stiffening arm93by a horizontal distance S. The horizontal spacing S limits rearward deflection of the mesh member26.

A U-shaped recess37in the bracket stiffening assembly28is defined by the third and fourth stiffening arms94and95and the body member88, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. The U-shaped recess37is configured to accommodate a camera39, as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10. The camera39is secured to the emblem30in any suitable manner such that the camera39is exposed externally of the emblem30.

General Interpretation of Terms