Vehicle rear portion structure

A vehicle rear portion structure that comprises: a first glass that is provided at a vehicle rear portion, and at which is formed a sunken portion that is sunken-in further toward a substantially vehicle lower side than portions adjacent thereto in a vehicle transverse direction; a connecting portion that is provided between the first glass and a second glass, and that leads drainage water, which flows from the sunken portion, to the second glass; and an additional member having a guide portion that extends toward a vehicle rear side from an upper portion of the second glass, and that guides the drainage water from the connecting portion to a position that is away, toward a vehicle rear side, from a vehicle rear side surface of the second glass.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-002865 filed on Jan. 11, 2017, which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle rear portion structure.

Related Art

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2000-219617 discloses a vehicle rear portion structure in which a spoiler is provided at the upper portion of a rear window glass. In this vehicle rear portion structure, water droplets and the like that stick to the rear window glass are removed by forming a gap between the spoiler and the rear window glass.

In a structure in which a rear window glass is divided into upper and lower sections, there are cases in which the spoiler is provided between a first glass that is at the upper side and a second glass that is at the lower side. In this case, the water droplets that stick to the first glass flow to the second glass through a space that is formed at the lower side of the spoiler.

Here, if the vehicle transverse direction central portion of the first glass is formed in a sunken shape for the purpose of improving the aerodynamic characteristics and the design and the like, there is the possibility that the water that flows from the first glass will concentrate at the vehicle transverse direction central portion, and that water will stick locally to the vehicle transverse direction central portion of the second glass. Further, there is the concern that rain stains will arise and the appearance will deteriorate at the portion where water sticks locally.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle rear portion structure that can suppress rain stains arising at a second glass, in a vehicle rear portion structure in which a sunken portion is formed at a first glass.

A vehicle rear portion structure of an aspect has: a first glass that is provided at a vehicle rear portion, and at which is formed a sunken portion that is sunken-in toward a substantially vehicle lower side with respect to portions adjacent thereto in a vehicle transverse direction; a second glass that is provided further toward a vehicle rear side and a vehicle lower side than the first glass, and that is disposed with a plate thickness direction thereof being a substantially vehicle longitudinal direction; a connecting portion that is provided between the first glass and the second glass, and that leads drainage water, which flows from the sunken-portion, to the second glass; and an additional member having a guide portion that extends toward a vehicle rear side from an upper portion of the second glass, and that guides the drainage water from the connecting portion to a position that is away, toward a vehicle rear side, from a vehicle rear side surface of the second glass.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

A vehicle rear portion structure S relating to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described hereinafter by using the drawings.

Note that arrow RR that is shown appropriately in the respective drawings indicates the vehicle rear side, arrow UP indicates the vehicle upper side, and arrow RH indicates the vehicle transverse direction right side. Further, when longitudinal, vertical and left-right directions are used in the following description without being specified, they refer to the longitudinal of the vehicle longitudinal direction, the vertical of the vehicle vertical direction, and the left and right of the vehicle transverse direction.

FIG. 3is a perspective view that is seen from the vehicle rear side and shows the periphery of a back door12of a vehicle10to which the vehicle rear portion structure S is applied.FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view showing main structural parts of the back door12. As shown inFIG. 2, the back door12is structured to include a back door panel20that structures the frame of the back door12, a back door glass30, a back door lower glass40, and a spoiler50and a high-mount stop lamp60that serve as an “exterior member”.

Note that, when the structures of the respective parts are described by using directions hereinafter, description is given with the directions being those in the state in which the back door12is closed (the state shown inFIG. 3).

The back door panel20(hereinafter called “BD panel20”) is formed in a substantial L-shape as seen in a vehicle side view. In detail, the BD panel20has a panel front portion20F that structures the front portion of the BD panel20and is slanted downward gently while heading toward the rear side, and a panel rear portion20R that extends substantially vertically toward the lower side from the rear end of the panel front portion20F. The BD panel20is mounted, via hinges that are provided at the front end portion of the panel front portion20F, to a vehicle body14so as to be able to rotate around an axis G whose axial direction is the vehicle transverse direction (refer to one-dot chain line G inFIG. 2).

A first opening portion20A is formed in the panel front portion20F, and a second opening portion20B is formed in the panel rear portion20R. The first opening portion20A is formed to be large in the substantial center of the panel front portion20F. Therefore, the panel front portion20F has a front frame portion22that structures the front side of the first opening portion20A, a pair of left and right lateral frame portions24that structure the left and right both sides of the first opening portion20A, and a rear frame portion26that structures the rear side of the first opening portion20A. On the other hand, the second opening portion20B is formed in a shape that is long in the vehicle transverse direction, and is formed in a vicinity of the upper end of the panel rear portion20R.

The back door glass30(hereinafter called “BD glass30”) is disposed in the first opening portion20A of the BD panel20, and is in an inclined state of slanting downward gently while heading toward the rear side.

As shown inFIG. 2, in a cross-section in which the BD glass30is cut at a plane orthogonal to the vehicle longitudinal direction (refer to two-dot chain line T1), a sunken portion32, which is formed in a shape that sinks-in toward the vehicle lower side with respect to the portions that are adjacent thereto in the vehicle transverse direction, is formed in the BD glass30. The sunken portion32is formed at the vehicle transverse direction central portion of the BD glass30. In the state in which the BD glass30is mounted to the BD panel20, the sunken portion32of the BD glass30is positioned at the vehicle transverse direction central portion of the vehicle10. Due thereto, as shown by arrow F inFIG. 3, rainwater that flows on the obverse (the surface at the vehicle upper side) of the BD glass30collects in the vehicle transverse direction central portion where the sunken portion32is formed, while flowing toward the vehicle rear side.

Note that, as shown by two-dot chain line T2inFIG. 2, the sunken portion32is not formed in the front portion of the BD glass30. The region where the sunken portion32is formed is the range from the longitudinal direction central portion to the rear end portion of the BD glass30.

The back door lower glass40(hereinafter called “BD lower glass40”) is disposed in the second opening portion20B of the BD panel20, and is in a state in which the plate thickness direction thereof is the substantially vehicle longitudinal direction.

The spoiler50and the high-mount stop lamp60(hereinafter called “HMSL60”) are disposed so as to cover and hide, from the vehicle outer side, the rear frame portion26which is the portion of the BD panel20between the first opening portion20A and the second opening portion20B.

FIG. 1is a cross-sectional view along line1-1ofFIG. 3(a cut end view), i.e., a cross-sectional view showing, in an enlarged manner, the portion of the back door12to which the vehicle rear portion structure S is applied. The rear frame portion26, which serves as a “connecting portion” and is a portion of the BD panel20, is shown inFIG. 1. Hereinafter, to simplify explanation, the rear frame portion26of the BD panel20is called the “BD panel20”.

As shown inFIG. 1, a rear end portion30R of the BD glass30is adhered by an adhesive92to a front end portion26F of the BD panel20. The rear end portion30R of the BD glass30is disposed above the front end portion26F of the BD panel20, and the lower surface of the BD glass30and the upper surface of the BD panel are adhered together. Sealing between the rear end portion30R of the BD glass30and the BD panel20is ensured by the adhesive92. Further, a spacer94, which prescribes the interval between the rear end portion30R of the BD glass30and the front end portion26F of the BD panel20, is disposed between this rear end portion30R and front end portion26F.

The BD panel20is formed in the shape of a plate, and the overall plate thickness direction thereof is the substantially upward direction of the vehicle, and, in detail, is a direction that is inclined slightly toward the vehicle rear side with respect to the vehicle upper side. A vertical wall portion26R that is bent toward the vehicle lower side is formed at the rear end portion of the BD panel20.

The reverse (the surface at the vehicle front side) of an upper portion40U of the BD lower glass40is adhered by adhesive96to the vehicle rear side surface of the vertical wall portion26R. Sealing between the BD panel20and the upper portion40U of the BD lower glass40is ensured by the adhesive96. Due thereto, the water that flows on the BD panel20is led to the obverse side of the BD lower glass40(refer to arrow A2).

The BD lower glass40is curved so as to be convex toward the vehicle front side as seen in a vehicle side view. As shown inFIG. 1, the cross-sectional shape of the BD lower glass40, when cut in a plane orthogonal to the vehicle transverse direction at the vehicle transverse direction center, is a curved shape that is convex toward the vehicle front side. In detail, the cross-sectional shape of the BD lower glass40is a shape that runs along the vehicle vertical direction at the upper portion40U thereof, and is a shape that is curved toward the vehicle rear side while heading toward a lower portion40L.

Ceramic printing45is carried out on the reverse (the surface at the vehicle front side) at the edge portions of the BD lower glass40. Note that, becauseFIG. 1is a cross-sectional view at the vehicle transverse direction center,FIG. 1shows a situation in which the ceramic printing45has been carried out on the upper portion40U and the lower portion40L of the BD lower glass40. Due thereto, the edge portions of the BD lower glass40are non-transmissive portions that make it impossible to see the adhesive96and the like from the vehicle outer side. The portion, other than the non-transmissive portions, of the BD lower glass40is a transmissive portion40A that is transmissive.

The spoiler50is provided above the BD panel20. The spoiler50is disposed in a state in which the overall plate thickness thereof is the substantially vehicle vertical direction. As shown inFIG. 2, the spoiler50is a shape that is long in the vehicle transverse direction, and hides the rear frame portion26of the BD panel20from the vehicle upper side over substantially the entire vehicle transverse direction.

As shown inFIG. 1, the spoiler50has a main body portion52whose plate thickness direction is the substantially vehicle vertical direction, and a bent portion54that extends substantially toward the lower side from the front end of the main body portion52. A gap in the vehicle longitudinal direction is formed between the front end (the bent portion54) of the spoiler50and the rear end portion30R of the BD glass30. A gap in the vehicle vertical direction is formed between the distal end (the lower end) of the bent portion54of the spoiler50and the BD panel20. Due thereto, water that flows on the obverse (the surface at the vehicle upper side) of the sunken portion32of the BD glass30flows onto the top surface of the BD panel20(refer to arrow A1).

The HMSL60is disposed at the rear side of the spoiler50. The HMSL60has a top surface62that is a shape that runs along an imaginary line extending along the top surface of the main body portion52of the spoiler50toward the vehicle rear side. At the rear end of the top surface62, the HMSL60is a shape that is pointed toward the vehicle rear side. Further, a lower end portion64of the HMSL60is positioned lower than the upper end of the BD lower glass40, and the HMSL60hides the upper portion40U of the BD lower glass40from the vehicle rear side. Further, a gap is formed between the lower end portion64of the HMSL60and the BD lower glass40, and the water that flows on the top surface of the BD panel20is drained-out from this gap (refer to arrow A2).

An additional member70which is made of a synthetic resin is mounted to the obverse (the surface at the vehicle rear side) of the upper portion40U of the BD lower glass40. As shown inFIG. 4, the additional member70is elongated, and is mounted to the upper portion of the BD lower glass40in a state in which the length direction thereof is the substantially vehicle transverse direction. The additional member70is provided at the portion that is slightly wide in the vehicle transverse direction and includes the vehicle transverse direction center, i.e., is provided at the vehicle transverse direction central portion, and is not provided all the way to the vehicle transverse direction both end portions. Further, as shown inFIG. 4, the shape of the upper end of the BD lower glass40at the vehicle transverse direction central portion thereof is a curved shape that is convex toward the vehicle lower side. The additional member70is disposed along the shape of the upper end of the BD lower glass40at the vehicle transverse direction central portion. Due thereto, a vehicle transverse direction central portion70C of the additional member70is positioned at the vehicle lower side with respect to vehicle transverse direction both end portions70S of the additional member70.

As shown in an enlarged cross-sectional view inFIG. 5, the additional member70has an adhered portion72that is adhered to the BD lower glass40, and a projecting portion74that projects-out toward the vehicle rear side from the adhered portion72. The adhered portion72is formed in the shape of a plate whose plate thickness direction is the substantially vehicle longitudinal direction. The vehicle front side surface of the adhered portion72is adhered to the obverse of the upper portion40U of the BD lower glass40. The projecting portion74projects-out toward the vehicle rear side with the vertical direction intermediate portion of the adhered portion72being a proximal end74A of the projecting portion74. A distal end74B of the projecting portion74is positioned further toward the vehicle rear side and the vehicle lower side than the proximal end74A. Namely, the projecting portion74projects-out obliquely downward toward the vehicle rear side and the vehicle lower side from the proximal end74A toward the distal end74B thereof.

As shown by two-dot chain line K inFIG. 5, when imagining the virtual line K that extends toward the vehicle lower side from the distal end74B of the projecting portion74, this virtual line K intersects the portion (the non-transmissive portion), at which ceramic printing45is carried out on the lower portion40L, of the BD lower glass40, and is positioned further toward the vehicle rear side than the transmissive portion40A of the BD lower glass40.

Operation and effects of the vehicle rear portion structure S of the present embodiment are described next.

At the vehicle rear portion structure S of the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 2, the sunken portion32, which is sunken-in toward the substantially vehicle lower side with respect to the portions that are adjacent thereto in the vehicle transverse direction, is formed in the BD glass30that is provided at the vehicle rear portion. Therefore, as shown by arrows F inFIG. 3, it is easy for the water, which flows on the obverse of the BD glass30toward the vehicle rear side, to collect in the sunken portion32that is formed in the vehicle transverse direction central portion. Further, the BD lower glass40, whose plate thickness direction is the substantially vehicle longitudinal direction, is provided further toward the vehicle rear side and vehicle lower side than the BD glass30. As shown inFIG. 1, the water that flows from the sunken portion32of the BD glass30is led toward the BD lower glass40by the rear frame portion26of the BD panel20that is provided between the BD glass30and the BD lower glass40. Therefore, there is the concern that the drainage water that flows to the BD lower glass40will concentrate at the vehicle transverse direction central portion at which the sunken portion32is formed.

Here, as shown inFIG. 5, the vehicle rear portion structure S of the present embodiment has the additional member70. Therefore, the drainage water, which starts to flow on the obverse (the surface at the vehicle rear side) of the BD lower glass40, first hits the upper portion of the adhered portion72of the additional member70, and then flows on the projecting portion74of the additional member70, and drips downward from the distal end74B of the projecting portion74.

In this way, the drainage water from the BD panel20is guided by the upper portion of the adhered portion72and the projecting portion74to a position that is away, toward the vehicle rear side, from the obverse (the surface at the vehicle rear side) of the BD lower glass40(i.e., is guided to the distal end74B of the projecting portion74). Namely, in the present embodiment, the upper portion of the adhered portion72and the projecting portion74correspond to the “guide portion”. Accordingly, water sticking to the obverse of the BD lower glass40is suppressed, and, as a result, the occurrence of rain stains at the BD lower glass40is suppressed.

Further, the spoiler50and the HMSL60that cover the rear frame portion26of the BD panel20from the vehicle outer side are provided at the vehicle rear portion structure S of the present embodiment, and, of these, the HMSL60makes it such that the additional member70cannot be seen from the vehicle rear side. Therefore, a deterioration in the design due to the provision of the additional member70can be suppressed. Namely, the spoiler50and the HMSL60together correspond to the “exterior member”.

Further, at the vehicle rear portion structure S of the present embodiment, the additional member70is mounted to the obverse of the upper portion40U of the BD lower glass40. Therefore, drainage water, which starts to flow on the obverse of the BD lower glass40, can be guided effectively toward the vehicle rear side.

In the vehicle rear portion structure S of the present embodiment, the BD lower glass40is curved so as to be convex toward the vehicle front side as seen in a vehicle side view. Therefore, it is difficult for the drainage water that drips down from the additional member70to hit the BD lower glass40, as compared with a case in which the positions of the upper end and the lower end of the BD lower glass40as they are and the shape of the BD lower glass40is convex toward the vehicle rear side as seen in a vehicle side view.

Further, in the vehicle rear portion structure S of the present embodiment, the virtual line K, which extends-down vertically toward the vehicle lower side from the distal end74B of the projecting portion74, is positioned further toward the vehicle rear side than the transmissive portion40A that is transmissive of the BD lower glass40. Accordingly, for example, in a case in which the vehicle10is parked in a flat place, it is difficult for the drainage water that drips down from the distal end74B of the projecting portion74to stick to the transmissive portion40A of the BD lower glass40. Accordingly, the occurrence of rain stains at the transmissive portion40A of the BD lower glass40is suppressed, and the rearward visibility can be ensured to be good.

In the vehicle rear portion structure S of the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 5, the distal end74B of the projecting portion74is adjacent to the HMSL60. Therefore, there are cases in which the drainage water, which is guided toward the vehicle rear side by the additional member70, runs along the HMSL60and drips down from the lower end portion64of the HMSL60that is formed in a shape that is pointed toward the vehicle lower side. Because the lower end portion64of the HMSL60is positioned further toward the vehicle rear side than the distal end74B of the projecting portion74, drainage water sticking to the BD lower glass40is suppressed even more.

Modified Example

An additional member80relating to a modified example is described next by usingFIG. 6. Note that, because structures other than the additional member80are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, they are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof is omitted.

The member to which the additional member80relating to the modified example is mounted is not the BD lower glass40, and instead, is the HMSL60. The additional member80has an adhered portion82that is adhered to the HMSL60, and a projecting portion84that projects-out toward the vehicle front side from the adhered portion82. A through-hole85is formed in a proximal end84A side of the projecting portion84. Further, the additional member80is formed of an elastic material such as a rubber material that is elastic, or the like. A distal end84B of the projecting portion84is pushed-against the obverse (the surface at the vehicle rear side) of the upper portion40U of the BD lower glass40, and the projecting portion84is in a state of being deformed toward the upper side.

In the same way as the additional member70of the above-described embodiment, the additional member80is elongated, and the length direction thereof is the substantially vehicle transverse direction. Seen from the vehicle rear side, the additional member80is a shape that is curved so as to be convex toward the vehicle lower side. Due thereto, a vehicle transverse direction central portion80C of the additional member80is positioned at the vehicle lower side with respect to the vehicle transverse direction both end portions thereof. The aforementioned through-hole85is formed only in the vehicle transverse direction central portion80C of the additional member80.

In the same way as in the above-described embodiment, the following operation and effects are achieved by the additional member80relating to the modified example.

Namely, the drainage water, which starts to flow on the obverse (the surface at the vehicle rear side) of the BD lower glass40, first hits the distal end84B of the projecting portion84of the additional member80, and then flows on the projecting portion84, and drips downward from the through-hole85that is formed in the projecting portion84. Note that, as seen from the vehicle rear side, the additional member80is a shape that is curved so as to be convex toward the vehicle lower side, and the vehicle transverse direction central portion80C thereof is positioned at the vehicle lower side with respect to the vehicle transverse direction both end portions. Therefore, the drainage water that flows on the projecting portion84gathers at the vehicle transverse direction central portion, and drips downward from the through-hole85. In this way, the drainage water from the BD panel20is guided by the projecting portion84to a position that is away, toward the vehicle rear side, from the obverse (the surface at the vehicle rear side) of the BD lower glass40(i.e., is guided to the position of the through-hole85of the projecting portion84). Namely, in the present embodiment, the projecting portion84corresponds to the “guide portion”. Accordingly, water sticking to the obverse of the BD lower glass40is suppressed, and, as a result, the occurrence of rain stains at the BD lower glass40is suppressed.

Further, the additional member80relating to the modified example is mounted to the HMSL60, and the projecting portion84of the additional member80is in a state of being pushed-against the obverse (the surface at the vehicle rear side) of the BD lower glass40. Therefore, even if the positional relationship between the HMSL60and the BD lower glass40is offset slightly due to dimensional tolerance or the like, a state in which the distal end84B of the projecting portion84of the additional member80contacts the BD lower glass40is realized.

Note that the above embodiment describes an example in which the position at which the sunken portion32is formed is the vehicle transverse direction central portion of the BD glass30. However, the position at which the sunken portion32is formed may be a position that is offset toward a vehicle transverse direction outer side with respect to the vehicle transverse direction central portion. For example, two sunken portions may be formed symmetrically in the vehicle transverse direction with the vehicle transverse direction central portion of the BD glass disposed therebetween.

Further, the above embodiment describes an example in which the sunken portion32is formed in a range of the BD glass30from the central portion in the longitudinal direction to the rear end portion, and the sunken portion32is not formed in the front portion of the BD glass30. However, the sunken portion may be formed over the entire longitudinal direction of the BD glass.

Further, the above embodiment describes an example in which the BD lower glass40that serves as the “second glass” is curved so as to be convex toward the vehicle front side as seen in a vehicle side view. However, the shape of the second glass is not limited to this, and the second glass does not have to be curved as seen in a vehicle side view, or may be curved so as to be convex toward the vehicle rear side as seen in a vehicle side view.

The above embodiment describes an example in which the imaginary line K, which extends toward the vehicle lower side from the distal end74B of the projecting portion74, intersects the portion of the BD lower glass40at which ceramic printing45of the lower portion40L is carried out. However, the imaginary line that extends toward the vehicle lower side from the distal end of the projecting portion does not have to intersect the BD lower glass. Further, this imaginary line may intersect the transmissive portion of the BD lower glass.

Further, the above embodiment describes an example in which the additional member70,80is provided at the portion that is slightly wide in the vehicle transverse direction and includes the vehicle transverse direction center, i.e., is provided at the vehicle transverse direction central portion, and is not provided at the vehicle transverse direction both end portions. However, the additional member may be provided over substantially the entire vehicle transverse direction of the back door lower glass.

The above modified example describes an example in which the through-hole85of the projecting portion84is formed only in the vehicle transverse direction central portion80C of the additional member80. However, plural through-holes of the projecting portion may be formed so as to be lined-up in the vehicle transverse direction.