Patent Description:
In many cases, vehicles configured to be able to drive using a motor, for example, electric automobiles, each have a battery pack, which supplies the motor with electric power, arranged below a floor assembly. Such a vehicle has an undercover that covers the battery pack from below to protect it. In consideration of assembly efficiency, strength, etc., the undercover may be configured to connect a front panel and a rear panel located on a vehicle rear side of the front panel.

One example of the undercover structure for vehicle including the undercover is an undercover structure for vehicle in which: an undercover is configured such that it is divided into two parts, a front half (front panel) and a rear half (rear panel), which connect to each other; the front half has a connection part located at the rear end; the rear half has a connection part located at the front end; the connection part of the front half and the rear half are formed so as to extend linearly in the vehicle width direction and are connected to each other by bolting. (See, for example, <CIT>, in particular [<NUM>] and [<NUM>], and <FIG> and <FIG>.

<CIT> discloses a vehicle and a system for mounting energy storage assemblies into the vehicle. An integrated energy storage and rear suspension assembly includes a battery support assembly that includes a propulsion battery pack mounted on a front sandwich panel, and a rear fuel tank/suspension module that includes a fuel tank assembly that is mounted on a rear sandwich panel. A structural joining plate with a flat bottom is attached from below to the flat bottom faces of the front and rear sandwich panels to connect between the bottom faces and structurally hold the two panels together when they are attached to a floor assembly of the vehicle from below.

However, in the one example of the undercover structure for a vehicle described in <CIT>, the connection parts of the front and rear panels are formed so as to extend linearly in the vehicle width direction, and are connected to each other only by bolting, so that sufficient rigidity cannot be ensured at the connection parts of the front and rear panels. In this case, if foreign matter such as pebbles and muddy water splashed up by a wheel, in particular by a front wheel, or obstacles such as steps of sidewalks, curbs, and car stoppers, on which the vehicle can ride over, collide against the undercover from the front and bottom of the vehicle, the undercover may not able to sufficiently absorb the impact caused by the collision.

Furthermore, in the one example of the undercover structure for vehicle described in <CIT>, when the bolts are fastened in the process of assembling the front and rear panels to produce the undercover, it is necessary to temporarily hold the front and rear panels in a state in which the connection parts of the front and rear panels are overlapped. Such a temporary holding operation is troublesome and may lead to a decrease in assembly efficiency of the undercover.

In view of the above circumstances, it is desired to improve rigidity of an undercover and assembly efficiency of an undercover in an undercover structure for a vehicle.

To solve the problems, an undercover structure for a vehicle according to the invention has the features of claim <NUM> and a vehicle provided with the undercover structure has the features of claim <NUM>.

In the undercover structure for vehicle according to the invention, the rigidity of the undercover can be improved efficiently, and the undercover assembly efficiency can be improved.

An undercover structure for vehicle according to one embodiment is to be described together with a vehicle provided with the undercover structure. The vehicle provided with the undercover structure for a vehicle (hereinafter, simply referred to as "undercover structure", if necessary) according to the present embodiment is an electric automobile. However, the vehicle can also be an electric vehicle other than an electric automobile that can be provided with the undercover structure.

In <FIG> used for the description herein, the direction with respect to the vehicle is indicated as follows. In <FIG> and <FIG>, the vehicle front side and the vehicle rear side are indicated by one-sided arrows F and one-sided arrows B, respectively. In <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the left side and the right side facing the vehicle front side are indicated by one-sided arrows L and one-sided arrows R, respectively. A vehicle width direction is indicated by a one-sided arrow L and one-sided arrow R. Furthermore, in <FIG> and <FIG>, the upside of the vehicle and the downside of the vehicle are indicated by one-sided arrows U and one-sided arrows D, respectively.

Note that the left side and right side are intended to mean the left side and right side facing the vehicle front side, respectively. The horizontal direction is intended to mean the direction extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and the vehicle width direction. In some cases, the upside of the vehicle and the downside of the vehicle are simply referred to as the upside and the downside, respectively.

An outline of the undercover structure for vehicle <NUM> and the vehicle according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. In other words, the undercover structure for vehicle <NUM> and the vehicle according to the present embodiment are schematically configured as follows. The undercover structure for vehicle <NUM> is provided on the vehicle as shown in <FIG>. The vehicle has a battery pack <NUM> and a floor assembly <NUM>. The battery pack <NUM> is located below the floor assembly <NUM>. The undercover structure <NUM> has an undercover <NUM> that covers the battery pack <NUM> from below.

With reference to <FIG>, the undercover <NUM> has a front panel <NUM> and a rear panel <NUM> located on the vehicle rear side of the front panel <NUM>. The undercover structure <NUM> has a coupling region <NUM> formed to couple the rear end region <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> in the vehicle front-rear direction with the front end region <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM> in the vehicle front-rear direction.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the front panel <NUM> has a first engaging portion <NUM> located in its rear end region <NUM>, and the rear panel <NUM> has a second engaging portion <NUM> located in its front end region <NUM>. The first engaging portion <NUM> and the second engaging portion <NUM> are configured to engage with each other.

Furthermore, the undercover structure for vehicle <NUM> and the vehicle according to the present embodiment can be schematically configured as follows. With reference to <FIG>, the first engaging portion <NUM> has a rear side opening 22a formed to allow the second engaging portion <NUM> to be inserted therein in the direction from the vehicle front side to the vehicle rear side. The first engaging portion <NUM> has a top surface portion 22b that is offset upward with respect to a body portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> arranged in the vehicle horizontal direction. The rear side opening 22a is located at the rear end of the top surface portion 22b in the vehicle front-rear direction.

The first engaging portion <NUM> has a front side surface portion 22c located at the front end in the vehicle front-rear direction. The front side surface portion 22c rises upward from the body portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> to the front end of the top surface portion 22b in the vehicle front-rear direction. The first engaging portion <NUM> has a lateral side surface portion 22d located at the lateral end in the vehicle width direction. The lateral side surface portion 22d rises upward from the body portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> to the lateral end of the top surface portion 22b in the vehicle width direction. The rear side opening 22a is located at the rear end of the lateral side surface portion 22d in the vehicle front-rear direction.

With reference to <FIG>, the rear end region <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> has a first overlapping area 21a located in a shifted manner in the vehicle width direction with respect to the first engaging portion <NUM>. The front end region <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM> has a second overlapping area 31a located in a shifted manner in the vehicle width direction with respect to the second engaging portion <NUM>. The second engaging portion <NUM> is located on one side in the up-down direction with respect to the first engaging portion <NUM>. The second overlapping area 31a is located on the other side in the up-down direction with respect to the first overlapping area 21a.

In a temporary holding state of the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM>, the first and second engaging portions <NUM> and <NUM> engage with each other while overlapping in the up-down direction, and the first and second overlapping areas 21a and 31a are aligned in the vehicle width direction by engaging of the first and second engaging portions <NUM> and <NUM> while being spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction.

Furthermore, in a coupling state of the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM>, the first and second engaging portions <NUM> and <NUM> engage with each other while being spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction, and the first and second overlapping areas 21a and 31a are coupled with each other while overlapping in the up-down direction.

With reference to <FIG>, the vehicle can be configured in detail as follows. With reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the battery pack <NUM> for vehicle is configured to be capable of supplying electric power to a motor (not shown) used to drive the vehicle. Furthermore, the battery pack <NUM> is configured to be rechargeable.

As shown in <FIG>, the battery pack <NUM> has a connector 1a connected to a high voltage cable 1b configured to be able to supply electric power to the outside and receive electric power from the outside of the battery pack <NUM>. The connector 1a is arranged so as to overlap the floor tunnel <NUM> in the vehicle width direction.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the floor assembly <NUM> has a floor tunnel <NUM> located substantially in the center in the vehicle width direction. The floor tunnel <NUM> is formed so as to bulge upward and extend in the vehicle front-rear direction.

With reference to <FIG>, the floor assembly <NUM> has two floor panels <NUM> respectively located on the opposite lateral sides with respect to the floor tunnel <NUM> in the vehicle width direction. With reference to <FIG>, the floor assembly <NUM> has two lateral cross members <NUM> respectively located below the two floor panels <NUM>. With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the floor assembly <NUM> has a central cross member <NUM> located below the floor tunnel <NUM>. The central cross member <NUM> extends so as to connect the two lateral cross members <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the floor tunnel <NUM> is formed so as to have a substantially hatshaped cross section. The floor tunnel <NUM> has a top surface portion 3a located at the upper end thereof. The floor tunnel <NUM> has two lateral surface portions 3b, each extending downward from each of the lateral ends of the top surface portion 3a in the vehicle width direction. The two lateral surface portions 3b are formed so as to increase the distance between the two lateral surface portions 3b from the upper part toward the lower part. The floor tunnel <NUM> has two flange portions 3c, each projecting from each of the lower ends of the two lateral surface portions 3b toward each of both the lateral sides in the vehicle width direction.

With reference to <FIG>, in the floor assembly <NUM>, the two lateral cross members <NUM> and the central cross member <NUM> are in line in the vehicle width direction. The two lateral cross members <NUM> and the central cross member <NUM> extend in the vehicle width direction. The two lateral cross members <NUM> and the central cross member <NUM> are located so as to overlap the coupling region <NUM> of the undercover <NUM> in the vehicle front-rear direction.

With reference to <FIG>, the two lateral cross members <NUM> are respectively in contact with the two floor panels <NUM> in the up-down direction, and are respectively joined by welding to the two floor panels <NUM>. With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the central cross member <NUM> is in contact with the floor tunnel <NUM> in the up-down direction, and is joined to the floor tunnel <NUM> by welding. However, these joins can also be obtained by joining means other than welding.

With reference to <FIG>, the front panel <NUM> can be configured in detail as follows. As shown in <FIG>, the first engaging portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> has a lateral opening 22e located at a lateral end opposite to the lateral side surface portion 22d in the vehicle width direction. In other words, the lateral side surface portion 22d is located at one side of lateral end of the first engaging portion <NUM> in the vehicle width direction, and the lateral opening 22e is located at the other side of lateral end of the first engaging portion <NUM> in the vehicle width direction.

The lateral opening 22e of the first engaging portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> is located at the other side of a lateral end of the top surface portion 22b in the vehicle width direction. The lateral opening 22e is located at the other side of a lateral end of the front side surface portion 22c in the vehicle width direction. The lateral opening 22e is connected to the rear side opening 22a.

The first overlapping area 21a of the rear end region <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> is located on the side of the lateral opening 22e of the first engaging portion <NUM>, with respect to the first engaging portion <NUM>. The first overlapping area 21a is adjacent to the first engaging portion <NUM> in the vehicle width direction. The front panel <NUM> has a first mounting portion <NUM> located in its first overlapping area 21a. The first mounting portion <NUM> is also located on the side of the lateral opening 22e of the first engaging portion <NUM>, with respect to the first engaging portion <NUM>.

The first mounting portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> is formed so as to bulge upward with respect to the body portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>. The first mounting portion <NUM> has a top surface portion 24a located at the upper end thereof. The first mounting portion <NUM> has a mounting hole 24b that penetrates the top surface portion 24a. The top surface portion 24a of the first mounting portion <NUM> is located above the top surface portion 22b of the first engaging portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the front panel <NUM> has two lateral regions <NUM> respectively located on the opposite lateral sides with respect to the floor tunnel <NUM> in the vehicle width direction. Although not specifically shown, the two lateral regions <NUM> are located below the driver's seat and the passenger seat, respectively.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the rear panel <NUM> can be configured in detail as follows. As shown in <FIG>, the rear panel <NUM> is in contact with the battery pack <NUM> in the up-down direction. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the rear panel <NUM> has a body portion <NUM> arranged in the vehicle horizontal direction. The second engaging portion <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM> is formed so as to project from the body portion <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM> toward the vehicle front side.

In a temporary holding state of the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM>, the lateral edge 32a located on one side of the second engaging portion <NUM> in the vehicle width direction is in contact with the lateral side surface portion 22d of the first engaging portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>. The contact allows the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM> to be aligned in the vehicle width direction in the temporary holding state.

The second overlapping area 31a of the front end region <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM> is located on the side opposite to the lateral edge 32a of the second engaging portion <NUM> in the vehicle width direction with respect to the second engaging portion <NUM>. The second overlapping area 31a is connected to the second engaging portion <NUM> in the vehicle width direction. The rear panel <NUM> has a second mounting portion <NUM> located in its second overlapping area 31a. The second mounting portion <NUM> is also located on the side opposite to the lateral edge 32a of the second engaging portion <NUM> in the vehicle width direction with respect to the second engaging portion <NUM>.

The second mounting portion <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM> is formed so as to bulge upward with respect to the body portion <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM>. The second mounting portion <NUM> has a front opening 34a formed to allow the first mounting portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> to be inserted in the direction from the vehicle front side to the vehicle rear side.

The second mounting portion <NUM> has a top surface portion 34b located at the upper end thereof. The second mounting portion <NUM> has a mounting hole 34c that penetrates the top surface portion 34b thereof. The top surface portion 34b of the second mounting portion <NUM> is located above the second engaging portion <NUM>.

In a temporary holding state of the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM>, the second mounting portion <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM> is aligned with the first mounting portion <NUM> in the vehicle width direction while being inserted into the first mounting portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>. In a coupling state of the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM>, the second mounting portion <NUM> is aligned with the first mounting portion <NUM> in the vehicle width direction and the up-down direction while being inserted into the first mounting portion <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the undercover <NUM> can be configured in detail as follows. As shown in <FIG>, the undercover <NUM> has a battery pack guard <NUM> located below the front end region <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM>.

The battery pack guard <NUM> is arranged so as to be adjacent to the coupling region <NUM> of the undercover <NUM> in the vehicle front-rear direction. The battery pack guard <NUM> is arranged in the vehicle width direction. The battery pack guard <NUM> extends over the entire front end region <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM>. The battery pack guard <NUM> can be formed in a pipe shape.

With reference to <FIG>, the second engaging portion <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM> is located below the first engaging portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>, and the second overlapping area 31a of the rear panel <NUM> is located above first overlapping area 21a of the front panel <NUM>. However, the second engaging portion can be located above the first engaging portion and the second overlapping area can be located below the first overlapping area.

The front panel <NUM> has two first engaging portions <NUM> that are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, and the rear panel <NUM> has two second engaging portions <NUM> corresponding to each of the two first engaging portions <NUM>.

However, a front panel can have one first engaging portion and a rear panel can have one second engaging portion corresponding to the one first engaging portion. Furthermore, a front panel can have three or more first engaging portions that are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, and a rear panel can have three or more second engaging portions, each corresponding to the three or more first engaging portions.

The two first engaging portions <NUM> are formed so as to be substantially symmetrical with respect to each other in the vehicle width direction. The two second engaging portions <NUM> are also formed so as to be substantially symmetrical with respect to each other in the vehicle width direction. The two first engaging portions <NUM> are respectively arranged on the opposite lateral sides with respect to the floor tunnel <NUM> in the vehicle width direction. The two second engaging portions <NUM> are also respectively arranged on the opposite lateral sides with respect to the floor tunnel <NUM> in the vehicle width direction.

The front panel <NUM> has one first overlapping area 21a located between the two first engaging portions <NUM> in the vehicle width direction, and the rear panel <NUM> has one second overlapping area 31a corresponding to the one first overlapping area 21a. However, a front panel can have two or more first overlapping areas that are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, and a rear panel can have two or more second overlapping areas, each corresponding to each of the two or more first overlapping areas.

The front panel <NUM> has two first mounting portions <NUM> that are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, and the rear panel <NUM> has two second mounting portions <NUM> corresponding to each of the two first mounting portions <NUM>.

However, a front panel can have one first mounting portion and a rear panel can have one second mounting portion corresponding to the one first mounting portion. Furthermore, a front panel can have three or more first mounting portions that are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, and a rear panel can have three or more second mounting portions, each corresponding to each of three or more first mounting portions.

The two first mounting portions <NUM> are formed so as to be substantially symmetrical with respect to each other in the vehicle width direction. The two second mounting portions <NUM> are also formed so as to be substantially symmetrical with respect to each other in the vehicle width direction. The two first mounting portions <NUM> are respectively arranged on the opposite lateral sides with respect to the floor tunnel <NUM> in the vehicle width direction. The two second mounting portions <NUM> are also respectively arranged on the opposite lateral sides with respect to the floor tunnel <NUM> in the vehicle width direction.

As shown in <FIG>, in the coupling state of the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM>, the first and second engaging portions <NUM> and <NUM> engage with each other while being spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction, and the first and second overlapping areas 21a and 31a, in particular, the first and second mounting portions <NUM> and <NUM> are fastened together with the central cross member <NUM> in a state in which they overlap in the up-down direction, by fastening means using bolts or screws and nuts.

However, a first overlapping area and a second overlapping area, in particular, a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion, can also be fastened together by fastening means using a bolt or screw and a nut, with one of the two lateral cross members instead of the central cross member, in a state in which they overlap in the up-down direction. For the fastening means, others than bolts or screws and nuts can be used, and the same also applies to the fastening means using bolts or screws and nuts described below.

Although not specifically shown, both the lateral edge portions of the front panel <NUM> in the vehicle width direction are respectively mounted on two side members (not shown) that are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, by fastening means using bolts or screws and nuts. The front edge portion of the front panel <NUM> in the vehicle front-rear direction is mounted on the suspension frame (not shown) by fastening means using bolts or screws and nuts. Both the lateral edge portions of the rear panel <NUM> in the vehicle width direction also are respectively mounted on two side members (not shown) that are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, by fastening means using bolts or screws and nuts.

Here, a method of assembling the undercover <NUM> will be described below. First, the rear end region <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> and the front end region <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM> are arranged so as to be in contact with each other in the vehicle front-rear direction. The second engaging portions <NUM> and the second mounting portions <NUM>, of the front end region <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM>, are respectively inserted into the first engaging portion <NUM> and the first mounting portion <NUM> of the rear end region <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>, through the rear side openings 22a and 24a thereof.

The front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM> are temporarily held. In this temporary holding state, the first and second engaging portions <NUM> and <NUM> engage with each other while overlapping in the up-down direction, and the first and second overlapping areas 21a and 31a are aligned in the vehicle width direction by engaging of the first and second engaging portions <NUM> and <NUM> while being spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction. Furthermore, the first and second mounting portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the first and second overlapping areas 21a and 31a that overlap in the up-down direction, and the central cross member <NUM> located above these are fastened together by fastening means using bolts or screws and nuts.

The front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM> are coupled. In this coupled state, the first and second engaging portions <NUM> and <NUM> engage with each other while being spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction, the first and second overlapping areas 21a and 31a are coupled to each other while overlapping in the up-down direction, and the first and second mounting portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the first and second overlapping areas 21a and 31a are mounted on the central cross member <NUM>.

As described above, the undercover structure for vehicle <NUM> according to the present embodiment:.

In such an undercover structure <NUM>, the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM> can be easily coupled by bolting or the like, in a state in which the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM> are temporarily held so as to engage the first engaging portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> and the second engaging portion <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM> with each other. Furthermore, the rigidity of the front panel <NUM> can be increased by the first engaging portion <NUM>, the rigidity of the rear panel <NUM> can be increased by the second engaging portion <NUM>, and the rigidity of the undercover <NUM> can be efficiently increased by the first and second engaging portions <NUM> and <NUM> that engage with each other in a state in which the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM> are coupled to each other. Therefore, the rigidity of the undercover <NUM> can be efficiently improved, and the assembly efficiency of the undercover <NUM> can be improved.

In the undercover structure for vehicle <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the first engaging portion <NUM> has a rear side opening 22a formed to allow the second engaging portion <NUM> to be inserted in the direction from the vehicle front side to the vehicle rear side. Therefore, the second engaging portion <NUM> is inserted into the first engaging portion <NUM> through the rear side opening 22a, so that the first and second engaging portions <NUM> and <NUM> can be easily engaged, enabling the assembly efficiency of the undercover <NUM> to be improved.

In the undercover structure for vehicle <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the first engaging portion <NUM> has a top surface portion 22b that is offset upward with respect to the body portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> arranged in the vehicle horizontal direction. The rear side opening 22a is located at the rear end of the top surface portion 22b in the vehicle front-rear direction.

In such an undercover structure <NUM>, the top surface portion 22b of the first engaging portion <NUM> and the second engaging portion <NUM> are overlapped in the up-down direction, so that engaging of the first and second engaging portions <NUM> and <NUM> in the up-down direction allows the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM> to be efficiently temporarily held in the aligned state, enabling the assembly efficiency of the undercover <NUM> to be improved.

In the undercover structure for vehicle <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the first engaging portion <NUM> has the front side surface portion 22c that is located at a front end in the vehicle front-rear direction and rises upward from the body portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> to the front end of the top surface portion 22b in the vehicle front-rear direction.

In such an undercover structure <NUM>, when the first engaging portion <NUM> is inserted more than necessary into the second engaging portion <NUM> in the direction from the front side to the rear side, the second engaging portion <NUM> comes in contact with the front side surface portion 22c of the first engaging portion <NUM>, so that the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM> can be easily aligned in the vehicle front-rear direction, enabling the assembly efficiency of the undercover <NUM> to be improved.

In the undercover structure for vehicle <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the first engaging portion <NUM> has a lateral side surface portion 22d that is located at a lateral end in a vehicle width direction and rises upward from the body portion <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> to a lateral end of the top surface portion 22b in the vehicle width direction, and the rear side opening 22a is located at the rear end of the lateral side surface portion 22d in the vehicle front-rear direction.

In such an undercover structure <NUM>, the lateral side surface portion 22d of the first engaging portion <NUM> is in contact with the second engaging portion <NUM> in the vehicle width direction, so that the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM> can be efficiently temporarily held in an aligned state in the vehicle width direction, enabling the assembly efficiency of the undercover <NUM> to be improved.

In the undercover structure for vehicle <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the rear end region <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> has a first overlapping area 21a located in a shifted manner in the vehicle width direction with respect to the first engaging portion <NUM>, the front end region <NUM> of the rear panel <NUM> has a second overlapping area 31a located in a shifted manner in the vehicle width direction with respect to the second engaging portion <NUM>, the second engaging portion <NUM> is located on one side in the up-down direction with respect to the first engaging portion <NUM>, and the second overlapping area 31a is located on the other side in the up-down direction with respect to the first overlapping area 21a. In the temporary holding state of the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM>, the first and second engaging portions <NUM> and <NUM> engage with each other while overlapping in the up-down direction, and the first and second overlapping areas 21a and 31a are aligned in the vehicle width direction by engaging of the first and second engaging portions <NUM> and <NUM> while being spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction. In the coupling state of the front and rear panels <NUM> and <NUM>, the first and second engaging portions <NUM> and <NUM> engage with each other while being spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction, and the first and second overlapping areas 21a and 31a are coupled to each other while overlapping in the up-down direction.

Claim 1:
An undercover structure (<NUM>) for a vehicle, comprising an undercover (<NUM>) that is to cover a battery pack (<NUM>) from below, the battery pack (<NUM>) being located below a floor assembly (<NUM>) of a vehicle,
the undercover (<NUM>) having a front panel (<NUM>) and a rear panel (<NUM>) located on a vehicle rear side of the front panel (<NUM>),
a rear end region (<NUM>) of the front panel (<NUM>) in a vehicle front-rear direction and a front end region (<NUM>) of the rear panel (<NUM>) in the vehicle front-rear direction being coupled,
wherein:
the front panel (<NUM>) includes a first engaging portion (<NUM>) located in the rear end region (<NUM>);
the rear panel (<NUM>) includes a second engaging portion (<NUM>) located in the front end region (<NUM>);
the first engaging portion (<NUM>) and the second engaging portion (<NUM>) are configured to engage with each other;
the first engaging portion (<NUM>) includes a rear side opening (22a) formed so that the second engaging portion (<NUM>) can be inserted in a direction from a vehicle front side toward a vehicle rear side;
the first engaging portion (<NUM>) includes a top surface portion (22b) that is offset upward with respect to a body portion (<NUM>) of the front panel (<NUM>) arranged in a vehicle horizontal direction;
characterized in that
the first engaging portion (<NUM>) includes a lateral side surface portion (22d) that is located at a lateral end of the first engaging portion (<NUM>) in a vehicle width direction and that rises upward from the body portion (<NUM>) of the front panel (<NUM>) to a lateral end of the top surface portion (22b) in the vehicle width direction;
the rear side opening (22a) is located at a rear end of the top surface portion (22b) in the vehicle front-rear direction and at a rear end of the lateral side surface portion (22d) in the vehicle front-rear direction; and
the second engaging portion (<NUM>) has a lateral edge (32a) located on one side of the second engaging portion (<NUM>) in the vehicle width direction so that the lateral edge (32a) can be in contact with the lateral side surface portion (22d) of the first engaging portion (<NUM>) of the front panel (<NUM>) in a temporary holding state of the front and rear panels (<NUM>,<NUM>).