Vehicle Front End
AssigneesFord Global Technologies, LLC, Decoma International Inc.
InventorsChelsia Lau, Jennifer Baffy, Shawn Morgans, Peter MacLean, Daniel Scalici, Girard Moore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a novel fascia, grille and the assembly of the fascia and grille. The grille is designed to overly the fascia and close both an upper and lower air intake opening. The fascia supports the grille and receives fasteners from the grille to form an assembly. The fascia includes a horizontal portion. The grille includes a horizontal portion sized to receive a bumper beam.
Claims23
A vehicle front fascia designed to span the front portion of a vehicle comprising:
- a decorative portion having an impact area;
- a horizontal center portion integrally formed with said decorative portion, said horizontal center portion designed to closely conform with a vehicle bumper beam, said horizontal center portion being recessed from said impact area;
- a lower air intake opening below said horizontal center portion;
- and fastener retention surfaces that engage fasteners from a grille.
A vehicle grille comprising:
- an upper air intake closure;
- a lower air intake closure;
- a unitary horizontal portion sized to closely conform to a fascia horizontal center portion, said grille horizontal portion separating said upper and lower air intake closures;
- and
- integrally formed fasteners that are designed to engage said fascia.
The vehicle grille of claim 11, wherein said fasteners are tabs.
The vehicle grille of claim 13, wherein said inwardly turned edge includes tabs that engage a vehicle fascia.
A vehicle fascia and grille assembly comprising:
- a vehicle fascia having a horizontal center portion and generally vertical portions defining an upper air intake opening, and a lower intake opening positioned below said center portion and an impact area;
- and
- a vehicle grille having an upper air intake closure closing said upper air intake opening, a lower intake closure closing said lower intake opening, and a horizontal portion overlying said fascia horizontal center portion, said grille horizontal portion being recessed from said fascia impact area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.