Vehicle end structure

A vehicle end structure comprising:

• a vehicle bumper fascia including a sill portion partially defining a grille opening and a receiving member extending from the sill portion, the receiving member defining a channel with a channel opening extending in a forward vehicle facing direction;
• and
• a grille assembly including an inner grille member and an outer grille member with the inner and outer grille members being coupled together,
• the inner grille member extending substantially within the grille opening, the inner grille member having a peripheral portion with a support member formed at a periphery of the peripheral portion of the inner grille member, the support member being disposed in the channel of the receiving member with the channel of the receiving member limiting movement of the support member of the inner grille member in a direction normal to the forward vehicle facing direction, the support member including a contact portion and a U-shaped connecting portion with the U-shaped connecting portion having a first end connected to the peripheral portion of the inner grille member and a second end connected to the contact portion such that the contact portion is cantilevered with respect to the peripheral portion of the inner grille member, and
• the outer grille member being disposed along at least a portion of the peripheral portion of the inner grille member on a forward vehicle facing side of the inner grille member, the outer grille member concealing the support member from view in the forward vehicle facing direction.

A vehicle end structure comprising:

• a vehicle bumper fascia including a sill portion partially defining a grille opening and a receiving member extending from the sill portion, the receiving member defining a channel having a channel opening extending in a lengthwise direction of the channel along the sill portion and being open to a forward vehicle facing direction;
• and
• a grille assembly including an inner grille member and an outer grille member with the inner and outer grille members being coupled together,
• the inner grille member extending substantially within the grille opening, the inner grille member having a peripheral portion with a support member formed at a periphery of the peripheral portion of the inner grille member, the support member being disposed in the channel of the receiving member with the channel of the receiving member limiting movement of the support member of the inner grille member in directions normal to surfaces of the channel, movement of the support member being unrestricted in the lengthwise direction of the channel, the support member constituting a weight bearing support member that is located at a center location of a lower edge of the peripheral portion of the inner grille member,
• the outer grille member being disposed along at least a portion of the peripheral portion of the inner grille member on a forward vehicle facing side of the inner grille member, the outer grille member concealing the support member from view in the forward vehicle facing direction, and
• the weight bearing support member including a contact portion and a U-shaped connecting portion with the U-shaped connecting portion having a first end connected to the peripheral portion of the inner grille member and a second end connected to the contact portion such that the contact portion is cantilevered with respect to the peripheral portion of the inner grille member.

A vehicle end structure comprising:

• a vehicle bumper fascia including a sill portion partially defining a grille opening and a receiving member extending from the sill portion, the receiving member defining a channel having a channel opening extending in a lengthwise direction of the channel along the sill portion and being open to a forward vehicle facing direction;
• and
• a grille assembly including an inner grille member and an outer grille member with the inner and outer grille members being coupled together,
• the inner grille member extending substantially within the grille opening, the inner grille member having a peripheral portion with a support member formed at a periphery of the peripheral portion of the inner grille member, the support member being disposed in the channel of the receiving member with the channel of the receiving member limiting movement of the support member of the inner grille member in directions normal to surfaces of the channel, movement of the support member being unrestricted in the lengthwise direction of the channel, and
• the outer grille member being disposed along at least a portion of the peripheral portion of the inner grille member on a forward vehicle facing side of the inner grille member, the outer grille member concealing the support member from view in the forward vehicle facing direction,
• the sill portion includes a first lateral positioning sill section and a second sill section with the first and second sill sections being non-coplanar and limiting movement of the inner grille member in a lateral vehicle direction,
• the receiving member of the vehicle bumper fascia constitutes a first receiving member located on the first lateral positioning sill section,
• the support member of the inner grille member constitutes a first positioning support member,
• the vehicle bumper fascia further includes a second receiving member located on the second sill section, the second receiving member defining a second channel with a second channel opening extending in the forward vehicle facing direction, and
• the inner grille member further includes a second positioning support member formed at a periphery of the peripheral portion of the inner grille member, with the second positioning support member being disposed in the second channel of the second receiving member and limiting movement of the second positioning support member of the inner grille member in the direction normal to the forward vehicle facing direction.