Tailgate of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tailgate of a motor vehicle, which comprises at least one side post (8) to which a rear window (10) is attached. The side post (8) is formed of a profile having a U-shaped open cross-section, the opening of the U-shaped open cross-section facing the rear window (10). The side post includes an inner wall (14), and the inner wall (14) includes a surface (18) visible from the interior of the vehicle compartment on which the tailgate (2) is mounted. The surface (18) of the inner wall (14) is at least partially covered with a texture integrally molded with the side post (8). The angle (α) formed between the inner wall (14) and the longitudinal axis (X) of the motor vehicle is less than 10°, preferably substantially equal to 5°.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a plastic tailgate for a motor vehicle, and more particularly to a side pillar of a lining forming part of such tailgates. Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, tailgate boxes including both an internal structural panel and an external cladding panel, both made of plastic, are known. The lining has an opening at the upper part for receiving a transparent window, the sides of which are formed by the pillars of the lining.

[0003] For example, patent application FR 3079782 discloses pillars made of plastic. Such pillars are formed of profiles with a U-shaped open cross-section.

[0004] Such pillars are satisfactory structurally, but not aesthetically, especially for a passenger inside the vehicle who can see the visible parts of these pillars from inside the passenger compartment.

[0005] To overcome this aesthetic problem, it is known to use a cladding ornament on the inner face of the lining to cover in particular the pillars. The ornament, usually made of textured plastic, is attached to the side pillars and is positioned and dimensioned to conceal the walls of the side pillars (especially the inner walls). Thus, neither the pillars of the structural lining are directly visible any more, either from the outside of the vehicle or from inside the passenger compartment, but rather the ornament, which has the appearance desired by the vehicle manufacturer.

[0006] However, the presence of such an ornament also presents certain problems.

[0007] Firstly, this results in an overlap of panels: the outer skin, the lining to which the side pillars belong, and the ornament covering the side pillars. This overlap of panels increases the weight of the assembly and even adds additional assembly operations to obtain the final part.

[0008] In addition, adding an ornament on the inner wall of the pillar increases the additional thickness and reduces the field of view through the rear window by encroaching on the side part of the rear window. This results in a limitation of the field of view and an increase in blind spots.

[0009] It is also known to manufacture tailgates with visible uprights (without any ornamentation), which are then textured to form a standard grain, for example made by chemical etching. However, this forces the angle between the textured side and the base of the upright to be approximately equal to at least 12°: in fact, simply removing the ornamentation can improve the rear view by eliminating this overlap, but the demolding conditions of the lining, especially those of the textured side of the upright, force this angle to be at least 12° and form a standard grain so as not to damage the grain made on the textured side due to pulling. Summary of the Invention

[0010] An object of the present invention is in particular to solve the above problems by providing a tailgate for a motor vehicle, which allows an enlarged view through the rear window while having an optimal aesthetic appearance.

[0011] To this end, the subject of the present invention is a tailgate for a motor vehicle, which tailgate includes at least one side upright to which a rear window is attached, the side upright being formed of a profile with a U-shaped open cross-section, the opening of the U-shaped open cross-section facing the rear window, the side upright including an inner wall, the inner wall including a first face visible from the interior of the passenger compartment of the vehicle on which the tailgate is mounted, the first face being at least partially covered with a texture integrally molded with the side upright, and the angle formed between the inner wall and the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle being less than 10°, preferably substantially equal to 5°.

[0012] Thus, a tailgate including side uprights is obtained, and the part of the side uprights visible from the interior of the passenger compartment includes a texture integrally molded with the side uprights, which texture gives the side uprights an optimal aesthetic appearance.

[0013] In addition, the narrow angle between the wall of the side upright visible from the interior of the passenger compartment and the longitudinal axis of the vehicle also allows less encroachment on the rear view area of the rear window.

[0014] Due to the absence of ornamentation (compared to a part of the prior art) and the reduced angle between the wall of the side upright visible from the interior of the passenger compartment and the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, it is possible to maximize the rear view at the rear window. The technical solution considered also has no impact on the structural stiffness of the uprights or the total width of the tailgate.

[0015] The tailgate according to the present invention may further include at least one of the following features:

[0016] - The depth of the texture on the face of the inner wall is between 10 μm and 50 μm, preferably between 10 μm and 20 μm;

[0017] - The texture on the surface of the inner wall consists of several regions, and these regions include textures with different depths, distributions, and / or orientations;

[0018] - The side pillar includes an outer wall, and the outer wall includes a surface visible from the outside of the vehicle to which the tailgate is mounted when the tailgate is opened, and the surface of the outer wall is at least partially covered with a texture integrally molded with the side pillar;

[0019] - The depth of the texture on the surface of the outer wall is between 10 μm and 50 μm, preferably between 10 μm and 20 μm; and

[0020] - The texture on the surface of the outer wall consists of several regions, and these regions include textures with different depths, distributions, and / or orientations.

[0021] The subject of the present invention also lies in a manufacturing method of a tailgate according to the present invention, wherein the side pillar is made by injection molding in a mold, and the molding surface of the mold for molding the inner wall of the side pillar is at least partially textured by laser engraving.

[0022] The texture of the mold achieved by laser engraving allows for multiple different appearances to be achieved in the same textured area of the pillar: for example, the depth and direction of the laser-engraved concavities and convexities can be changed. Through molding, these variations will be reflected on the side pillar and be visible, thus achieving various styling effects, for example, in terms of the brightness of the component.

[0023] The method according to the present invention may also include at least one of the following features:

[0024] - The molding surface for molding the outer wall of the side pillar is at least partially textured by laser engraving;

[0025] - Textures with a depth between 10 μm and 50 μm, preferably between 10 μm and 20 μm, are achieved on the surface of the inner wall and / or on the surface of the outer wall; and

[0026] - Textures consisting of several regions are achieved on the surface of the inner wall and / or on the surface of the outer wall, and these regions include textures with different depths, distributions, and / or orientations. Description of the Drawings

[0027] The present invention will be better understood by reading the following description, which is given only by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] Figure 1 is a rear view of an embodiment of a tailgate according to the present invention,

[0029] Figure 2is according to Figure 1 a sectional view taken along plane I-I of a tailgate,

[0030] Figure 3 is a side view of a textured side pillar,

[0031] Figure 4A is an illustration of a mold allowing the implementation of the manufacturing method according to the invention, and

[0032] Figure 4B is Figure 4A an enlarged view of a part of the mold of DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Now referring to Figure 1 , which shows a tailgate 2 comprising a lower part 4, an upper part 6 and two side pillars 8 connecting the lower part 4 and the upper part 6. The tailgate 2 is made of plastic, which is known to those skilled in the art. It consists of an outer panel and a lining, the lining being visible on the upper left part of the tailgate 2 of Figure 1 .

[0034] Each side pillar 8 is formed by the lining and comprises a profile with a U-shaped open cross-section, the opening of which faces a rear window 10 which is partially mounted on the side pillar 8.

[0035] The side pillar 8 comprises a base 12 forming the bottom of the U, and when the tailgate 2 is in the closed position on the vehicle, the base faces the front of the vehicle: in this position, the opening of the U-shaped side pillar 8 thus points towards the rear of the vehicle.

[0036] The base 12 is provided with two side walls, namely an inner wall 14 and an outer wall 16. The inner wall 14 is the wall closer to the longitudinal axis passing through the center of the vehicle (or Y0). The outer wall 16 is further away from this axis.

[0037] The side pillar 8 does not include a decoration covering the inner wall 14, and thus, the inner wall 14 is visible from the interior of the vehicle cabin. In order to maintain an optimal aesthetic appearance, the face 18 of the inner wall 14 (i.e., the part of the wall visible from the interior of the cabin) is at least partially covered with a texture (visible in Figure 3 ). For elements visible from the interior of the vehicle, the texture allows for an optimal aesthetic appearance. The texture is integrally molded with the side pillar 8.

[0038] To improve the view through the rear window 10, the angle α formed by the inner wall 14 and the longitudinal axis X of the vehicle is less than 10°, preferably substantially equal to 5°. In contrast, the angle formed by the same longitudinal axis X and the inner wall according to the prior art (in Figure 2The angle β formed (represented by 20 in the middle) is approximately equal to 12°. The reduction of this angle allows the field of view of a glass window with a width of 100 cm and a pillar height of 100 to 150 mm to increase by approximately 4 cm.

[0039] To obtain the reduced angle α, the depth of the texture formed on the surface 18 of the inner sidewall 14 can be adjusted. As will be detailed below, contrary to the prior art, the method used to obtain these textures allows the desired depth to be obtained.

[0040] The depth of the texture can be between 10 μm and 50 μm, preferably between 10 μm and 20 μm. Thus, a texture with a smaller depth than in the prior art can be obtained. The reduction of this texture depth makes the demolding of the side pillar 8 easier.

[0041] In fact, the texture is integrally molded with the side pillar. In other words, the mold used includes a negative shape of the texture at the molding surface 22 (where the inner sidewall 14 is molded and this molding surface allows the surface 18 to be obtained) (the negative shape consists of concavities and convexities complementary to the concavities and convexities formed on the surface 18 of the inner sidewall 14).

[0042] In the prior art, the problem of damage to the texture formed on the surface of the textured side due to drawing stems from the problem of undercut demolding. In other words, when the orientation of the shape of the mold (here the texture) is incompatible with the demolding direction ( Figure 4A shown by the arrow B in), this makes demolding difficult or even impossible without damaging the above shape. Therefore, it is necessary to change the angle formed by the demolding direction and the orientation of the texture (to make this orientation closer to the demolding direction) to allow demolding without damage.

[0043] In the present invention, the reduction of the texture depth makes demolding easier and thus reduces the angle formed between the molding surface 24 for molding the base 12 and the molding surface for molding the inner sidewall 14. Thus, the above-mentioned expansion of the field of view through the rear window is obtained.

[0044] As Figure 3 shown, the texture present on the inner sidewall 14 can be non-uniform. In this case, the depth of the texture, the distribution of the texture, or their orientation can vary to achieve a styling effect as Figure 3 visible above. Of course, the same texture can be present on the entire surface of the surface 18 of the sidewall 14.

[0045] The outer sidewall 16 includes a surface 26 that is visible from the outside of the vehicle when the tailgate 2 mounted on the vehicle is in the open position.

[0046] Thus, the face 26 of the outer wall 16 may include a texture of the above type. All aspects described in detail above to elaborate on the texture (depth, uniformity or non-uniformity, etc.) of the face 18 of the side wall 14 apply to the texture of the face 26 of the outer wall 16. The texture of the face 26 of the outer wall 16 may be the same as or different from the texture of the face 18 of the inner wall 14.

[0047] The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a tailgate 2 according to the present invention.

[0048] In this method, the side post 8 is manufactured by injection molding in a mold, and the molding surface 22 for molding the inner wall 14 of the side post 8 is textured at least in part by laser engraving.

[0049] Contrary to mold texturing by chemical etching, laser engraving allows for shallower but equally precise textures in terms of the depth of the texture, the distribution of the texture, etc. on the mold.

[0050] For this purpose, the molding surface 22 corresponding to the face 18 of the inner wall 14 can be textured by laser engraving. It can be textured regularly or irregularly (to obtain the above-mentioned non-uniformity at the face 18 of the inner wall 14) over the entire molding surface 22 or only on a part thereof.

[0051] The molding surface 32 corresponding to the face 26 of the outer wall 16 can also be modified by laser engraving. Thus, after molding, the face 26 of the outer wall 16 textured in the manner described above is obtained.

[0052] The present invention is not limited to the presented embodiments, and other embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0053] For example, faces other than those mentioned above can be textured.

[0054] List of reference numerals

[0055] 2: Tailgate

[0056] 4: Lower part of the tailgate

[0057] 6: Upper part of the tailgate

[0058] 8: Side post

[0059] 10: Rear window

[0060] 12: Base of the side post

[0061] 14: Inner wall of the side post

[0062] 16: Outer wall of the side post

[0063] 18: Face of the inner wall

[0064] 20: Inner wall according to the prior art

[0065] 22: Molding surface for molding the inner wall

[0066] 24: Molding surface for molding the base

[0067] 26: Surface of the outer wall

[0068] 32: Molding surface for molding the outer wall

[0069] X: Longitudinal axis of the vehicle

[0070] B: Demolding direction

[0071] α: Angle formed by the inner wall and the longitudinal axis X

[0072] β: Angle formed by the inner wall and the longitudinal axis X according to the prior art.

Claims

1. A tailgate (2) of a motor vehicle, characterized in that, The tailgate (2) includes at least one side pillar (8) to which a rear window (10) is attached. The side pillar (8) forms a profile with a U-shaped open cross-section, and the opening of the U-shaped open cross-section faces the rear window (10). The side pillar includes an inner wall (14), and the inner wall (14) includes a surface (18) visible from the interior of the vehicle body of the vehicle on which the tailgate (2) is mounted. The surface (18) of the inner wall (14) is at least partially covered with a texture integrally molded with the side pillar (8). The angle (α) formed between the inner wall (14) and the longitudinal axis (X) of the motor vehicle is less than 10°. Wherein, the depth of the texture on the surface (18) of the inner wall (14) is between 10 μm and 50 μm.

2. The tailgate (2) according to claim 1, wherein, The angle (α) formed between the inner wall (14) and the longitudinal axis (X) of the motor vehicle is equal to 5°.

3. The tailgate (2) according to claim 1, wherein, The depth of the texture on the surface (18) of the inner wall (14) is between 10 μm and 20 μm.

4. The tailgate (2) according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein, The texture on the surface (18) of the inner wall (14) consists of several regions, and these regions include textures with different depths, distributions, and / or orientations.

5. The tailgate (2) according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein, The side pillar (8) includes an outer wall (16), and the outer wall includes a surface (26) visible from the outside of the vehicle on which the tailgate (2) is mounted when the tailgate (2) is open. And the surface (26) of the outer wall (16) is at least partially covered with a texture integrally molded with the side pillar (8).

6. The tailgate (2) according to claim 5, wherein, The depth of the texture on the surface (26) of the outer wall (16) is between 10 μm and 50 μm.

7. The tailgate (2) according to claim 5, wherein, The depth of the texture on the surface (26) of the outer wall (16) is between 10 μm and 20 μm.

8. The tailgate (2) according to claim 5, wherein, The texture on the surface (26) of the outer wall (16) consists of several regions, and these regions include textures with different depths, distributions, and / or orientations.

9. A manufacturing method for manufacturing the tailgate (2) according to any one of claims 1 - 8, wherein, The side pillar (8) is made by injection molding in a mold, and the molding surface (22) of the mold for molding the inner wall (14) of the side pillar (8) is at least partially textured by laser engraving.

10. The manufacturing method according to claim 9, wherein, The molding surface (32) for molding the outer wall (16) of the side pillar (8) is at least partially textured by laser engraving.

11. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 9 and 10, wherein, Textures with a depth between 10 μm and 50 μm are achieved on the surface (18) of the inner wall (14) and / or on the surface (26) of the outer wall (16) of the side pillar (8).

12. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 9 and 10, wherein, Textures with a depth between 10 μm and 20 μm are achieved on the surface (18) of the inner wall (14) and / or on the surface (26) of the outer wall (16) of the side pillar (8).

13. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 9 to 10, wherein, Textures consisting of several regions are achieved on the surface (18) of the inner wall (14) and / or on the surface (26) of the outer wall (16) of the side pillar (8), and these regions include textures with different depths, distributions, and / or orientations.

Images