Instrumented rear spoilers for motor vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a rear spoiler for a motor vehicle, comprising: an elongated outer wall having a front edge, an opposite rear edge and an inner shell (48); two substantially parallel longitudinal fixing supports located inside the inner shell (48); and a signal receiving device (10), comprising a receiving plate having two opposite boundaries and a receiving unit mounted on the plate between the opposite boundaries, the two opposite boundaries being designed to be fixed to the two fixing supports respectively. The longitudinal fixing supports each comprise a guide plate for respectively receiving the opposite boundaries of the receiving plate in a sliding manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The subject of the invention relates to a rear spoiler for a motor vehicle comprising a receiving device making it possible to locate the position of the motor vehicle comprising the receiving device using a satellite positioning system and simultaneously providing the speed and time of the motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] A rear spoiler of a motor vehicle is a surface element of the motor vehicle body which makes it possible to intensify the flow of air over this body surface and to reduce the drag.

[0003] It is known to install receiving means in the rear spoiler of a motor vehicle in order to optimally receive signals from satellites located directly above the vehicle.

[0004] The targeted rear spoiler is a spoiler extending in an extension of the vehicle roof above the tailgate.There are then no metal elements between the receiving device and the positioning signal from the satellite, and therefore the reading of the positioning is not affected by errors.

[0005] Reference can in particular be made to document JP 10329615 A, which describes such a rear spoiler which is equipped with a GPS receiving antenna, GPS standing for “Global Positioning System”.

[0006] The rear spoiler comprises an elongated outer wall molded from a polymer material having a front edge extending continuously from the top and an opposite rear edge extending along the fender. The elongated outer wall extends from the front to the rear, thereby forming a fold back defining an inner shell. In addition, the elongated outer wall is designed to extend in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle by a width equal to the width of the top.

[0007] Inside the inner housing, two parallel longitudinal fixing supports molded with the wall extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle and receive a signal receiving device. The signal receiving device comprises a receiving plate with two opposite boundaries and a receiving unit mounted on the plate between the two opposite boundaries. The receiving device is mounted inside the inner housing in such a way that the two opposite boundaries are respectively supported on the two fixing supports and are screwed to the two fixing supports.

[0008] The receiving plate is then held in a fixed position in a horizontal plane. The receiving unit is oriented upwards and the linking cables extend downwards to engage display and control components of the motor vehicle.

[0009] Therefore, installing and removing such a receiving device is relatively time-consuming and costly. Summary of the invention

[0010] One problem that is posed and that the present invention aims to solve is therefore to provide a rear spoiler that allows a more economical mounting of the receiving device.

[0011] In order to solve this problem, a rear spoiler for a motor vehicle is proposed, comprising: an elongated outer wall having a front edge, an opposite rear edge, and an inner shell defined by the elongated outer wall, wherein the elongated outer wall is designed to extend in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle; two substantially parallel longitudinal fixed supports located inside the inner shell; and a signal receiving device, wherein the signal receiving device comprises a receiving plate having two opposite boundaries and a receiving unit mounted on the plate between the opposite boundaries, wherein the two opposite boundaries are designed to be fixed to the two fixed supports respectively. The longitudinal fixed supports each comprise a guide plate to slidably receive the opposite boundaries of the receiving plate respectively.

[0012] Therefore, one feature of the invention is the guide plate implemented on each longitudinal fixed support so as to be able to easily mount the receiving device by engaging the two opposite boundaries of the receiving plate in the two guide plates respectively. Thus, the receiving device is linked to the support using the guide plates without using other means by means of the receiving plate that plays a role in receiving signals from the satellite. As will be explained in more detail later in the description, the contour of the guide plates and the thickness of the transmission plate are such that the two opposite boundaries are force-fitted in the guide plates.

[0013] Advantageously, the guide plates of the fixed support extend relative to each other. In addition, two relative boundaries of the receiving plate extend in the same plane and are oriented relative to each other so as to be able to engage in two relative guide plates respectively.

[0014] Furthermore, particularly advantageously, the guide plates each comprise an abutment that stops the translation of the opposite border. The guide plates are parallel to one another and their lengths are identical. Furthermore, the guide plates each comprise a stop abutment at one of their ends. Thus, when the opposite borders of the receiving plate engage in the guide plate at their other end, they are driven in translation against the stop abutment. Furthermore, the relative position of the receiving plate and therefore of the receiving device relative to the guide plate and more generally relative to the rear spoiler is perfectly determined.

[0015] In addition, and according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal fixed support comprises at least one elastically deformable tongue, which is provided with a stop lug to hold the receiving plate in a position fixed between the stop abutment and the lug. Thus, the elastically deformable tongue provided with its lug extends between the two guide plates relative to the stop abutment. When the opposite boundaries of the receiving plate engage in the two opposite guide plates, the elastically deformable tongue moves away from its rest position between the guide plates. Once the opposite boundaries of the plates bear against the stop abutment, the elastically deformable tongue returns to its rest position, while the lug extends in front of the edge of the receiving plate. The receiving plate is then captured between the stop abutment and the lug, as will be explained below. Furthermore, the receiving device can be easily disengaged from the guide plate by moving the elastically deformable tongue away from its position, and therefore the lug, and then driving the receiving plate in translation to disengage the receiving plate from the guide plate.

[0016] Preferably, the fixed support comprises two tongues extending in parallel and respectively close to the guide plate; each tongue is equipped with a stop lug.

[0017] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the stop abutment is oriented towards the rear edge and the lug is oriented towards the front edge.

[0018] In addition, preferably, the rear spoiler further comprises a frame, and the outer wall is supported on the frame. Therefore, the frame can hold the outer wall in a fixed position, so the outer wall can have a thinner thickness.

[0019] Preferably, the frame and the longitudinal supports are moulded together in a single piece from a polymer material.For example, the frame and supports are moulded from ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styren, an acronym for thermoplastic polymers).

[0020] Furthermore, the guide plate of the fixed support extends in a direction substantially at right angles to the transverse direction Y. In other words, the guide plate extends from the front edge to the rear edge and therefore in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.

[0021] The rear spoiler further comprises: on the one hand, another inner shell delimited by the elongated outer wall, and two further substantially parallel longitudinal fixing supports located inside the other inner shell, each of the two further substantially parallel longitudinal fixing supports comprising another guide plate, and on the other hand, another signal receiving device comprising another receiving plate having two further opposite boundaries and another receiving unit mounted on the other plate between the further opposite boundaries, the further opposite boundaries being able to slide in the further guide plates. In this way, the rear spoiler comprises two receiving devices, which can ensure a higher reliability of information about the vehicle position, speed and time. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Other specific features and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the following description of specific embodiments of the invention given in an indicative but non-limiting manner, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] [ Figure 1 ] is a schematic perspective view of an element of the subject matter of the present invention;

[0024] [ Figure 2 ] is a partial schematic perspective view of the rear part of a motor vehicle provided with the subject of the invention;

[0025] [ Figure 3 ] is a schematic top view of the subject matter of the present invention;

[0026] [ Figure 4 ] is a partial schematic perspective view of another element of the subject matter of the present invention; and,

[0027] [ Figure 5 ] is the attached figure[ Figure 4 ] subject matter (with accompanying drawings[ Figure 1 ]), according to the accompanying drawings [ Figure 3 ] is a partial schematic diagram of the arrow V shown in . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Figure 1A signal receiving device 10 is shown, which comprises a receiving board 12 and a receiving unit 14. The receiving board 12 is in the form of a square and here, its dimensions are, for example, 90 mm x 90 mm and its thickness is 2 mm. The receiving board 12 can have a thicker thickness, but also less than 2 mm. The receiving board is made of metal so that electromagnetic signals from artificial satellites can interact with the receiving board. The receiving board has two opposite lateral boundaries 16, 18 and opposite leading edges 20 and trailing edges 22. In addition, the receiving unit 14, which is approximately 20 mm thick, is mounted in a fixed position on the receiving board 12 at the center between the two opposite lateral boundaries 16, 18. The receiving unit 14 comprises two connectors 24, 26 coming out towards the leading edge 20 to be able to connect the receiving unit to a coaxial cable extending to the display instrument and control instrument of the motor vehicle.

[0029] Here, the signal receiving device 10 is a "GNSS patch", in other words a receiving element that can receive information elements about its position, its speed and time using a set of satellites moving around the Earth; "GNSS" corresponds to the initials of "Global Navigation Satellite System".

[0030] Now refer to Figure 2 , shows the rear of a motor vehicle 28 having a top 30 extending toward the rear above a tailgate 34 along the X component of a rear spoiler 32. Thus, the rear spoiler 32 extends transversely the width by which the top 30 extends. The rear spoiler comprises an elongated outer wall 36 having a front edge 38, which is edge-to-edge with the top 30, and a rear edge 40, which extends along the tailgate 34. In addition, a portion of the elongated outer wall 36 forms a convex side 42 and a portion forms a concave side 44 opposite the convex side; these two portions 42, 44 are delimited from one another by a tailgate edge 46. Thus, the accompanying drawings [ Figure 1 ] The signal receiving device 10 described in the accompanying drawings is installed Figure 3 ] is shown in the top view of the rear spoiler 32 of the first inner shell 48, in which the outer wall of the first inner shell is not shown, but the frame 50 on which the first inner shell rests is shown.

[0031] The frame 50 has a front portion 52 and a rear portion 54 that is set back relative to the front portion 52. The first internal casing 48 is located in the rear portion 54 between two lateral partitions 56,58.

[0032] Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings [ Figure 4 ], along the attached figure [ Figure 3] partially shows the rear portion 54 and the two lateral partitions 56, 58, which then define the first internal shell 48.

[0033] Thus, the two lateral partitions 56, 58 extend longitudinally along the longitudinal axis X in parallel to one another. The two lateral partitions are spaced apart by a distance of approximately greater than 90 mm. In addition, the two lateral partitions are respectively provided with two flat profile sections 60, 62 extending parallel to one another and each having a supporting edge 64, 66. Furthermore, the two lateral partitions are also equipped with two prismatic profile sections 68, 70, which extend at a distance of 2 mm above the supporting edges 64, 66. Here, the two flat profile sections 60, 62 are linked by a bridge 72. Furthermore, two flexible tongues 74, 76 extend from the bridge 72, which are respectively parallel to the two flat profile sections 60, 62 and are positioned close to the two flat profile sections approximately below the height of their supporting edges 64, 66. The flexible tongues 74, 76 extend along the negative component of the longitudinal axis X and they each end with a stop lug 78 which, when the flexible tongues 74, 76 are at rest, projects above the height of the bearing edges 64, 66 of the flat profile sections 60, 62. Furthermore, the stop lug 78 extends side by side with the front ends 80 of the two flat profile sections 60, 62. In this way, the two bearing edges 64, 66, respectively covered by the two prismatic profile sections 68, 70 and at a distance from them, then define two guide plates 82, 84 opposite one another.

[0034] Furthermore, and particularly advantageously, the two flat profile sections 60, 62, the two prismatic profile sections 68, 70, the bridge 72, and the two flexible tongues 74, 76, each terminating with their stop lugs 78, are molded in one piece with the rear portion 54 and the front portion 52 on the two lateral partitions 56, 58. This assembly is molded, for example, from ABS.

[0035] Therefore, the tongues 74, 76 have a certain flexibility and they can be moved away from the two prismatic profile sections 68, 70 so as to enable the rear edge 22 of the receiving plate 12 and the two opposite borders 16, 18 to engage in the two guides (82, 84, respectively) between the supporting edges 64, 66 and the prismatic profile sections 68, 70, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 ] as shown in ].

[0036] Since the two lateral partitions 56, 58 are displaced from each other along the transverse axis Y by an amount corresponding to the width of the receiving plate, and since the prismatic profile sections 68, 70 are spaced apart from the supporting edges 64, 66 along the vertical axis Z by a distance equal to the thickness of the receiving plate 12, and since, moreover, all these elements are made of polymer material, the two opposite lateral boundaries 16, 18 of the receiving plate 12 can be driven by the forces between these elements, while the polymer material is significantly deformed. In addition, when the trailing edge 22 abuts precisely against a stop abutment (not shown) at the end of the supporting edges 64, 66 opposite the front end 80, the stop abutment can stop the receiving plate 12. In the longitudinal direction X, the stop lug 78 is located at a distance from the stop abutment that is substantially greater than the length of the receiving plate 12, i.e. 90 mm. In this way, when the trailing edge 22 comes to bear against the stop abutment, the tongues 74, 76 return to their equilibrium position and the lugs 78 extend towards the front edge 20 of the receiving plate 12 so as to capture and retain it. In this way, the receiving plate 12 and the receiving unit 14 it supports are perfectly retained in a fixed position relative to the frame 50 and more generally relative to the rear spoiler 32.

[0037] The coaxial cables of the display and control instruments may then be connected to the connectors 24 , 26 .

[0038] Additionally, and conversely, the receiving plate 12 can be easily extracted from the guide plates 82, 84 by applying a force to the lugs 78 in the vertical direction Z and thereby by moving the tongues 74, 76 away from the receiving plate 12. The front edge 20 of the receiving plate 12 then leaves the range of the lugs 78. The receiving plate 12 can then be slidably driven to be extracted.

[0039] Therefore, the receiving device 10 can be installed as easily as it can be removed.

[0040] Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention (not shown), the rear spoiler further comprises a second inner housing, for example, the second inner housing is positioned relative to the first inner housing relative to the middle plane of the rear spoiler. In addition, the rear spoiler comprises two second longitudinal fixing supports which are substantially parallel and located inside the second inner housing, and each of the two second longitudinal fixing supports has a second guide plate. Furthermore, the second signal receiving device comprises a second receiving plate having two second opposite boundaries and a second receiving unit mounted on the second plate between the two second opposite boundaries. In addition, the second opposite boundary can slide in the second guide plate.

Claims

1. A rear spoiler for a motor vehicle, comprising: - an elongated outer wall (36) having a front edge (38), an opposite rear edge (40), and an inner shell (48) delimited by the elongated outer wall (36), the elongated outer wall (36) being designed to extend in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle; - first and second longitudinal fixing supports substantially parallel to each other located inside the inner casing (48); and - a signal receiving device (10), comprising a receiving plate (12) having two opposite borders (16, 18) and a receiving unit (14) mounted on the receiving plate (12) between the opposite borders (16, 18), the two opposite borders (16, 18) being designed to be fixed to the first longitudinal fixing support and the second longitudinal fixing support, respectively; It is characterized in that the first longitudinal fixing support member includes a first flat profile section and a first prismatic profile section extending above the supporting edge of the first flat profile section, the second longitudinal fixing support member includes a second flat profile section and a second prismatic profile section extending above the supporting edge of the second flat profile section, and the first longitudinal fixing support member and the second longitudinal fixing support member each include a guide plate (82, 84) to respectively slidably receive the relative boundaries (16, 18) of the receiving plate (12).

2. The rear spoiler according to claim 1, characterized in that The guide plates (82, 84) of the first longitudinal fixing support and the second longitudinal fixing support extend towards each other.

3. The rear spoiler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The guide plates (82, 84) each include a stop abutment for stopping translation of the opposing boundaries (16, 18).

4. The rear spoiler according to claim 3, characterized in that The first and second longitudinal fixing supports include at least one elastically deformable tongue (74, 76), which is provided with a stop lug (78) to hold the receiving plate (12) in a fixed position between the stop abutment and the stop lug (78).

5. The rear spoiler according to claim 4, characterized in that The stop abutment is oriented toward the rear edge (40) and the stop lug (78) is oriented toward the front edge (38).

6. The rear spoiler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The rear spoiler further comprises a frame (50), and the elongated outer wall (36) is supported on the frame (50).

7. The rear spoiler according to claim 6, characterized in that The frame (50) and the first and second longitudinal fixation supports are molded together in a single piece from a polymer material.

8. The rear spoiler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The guide plates (82, 84) of the first and second longitudinal fixing supports extend in a direction substantially at right angles to the transverse direction Y.

9. The rear spoiler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The rear spoiler further comprises: on the one hand, another inner shell defined by the elongated outer wall, and two other substantially parallel longitudinal fixing supports located inside the another inner shell, each of the two other substantially parallel longitudinal fixing supports comprising an additional guide plate; and on the other hand, another signal receiving device comprising another receiving plate having two other opposite boundaries and another receiving unit mounted on the another receiving plate between the two other opposite boundaries, the two other opposite boundaries being able to slide in the additional guide plate.

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