Assembly device for assembling a headlamp housing on a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a mounting device for mounting a headlamp housing (B) on a motor vehicle, comprising at least one lug (1) embodied so as to protrude at the upper portion of the housing and intended to be fixed to the structure of the vehicle, characterised in that the lug (1) comprises a first portion (11) for being connected to the housing (B), in which an orifice (10) for drainage is arranged and which extends outwards to a second portion (12) comprising a detachable area, which is itself coupled to a third end portion (13) carrying at least one socket body (14a, 14b) for receiving a fixing member for fixing to the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims priority from French application No. 1912200, filed on October 30, 2019, the content (text, drawings and claims) of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The invention applies to the regulation of lighting and signalling modules of motor vehicles, and in particular of headlamp housings.

[0003] More particularly, the invention relates to a mounting device for mounting a headlamp housing, said mounting device comprising multifunctional lugs which together ensure static fixation of the headlamp on the body of the vehicle. Background Art

[0004] A headlamp module generally comprises an illumination source (halogen, xenon, LED bulb) controlled by an electronic card (PCB) and associated with various optical components (lenses, reflectors, etc.), said assembly being intended to be enclosed in a housing. This housing is either closed at the front by being enclosed by a glass body, or open at the front (the lenses then ensure sealing against the external environment).

[0005] For styling reasons, headlights have a structure and profile that is specific to each vehicle. In particular, the geometry of the components of the headlight (housing, glass or lens) is designed according to the environment of the headlight on the vehicle and the design of the internal components of the headlight.

[0006] Furthermore, statutory or regulatory constraints and quality constraints require that the headlamp ensure certain features or functions, such as water drainage, the presence of pre-positioned breaking areas of the lugs and receiving means for receiving replacement kits for replacing the lugs when they are sold for service.

[0007] In this context, the mounting device for mounting the headlamp comprises lugs embodied as protruding from the wall of the housing and generally fixed to the vehicle frame by means of a screw connection. These lugs should be able to maintain the headlamp in a position and orientation corresponding to good static determination, with the aim of managing clearances and alignment while respecting technical references.

[0008] Patent FR2986774B1 describes a multifunctional support intended for assembling functional elements on the body of a motor vehicle. This multifunctional support comprises, on the one hand, fastening means for securing the multifunctional support to the body, and, on the other hand, means for retaining at least one functional element, in particular a headlamp with a lighting function and a water collector, on the multifunctional support.

[0009] However, the support does not describe or indicate (necessarily implement) any kind of fixing means for fixing the headlamp so as to meet the required specifications while also ensuring the above-mentioned multifunctionality. Summary of the Invention

[0010] Against this background, the invention provides a mounting device comprising a multifunctional lug which itself ensures the fixing of the headlamp housing on the body of the vehicle.

[0011] This object is achieved by means of a mounting device for mounting a headlamp housing on a motor vehicle, the mounting device comprising at least one lug which is embodied so as to protrude at the upper portion of the housing and is intended to be fixed to a structure of the vehicle, characterised in that the lug comprises a first part for being connected to the housing, in which an orifice for drainage is arranged and which extends outwards to a second part comprising a detachable area, the second part itself being coupled to a third end part which carries at least one socket body for receiving a fixing member for fixing to the vehicle.

[0012] According to an advantageous feature, the first portion of the lug further comprises a stud intended to ensure assembly of the housing with a replacement lug in the event of breakage of the original lug.

[0013] According to another feature, the drainage openings are arranged between the longitudinal reinforcement ribs.

[0014] Preferably, the stud for assembly with the replacement lug is carried by the longitudinal rib.

[0015] According to another feature, the rib is extended to the third portion, while the second portion has a weakening line for forming the separable area.

[0016] According to a particular variant, the lug carries transverse rigidifying ribs extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal ribs and delimiting the separable area with these longitudinal ribs.

[0017] According to another embodiment, the third portion of the lug is partially hollowed out.

[0018] According to yet another variant, it is provided that the first portion comprises five drainage orifices and the third portion carries two receiving socket bodies for receiving fixing members for fixing to the vehicle.

[0019] In this case, one of the receiving socket bodies for receiving the fixing member has a circular cross section, while the other socket body has a rectangular cross section.

[0020] Another object of the invention is a headlamp equipped with a mounting device having the above-mentioned characteristics and intended to be fastened to a structure of a motor vehicle.

[0021] The fixing lug integrated into the device according to the invention alone can reliably and effectively ensure the assembly of the headlamp housing on the vehicle structure, as well as a number of additional functions.

[0022] The device according to the invention offers significant technical and economic advantages by, on the one hand, eliminating the need for additional parts and, on the other hand, by simultaneously enabling standardization of the housing and vehicle interfaces and by ensuring easy and rapid maintenance operations (using only a few parts). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following non-limiting description and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] - Figure 1A The perspective view of FIG. 1 shows a headlamp housing as a whole, which is provided with an embodiment of the mounting device according to the invention.

[0025] - Figure 1B A detailed perspective view shows Figure 1A A housing with a device according to the invention.

[0026] - Figure 1C The perspective view of FIG. 1 shows the fixing lug of the assembly device according to the invention.

[0027] - Figure 2 The front detail shows the Figure 2 After the fixing lug breaks Figure 1A shell. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] For greater clarity, the same or similar elements are identified by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings.

[0029] Naturally, the modes of implementation of the method according to the invention shown are given only as non-limiting examples. It is expressly provided that different embodiments can be provided and combined to provide further embodiments.

[0030] The device according to the invention is intended for assembling a headlamp housing B on the structure of a motor vehicle. Such a device conventionally comprises at least one lug 1 embodied so as to project at the upper portion of the housing B and intended to be fixed to the structure of the vehicle, such as Figure 1A shown.

[0031] However, in this context, the present invention aims to design only lug 1 to ensure the fixation of housing B, while simultaneously sharing the specific functions that can be provided by this single lug. These functions are essentially drainage of water that could potentially stagnate on the wall of housing B, the selective implementation of a positioned detachable area on said lug to enable its detachment in the event of strong mechanical stress, and the presence of an anchoring member to anchor a replacement lug in the event of breakage of said original lug.

[0032] For this reason, Figure 1B and 1C As shown in detail in FIG, the fixing lug 1 comprises a first portion 11 for coupling to the housing B, in which an orifice 10 for drainage is located.

[0033] The drainage openings 10 are arranged between the longitudinal reinforcement ribs 16 and are particularly Figure 1C In the embodiment shown, the first portion 11 here comprises five adjacent orifices 10 .

[0034] The first portion 11 of the lug 1 further comprises studs 15 intended to ensure assembly of the housing B with a replacement lug (not shown) in the event of breakage of the original lug. These studs 15 are carried by longitudinal ribs 16 and optionally have threaded holes for mounting screws.

[0035] This first portion 11 is extended towards the outside by a second portion 12, which comprises the detachable area. To this end, the longitudinal rib 16 has, on the second portion 12, lines of weakness 12a, which are intended to selectively locate and facilitate the breaking. These lines of weakness 12a are obtained, for example, by shrinkage of the material.

[0036] The longitudinal ribs 16 are extended until they reach the third portion 13, situated at the end of the lug 1 and connected to the second intermediate portion 12. This third portion is partially hollowed out for lightness purposes and carries at least one socket body, here two socket bodies 14a, 14b, for receiving a fixing member (not shown) for fixing to the vehicle.

[0037] The lug 1 furthermore carries a transverse rigidifying rib 17 which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal rib 16 and which at least partially delimits therewith a so-called detachable region, such as Figure 2, which shows the housing B after the original lug 1 has been separated.

[0038] The lug 1 can be produced in one piece with the wall of the housing B by injection molding of plastic material or by overmolding on the upper wall of the housing B.

[0039] like Figure 2 As shown, the breaking of the lug 1 , which occurs, for example, under the effect of a collision, is carried out along a transverse line R situated above the orifice 10 so that the drainage function is retained (including after installation of a replacement lug).

[0040] Similarly, the stud 15, located near the inner end of the longitudinal rib 16 at the location of the connection area with the upper wall of the housing B, is not affected by this breakage. The location of the stud 15 makes it possible to install a replacement lug even if the damaged original lug 1 is not completely separated from the housing.

Claims

1. A mounting device for mounting a headlamp housing (B) on a motor vehicle, comprising at least one lug (1) embodied so as to protrude at the upper portion of the housing and intended to be fixed to the structure of the vehicle, characterized in that The lug (1) comprises a first portion (11) for being connected to the housing (B), in which an orifice (10) for draining water is arranged and which extends outwards to a second portion (12) comprising a detachable area, the second portion itself being coupled to a third end portion (13), the third end portion carrying at least one socket body (14a, 14b) for receiving a fixing member for fixing to the vehicle, the first portion (11) of the lug (1) further comprising a stud (15) intended to ensure assembly of the housing (B) with a replacement lug in the event of breakage of the original lug (1), the drain orifice (10) being arranged between longitudinal reinforcing ribs (16), the stud (15) being carried by the longitudinal reinforcing ribs (16).

2. The assembly device according to claim 1, characterized in that The longitudinal reinforcing rib (16) is extended to the third end portion (13), and has a weakening line (12a) on the second portion (12) for forming the separable region.

3. The assembly device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The lug (1) carries a transverse stiffening rib (17) which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal reinforcement rib (16) and delimits the separable region together with the longitudinal reinforcement rib.

4. The assembly device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The third end portion (13) of the lug (1) is partially hollowed out.

5. The assembly device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first portion (11) comprises five drainage orifices (10) and the third end portion (13) carries two socket bodies (14a, 14b) for receiving fixing members for fixing to the vehicle.

6. The assembly device according to claim 5, characterized in that One of the socket bodies (14a) for receiving the fixing member has a circular cross section, while the other socket body (14b) has a rectangular cross section.

7. A headlamp equipped with a mounting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 for fastening to a structure of a motor vehicle.

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