DEVICE FOR MOUNTING A REARVIEW CAMERA ON THE REAR BUMPER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2102913 filed on March 23, 2021.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the problem of mounting a reversing camera on the rear bumper of a motor vehicle. It relates in particular to a device for mounting such a reversing camera on such a rear bumper of a motor vehicle.

[0003] [Prior art] FR3021608A1, which is considered to be the closest prior art, discloses a mounting device in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] When a driver is performing a maneuver, their field of vision is reduced by the vehicle's blind spots, which prevent them from perceiving their immediate surroundings. For example, they cannot see what is directly behind their rear bumper when performing a maneuver while backing up.

[0005] To assist the driver, it is known to place at least one camera in the blind spots and display the image on a screen placed in the driver's field of vision.

[0006] Such a camera is usually installed on the rear bumper near the area where the rear license plate is located on the vehicle, with its optical axis facing backward and downward so that it can detect low-level obstacles located behind the vehicle that the driver cannot see.

[0007] The camera is installed using a mounting device which, on the one hand, secures the camera to the rear bumper and, on the other hand, protects the body of the camera from external influences.

[0008] Such a mounting device typically includes: a housing open by one of its faces defining a receiving cavity capable of housing at least a part of the camera and being provided with an orifice intended to be located opposite the lens of this camera in order to allow the latter to capture through this orifice the rear environment of said vehicle, said housing comprising clipping means capable of allowing it to be fixedly attached by snap-fastening via its open face against the outer face of the periphery of an opening made in the rear bumper; and a support comprising fixing holes capable of allowing it to be fixedly attached by screwing against the inner face of the periphery of said opening and opposite said open face of said housing so as to ensure the locking in position of said camera sandwiched between said housing and said support.

[0009] This type of mounting device allows for precise and efficient mounting of the camera, but the use of fixing screws has the disadvantage of resulting in a significant additional cost as well as an increase in the camera's mounting time.

[0010] Also known from document CN 108569221 A is a mounting device for a rear bumper camera comprising: a housing open on one of its faces, defining a receiving cavity capable of housing at least part of the camera, and being provided with an orifice intended to be located opposite the lens of this camera in order to allow the latter to capture through this orifice the rear environment of said vehicle, said housing comprising two clipping tabs projecting symmetrically at the front of the cavity and capable of cooperating by snap-fastening with the lateral edges of an opening made in the rear bumper, as well as two U-shaped columns projecting symmetrically at the front of the cavity and the branches of which are oriented towards the internal side;and a support panel capable of being removably mounted on the housing to lock the camera in position, this support panel comprising a shaft capable of fitting into a receiving notch provided near the free front end of one of the posts so that this panel can pivot relative to this housing, this support panel also comprising a clipping tab capable of penetrating when the panel pivots towards the cavity in the upper part of the second post and of snapping onto a tooth provided in this post so as to ensure the fixing of the panel on the housing and the retention of the camera. ;

[0011] Although such a mounting device ensures quick and screwless mounting of the camera on the rear bumper of a vehicle, it turns out in use that the support panel only clipped onto the housing tends to become detached from this housing due to the vibrations to which the vehicle is subjected during the driving phases, which causes the camera to move or even remove it from the housing. [Statement of the invention]

[0012] The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

[0013] To this end, it offers a device for mounting a reversing camera on the rear bumper of a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing open by one of its faces, defining a receiving cavity capable of housing at least a part of said camera, and being provided with an orifice intended to be located opposite the lens of this camera in order to allow the latter to capture through this orifice the rear environment of said vehicle, said housing comprising clipping means capable of allowing it to be fixedly attached by snap-fastening via its open face against the outer face of the periphery of an opening made in said rear bumper, and a support comprising fixing means capable of allowing it to be fixedly attached against the inner face of said periphery of said opening and opposite said open face of said housing so as to ensure the locking in position of said camera sandwiched between said housing and said support;characterized in that said means for fixing said support comprise at least one beak designed to cooperate by snapping with a correspondingly shaped light provided in said bumper, as well as at least one clipping tab capable of cooperating by snapping with an edge of said opening. ;

[0014] The mounting device according to the invention makes it possible to ensure rapid and screwless mounting of a reversing camera on the rear bumper of a motor vehicle, while providing great security in fixing this camera sandwiched between the housing and the support.

[0015] According to preferred characteristics of said mounting device according to the invention: said fixing means comprise two said beaks projecting longitudinally rearwardly from the upper lateral ends of said support and designed to cooperate by nesting with two said correspondingly shaped lights provided in said bumper; said fixing means comprise two said longitudinally oriented clipping tabs provided in the lower part of said support while being transversely spaced from each other; said fixing means comprise at least one rectangular window provided in said support and designed to be crossed along a longitudinal axis by a corresponding hook arranged on said housing; said fixing means comprise two said rectangular windows provided in said support transversely spaced from each other; said support comprises a retaining wall projecting from one of its walls and designed to rest against the front face of said camera;said support comprises a “quarter-turn” fixing orifice for a cleaning liquid nozzle intended to ensure the washing of the lens of said camera; said “quarter-turn” fixing orifice has a circular main portion as well as two notches arranged on the periphery of this main portion and diametrically opposite one another; and / or said housing is provided with a plurality of internal wedging ribs intended to ensure positioning without play of said camera in said cavity.;

[0016] The invention also relates, in a second aspect, to a motor vehicle comprising a rear bumper on which a reversing camera is mounted by means of such a mounting device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below for illustrative but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: [ Fig 1 ] represents a partial perspective view of the outer face of the rear bumper of a motor vehicle on which a reversing assistance camera is mounted by means of a mounting device according to the invention; [ Fig 2 ] is a sectional view taken along a vertical transverse plane of the housing of the mounting device housing the camera after its installation on the rear bumper of the figure 1 ; [ Fig 3 ] represents a partial perspective view of the front face of the rear bumper of the figure 1 after mounting the camera using the mounting device according to the invention; [ Fig 4 ] is a perspective view illustrating the operation of placing the support against the inner face of the rear bumper of the figure 1 and the pre-mounted housing; [ Fig 5 ] is a partial perspective view of the front face of the rear bumper after mounting the camera by means of the mounting device according to the invention; and [ Fig 6 ] is a perspective sectional view of the rear bumper of the figure 1 taken along the vertical longitudinal plane VI-VI of the figure 2 after mounting the camera using the mounting device according to the invention. [Detailed description]

[0018] We define in relation to the vehicle an orthogonal reference XYZ comprising three axes perpendicular two by two, namely: an X axis, defining a longitudinal, horizontal direction, coincident with the general direction of movement of the vehicle; a Y axis, defining a transverse, horizontal direction, which with the X axis defines a horizontal XY plane, and a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, perpendicular to the horizontal XY plane.

[0019] In the following description and by convention, the terms "front" and "rear" will be used to define the relative position of one element in relation to another according to the general direction of movement of the vehicle.

[0020] There figure 1 shows the central part of the outer face of a rear bumper 2 of a motor vehicle on which a rear vision camera 3 is installed (better visible on the figure 2 ) forming part of a vehicle parking assistance device.

[0021] The installation of the rear view camera 3 on the rear bumper 2 is carried out by means of a mounting device 10 according to the invention which ensures on the one hand the fixing of this camera to the bumper 2 and on the other hand the protection of the body of this camera 3 from external attacks.

[0022] The mounting device 10 comprises a hollow housing 20 open by one of its faces and designed to be fixedly attached by its open face against the outer face of the peripheral periphery of an opening 4 made in the rear bumper 2 of the vehicle.

[0023] The housing 20 defines a receiving cavity 21 of triangular section intended to house at least part of the camera 3 (see figure 2 ), this cavity 21 being delimited by a rear wall 22, a lower wall 23, and two side walls 24 and 25.

[0024] The rear wall 22 has a first circular orifice 26 intended to be located opposite the lens of the camera 3 in order to allow the latter to capture the rear environment of the vehicle through this orifice 26.

[0025] The housing 20 also comprises attachment means capable of allowing it to be fixedly attached by its open face against the outer face of the perimeter of the opening 4.

[0026] These attachment means comprise two elastic clipping tabs 27 extending from two lateral hoops 28 projecting above and in the extension of the two lateral walls 24, 25, and being provided to cooperate by snap-fastening with the lateral edges of the opening 4 so as to ensure the fixing of this housing 20 on the rear bumper 2.

[0027] Advantageously molded in one piece from a thermoplastic polymer such as polypropylene, polyamide or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (these materials having the advantages of being both light and relatively elastic), this housing 20 further comprises an external peripheral rim 29 bordering the upper edge of the walls 22, 23, 24, 25 and designed to rest fixedly against the external face of the peripheral periphery of the opening 4.

[0028] As is clearly visible on the figure 2 , the housing 20 is further provided with a plurality of internal wedging ribs 30 intended to ensure positioning without play of the camera 3 in the cavity 21.

[0029] These ribs 30, the depth of which can be easily adjusted by removing or adding material in the injection mold used to manufacture the housing 20, thus make it possible to precisely adjust the orientation of the axis of the camera 3 with respect to the vehicle.

[0030] The mounting device 10 also comprises a support 40 intended to be fixedly attached, after the housing 20 has been placed on the bumper 2 and the camera 3 has been positioned in this housing 20, along a longitudinal mounting axis against the inner face of the rear bumper 2 of the vehicle, at the level of the opening 4, so as to ensure the locking in position of the camera 3 sandwiched between the housing 20 and this support 40.

[0031] In reference to the figures 3 And 4, the support 40 comprises a flat central wall 41 bordered laterally by two hollow lateral pilasters 42, 43 projecting at the front of this central wall 41 and each extending at their lower end by a corresponding foot 44, 45 extending substantially horizontally towards the front, these two feet 44, 45 being designed to come to rest, after the installation of this support 40, in abutment against the lateral portions of the inner face of the peripheral periphery of the opening 4.

[0032] Advantageously made from a single-piece molding from a thermoplastic polymer such as polypropylene, polyamide or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (these materials having the advantages of being both light and relatively elastic), this support 40 also comprises fixing means capable of cooperating with complementary means provided on the bumper 2 and on the housing 20 to rigidly secure it to this bumper 2.

[0033] As illustrated on the figure 3 , these fixing means comprise two beaks 46 projecting longitudinally towards the rear from the upper lateral ends of the support 40 (more precisely from the tops of the two lateral pilasters 42, 43) and intended, when this support 40 is put in place, to cooperate by piling with two rectangular lights of corresponding shape 5 arranged in the rear bumper 2 near the opening 4, so as to ensure the locking of the support 40 with respect to this bumper 2 in the transverse and vertical directions (see figure 6 ).

[0034] In reference to the figures 3 And 5, the means for fixing the support 40 also comprise two longitudinal clipping tabs 47 arranged in the lower part of this support 40, being spaced transversely from one another (these tabs 47 being in this case each cut from a corresponding support foot 44, 45) and capable of cooperating by snap-fastening with the rear edge of the opening 4 so as to ensure the longitudinal locking of the support 40 with respect to the bumper 2 (see figure 6 ).

[0035] As illustrated on the figures 3 à 6 , the means for fixing the support 40 also advantageously comprise two rectangular windows 49 each formed in a corresponding lateral pilaster 42, 43 so as to be spaced transversely from each other.

[0036] As illustrated on the figures 5 et 6 , these two windows 42, 43 are designed to be crossed along longitudinal axes, when this support 40 is put in place on the rear bumper 2, by two corresponding hooks 31 extending longitudinally towards the front from the two lateral hoops 28 of the housing 20, so as to prevent any lifting by pivoting around a transverse axis of the support 40 which could cause the unclipping of the tabs 47 (this rotational movement being in fact blocked by the cooperation in abutment of the lower edges of these windows 49 against the lower ends of these hooks 31).

[0037] As is clearly visible on the figure 3 , the support 40 further comprises a retaining wall 50 with a U-shaped section projecting from the rear face (the one intended to be opposite the camera 3) of the central wall 41 and designed to come to rest against the front face of this camera 3 so as to lock it in position after the installation of this support 20 (the latter being sandwiched between the rear wall 22 of the housing 20 and the top of the wall 50).

[0038] The support 40 also includes several stiffening ribs to reinforce its mechanical resistance, namely in particular: a rib 51 projecting from the front face of the central wall 41 and extending transversely between the two lateral pilasters 42, 43 (see figure 5 ); two ribs 52 projecting substantially vertically from the upper face of the foot 44 on either side of a clipping tab 27 and being backed by the lateral pilaster 42; two ribs 53 projecting substantially vertically from the upper face of the foot 45 on either side of a clipping tab 27 and being backed by the lateral pilaster 43 (see figure 5 ); and two ribs 54 projecting from the rear face of the central wall 41 and being backed by the retaining wall 50 (see figure 3 ).

[0039] As illustrated on the figure 3 , the central wall 41 of the support 40 is provided with a “quarter turn” fixing orifice allowing the mounting, through this wall 41, of a cleaning liquid nozzle (not shown in the figures) intended to ensure the washing of the lens of the camera exposed to bad weather, projections (mud, dust, sand, earth, etc.), or even to condensation phenomena which can significantly degrade the quality of the images formed through or by this lens, to the detriment of the comfort and safety of the driver.

[0040] This “quarter-turn” fixing orifice 55 has a circular main portion 55A as well as two notches 55B formed on the periphery of this main portion 55A and diametrically opposite one another.

[0041] Finally, we will note in support of the figure 2 that the rear wall 22 of the housing 20 is provided with a circular hole 32 in order to allow the nozzle head to pass through this housing 20.

[0042] According to embodiment variants not shown, the housing and / or the support are shaped differently.

[0043] The number, shape and / or arrangement of the docking beaks and / or snap-on tabs provided on the support may therefore be different.

[0044] The housing and support may also be without hooks such as 31 and additional windows such as 49 to block the pivoting of the support, and / or their number may also be different.

Claims

1. Mounting device (10) of a rear view camera (3) on the rear bumper (2) of a motor vehicle, comprising: housing (20) opened by one of its faces, defining a receiving cavity (21) capable of housing at least a part of said camera (3), and being provided with an orifice (26) intended to be opposite the objective of this camera (3) in order to allow the latter to capture through this orifice (26) the rear environment of said vehicle, said housing (20) comprising clipping means (27) capable of allowing it to be attached fixedly by snap-fastening via its open face against the external face of the periphery of an opening (4) provided in said rear bumper (2), and support (40) comprising fixing means (46, 47, 49) capable of enabling it to be fixed against the inner face of said periphery of said opening (4) and opposite said open face of said housing (20) so as to ensure the locking in position of said camera (3) sandwiched between said housing (20) and said support (40); characterized in that said means for fixing said support comprise at least one beak (46) designed to cooperate by stacking with a slot of corresponding shape (5) made in said bumper (2), and at least one snap-fastening tongue (47) able to cooperate by snap-fastening with an edge of said opening (4).

2. Mounting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the said fixing means comprise two said spouts (46) projecting longitudinally rearwards from the upper lateral ends of the said support (40) and designed to cooperate by stacking with two said openings of corresponding shape (5) formed in the said bumper (2).

3. Mounting device (10) according to either of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the said fixing means comprise two said snap-fastening tongues (47) oriented longitudinally and formed in the lower part of the said support (40) while being spaced transversely from one another.

4. Mounting device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said fixing means comprise at least one rectangular window (49) formed in the said support (40) and designed to be traversed along a longitudinal axis by a corresponding hook (31) arranged on the said housing (20).

5. Mounting device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the said fixing means comprise two said rectangular windows (49) formed in the said support (40) at a transverse distance from one another.

6. Mounting device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the said support (40) comprises a retaining wall (50) projecting from one of its walls and provided to come to rest against the front face of the said camera (3).

7. Mounting device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the said support (40) comprises a "quarter-turn" fixing orifice (55) for a spray nozzle for cleaning liquid intended to ensure the washing of the lens of the said camera (3).

8. Mounting device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the said quarter-turn fixing orifice (55) has a circular main portion (55A) and two notches (55B) formed at the periphery of this main portion (55A) and diametrically opposite one another.

9. Mounting device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the said housing (20) is provided with a plurality of internal wedging ribs (30) intended to ensure a positioning without play of the said camera (3) in the said cavity (21).

10. Motor vehicle comprising a rear bumper (2) on which a rear view camera (3) is mounted by means of a mounting device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9.