Headlight with breakable mounting bracket, which is provided with a slotted hole for indexing

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of headlights for motor vehicles, lighting and / or light signaling for motor vehicles. It relates in particular to a housing for such a front headlight. [Earlier technique]

[0002] A motor vehicle headlight conventionally comprises a housing comprising a hollow main body receiving at least one light module and being closed by an external cover glass.

[0003] The mounting of such a projector on the vehicle body structure is generally ensured by means of at least: a rear anchoring lug projecting along a horizontal average plane at the rear of said hollow body of the housing and intended to be fixed to a first structural element of the vehicle such as a front side wing, and a front anchoring lug also projecting along a horizontal average plane on the internal side of said hollow body and intended to be fixed to a second structural element of the vehicle such as the bumper frame.

[0004] Typically, these anchoring lugs each have a hole designed to allow them to be screwed onto the corresponding structural element of the vehicle body.

[0005] In order to facilitate the operations of screwing the anchoring lugs of the headlight onto the body structure and to correctly control the clearances and flushness with the surrounding elements of the vehicle, it is known to provide on these anchoring lugs indexing means which isostatically hold this headlight in its mounting position.

[0006] The rear anchoring lug is thus conventionally provided with anti-translation indexing means by fitting along a vertical axis constituted for example by a pin projecting vertically from its lower face and designed to cooperate by fitting with an orifice provided on the first structural element of the vehicle.

[0007] The front anchoring lug is conventionally provided with an oblong anti-rotation indexing hole oriented in a radial direction to said vertical axis and designed to be crossed by a pin projecting vertically upwards from the second structural element of the vehicle and of diameter corresponding to the width of this oblong hole.

[0008] Such an arrangement of the indexing means makes it possible to absorb the dimensional dispersions between the two structural elements of the vehicle due to normal manufacturing tolerances, while ensuring perfectly isostatic positioning of the headlight (each degree of mobility being eliminated only once so as to avoid the appearance of friction generating parasitic noise between these lugs and the elements on which they are fixed) and by optimizing the residual lateral play between this headlight and the grille of the vehicle.

[0009] Furthermore, in order to limit the risks of injury to the pelvis and / or upper parts of the legs (femur areas) of a pedestrian in the event of a frontal impact with one of the front side portions of the vehicle, the front anchor bracket must also have a frangible zone capable of breaking upon the occurrence of such an impact so as to cause the headlight to be pushed backwards and towards the engine compartment of the vehicle.

[0010] The presence of such a frangible zone leads to a significant reduction in the rigidity of this front anchoring bracket which leads to the appearance, during driving phases and due to the relatively high weight of the headlight, of vibration phenomena in bending causing an optical flickering effect on the road.

[0011] Furthermore, the state of the art is known from document US2019077297A1. [Statement of the invention]

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

[0013] For this purpose, it proposes a headlight housing for a motor vehicle according to claim 1.

[0014] The particular conformation of the anchoring lug of the front housing makes it possible to preserve an indexing of the projector optimizing the residual lateral play between the projector and the grille of the vehicle, while avoiding the appearance of vibration phenomena in bending at the level of this lug due to the vertical orientation of its frangible connection zone with the main body of this housing.

[0015] According to preferred characteristics of said projector housing according to the invention: said vertical frangible connection zone is constituted by a plurality of connecting appendages spaced apart from one another and separated by starter holes; the fixing hole of said front anchoring lug is provided in its horizontal distal part; said front anchoring lug comprises at least one supporting rib in the form of a bracket extending along a vertical longitudinal plane between the lower face of its horizontal distal part and the rear face of its vertical proximal part; said rear anchoring lug as well as the vertical proximal and horizontal distal parts of said front anchoring lug are provided on at least one of their faces with a network of stiffening ribs;said anti-translation indexing means comprise a pin extending vertically from the lower face of said rear anchoring lug and designed to cooperate by fitting with an orifice provided in a structural element of said vehicle; the distal branch of said lower anchoring lug is connected to the proximal branch of this lower anchoring lug by a vertical frangible connection zone configured to break under a predetermined longitudinal shear stress.;

[0016] The invention also relates, in a second aspect, to a headlight for a motor vehicle comprising such a housing comprising an open hollow main body, at least one light module housed in said body, and an external cover glass closing said body.

[0017] The invention finally aims, under a third aspect, at a motor vehicle comprising such a headlight. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] 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 perspective view of a motor vehicle headlight according to the invention; [ Fig 2 ] is a perspective view from another angle of the projector housing of the figure 1 ; [ Fig 3 ] represents a perspective enlargement of the rear anchoring lug of the housing of the figure 2 ; [ Fig 4 ] is a perspective enlargement of the front anchor bracket attachment area of ​​the housing of the figure 2 on the front bumper frame of a vehicle; [ Fig 5 ] represents an enlargement seen from above of the front anchoring lug of the housing of the figure 2 ; [ Fig 6 ] represents an enlargement seen from the front of the front anchoring lug of the housing of the figure 2 ; And [ Fig 7 ] represents a perspective enlargement seen from below of the front anchoring lug of the housing of the figure 2 . [Detailed description]

[0019] There figure 1 represents a headlight 1 of a motor vehicle according to the invention intended to be mounted on the body structure of this vehicle by integrating with the contours of the adjacent bodywork parts and those of the bumper.

[0020] In the following description and by convention, the terms “front”, “rear”, “lower”, “upper”, “longitudinal” and “transverse” will be defined in relation to the mounting position of this projector 1 on the vehicle.

[0021] The terms "external" and "internal" will be used to define the relative position of an element with reference to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The element closest to this axis will thus be described as internal, as opposed to the other element further from this same axis, which will be described as external.

[0022] The projector 1 comprises a housing 10 comprising a main hollow body 11 having an opening 11A and containing one or more light modules, such as in particular a lighting module providing the photometric functions of dipped beam (commonly referred to as “low beam”) and main beam (commonly referred to as “high beam”), or a signaling module of the lantern and / or flashing type.

[0023] This hollow main body 11 is closed by a transparent outer cover glass 50, advantageously molded in one piece from a transparent synthetic polymer such as polycarbonate (PC) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and fixedly attached to the peripheral edge of its opening 11A by laser welding so as to ensure perfect sealing.

[0024] Represented alone on the figure 2 , the housing 10 also comprises three anchoring lugs 20, 30, 40 projecting outside the main body 11 and allowing the mounting of the projector 1 on the body structure of the vehicle.

[0025] In this case, this box 10 includes: a rear anchoring lug 20 projecting along a horizontal mean plane at the rear of said body 11 and in a substantially longitudinal direction; a front anchoring lug 30 projecting laterally from the internal side of the main body 11; and a lower anchoring lug 40 projecting below this main body 11.

[0026] These three anchoring tabs 20, 30, 40 are integral with the body 11 of the housing 10 by molding from a suitable thermoplastic polymer such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

[0027] Shown enlarged on the figure 3 , the rear anchoring lug 20 is provided with a hole 21 intended to allow its fixing by screwing onto a corresponding side wing (not shown) of the structure of the vehicle and by means of a screw associated with a spacer washer as is well known in the prior art.

[0028] This rear anchoring lug 20 also has anti-translation indexing means by fitting along a vertical axis, constituted in this case by a cross-section pin 22 (visible on the figure 2 ) extending vertically from its lower face and designed to cooperate by fitting with an orifice (not shown) made in said lateral wing.

[0029] The tab 20 further comprises, at its proximal end for connection with the main body 11 of the housing 10, a frangible weakening line (not visible in the figures) configured to break upon the occurrence of a front impact so as to cause it to separate from this main body 11.

[0030] Near its upper end, this tab 20 also comprises a frangible circular weakening zone 23, delimited by four arc-shaped openings 24 and configured to break under a predetermined vertical support stress exerted by a stop on the front hood of the vehicle in the event of an impact between a pedestrian and the front of the vehicle, so as to allow the hood to be pushed in and part of the energy of this impact to be absorbed.

[0031] The upper face of the tab 20 is provided over at least the majority of its surface with a network of honeycomb stiffening ribs 25 intended to increase its mechanical rigidity.

[0032] Its lower face is also provided with a supporting rib in the shape of a square 26 extending in a vertical longitudinal plane and being attached to a wall of the main body 11 of this housing 10.

[0033] Shown enlarged on the figures 4 à 7 , the front anchoring leg 30, in the form of an angle iron, comprises a proximal part 31 extending along a vertical transverse mean plane and being connected by one of its lateral edges to the main body 11 via a vertical frangible connection zone 32 configured to break under a predetermined longitudinal shear stress.

[0034] As illustrated by the figure 6 , this frangible connection zone 32 is here constituted by a plurality of connection appendages 32A spaced apart from each other while being separated by starter holes 32B.

[0035] The mechanical resistance to longitudinal shear of this frangible connection zone 32 can thus be easily adjusted by removing or adding material in the injection mold used to manufacture the housing 10.

[0036] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the frangible connection zone 32 may be constituted by a constriction line having a reduced thickness.

[0037] In order to increase its mechanical rigidity, the front face of this vertical proximal part 31 of the tab 30 is provided over its entire surface with a network of honeycomb stiffening ribs 33.

[0038] Still with the aim of improving its mechanical rigidity, the rear face of this vertical proximal part 31 also has a network of crossed stiffening ribs 34.

[0039] The front anchoring leg 30 also comprises a distal portion 35 extending rearwardly and along a horizontal mid-plane from the upper edge of the proximal portion 31.

[0040] In reference to the figures 4 And 5, this horizontal distal part 35 has a drilling 36 intended to allow its fixing by screwing onto the front bumper frame 2 of the vehicle and by means of a screw associated with a spacer washer.

[0041] The horizontal distal part 35 of the tab 30 also has pre-holding and anti-rotation indexing means constituted by an oblong hole 37 oriented in a direction D radial to the vertical axis of the pin 22 (see figure 5 ) and intended to be crossed by a finger 3 projecting vertically upwards from the bumper frame 2 and of diameter corresponding to the width of said oblong hole (see figure 4 ).

[0042] In order to increase its mechanical rigidity, the upper face of this horizontal distal part 35 is further provided with a network of honeycomb stiffening ribs 38 extending over its entire surface with the exception of the peripheral periphery of the drilling 36 intended to receive a said spacer washer.

[0043] As illustrated on the figure 7 and so as to avoid the appearance, during the rolling phases and due to the relatively high weight of the projector 1, of vibration phenomena in bending at the level of this horizontal distal part 35 of the lug 30, the latter comprises two support ribs in the shape of a right angle 39 extending along parallel vertical longitudinal planes between the lower face of this horizontal distal part 35 and the rear face of the vertical proximal part 31.

[0044] According to embodiment variants not shown, the number of these supporting ribs can vary, for example, between one and four.

[0045] Having an L shape, the lower anchoring lug 40 extends along a vertical mean plane parallel to the direction D of the oblong hole 37 so as to avoid residual dispersions which would be detrimental to the correct position of the projector 1.

[0046] As illustrated on the figure 2 , this lower anchoring lug 40 comprises a proximal branch 41 connected by its upper edge to the main body 11 and oriented vertically downwards, as well as a distal branch 42 oriented horizontally and provided with a drilling 43 intended to allow its fixing by screwing onto the bumper frame 2 of the vehicle and by means of a screw associated with a spacer washer.

[0047] The distal branch 42 of this lower anchoring leg 40 is further connected to its proximal branch 41 by a vertical frangible connection zone 44 configured to break under a predetermined longitudinal shear stress and constituted in this case by a vertical constriction line having a reduced thickness.

[0048] In order to increase its mechanical rigidity, the rear face of the proximal branch 41 is provided with three square-shaped supporting ribs 45 extending parallel in vertical longitudinal planes and being attached to a wall of the main body 11 of this housing 10.

[0049] According to embodiment variants not shown, the number of these supporting ribs can vary, for example, between one and four.

[0050] Finally, and in order to improve its rigidity, the front face of this lower anchoring lug 40 is provided with a network of honeycomb ribs 46 extending over its entire surface with the exception of the peripheral periphery of the drilling 43 intended to receive the spacer washer.

Claims

1. Housing (10) of a headlight (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a hollow main body (11) capable of receiving at least one light module and intended to be closed by an external cover glass (50), a rear anchoring lug (20) projecting along a horizontal mean plane at the rear of said body (11) and having a bore (21) for its fixing by screwing to a first structural element of said vehicle as well as anti-translation indexing means by interlocking along a vertical axis (22), and a frangible front anchoring lug (30) projecting from said body (11), on the so-called internal side of this body with reference to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and also having a bore (36) for its fixing by screwing to a second structural element (2) of said vehicle, said front anchoring lug (30), in the form of an angle iron, comprising a proximal part (31) extending along a vertical transverse mean plane and being connected by one of its lateral edges to said body (11) via a vertical frangible connection zone (32) configured to break under a predetermined longitudinal shear stress, as well as a distal portion (35) extending rearwardly along a horizontal mean plane from the upper edge of said proximal portion (31), this projector housing further comprising a lower anchoring tab; this projector housing further comprising a lower anchoring tab; the projector housing being characterized in that said frangible front anchoring tab (30) has in its distal portion (35) an oblong anti-rotation indexing hole (37) extending horizontally while being oriented in a radial direction (D) to said vertical axis; and in that the lower anchoring lug (40) is L-shaped (40) projecting below said body along a vertical mid-plane parallel to said radial direction (D) of the oblong indexing hole (37), this lower anchoring lug (40) comprising a proximal branch (41) of vertical orientation connected by its upper edge to said body (11) as well as a distal branch (42) oriented horizontally and provided with a bore (43) intended to allow its fixing by screwing onto a structural element of said vehicle.

2. Housing (10) of a headlight (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said vertical frangible connection zone (32) is constituted by a plurality of connecting appendages (32A) spaced apart from each other and separated by starter holes (32B).

3. Housing (10) of a headlight (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the fixing hole (36) of said front anchoring lug (30) is formed in its horizontal distal portion (35).

4. Housing (10) of a headlight (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said front anchoring lug (30) comprises at least one bracket-shaped supporting rib (39) extending along a vertical longitudinal plane between the lower face of its horizontal distal portion (35) and the rear face of its vertical proximal portion (31).

5. Housing (10) for a headlight (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said rear anchoring lug (20) and the vertical proximal (31) and horizontal distal (35) portions of said front anchoring lug (30) are provided on at least one of their faces with a network of stiffening ribs (25, 33, 34, 38).

6. Housing (10) for a headlight (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said anti-translation indexing means comprise a pin (22) extending vertically from the lower face of said rear anchoring lug (20) and designed to cooperate by fitting with an orifice provided in a structural element of said vehicle.

7. Housing (10) of a headlight (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distal branch (42) of said lower anchoring lug (40) is connected to the proximal branch (41) of this lower anchoring lug (40) by a vertical frangible connection zone (44) configured to break under a predetermined longitudinal shear stress.

8. Headlight (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (10) comprising an open hollow main body (11), at least one light module housed in said body (11), and an outer cover glass (50) closing said body; characterized in that said housing conforms to one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises at least one headlight (1) conforming to claim 8.