MOTOR VEHICLE WING WITH AN EQUIPMENT CARRIER PLATE AND A REMOVABLE SKIN

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicle body parts, more specifically openings, such as tailgates or side doors, and in particular the integration of equipment installed therein.

[0002] For example, a motor vehicle tailgate generally comprises an outer panel (also called an outer skin) attached to an inner panel, or frame. The inner panel is provided with a first opening in the upper part of the tailgate intended to accommodate a window. In the lower part of the tailgate, this inner panel is generally provided with small recesses allowing a local passage for the attachment of components.

[0003] Document US 10,220,688 B2 describes a tailgate with an outer panel attached to an inner panel provided with such a first opening. The opening comprises a support plate for at least one piece of equipment.

[0004] On most vehicles, motor vehicle tailgates incorporate, in the lower part of the tailgate, side rear signaling lights, such as brake lights, generally a left light and a right light located symmetrically on either side of the tailgate. Preferably, these two lights are located as far as possible along the lateral edges of the tailgate in order to face, when the tailgate is closed, the rear light complement located on the body of the vehicle. Such lights are currently manufactured by suppliers in the form of lighting units or optical units. Such optical units comprise a rear part, or housing, in which the lighting device is arranged, as well as a window, also called a glass pane, allowing light to pass through when the light is in operation. These two side lights are attached and mounted on the tailgate on and by its external face, which has many disadvantages.

[0005] Firstly, it is necessary to provide a sealed glass in relation to the optical housing in order to protect the lighting device. In addition, it is necessary for an operator to carry out the installation of the two side lights in two separate places on the tailgate, to connect electrical harnesses to them, and to make the installation waterproof to prevent runoff water from penetrating into the volume delimited by the inner panel and the outer skin of the tailgate, passing between the light and the outer skin, which presents practical difficulties.

[0006] Another disadvantage is that the side lights thus reported appear as additions and do not present any apparent continuity with the rest of the tailgate, which harms its aesthetics. Indeed, a trend among car manufacturers is to ensure that the various exterior surfaces of the vehicle are flush with each other ("flush" in Anglo-Saxon terminology) and appear without discontinuities ("seamless" in Anglo-Saxon terminology). In certain configurations, luminous elements can even remain partially or totally invisible from the outside, for example when they are not activated ("hidden until lit" in Anglo-Saxon terminology).

[0007] Finally, the side lights have the disadvantage of not being easily removable. In fact, most of the time, the outer skin of the tailgate is permanently glued to the inner panel to ensure the seal between these two elements. It therefore becomes necessary, to access the side lights, to go through the interior of the vehicle through holes made for this purpose in the inner panel. This has several disadvantages. Making holes reduces the rigidity of the panel, especially since the holes must be large enough to remove the lights and their connectors. In addition, they must be able to be closed to be hidden and / or to prevent the insertion of liquid using specific covers, which complicates the design of the tailgate.

[0008] The invention aims in particular to remedy these drawbacks by providing a motor vehicle opening allowing equipment to be integrated into its lower part, in a sealed manner and allowing the aesthetics of the vehicle to be improved, and providing easy access to this equipment.

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to a motor vehicle opening comprising: an inner panel, preferably made of plastic, provided with an upper part in which a first opening is made intended to accommodate a bezel, and an outer skin, at least partially made of plastic, attached to the inner panel, comprising an inner surface located opposite an outer surface of the inner panel.

[0010] The opening according to the invention further comprises a support plate for at least one piece of equipment covered by the outer skin, the internal surface of the outer skin being attached directly to the support plate in a sealed manner, said plate being arranged inside a volume delimited, on the one hand, by the external surface of an interior panel and, on the other hand, by the internal surface of the exterior skin, the exterior skin being attached directly and removably fixed to the interior panel or to the support plate.

[0011] The outer surface of the interior panel is the surface facing the outside of the vehicle. The outer surface is opposite the inner surface, which faces the passenger compartment.

[0012] It is understood that a first element is “attached to” a second element by the fact that the first element is arranged opposite the second element, covering it at least in part, whether it is attached to it or not.

[0013] It is understood that a first element is "attached directly to" a second element by the fact that the first element is attached to the second element and that any fixing means which connect the two elements are arranged directly on these two elements, without an intermediate structural part such as another panel for example. Furthermore, according to this definition a first element is directly attached to a second element even if fixing means (screw, washer, glue, etc.), sealing means (joint, foam, etc.), decoration means (film, paint, etc.) and / or insulation means (foam, etc.) are arranged between the first element and the second element.

[0014] Thanks to the presence of an equipment support plate which is covered by the outer skin and on which the outer skin is attached in a sealed manner, but which is also arranged inside a volume delimited, on the one hand, by the external surface of an interior panel and, on the other hand, by the internal surface of the outer skin, it is possible to have lighting, communication or driving assistance devices carried by the equipment support plate rather than attaching them to the external face of the outer skin of the opening. This facilitates their implementation within the opening at the desired position for each piece of equipment, since they are previously assembled on the plate which is then attached to the outer skin.

[0015] This improves the aesthetics of the vehicle, as the equipment does not appear as an addition and does not present any apparent discontinuity with the rest of the opening.

[0016] Furthermore, it is also possible to arrange for the equipment carried by the support plate to be concealed by the outer skin, including, in the case of a tailgate, the rear lights for example when they are not switched on. By "concealed by the outer skin" is meant that the equipment is not clearly visible to a user.

[0017] In addition, the fact that the outer skin is directly attached in a sealed manner to the equipment support plate makes it possible to create a specific "dry zone" for the equipment carried by the support plate. Here, "dry zone" is understood to mean a closed volume, sealed with respect to the external environment. Thus, all the equipment carried by the support plate is sealed from the external environment via the sealed connection obtained between the support plate and the outer skin. This is much easier than ensuring sealing around each piece of equipment individually or making each piece completely sealed, as is the case for lighting units. This allows in fine to preserve this equipment and therefore ensure its proper functioning.

[0018] Finally, the fact that the outer skin is directly attached and removably fixed directly to the inner panel and / or to the support plate makes it particularly easy to repair and / or replace the equipment carried by the plate. In fact, it is enough to detach the skin from the rest of the tailgate to access the equipment and all its connections.

[0019] Advantageously, in order to easily access the equipment carried by the support plate, the outer skin is configured so that it can be detached from the inner panel and / or the plate and then moved away from it towards the outside of the vehicle. It is no longer necessary to remove the equipment from the vehicle through the inner panel from inside the vehicle, which greatly facilitates its maintenance, replacement and, in general, after-sales service.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner surface of the outer skin is directly attached and fixed to the outer surface of the inner panel so that the outer skin can be detached from the inner panel in a removable manner, for example by screwing. This makes it easier to dismantle the outer skin since there is no intermediate part to dismantle between the inner panel and the support plate.

[0021] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the equipment support plate comprises a niche whose walls delimit a volume in which said at least one piece of equipment is inserted and a peripheral rim extending the walls of the niche. The volume delimited by the niche can thus form a “dry zone” for the equipment.

[0022] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the equipment support plate is attached directly and fixed to the external surface of the interior panel by gluing.

[0023] According to another particular embodiment of the invention, the equipment support plate is attached directly and fixed to the external surface of the interior panel, in a removable manner, for example by screwing.

[0024] In order to ensure a seal in the volume delimited by the niche of the support plate and therefore protect the equipment located in this volume, a seal is placed between the support plate and the internal surface of the external skin.

[0025] Preferably, the equipment support plate comprises a device for emitting and / or receiving electromagnetic radiation and the outer skin comprises, opposite the device for emitting and / or receiving electromagnetic radiation, a transmission zone, made of plastic, which is at least partially transparent to said electromagnetic radiation. It is thus possible to take advantage of the support plate to arrange radiation emitting devices in order to establish, for example, a continuous light signature across the entire width of the tailgate if desired, or to integrate driving assistance devices, such as, for example, radars (which generally emit electromagnetic radiation between 20 and 80 GHz), lidars (which generally emit electromagnetic radiation belonging to the infrared spectrum) or reversing cameras.Finally, it can also be communication equipment, such as screens or antennas. Generally speaking, this equipment can be any device requiring transparency to waves.

[0026] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the electromagnetic radiation belongs to the visible spectrum.

[0027] According to another embodiment of the invention, the electromagnetic radiation belongs to the non-visible spectrum.

[0028] In order to easily access the equipment carried by the support plate without having to detach the outer skin of the support plate, the support plate comprises at least one access orifice to one of the equipment carried by the support plate, and preferably at least one member for closing said access orifice.

[0029] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the support plate is in one piece.

[0030] According to another embodiment of the invention, the support plate is made of several parts assembled together. In particular, it may be provided that it is provided with an orifice covered by removable closing means allowing access to the equipment.

[0031] Preferably, in order in particular to be able to ensure transparency of the skin to various electromagnetic radiations according to requirements, the outer skin is made from one of the following materials: polypropylene (PP); polyamide (PA); polyethylene (PE); acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polystyrene (PS); polycarbonate (PC); polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA); cycloolefin copolymer (COC); as well as any combination of these materials.

[0032] According to another embodiment of the invention, the opening constitutes a tailgate or a side door. Brief description of the figures

[0033] The invention will be better understood from reading the following description, in which the opening of the invention has been described in the form of a tailgate, a description given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] there figure 1 is a set of schematic views ( Figure 1A exploded view and 1B assembled) of an equipment support plate and an outer skin of a tailgate according to one embodiment of the invention, [ Fig. 2 ] there figure 2 is an exploded schematic view of a tailgate according to a first embodiment of the invention, [ Fig. 3 ] there figure 3 is a schematic view of the tailgate of the figure 2 , [ Fig. 4 ] there figure 4 is a schematic section made according to section plane IV-IV of the figure 3 , [ Fig. 5 ] there Figure 5 is a schematic section of the equipment board and equipment of the figure 4, the skin having been removed from the tailgate, [ Fig. 6 ] there figure 6 is a view similar to the figure 4 of a tailgate according to a second embodiment, [ Fig. 7 ] there figure 6 is a view similar to the Figure 5 of a tailgate according to a second embodiment. Detailed description

[0034] It has been represented on the figures 1 to 4 a motor vehicle tailgate 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The motor vehicle is not shown in the figures.

[0035] Tailgate 1, as can be seen in particular in the figure 2 , comprises an interior panel 2, preferably made of plastic, provided with an upper part 2A in which a first opening 21 is made intended to accommodate a bezel 7. The bezel 7 is in particular fixed to the interior panel 2 via a bead of glue 8.

[0036] The tailgate 1 also comprises an outer skin 3, at least partially made of plastic material, attached to the inner panel 2, comprising an inner surface 31 located opposite an outer surface 23 of the inner panel 2. The outer surface 23 of the inner panel is understood to mean the surface facing the outside of the vehicle. The outer surface 23 is opposite an inner surface 24 of the outer panel, which is itself facing the passenger compartment.

[0037] As can be seen in the figure 4 , the tailgate 1 further comprises a support plate 4 for at least one piece of equipment 6. The internal surface 31 of the outer skin 3 is attached directly to the support plate 4 in a sealed manner.

[0038] The outer skin 3 is attached directly to the inner panel 2 in a removable manner.

[0039] More precisely, the outer skin 3 is configured so that it can be detached from the inner panel 2 from the interior of the vehicle (left of the figures 4 And 5 outwards (right of the figures 4 And 5 ) of the vehicle, as will be explained later.

[0040] The support plate 4 is attached directly to the inner panel 2. For example, the support plate 4 can be glued to the inner panel 2.

[0041] More precisely, in the example shown in the figures, the support plate 4 is attached directly to the external surface 23 of the interior panel 2 and is fixed there, here by gluing (the glue is not visible in the figures).

[0042] The support plate 4 comprises a niche N whose walls delimit a volume 5B in which said at least one item of equipment 6 is housed, as well as a peripheral rim 51 extending the walls of the niche N.

[0043] The sealing of the volume 5B is ensured by means of a peripheral seal 50 arranged between the support plate 4 and the internal surface of the outer skin 3. This may in particular be a compressed foam seal between the peripheral rim 51 of the support plate 4 and the internal surface 31 of the outer skin 3. The seal 50 may in particular be carried by the support plate 4 once the outer skin 3 has been detached from it as illustrated in Figure 5 . In a variant, the seal 50 may be carried by the outer skin 3.

[0044] The plate 4 is fixed to the external surface 23 of the inner panel 2. For this, the peripheral edge 51 of the plate 4 is assembled to the external surface 23 of the inner panel, for example by gluing. Other fixing means can be envisaged. The fixing, such as gluing, can also be carried out in an area other than the peripheral edge of the plate 4.

[0045] In a variant not shown, the support plate 4 may be removably assembled to the external surface 23 of the interior panel 2, in particular using screws arranged on the edge 51. By removable is meant a means of fixing which can be reversed several times without altering the parts, unlike gluing for example.

[0046] However, these screws could be arranged in places other than the rim 51. In particular, in yet another variant not shown, the fixing of the support plate 4 to the external surface 23 of the interior panel 2 can be carried out at the level of one of the walls of the niche N, outside the rim 51.

[0047] Naturally, other means of fixing than screws can be considered, such as clips, provided that they allow the support plate 4 to be removed from the interior panel 2 in a removable manner.

[0048] A seal (not visible in the figures) may also be arranged between the peripheral rim 51 and the external surface 23 of the inner panel. This may be, for example, a compressed foam seal between the peripheral rim 51 and the external surface 23 of the inner panel.

[0049] The outer skin 3 is fixed, via its inner surface 31, to the outer surface 3 of the inner panel 3. Here, it is connected there by screws 35. In the embodiment illustrated in figures 4 And 5 , the screws 35 are arranged on a rim of the outer skin 2 coming into contact with the outer surface 23 of the inner panel 2. However, this rim is optional and the screws 35 can be arranged at various locations on the outer surface 23 of the inner panel 2 and the inner surface 31 of the outer skin 3.

[0050] The outer skin 3 may be attached to the outer surface 23 of the inner panel 2 in a sealed manner, for example using a sealing gasket arranged between the inner surface 31 of the outer skin 3 and the outer surface 23 of the inner panel 2 (the gasket is not visible in the figures).

[0051] In the embodiment shown in the figures, to detach the outer skin 3 from the inner panel 2, it is necessary to unscrew the screws 35 from the inside of the vehicle (passenger compartment side). Then, the outer skin 3 can be removed from the inside of the vehicle and separated from the rest of the vehicle, as can be seen in Figure 5 notably.

[0052] The support plate 4 comprises one or more pieces of equipment 6, only one of which is visible in the sections shown 4 and 5. Obviously, these may be different from each other. It may be, for example, one or more light devices which emit electromagnetic radiation R in the visible spectrum. This electromagnetic radiation is represented diagrammatically by a dotted arrow on the figures 4 And 5These light devices can be distributed over all or part of the width of the support plate 4 in order to establish the desired light signature. Thus, it is possible to obtain a light signature of continuous appearance over the entire width of the tailgate if this is desired.

[0053] The equipment(s) 6 may also be driving assistance devices, such as radars (which generally emit electromagnetic radiation between 20 and 80 GHz), lidars (which generally emit electromagnetic radiation belonging to the infrared spectrum) or reversing cameras. Finally, it may also be communication equipment, such as information screens or antennas. Generally speaking, the equipment(s) 6 may be any device requiring transparency to waves.

[0054] The area of ​​the outer skin 3 located opposite the equipment 6 is a transmission area 32 made of plastic material at least partially transparent to the electromagnetic radiation of the equipment, in the case where the latter emits and / or receives electromagnetic radiation. By “at least transparent to electromagnetic radiation”, it is meant that this transmission area 32 allows the passage of a sufficient quantity of electromagnetic waves so that the equipment can perform the function dedicated to it correctly and continuously. In the case of a light device, for example, this means that the transmission area 32 allows the passage of the light rays emitted by the device so that they can be seen by an observer outside the vehicle.

[0055] The outer skin 3 is preferably made from one of the following materials: polypropylene (PP); polyamide (PA); polyethylene (PE); acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polystyrene (PS); polycarbonate (PC); polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA); cycloolefin copolymer (COC); as well as any combination of these materials.

[0056] The support plate 4 can be made of a single piece, which simplifies its manufacture and avoids the steps of assembling several elements on the outer skin 3. Alternatively, the support plate 4 can be made of several parts assembled together either before being introduced into the internal volume 5A, or after having been introduced into the internal volume 5A.

[0057] In a second embodiment illustrated in figures 6 And 7, the outer skin 3 is directly attached and removably fixed to the support plate 4 rather than to the inner panel 2. More precisely, the outer skin 3 is fixed to an external surface of the support plate 4, here using screws 35. For example, the fixing of the outer skin 3 is done at the peripheral edge of the support plate 4. Naturally, other fixing means such as clips can be envisaged.

[0058] The invention is not limited to the embodiments presented and other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art. List of references

[0059] 1: tailgate 2: interior panel 2A: upper part of the interior panel 2B: lower part of the interior panel 3: outer skin 4: equipment support plate(s) 5A: internal volume of the opening 5B: internal volume of the plate 6: plate equipment 7: rear window 8: bead of rear window glue 23: external surface of the interior panel 24: internal surface of the interior panel 31: internal surface of the outer skin 32: transmission zone 35: screw between the support plate and the interior panel 42: access hole of the plate 43: closing member 50: seal 51: edge of the plate N: niche of the support plate R: electromagnetic radiation

Claims

1. Motor vehicle opening panel (1) comprising: - an inner panel (2), preferably made of plastic material, provided with an upper part (2A) in which a first opening (21) is made that is intended to accommodate a rear window (7), and - an outer skin (3), at least partially made of plastic material, attached to the inner panel (2), comprising an inner surface (31) located opposite an outer surface (23) of the inner panel (2), and - a support plate (4) for at least one equipment item (6), characterized in that the support plate (4) is covered by the outer skin (3), the inner surface (31) of the outer skin (3) being attached directly to the support plate (4) in a sealed manner, said plate (4) being arranged inside a volume (5A) delimited, on the one hand, by the outer surface (23) of the inner panel (2) and, on the other hand, by the inner surface (31) of the outer skin (3), the outer skin (3) being applied directly and fastened removably to the inner panel (2) or to the support plate (4).

2. Motor vehicle opening panel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outer skin (3) is configured so as to be able to be detached from the inner panel (2) or from the plate (4), then to be moved away from it toward the outside of the vehicle.

3. Motor vehicle opening panel (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner surface (31) of the outer skin (3) is applied directly and fastened to the outer surface (23) of the inner panel (2) or to the plate (4) so that the outer skin (3) can be detached from the inner panel (3) in a removable manner4. Motor vehicle opening panel (1) according to claim 3, wherein the outer skin (3) is fastened to the outer surface (23) of the inner panel (2) by screwing.

5. Motor vehicle opening panel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer skin (3) is attached to an outer surface (23) of the inner panel (2) in a sealed manner, for example using a seal placed between the inner surface (31) of the outer skin (3) and the outer surface (23) of the inner panel (2)6. Motor vehicle opening panel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the equipment support plate (4) comprises a niche (N) whose walls delimit a volume (5B) in which said at least one equipment item (4) is inserted and a peripheral rim (51) extending the walls of the niche (N).

7. Motor vehicle opening panel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the equipment support plate (4) is applied directly and fastened to the outer surface (23) of the inner panel (2) by gluing.

8. Motor vehicle opening panel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the equipment support plate (4) is applied directly and fastened to the outer surface (23) of the inner panel (2) in a removable manner, for example by screwing.

9. Motor vehicle opening panel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a seal is placed between the support plate (4) and the inner surface of the outer skin (3).

10. Motor vehicle opening panel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the equipment support plate (4) comprises a device (6) emitting and / or receiving electromagnetic radiation and the outer skin (3) comprises, opposite the device (6) emitting and / or receiving electromagnetic radiation, a transmission zone (32), made of plastic, that is at least partially transparent to said electromagnetic radiation.