Multi-purpose support device for a vehicle grille

Description

[0001] The technical field concerns the mounting devices for driver assistance cameras, grilles equipped with such a mounting device and vehicles featuring such a grille.

[0002] Car manufacturers' customers are very sensitive to vehicle equipment, particularly driver assistance features, as well as vehicle finishes, which include the precise fit and finish of the various vehicle components. Motor vehicles offer an ever-increasing number of driver assistance systems, requiring the installation of numerous systems such as sensors and cameras to monitor the vehicle's surroundings. It is therefore not uncommon for a vehicle's grille to be equipped with several cameras, such as a parking assistance camera that provides a view of the immediate environment in front of the vehicle when the driver is parking, or a night vision camera that uses an infrared sensor to provide an image of the road several dozen or even hundreds of meters ahead when driving at night.

[0003] In addition, the vehicle's grille usually includes a logo representing the manufacturer's brand.

[0004] The adjustments of the parts and various elements on the grille must be very meticulous as they are responsible for the exterior image of the vehicle as perceived by customers and road users.

[0005] With the increasing number of components to be mounted on the grille, the time required for grille assembly is constantly growing, especially when it comes to properly positioning and aligning cameras. Document JP 2009 083720 A discloses a mounting device for one camera and one emblem. Document FR 3 106 095 A1 discloses a mounting device for two cameras.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need to simplify the assembly of components on a grille, particularly the positioning of driver assistance cameras. The solution must also ensure proper alignment of the components on the grille.

[0007] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a device for attaching accessories to the grille of a motor vehicle, the device having the characteristics of claim 1.

[0008] The invention also relates to a grille of a motor vehicle comprising a grille and an assembly according to the invention fixed to the grille.

[0009] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle comprising a grille according to the invention.

[0010] Thus, the mounting device allows two driver assistance cameras and a manufacturer's emblem to be mounted on the device according to the invention to form an assembly according to the invention, before this assembly is mounted on the grille. The camera alignment is ensured by the device, as is the correct positioning of the emblem. From outside the vehicle, an observer looking at the grille does not see the cameras but only their lenses, which are installed behind the openings and the emblem. Thanks to the one-piece mounting plate, the relative positioning of the openings and the emblem is always correct. Finally, assembling the unit according to the invention is easier than when each accessory must be installed on the grille separately. After installing the accessories on the device according to the invention, the assembly is easily fixed to the grille, thus saving time during accessory installation.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the device includes means for fixing the device to the grille, in particular a fixing plate shaped to sandwich the grille with the rear face of the plate.

[0012] According to one possibility of the device, it includes a rear cover designed to be fixed to the rear face of the plate, the rear cover defining with the rear face at least one housing sized to accommodate at least one of the driver assistance cameras.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the front face receiving area has centering holes, each intended to accommodate a centering pin protruding from the emblem and / or clipping slots to allow clipping of the emblem.

[0014] According to the invention, at least one opening is surrounded by a truncated conical rim projecting from the rear face of the plate and extending between the plate and a rear end, the rear end being designed to accommodate the lens of one of the cameras.

[0015] In one configuration, the assembly includes a parking assistance camera and a night vision camera mounted on the rear. In one embodiment of the grille, the grille consists of two parts that can be assembled together, the assembly holding the two parts in place.

[0016] The invention will be better understood upon reading the detailed description that follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] there figure 1 , represents a perspective view of the rear face of a fastening device according to the invention; Fig. 2 ] there figure 2 , represents a perspective view of the front face of a device according to the invention, as well as an emblem, a camera and a rear cover; Fig. 3 ] there figure 3 , represents a perspective view of an assembly according to the invention before its attachment to a grille.

[0017] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0018] A fastening device 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures 1 et 2 , allows you to attach accessories 2, illustrated on the figure 2 , on a grille 3 of a motor vehicle, in particular on a grille 4, illustrated on the figure 3 Accessories 2 include at least one emblem 5 and two driver assistance cameras 6, including a parking assistance camera 7, designed to provide the driver with an image of the vehicle's surroundings when the vehicle is parked, and a night vision camera 8, capable of providing an infrared image of the vehicle's surroundings. The emblem 5 is, for example, obtained by molding a plastic material and has a surface bearing the emblem of the motor vehicle manufacturer.

[0019] Device 1 has a plate 9 extending between a front face 10 and a rear face 11. The fixing device 1 is advantageously made of molded plastic material.

[0020] The plate 9 has at least two openings 12 passing through the front face 10 and rear face 11, each shaped to allow the mounting of a camera 6 on the rear face 11 of the plate 9 to observe the vehicle's surroundings through the opening 12. Furthermore, the front face 10 of the plate 9 has a receiving area 13 designed to receive and secure the emblem 5. To this end, the receiving area 13 of the front face 10 has centering holes 14, visible on the figure 1 , each intended to receive a centering pin, not shown in the figures, projecting from the emblem 5 and / or clipping slots 15 to allow clipping of the emblem 5. In order to clip the emblem 5, the latter has clipping tabs, not shown, shaped to interact with the clipping slots 15. The receiving area 13 has, for example, a rim 16 shaped to fit the contour 17 of the emblem 5 when it is fixed in the receiving area 13.

[0021] Device 1 further includes a rear cover 18, illustrated on the figure 2 , designed to be fixed to the rear face 11 of the device 1. Thus fixed, the rear cover 18 defines with the rear face 11 at least one housing 19, in this case two housings 19, each sized to accommodate at least one of the driving assistance cameras 6.

[0022] According to the embodiment illustrated in the figures, which corresponds to the invention, at least one opening 12 is surrounded by a frustoconical rim 20 projecting from the rear face 11 of the plate 9 and extending between the plate 9 and a rear end 21. The rear end 21 is designed to accommodate the lens 22 of one of the cameras 6, in this case the night vision camera 8. In the example illustrated in the figures, the other opening 12 is then shaped to receive the parking assistance camera 7 and, for this purpose, has notches 23, visible on the figure 1 allowing the said parking assistance camera 7 to be oriented.

[0023] As illustrated on the figure 3 , the plate 9 includes means for fixing the device 1 to the grille 3, in particular a fixing plate 25 shaped to sandwich the grille 3 with the rear face 11 of the plate 9. The fixing plate 25 comes, for example, into contact with the rear cover 18.

[0024] Device 1 according to the invention makes it possible to create an assembly 26 according to the invention, illustrated in the figure 3 comprising at least one driver assistance camera 6, each camera 6 being mounted on the rear face 11 of the device 1 so as to observe the environment of the device through one of the openings 12 of the device 1. The assembly 26 further comprises the emblem 5 fixed in the receiving area 13 of the front face 10.

[0025] In the example illustrated in the figures, assembly 26 thus presents the parking assistance camera 7 and the night vision camera 8.

[0026] The grille 3 according to the invention therefore comprises the grille 4 and the assembly 26 fixed to said grille 4. The fixing of the assembly 26 is carried out by means of the fixing means 24 which include, for example, screw holes 27 allowing the assembly 26 to be screwed onto the grille 4.

[0027] In the example shown on the figure 3 The grille 4 consists of two parts 28, 29 which can be assembled together, the assembly 26 allowing the two parts 28, 29 to be held together. In order to receive the assembly 26, the grille 4 has a fixing area 30 shaped to be sandwiched between the fixing plate 25 and the plate 9. The fixing area 30 has screw holes 31 shaped to be aligned with the screw holes 27 when the assembly 26 is put in place on the grille 4.

[0028] Thus, the fastening device 1 allows the accessories 2 to be easily attached before the assembly 26 is installed on the grille 4, offering a significant time saving for the assembly of the grille 3 according to the invention. The alignment of the accessories 2, as perceived by the observer of the grille 3, is always perfect since it is achieved by the relative positions of the openings 12 and the receiving area 13.

[0029] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the fastening device described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments may be devised by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

1. Device (1) for attaching accessories (2) to a grille (3) of a motor vehicle, the device (1) being designed to attach at least two driving assistance cameras (6) and an emblem (5), the device (1) having a plate (9) extending between a front face (10) and a rear face (11), the plate (9) having at least two openings (12), each shaped to allow the assembly line of a camera (6) on the rear face (11) of the plate (9) to observe the environment of the vehicle through the opening (12), the front face (10) of the plate (9) having a goods in zone (13) designed to receive and attach the emblem (5), wherein at least one opening (12) is surrounded by a rim (20) frustoconical projecting from the rear face (11) of the plate (9) and extending between the plate (9) and a rear end (21), the rear end (21) being designed to receive the lens (22) of one of the cameras (6).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the device (9) comprises means (24) for fixing the device (1) to the calender (3), in particular a fixing plate (25) shaped to sandwich the calender (3) with the rear face (11) of the plate (9).

3. Device (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it comprises a rear cover (18) designed to be fixed to the rear face (11) of the plate (9), the rear cover (18) defining with the rear face (11) at least one housing (19) dimensioned to accommodate at least one of the driving assistance cameras (6).

4. Device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the goods in zone (13) of the front face (10) comprises centring orifices (14), each intended to receive a centring pin projecting from the emblem (5) and / or clipping slots (15) to allow the clipping of the emblem (5).

5. Assembly (26) comprising a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising at least one driving assistance camera (6), each camera (6) being mounted on the rear face (11) of the device (1) so as to observe the environment of the vehicle through one of the openings (12) of the device (1).

6. Assembly (26) according to claim 5, wherein it comprises a parking assistance camera (7) and a night vision camera (8) mounted on the rear face (11).

7. Grille (3) of a motor vehicle comprising a grill (4) and an assembly (26) according to Claim 5 or 6 fixed to the grill (4) of the grill.

8. Grille (3) according to claim 7, characterised in that the grill (4) of the grill consists of two parts (28, 29) which can be assembled together, the assembly (26) making it possible to keep the two parts (28, 29) assembled.

9. Motor vehicle comprising a grille (3) according to Claim 7 or 8.