BODY LAYOUT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH SIDE LOCK

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bodywork arrangement of a motor vehicle in the lower lateral area of ​​the windshield.

[0002] As illustrated by the figure 1 In a known manner, the front structure of a motor vehicle includes a windshield bay, and an arrangement comprising a front pillar 3 and an adjacent wing 2 disposed on each side of the vehicle, at the lower corners of the windshield P.

[0003] A front pillar 3, also called "pillar A", is defined as a support located at the front of the body side, specifically in front of the front door opening and on the side of the windshield frame. It comprises, on the one hand, a lower portion 30, notably opposite the inner face of a fender 2 and with an internal transverse portion, oriented transversely towards the inner side of the vehicle and adjacent to the lower outer corner of the windshield, and on the other hand, an upper portion 31 corresponding to the side pillar of the windshield frame. A lateral space E is provided, notably between the front pillar and the adjacent fender, symmetrically on each side of the vehicle. It may extend into a portion located between the hood and the outer base of the windshield.

[0004] This lateral space E is located at each end of the opening reserved for the canopy grille G between the rear transverse edge of the hood covering the vehicle's engine compartment, and the lower transverse edge of the outer perimeter of the windshield.

[0005] A shutter, called a side shutter for the canopy grille, is installed laterally, at the outer base of the windshield, in each lower corner of the windshield, to partially close off this lateral space externally.

[0006] It is indeed difficult to completely close off this lateral space E. The shutter only covers an internal portion E0 of this space E, as the external lateral portion E1 of this lateral space E, located at the end of space E on the outer side of the vehicle, between the front pillar and the fender, and proximal to the lower outer corner of the windshield, is very narrow. During vehicle assembly, since the shutter is installed among the last parts to be fitted, this external lateral portion E1 of this space is difficult to access after the other parts have been fitted. There is no space to install a fastener for the shutter in this area, so the shutter is usually designed without closing off this external lateral portion E1 of the lateral space E.

[0007] The term "external" refers to a position oriented towards and near a lateral edge of the vehicle relative to the vehicle's center, or in other words, a position at the lateral extremity. The term "internal" refers to a position oriented towards the center of the vehicle.

[0008] One drawback of this partial sealing of the lateral space between an adjacent wing and front pillar is that a gap remains, corresponding to the unsealed portion of the external lateral space E1 between a lateral part of the upper edge 20 of the wing 2 and the front pillar 3. This makes the area visible from the outside, and technical components may also be exposed. This appears unsightly and results in a perceived lack of quality. This drawback is even more significant when the wing 2 and the upper part of the front pillar 31 (corresponding to the windshield frame pillar) are of different colors / tones; a paint mist area B containing these two colors / tones mixed together can form and then be visible in this unsealed portion of the external lateral space E1. US documents 2020 / 307710 A1, WO 2015 / 092171 A1 and EP 2 489 578 A1 also describe known motor vehicle body arrangements.

[0009] The invention aims to resolve this drawback. It aims to close off the entire lateral space at each end of the awning grille, in particular the external lateral space between the upper edge of a wing and an adjacent front leg.

[0010] To this end, the invention provides a motor vehicle body arrangement according to claim 1, comprising a windshield, a front pillar, and an adjacent fender disposed on each side of the vehicle, at each lower outer corner of the windshield, with a lateral space provided at least between the fender and the front pillar and a portion of an adjacent lower outer corner of the windshield, said lateral space comprising a portion of the external lateral space between the front pillar and the adjacent fender, said arrangement comprising a lateral shutter disposed in said lateral space. Said shutter has an external lateral portion that is press-fitted into the external lateral space portion, and said external lateral portion of the shutter comprises: a substantially horizontal closing part, of a shape adapted to the shape of said external lateral space part, and, a retaining part connected to the closing part by a hinge of thinned material, extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the closing part, said retaining part being solid and having a geometric shape giving it strength.

[0011] The term "said retaining part extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to said obturating part" means that said retaining part is oriented substantially along the vertical direction, the obturating part being substantially horizontal, but that this retaining part may be slightly inclined with respect to the vertical, and therefore with respect to the obturating part.

[0012] Preferably, the geometric shape providing support to said retaining part of said external lateral part of the lateral shutter is a (generally) triangular shape.

[0013] In particular, said triangular shape includes an angle forming the lower point of said retaining part.

[0014] More specifically, said retaining part extends in a substantially vertical plane inclined relative to said closing part.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the front foot comprises a lower portion having a boss facing the retaining portion of the outer lateral portion of the shutter, and the retaining portion has elastically deformable ribs that are raised on the face of the retaining portion facing the front foot. The front foot and the outer lateral portion of the shutter are arranged such that the ribs and the boss are facing each other and capable of coming into contact, optionally with some clearance to absorb geometric variations between the wing and the front foot. The boss of the front foot is thus capable of cooperating with the ribs to support the outer lateral portion of the shutter, at least in the vertical direction. Advantageously, the face of the retaining portion facing the front foot has a concave shape adapted to the shape of the boss.

[0016] Preferably, the retaining portion of the outer lateral space of the shutter has a lower support rib, visibly raised on the outer lateral edge of the retaining portion, and which bears against the inside of the wing. Preferably, the upper outer lateral end of the outer lateral part of the lateral shutter has an outer lateral edge that abuts against the upper outer part of the wing's interior. In particular, this outer lateral edge is cut straight.

[0017] In one particular embodiment, the front pillar comprises an upper portion forming the side pillar of the windshield bay and a lower portion supporting the adjacent fender. The upper portion of the front pillar and the fender have different exterior colors or tones. The outer lateral portion of the shutter conceals the mist of different colors / tones formed at the boundary between the upper and lower portions of the front pillar.

[0018] According to the invention, the side shutter has a main part forming with said external side part a single piece made of elastically deformable material, and said main part is fixed in the lateral space, outside said external lateral space. This main part of the side shutter is fixed by conventional fastening means, such as clips, hooks, or with screws or rivets, for example.

[0019] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, according to claim 9, comprising a body arrangement as described above. Such an arrangement is symmetrically positioned laterally at each corner of the windshield. The body arrangement with the lateral shutter according to the invention makes it possible to close the lateral space at the lower outer corners of the windshield, in particular the lateral space of the cowl grille, including the outer portion of the lateral space, without any fasteners in this space, even if it is very narrow.

[0020] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of example but not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings in which: [ Fig. 1] illustrates, according to a perspective view of the front left side of a motor vehicle, the lateral space to be closed between the front pillar and the fender at the base of a windshield. Fig. 2 ] is a perspective view, from the front left side of a motor vehicle, of a bodywork arrangement comprising a side shutter for the cowl grille according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 ] is a partial perspective view from below of the side shutter of the awning grille of the arrangement illustrated in figure 2 . [ Fig. 4 ] represents a cutaway and side view of the arrangement illustrated in figures 2 to 3 . [ Fig. 5 ] represents a detailed, perspective, and bottom view of the external side part of the side shutter of the awning grille of the arrangement according to the invention illustrated in figures 2 to 4 . [ Fig. 6 ] is a section of the layout illustrated in figures 2 to 5, made along a front foot, in plane VI-VI. Fig. 7 ] is a perspective view of a classic orthonormal XYZ coordinate system of a motor vehicle.

[0021] The orientations expressed in the description are given with reference to an orthonormal XYZ coordinate system of a motor vehicle, in which the X, Y, Z axes correspond respectively to the longitudinal (front to back), transverse (oriented to the right of the vehicle) and vertical (bottom to top) axes of the vehicle, as shown in figure 7 .

[0022] The orientations of the arrangement that will be described, therefore refer to these orientations of the vehicle, the terms front, rear, and upper, lower referring to the respectively front, rear, and upper, lower directions of the vehicle, when the side shutter of the canopy grille of the arrangement according to the invention is mounted on the vehicle.

[0023] The terms "interior" and "exterior" refer respectively to the interior and exterior of the vehicle's passenger compartment or, where applicable, to the interior and exterior of the engine compartment closed by a hood.

[0024] It is recalled that the term "external" refers to a position oriented towards and near a lateral edge of the vehicle relative to the center of the vehicle (plane Y=0 on the figure 7 ). The term "internal" refers to a position oriented towards the center of the vehicle.

[0025] There figure 1 was commented on in the introduction to describe the lateral space E to be closed between the front foot 3 and the wing 2, at the outer base of the windscreen P.

[0026] THE figures 2 to 6 will be discussed together.

[0027] These figures 2 to 6represent a particular embodiment of a lateral arrangement between a wing 2, an adjacent front foot 3, and a lateral shutter of the canopy grille 1 of a motor vehicle, according to the invention.

[0028] The side shutter 1 is made of a flexible, elastically deformable material. The material is based on vulcanized thermoplastic(s), also known by the acronym TPV.

[0029] The shutter 1 consists of a single piece comprising two parts 10, 11: a main part 10 and an external lateral part 11. The main part 10 closes the internal space part E0 and is fixed, in a manner known per se, at the level of the external lateral base of the windscreen and the lower part 30, in particular on the internal transverse side, of the front foot 3.

[0030] With reference to the figure 3The means for attaching the main part 10 of the shutter include two hooks 103, 104, which engage in the dropped edge of the wing for vertical attachment (Z+) and for adjusting the isostatic position in the transverse direction (Y direction). These means also include a through-hole 101 located on the end 100 of the shutter opposite to that where the external lateral part 11 is situated, allowing the shutter to be attached to the canopy grille, for example by means of a plasti-rivet.

[0031] The main part 10 of the shutter has a tab 107 that contacts the windshield and locks the shutter transversely (Y direction), as well as a retaining hook 108 that fits into the lower transverse edge of the windshield opening. It includes a lip 106 that presses against the lower corner of the windshield, against the outer base of the windshield. Furthermore, the main part 10 of the shutter includes an indexing and retaining pin 105 that indexes longitudinally (X direction) into a notch in a mounting tab 21 carried by the wing 2, and that bears vertically (Z direction) against said mounting tab 21.

[0032] The external lateral part 11 of the shutter forms a lateral extension of the main part 10, the two parts 10, 11 forming a single piece.

[0033] This external lateral portion 11 comprises a closing portion 112, transverse and substantially horizontal, which closes the portion of space E1 of the lateral space E not closed by the main portion 10 of the shutter, and a retaining portion 111 oriented substantially perpendicular to said closing portion 112, slightly inclined with respect to the vertical, which retains this external lateral portion 11 of the shutter within the portion of space to be closed. The two closing portions 112 and retaining portion 111 are connected and articulated to each other by a hinge 113 formed by a thinned area of ​​the material of the one-piece part.

[0034] The closing part 112 of this external lateral part 11 has a shape adapted to that of the space E1 to be closed between the front foot 3 and the upper edge 20 of the wing 2. According to the example, it has a substantially triangular shape whose rear edge 1121 has a curved shape that follows the shape of the part of the front foot adjacent to it, and the front edge 1122 ( Fig. 2 ) has a curved shape following the shape of the upper edge of the wing adjacent to it, ending at the outer end 114, with a tapered shape, given that the rear tip of the wing is quite stretched towards the rear.

[0035] The retaining portion 111 of this external lateral part 11 extends downwards, along the lower part of the front foot 30, into the receiving space between the front foot and the opposite wing part. It extends substantially in the vertical direction (-Z), in a plane substantially perpendicular, slightly inclined, to the closing portion 112, from the hinge 113 between the two. In other words, the angle between the closing portion and the retaining portion is not exactly 90 degrees. It has a solid geometric shape giving it strength, which allows it to be held in the receiving space even though it has no means of attachment on the external side of the vehicle. To this end, said retaining portion 111 has an almost entirely triangular "block" shape, one angle of which, 1114, points downwards ( Fig. 5The triangular shape provides it with stability and a certain degree of mechanical resistance. Furthermore, the shape is adapted to the space between the front foot and the wing, allowing for support on the inside of the wing. The robust triangular shape enables the retaining part 111 to be forced between these two extremely tightly fitted pieces (wing, front foot), spaced less than 70 mm apart, ensuring that it maintains its shape during insertion and does not bend under the applied force.

[0036] With reference to the figure 5illustrating the external lateral part of the shutter, in a sectional view at the level of a boss 301 (plane VI-VI) created on the lower part 30 of the front foot 3, this external lateral part 11 rests on said boss 301 which provides support to this part 11 of the shutter, in the vertical and transverse directions (directions Z and Y), by means of a set of elastically deformable ribs 1111, slightly spaced from each other, in apparent relief on the face 1110 of said support part 111 which is oriented towards the front foot, said face having a concave shape adapted to the shape of the boss. There are three of these ribs in the example. This retaining part 111 is arranged against the boss 301 with a small gap relative to the boss, for example about 1 to 1.7 mm, to take into account the relative geometric dispersions between the wing and the front foot.The retaining part 111 is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the closing part 112, and in a plane substantially inclined to the vertical.

[0037] These ribs, integrated into the part, are made of TPV, an elastically deformable material, like the entire one-piece part constituting the shutter. Its compressibility facilitates retention with the boss. The compressibility of the material constituting the ribs allows for adjustment of the clearance with the front foot, and thus for adapting the position of this retaining part 111 between the wing and the front foot.

[0038] A lower support rib 1112, visibly raised on the outer lateral edge of the block forming the retaining part 11, near the lower point of the triangle, bears against the inside of the wing. The upper outer lateral end 114, opposite this lower support rib 1112 along said outer lateral edge, is cut straight, abutting against the upper outer point of the inside of the wing. The outer lateral part 11 of the shutter does not come into contact with the top of the wing cheek 20 made of foam which has a sealing function in the wing ( figure 4 ). Said retaining part 111 is thus wedged between the front foot and the wing, and allows the entire external lateral part 11 of the shutter to be retained in the external lateral space E1.

[0039] The bodywork arrangement with the side shutter just described allows the side space of the canopy grille to be closed, including the very narrow external side space part E1.

[0040] The side shutter, comprising a main part 10 that is attached to the vehicle by conventional means, and extending via the external side part 11 described above, which is free of conventional fastening means but designed to be press-fitted according to the invention, thus eliminates the need for fastening by clip, hook, screw, rivet, or similar means in the external side space E1, such fastening being complicated or even impossible to install and use due to lack of accessibility. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiment of the main part of the shutter already known, comprising conventional fastening elements, which has just been described according to this particular embodiment; the external side part, the subject of the invention, can be added as an external lateral extension to other main forms of a side shutter for the cowl grille.

Claims

1. Arrangement of motor vehicle bodywork, comprising a windscreen (P), an A-pillar (3) and an adjacent wing (2) these being arranged on each side of the vehicle, at each external lower corner of the windscreen, with a lateral space (E) formed at least between the wing and the A-pillar and part of an external lower corner of the windscreen, which are adjacent to one another, said lateral space comprising an external lateral space part (E1) lying between the A-pillar and the adjacent wing, said arrangement comprising a lateral shutter (1) arranged in said lateral space, said shutter having an external lateral part (11) which is force-fitted into the external lateral space part (E1), and said external lateral part of the shutter comprising: - a substantially horizontal shut-off part (112), the shape of which suits the shape of said external lateral space part (E1), and - a retaining part (111) connected to the shut-off part by a live hinge (113) where the material has been thinned, extending in a plane substantially perpendicular with respect to the shut-off part, said retaining part (111) being solid and having a geometric shape that gives it structural integrity, the lateral shutter (1) having a main part (10) forming, with said external lateral part (11), a one-piece component made of elastically deformable material, and said main part (10) being fastened in the lateral space (E, E0), outside of said external lateral space part (E1) .

2. Arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the geometric shape providing said retaining part (111) of said external lateral part (11) of the lateral shutter (1) with structural integrity is a triangular shape.

3. Arrangement according to Claim 2, characterized in that said triangular shape comprises a corner (1114) forming the lower tip of said retaining part (111).

4. Arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the A-pillar (3) comprises a lower part (30) comprising a boss (301) facing towards said retaining part (111) of said external lateral part (11) of the shutter, and in that said retaining part (111) comprises elastically deformable ribs (1111) that are visible in relief on the face (1110) of said retaining part that is oriented towards the A-pillar, said A-pillar (3) and said external lateral part (11) of the shutter (1) being arranged such that said ribs (1110) and the boss (301) are facing one another and able to come into contact, possibly with clearance in order to absorb geometric spread between the wing and the A-pillar, so that the boss of the A-pillar cooperates with said ribs to support said external lateral part (11) of the shutter at least in the vertical direction (Z).

5. Arrangement according to Claim 4, characterized in that said face (1110) of said retaining part (111) that is oriented towards the A-pillar (3, 30) has a concave shape suited to the shape of the boss (301).

6. Arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said retaining part (111) of said external lateral part (11) of the shutter (1) comprises a lower bearing rib (1112), in relief visible on the external lateral edge of said retaining part (111) and which bears against the inside of the wing.

7. Arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the upper external lateral end (114) of the external lateral part (11) of the lateral shutter has an external lateral edge that abuts against the external upper part of the inside of the wing, and in particular said external lateral edge is cut straight.

8. Arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the A-pillar (3) comprises an upper part (31) forming the lateral upright of the windscreen opening and a lower part (30) which supports the adjacent wing (2), and said upper part (31) of the A-pillar and the wing have different exterior colours or tones.

9. Motor vehicle comprising a bodywork arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims.