Multi-purpose seal for a front part of a vehicle

Abstract

A seal (JA) is secured to a front bumper (PV) equipping a vehicle and comprising an upper part extending between two light units (BO) under a front hood (CV) extending above these light units (BO). The seal (JA) comprises a central part produced by extrusion and extended by two opposite lateral parts (PL), each extending partly above one of the light units (BO), each produced by overmoulding, and each arranged so as to channel an air flow entering via an interface zone, between the front bumper 10 (PV), the associated light unit (BO) and the front hood (CV), towards a chosen zone (ZC) of the vehicle.

Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE: MULTI-FUNCTION JOINT FOR A FRONT PART OF A VEHICLE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2300476 filed on January 18, 2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The invention relates to vehicles comprising a front bumper and two opposing light units above which a front hood is placed, and more precisely to the seal which is interposed between such front bumpers and light units and such a front hood. State of the art

[0003] Some vehicles, generally of the automobile type, comprise, on the one hand, a front bumper comprising an upper part extending between two optical units (right and left), and, on the other hand, a front hood controlling access to a front compartment and extending above this upper part and optical units with the interposition of a seal. This seal is intended to prevent the entry of fluids (air and liquid) into the upper front part of the front compartment of the vehicle (placed under the hood), and to limit the noise induced by the closing of the front hood.

[0004] Generally, this seal is made entirely by extrusion and comprises two opposite lateral parts (right and left) which extend respectively above a part of the two optical units. Furthermore, when this seal is installed on the upper part of the front bumper, it comprises a body to which is fixedly secured an upper lip on which a front part of the front hood rests when the latter is in its closed position. This body is crossed by clips which ensure its coupling by clipping to the upper part of the front bumper.

[0005] Such a seal correctly performs its function of protecting against the entry of fluids, except in two interface zones each located between the front bumper, one of the light units and the front hood. Indeed, in each of these interface zones there is a discontinuity of material between the upper part of the front bumper and the light unit concerned, and therefore air can penetrate into the front compartment under the seal then circulate under the front hood towards components or equipment installed in the upper part of the front compartment, which harms the aerodynamics of the vehicle and therefore reduces its mileage range.

[0006] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0007] It proposes in particular for this purpose a joint, on the one hand, suitable for being secured to a front bumper fitted to a vehicle and comprising an upper part extending between two optical units of the vehicle under a front hood of the latter which extends above the optical units, and, on the other hand, comprising a central part produced by extrusion and extended by two opposite lateral parts and each intended to extend partly above one of the optical units.

[0008] This seal is characterized by the fact that each of its side parts is produced by overmolding and arranged in such a way as to channel towards a chosen area of ​​the vehicle an air flow entering through an interface zone between the front bumper, the associated optical unit and the front hood.

[0009] Thanks to the invention, the seal now provides a function of limiting the noise induced by the closing of the front hood, a function of protection against the entry of fluids, including in the two interface zones, and a function of channeling the air flows entering at the interface zones.

[0010] The seal according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0011] - each of its lateral parts can be arranged so as to channel said air flow towards a chosen zone located below it and opposite an internal face of the bumper;

[0012] - each of its lateral parts may comprise a lower part which extends downwards, defining a heel suitable for receiving the air flow and channeling the latter towards the chosen area;

[0013] - its central part and its lateral parts may respectively comprise first and second upper lips which extend and on which a front part of the front hood is intended to rest;

[0014] - in the presence of the latter option, its central part may comprise a first body suitable for being secured to the upper part of the front bumper, made from a first material, and to which the first upper lip is secured, the latter being made from a second material;

[0015] - in the presence of the last sub-option, the first body can delimit a first internal housing which communicates with the exterior via at least three first through holes each crossed by a first clip which is suitable for being coupled by clipping to the upper part of the front bumper;

[0016] - in the presence of the penultimate and last options, each of its lateral parts may comprise a second body comprising the lower part, suitable for being secured to the front bumper, and from which the second upper lip projects;

[0017] - in the presence of the last sub-option, the second body can delimit a second internal housing communicating with the exterior via at least one second through hole crossed by a second clip suitable for being coupled by clipping to the upper part of the front bumper.

[0018] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising, on the one hand, a front bumper comprising an upper part extending between two optical units, and a front hood extending above this upper part and the optical units, and, on the other hand, a seal of the type presented above, secured to this upper part and partially covering the optical units. Brief description of the figures

[0019] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings (obtained in CAD / CAM (“Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Drawing”)), in which:

[0020] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, an example of a front part of a vehicle in which a seal according to the invention is installed,

[0021] [Fig. 2] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the right front part of the vehicle of Figure 1, when the front hood is in the upright position,

[0022] [Fig. 3] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the rear side, the right front part of the vehicle of Figure 1, when the front hood is in the upright position,

[0023] [Fig. 4] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, a right part of an exemplary embodiment of a joint according to the invention, comprising a sub-part of its central part and the right lateral part,

[0024] [Fig. 5] schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a longitudinal and vertical plane at the level of the central part of the joint, the front part of the vehicle of figure 1,

[0025] [Fig. 6] schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a longitudinal and vertical plane at the level of the right lateral part of the joint, the front part of the vehicle of figure 1, and

[0026] [Fig. 7] schematically illustrates, in another perspective view from the front side, the right front part of the vehicle of Figure 1. Detailed description of the invention

[0027] The invention aims in particular to propose a multifunctional JA joint intended to be inserted between a front bumper PV and optical units BO, right and left, and a front hood CV of a vehicle V.

[0028] In the following, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicle V is of the automobile type. It is for example a car. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates in fact to any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air) comprising a front bumper comprising an upper part extending between two optical units (right and left) and a front hood extending above this upper part and the optical units and controlling access to a front compartment.

[0029] Figure 1 schematically illustrates an example of a front part of a vehicle V in which a JA joint according to the invention is installed.

[0030] As illustrated, this front part comprises, on the one hand, a front bumper PV comprising an upper part PS extending between two optical units BO (right and left), and, on the other hand, a front hood CV controlling access to a front compartment and extending (when in the closed position) above this upper part PS and the optical units BO with the interposition of a seal JA according to the invention.

[0031] As stated in the introductory part, this JA seal is intended to prevent the entry of fluids (air and liquid) into the part upper front of the front compartment of the vehicle V, and to limit the noise induced by the closing of the front hood. It is also intended to allow an improvement in the aerodynamics of the vehicle V, as we will see later, which allows it to be multifunctional.

[0032] As illustrated at least partially in figures 2, 3 and 5 to 7, a joint JA, according to the invention, is intended to be secured to the upper part PS of the front bumper PV, and comprises a central part PC extended by two opposite lateral parts PL (right and left).

[0033] The central PC part is made by extrusion, and is possibly made of two materials as we will see later.

[0034] Each lateral part PL is produced by overmolding on one of the two opposite ends of the central part PC, and intended to extend partly above one of the optical units BO as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and 7. In addition, each lateral part PL is arranged so as to channel towards a chosen zone ZC of the vehicle V an air flow fa entering via an interface zone ZI which is located between the front bumper PV, the associated optical unit BO and the front hood CV, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

[0035] Each lateral part PL is now produced by overmolding, it is possible to locally give it a particular shape allowing the channeling of an incoming air flow fa, which is totally impossible to obtain by extrusion. This channeling advantageously makes it possible to prevent the air flow fa entering at an interface zone ZI from circulating under the front hood CV towards components or equipment installed in the upper part of the front compartment, and thus to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle V and therefore to increase the mileage range of the latter (V). Thus, the seal JA performs three functions, namely a function of limiting the noise induced by the closing of the front hood CV, a function of protection against the entry of fluids, including in the two interface zones ZI, and a function of channeling the air flows fa entering at the interface zones ZI.

[0036] For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 6 and 7, each lateral part PL can be arranged so as to channel the air flow fa towards a chosen zone ZC which is located below it (PL) and opposite the internal face of the bumper PC (oriented towards the front compartment). In this case, the channeling consists of a reflection substantially at 90° towards the bottom of the vehicle V. But other channels can be envisaged, and in particular towards the top and / or towards the right or left of the vehicle V. It will be noted that a channeling does not necessarily consist of a reflection. Thus, it can be a deviation, for example.

[0037] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 4, 6 and 7, each lateral part PL may comprise a lower part PI which extends downwards, defining a heel suitable for receiving the air flow fa and channeling the latter (fa) towards the chosen zone ZC. It will be understood that the heel is defined by a wall which extends towards the bottom of the vehicle V while being substantially vertical.

[0038] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 2 to 4, the central part PC of the seal JA may comprise a first upper lip LS1 and each lateral part PL of the seal JA may comprise a second upper lip LS2. These first LS1 and second LS2 upper lips extend each other (thanks to the overmolding), and a front part of the internal face F1 of the front cover CV is intended to bear on them (LS1 and LS2) when the front cover is in the closed (or folded) position. It will be understood that each of the first LS1 and second LS2 upper lips is dimensioned so as to interfere with the internal face F1 of the front cover CV, taking into account the maximum permitted dimensional variations and the maximum permitted position variations of the elements concerned, so as to ensure fluid tightness at this internal face F1.

[0039] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 2 to 5, the central part PC of the seal JA may comprise a first body CP1 which is suitable for being secured to the upper part PS of the front bumper PV, and to which the first upper lip LS1 is fixedly secured. In this case, the first body CP1 may be made of a first material, and the first upper lip LS1 may be made of a second material. The central part PC is therefore here made of two materials, by extrusion. The first material is chosen so as to facilitate the coupling of the first body CP1 to the upper part of the front bumper PV, and the second material is chosen so as to allow sufficient flexibility and good sealing at the internal face Fl of the front hood CV. These first and second materials are preferably synthetic.

[0040] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 4 and 5, the first body CP1 can delimit a first internal housing LI1 which communicates with the exterior via at least three first through holes TT1. In this case, each first through hole TT1 is crossed by a first clip A1 which is suitable for being coupled by clipping to the upper part PS of the front bumper PV. It will be understood that each first clip A1 comprises a head which is housed in the first internal housing LI1, and a clipping body which is fixedly secured to the head and passes through the corresponding first through hole TT1 and ensures the coupling by clipping to the upper part PS of the front bumper PV.

[0041] The number of first A1 staples ensuring clipping is not limited to three. It can in fact be greater than three (for example four or five, or even more).

[0042] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in figures 2 to 4 and 6, each lateral part PL can comprise a second body CP2 comprising the lower part PI and suitable for being secured to the front bumper PV, in order to allow its precise positioning relative to the upper part PS of the bumper. front impacts PV and to the affected optical block BO. In this case, the second upper lip LS2 protrudes on this second body CP2.

[0043] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 4 and 6, each second body CP2 can delimit a second internal housing LI2 which communicates with the exterior via at least one second through hole TT2. In this case, each second through hole TT2 is crossed by a second clip A2 which is suitable for being coupled by clipping to the upper part PS of the front bumper PV. It will be understood that each second clip A2 comprises a head which is housed in a second internal housing LI2, and a clipping body which is fixedly secured to the head, passes through the second corresponding through hole TT2 and ensures the clipping coupling to the upper part PS of the front bumper PV.

[0044] The number of second A2 staples ensuring the clipping of a PL side part is not limited to one. It can in fact be greater than one (for example two).

Claims

CLAIMS

1. Joint (JA) suitable for being secured to a front bumper (PV) fitted to a vehicle (V) and comprising an upper part (PS) extending between two optical units (BO) of said vehicle (V) under a front hood (CV) of the latter (V) extending above said optical units (BO), said joint (JA) comprising a central part (PC) produced by extrusion and extended by two opposite lateral parts (PL) and each intended to extend partly above one of said optical units (BO), characterized in that each of said lateral parts (PL) is produced by overmolding and arranged so as to channel towards a chosen zone (ZC) of said vehicle (V) an air flow entering via an interface zone between said front bumper (PV), said associated optical unit (BO) and said front hood (CV).

2. Joint according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said lateral parts (PL) is arranged so as to channel said air flow towards a chosen zone (ZC) located below it (PL) and opposite an internal face of said bumper (PC).

3. Seal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of said lateral parts (PL) comprises a lower part (PI) extending downwards, defining a heel suitable for receiving said air flow and channeling the latter towards said chosen zone (ZC).

4. Seal according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said central part (PC) and said lateral parts (PL) respectively comprise first (LS1) and second (LS2) upper lips which extend and on which a front part of said front cover (CV) is intended to rest.

5. Joint according to claim 4, characterized in that said central part (PC) comprises a first body (CP1) suitable for being secured to said upper part (PS) of the front bumper (PV), made of a first material, and to which said first upper lip (LS1) is secured, the latter (LS1) being made of a second material.

6. Joint according to claim 5, characterized in that said first body (CP1) delimits a first internal housing (LI1) communicating with the exterior via at least three first through holes (TT1) each crossed by a first clip (A1) suitable for being coupled by clipping to said upper part (PS) of the front bumper (PV).

7. Joint according to the combination of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that each of said lateral parts (PL) comprises a second body (CP2) comprising said lower part (PI), suitable for being secured to said front bumper (PV), and from which said second upper lip (LS2) projects.

8. Joint according to claim 7, characterized in that said second body (CP2) delimits a second internal housing (LI2) communicating with the exterior via at least one second through hole (TT2) crossed by a second clip (A2) suitable for being coupled by clipping to said upper part (PS) of the front bumper (PV).

9. Vehicle (V) comprising a front bumper (PV) comprising an upper part (PS) extending between two optical units (BO), and a front hood (CV) extending above said upper part (PS) and said optical units (BO), characterized in that it further comprises a seal (JA) according to one of the preceding claims, secured to said upper part (PS) and partially covering said optical units (BO).

10. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.

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