Motor vehicle lighting and / or signalling device comprising an arrangement of masks
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2024703606
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-02-15
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-24
AI Technical Summary
The existing lighting and signaling devices for motor vehicles face issues with deformation of cantilevered masks due to injection molding and temperature changes, leading to reduced technical clearance and potential collisions, as well as condensation risks, which affect both assembly and visual aesthetics.
The arrangement of dual masks with centering tabs and support stops ensures precise positioning and fixation to maintain necessary clearances, preventing deformation and ensuring airflow to prevent condensation, using complementary assembly interfaces and fixing means to secure the masks to the glass.
This solution guarantees correct positioning of the cantilevered mask edge, preventing collisions and condensation, while maintaining visual aesthetics and ensuring proper airflow, thus enhancing the reliability and durability of the lighting and signaling device.
Smart Images
Figure FR2024050051_22082024_PF_FP
Abstract
Description
DESCRIPTION Title of the invention: Lighting and / or signaling device for a motor vehicle comprising an arrangement of masks
[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2301387 filed on 15.02.2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. The invention generally relates to lighting and / or signaling devices for motor vehicles and is more particularly concerned with an arrangement of masks inside a lighting and / or signaling device, in particular a motor vehicle headlight.
[0002] A motor vehicle headlight has a housing closed by an external glass, or pane.
[0003] In a projector, it is generally necessary to use masks, called appearance masks or trims, placed inside the projector housing, between the glass closing the housing and parts of the housing which are not visually aesthetic and which are potentially visible, through the projector glass, to an observer placed outside the vehicle and in front of the projector.
[0004] These masks have two main uses:
[0005] - mask technical areas: technical clearances, internal components, light leaks, etc.; and
[0006] - provide a stylish dressing with different aspects: black, metallic, shiny, grained, etc.
[0007] The shape and number of masks are adapted according to the layout of the internal components of the housing, the geometry of the housing and that of the glass closing the housing on its front face. The geometry of the glass depends partly on the style chosen at the time of design of the projector and the vehicle, the constraints linked to the casting process and technical requirements related to mounting the projector on the vehicle.
[0008] Thus, for certain headlights, the glass closing the headlight housing may have a recess extending towards the rear of the glass, relative to the main plane in which the glass extends. This recess may, for example, be provided to allow it to be fitted to an edge of a bodywork part, for example a bumper. This recess, seen from the rear of the glass, appears in the form of a substantially flat edge or curb.
[0009] It may then be necessary to provide an arrangement of masks shaped to present a front part projecting cantilevered towards the window to cover the edge of the window and thus mask the edge and the parts arranged behind this edge, for an observer placed outside the vehicle and facing the projector. Several risks inherent in this cantilevered front part may appear.
[0010] A first risk comes from a possible deformation of the thin overhanging mask part, at the end of the injection molding process of the mask when it comes out of the mold. This deformation can lead to a reduction or even an absence of the necessary technical clearance, expected between the rear wall of the glass and the free edge of the overhanging part, which could cause a collision on an automatic assembly line.
[0011] Another risk comes from the deformation over time of the overhanging part of the mask, caused by the temperature released by the vehicle's engine, the sun, etc. This deformation can cause a visual defect but also create a risk of condensation on the rear wall of the window if the clearance between the mask and the window were to reduce or even disappear. It is imperative to maintain a minimum technical clearance between the free edge of the overhanging part of the mask and the glass, both for assembly and to ensure the passage of an air flow to avoid condensation.
[0012] The invention therefore aims in particular to overcome these drawbacks by proposing an appropriate arrangement of masks at the rear of the glass.
[0013] To this end, the invention has as its first object a lighting and / or signaling device comprising a housing, closed on its front face by a glass comprising a rim extending over the rear wall of the glass, and a set of masks comprising a front mask and a rear mask assembled against each other and fixed to the rear of the glass in the vicinity of the rim of the glass, in which the front mask comprises a cantilevered part covering the rim with a first determined clearance between the free edge of the cantilevered part and the rim of the glass and with a second determined clearance between the free edge of the cantilevered part and the rear wall of the glass, and in which the rear mask comprises centering tabs cooperating with centering openings arranged in the front mask opposite the centering tabs for centering the front and rear masks between them;said centering tabs extending through the centering openings of the front mask and the end portions of the free ends of the centering tabs defining support stops for the cantilevered portion of the front mask; said stops preventing deformation of the cantilevered portion in the direction of the rim.;
[0014] According to one feature, the cantilevered portion further comprises walls extending from the free edge of the cantilevered portion towards the centering lugs, being arranged so as to form stops for the end portions of the free ends. centering tabs; said stops preventing deformation of the overhanging part in a direction opposite to that of the rim.
[0015] According to another characteristic, the front and rear masks respectively comprise first and second assembly interfaces of complementary shape, extending against each other; the second interface comprising the centering tabs cooperating with the centering openings arranged in the first interface; the first and second interfaces further comprising holding means cooperating with each other for the assembly of the front and rear masks together and means participating in the fixing of the assembly of the front and rear masks to the rear of the glass in the vicinity of the rim.
[0016] According to another characteristic, the holding means comprise clipping tabs extending from the first interface through corresponding clipping openings, arranged in the second interface, opposite the clipping tabs.
[0017] According to another characteristic, the device comprises means allowing the fixing of the assembly of the front and rear masks to the rear of the glass; said fixing means comprising concentric fixing orifices, arranged respectively on the first and second interfaces, receiving fixing screws fixing the assembly of the front and rear masks to the rear of the glass; the first interface being sandwiched between the second interface serving as a bearing surface for the heads of the screws and threaded parts arranged at the rear of the glass in the vicinity of the rim receiving the threaded parts of the screws.
[0018] According to another characteristic, centering tabs for the front and rear mask assembly at the rear of the glass are further provided at the rear of the glass, in the vicinity of the edge and cooperate with concentric centering openings, arranged respectively in the front and rear masks opposite the centering tabs of the front and rear mask assembly at the rear of the glass.
[0019] According to another characteristic, support stops are also provided at the rear of the glass in the vicinity of the edge on which the assembly of the front and rear masks rests in the immediate vicinity of the edge; the support stops guaranteeing the second determined clearance.
[0020] According to another characteristic, when the device is mounted in a vehicle, the edge of the window is substantially horizontal and the overhanging part is held vertically by the extreme parts of the ends of the stop-forming legs, extending under the overhanging part, preventing deformation of the overhanging part downwards.
[0021] According to another characteristic, the lighting and / or signaling device is a motor vehicle headlight.
[0022] The second subject of the invention is a motor vehicle comprising at least one device as described above.
[0023] The present invention makes it possible to guarantee the correct positioning of a free edge of the mask overhanging opposite a headlight glass edge formed on the rear wall of the glass, and thus avoid the risks of collisions, appearance, and condensation.
[0024] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawing, in which:
[0025] [Fig.1] illustrates a perspective view of a lighting and / or signaling device according to the invention;
[0026] [Fig. 2] illustrates, by an exploded view from a first point of view, the front and rear masks and the glass of the lighting and / or signaling device according to the invention;
[0027] [Fig.3] illustrates, by an exploded view from a second point of view, the front and rear masks and the glass of the lighting and / or signaling device according to the invention;
[0028] [Fig. 4] illustrates the front and back masks before their pre-assembly;
[0029] [Fig. 5] illustrates the pre-assembled front and back masks;
[0030] [Fig. 6] illustrates, according to a rear view of the ice, the rear wall of the ice;
[0031] [Fig. 7] illustrates, according to the same rear view, the set of front and rear masks pre-assembled as illustrated in figure 5, and fixed on the rear wall of the glass;
[0032] [Fig. 8] illustrates a sectional view of the assembly of front and rear masks fixed to the rear of the glass, along the section axis VIII-VIII of figure 7;
[0033] [Fig. 9] illustrates a sectional view of the assembly of front and rear masks fixed to the rear of the glass, along the section axis IX-IX of figure 7;
[0034] [Fig. 10] illustrates a sectional view of the assembly of front and rear masks fixed to the rear of the glass, along the section axis XX of figure 7;
[0035] [Fig. 11] illustrates a sectional view of the assembly of front and rear masks fixed to the rear of the glass, along the section axis XI-XI of Figure 7; and
[0036] [Fig. 12] illustrates a variant of the assembly of front and rear masks assembled and fixed to the rear of the glass, according to the section axis XI-XI of figure 7.
[0037] In the following, it is considered that the elements represented in the figures are oriented within the same orthonormal XYZ reference frame and identical elements are designated by the same alphanumeric references.
[0038] For this purpose and unless otherwise specified, reference is made to the orthonormal reference frame XYZ to identify the directions of extension of the lighting and / or signaling device according to the invention as mounted on the vehicle and the associated relative concepts, including a longitudinal direction (along X), a transverse direction (along Y) and a vertical direction (along Z). The longitudinal direction X extends between the front and the rear of the vehicle, the transverse direction Y extends between the right and left lateral sides of the vehicle identified relative to the driver at the driving position of the vehicle, and the vertical direction Z defines the extension of the vehicle in elevation from its rolling plane to the ground.As a result, the relative notions front and rear are identified longitudinally, the lateral notion and the relative notions right and left are identified transversely, the notions such as upper and lower or other related relative notions such as low and high, ... are defined vertically in relation to the rolling plane of the vehicle on the ground.
[0039] The figures are described below considering the arrangement of the projector as mounted in a vehicle.
[0040] Figure 1 illustrates a lighting and / or signaling device 1 of vehicle V, here a projector, in perspective view from the front of vehicle V.
[0041] The projector 1 comprises a housing 10 closed on its front face by a glass 20.
[0042] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate, respectively by exploded views, two points of view of the glass 20 of the projector 1 of the figure 1, and two masks designated respectively below, front mask 30 and rear mask 40.
[0043] The front mask 30 is the mask that faces the rear wall 200 of the glass 20 and the rear mask 40 is the mask that is presented to the rear of the front mask 30.
[0044] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate, respectively, the front and rear masks 30 and 40, before and after their assembly. The front and rear masks 30 and 40 are first assembled to each other and then the assembly of the front and rear masks 30 and 40 is fixed to the rear of the glass 20 and more precisely, in the example described, in the rear wall 200 of the glass 20, by means of fixing screws 50 (here three fixing screws visible in Figures 2 and 3).
[0045] Figure 6 illustrates, according to a rear view of the glass 20, the rear wall 200 of the glass 20 allowing the means participating in the positioning 211, 212 and the fixing 250 of the assembly of the front and rear masks 30 and 40 to be viewed before their fixing on the rear wall 200 of the glass 20.
[0046] Figure 7 illustrates, according to the same rear view, the assembly of front and rear masks 30, 40, preassembled as illustrated in Figure 5, and fixed to the rear wall 200 of the glass 20.
[0047] Figures 8 to 11 respectively illustrate successive sectional views of the assembly of front and rear masks 30, 40 assembled at the rear of the glass 20, along the section axes VIII-VIII, IX-IX, XX and XI-XI of figure 7.
[0048] The window 20 has a 90° offset from its main face, towards the rear of the window 20. By main face of the window 20 is meant the outer face of the window 20 visible from the outside for an observer located in front of the vehicle V. This offset towards the rear, generates a substantially flat rim 210 extending inside the window 20.
[0049] Considering the glass 20 mounted on the housing 10 of the projector 1 in the situation in the vehicle V, the edge 210 forms a substantially flat and horizontal sidewalk (along XY) and the main face of the glass 20 extends substantially along a vertical plane (along YZ).
[0050] The front mask 30 comprises a rear portion 320, defining a first assembly interface and a front portion 310 extending substantially perpendicular to the first assembly interface 320.
[0051] The rear mask 40 comprises a front portion 420, defining a second assembly interface, and a rear portion 430 extending substantially perpendicular to the second assembly interface 420.
[0052] The first and second assembly interfaces 320 and 420 have complementary shapes which, when the front and rear masks 30 and 40 are assembled, fit into each other. The first and second interfaces 320 and 420 extend opposite each other in a substantially vertical general plane (along Z).
[0053] The front and rear masks 30 and 40 thus assembled form a compact assembly which is attached to the rear of the window 20 to mask the edge 210 of the window 20 and technical parts, not shown, inside the housing 10 for an observer placed in front of the vehicle V facing the projector 1.
[0054] The rear portion 430 of the rear mask 40 extends towards the bottom of the housing 10 when the assembly of the front and rear masks 30 and 40 is fixed to the rear wall 200 of the glass 20 and when the glass 20 thus equipped is fixed to the front face of the housing 10.
[0055] The front portion 310 of the front mask 30 extends substantially perpendicularly and cantilevered relative to the first and second assembly interfaces 320, 420 and has an inclined face 301 extending towards the rim 210, above the rim 210.
[0056] The cantilevered portion 310 is shaped to have a more or less wide flat extending substantially horizontally from the first assembly interface 320 and extending forwards by the face 301.
[0057] The precise positioning of the assembly of the front and rear masks 30, 40 on the rear wall 200 of the glass 20 is determined so that the free edge 300 of the inclined section 301 arrives above the inner rim 210 of the glass 20 with a first determined clearance JT1, called technical clearance, and opposite the rear wall 200 of the main face of the glass 20, with a second determined technical clearance JT2 (figures 8 to 12). These first and second technical sets JT1, JT2 must allow, at the same time, a collision-free assembly of the set of front and rear masks 30, 40 on the rear wall 200 of the glass 20, and the passage of an air flow to prevent condensation from forming on the rear wall 200 of the glass 20. The air flow follows a baffle formed between the free edge 300 of the inclined plane 301 of the front mask 30 and, respectively, between the rear wall 200 and the inner edge 210 of the glass 20.
[0058] To obtain such a positioning, it is first necessary to provide an optimal assembly of the front and rear masks 30, 40 between them, then the precise docking of the assembly of the front and rear masks 30, 40 on the rear wall 200 of the glass 20. The final fixing by screw 50 of the assembly of the front and rear masks 30, 40 to the rear of the glass 20, fixes the positioning.
[0059] For this purpose, the first and second assembly interfaces 320, 420 comprise means for positioning the front and rear masks 30, 40 between them, means for pre-holding the front and rear masks 30, 40 against each other as well as means participating in their fixing on the rear wall 200 of the glass 20.
[0060] The front and rear masks 30, 40 comprise centering (or indexing) means between them. These centering means comprise first and second series of tabs 421 and 422 made of the same material as the second assembly interface 420. The first and second series of tabs 421 and 422 extend towards the front mask 30 from the second interface 420, substantially perpendicular to the second interface 420. The centering means further comprise first and second series of openings 321, 322 arranged in the first assembly interface 320, respectively facing the first and second series of tabs 421, 422. The first and second series of openings 321, 322 cooperate respectively with the first and second series of tabs 421, 422 to precisely position the front and rear masks 30, 40 between them.
[0061] The first series of centering tabs 421 (figure 11) comprises substantially flat tabs, here four in number, of generally rectangular cross-section, integral with the upper front edge 440 of the assembly interface 420 of the rear mask 40, and distributed substantially equidistantly along the upper front edge 440, under the front edge 440.
[0062] This first series of centering tabs 421 cooperates with the first series of openings 321 of generally rectangular profile, arranged in the upper part 340 of the first assembly interface 320 opposite the inclined face 301, along and under the cantilevered part 310 and the dimensions of which are adapted to guide the first series of tabs 421 through the first series of openings 321.
[0063] The second series of centering tabs 422 comprise tabs, here two in number, of generally cylindrical shape, made in one piece with the lower edge of the second interface assembly 420, and arranged respectively in the vicinity of the lateral edges of the interface 420.
[0064] This second series of tabs 422 cooperate with a second series of openings 322 of generally circular profile, arranged in the lower edge of the first assembly interface 320, opposite the second series of tabs 422.
[0065] The front and rear masks 30, 40 further comprise pre-holding means (figure 8) comprising substantially flat tabs 323, here two in number, made of the same material as the first assembly interface 320. They extend from the first interface 320, perpendicular to the plane of the first interface 320, and end with clips cooperating with complementary shaped openings 423 arranged opposite the clips in the second assembly interface 420. The pre-holding means 323, 423 are thus provided to hold the front and rear masks 30, 40 assembled together before they are fixed to the rear wall 200 of the glass 20.
[0066] The rear wall 200 of the glass 20 comprises means for centering (or indexing) the assembly of the front and rear masks 30, 40, comprising tabs 212 (figure 6), here three in number, made of the same material as the rear wall 200 of the glass 20 under the inner rim 210 of the glass 20 (figure 10). They extend from the rear wall 200 of the glass 20, substantially perpendicular to the plane of the wall 200. These tabs 212 cooperate with openings 312, 412 (here, three openings 312 and three openings 412) provided respectively in the first and second interfaces 320, 420, aligned with each other, opposite the tabs 212. These tabs 212, by crossing these openings 312, 412 right through, thus precisely position the assembly of the front and rear masks 30, 40 against the rear wall 200 of the glass 20.
[0067] The rear wall 200 of the glass 20 further comprises support stops 211, here three in number (figures 6 and 8), made of the same material as the rear wall 200 of the glass 20, arranged in the immediate vicinity of the rear edge 210 of the glass 20, under the edge 210, for the docking of the assembly of the front and rear masks 30, 40 under the edge 210.
[0068] Finally, the front and rear masks 30, 40 respectively comprise concentric circular fixing orifices 350, 450 (here three orifices 350 and three orifices 450) receiving the fixing screws 50 (three screws 50) of the assembly of the front and rear masks 30, 40 on the rear wall 200 of the glass 20. The first interface 320 is sandwiched between the second interface 420 on which the heads of the screws 50 rest and the rear wall 200 of the glass 20 comprises tapped studs 250 receiving the threaded parts of the screws 50.
[0069] As illustrated in Figure 11, the centering tabs 421 of the first series are further advantageously used to hold the inclined face 301 of the cantilevered portion 310 and thus prevent deformation of the cantilevered portion 310 downwards (along Z).
[0070] For this purpose, the length of the centering tabs 421 of the first series, passing through the centering openings 321 of the first series of openings, is determined to reach the underside of the inclined section 301. The extreme parts of the ends of the centering tabs 421 of the first series define support stops 400 for the inclined section 301 when the assembly of the front and rear masks is fixed to the rear wall 200 of the glass 20.
[0071] An alternative solution consisting of arranging reinforcing ribs under the inclined plane 301, made of the same material as the front mask 30, and extending between the first interface 320 and the underside of the inclined face 301, is not possible because of the risk of an appearance defect in the mask 30 linked to the manufacturing process of the mask 30 which is a part obtained after injection molding of a plastic material; appearance defect known in the jargon of plastics by the term “shrinkage”.
[0072] On the other hand, as a variant and to avoid deformation of the inclined section 301 upwards, as the ribs mentioned above would allow, low walls 311 made of the same material as the inclined section 301 can be arranged under the inclined section 301 as illustrated in the sectional view of figure 12.
[0073] The walls 311 extend from the free edge 300 of the inclined face 301 towards the first assembly interface 320, substantially perpendicular to the interface 320 and opposite the centering tabs 421 of the first series. The walls 311 are arranged so as to form, with the underside of the inclined face 301, means for locking the inclined face 301 around the ends of the centering tabs 421 of the first series.
[0074] The precise sizing and adjustment of all these means serve to ensure compliance with the technical clearances JT 1 and JT2.
[0075] In the example described with reference to the figures, the assembly of front and rear masks 30 is fixed on the rear wall of the glass 20, in the rear wall 200 of the glass itself 20, below the rim 210 formed by the glass 20.
[0076] In another variant, not illustrated in the figures, the assembly of the front and rear masks 30, 40 could be assembled on the housing 10 of the projector 1 (or on one or more of its components inside the housing 10), then the glass 20 would be attached to the housing 10. An advantage of this variant is to increase the chain of dimensions between the assembly of the front and rear masks 30, 40 and the glass 20.
Claims
CLAIMS 1. Lighting and / or signaling device (1) comprising a housing (10), closed on its front face by a glass (20) comprising a rim (210) extending over the rear wall (200) of the glass (10), and a set (30, 40) of masks comprising a front mask (30) and a rear mask (40) assembled against each other and fixed to the rear of the glass (20) in the vicinity of the rim (210) of the glass (20), in which the front mask (30) comprises a cantilevered portion (310) covering the rim (210) with a first determined clearance (JT1) between the free edge (300) of the cantilevered portion (310) and the rim (210) of the glass (20) and with a second determined clearance (JT2) between the edge free (300) of the cantilevered part (310) and the rear wall (200) of the ice (20),and wherein the rear mask (40) comprises centering tabs (421) cooperating with centering openings (321) arranged in the front mask (30) opposite the centering tabs (421) for centering the front and rear masks (30, 40) with each other; said centering tabs (421) extending through the centering openings (321) of the front mask (30) and the end parts of the free ends of the centering tabs (421) defining support stops (400) for the cantilevered part (310) of the front mask (30); said stops (400) preventing deformation of the cantilevered part (310) in the direction of the rim (210)., 2. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the cantilevered portion (310) further comprises walls (311) extending from the free edge (300) of the cantilevered portion (310) towards the centering tabs (421) being arranged so as to form stops for the extreme parts of the free ends of the centering tabs (421); said stops (311) preventing deformation of the cantilevered portion (310) in a direction opposite to that of the rim (210).
3. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the front and rear masks (30, 40) respectively comprise first and second assembly interfaces (320, 420) of complementary shape, extending against each other, the second interface (420) comprising the centering tabs (421) cooperating with the centering openings (321) arranged in the first interface (320); the first and second interfaces (320, 420) further comprising holding means (323, 423) cooperating with each other for the assembly of the front and rear masks (30, 40) together and means participating in the fixing of the assembly of the front and rear masks (30, 40) to the rear of the glass (20) in the vicinity of the rim (210).
4. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the holding means comprise clipping tabs (323) extending from the first interface (320) through corresponding clipping openings (423), arranged in the second interface (420), opposite the clipping tabs (323).
5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising means allowing the fixing of the assembly of the front and rear masks (30, 40) to the rear of the glass (20); said fixing means comprising concentric fixing orifices (350, 450), arranged respectively on the first and second interfaces (320, 420), receiving fixing screws (50) fixing the assembly of the front and rear masks (30, 40) to the rear of the glass (20); the first interface (320) being sandwiched between the second interface (420) serving as a surface support for the heads of the screws (50) and threaded parts (250) arranged at the rear of the glass (20) in the vicinity of the rim (210) receiving the threaded parts of the screws (50).
6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which centering tabs (212) of the assembly of front and rear masks (30, 40) at the rear of the glass (20) are further arranged at the rear of the glass (20), in the vicinity of the rim (210) and cooperate with concentric centering openings (312, 412), arranged respectively in the front and rear masks (30, 40) opposite the centering tabs (212) of the assembly of front and rear masks (30, 40) at the rear of the glass (20).
7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which support stops (211) are further provided at the rear of the glass (20) in the vicinity of the rim (210) on which the assembly of the front and rear masks (30, 40) rests in the immediate vicinity of the rim (210); the support stops guaranteeing the second determined clearance (JT2).
8. Device (1) according to the preceding claims, wherein, when the device is mounted in a vehicle (V), the edge (210) of the window (20) is substantially horizontal and the overhanging part (310) is held vertically by the extreme parts of the ends (400) of the tabs (421) forming stops, extending under the overhanging part (310), avoiding deformation of the overhanging part (310) downwards.
9. Lighting and / or signaling device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said device (1) is a motor vehicle headlight (V).
10. Motor vehicle (V) comprising at least one device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.