Connecting element for vehicle bumper trim

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting element (1) for a front body structure (2) of a vehicle, comprising a wing (3) and a bumper (4) having a trim (5) extending from a front upper portion of the bumper (4) to an upper end (7) of the wing (3), the connecting element (1) connecting the upper end (7) of the wing (3) to an end portion (13) of the trim and comprising a main body (10) having an outer face attached to the end portion of the trim in order to reinforce the end portion (13) and an attachment section (11) connected to the main body (10) and attached to the upper end (7) of the wing (3). The main body (10) comprises at least one reinforcement cell (15a, 15b, 15c) projecting from the outer face of the main body and having a contact face welded to the end portion of the trim.

Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE OF THE INVENTION: Connecting element for vehicle bumper strip

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2306026 filed on June 13, 2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of vehicle front body structures.

[0003] The invention relates more particularly to a connecting element intended to connect a bumper strip to an upper end of a vehicle wing.

[0004] Typically, vehicle front body structures include a front bumper connected to two fenders, each having only a single lower cutout partially defining a cavity for receiving a front light unit. The bumper does not extend above the front light unit.

[0005] The connection between each wing and the bumper at the lower part of the wing is made with a single connecting piece, called a >> presser >>.

[0006] However, there are vehicles that include a bumper that has a strip called a "bumper skin strip" that extends above the front light unit to an upper end of the fender.

[0007] In this case, it is necessary to also fix the upper end of the wing to the bumper strip.

[0008] Document US7540550 describes a vehicle comprising a connecting piece for attaching an upper bumper strip extending above a light unit to an upper end of the fender and for stiffening the strip.

[0009] However, this connecting piece is complex and heavy. The attachment of the connecting piece to the upper band is not optimal for effectively stiffening it.

[0010] The aim of the invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a connecting element for a body structure. simpler, lighter vehicle and allowing better stiffening of the upper bumper strip.

[0011] To this end, the invention thus relates, in its broadest sense, to a connecting element for a front body structure of a vehicle comprising a wing and a bumper. The bumper comprises a strip extending from an upper front portion of the bumper to an upper end of the wing and between an upper portion of a housing intended to house a light unit and an engine compartment. The connecting element is intended to connect the upper end of the wing to an end portion of the strip and comprises a main body having an external face intended to be fixed to the end portion of the strip to reinforce the end portion and a fixing portion connected to the main body and intended to be fixed to the upper end of the wing.

[0012] According to the invention, the main body comprises at least one reinforcing cell projecting from the external face of the main body and comprising a contact face intended to be welded to the end part of the strip.

[0013] The invention thus provides a connecting element for a vehicle body structure that is simpler, lighter and allows the upper bumper strip to be better stiffened.

[0014] The reinforcement cell has two functions, one of which is to stiffen the connecting element and one of which is to fix the connecting element to the strip.

[0015] This dual function allows the strip to be stiffened more effectively because the reinforcing cell, which is the stiffening element, is welded directly to the strip and over a large surface area of ​​the strip.

[0016] The connecting element makes it possible to stiffen an area of ​​the strip which is very low in height (between 45 mm and 55 mm approximately) while fixing it to the wing.

[0017] According to one variant, the reinforcing cell is formed in the main body. The connecting element and the reinforcing cell form a unitary part.

[0018] This solution provides a simple part and simplifies the manufacturing process.

[0019] According to one variant, the reinforcement cell has a parallelepiped shape.

[0020] This shape makes it possible to optimize the stiffening of the connecting element and therefore of the strip.

[0021] According to one variant, the main body comprises several reinforcing cells spaced apart from each other and regularly distributed on the external face of the main body.

[0022] This arrangement makes it possible to optimize the stiffening of the connecting element and therefore of the strip.

[0023] According to one variant, the main body comprises an upper longitudinal edge and at least one upper rib projecting from the upper longitudinal edge and intended to bear against the end portion of the strip.

[0024] This solution effectively holds the connecting element to the strip to allow them to be welded together and the connecting element to be fixed to the upper end of the wing.

[0025] According to one variant, the main body comprises a lower longitudinal edge and at least one lower rib projecting from the lower longitudinal edge and intended to bear against the end portion of the strip.

[0026] This solution allows the connecting element to be held even more effectively to the strip to allow them to be welded together and the connecting element to be fixed to the upper end of the wing.

[0027] The upper ribs and lower ribs allow the connecting element to be locked between the tab and the lower edge of the end portion of the strip by compression to correctly position the connecting element relative to the strip before securing them together by welding.

[0028] According to a variant, the fixing portion of the connecting element comprises two centering pins, each intended to be inserted into a centering hole formed in a fixing lug of the upper end of the wing, and a fixing hole positioned between the two centering pins and intended to receive fixing means for fixing the fixing portion to the upper end of the wing.

[0029] This solution provides a simple way to attach the connecting element to the upper end of the wing.

[0030] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a connecting element as defined previously.

[0031] According to one variant, the contact face of the reinforcement cell is welded to the end part of the strip.

[0032] Welding provides a simple means of securing a large portion of the outer face of the main body to the inner face of the end portion of the strip. The fastening surface between the outer face of the main body and the inner face of the end portion of the strip is increased, allowing for better contact between these two faces and improving the stiffening of the strip, unlike prior art solutions using screws to secure only the upper edge of the connecting element to the strip.

[0033] The reinforcement cell then has two functions, one of which is to stiffen the connecting element and one of which is to fix the connecting element to the strip.

[0034] The invention also relates to a method for assembling a connecting element, as defined above, on a vehicle. The assembly method comprises a step of holding the main body of the connecting element against the end portion of the strip, a step of fixing the fixing portion of the connecting element to the upper end of the wing and a step of welding the contact face of the reinforcing cell to the end portion of the strip.

[0035] This process allows for a quick and easy way to improve the stiffness of the headband, as welding is faster than screwing in multiple screws. Furthermore, it is not possible to fix the central part of the body to the headband with screws, as this would cause an aesthetic problem.

[0036] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0037] [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a front view of a front body structure of a vehicle comprising a wing and a bumper;

[0038] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a rear view of the front body structure including a connecting element connecting the wing to the bumper;

[0039] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a detailed view of the front of the connecting element;

[0040] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a rear view of the connecting element when it is fixed to an end portion of a bumper strip;

[0041] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates a view of a fixing portion of the connecting element in detail;

[0042] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates a view of the attachment portion of the connecting element attached to an upper end of the wing.

[0043] The terms "lower", "upper", "higher" and "lower" shall be understood according to their usual definition, in which the terms "lower" and "lower" indicate a greater proximity to the ground in the vertical direction than the terms "upper" and "high" respectively.

[0044] The terms "longitudinal", "front" and "rear" shall be understood in relation to the general orientation of the vehicle as taken in its normal direction of travel.

[0045] In the remainder of the description, elements having an identical structure and / or similar functions will be designated by the same reference.

[0046] Figure 1 illustrates a front body structure 2 of a vehicle comprising a fender 3 and a bumper 4.

[0047] The front body structure 2 actually comprises two wings 3 arranged on each side of the bumper 4 but only one wing 3 is shown in Figure 1 for simplification.

[0048] The bumper 4 is positioned at the front of the vehicle and comprises a lower edge 28 running along a housing 9 intended to house an optical unit. The optical unit is a front optical unit such as a headlight.

[0049] The bumper 4 comprises a first curved part 29 partly delimiting a wheel arch 31.

[0050] The wing 3 is positioned on a lateral side of the vehicle and comprises a second curved part 30 partly delimiting the wheel arch 31.

[0051] As illustrated in Figure 2, the bumper 4 comprises a lower end portion 27 connected to a lower end 32 of the fender 3 by a fixing element 33.

[0052] The bumper 4 includes a front upper portion 6 positioned at the front of the vehicle and which runs along an engine compartment 59 of the vehicle. A radiator grille 34 is generally positioned below the front upper portion 6.

[0053] The bumper 4 comprises a strip 5 extending from the front upper part 6 of the bumper 4 to an upper end 7 of the wing 3 and between an upper part 8 of the housing 9 intended to house the optical unit and an engine compartment 59.

[0054] The strip 5 partially delimits the housing 9 and is positioned opposite the lower edge 28.

[0055] The strip 5 is flexible or supple and has an elongated shape. The strip 5 extends in a longitudinal direction X. The strip 5 is made of polymer material.

[0056] As illustrated in Figure 2, the front body structure 2 comprises a connecting element 1 connecting the upper end 7 of the wing 3 to an end portion 13 of the strip 5 which is positioned opposite the front upper portion 6 of the bumper 4.

[0057] The connecting element 1 comprises a main body 10 having an external face 12 fixed to the end portion 13 of the strip 5 to reinforce the end portion 13.

[0058] The main body 10 is elongated in the direction of the strip 5, that is to say in the longitudinal direction X. The main body 10 has a generally parallelepiped shape with a trapezoidal section. Other section shapes are possible, such as a parallelogram or rectangular shape, for example.

[0059] As illustrated in Figure 3, the main body 10 comprises a first lateral edge 14 and a second lateral edge 35, opposite the first lateral edge 14. The first lateral edge 14 is curved to match the shape of the optical unit. The second lateral edge 35 is straight.

[0060] The connecting element 1 also comprises a fixing portion 11 connected to the main body 10 and which is fixed to the upper end 7 of the wing 3. The fixing portion 11 projects from the first lateral edge 14 of the main body 10 towards a direction opposite to the external face 12 of the main body 10, i.e. towards the vehicle.

[0061] The fixing portion 11 makes an angle with the main body 10 which may be a right angle.

[0062] According to the invention and as illustrated in Figure 3, the main body 10 comprises at least one reinforcing cell 15a, 15b, 15c (or protrusions) projecting from the external face 12 of the main body 10.

[0063] The reinforcing cell 15a, 15b, 15c comprises a contact face 16, preferably flat, which is intended to bear against an internal face 36 of the end part 13 of the strip 5, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0064] The reinforcing cell 15a, 15b, 15c is formed in the main body 10 during a molding operation, for example. The connecting element 1 and the reinforcing cell 15a, 15b, 15c form a unitary part.

[0065] The reinforcing cell 15a, 15b, 15c forms a cavity 37 on the side of an internal face 38 of the main body 10, opposite the external face 12.

[0066] The reinforcement cell 15a, 15b, 15c has a general parallelepiped shape with a trapezoidal, parallelogram or rectangular or square section, for example.

[0067] The main body 10 may comprise one or more reinforcing cells 15a, 15b, 15c spaced apart from each other and regularly distributed on the external face 12 of the main body 10.

[0068] More than half of the external face 12 of the main body 10 is covered by reinforcing cells 15a, 15b, 15c.

[0069] The contact face 16 of the reinforcing cells 15a, 15b, 15c is flat and the reinforcing cells 15a, 15b, 15c are arranged so as to fit the internal face 36 of the end part 13 of the strip 5.

[0070] In the example of Figure 3, the main body 10 comprises a first reinforcing cell 15a of substantially cubic shape, running along both the second lateral edge 35 and a lower longitudinal edge 18 of the main body 10.

[0071] The main body 10 comprises a second reinforcing cell 15b of substantially cubic shape running along an upper longitudinal edge 17 of the main body 10 which is adjacent to the first lateral edge 14 and which runs along a portion of a first lateral edge 39 of the first reinforcing cell 15a.

[0072] The main body 10 comprises a third reinforcing cell 15c of trapezoidal section housing a lower portion of the first lateral edge 14 and a portion of the lower longitudinal edge 18 of the main body 10. The third reinforcing cell 15c comprises an upper end 40 opposite a lower end portion 41 of the second reinforcing cell 15b.

[0073] The main body 10 may comprise more than three reinforcing cells 15a, 15b, 15c.

[0074] The main body 10 comprises at least one upper rib 19a, 19b projecting from the upper longitudinal edge 17 and extending substantially parallel to the external face 12 of the main body 10.

[0075] As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the main body 10 comprises two upper ribs 19a, 19b projecting from the upper longitudinal edge 17 of the main body 10.

[0076] The end portion 13 of the strip 5 comprises an upper rim 42 and a lower rim 43, opposite the upper rim 42.

[0077] A tab 44 extends along a portion of the upper rim 42 from the first side edge 14.

[0078] At least one first upper rib 19a comes into abutment against the tongue 44.

[0079] According to a variant, the first upper rib 19a and a second upper rib 19b abut against the tongue 44.

[0080] The lower longitudinal edge 18 of the main body 10 projects from the inner face 38 of the main body 10, towards the vehicle.

[0081] The lower edge 43 of the end portion 13 of the strip 5 projects from the inner face 36 of the end portion 13 of the strip 5, towards the vehicle.

[0082] The lower edge 43 of the end portion 13 of the strip 5 is positioned opposite the lower longitudinal edge 18 of the main body 10.

[0083] The main body 10 comprises at least one lower rib 20 projecting from the lower longitudinal edge 18 of the main body 10, towards the lower rim 43 of the end portion 13 of the strip 5.

[0084] As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the main body 10 comprises three lower ribs 20 bearing against the lower edge 43 of the end portion 13 of the strip 5. The three lower ribs 20 are regularly distributed along the lower longitudinal edge 18 of the main body 10.

[0085] Thus, the upper ribs 19a, 19b and the lower ribs 20 make it possible to block the connecting element 1 between the tongue 44 and the lower edge 43 of the end part 13 of the strip 5 by compression.

[0086] This blocking makes it possible to correctly position the connecting element 1 relative to the strip 5 in order to then weld each contact face 16 of the reinforcement cells 15a, 15b, 15c to the internal face 36 of the end part 13 of the strip 5.

[0087] The contact face 16 of the reinforcing cells 15a, 15b, 15c and the internal face 36 of the end part 13 of the strip 5 are made of polymer material. The welding can be ultrasonic welding or vibration welding.

[0088] The contact face 16 of the reinforcing cells 15a, 15b, 15c is thus welded to the internal face 36 of the end part 13 of the strip 5, making it possible to stiffen the entire surface of the end part 13 of the strip 5. The adhesion of the strip 5 to the surface of the end part 13 of the strip 5 is strong.

[0089] The fixing portion 11 of the connecting element 1 comprises an external face 45 positioned opposite the internal face 38 of the main body 10 and opposite a fixing lug 46 of the upper end 7 of the wing 3, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0090] The fixing lug 46 projects from an internal face 47 of the upper end 7 of the wing 3.

[0091] The fixing portion 11 of the connecting element 1 comprises two centering pins 23, 24, a first centering pin 23 of which is inserted into a first centering orifice 25 formed in the fixing lug 46 of the upper end 7 of the wing 3, when the fixing portion 11 is positioned against the fixing lug 46. The first centering orifice 25 has an oblong shape.

[0092] The fixing portion 11 of the connecting element 1 comprises a second centering pin 24 inserted into a second centering orifice 26 formed in the fixing lug 46 of the upper end 7 of the wing 3, when the fixing portion 11 is positioned against the fixing lug 46. The second centering orifice 26 has a square shape.

[0093] As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the fixing portion 11 of the connecting element 1 comprises a fixing orifice 21 positioned between the two centering pins 23 and intended to receive fixing means 22 of the clamp nut type, for example, to fix the fixing portion 11 to the upper end 7 of the wing 3.

[0094] The centering pins 23, 24 make it possible to correctly position the fixing portion 11 relative to the fixing lug 46 before they are fixed by the fixing means 22, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0095] The fixing portion 11 of the connecting element 1 comprises an internal face 50, opposite the external face 45.

[0096] According to a variant illustrated in Figure 5, the fixing means 22 comprise a first element 51 comprising a threaded ring 52 and a screw 53 screwing into the threaded ring 52.

[0097] The first element 51 is held against the internal face 50 of the fixing portion 11 of the connecting element 1 by two flexible tabs 49 coming to bear against the first element 51 to compress it against the internal face 50.

[0098] Each flexible leg 49 comprises a first end 54 connected to a second element 55 bearing against the external face 45 of the portion of fixing 11. The second element 55 is positioned between the fixing portion 11 and the fixing lug 46 of the wing 3.

[0099] The contact face 16 of the reinforcing cells 15a, 15b, 15c is welded to the internal face 36 of the end part 13 of the strip 5 before or after the fixing portion 11 of the connecting element 1 is fixed to the fixing lug 46 of the wing 3.

[0100] The width of the connecting element 1 is slightly less than the strip 5 which can have a width l of between 45 mm and 55 mm.

[0101] Alternatively, the connecting element 1 may comprise three reinforcing elements 56, 57, 58 connecting the inner face 50 of the fixing portion 11 to the inner face 38 of the main body 10, including a first reinforcing element 56 extending from the upper longitudinal edge 17 of the main body 10 to the inner face 50 of the fixing portion 11, a second reinforcing element 57 extending from the lower longitudinal edge 18 of the main body 10 to the inner face 50 of the fixing portion 11 and a third reinforcing element 58 positioned between the first and second reinforcing elements 56, 57. The three reinforcing elements 56, 57, 58 make it possible to reinforce the connecting element 1.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Connecting element (1) for a front body structure (2) of a vehicle comprising a wing (3) and a bumper (4) comprising a strip (5) extending from a front upper part (6) of the bumper (4) to an upper end (7) of the wing (3) and between an upper part (8) of a housing (9) intended to house an optical unit and an engine compartment (59), the connecting element (1) being intended to connect the upper end (7) of the wing (3) to an end part (13) of the strip (5) and comprising a main body (10) comprising an external face (12) intended to be fixed to the end part (13) of the strip (5) to reinforce the end part (13) and a fixing portion (11) connected to the main body (10) and intended to be fixed to the upper end (7) of the wing (3), characterized in that that the main body (10) comprises at least one reinforcing cell (15a, 15b,15c) projecting from the external face (12) of the main body (10) and comprising a contact face (16) intended to be welded to the end part (13) of the strip (5)., 2. Connecting element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing cell (15a, 15b, 15c) is formed in the main body (10), the connecting element (1) and the reinforcing cell (15a, 15b, 15c) forming a unitary part.

3. Connecting element (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the reinforcing cell (15a, 15b, 15c) has a parallelepiped shape.

4. Connecting element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the main body (10) comprises several reinforcing cells (15a, 15b, 15c) spaced from each other and regularly distributed on the external face (12) of the main body (10).

5. Connecting element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the main body (10) comprises an upper longitudinal edge (17) and at least one upper rib (19a, 19b) projecting from the upper longitudinal edge (17) and intended to bear against the end part (13) of the strip (5).

6. Connecting element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the main body (10) comprises a lower longitudinal edge (18) and at least one lower rib (20) projecting from the lower longitudinal edge (18) and intended to bear against the end part (13) of the strip (5).

7. Connecting element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fixing portion (11) of the connecting element (1) comprises two centering pins (23, 24), each intended to be inserted into a centering orifice (25, 26) formed in a fixing lug (46) of the upper end (7) of the wing (3), and a fixing orifice (21) positioned between the two centering pins (23) and intended to receive fixing means (22) for fixing the fixing portion (11) to the upper end (7) of the wing (3).

8. Vehicle characterized in that it comprises a connecting element (1) as defined according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the contact face (16) of the reinforcing cell (15a, 15b, 15c) is welded to the end part (13) of the strip (5).

10. Method for assembling a connecting element (1), as defined according to any one of claims 1 to 7, on a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a step of holding the main body (10) of the connecting element (1) against the end portion (13) of the strip (5), a step of fixing the fixing portion (11) of the connecting element (1) to the upper end (7) of the wing (3) and a step of welding the contact face (16) of the reinforcing cell (15a, 15b, 15c) on the end portion (13) of the strip (5).

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