Hatch for fuel or for electrical charging socket with a rib at the plastics injection moulding point

Abstract

The invention relates to a hatch (1) for fuel or for an electrical charging socket, comprising a support mounted on a body element and a flap (2) mounted movably relative to the support between a closed position and an open position, the flap (2) being connected to the support by a hinge arm (3) and comprising a rim (8) projecting from an outer face (4) of the flap (2), the hatch (1) comprising a trim (5) mounted on the rim (8) and having a protuberance (6) projecting from a plastics injection moulding point formed on an inner face (11) of the trim (5) after a plastics injection moulding operation. The rim (8) comprises a side wall (10) which is connected to the hinge arm (3) and in which an opening (7) is formed, the protuberance (6) being positioned at the border of a peripheral edge (12) of the trim (5) and being housed in the opening (7).

Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE OF THE INVENTION: Fuel or electrical charging port flap with a rib at the plastic injection point

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2307716 filed on July 19, 2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of fuel or electrical charging ports for thermal, electric and hybrid vehicles.

[0003] These hatches are intended to be mounted on a bodywork element of a vehicle and to conceal an electrical charging socket in the case of a vehicle comprising an electric motor or a fuel filler neck connected to a fuel tank in the case of a vehicle comprising a thermal engine.

[0004] Each hatch includes a bracket for mounting on the bodywork element and having a cavity housing the electrical charging socket or fuel filler opening.

[0005] The hatch also includes a flap mounted movable relative to the support between a closed position in which the flap conceals the charging socket or fuel filler opening and an open position in which the charging socket or fuel filler opening is accessible. The flap is connected to the support by a hinge arm (or gooseneck).

[0006] The shutter includes a border projecting from an external face of the shutter. The hatch includes a trim mounted on the border.

[0007] The hubcap is obtained by a plastic injection operation in an injection mold comprising two mold parts that must be separated after injection to release the hubcap. A first mold part comprises an injection channel through which the plastic is injected up to the hubcap. When the plastic injection operation is completed, the hubcap is ejected. A plastic bead formed in the injection channel detaches from the hubcap, forming an injection point on the hubcap. During ejection, the plastic bead is released from the injection channel by sliding inside the injection channel.

[0008] To avoid having too large an ejection stroke between the two parts of the mold to release the plastic bead, it is necessary to design the mold so that the injection point is positioned as close as possible to the edge of the trim.

[0009] An injection point too far from the edge results in a larger injection mold and a larger molding machine, which impacts the manufacturing cost and the price of the part.

[0010] It is also preferable to position the injection point near the edge of the trim positioned opposite the shutter hinge for aesthetic reasons.

[0011] To ensure that the plastic injection point in the hubcap does not leave a visible mark, it is necessary to add a rib during the injection operation to accommodate the injection point. The rib thus masks the plastic injection point and protrudes from an internal face of the hubcap.

[0012] However, this rib is usually removed after the plastic injection operation so as not to interfere with the subsequent step of assembling the trim on the shutter. Indeed, during assembly, the trim slides along the external face of the shutter, towards the hinge arm, until first means for fixing the shutter are fixed with second means for fixing the trim.

[0013] The problem is that towards the end of the sliding step, the rib comes into contact with a wall of the edge of the shutter positioned opposite the hinge, preventing the trim from sliding completely relative to the shutter and the fixing of the first means of fixing the shutter with the second means of fixing the trim.

[0014] It is therefore necessary to remove the rib from the plastic injection point of the hubcap, which results in an additional operation in the manufacturing process and increases manufacturing costs.

[0015] In addition, it may happen that this withdrawal step is not carried out due to forgetfulness, for example.

[0016] The aim of the invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a fuel flap or an electric charging socket. designed to simplify the hatch manufacturing process and a hatch manufacturing process involving fewer manufacturing steps.

[0017] To this end, the invention thus relates, in its broadest sense, to a fuel or electrical charging port flap of a vehicle. The flap comprises a support intended to be mounted on a bodywork element of the vehicle and a flap mounted to move relative to the support between a closed position in which the flap hides the charging port or the fuel filler opening and an open position in which the charging port or the filler opening is accessible. The flap is connected to the support by a hinge arm and comprises a rim projecting from an external face of the flap. The hatch comprises a trim mounted on the rim and comprises a protuberance projecting from a plastic injection point formed on an internal face of the trim after a plastic injection operation.

[0018] According to the invention, the border comprises a side wall connected to the hinge arm and in which an opening is formed. The protrusion is positioned at the edge of a peripheral edge of the trim and is housed in the opening.

[0019] The invention thus provides a fuel or electrical charging port flap designed to simplify the manufacturing process of the flap and a method of manufacturing the flap comprising fewer manufacturing steps.

[0020] Indeed, during assembly, the trim slides along the external face of the shutter, towards the hinge arm, until first means for fixing the shutter are fixed with second means for fixing the trim. Towards the end of the sliding step, the rib no longer abuts against the side wall of the edge of the shutter but is inserted into the opening of the shutter, allowing the complete sliding of the trim relative to the shutter and the fixing of the first means for fixing the shutter with the second means for fixing the trim.

[0021] The extra step of removing the rib is eliminated and the aesthetic appearance is improved.

[0022] It is possible to keep the protrusion or rib as close as possible to the peripheral edge of the trim to avoid having too great an ejection distance during the molding operation.

[0023] According to a variant, the opening has a shape complementary to that of the protuberance.

[0024] This ensures correct insertion of the protrusion into the opening and improves the aesthetic appearance.

[0025] According to one variant, the protuberance and the opening have a parallelepiped shape.

[0026] This shape helps simplify the manufacturing process.

[0027] In one embodiment, the hinge arm extends from the side wall forming a bend connected at one end. The side wall, opening, and protrusion are positioned opposite the end.

[0028] This position allows the opening and the protrusion to be hidden and allows the protrusion or rib to be kept as close as possible to the peripheral edge of the trim.

[0029] Alternatively, the protrusion has a thickness identical or almost identical to the depth of the opening.

[0030] This improves the aesthetic appearance of the hatch.

[0031] According to one variant, the edge of the shutter delimits a housing comprising first fixing means cooperating with second fixing means provided on the internal face of the trim to fix the trim to the shutter.

[0032] According to one variant, the protrusion is positioned between the second fixing means and the peripheral edge of the trim.

[0033] This arrangement simplifies the design.

[0034] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a hatch as defined previously.

[0035] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a hatch as defined above and comprising: - a first step in manufacturing a hubcap comprising a plastic injection operation during which a protrusion is formed on an internal face of the hubcap from an injection point formed during the plastic injection operation, the protrusion being positioned at the edge of a peripheral edge of the trim, - a second step of manufacturing a shutter during which an opening is formed in a side wall of a border extending from an external face of the shutter, the side wall being connected to a hinge arm of the shutter, and - a third step of mounting the trim on the edge of the shutter during which the protrusion of the trim is inserted into the opening of the shutter to at least partially close the opening.

[0036] According to a variant, during the third assembly step, the trim slides along the edge of the shutter, towards the hinge arm, until the second fixing means are held by the first fixing means and the protrusion of the trim fits into the opening of the shutter.

[0037] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0038] [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a view of a vehicle hatch, according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0039] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a view of a flap of the hatch;

[0040] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a view of a hatch trim.

[0041] In the remainder of the description, elements having an identical structure and / or similar functions will be designated by the same reference.

[0042] Figure 1 illustrates a hatch 1 intended to be mounted on a body element of a vehicle to conceal a fuel filler neck of a vehicle comprising a heat engine or an electric charging socket of a vehicle comprising an electric motor. The hatch 1 is commonly called a fuel flap or an electric charging socket hatch.

[0043] The hatch 1 comprises a support (not shown) intended to be mounted on the bodywork element and a flap 2 mounted to move relative to the support between a closed position in which the flap 2 conceals the charging socket or the fuel filler opening and an open position in which the charging socket or the filler opening is accessible.

[0044] The bracket is attached to the body member and includes a cavity to receive the fuel filler neck or electrical charging socket.

[0045] The flap 2 is connected to the support by a hinge arm 3 (or swan neck), as illustrated in Figure 2, and comprises an edge 8 projecting from an external face 4 of the flap 2. The edge 8 fully or partially delimits a housing 9 formed on the side of the external face 4.

[0046] The hatch 1 comprises a trim 5, as illustrated in FIG. 3, mounted on the edge 8. The edge 8 comprises a bearing face 17 on which rests a portion of the internal face 11 of the trim 5.

[0047] The hubcap 5 is obtained by a plastic injection operation in an injection mold comprising two mold parts which are separated after the plastic injection to release the hubcap 5 from the mold.

[0048] A first mold part comprises an injection channel through which the plastic is injected up to the hubcap 5. When the plastic injection operation is completed, the hubcap 5 is ejected. A plastic bead formed in the injection channel detaches from the hubcap 5, forming an injection point on the hubcap 5. During ejection, the plastic bead is released from the injection channel by sliding inside the injection channel.

[0049] To avoid having too great an ejection stroke between the two parts of the mold to release the plastic bead, it is necessary to design the mold so that the injection point is positioned as close as possible to a peripheral edge 12 of the trim 5.

[0050] An injection point too far from the peripheral edge 12 results in a larger injection mold and molding machine, which impacts the manufacturing cost and the price of the part.

[0051] It is also preferable to position the injection point near the peripheral edge 12 of the trim 5 which is positioned opposite the hinge arm 3 of the flap 2 for aesthetic reasons.

[0052] To ensure that the plastic injection point in the hubcap 5 does not leave a visible mark, it is necessary to add a protrusion 6, during the injection operation, at the location of the plastic injection point, to mask it.

[0053] The protrusion 6 projects from the internal face 11 of the trim 5 and from the plastic injection point.

[0054] Preferably, the protrusion 6 is perpendicular to the internal face 11 of the trim 5.

[0055] Preferably, the distance d between the peripheral edge 12 of the trim 5 and the protrusion 6 is between 0.3 tenths and 1.5 tenths of the length l of the trim 5.

[0056] Preferably, the distance d between the peripheral edge 12 of the trim 5 and the protrusion 6 is approximately 0.77 tenths of the length l of the trim 5.

[0057] According to the invention, the edge 8 comprises a side wall 10 connected to the hinge arm 3. An opening 7 or a notch is formed in the side wall 10. The protrusion 6 is inserted into the opening 7.

[0058] The hinge arm 3 extends from the side wall 10 forming a bend 16 connected to one end 15 of the hinge arm 3.

[0059] The side wall 10, the opening 7 and the protrusion 6 are positioned opposite the end 15 of the hinge arm 3.

[0060] Opening 7 opens outside border 8.

[0061] The opening 7 has a shape complementary to that of the protrusion 6. The dimension of the opening 7 is adapted to match the shape of the protrusion 6 and so that the protrusion 6 completely or almost completely closes the opening 7. In other words, the width of the protrusion 6 is slightly less, by 1 / 100 for example, than that of the opening 7. The height of the protrusion 6 is slightly less, by 1 / 100 for example, than that of the opening 7.

[0062] The protrusion 6 and the opening 7 have a parallelepiped shape, for example. The protrusion 6 has a rib or tongue shape.

[0063] The protrusion 6 may have the shape of a cylindrical lug, for example.

[0064] Alternatively, the opening 7 may have a dimension much larger than that of the protrusion 6. The dimension of the opening 7 may be at least 1 tenth of a time larger than that of the protrusion 6.

[0065] Preferably, the protrusion 6 and the side wall 10 of the edge 8 of the flap 2 have an identical or almost identical thickness. The protrusion 6 then has a thickness identical or almost identical to the depth of the opening 7.

[0066] The housing 9 of the flap 2 comprises first fixing means 13 cooperating with second fixing means 14 provided on the internal face 11 of the trim 5.

[0067] The protrusion 6 is positioned between the second fixing means 14 of the trim 5 and the peripheral edge 12 of the trim 5.

[0068] The first fixing means 13 comprise locking elements adapted to allow the sliding of a fixing element of the second fixing means 14 of the hubcap 5 inside the latter and then its locking, for example. Other types of first fixing means 13 and second fixing means 14 are possible.

[0069] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a hatch 1 as defined previously and comprising: - a first step of manufacturing a trim 5 comprising a plastic injection operation during which a protrusion 6 is formed, the protrusion 6 projecting from an internal face 11 of the trim 5 and being positioned opposite a peripheral edge 12 of the trim 5, - a second step of manufacturing a shutter 2 during which an opening 7 is formed in an internal wall 10 of a border 8 positioned opposite a hinge arm 3 of the shutter 2, and - a third step of mounting the trim 5 on an external face 4 of the flap 2 during which the protrusion 6 of the trim 5 is inserted in the opening 7 of the shutter 2 to at least partially close the opening 7.

[0070] According to a variant, during the third assembly step, the trim 5 slides along the external face 4 of the flap 2, towards the hinge arm 3, until the first fixing means 13 are fixed with the second fixing means 14 and the protuberance 6 of the trim 5 is inserted into the opening 7 of the flap 2. In Figure 1, an arrow shows the direction of sliding of the trim 5 relative to the flap 2.

[0071] According to another variant, during the third assembly step, the trim 5 translates in a direction perpendicular to the external face 4 of the flap 2 and towards the external face 4 of the flap 2 so as to come to bear on the edge 8 of the flap 2, without sliding. The trim 5 then fits into the flap 2.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Fuel or electrical charging socket flap (1) of a vehicle comprising a support intended to be mounted on a bodywork element of the vehicle and a flap (2) mounted to move relative to the support between a closed position in which the flap (2) hides a charging socket or a fuel filler opening and an open position in which the charging socket or the filler opening is accessible, the flap (2) being connected to the support by a hinge arm (3) and comprising a border (8) projecting from an external face (4) of the flap (2), the flap (1) comprising a trim (5) mounted on the border (8) and comprising a protuberance (6) projecting from a plastic injection point formed on an internal face (11) of the trim (5) after a plastic injection operation, characterized in that the border (8) comprises a side wall (10) connected to the hinge arm (3) and in which an opening (7) is formed,the protuberance, (6) being positioned at the edge of a peripheral edge (12) of the trim (5) and being housed in the opening (7).

2. Hatch (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening (7) has a shape complementary to that of the protuberance (6).

3. Trapdoor (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the protuberance (6) and the opening (7) have a parallelepiped shape.

4. Hatch (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the hinge arm (3) extends from the side wall (10) forming a curvature (16) connected to one end (15), the side wall (10), the opening (7) and the protrusion (6) being positioned opposite the end (15).

5. Trapdoor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the protrusion (6) has a thickness identical or almost identical to the depth of the opening (7).

6. Hatch (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the edge (8) of the flap (2) delimits a housing (9) comprising first fixing means (13) cooperating with second means of fixing (14) provided on the internal face (11) of the trim (5) to fix the trim (5) to the flap (2).

7. Hatch (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the protuberance (6) is positioned between the second fixing means (14) and the peripheral edge (12) of the trim (5).

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

9. Method of manufacturing a hatch (1) as defined according to any one of claims 1 to 7 comprising: - a first step of manufacturing a hubcap (5) comprising a plastic injection operation during which a protuberance (6) is formed on an internal face (11) of the hubcap (5) from an injection point formed during the plastic injection operation, the protuberance (6) being positioned at the edge of a peripheral edge (12) of the hubcap (5), - a second step of manufacturing a shutter (2) during which an opening (7) is formed in a side wall (10) of a border (8) extending from an external face (4) of the shutter (2), the side wall (10) being connected to a hinge arm (3) of the shutter (2), and - a third step of mounting the trim (5) on the edge (8) of the shutter (2) during which the protrusion (6) of the trim (5) is inserted into the opening (7) of the shutter (2) to at least partially close the opening (7).

10. Method for manufacturing a hatch (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that during the third assembly step, the trim (5) slides along the edge (8) of the flap (2), towards the hinge arm (3), until the second fixing means (14) are held by the first fixing means (13) and the protuberance (6) of the trim (5) is inserted into the opening (7) of the flap (2).

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