Motor vehicle opening equipped with an equipment mounting plate

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle opening (1) comprising an inner panel (2), preferably made of plastic, an outer skin (3), at least partially made of plastic, attached to the inner panel (3), comprising an internal surface (31) located opposite an external surface (23) of the inner panel (2), and an equipment support plate (4) covered by the outer skin (3) and attached directly to the external surface (23) of the inner panel (2), said plate (4) being disposed within an internal volume (5A) delimited, on the one hand, by the external surface (23) of an inner panel (2) and, on the other hand, by the internal surface (31) of the outer skin (3). Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle opening provided with an equipment support plate

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicle body parts, more specifically openings, such as tailgates or side doors, and in particular the integration of equipment installed therein.

[0002] For example, a motor vehicle tailgate generally comprises an outer panel (also called an outer skin) attached to an inner panel, or frame. The inner panel is provided with a first opening in the upper part of the tailgate intended to accommodate a window. In the lower part of the tailgate, this inner panel is generally provided with small recesses allowing a local passage for the fixing of components.

[0003] On most vehicles, motor vehicle tailgates incorporate, in the lower part of the tailgate, side rear signaling lights, such as brake lights, generally a left light and a right light located symmetrically on either side of the tailgate. Preferably, these two lights are located as far as possible along the lateral edges of the tailgate in order to face, in the closed position of the tailgate, the rear light complement located on the body of the vehicle. Such lights are currently manufactured by suppliers in the form of lighting units or optical units. Such optical units comprise a rear part, or housing, in which the lighting device is arranged, as well as a window, also called a glass pane, allowing light to pass through when the light is in operation. These two side lights are attached and mounted on the tailgate on and by its outer face, which has many disadvantages.

[0004] Firstly, it is necessary to provide a sealed glass relative to the optical housing in order to protect the lighting device. In addition, it is necessary for an operator to mount the two side lights at two separate locations on the tailgate, to connect electrical harnesses thereto, and to make the mounting waterproof to prevent runoff water from penetrating into the volume delimited by the inner panel and the outer skin of the tailgate, passing between the light and the outer skin, which presents practical difficulties.

[0005] Another disadvantage is that the side lights thus added appear as additions and do not have any apparent continuity with the rest of the tailgate, which is detrimental to its aesthetics. Indeed, a trend among car manufacturers is to ensure that the various exterior surfaces of the vehicle are flush with each other and appear without discontinuities ("seamless" in English terminology). Anglo-Saxon"). In certain configurations, luminous elements can even remain partially or totally invisible from the outside, for example when they are not activated ("hidden until lit" in Anglo-Saxon terminology).

[0006] Furthermore, in addition to the issue of side lights, another trend among car manufacturers is to integrate a light signature at the rear of vehicles, such as continuous lighting between the side parts of the tailgate. In general, such a light device is also attached from the outside of the tailgate and may cause sealing problems or not be flush with the rest of the tailgate.

[0007] Finally, the tailgates can integrate components that assist driving (such as radars, lidars, or cameras) or enable communication (such as antennas or screens). All of these components should be integrated into the tailgate in a way that is, again, watertight and flush with the rest of the tailgate.

[0008] All of the technical problems described for the example of the tailgate can be generalized to other types of openings, for example side doors in which luminous elements and other driving assistance or communication components can also be integrated between the interior panel and the exterior panel.

[0009] The invention aims in particular to remedy these drawbacks by providing a motor vehicle opening allowing equipment, in particular radiation emitters and / or receivers, to be integrated into its lower part in a sealed manner and allowing the aesthetics of the vehicle to be improved.

[0010] To this end, the invention relates to a motor vehicle opening comprising:

[0011] - an interior panel, preferably made of plastic, provided with a part upper part in which a first opening is made intended to accommodate a telescope and a lower part in which a second second opening is made, and

[0012] - an outer skin, at least partially made of plastic material, attached to the inner panel, comprising an inner surface located opposite an outer surface of the inner panel.

[0013] The opening according to the invention further comprises an equipment support plate covered by the outer skin and attached directly to the outer surface of the inner panel, said plate being arranged inside an internal volume delimited, on the one hand, by the outer surface of an inner panel and, on the other hand, by the inner surface of the outer skin.

[0014] Thanks to the presence of an equipment support plate carried by the inner panel, covered by the outer skin and arranged inside a volume delimited, on the one hand, by the external surface of an inner panel and, on the other hand, by the surface internal to the outer skin, it is possible to have lighting, communication or driving assistance devices carried by the equipment support plate rather than attaching them to the outer face of the outer skin of the tailgate, which improves the aesthetics of the vehicle since the equipment does not appear as additions and does not present any apparent discontinuity with the rest of the opening.

[0015] Furthermore, it is also possible to ensure that the equipment carried by the support plate is concealed by the outer skin, including, in the case of a tailgate, rear lights for example when they are not lit. By "concealed by the outer skin" is meant that the equipment is not clearly visible to a user.

[0016] It is also made easy to access the equipment by passing through the second opening in the lower part of the opening. In addition, the support plate can be integrated within the delimited volume after having carried out the bonding between the interior panel and the exterior skin.

[0017] In addition, the fact that the equipment support plate is carried by the inner panel makes it easy to place the equipment carried by the support plate in a “dry zone”. Here, the term “dry zone” means a closed volume, sealed with respect to the external environment or at least protected from the latter. This dry zone is achieved at least partially by assembling the outer skin on the inner panel by a continuous peripheral bead of adhesive. This is much easier than ensuring sealing around each piece of equipment individually, such as lighting units. This ultimately makes it possible to preserve this equipment and therefore ensure its proper functioning.

[0018] Finally, the support plate allows the connections of the equipment it carries to be shared.

[0019] According to other optional characteristics of the opening taken alone or in combination:

[0020] - the equipment support plate comprises a transmitter and / or receiver device of electromagnetic radiation and the outer skin comprises, opposite the device emitting and / or receiving electromagnetic radiation, at least one transmission zone, made of plastic material, which is at least partially transparent to said electromagnetic radiation;

[0021] - electromagnetic radiation belongs to the visible spectrum;

[0022] - electromagnetic radiation belongs to the non-visible spectrum;

[0023] - the support plate further comprises an interface for fixing said plate support within the internal volume configured so that the support plate is removable;

[0024] - the support plate comprises at least one access hole to one of the equipments carried by the support plate, and preferably at least one member for closing said access orifice;

[0025] - the interior panel comprises at least one access opening to the delimited volume;

[0026] - the access opening of the interior panel is opposite said at least one orifice support plate access;

[0027] - the interior panel further comprises at least one removable hatch allowing to close the access opening;

[0028] - the opening further comprises a trim fixed to an internal wall of the panel interior and covering the second opening;

[0029] - the trim covers said at least one removable hatch;

[0030] - the opening includes a technical panel attached to the interior supporting panel a set of technical elements for the passage or fixing of components, which technical panel carries at least one of the following elements:

[0031] - holes allowing elements such as wiring, rods, pipes, fixing interfaces, connectors;

[0032] - fixing interfaces for systems such as a motorized lock or a window washer motor; and - mechanical reinforcement forms such as ribs or bosses;

[0033] - the support plate is in one piece;

[0034] - the support plate is made of several parts assembled together;

[0035] - the outer skin is made from one of the following materials: polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), polyethylene (PE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), cycloolefin copolymer (COC), as well as any combination of these materials;

[0036] - the opening comprises a structural reinforcement element of the interior panel, preferably, the technical panel constitutes the structural reinforcement element;

[0037] - the opening constitutes a tailgate or a side door. Brief description of the figures

[0038] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, in which the opening of the invention has been described in the form of a tailgate, a description given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0039] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a perspective view from the rear of the vehicle of a tailgate according to one embodiment of the invention,

[0040] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the tailgate shown in [Fig.l] from which the outer skin has been removed,

[0041] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view from inside the vehicle of the tailgate shown in [Fig.l],

[0042] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic section taken along section plane IV-IV of [Fig.3], representing a tailgate according to a variant of the invention,

[0043] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a more detailed representation of an equipment support plate used in an opening according to the invention, such as a tailgate described in the preceding figures. Detailed description

[0044] Figures 1 to 4 show a motor vehicle tailgate 1 according to one embodiment of the invention and several variants thereof.

[0045] We now refer to Figures 1 to 3, which illustrate an embodiment of a tailgate 1 of a motor vehicle according to the invention. The tailgate 1 comprises: • an interior panel 2, preferably made of plastic, provided with an upper part 2A in which a first opening 21 is made intended to accommodate a bezel 10 and a lower part 2B in which a second opening 22 is made, and • an outer skin 3, at least partially made of plastic material, attached to the inner panel 2, comprising an inner surface 31 located opposite an outer surface 23 of the inner panel 2.

[0046] The tailgate 1 further comprises an equipment support plate 4 covered by the outer skin 3 and attached directly to the outer surface 23 of the inner panel 2, said plate 4 being arranged inside an internal volume 5A delimited, on the one hand, by the outer surface 23 of an inner panel 2 and, on the other hand, by the inner surface 31 of the outer skin 3.

[0047] The area of ​​the outer skin 3 located opposite the equipment 6 is a transmission area 32 made of plastic material at least partially transparent to the electromagnetic radiation of the equipment. By “at least transparent to electromagnetic radiation”, it is meant that this transmission area 32 allows the passage of a sufficient quantity of electromagnetic waves so that the equipment can perform the function dedicated to it correctly and continuously. In the case of a light device, for example, this means that the transmission area 32 allows the passage of the light rays emitted by the device so that they can be seen by an observer outside the vehicle.

[0048] The equipment support plate 4 is a box forming a hollow receptacle and the two peripheral edges 41d of which are housed in two shaped housings corresponding located on the periphery of the inner panel 2. The plate 4 comprises a fixing interface whose elements 51a to 51e (referenced in [Fig.5]) allow fixing to the inner panel 2. The elements 51b, 51c and 51e, located in the upper part of the plate 4, allow removable fixing with the corresponding part of the inner panel 2. The elements 51a and 51d allow removable fixing in the lower part of the support plate 4 (fixings not visible in the figures). For example, the elements 51a and 51d can receive elements of corresponding shapes coming from the internal surface 31 of the outer skin 3, from the external surface 23 of the inner panel 2 or from the technical panel 15.The removable fasteners made in the lower part of the support plate help to stabilize the plate within the tailgate and thus make it possible to avoid play or inaccuracies in assembly which could cause malfunctions of the equipment or noise pollution while the vehicle is moving or when the tailgate 1 is opening / closing. Therefore, it is possible to simply remove the plate 4 as soon as a maintenance operation on equipment 6 is necessary. Of course, any fixing means known to those skilled in the art, for example by screwing, riveting, clipping or snap-fastening, making it possible to removably connect the plate 4 and the interior panel 2 can be used.

[0049] A variant of the invention is shown in Figure 4 in the form of a section made along section plane IV-IV of [Fig.3].

[0050] The plate comprises several pieces of equipment 6, only one of which is visible in the sections shown in [Fig. 4]. Obviously, the plate may comprise a single piece of equipment 6 or several pieces of equipment 6 and these may be different from each other (as shown in [Fig. 5]). It may be, for example, one or more light devices which emit electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum. These light devices may be distributed over all or part of the width of the plate 4 in order to establish the desired light signature. Thus, it is possible to obtain a light signature of continuous appearance over the entire width of the tailgate if this is desired.These devices 6 may also be driving assistance devices, such as radars (which generally emit electromagnetic radiation between 20 and 80 GHz), lidars (which generally emit electromagnetic radiation belonging to the infrared spectrum) or reversing cameras. Finally, they may also be communication devices 6, such as screens or antennas. Generally speaking, these devices may be any device requiring transparency to waves.

[0051] The support plate 4 can be made of a single piece, which simplifies its manufacture and avoids the steps of assembling several elements on the interior panel 2. Alternatively, the support plate 4 can be made of several parts (41a, 41b and 41c) assembled together (as shown in [Fig.5]), either before being introduced into the internal volume 5A, or after having been successively introduced into the internal volume 5A. This second assembly variant has the advantage of being able to integrate such a plate, even when the first opening 21 of the interior panel is reduced.

[0052] As shown in [Fig.5], the plate 4 is made up of three parts, a central one 41a, and two lateral ones 41b and 41c.

[0053] The central part 4a comprises an element forming an illuminated logo 61. The lower zone of the lateral parts 41b and 41c can, for example, form right and left signal lights 62. The upper zone of the three parts 41a, 41b and 41c taken together forms a continuous lighting line 63 transverse to the tailgate 1 and thus producing a light signature. This upper part can also accommodate a large antenna.

[0054] In a variant of the invention not shown, the support plate 4 is provided with an access orifice which allows access to the various equipment carried by the plate 4, for example for the purpose of their installation or maintenance. This access orifice is closed via a closing member. This variant of the invention allows access to the equipment 6 carried by the plate 4 without necessarily having to disassemble it from the interior panel 2. It is therefore possible to carry out maintenance or calibration steps on equipment 6 without disassembling the plate 4 while retaining the possibility of disassembling the latter if heavier maintenance operations require it, such as a complete exchange of the plate 4 or one of its parts.

[0055] According to the variant illustrated in [Fig.4], the tailgate 1 may further comprise a technical panel 15 as described in the document FR 1358548 also attached to the external surface 23 of the internal panel. This technical panel 15 makes it possible to carry a set of technical elements for the passage or fixing of components, such as for example the electrical harness for the equipment of the plate 4. According to this variant, the technical panel also constitutes a structural reinforcement element of the internal panel 2 making it possible to compensate for any mechanical weaknesses caused by the presence of the second opening 22 necessary for the assembly and disassembly of the plate within the volume 5A. The tailgate 1 further comprises a trim 44 fixed to the internal wall of the internal panel 2 and covering the second opening 22.The trim 44 can be fixed to the lower part 2B of the interior panel 2 in a removable manner, for example by riveting, screwing or snapping.

[0056] The invention is not limited to the embodiments presented and other embodiments will become clear to those skilled in the art. List of references

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[0079] 1: opening (for example a tailgate) 2: interior panel 2A: upper part of the interior panel 2B: lower part of the interior panel 3: outer skin 4: equipment support plate(s) 5A: internal volume of the opening 6: equipment of the plate 7: window 15: technical panel 21: first opening 22: second opening 23: external surface of the interior panel 31: inner surface of the outer skin 32: transmission zone 41a, 41b, 41c: part of the support plate 41d: peripheral edges of the plate 44: trim 50: tailgate glue bead 51abcde: elements of the plate fixing interface 61: logo 62: signal lights 63: lighting line

Claims

Claims

1. Opening (1) of a motor vehicle comprising: - an interior panel (2), preferably made of plastic, provided with an upper part (2A) in which a first opening (21) is made intended to receive a window and a lower part in which a second opening (22) is made, and - an outer skin (3), at least partially made of plastic, attached to the interior panel (2), comprising an internal surface (31) located opposite an external surface (23) of the interior panel (2), characterized in that it further comprises an equipment support plate (4) covered by the external skin (3) and attached directly to the external surface (23) of the interior panel (2), said plate (4) being arranged inside an internal volume (5A) delimited, on the one hand, by the external surface (23) of an interior panel (2) and, on the other hand, by the internal surface (31) of the external skin (3),the equipment support plate (4) comprising a device (6) emitting and / or receiving electromagnetic radiation belonging to the visible spectrum and the outer skin (3) comprising, opposite the device (6) emitting and / or receiving electromagnetic radiation, at least one transmission zone (32), made of plastic material, which is at least partially transparent to said electromagnetic radiation.,

2. Opening (1) of a motor vehicle according to the preceding claim, in which the equipment support plate (4) comprises a device (6) emitting and / or receiving electromagnetic radiation belonging to the non-visible spectrum and the outer skin (3) comprises, opposite the device (6) emitting and / or receiving electromagnetic radiation, at least one transmission zone (32), made of plastic material, which is at least partially transparent to said electromagnetic radiation.

3. Motor vehicle opening (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support plate (4) further comprises an interface (51a, 51b, 51c, 51d, 51e) for fixing said support plate (4) within the internal volume (5A). of the opening configured so that the support plate (4) is removable.

4. Opening (1) of a motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support plate (4) comprises at least one access orifice to one of the equipment (6) carried by the support plate (4), and preferably at least one member for closing said access orifice.

5. Opening (1) of a motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the interior panel (2) comprises at least one opening for access to the delimited volume (5A).

6. Opening (1) of a motor vehicle according to claims 4 and 5, in which the access opening of the interior panel (2) is opposite said at least one access orifice of the support plate (4).

7. Opening (1) of a motor vehicle according to claim 5 or 6, in which the interior panel (2) further comprises at least one removable hatch allowing the access opening to be closed.

8. Motor vehicle opening (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a trim (44) fixed to an internal wall of the interior panel (2) and covering the second opening (22).

9. Opening (1) of a motor vehicle according to claims 7 and 8, in which the trim (44) covers said at least one removable hatch.

10. Opening (1) of a motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a technical panel (15) attached to the interior panel (2) carrying a set of technical elements for the passage or fixing of components, which the technical panel (15) carrying at least one of the following elements: - holes allowing elements such as wiring, rods, pipes, fixing interfaces, connectors to pass through; - fixing interfaces for systems such as a motorized lock or a window washer motor; and - mechanical reinforcement shapes such as ribs or bosses.

11. Opening (1) of a motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support plate (4) is in one piece.

12. Opening (1) of a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the support plate (4) is made of several parts assembled together.

13. Opening (1) of a motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the outer skin is made of one of the following materials: - polypropylene (PP); - polyamide (PA); - polyethylene (PE); - acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); - polyethylene terephthalate (PET); - polystyrene (PS); - polycarbonate (PC); - polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA); - cycloolefin copolymer (COC); as well as any combination of these materials.

14. Opening (1), according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a structural reinforcement element of the interior panel (2), preferably the technical panel (15) constituting the structural reinforcement element.

15. Opening (1), according to any one of the preceding claims, constituting a tailgate (1) or a side door.

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