Protection of an occupant from a head-up display device during a vehicle collision.

Abstract

Vehicle comprising: - a dashboard crossmember (2) arranged transversely to the vehicle, - a windshield base structure arranged transversely to the vehicle in front of the dashboard crossmember (2) in the vehicle configuration, - a head-up display (1) comprising a housing (10) disposed between the windshield base structure and the dashboard crossmember (2), said housing (10) having means (4) for attaching it to the dashboard crossmember, said means (4) for attaching it to the dashboard crossmember being frangible beyond a given force, said vehicle being characterized in that it includes means (5) for deflecting the displacement of the housing (10) after the breakage of said frangible means (4). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 5

Description

Title of the invention: Protection of an occupant from a head-up display device during a vehicle impact. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a head-up display device. The invention mainly relates to the impact behavior of a vehicle and a head-up display device arranged in front of a dashboard crossmember.

[0002] The invention relates in particular to the protection of an occupant, during a frontal impact of a vehicle and / or at the front of the vehicle, with respect to a head-up display device installed in front of the occupant.

[0003] TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] To improve driving safety on board a motor vehicle, it is known to provide head-up display devices according to the head-up vision principle.

[0005] These display devices, commonly called head-up display devices, make it possible to project one or more pieces of information into the field of vision of the driver or a passenger.

[0006] More particularly, a head-up display device allows the driver to view information useful for navigation without having to look down at the dashboard, and therefore without losing sight of the space in front of the motor vehicle.

[0007] These devices are generally fixed on the dashboard crossmember and near the front windshield, facing the driver, or where appropriate, the front passenger.

[0008] While current fastening systems ensure the secure fastening of the head-up display device relative to the dashboard crossmember, they prove dangerous in the event of a frontal impact of the vehicle for the following reasons.

[0009] In a front impact, a head-up display device constitutes a static element which impacts the dashboard. This results in a significant and dangerous recoil of the dashboard crossmember towards, or even against, the occupants of the front seats during the impact. This also results in a significant recoil of elements fixed to the dashboard crossmember such as the steering column and / or also a recoil of equipment such as the steering wheel fixed to the steering column and / or an airbag fixed either to the dashboard crossmember or integrally to the steering wheel fixed to the steering column.

[0010] It is known to design fixing lugs for a head-up display device that are frangible.

[0011] Document FR2979999 thus describes a system for fixing a head-up vision device mounted on the dashboard crossmember of a motor vehicle near the front windshield which comprises means for fixing said head-up vision device to the dashboard crossmember and which comprises means for automatically disengaging said device from the dashboard crossmember during a frontal impact by releasing said fixing means.

[0012] However, due to increasingly severe frontal impacts of the vehicle, an increasingly restricted space between the bottom of the windshield and the dashboard crossmember, and increasingly large dimensions of head-up display devices, it is necessary to prevent said device from impacting the dashboard crossmember and / or equipment fixed to the steering column itself fixed to the dashboard crossmember.

[0013] The prior art is therefore not effective enough to propose a definition of a head-up display device attachment system which prevents said head-up display device from impacting the dashboard crossmember and / or equipment attached between the head-up display device housing and the occupant and / or equipment attached to the dashboard crossmember, during impacts at the front of the vehicle.

[0014] The object of the invention is to solve the problems of the prior art. In particular, one of the objectives of the invention is to prevent the risks of blocking and / or impact of the head-up vision device against the dashboard crossmember and / or the equipment fixed on the dashboard crossmember during the relative movement of the head-up vision device with respect to the dashboard crossmember following the release of the fixing means of the system for fixing said device to the dashboard crossmember during a frontal impact.

[0015] It will be noted that the invention applies to any device mounted on the dashboard crossmember, between the dashboard and the bottom of the windshield, the head-up display device being an example among several devices likely to occupy this same place.

[0016] GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] To this end the invention proposes

[0018] A vehicle comprising: - a dashboard crossmember (2) arranged transversely to the vehicle, - a windshield lower structure (3) arranged transversely to the vehicle in front of the dashboard crossmember in the vehicle situation, - a head-up display device (1) comprising a housing,

[0019] said housing (10) being arranged between the windshield lower structure (3) and the dashboard crossmember,

[0020] said housing comprising means for fixing to the dashboard crossmember, said means for fixing to the dashboard crossmember being frangible beyond a given force,

[0021] said vehicle being remarkable in that it comprises means for deflecting the movement of the housing after the rupture of said frangible fixing means so as to limit the forces of the head-up display device housing on the dashboard crossmember and / or on at least one of the pieces of equipment arranged between the occupant and the head-up device.

[0022] Thus, during the impact, the movements of the housing of the head-up device are deflected so that the impact of the housing of the head-up device with the dashboard crossmember is avoided or partial and thus the forces applied to the dashboard crossmember are reduced.

[0023] During an impact at the front of the vehicle, the movements of the housing of the head-up display device are deflected so that the impact of the housing of the head-up display with at least one of the devices arranged between the housing of the head-up display device and the occupant, and / or one of the devices fixed to the dashboard crossmember behind the housing is avoided or reduced.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, the means for deflecting the movement of the head-up display device housing are arranged between the head-up display device housing and the dashboard crossmember.

[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, the means for deflecting the rearward movement of the head-up display device housing directs the movement of the head-up display device housing upwards.

[0026] Thus, during an impact at the front of the vehicle, the head-up display device housing is pushed towards the rear of the vehicle by the structural elements arranged under the windshield in front of said housing, and at the same time, following the rupture of the frangible fixing means, the deflection means direct the rearward movement of said head-up display device housing upwards so as to avoid and / or reduce an impact with the dashboard crossmember, and / or with at least one of the pieces of equipment arranged between the head-up display device housing and the occupant, and / or with one of the pieces of equipment fixed to the dashboard crossmember behind the head-up display device housing.

[0027] In one embodiment of the invention, the deflection means comprise a deflector plate arranged transversely relative to the vehicle, said deflector plate comprising, in the vehicle situation, a front edge and a rear edge parallel to the transverse axis of the vehicle, the front edge being located lower than the rear edge.

[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, the deflector plate is fixed to the dashboard crossmember.

[0029] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the deflector plate comprises stiffening ribs arranged on the lower face of the deflector plate.

[0030] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the stiffening ribs of the deflector plate are arranged in a longitudinal vertical plane of the vehicle.

[0031] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the deflector plate is a steel plate with a thickness of 0.8 to 3 mm, for example of the order of 2 mm.

[0032] Thus the rigidity of the deflector plate is sufficient to not flex upon impact of the head-up display device housing against said deflector plate following an impact at the front of the vehicle causing the head-up display device housing to recoil.

[0033] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the stiffening ribs of the deflector plate are fixed to the dashboard crossmember and to the deflector plate, for example by being welded to the dashboard crossmember and to the deflector plate,

[0034] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the head-up display device housing comprises a rear wall and / or a lower wall comprising reinforcing ribs oriented externally to the head-up display device housing, for example said reinforcing ribs of the rear wall being oriented in the direction of the deflector plate.

[0035] Thus, said reinforcing ribs serve as support during the impact of the head-up display device housing against the deflector plate. These reinforcing ribs arranged on the rear wall of the housing allow said housing to slide on the deflector plate so as to avoid or reduce an impact with the dashboard crossmember, and / or with at least one of the pieces of equipment arranged between the head-up display device housing and the occupant, and / or with one of the pieces of equipment fixed to the dashboard crossmember behind the head-up display device housing.

[0036] The invention relates to a dashboard crossmember comprising means for deflecting the rearward movement of a housing arranged between the dashboard crossmember and the lower windshield structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0038] [Fig. 1] represents a perspective view of the area located between the dashboard crossmember and the bottom of the windshield, and of the head-up display device arranged between the dashboard and the bottom windshield structure.

[0039] [Fig.2] represents a schematic view in section along a vertical and long plane horizontal of the head-up display device arranged between the dashboard crossmember and the lower structure of the windshield.

[0040] [Fig.3] shows a cross-section of the head-up display device housing and the deflector plate according to the invention

[0041] [Fig.4] shows a variant of attachment to the dashboard crossmember.

[0042] [Fig.5] represents a perspective view of the dashboard crossmember and the means of diversion.

[0043] [Fig.6] represents a view of the deflector plate and a rib of the deflector plate viatrice.

[0044] The drawings are schematic representations used to facilitate understanding of the invention. The components are not necessarily shown to scale.

[0045] In the following description, the term "comprise" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it allows the presence of other elements or means of a projector module. It is understood that the term "comprise" includes the terms "consist of". In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

[0046] The X direction is the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in running order, oriented from the front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle.

[0047] The Y direction is the transverse direction of the vehicle in running order.

[0048] The Z direction is the vertical of the vehicle facing upwards.

[0049] The schematic representations as presented are in a particular case of a head-up display device. It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to this particular case of a head-up display device but concerns all types of devices or housings installed between the vehicle crossmember and the bottom of the windshield.

[0050] [Fig. 1] shows a perspective view of the area between the dashboard crossmember and the bottom of the windshield, with the head-up display device arranged between the dashboard crossmember and the bottom of the windshield. In this view, the dashboard skin is not shown.

[0051] According to the invention, a vehicle comprises: - a dashboard crossmember 2 arranged transversely to the vehicle, - a lower windshield structure 3 arranged transversely to the vehicle in front of the dashboard crossmember 2 in the vehicle situation, - a head-up display device 1 comprising a housing 10.

[0052] Said housing 10 is arranged between the windshield bottom structure 3 and the dashboard crossmember 2.

[0053] Said housing 10 comprises means 4 for fixing to the dashboard crossmember 2, said means for fixing to the dashboard crossmember being frangible beyond a given force.

[0054] Said vehicle further comprises means 5 for deflecting the movement of the housing 10 after the rupture of said frangible fixing means 4 so as to limit the forces of the housing 10 on the dashboard crossmember 2 and / or on at least one of the pieces of equipment arranged between the occupant and the head-up device.

[0055] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the head-up display device 1 is arranged between the dashboard crossmember 2 and the windshield bottom structure 3. The device 1 comprises a housing 10. A structural crossmember called the lower bay crossmember 3 is arranged transversely along the vehicle at a lower edge of the windshield. [Fig.2] represents a section in a vertical and longitudinal plane of the housing 10. The housing 10 comprises a front wall 11 opposite the lower bay crossmember 3. The housing 10 comprises a rear wall 12 opposite the dashboard crossmember 2.

[0056] As shown in [Fig.4], the housing 10 comprises means 4 for fixing to the dashboard crossmember 2. The fixing means 4 comprise means for releasing said fixing means and / or comprise means that can be broken beyond a given force.

[0057] In a variant of the invention, the fixing means 4 each comprise a frangible tab. Beyond a given force caused by the movement of the lower bay crossmember 3 towards the rear and pushing the housing 10 towards the rear, each of the frangible tabs breaks, thus releasing the housing 10 from its fixing to the dashboard crossmember 2.

[0058] In another variant of the invention, the dashboard crossmember 2 comprises fixing lugs 41 which are each fixed respectively to the fixing means 4 of the housing by screws. The fixing lugs 41 comprise a programmed breaking part provided to release the fixing beyond a given force.

[0059] In the representation of [Fig. 4], each tab 41 is oriented forward in vehicle situation from the dashboard crossmember 2 in the direction of the housing 10. Each tab 41 has an orifice 42 for the passage of the screw and behind said orifice 42 an opening 43 of width less than the diameter of the screw and whose length is oriented in the direction of the dashboard crossmember 2. Beyond a given force caused by the movement of the lower bay crossmember 3 towards the rear and pushing the housing 10 towards the rear, each opening 43 moves apart or breaks so that each screw can be extracted from each corresponding orifice 42, thus releasing the fixings of the housing 10 to the dashboard crossmember 2.

[0060] In a particular variant of the invention, the housing 10 comprises means 4 for fixing to the dashboard crossmember 2 by screws that can be broken beyond a given force. Beyond a given force caused by the movement of the lower bay crossmember 3 towards the rear and pushing the housing 10 towards the rear, each of the breakable screws breaks, thus releasing the housing 10 from its fixing to the dashboard crossmember 2.

[0061] In a sub-variant of the invention, each breakable screw comprises a cylindrical body and a head, the cylindrical body comprising a groove under its head so that the head separates from the cylindrical body beyond a given force.

[0062] According to the invention, the means for deflecting the movement of the device are arranged between the housing 10 and the dashboard crossmember 2.

[0063] The deflection means 5 direct the movement of the housing 10 direct the movement of the housing upwards after the breakage of the frangible fixing means 4.

[0064] Thus, during an impact at the front of the vehicle, beyond a given force caused by the movement of the lower bay crossmember 3 towards the rear and pushing the housing 10 towards the rear, and after the breaking of the fixing means 4, the deflection means 5 direct the movement of the housing 10 towards the rear and upwards so that the housing 10 moves above the dashboard crossmember and / or equipment fixed on the dashboard crossmember opposite and to the rear of the housing 10.

[0065] Thus the impacts of the housing 10 with the dashboard crossmember 2 and / or equipment fixed on the dashboard crossmember opposite and at the rear of the housing 10.

[0066] Thus the movement of the housing 10 towards the rear following an impact at the front of the vehicle causes little or no movement towards the rear of the dashboard crossmember 2. Thus the movement of the housing 10 towards the rear following an impact at the front of the vehicle causes little or no movement towards the rear of equipment fixed on the dashboard crossmember 2 opposite and to the rear of the housing 10.

[0067] Thus the protection of the occupant behind and in front of the head-up display device is not degraded following an impact at the front of the vehicle.

[0068] As shown in [Fig.5], the deflection means 5 comprises a deflecting plate 51 arranged transversely relative to the vehicle, said deflecting plate 51 comprising, in the vehicle situation, a front edge 52 and a rear edge 53 parallel to the transverse axis of the vehicle, the front edge 52 being located lower than the rear edge.

[0069] The deflector plate 51 is fixed to the dashboard crossmember 2.

[0070] In a sub-variant of the invention, the deflector plate 51 is composed of two flat walls. A first flat wall 54 comprises the front edge 52 and an edge 55 adjacent to the second flat wall 56.

[0071] The normal to the first flat wall 54 is located in a vertical and longitudinal plane. The normal to the second flat wall 56 is located in a vertical and longitudinal plane. The edges 52, 53, and 55 are substantially parallel and substantially arranged transversely to the vehicle.

[0072] The acute angle, in a vertical plane, formed between the flat wall 54 and a horizontal plane is greater than or equal to the acute angle, in a vertical plane, formed between the wall plane 54 and a horizontal plane.

[0073] In another sub-variant of the invention, the deflector plate 51 comprises more than two flat plates.

[0074] In another particular sub-variant of the invention, the section of the deflector plate 51 in a vertical plane is an arc of a circle or a curve of evolving curvature.

[0075] The deflector plate 51 is in a variant of the invention made of steel sheet, with a thickness of 0.8 to 3 mm, for example 2 mm.

[0076] Thus the thickness of the deflector plate 51 made of steel sheet is sufficient not to bend when the rear wall 12 of the housing 10 impacts said deflector plate 51 following the rearward movement of the housing 10 and following the breakage of the fixing means 4 following an impact at the front of the vehicle causing the lower bay cross member 3 to move rearward and pushing the housing 10 rearward.

[0077] In a sub-variant of the invention, the deflector plate 51 is made of sheet steel, with a high elastic limit, or even a very high elastic limit.

[0078] The use of steel with a high elastic limit, or even a very high elastic limit, makes it possible to reduce the thickness of the deflector plate 51.

[0079] In a variant of the invention shown [Fig.6], the deflector plate 51 comprises one or more stiffening ribs 57 arranged on the lower face of the deflector plate, the stiffening ribs consisting of flat walls, for example welded to the deflector plate on the lower face in the vehicle situation.

[0080] The use of ribs makes it possible to increase the strength of the deflector plate 51 and makes it possible to prevent the latter from bending upon impact by the housing 10 following an impact at the front of the vehicle resulting in the recoil of said housing 10.

[0081] As shown in [Fig.6], the stiffening ribs 57 of the deflector plate (51) are arranged in a vertical and longitudinal plane of the vehicle.

[0082] In a sub-variant of the invention, the ribs are arranged in any manner relative to a vertical plane. In a particular sub-variant, the ribs 57 constitute a grid under the lower face of the deflector plate 51.

[0083] In the variant shown in [Fig.6], the deflector plate 51 is composed of two flat walls, a first flat wall 54 comprising the front edge 52 and an edge 55 contiguous to the second flat wall 56, the rib(s) being fixed under the lower face of the first flat wall 54 only, or the rib(s) being fixed under the lower face of the second flat wall 56, or the rib(s) being fixed under the lower face of the first flat wall 54 and under the lower face of the second flat wall 56.

[0084] In a variant of the invention, the deflector plate 51 comprises one or more ribs located in a vertical and longitudinal plane, said ribs being fixed to a edge, for example by welding, to the underside of the deflector plate and being fixed at an opposite edge, for example by welding, to the dashboard crossmember.

[0085] Thus the ribs play the dual role of stiffening the deflector plate 51 and fixing the deflector plate 51 to the dashboard crossmember 2.

[0086] In a variant of the invention, the vehicle comprises a deflector plate 51 according to the invention and a housing 10 comprising a rear wall 12 comprising reinforcing ribs, arranged externally to the housing 10, and oriented longitudinally in the direction of the deflector plate 51, and / or the housing 10 comprises a lower wall comprising reinforcing ribs arranged externally to the housing 10, so as to promote the sliding of the rear wall 12 and / or of the lower wall of the housing and therefore of the housing 10 on the deflector plate 51 during the recoil of the housing following an impact at the front of the vehicle.

[0087] The invention relates to a dashboard crossmember 2 comprising means for deflecting the rearward movement of an assembly contained in a housing, said assembly being arranged between the dashboard crossmember 2 and the windshield bottom structure 3.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle comprising: - a dashboard crossmember (2) arranged transversely to the vehicle, - a windshield bottom structure (3) arranged transversely to the vehicle in front of the dashboard crossmember in vehicle situation, - a head-up display device (1) comprising a housing (10), said housing (10) being arranged between the windshield bottom structure (3) and the dashboard crossmember, said housing comprising means (4) for fixing to the dashboard crossmember, said means (4) for fixing to the dashboard crossmember being frangible beyond a given force, said vehicle being characterized in that it comprises means (5) for deflecting the movement of the housing (10) after the rupture of said frangible fixing means (4) so as to limit the forces of the housing (10) on the dashboard crossmember (2) and / or on at least one of the equipment arranged between the occupant and the head-up device.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, in which the deflection means (5) are arranged between the housing (10) and the dashboard crossmember.

3. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 or 2 in which the means (5) for deflecting the rearward movement of the housing (10) direct the movement of the housing (10) upwards.

4. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims in which the deflection means (5) comprise a deflector plate (51) arranged transversely relative to the vehicle, said deflector plate (51) comprising, in the vehicle situation, a front edge (52) and a rear edge (53) parallel to the transverse axis of the vehicle, the front edge (52) being located lower than the rear edge (53).

5. Vehicle according to claim 4 in which the deflector plate (51) is a steel plate with a thickness of 0.8 to 3 mm, preferably of the order of 2 mm thick.

6. Vehicle according to one of claims 4 or 5 in which the deflector plate (51) is fixed to the dashboard crossmember (2).

7. Vehicle according to one of claims 4 to 6, in which the deflector plate (51) comprises stiffening ribs (57) arranged on the lower face of the deflector plate (51).

8. Vehicle according to claim 7 in which the stiffening ribs (57) are fixed to the dashboard crossmember (2) and to the deflector plate (51), preferably the stiffening ribs (57) are welded to the dashboard crossmember (2) and to the deflector plate (51)

9. Vehicle according to a combination of claims 1 and 4 to 7, comprising a housing, the housing (10) comprising a rear wall (12) and / or a lower wall comprising reinforcing ribs oriented externally to the head-up display device housing, so as to act as a support on the deflector plate (51) when the housing moves back, preferably said reinforcing ribs being oriented in the direction of the deflector plate (51).

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