MOUNTING BRACKET FOR TWO VEHICLE EQUIPMENT ITEMS

Abstract

Vehicle support (1), intended to be fixed to a part of the vehicle structure, the support (1) comprising a first fixing zone (11) for fixing the support 1 to the vehicle structure, a second fixing zone (12) for fixing a fender, characterized in that it comprises a third fixing zone (13) for fixing vehicle equipment. Figure for abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: SUPPORT FOR FIXING TWO VEHICLE EQUIPMENT TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles and more particularly concerns the function of fixing exterior equipment parts of a vehicle, taking into account the need to position said equipment parts with each other.

[0002] The invention also relates to the function of absorbing pedestrian impacts at the level of said exterior equipment, in particular at the level of a front lateral end of the vehicle.

[0003] The invention thus relates to a support which provides this fixing function for a front wing and / or a front headlight and which also comprises means for absorbing head impacts occurring mainly at the upper part of the vehicle wing.

[0004] The invention relates to a vehicle comprising such a support and the equipment parts fixed to said support.

[0005] TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is known to fix front wings on supports which allow these head impacts to be absorbed. These supports allow wings of different shapes and sizes to be fixed on the same basic structure depending on the silhouettes of vehicles.

[0007] Thus, patent document FR2911106 describes a support for a front wing of a motor vehicle. This support comprises an interface for attachment to the body and another interface for attaching a front wing, said support having the capacity to be crushed during a pedestrian impact, in particular during a head impact on the wing, so as to reduce the effects of the head impact on the wing.

[0008] Furthermore, it is necessary to be able to fix, with economy of means, on the same vehicle structure base not only a wing but also a front headlight and to respect clearance and flush conditions between the front headlight and the wing, while having good properties of absorption of the energy of a head impact on the wing and / or on the front headlight.

[0009] The invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned state of the art. More particularly, the invention aims to have a single support for the wing and the front headlight.

[0010] The prior art is therefore not effective enough to provide a definition of a support which allows both a front wing and a headlight to be fixed. before, to ensure the correct positioning of the parts between them, and also to ensure sufficient absorption of the energy of a head impact on the wing and / or on the headlight.

[0011] 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 allow economical fixing and good positioning between them of the front wing and the front headlight, and absorption of the energy of a pedestrian head impact in the area of ​​the front wing and / or the front headlight.

[0012] GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] To this end, the invention proposes a vehicle support, intended to be fixed to a structural part of the vehicle, the support comprising - a first fixing zone intended for fixing the support to the structure of the vehicle, - a second fixing zone intended for fixing a wing, characterized in that it comprises a third fixing zone intended for fixing vehicle equipment.

[0014] A single support for fixing a wing and vehicle equipment has the advantage of ensuring the fixing of the wing and the equipment with economy of means.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the first fixing zone is arranged at a distance from the second fixing zone in a vertical direction.

[0016] In one embodiment of the invention, the support comprises a substantially planar plate comprising the first fixing zone and the third fixing zone, said third fixing zone being arranged at a longitudinal end of said plate.

[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, the third fixing zone comprises means for positioning the equipment in the longitudinal direction, and in a transverse direction, and preferably in the vertical direction, these longitudinal and transverse directions being perpendicular to each other and to the vertical direction.

[0018] Thus the wing and the equipment, being fixed and positioned on a single support, are well arranged geometrically in relation to each other, so as to comply with prescribed clearance and flush conditions.

[0019] In one embodiment of the invention, the means for positioning the equipment comprise a lug extending in the longitudinal direction from an edge of the plate to the longitudinal end of the third fixing zone, the lug being intended for transverse positioning of the equipment.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the third fixing zone is an end wall of the plate at the longitudinal end of said plate, comprising the lug and a means of complementary positioning of the equipment at least in the longitudinal direction.

[0021] Thus the invention allows on the support a positioning of the equipment in the longitudinal direction and, alternatively, also a positioning in the vertical direction.

[0022] In one embodiment of the invention, the support comprises a part projecting substantially in the vertical direction from the plate, the second fixing zone being arranged at the end of the projecting part.

[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, the projecting part comprises frangible zones arranged between the plate and the second fixing zone, so as to allow the second fixing zone to move towards the plate when a force directed from the second fixing zone towards the plate is applied and when said force exceeds a given value by breaking said frangible zones.

[0024] Thus, during an impact exerted with a vertical component from the second fixing zone towards the plate when the impact exerts a force exceeding a given value, the frangible zones break and allow part of the energy of the impact to be absorbed.

[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, the projecting portion comprises a first edge extending from the plate and a second edge arranged vertically above the first edge,

[0026] - the second slice comprising the end of the projecting part,

[0027] - the two slices being separated by the frangible zones,

[0028] - the two slices being linked to the frangible zones,

[0029] - the first slice being hollow and of larger internal section than the section outer section of the second slice so as to allow the second slice to pass into the inner section of the first slice following the rupture of the frangible zones when applying a force directed from the second fixing zone towards the plate and when said force exceeds a given value causing the rupture of said frangible zone.

[0030] Thus, during an impact exerted with a vertical component from the second fixing zone towards the plate when the impact exerts a force exceeding a given value, the frangible zones break and the shapes of the support make it possible to guide the movement of the second zone towards the plate.

[0031] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising on the same lateral side of the vehicle a front wing, a headlight and a support according to the invention, in which the support is fixed to a part of the front structure of the vehicle by its first fixing zone, in which the front wing is fixed to the second fixing zone of the support and in which the projector forms equipment fixed to the third fixing zone of the support.

[0032] Thus, during a head impact exerted on the wing at the level of the second fixing zone in the direction of the plate, following the rupture of the frangible zones, when the forces due to the impact exceed a given value, part of the effects of the impact on the head is reduced.

[0033] Furthermore, the movement of the part of the wing linked to the second fixing zone is guided by the fact that the movement of bringing the second fixing zone towards the first fixing zone, i.e. towards the plate, is guided by sliding of the second slice along the first slice. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] 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:

[0035] [Fig-1] represents a general perspective view of the support according to the invention.

[0036] [Fig.2] represents a partial view from the inside of the vehicle of a wing and a front projector assembled to the bracket.

[0037] The drawings are schematic representations used to facilitate understanding of the invention. The components are not necessarily shown to scale.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] The Y direction is the transverse direction of the vehicle in running order.

[0041] The Z direction is the vertical of the vehicle facing upwards.

[0042] Furthermore, the term "substantially" will be used to indicate that a slight deviation is allowed from a predetermined nominal position or arrangement, while remaining included within the scope of the invention.

[0043] In the detailed description which follows, the invention describes a support for a front wing and for a front headlight. The term headlight means light projection device without prejudging the nature of the light signal produced.

[0044] The invention is in no way limiting to this case and the transposition of the invention to other supports for pieces of equipment is within the reach of a person skilled in the art. For example, the pieces of equipment can be a wing and an exterior scenery device or a wing and a sensor or camera.

[0045] The support 1 shown in [Fig.l] is a support for a wing 2 and a vehicle equipment 4, said support 1 being intended to be fixed to a structural part 5 of the vehicle, the support 1 comprising - a first fixing zone 11 intended for fixing the support 1 to the structural part of the vehicle, - a second fixing zone 12 intended for fixing a first piece of equipment, , and a third fixing zone 13 intended for fixing a second piece of vehicle equipment.

[0046] The first fixing zone 11 is arranged at a distance from the second fixing zone 12 in a vertical direction. The third fixing zone 13 comprises means for positioning the second equipment in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction, these longitudinal and transverse directions being perpendicular to each other and to the vertical direction.

[0047] In the vehicle situation, the support 1 being fixed to a part of the structure of the vehicle, the vertical direction of the support is substantially aligned with the Z direction of the vehicle, the transverse direction is substantially the Y direction of the vehicle and the longitudinal direction of the support is substantially aligned with the X direction of the vehicle.

[0048] Thus, the equipment and the wing being fixed and positioned on the same support have this support as a common reference, and are thus geometrically arranged relative to each other so as to comply with the clearance and flush conditions prescribed between the two pieces of equipment.

[0049] In a variant of the invention, the wing and the equipment comprise facing and partially aligned edges which, for reasons of perceived quality, comply with the clearance and flush conditions prescribed between the two pieces of equipment.

[0050] The support 1 comprises a substantially flat plate 10 comprising the first fixing zone 11 and the third fixing zone 13, said third fixing zone 13 being arranged at a longitudinal end of said plate.

[0051] The plate 10 as shown in [Fig.l], is flat, and extends substantially in a horizontal plane in the vehicle position.

[0052] In other words, the plate 10 comprises substantially horizontal flat walls, an end wall 103 of which forms the longitudinal end intended for fixing the second piece of equipment.

[0053] Thus the plate 10 makes it possible to position the equipment by the end wall 103 in relation to the vertical direction by pressing on the wall 103.

[0054] The end wall 103 comprises at its longitudinal end a lug 104, intended for the lateral positioning of the second equipment. As shown in [Fig.l], the lug 104 is a protrusion, substantially in the form of a pin, and in the plane of the end wall 103, comprising at least one edge perpendicular to the transverse direction on which an edge of the second equipment is intended to bear transversely.

[0055] As shown in [Fig.l], the third fixing zone (13) further comprises a means for complementary positioning of the equipment (4) at least in the longitudinal direction.

[0056] The complementary positioning means comprises an orifice 105 intended for the longitudinal positioning of the second equipment, said orifice 105 comprising an edge perpendicular to the longitudinal direction on which a part of the second equipment is intended to rest longitudinally.

[0057] In a variant of the invention, a centering pin is used to position the equipment relative to the orifice 105.

[0058] The complementary positioning means further comprises a hole 106 intended for fixing, for example by screwing or clipping, the equipment 4. The equipment 4 is thus held vertically by this fixing on the end wall 103, bearing on the end wall 103.

[0059] The plate 10 comprises at least one fixing hole 101 intended for fixing, for example by screwing or clipping, the support 1 to a structural part of the vehicle.

[0060] In a variant of the invention, the plate 10 further comprises an orifice intended for a centering pin or a centering pin made in one piece with the plate 10, the centering pin being intended to position the support 1 relative to the structure 5 of the vehicle.

[0061] The support 1 comprises at least one projecting part 15, 16 from the plate 10 substantially in the vertical direction Z relative to said plate 10, the second fixing zone 12 being arranged at the end of the projecting part 15, 16.

[0062] In the representation of [Fig.l], the plate 10 comprises two projecting parts, 15, 16.

[0063] The second fixing zone 12 is arranged at the end of the projecting parts 15, 16. In the representation of [Fig. 1], the support 1 comprises at the end of each projecting part 15, 16, respectively an end wall 152, 162, substantially flat and substantially parallel to the plate 10. Each of the walls 152, 162 comprises an orifice intended for fixing the first equipment, for example by screwing or clipping.

[0064] In other words, the end walls 152, 162 form the zone 12 for fixing the first equipment.

[0065] The support 1 further comprises frangible zones arranged between the plate 10 and the second fixing zone 12, so as to allow the second fixing zone 12 to move towards the plate 10 when a force directed from the second fixing zone 12 towards the plate 10 is applied and when said force exceeds a given value by rupture of said frangible zone.

[0066] Thus, the consequences of an impact on the first equipment, a component of which comprises a force directed from the second fixing zone 12 towards the plate 10, i.e. towards the first fixing zone 11, and when said force exceeds a given value, will be reduced by the rupture of the frangible zones.

[0067] According to the invention, the projecting part or each projecting part 15, 16, comprises a first edge extending from the plate 10 and a second edge arranged vertically above the first edge.

[0068] The second slice comprises the end of the projecting part 15, 16.

[0069] The two slices are separated by the frangible zones, and linked together by the frangible zones.

[0070] The first slice is hollow and has a larger internal section than the external section of the second slice so as to allow the second slice to pass into the internal section of the first slice, following the rupture of the frangible zones

[0071] For example, as shown in [Fig.l], the first projecting part 15 comprises a first slice comprising walls 151 forming in section in a horizontal plane a substantially U-shaped shape, the walls being substantially vertical. The interior of this projecting part is the interior part of the U.

[0072] The first projecting part 15 comprises a second edge comprising walls 153 forming in section in a horizontal plane a substantially U-shape, the walls 153 being substantially vertical. The walls of the U formed by the second edge of the projecting part 15, 16 are offset towards the inside of the U. The first edge and the second edge are substantially aligned on the same substantially vertical axis Z. The outer face of each wall 153 of the second edge is thus able to slide inside the U of the first edge, along an inner face of each wall 151 of the first edge following a rupture of the frangible part.

[0073] Each wall 151 forming a branch and / or the base of the U of the first slice is connected to the plate 10 and to the frangible part. The frangible part is connected to each wall (ref) forming the branches and / or the base of the U of the second slice.

[0074] The frangible zones of the projecting part are formed by frangible walls 154 connected respectively to walls 151 of the first slice and to walls 153 of the second slice closest to each other, the walls 153 of the second slice being offset towards the inside of the U relative to the walls 151 of the first slice, to which they are connected by means of the walls 154. The frangible walls 154 consist for example of walls of thicknesses thinned compared to the thicknesses of the walls 151 and / or 153, respectively of the first slice and of the second slice, and / or comprise weakenings by cutouts and / or orifices and / or grooves.

[0075] In a variant of the invention, the walls 151 and 153 are connected by bars at each of their longitudinal or transverse ends.

[0076] The second projecting part 16 according to [Fig.l], comprises a first edge comprising walls 161 forming in section in a horizontal plane a substantially L-shape, the walls 161 being substantially vertical. The interior of this projecting part is the interior part of the L. This second projecting part 16 comprises a second edge comprising walls 163 forming in section in a horizontal plane a substantially L-shape, the walls 163 being substantially vertical.

[0077] Frangible portions are arranged between the first slice and the second slice of the second projecting portion 16 and are formed by frangible walls 164 connecting the walls 161 to the nearest walls 163.

[0078] The walls 163 of the L formed by the second slice of this second projecting part are offset towards the inside of the L relative to the walls 161. The outer face of each wall 163 of the second L-shaped slice is thus able to slide inside the L of the first slice, along an inner face of one of the walls of the first slice following a rupture of the frangible walls 164.

[0079] Each wall 163 is connected on one side to the frangible zones and on the other to the wall 162 of the second fixing zone.

[0080] The frangible zones of the second projecting part 16 are formed by frangible walls 164 respectively connecting a wall 161 of the first L-shaped section to the wall 163 of the second closest L-shaped section.

[0081] The frangible walls 164 of the second projecting part consist of walls of thicknesses thinned relative to the thicknesses of the walls of the first slice and / or of the second L-shaped slice and / or comprise weakenings by cutouts and / or orifices and / or grooves.

[0082] In a variant of the invention, the walls 161 and 163 are connected by bars at each of the longitudinal or transverse ends.

[0083] Thus, following a break in the frangible part of the second projecting part, the L-shaped parts of the second section are guided inside the L-shaped parts of the first section, the outer faces of the walls 163 of the second L-shaped section being guided by the inner faces of the walls 161 of the first L-shaped section.

[0084] As shown in [Fig.l], the support 1 comprises two projecting parts 15, 16 aligned along the longitudinal axis, the first fixing zone 11 being on the plate 10 and arranged between said two projecting parts 15, 16 and the second fixing zone 12 being arranged at the two ends of the projecting parts.

[0085] According to the representation of [Fig.l], the first projecting part 15 comprising U-shaped edges is arranged longitudinally closer to the end wall 103 than the projecting part 16. The second projecting part 16 comprising the L-shaped edges is arranged opposite the end wall 103 relative to the first projecting part.

[0086] As shown in [Fig.l], the projecting portion 16 comprising the L-shaped edge is arranged at a longitudinal end of the support 1 opposite the third fixing zone 13, and the projecting portion 15 comprising the U-shaped edge is arranged between the projecting portion 16 and the third zone 13.

[0087] Having a projecting part 16 at the longitudinal end of the support 1 allows a saving in space at the end of the support 1. One edge of the L is arranged substantially in the longitudinal direction of the support 1 and joined at its end furthest from the end of the support, furthest from the third zone 13, the other edge of the L which is arranged substantially in the transverse direction of the support 1.

[0088] The support 10 comprises between the first projecting part and the second projecting part a wall portion comprising an orifice 101 intended for fixing the support 10 to a structural part of the vehicle. In the representation of [Fig. 1], the fixing orifice 101 of the plate 10 to the structural part (not shown) is arranged between the first projecting part 15 and the second projecting part 16. The fixing of the plate 10 is preferably carried out by screwing or possibly by clipping.

[0089] In the representation of the invention of [Fig.l], the first fixing zone 11, the two ends of the projecting zones 15, 16 and the third fixing zone 13 are substantially aligned in the longitudinal direction, said longitudinal direction being the longitudinal direction of the support.

[0090] In a variant of the invention, the third fixing zone 13 comprises a frangible portion arranged between the fixing means 104, 105, 106 of the equipment and the projecting part 15. For example, as shown in [Fig.l], the end wall 103 extends to the first projecting part 15 and comprises at its junction with this first projecting part 15 frangible means 107 intended to break beyond a given limit force. The frangible means are formed for example by weakenings created in the end wall 103 in the proximity of one of the walls 151, such as reductions in thickness, openings created in the wall 103.

[0091] In other words, the equipment being fixed to said end wall 103, a force exerted on said equipment beyond a given limit force causes the rupture of the equipment and of the portion of plate 10 carrying the projecting parts 15, 16.

[0092] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising, on the same lateral side of the vehicle, a front wing 2, a headlight 4 and a support 1 according to the invention, in which the support 1 is fixed to a part of the front structure of the vehicle by its first fixing zone. In the representation of [Fig.2], the front wing 2 is fixed to the second fixing zone (12) and the headlight 4 forms the equipment fixed to the third fixing zone 13 of the support 1.

[0093] As shown in the embodiment of [Fig.2], the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the support 1, the transverse direction Y of the vehicle is parallel to the transverse direction of the support 1, and the vertical direction Z of the vehicle is identical to the vertical direction of the support 1 and oriented in the same direction.

[0094] Thus, a support 1 according to the invention allows a wing 2 and a projector 4 to be fixed to the same support 1 by a single and same part, so as to facilitate the respective positioning of said projector 4 and the wing 2, the wing 2 and the projector 4 comprising portions of edges facing each other and aligned for which clearance and flush conditions are prescribed.

[0095] When a pedestrian's head impacts the top of the wing and beyond a limited force, the frangible walls 154 and 164 break, which makes it possible to reduce the effects of the impact suffered by the pedestrian's head.

[0096] During an impact on the projector 4 and beyond a limit force, the frangible means 107 break and make it possible to reduce the effects of the impact both on a pedestrian and / or on the projector 4.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle support (1), intended to be fixed to a structural part (5) of the vehicle, the support (1) comprising - a first fixing zone (11) intended for fixing the support 1 to the structure (5) of the vehicle, - a second fixing zone (12) intended for fixing a wing (2), characterized in that it comprises a third fixing zone (13) intended for fixing equipment (4) of the vehicle, - a substantially planar plate (10) comprising the first fixing zone (11) and the third fixing zone (13), said third fixing zone (13) being arranged at a longitudinal end of said plate (10), and - a projecting part (15, 16) substantially in the vertical direction Z from the plate (10), the second fixing zone (12) being arranged at the end of the projecting part (15, 16), characterized in that the projecting part (15,16) comprises frangible zones arranged between the plate (10) and the second fixing zone (12), so as to allow the second fixing zone (12) to move towards the plate (10) when applying a force directed from the second fixing zone (12) towards the plate (10) and when said force exceeds a value given by rupture of said frangible zones.,

2. Support (1) according to claim 1, in which the first fixing zone (11) is arranged at a distance from the second fixing zone (12) in a vertical direction Z.

3. Support (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, in which the third fixing zone (13) comprises means (104, 105, 106) for positioning the equipment (4) in the longitudinal direction X, and in a transverse direction Y, and preferably in the vertical direction Z, these longitudinal directions X and transverse Y being perpendicular to each other and to the vertical direction Z.

4. Support (1) according to claim 3, in which the positioning means comprise a lug (104) extending in the longitudinal direction X from an edge of the plate (10) to the longitudinal end of the third fixing zone (13), the lug (104) being intended for transverse positioning of the equipment (4).

5. Support according to claim 4, the third fixing zone (13) of which is an end wall of the plate (10) at the longitudinal end of said plate (10), comprising the lug (104) and a complementary positioning means (105, 106) of the equipment (4) at least in the longitudinal direction X.

6. Support (1) according to claim 5, the projecting part (15) of which comprises a first edge extending from the plate (10) and a second edge arranged vertically above the first edge, - the second edge comprising the end of the projecting part (15), - the two edges being separated by frangible zones, - the two edges being linked to the frangible zones, - the first edge being hollow and of larger internal section than the external section of the second edge so as to allow the second edge to pass into the internal section of the first edge following the rupture of the frangible zones when applying a force directed from the second fixing zone (12) towards the plate (10) and when said force exceeds a given value causing the rupture of said frangible zone.

7. Vehicle comprising on the same lateral side of the vehicle a front wing (2), a headlight (4) and a support (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the support (1) is fixed to a part of the front structure (5) of the vehicle by its first fixing zone (11), and in which the front wing (2) is fixed to the second fixing zone (12) of the support (1) and in which the headlight (4) forms equipment fixed to the third fixing zone (13) of the support (1).

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