Motor vehicle opening comprising an internal lining and a sealing element

Abstract

The invention relates to an opening (1) of a motor vehicle whose internal lining (10) has an opening (100) closed by a sealing element (14), the sealing element (14) comprising: - a base (140) having a first sealing surface (146) bearing on a bearing part (102) of the internal lining (10); - a head (142) integral with the base (140) by means of a connecting part (144); The opening (100) is delimited by an end portion (108) integral with the support portion (102), and forms with it an angle α of a value between 100° and 150°. The head (142) of the sealing element comprises a second sealing surface (148) bearing on the sealing end portion (108) (14). The sealing element (14) is configured such that the first sealing surface (146) and the second sealing surface (148) form an angle β between α-95° and α-85°. (See Fig. 3 for abbreviations.)

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle opening comprising an internal lining and a sealing element

[0001] The invention relates to the field of sealing motor vehicle openings, and in particular motor vehicle side doors.

[0002] A motor vehicle door generally comprises an internal lining secured to an external skin, a trim panel being fixed to the internal lining.

[0003] The internal lining has openings allowing the mounting and / or access to certain internal components of the door, for example certain components of the window regulator devices. The sealing of the door is generally ensured by sealing elements such as that described in the French patent application published under number FR 3 089 196 AL

[0004] Such a shutter element is visible in [Fig.l], which is a sectional view of a part of an opening, in the example a side door of a motor vehicle. The door shown in [Fig.l] comprises an outer skin P and an inner lining D together defining an internal space. A shutter element O is partially inserted into an opening made in the inner lining D. The shutter element O is a hollow element, which in the example of [Fig.l] has a circular cross-section. It comprises a base B secured to a head T, the base B resting on the inner lining D while the head T is inserted into the opening made in the inner lining D.The head T comprises a sealing surface S of annular shape which is held in contact with the free end of a fallen edge Bt forming an angle substantially equal to 90° with a part of the internal lining D, and thus forming a bearing surface for the shutter element O.

[0005] The shutter element is generally manufactured by thermoforming a sheet of plastic material. In order to ensure the desired behavior of the shutter element, it comprises within the head T, close to the sealing surface S, a cavity C. During thermoforming operations, the production of the cavity C requires the use of a shim, which must be able to be held in place during the forming of the material and then removed. The shims used must have a minimum thickness, generally a thickness of several millimeters. If it is desired to reduce the size of the shutter element by reducing its height Ht, it is therefore not possible to reduce the height of the cavity C.

[0006] The invention aims to propose a sealing element of the type described above, the design of which makes it possible to reduce the size.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a motor vehicle opening comprising a internal lining secured to an external skin, the internal lining comprising at least one opening closed by a removable sealing element, the sealing element comprising:

[0008] - a base disposed outside an interior space formed between the outer skin and the inner liner, the base comprising a first sealing surface bearing on a bearing surface formed by a bearing portion of the inner liner, the bearing portion surrounding the opening along the entire periphery thereof;

[0009] - a head arranged within the interior space and secured to the base by through a connecting party;

[0010] the opening of the internal lining being delimited by a fallen edge, formed by an end part integral with the support part, and forming with the latter an angle a of value between 100° and 150°, the head of the sealing element comprising a second sealing surface which bears on the free end of the end part forming the fallen edge, the sealing element being configured such that the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface form an angle b whose value is between the value equal to a-95° and the value equal to a-85°.

[0011] Thus, by providing that the edge of the opening provided in the internal lining is formed by an inclined fallen edge, forming with the base of this edge an angle greater than 100°, and by inclining the sealing surface of the sealing element in contact with the fallen edge, the shape of the cavity formed within the head is modified in a manner facilitating its manufacture. It then becomes possible to reduce the size of this cavity and thus the height of the sealing element.

[0012] In one embodiment, the angle a is between 105° and 135°, and preferably between 110° and 130°, and for example between 115 and 125°.

[0013] In one embodiment, the angle b is between a-92° and a-88°, and for example equal to a-90°.

[0014] In one embodiment, the angle a is between 115° and 125°, the angle b being equal to a-90°.

[0015] In one embodiment, the sealing element is manufactured by thermoforming a sheet of a plastic material.

[0016] In one embodiment, the sealing element is made from a sheet of plastic material comprising polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0017] In one embodiment, the inner lining and / or the outer skin is (are) made from a metallic material, such as steel.

[0018] In one embodiment, the opening forms a side door of a motor vehicle.

[0019] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one opening conforming to that defined above.

[0020] The present invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0021] [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1], previously described, partially represents a motor vehicle door equipped with a known shutter element.

[0022] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a motor vehicle door according to the invention.

[0023] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a sectional view of the door of [Fig.2].

[0024] [Fig. 2] and 3 illustrate a door 1 of a motor vehicle according to the invention, in the example a left front side door. The door 1 comprises an internal lining 10 secured to an external skin 12. A trim panel, not shown in [Fig.2], is fixed to the internal lining 10. The internal lining 10 comprises at least one opening 100 closed by a removable sealing element 14. The sealing element 14 makes it possible to prevent water infiltration into the door 1, and can be removed if it is necessary to work on components of the door 1 arranged between the internal lining 10 and the external skin 12. The door 1 also comprises a retractable window 16.

[0025] As visible in [Fig. 3], which is a partial sectional view of the door 1 in a plane passing at the level of the opening 100, the sealing element 14 comprises a base 140, intended to be arranged outside an internal space 18 formed between the external skin 12 and the internal lining 10, and more precisely to be arranged bearing on the internal lining 10. The sealing element 14 further comprises a head 142, integral with the base 142 and forming a projection therefrom. The head 142 is intended to be arranged within the internal space 18 located between the internal lining 10 and the external skin 12. The head 142 is in the example linked to the base 140 by a connecting part 144. The base 140, the connecting part 144 and the head 142 are preferably made in one piece.

[0026] The base 140 of the sealing element 14 comprises a first sealing surface 146 which bears on the internal lining 10, at a bearing portion 102 of the internal lining 10. The bearing portion 102 surrounds the opening 100 along its entire periphery, and forms a bearing surface 104 for the base 140. The first sealing surface 146 and the bearing surface 104 are in contact so as to ensure a seal between the base 140 and the bearing portion 102, in particular a watertight seal.

[0027] The opening 100 formed in the internal lining 10 is delimited by a flanged edge 106. The flanged edge 106 is formed by an end portion 108 secured to one end of the support portion 102, and forming with the latter an angle α. According to the invention, the angle α is between 100° and 150°, and is preferably between 100° and 135° or between 110° and 130° and for example equal to 120°. The free end of the end portion 108 is in sealed contact with a second surface sealing surface 148 formed on the head 142 of the sealing element 14. The first sealing surface 146 and the second sealing surface 148 are arranged on either side of the connecting portion 144, so as to grip the end portion 108. In addition, the first sealing surface 146 and the second sealing surface 148 form an angle b allowing the second sealing surface 148 to be oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the end portion 108 forming the fallen edge 106 delimiting the opening 100. In other words, the value of the angle b is close to the value a-90°, and is for example between a-95° and a-85°. This configuration of the opening 100 provided in the internal lining 10 and of the sealing element 14 makes it possible to ensure the required sealing, while making it possible to avoid the dimensional constraints linked to the manufacture of the sealing element.Indeed, the value of the angle b, which depends on the value of the angle a, makes it possible to provide an improved shape of the head 144 with a flared shape of the cavity 150. The cavity 150 thus has a flared shape forming an angle g whose value is substantially equal to that of the angle b, as visible in [Fig. 3]. This flared shape of the cavity 150 makes it possible to reduce the height of the cavity 150 and therefore the height of the head 142, while simplifying the thermoforming step (in particular by simplifying the use of shims). Thus the total height H of the sealing element according to the invention can be reduced, and its size is thus reduced. A gain of the order of 5 to 10 millimeters compared to the shutter element of [Fig. 1] can be easily obtained thanks to the invention.

[0028] Advantageously, the sealing element 14 is manufactured by thermoforming a sheet of a plastic material, comprising for example polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0029] Advantageously, the inner lining and / or the outer skin is (are) made from a metallic material, such as steel.

Claims

Claims

1. Opening (1) of a motor vehicle comprising an internal lining (10) secured to an external skin (12), the internal lining (10) comprising at least one opening (100) closed by a removable sealing element (14), the sealing element (14) comprising: - a base (140) arranged outside an internal space (18) formed between the external skin (12) and the internal lining (10), the base (140) comprising a first sealing surface (146) bearing on a bearing surface (104) formed by a bearing portion (102) of the internal lining (10), the bearing portion (102) surrounding the opening (100) along the entire periphery thereof; - a head (142) arranged within the internal space (18) and secured to the base (140) by means of a connecting part (144);the opening (100) of the internal lining (10) being delimited by a fallen edge (106), formed by an end portion (108) integral with the support portion (102), and forming with the latter an angle a of value between 100° and 150°, the head (142) of the sealing element comprising a second sealing surface (148) which bears on the free end of the end portion (108) forming the fallen edge (106), the sealing element (14) being configured such that the first sealing surface (146) and the second sealing surface (148) form an angle b of value between a-95° and a-85°.;

2. Opening (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the angle a is between 105° and 135°, and preferably between 110° and 130°, and for example between 115 and 125°.

3. Opening (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the angle b is between a-92° and a-88°, and for example equal to a-90°.

4. Opening (1) according to claims 1 to 3, in which the angle a is between 115° and 125°, the angle b being equal to a-90°.

5. Opening (1) of a motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sealing element (14) is manufactured by thermoforming a sheet of a plastic material.

6. Opening (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the sealing element (14) is manufactured from a sheet of plastic material comprising polyethylene or polypropylene.

7. Opening (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the internal lining (10) and / or the external skin (12) is (are) manufactured from

8. from a metallic material, such as steel. Opening (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which forms a side door of a motor vehicle.

9. Motor vehicle comprising at least one opening (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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