Reinforcement lining for a motor vehicle hood and canopy

Abstract

The invention relates to a lining reinforcement for a hood and cowl of a motor vehicle. The lining reinforcement (2) comprises a first part (4) connected to a second part (6) via a junction zone (8). Attachment means (10) to a hood lining (12) of a motor vehicle are present only at the first part (4) and the second part (6) of the lining reinforcement (2). The junction zone (8) extends along a longitudinal axis (AA') and is capable of elastic deformation to allow the first part (4) to pivot about an axis of rotation perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (AA'). (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Reinforcement for the lining of a hood and canopy of a motor vehicle. Technical field to which the invention relates

[0001] The present invention relates to a hood for a motor vehicle comprising a lining reinforcement. Technological background

[0002] In a known manner, a hood for a motor vehicle consists of an external panel superimposed on an internal panel, the internal panel being intended to be opposite the engine compartment of the motor vehicle.

[0003] To provide the hood with a certain geometric stability, as well as some static rigidity and inertia, a lining is glued and / or crimped to the periphery of the outer panel. Shims, generally made of low-strength sealant, ensure a bond between the outer panel and the lining over the remaining surface of the inner panel.

[0004] To limit hood vibration during driving, the use of mechanical reinforcements fixed against the lining is known. These mechanical reinforcements, also called lining reinforcements, are notably positioned at the hood hinges.

[0005] However, the presence of the cowl grille seal at the hood hinges prevents the lining reinforcements from extending towards the windshield beyond the hood hinges of the motor vehicle. Indeed, to preserve the seal, it is prohibited to weld or clinch a lining reinforcement onto said seal.

[0006] Consequently, the lining reinforcements are absent from an area adjacent to the cowl grille joint, referred to as the "interface zone" in the following description. This interface zone is therefore susceptible to airflow across the hood surface. Under driving conditions, the interface zone may begin to vibrate and cause auditory discomfort for the vehicle's occupants.

[0007] The invention aims to solve this problem of vibration, in driving conditions, of an area adjacent to the seal of the cowl grille of a hood of a motor vehicle. Object of the invention

[0008] For this purpose, the invention relates to a lining reinforcement for a motor vehicle hood, comprising a first part linked to a second part via a junction zone.

[0009] The invention is remarkable in that means for fixing to a hood lining of a motor vehicle are present only at the level of the first part and the second part of the lining reinforcement, and the junction zone extends along a longitudinal axis and the junction zone is capable of deforming elastically to allow the pivoting of the first part, around an axis of rotation perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

[0010] Advantageously, the junction zone allows two hood lining reinforcements, positioned on either side of a cowl grille joint, to be mechanically joined without the need to weld or clinch a mechanical reinforcement onto the grille joint. Thus, the hood and cowl of a motor vehicle can be mechanically reinforced by means of a single lining reinforcement, as close as possible to an area adjacent to the cowl grille joint, also called the interface zone. Therefore, the invention offers an economical and easy-to-implement solution for limiting cowl vibration during driving.

[0011] According to another feature of the invention, the length of the junction zone, measured along the longitudinal axis, is between 2 cm and 15 cm, preferably between 5 cm and 10 cm.

[0012] According to another feature of the invention, the width of the junction zone, measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, is between 2 cm and 10 cm, preferably between 3 cm and 6 cm.

[0013] According to another feature of the invention, the thickness of the junction zone is between 1 cm and 3 cm, preferably between 1.5 cm and 2 cm.

[0014] According to another feature of the invention, the junction zone is made from a synthetic polymer.

[0015] According to another feature of the invention, the junction zone has an overthickness which extends parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

[0016] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a lining reinforcement as described above, comprising a first part of the lining reinforcement fixed to a lining of the hood of the motor vehicle, and a second part of the reinforcement fixed to the canopy of the motor vehicle.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the junction area spans a grid joint of the canopy.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the junction zone extends along a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the canopy grid joint at the level of the canopy grid joint spanned by the junction zone.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the first part of the lining reinforcement is fixed at the level of a hood hinge.

[0020] Other advantages and features will become clearer from the description that follows. Description of the figures

[0021] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0022] [Fig. 1] represents a partial perspective view of a motor vehicle comprising a lining reinforcement according to the invention, a first part of which is fixed to the hood of the motor vehicle and a second part is fixed to the canopy of said vehicle. Detailed description of the invention

[0023] As a reminder, the invention proposes a lining reinforcement to reduce vibrations, in driving conditions, at the level of an area adjacent to the sealing joint of a canopy grille of a motor vehicle.

[0024] For this purpose, as illustrated by [Fig.1], a lining reinforcement 2 according to the invention consists of a first part 4 linked to a second part 6 via a junction zone 8.

[0025] According to the present example, the first part 4, the second part 6 and the junction zone 8 are made from the same material, such as a synthetic polymer.

[0026] The first part 4 and the second part 6 comprise means 10 for attaching the lining reinforcement to a support such as a hood lining and / or hood of a motor vehicle. In this example, the attachment means consist of appendages, each having a free end designed to fit into a recess provided for this purpose in a hood or in a cowl of a motor vehicle. As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the attachment means 10 allow, by means of a clinching technique, the retention of the first part 4 of the lining reinforcement 2 against a hood lining 12, and the retention of the second part 6 against a cowl 14 of a motor vehicle.

[0027] It should be noted that the first part 4 also includes passages allowing the insertion of fixing screws 16 holding a hinge to the hood 18. Thus, the first part 4 of the lining reinforcement is held to the hood at the level of a hinge.

[0028] Advantageously, the first part 4 and the second part 6 of the lining reinforcement are connected by the junction zone 8. The junction zone extends along a direction along a longitudinal axis AA', over a length between 2 cm and 15 cm, preferably between 5 cm and 10 cm. The width of the joint zone 8, measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, is between 2 cm and 10 cm, preferably between 3 cm and 6 cm. The thickness of the joint zone is between 1 cm and 3 cm, preferably between 1.5 cm and 2 cm.

[0029] According to the present example, the junction zone has an overthickness 20 which extends parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis AA'.

[0030] The lining reinforcement is arranged so that the junction area 8 spans a grid joint 22 of the canopy 14 and allows the first part to pivot relative to the second part, so that the parts are joined together via the junction area, when the hood is open or closed.

[0031] Thus, the hood and cowl of a motor vehicle can be mechanically reinforced by means of a single lining reinforcement, as close as possible to an area bordering the cowl grille joint. Therefore, the invention offers an economical and simple solution for limiting cowl vibration during driving.

Claims

Demands

1. Lining reinforcement (2) for a motor vehicle hood, comprising a first part (4) linked to a second part (6) by means of a junction zone (8), with means (10) for attachment to a motor vehicle hood lining (12) being present only at the first part (4) and the second part (6) of the lining reinforcement (2), and in that the junction zone (8) extends along a longitudinal axis (AA') and in that the junction zone (8) is capable of elastic deformation to allow the first part (4) to pivot about an axis of rotation perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (AA'), characterized in that a first part (4) of the lining reinforcement (2) is attached to a lining (12) of the motor vehicle hood, and a second part (6) of the reinforcement is attached to the cowl (14) of the motor vehicle.

2. Lining reinforcement (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of the junction zone (8), measured along the longitudinal axis (AA'), is between 2 cm and 15 cm.

3. Lining reinforcement (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the width of the junction area (8), measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (AA'), is between 2 cm and 10 cm.

4. Lining reinforcement (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the thickness of the junction zone (8) is between 1 cm and 3 cm.

5. Lining reinforcement (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the junction zone (8) is made from a synthetic polymer.

6. Lining reinforcement (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the junction zone (8) has an extra thickness (20) which extends parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (AA').

7. Motor vehicle comprising a lining reinforcement (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the junction area (8) spans a grid joint (22) of the canopy (14).

8. Motor vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the junction zone (8) extends along a longitudinal axis

9. (AA'), the longitudinal axis (AA') is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the grid joint (22), at the level of the canopy grid joint spanned by the junction area (8). Motor vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the first part (4) of the lining reinforcement (2) is fixed at the level of a hood hinge.

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