Inverted mounting bumper frame.

Abstract

The invention relates to a bumper frame (1) for a motor vehicle, shaped to be fixed to at least one element (3) of a front vehicle structure (2) and to receive a bumper skin, the frame (1) having engagement means designed to engage the element (3) and to guide the rotation of the frame (1) into a final fixed position from an engagement position, in which the engagement means are engaged on the element (3), the frame (1) being characterized in that the engagement means are designed to allow the frame (1), from a position distant from the structure (1), to be brought into the engagement position by a translational movement of the frame (1) from the front to the rear of the structure (2). (Figure 3)

Description

Title of the invention: Inverted mounting bumper frame.

[0001] The technical field relates to bumper frames, front bumper structures, vehicles equipped with such a front structure and methods of mounting bumper frames.

[0002] In terms of road safety, car manufacturers must take into account numerous concerns and regulations when developing new vehicles. Thus, car manufacturers must ensure the safety of vehicle occupants in the event of a collision, but also protect other vulnerable road users such as pedestrians. Finally, it is important to try to control the costs of vehicle repairs when they are involved in urban accidents.

[0003] In this context, some vehicles are equipped with a bumper frame to support bodywork elements such as the outer bumper skin to the vehicle structure. Bumper frames must, by their very nature, provide a certain rigidity to counteract unwanted vibrations, aerodynamic deformations, and to withstand impacts. In most cases, the bumper frame must also allow air to be supplied to the cooling fan assembly, and to this end, the bumper frame is provided with openings allowing air to pass through for the engine and its cooling.

[0004] Typically, a frame is assembled on the vehicle by bringing its upper part behind a high crossmember, then bringing the upper part into contact with the crossmember by translating it along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle towards the front, so as to engage fasteners located on the frame that are in contact with the high crossmember. The frame is then placed in its final position by rotating it around the crossmember. When the space around and in front of the high crossmember is significant, particularly due to the presence of large air intakes, this mounting solution can prove complicated or even impossible to implement. In such a situation, the vehicle assembly is complex and may require additional assembly steps.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a solution enabling the assembly of a frame on a front vehicle structure even when this structure is complex due to the presence of large air intakes.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a bumper frame allowing its assembly onto a complex vehicle front structure, in the presence of large air intakes.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a bumper frame for a motor vehicle, shaped to be fixed on at least one element of a front structure of a vehicle and to receive a bumper skin, the frame having engagement means designed to engage the element and to guide the rotation of the frame into a final fixing position from an engagement position, in which the engagement means are engaged on the element, the frame being characterized in that the engagement means are designed to allow the frame to be brought, from a position distant from the structure, into the engagement position by a translational movement of the frame from the front to the rear of the structure.

[0008] The invention also relates to a front vehicle structure comprising an element and a frame according to the invention, the means for engaging the frame being engaged on the element.

[0009] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising a front vehicle structure according to the invention.

[0010] The invention finally relates to a method of mounting a front structure of a vehicle according to the invention comprising a first step consisting of engaging the means of engaging a frame according to the invention on the element by a translational movement of the frame from the front to the rear of the structure.

[0011] Thus, the bumper frame according to the invention allows the implementation of the method according to the invention to obtain a front structure according to the invention that can be complex and include, in particular, large air intakes. The assembly of the frame according to the invention is not hindered by the presence of air intakes since the frame is brought in a longitudinal direction from the front to the rear of the vehicle, thus taking into account the overall dimensions of the front structure. Indeed, the frame does not interfere with the other parts in its environment, as would be the case with a conventional assembly.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the movement of the frame to engage the engagement means involves a sliding on the element towards the rear of the structure.

[0013] According to one possibility, the engagement means are designed to engage a high facade cross member.

[0014] In one embodiment, the engagement means comprise at least one hook, each designed to be oriented towards the rear of the vehicle structure when the frame is in the engagement position.

[0015] According to one possibility, the frame includes fastening means to ensure the fixing of the frame to the vehicle structure when it is in the final fixing position.

[0016] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a perspective view of a front structure of a motor vehicle according to the invention, the frame being in the final fixing position;

[0018] [Fig.2] [Fig.2], represents a detailed view of the means of engagement of a reinforcement implemented in the structure before [Fig.1];

[0019] [Fig.3] [Fig.3], represents a side view of the front structure showing the reinforcement of [Fig.2] in the engagement position.

[0020] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0021] A bumper frame 1, illustrated in the figures, is intended to equip a front structure 2, illustrated in [Fig. 1], of a motor vehicle according to the invention. Thus, the frame 1 is shaped to be fixed to at least one element 3 of the front structure 2 and to receive a bumper skin, not shown. In the example illustrated in the figures, the element 3 is a high front crossmember 4 extending transversely over the structure 2.

[0022] The frame 1 has engagement means 5 designed to engage the element 3, in this case the cross member 4, and to guide the rotation of the frame 1 from an engagement position, illustrated in [Fig. 1], to a final fixed position, illustrated in [Fig. 3], in which the engagement means 5 are engaged on the element 3. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, in the final fixed position, illustrated in [Fig. 1], the frame 1 is fixed to the upper cross member 4 and rests on a bumper beam 6 at its lower end. The frame 1 is fixed by fastening means 7 designed to secure the frame 1 to the front structure 2. The fastening means 7 include, for example, fastening screws.

[0023] The means for engaging the reinforcement 1 5 are designed to bring the reinforcement 1, from a position distant from the structure 2, into the engagement position by a translational movement of the reinforcement 1 from the front to the rear of the structure 2, as illustrated by arrow T in [Fig. 3]. Advantageously, the means for engaging the reinforcement 5 5 are designed to allow sliding on the element 3 of the reinforcement 1 towards the rear of the structure 2.

[0024] Advantageously, and as illustrated in [Fig.2], the engagement means 5 comprise at least one hook 8, in this case two hooks 8, each designed to be oriented towards the rear of the structure 2 when the frame 1 is in the engagement position.

[0025] Thus, the reinforcement 1 enables the implementation of the mounting method according to the invention for fixing the reinforcement 1 to the structure 2. This is particularly suitable when the structure 2 is congested and has air inlets 9 mounted on it. During the implementation of the mounting method according to the invention, the reinforcement 1 is brought into the engagement position of [Fig. 3] by a first step consisting of engaging the engagement means 5 on the element 3 by a translational movement of the reinforcement 1 from the front to the rear of the structure 2, illustrated by arrow T. During the translation, the reinforcement 1 is in an inclined position. From the engagement position, the reinforcement 1 is then rotated, illustrated by arrow R in [Fig. 3], in order to bring it into the final fixing position. The reinforcement 1 is then fixed to the structure 2 using the fixing means 7.

[0026] Thus, the frame 1 according to the invention allows the implementation of the method according to the invention to obtain the front structure 2 according to the invention. The implementation of the method makes it possible to overcome the problems related to the presence of the air inlets 9.

[0027] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the frame described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Bumper frame (1) for a motor vehicle, shaped to be fixed to at least one element (3) of a front vehicle structure (2) and to receive a bumper skin, the frame (1) having engagement means (5) designed to engage the element (3) and to guide the rotation of the frame (1) into a final fixing position from an engagement position, in which the engagement means (5) are engaged on the element (3), characterized in that the element (3) is a high front cross member (4) and in that the engagement means (5) are designed to allow the frame (1) to be brought, from a position distant from the structure (1), into the engagement position by a translational movement of the frame (1) from the front to the rear of the structure (2).

2. Bumper frame (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement of the frame (1) to engage the engagement means (5) involves a slide on the element (3) towards the rear of the structure (2).

3. Bumper frame (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the engagement means (5) comprise at least one hook (8), each designed to be oriented towards the rear of the vehicle structure (2) when the frame (1) is in the engagement position.

4. Bumper frame (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises fastening means (7) for securing the frame (1) to the structure (2) of the vehicle when it is in the final fastening position.

5. Front vehicle structure (2) comprising an element (3) and a frame (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the means for engaging (5) the frame (1) being engaged on the element (3).

6. Motor vehicle comprising a front vehicle structure (2) according to claim 5.

7. A method for mounting a front vehicle structure (2) according to claim 6, comprising a first step of engaging the engagement means (5) of a frame (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 onto the element (3) by a movement of translation of the frame (1) from the front to the back of the structure (2).

Images