BODYWORK COMPONENT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND VEHICLES INCLUDING SUCH A COMPONENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle body panel (1), said panel (1) comprising at least two adjacent openings (3) separated by a portion (5) of said body panel, at least one of the openings (3) being configured to house at least one vehicle component, characterized in that said portion (5) comprises, on at least one of the edges (9) common with an opening configured to house a vehicle component, a stiffening element (7), said stiffening element (7) being configured, on the one hand, to be, in the mounted position, in contact with a portion of said component housed in said opening (3) and, on the other hand, to stiffen the portion (5) of body panel located between the two openings (3). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: BODYWORK ELEMENT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND VEHICLES COMPRISING SUCH AN ELEMENT

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicle bodywork elements, such as bumper skins, in which vehicle organs or components are integrated or mounted, for example lighting and / or signaling devices, sensors, etc.

[0002] Bodywork components, particularly bumper skins, are known to include openings that can accommodate various types of components, such as lighting devices (headlights, low beams, high beams, fog lights), signaling devices; for example, daytime running lights (also known by the English acronym DRL for "Daytime Running Lamp"), turn signals, etc.; sensors, for example, radar sensors or reversing cameras; or even aesthetic elements. These components or parts are, for example, fixed directly to the bumper skin or through it to supports provided for this purpose or to the vehicle chassis.

[0003] Nowadays, the arrangement and shape of some of these components, such as lighting and / or signaling devices, contribute significantly to the overall aesthetic appearance of the vehicle. Some signaling devices can, in particular, be integrated into the same housing as a lighting device or be mounted separately on the body panels. However, there are constraints on the integration of these components, particularly in terms of the mechanical strength of the body panels, which greatly limit the possibilities for integrating these devices into said body panels.

[0004] For example, it is difficult to place two elongated components, such as different lighting and / or signaling devices, very close to each other. This results in openings in the bodywork element that are very close together, separated by a relatively thin strip of material. This particular structure, two openings separated by a thin strip of material, can lead to "blowing" effects, especially when the portion of the bodywork element between the two openings is very small in one dimension or direction, for example, in a transverse direction. It should be noted that "blowing" refers to the displacements, expansions, or contractions of the bodywork element, particularly in directions where the material of the bodywork element is not under stress, due to the effects of the environment (heat, cold, etc.) and / or mechanical constraints (vibrations, related parts, wind, etc.).

[0005] These bulging effects thus restrict the design, shapes, and aesthetic appearance of bodywork elements, and therefore the overall aesthetic appearance of a motor vehicle. Furthermore, these bulging effects can lead to a degradation of the perceived quality for a vehicle user, particularly when the bodywork element is loose or wobbly to the touch.

[0006] Indeed, the bodywork element, which is relatively flexible, presents mechanical strength problems when an opening that is too large is made in it. For example, the shape of the bodywork element may be altered and / or gaps (or separations) may occur between the edges of the bodywork element, at the level of the opening, and the component housed in said opening.

[0007] Thus, a solution allowing the implantation of large components, such as DRLs or other lighting and / or signaling devices, sensors, etc., at the level of a bodywork element, such as a bumper skin, while maintaining good mechanical strength of this bodywork element, remains to be found.

[0008] The present invention thus proposes to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of vehicle bodywork element, for example a bumper skin, said element comprising at least two adjacent openings separated by a portion of said bodywork element, at least one of said openings being configured to house at least one vehicle component, characterized in that said portion comprises, on at least one of the common edges with the opening configured to house a vehicle component, a stiffening element, said stiffening element being, on the one hand, configured to be, in mounted position, in contact with a part of said component housed in said opening and, on the other hand, to stiffen the portion of bodywork element located between the two openings.

[0009] The bodywork element according to the invention thus allows for the precise positioning of a vehicle component within said element, minimizing play and eliminating the need for intermediate parts. Furthermore, the element according to the invention facilitates the implantation of components through an opening in a bodywork element having various surfaces or shapes, for example, non-planar and / or elongated. Moreover, the invention is an easy-to-implement, inexpensive solution requiring little or no modification to tooling, while allowing for a greater diversity of shapes and styles for bodywork elements and the components housed within them.

[0010] It should be noted that the term "vehicle component" means any element intended to be housed in an opening in a bodywork element, such as a headlight, a lighting and / or signaling device, an electrical or electronic device (camera, sensors, radar, etc.), or a decorative element contributing to the overall aesthetic appearance of the vehicle.

[0011] In addition, the invention makes it possible, among other things, to advantageously embed (or implant) a large-sized and any-shaped lighting and / or signaling device in a bodywork element, such as a bumper skin.

[0012] According to another possible feature, at least two openings are configured to house the same vehicle component or to each house a vehicle component.

[0013] According to another possible feature, said portion of bodywork element includes one or more stiffening elements arranged on the common edges of the portion and said openings of the bodywork element.

[0014] According to one possible feature, said portion of bodywork element includes one or more stiffening elements arranged around the perimeter of said portion of bodywork element.

[0015] According to one possible feature, said stiffening element comprises a plurality of protrusions configured to be, when the organ is in the mounted position, in contact with a part of said organ.

[0016] The protrusions of the stiffening element located on the portion of said bodywork element are thus advantageously configured to be in contact with said component, particularly when the latter is in the mounted position, i.e., housed or embedded through an opening in the bodywork element. These protrusions, or studs, are specific points of support and contact between the bodywork element and the component, thereby enhancing the mechanical and / or acoustic stability of this arrangement, and thus limiting the propagation of vibrations and / or the relative displacement between the bodywork element and the component.

[0017] According to another possible feature, the stiffening element has a rib extending at least partially over said common edge, on the one hand, to said opening configured to house a component and, on the other hand, to said portion of bodywork element. The said at least rib is a continuous or discontinuous projecting part, one of whose lateral faces is, for example, configured to be, in the mounted position, in contact (or in support) with a part of said organ.

[0018] According to another possible feature, said protuberances are located at least partly on said rib of the stiffening element. The act of superimposing or stacking protrusions and rib(s) helps to reinforce the mechanical robustness of the bodywork element, and in particular of the portion of said element.

[0019] According to another possible feature, the two openings have an elongated shape and the portion of the bodywork element located between the two openings presents substantially the shape of a strip (or a slat). The bodywork element according to the invention is particularly advantageous when the openings and / or the portion, located between said openings, have elongated shapes, that is to say when one of the dimensions defining the object is larger than the other dimensions, for example the length in relation to the width and / or the thickness.

[0020] According to another possible feature, the bodywork element, such as a bumper skin, is made of plastic, for example polypropylene. The bodywork element is generally produced by injection molding.

[0021] According to another possible feature, the stiffening element is made of the same material as the bodywork element. The fact that the stiffening element, for example the rib and / or protrusions, comes from the same material as the bodywork element facilitates the manufacturing process, as it does not require additional parts, and therefore does not increase the manufacturing cost of said element.

[0022] According to another possible feature, said stiffening element is disposed on a first face, called internal face, of the bodywork element intended, in mounted position, to be oriented towards the vehicle. Indeed, the bodywork element is designed, for example, to be attached to reinforcements and / or the vehicle's chassis, with its inner face coming into contact with these reinforcements and / or the chassis. The bodywork element can thus completely or partially cover structures and / or components of the vehicle, in order to make them invisible to the user and / or to protect them from the environment.

[0023] According to another possible feature, said bodywork element has a first face, referred to as the inner face, and a second face, referred to as the outer face. The first and second faces of the bodywork element are the principal opposite faces of said element. In the mounted position, the inner face of the element is intended to be oriented towards the vehicle and is not visible to the user, while the outer face is intended to be oriented towards the outside of the vehicle and is the face visible to the vehicle (the face contributing to the overall aesthetic appearance of the vehicle).

[0024] According to another possible feature, the portion of the bodywork element has, for example on its inner face, an indentation rib. This indentation rib on the body panel improves mechanical strength and maintains a relatively constant distance between the body panel and a reinforcement or chassis component in the mounted position. When the body panel is injection-molded, the indentation rib can also advantageously serve as an injection point.

[0025] The invention also relates to an arrangement intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: - a bodywork component as defined above; - at least one vehicle component housed through at least one of the said openings of said bodywork element; the vehicle component comprising at least one bearing surface (for example a step) configured to be in contact with the stiffening element of the body component.

[0026] According to another possible characteristic, the vehicle component is a lighting and / or signaling device. The invention finds advantageous application in the integration and / or implantation of lighting and / or signaling devices, the latter by their geometries and shapes contributing greatly to the overall aesthetic appearance of a motor vehicle.

[0027] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises an arrangement as defined above.

[0028] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic and perspective view of a bodywork element according to the invention; - [Fig.2] is a schematic, enlarged, partial and perspective view of an arrangement comprising the bodywork element of [Fig.1] and vehicle components mounted in said element; - [Fig.3] is a schematic, enlarged, and partial view of the inner face of the bodywork element of [Fig.1].

[0029] In the following description, the term "include" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it permits the presence of other elements in the vehicle, or the structure to which it relates. It is understood that the term "include" includes the terms "consist of".

[0030] Fig. 1 thus illustrates a schematic perspective view of a bodywork element 1 according to the invention, for example here a bumper skin.

[0031] The bumper skin 1 has an elongated shape and includes several adjacent (or side-by-side) openings 3, separated by a portion 5 of said bumper skin 1.

[0032] In the embodiment of the invention described herein, there are three openings 3, each separated by a portion 5 of bumper skin, but advantageously there are at least two openings 3. Said or vertures 3 and the said portions 5 thus present substantially an elongated shape, the portions 5 presenting substantially a band or lamella shape.

[0033] It should be noted that by strip or slat we mean an object whose one of the dimensions is large in relation to the other two dimensions, for example the length in relation to the width and the thickness (or the depth).

[0034] Said bumper skin 1, as well as the majority of the bodywork elements, is intended to be fixed on reinforcements (or supports) and / or on a motor vehicle chassis (not shown), thus forming the external surface of the vehicle (surface visible to the user and defining at least in part the general aesthetic appearance of the vehicle).

[0035] Furthermore, the bumper skin 1 has two main opposing faces la and 1b, namely a first face la, called the inner face, and a second face 1b, called the outer face. Thus, in the mounted position, the inner face la of the bumper skin 1 is oriented towards the vehicle, while the outer face 1b is oriented towards the outside of the vehicle.

[0036] Furthermore, the bumper skin 1 is generally made of plastic material, such as polypropylene, and is produced by injection.

[0037] As illustrated more particularly in [Fig. 2], the bumper skin 1 and at least one component 21 form an arrangement 23 intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle. This component 21 is, for example, a signaling device, such as a DRL, and, in the mounted position, is housed through at least one of the openings 3 in the bumper skin 1. Thus, in the mounted position, a portion of the component 21 is visible through the opening 3 in which the component 21 is housed.

[0038] Furthermore, the openings 3 (through the inner face la to the outer face 1b), for their part, of the bumper skin 1 are configured so that other components or organs 21 of the vehicle can fit through said openings 3, that is to say that the components or organs 21 of the vehicle extend through said openings 3 while being fixed, for example when the inner face la of the bumper skin 1 is mounted on a motor vehicle.

[0039] Furthermore, it should be noted that the term vehicle organ or component means any element intended to be housed in an opening of a bodywork element, such as a headlight, a lighting and / or signaling device, an electrical or electronic device (camera, sensors, radar, etc.), or a decorative element (element contributing to the overall aesthetic appearance of the vehicle), etc.

[0040] Said portions or bands 5 thus have edges 9 which are the common edges (in particular longitudinal) with the adjacent openings 3 of the bumper skin 1.

[0041] Said portions or strips 5 each comprise, on at least one of the edges common 9 with an opening 3, a stiffening element 7. The stiffening element 7 is thus configured, on the one hand, to be in contact with a part of said member 21 which is, in mounted position, housed in said opening 3 and, on the other hand, to stiffen the portion 5 of bodywork element located between the two openings 3.

[0042] As illustrated in particular in [Fig.2], said member 21 advantageously comprises a bearing surface (not visible), such as a notch, which comes into contact with, at least a part, of the stiffening element 7 of the portion 5 of the bumper skin 1.

[0043] The stiffening element 7 is advantageously located on the inner face la of the portion 5 (or of the bumper skin 1). As illustrated in particular in [Fig.3], the stiffening element 7 comprises: - at least one rib 11 which, on the one hand, extends at least partially over one of said common edges 9, and on the other hand, has a lateral face which is, for example, configured to be, in the mounted position, in contact (or bearing) with a part of said component 21; and / or - a plurality of protuberances 13 configured to be, when the organ 21 is in the mounted position, in contact with a part of said organ 21, in particular the bearing surface of said organ 21.

[0044] It will be noted that in the present embodiment, said protuberances 21 are located on said at least one rib 11 of the stiffening element 7. However, in unrepresented alternative embodiments, the rib or ribs 11 are continuous or discontinuous projections, and the protuberances 13 may be arranged on the portion or portions of ribs 11 and / or between the portions of ribs 11.

[0045] Advantageously, said portion 5 of the bumper skin includes one or more stiffening elements arranged on each of the common edges 9 of portion 5 and said openings 3.

[0046] In addition, preferably, said portion 5 of the bumper skin comprises one or more stiffening elements arranged around the perimeter of said portion 5, that is to say on the longitudinal and transverse edges of said portion 5.

[0047] Said at least one rib 11 advantageously has a square or rectangular section and is advantageously made of material with the bumper skin 1.

[0048] The protrusions 13 are, for their part, specific points of support and contact between the portion 5 of the bumper skin 1 and the component 21, and have, for example, the shape of small bumps whose apex is substantially flat. Advantageously, the apex (or terminal end) of the protrusions 13 is, in the mounted position, the part in contact with the bearing surface of the component 21.

[0049] These protuberances or bumps 13 are arranged at regular intervals, for example every the 10 mm, on the common edge 9 of an opening 3 and a portion 5. In addition, the protrusions 13 are also advantageously made of material with the bumper skin 1.

[0050] Furthermore, the portion 5 of the bodywork element may also include, on its inner face la, one or more indentation ribs 15. The indentation rib(s) 15 have, for example, substantially a flat triangular shape and are configured to be, in the mounted position, in contact with the chassis of the vehicle and / or with other elements or reinforcements of the vehicle, thus allowing to maintain substantially a fixed distance between the chassis (and its elements) and said bumper skin 1.

[0051] The invention allows, without adding new parts, in particular interface parts, and without increasing the mass of the bodywork element, among other things, to advantageously embed (or implant) a large-sized and any-shaped lighting and / or signaling device in a bodywork element such as a bumper skin.

[0052] In an unrepresented embodiment of the invention, the stiffening element(s) 7 are arranged on the external face 1b of the bodywork element 1, such as a bumper skin, the organ and / or component intended to be housed in an opening 3 of the element 1 being configured to cover the stiffening element(s) 7, for example by including a skirt covering (and hiding) the stiffening element(s) 7 and the bearing surface of the organ 21.

[0053] In an embodiment not shown, said at least two openings 3 are configured to house the same vehicle component 21 or to each house a separate vehicle component 21.

Claims

Demands

1. Vehicle bodywork element (1), said element (1) comprising at least two adjacent openings (3) separated by a portion (5) of said bodywork element, at least one of said openings (3) being configured to house at least one vehicle component (21), characterized in that said portion (5) comprises, on at least one of the edges (9) common with the opening (3) configured to house a vehicle component, a stiffening element (7), said stiffening element (7) being configured, on the one hand, to be, in the mounted position, in contact with a part of said component (21) housed in said opening (3) and, on the other hand, to stiffen the portion (5) of bodywork element situated between the two openings (3).

2. Bodywork element (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said stiffening element (7) comprises a plurality of protrusions (13) configured to be, when the member (21) is in mounted position, in contact with a part of said member (21).

3. Bodywork element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stiffening element (7) has a rib (11) extending at least partially over said common edge (9), on the one hand, to said opening (3) configured to house a component (21) and, on the other hand, to said portion (5) of bodywork element.

4. Bodywork element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two openings (3) have an elongated shape and the portion (5) of the bodywork element located between the two openings (3) has substantially the shape of a strip.

5. Bodywork element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stiffening element (7) is made of material with the bodywork element (1).

6. Bodywork element (1) according to any one of the claims, characterized in that said stiffening element (7) is disposed on a first face, referred to as the inner face, of the bodywork element (1) intended, in the mounted position, to be oriented towards the vehicle.

7. Bodywork element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the portion (5) of bodywork element has an indentation rib (15).

8. Assembly (23) intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle, ca-

9.

10. characterized by what it comprises: - a bodywork element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; - at least one vehicle component (21) housed through at least one of said openings (3) of said bodywork element (1); the vehicle component (21) comprising at least one bearing surface configured to be in contact with the stiffening element (7) of the bodywork element (1). Arrangement (23) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the component (21) of the vehicle is a lighting and / or signaling device. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises an arrangement according to claim 8 or 9.

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