Fitting for a motor vehicle comprising a projector assembled with a bodywork element of said vehicle

Abstract

Layout (AGC) for motor vehicle (VHL) comprising a projector (PRJ) assembled with a bodywork element (PRC) of said vehicle (VHL), in which the projector (PRJ) comprises a housing (BOI) obtained after injection molding of a plastic material; said housing (BOI) having an opening (OUV) in its front face (FAV) which is hermetically sealed by a lens (GLA) bonded in a bonding groove (GRG) formed in an outer fold (REX) of the peripheral edge (BPB) of the opening (OUV) of the housing (BOI), arranged outside the peripheral edge of the housing (BPB) and in which the peripheral edge of the lens (BPG) is shaped to receive, opposite the peripheral edge of the housing (BPB), a free edge (BLC) of the body element (PRC) to conceal the bonding groove (GRG) from an observer positioned in front of the projector (PRJ) when the assembly (AGC) is mounted in the vehicle (VHL). (Figure 2)

Description

Title of the invention: Layout for a motor vehicle comprising a projector assembled with a bodywork element of said vehicle

[0001] The invention relates generally to motor vehicle headlights and is more particularly concerned with an arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising a headlight assembled with a bodywork element of said vehicle.

[0002] A motor vehicle projector comprises a housing closed by an external glass, or window.

[0003] The housing generally contains one or more light sources and their associated reflectors, arranged in the bottom of the housing to respectively ensure the lighting functions expected of a motor vehicle projector.

[0004] In a projector, it is generally necessary to use a mask, called an appearance mask or trim mask, placed inside the housing, between the external glass and the reflector(s), in order to mask technical areas such as the bonding groove, the internal faces of the raw housing, resulting from molding, ... therefore all parts which are not visually aesthetic and which are potentially visible, through the projector glass, to an observer placed outside the vehicle and facing the projector.

[0005] The mask also serves to mask the movements of the reflectors which, in order to comply with regulations, must be adjustable in site and azimuth to adapt the light beam on the road.

[0006] This mask, for style reasons, can be metallic, or be black, which is the raw color of certain plastic materials also used to make the casing.

[0007] In the context of the design of a projector intended to be mounted on an entry-level motor vehicle, this type of mask represents a significant cost.

[0008] The invention therefore aims in particular to overcome these disadvantages by proposing a simple and economical solution that makes it possible to do without a mask inside the projector housing.

[0009] To this end, the invention has as its first object an arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising a projector assembled with a bodywork element of said vehicle, in which the projector comprises a housing obtained after injection molding of a plastic material; said housing comprising an opening in its front face which is hermetically sealed by a lens bonded in a bonding groove formed in an outer fold of the peripheral edge of the opening of the housing, arranged on the outside of the peripheral edge of the housing, and in which the peripheral edge of the glass is shaped to receive as a stop, opposite the peripheral edge of the housing, a free edge of the bodywork element to mask the bonding groove for an observer placed in front of the projector when the arrangement is mounted in the vehicle.

[0010] According to one feature, and considering that the arrangement is mounted on the motor vehicle, the peripheral edge of the glass is defined from a step-shaped recess, comprising a first peripheral flat, substantially horizontal, followed by a second peripheral flat, substantially vertical, defining the peripheral edge of the glass, and which terminates in its extreme part by a peripheral bonding edge substantially horizontal, which is bonded in the bonding groove contained in the outer fold formed from the folded edge of the housing.

[0011] According to another feature, the peripheral edge of the folded-down housing defines a stop for the second peripheral flat; the folded-down edge and the outer edges of the gluing groove being aligned, substantially vertically.

[0012] According to another feature, and considering that the arrangement is mounted on the motor vehicle, the housing includes a style area arranged on the lower inner edge of the housing, in the part of the housing visible through the glass; said style area of ​​the housing having raised style patterns, which are made of material with the housing at the time of the molding of the housing.

[0013] According to another feature, and considering that the arrangement is mounted on the motor vehicle, the housing includes at least one reflector attached and fixed to the bottom of the housing and allowing for adjustments respectively for adjusting the beam emitted by the projector, in elevation and azimuth; a part of the reflector extending into the visible part of the housing through the glass, supporting a style area with style patterns.

[0014] According to another feature, the style zones, respectively of the housing and the reflector, are arranged in the visible part of the housing through the glass to give a specific style to the projector.

[0015] According to another characteristic, the plastic material in which the housing is made is chosen to be black in color.

[0016] According to another characteristic, the plastic material is chosen from among the plastic materials polypropylene filled or unfilled: PP-TD or PP-GF.

[0017] The present invention has as its second object a projector of an arrangement as described above.

[0018] The present invention has as its third object, a motor vehicle comprising at least one arrangement as described above.

[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawing, on which:

[0020] [Fig-1] illustrates a front view arrangement for a motor vehicle according to the invention, comprising a projector assembled with a bodywork element of said vehicle;

[0021] [Fig.2] illustrates, according to a cross-sectional view along the cutting axis II-II of [Fig.1], the arrangement according to the invention; and

[0022] [Fig.3] illustrates a perspective view of the projector housing, of the arrangement according to the invention.

[0023] In what follows, it is assumed that the elements represented in the figures are oriented within the same orthonormal XYZ coordinate system and identical elements are designated by the same alphanumeric references.

[0024] For this purpose, and unless otherwise specified, reference is made to the orthonormal coordinate system XYZ to identify the directions of extension of the arrangement according to the invention as mounted on the vehicle and the associated related concepts, including a longitudinal direction (along X), a transverse direction (along Y), and a vertical direction (along Z). The longitudinal direction X extends between the front and rear of the vehicle, the transverse direction Y extends between the right and left lateral sides of the vehicle as identified with respect to the driver in the vehicle's driving position, and the vertical direction Z defines the vehicle's elevation from its ground plane. Consequently, the related concepts front and rear are identified longitudinally, the lateral concept and the related concepts right and left are identified transversely, and concepts such as upper and lower, or other related concepts such as lower and upper, ...are defined vertically relative to the vehicle's running plane on the ground.

[0025] It is recalled that the objective of the present invention is to produce a vehicle projector at a controlled cost.

[0026] To this end, the present invention consists of shaping the housing and the projector lens in cooperation with the bodywork element to fulfill the functions expected of a mask, which is therefore no longer necessary. The reflector can also be shaped to serve as a decorative element for the mask.

[0027] Figure 1 illustrates an example of an AGC arrangement of a PRJ projector assembled with a front body panel of a VHL vehicle, here a front bumper panel PRC of the VHL vehicle, as seen by an observer positioned in front of the VHL vehicle, facing the PRJ projector (front view). Only the lens GLA of the PRJ projector is visible through an opening in the PRC bumper panel. In the AGC arrangement according to the invention, the PRC bumper panel frames the lens GLA of the PRJ projector.

[0028] [Fig.2] illustrates the AGC arrangement according to a cross-sectional view along the section axis II-II of [Fig.1]. The PRJ projector is conventionally composed of a BOI housing and the GLA lens, hermetically bonded to the front face FAV of the BOI housing by means of a GRG bonding groove formed on the peripheral edge of the B PB housing.

[0029] The BOI housing is obtained after injection molding of a plastic material.

[0030] The FDB base of the BOI housing supports an RFL reflector which is adjustable in elevation and azimuth and which is also made after injection molding of a plastic material.

[0031] The front face FAV of the BOI housing has an opening OUV oriented outwards from the BOI housing, opposite the bottom FDB of the BOI housing, and which is hermetically sealed by the GLA glass. The peripheral edge BPB of the opening OUV of the BOI housing is shaped to define a peripheral outward fold REX, outside the peripheral edge BPB and is therefore set outside the peripheral edge of the BPB housing.

[0032] By REX fold, we mean a fold formed on the already folded edge BRB of the BOL housing. It is called "external" because the already folded edge BRB is folded outwards from the folded edge BRB. And, it is peripheral because it extends over the entire periphery of the OUV opening of the BOI housing.

[0033] The GRG gluing groove is contained in the outer fold REX and is therefore positioned away, outwards, from the edge BIB of the OUV opening of the BOI case.

[0034] The peripheral edge of the BPG glass, substantially vertical, (along Z) is formed from a DEC step, set back from the main face of the FPG glass, in the shape of a step, starting from the main face FPG of the GLA glass, towards the REX fold of the peripheral outer edge BPB of the OUV opening of the BOI housing; the folded edge BRB forming a stop for the substantially vertical peripheral edge BPG (in Z) of the GLA glass.

[0035] This step-like step DEC defines a first peripheral flat MPH, substantially horizontal (along X) followed by a second peripheral flat MPV, substantially vertical (along Z), defining the peripheral edge of the ice BPG, already introduced above, and which ends in its extreme part with a peripheral edge of bonding PXG substantially horizontal (along X).

[0036] The GRG gluing groove provided in the REX fold receives the peripheral gluing edge PXG which is glued into the GRG gluing groove which is offset, outside the folded edge BRB of the BOL housing. The folded edge BRB and the outer edges of the GRG gluing groove are aligned, substantially vertically.

[0037] In the AGC arrangement example according to the invention, as illustrated in [Fig. 2], the free edges BLC of the bumper element PRC mechanically interface in The DEC step of the GLA glass rests against the first horizontal peripheral flat, MPH (in Z) and against the second vertical peripheral flat, MPV (in X) of the GLA glass. The DEC step of the GLA glass is arranged so that the first horizontal peripheral flat, MPH, extends towards the OUV (in X) opening of the BOI case, being substantially set back from the folded edge BRB towards the inside of the OUV opening (along Z).

[0038] The free edges BLC of the bumper element PRC thus completely mask the GRG bonding groove, for an observer placed in front of the VHL vehicle when the AGC arrangement is mounted on the VHL vehicle.

[0039] The AGC arrangement according to the invention therefore acts as a mask vis-à-vis the GRG gluing groove.

[0040] With reference to [Fig. 3], the BOI housing has a first ZSB style zone, located on the inner surface of the lower edge BIB of the OUV opening of the BOI housing, in the portion of the BOI housing visible through the GLA window when the AGC arrangement is mounted in the VHL vehicle. The ZSB style zone has first MSB style embossed motifs, which are integral to the material of the BOI housing during the molding of the BOL housing.

[0041] In the example considered, the RFL reflector is attached and fixed to the bottom of the FDB housing with a reduced but necessary gap between the RFL reflector and the bottom of the FDB housing to take into account the adjustment ranges of the RFL reflector in elevation and azimuth inside the BOI housing.

[0042] To make this movement imperceptible to an observer, the color black is advantageously chosen for the material from which the BOL housing is made. Black is also the raw color of certain plastic materials. The material chosen for the BOI housing can be filled (talc, fiberglass) or unfilled polypropylene, for example PP-TDxx or PP-GFxx.

[0043] PP-TD is the Anglo-Saxon acronym for "Talc filled Polypropylene" followed by the percentage of talc xx, and PP-GF is the Anglo-Saxon acronym for "Polypropylene reinforced with Glas s Fibre" followed by the percentage of ice fibres xx.

[0044] The RFL reflector body has a parabolic or partially parabolic shape, essentially near the bottom of the FDB housing. The lower part of the parabolic body of the RFL reflector extends towards the BIB edge of the OUV opening of the BOI housing, in the part of the BOI housing visible through the GLA glass, and its inner surface advantageously supports a second ZSR-style zone having second MSR-style patterns that can be visually coordinated with the first MSB patterns of the first ZSB-style zone of the BOI housing. The two ZSR and ZSB zones line, successively towards the BIB edge of the opening OUV of the BOI case, the inner face of the BOI case which is visible from the outside.

[0045] The edges of the RFL reflector are also shaped to visually integrate with the style of the BOI enclosure (since they are not covered by a mask). In general, everything that remains of the interior of the BOI enclosure, visible from the outside of the BOI enclosure, is designed to be aesthetically pleasing and no longer treated as technical areas that must be concealed.

[0046] It is also possible to provide an internal cavity CAV ([Fig. 3]) formed in an internal lateral edge of the BOI housing, at the front of the BOI housing (at the edge of the OUV opening) and recessed from the GRG bonding groove, in order to house a light signaling function FLS ([Fig. 1]), for example. This FLS function does not require a mask; the internal wall of the BIB edge of the BOI housing, with its first ZSB-style zone, acts as a mask for said FLS function. It can be covered by a translucent or opaque screen, given that the GLA of the housing covers the front face FAV of the BOI housing and therefore the FLS signaling function.

[0047] Thus, the arrangement according to the invention, taken in one or more of its characteristics as described above, respectively fulfills one or more of the functions usually fulfilled by a mask.

Claims

Demands

1. Layout (AGC) for a motor vehicle (VHL) comprising a projector (PRJ) assembled with a body element (PRC) of said vehicle (VHL), in which the projector (PRJ) comprises a housing (BOI) obtained after injection molding of a plastic material;said housing (BOI) having an opening (OUV) in its front face (FAV) which is hermetically sealed by a glass (GLA) glued in a bonding groove (GRG) provided in an external fold (REX) of the peripheral edge (BPB) of the opening (OUV) of the housing (BOI), arranged outside the peripheral edge of the housing (BPB), and in which the peripheral edge of the glass (BPG) is shaped to receive as a stop, opposite the peripheral edge of the housing (BPB), a free edge (BLC) of the bodywork element (PRC) to mask the bonding groove (GRG) for an observer placed in front of the projector (PRJ) when the arrangement (AGC) is mounted in the vehicle (VHL), characterized in that the folded edge (BRB) defines a stop for the second peripheral flat (MPV); the folded edge (BRB) and the outer edges of the gluing groove (GRG) being aligned, substantially vertically.;

2. Arrangement (AGC) according to the preceding claim, considering that the arrangement (AGC) is mounted on the motor vehicle (VHL), in which the peripheral edge of the glass (BPG) is defined from a step-shaped step (DEC), comprising a first peripheral flat (MPH), substantially horizontal, followed by a second peripheral flat (MPV), substantially vertical, defining the peripheral edge of the glass (BPG), and which terminates at its extreme end by a peripheral bonding edge (PXG), substantially horizontal, which is bonded in the bonding groove (GRG) contained in the outer fold (REX) formed from the folded edge (BRB) of the housing (BOI).

3. An arrangement (AGC) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arrangement (AGC) is mounted on the motor vehicle (VHL), in which the housing (BOI) has a styling zone (ZSB) arranged on the lower inner edge (BIB) of the opening (OUV) of the housing (BOI) in the portion of the housing (BOI) visible through the glass (GLA); said styling zone (ZSB) of the case (BOI) featuring raised style patterns (MSB), made of material with the case (BOI) at the time of molding the case (BOI).

4. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby the arrangement (AGC) is mounted on the motor vehicle (VHL); wherein the housing (BOI) comprises at least one reflector (RFL) attached and fixed to the bottom of the housing (FDB) and allowing deflections respectively for adjusting the beam emitted by the projector (PRJ), in elevation and azimuth; a portion of the reflector (RFL) extending into the visible part of the housing (BOI) through the glass (GLA), supporting a styling zone (ZSR) comprising styling patterns (MSR).

5. Arrangement (AGC) according to claims 3 and 4, wherein the style zones (ZSB, ZSR), respectively of the housing (BOI) and of the reflector (RFL), are arranged in the visible part of the housing (BOI) through the glass (GLA) to give a definite style to the projector (PRJ).

6. Arrangement (AGM) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic material in which the housing (BOI) is made is chosen to be black.

7. Arrangement (AGC) according to the preceding claim, wherein the plastic material is selected from the plastic materials polypropylene filled or unfilled, PP-TD or PP-GF.

8. Motor vehicle (VHL) comprising at least one arrangement (AGC) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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