Permanently positioned and secured trim for a vehicle door

Abstract

A trim piece (EP) is fitted to the outer face of a door frame (CP) of a vehicle. This frame (CP) includes a first through hole (T1) and a first inner face equipped with an indexing piece (PI1) which includes a second through hole (T2) located opposite the first through hole (T1). This trim piece (EP) includes a second inner face equipped with an indexing protrusion (PI2) that passes through the first (T1) and second (T2) through holes, and defines a clip designed to attach it to the indexing piece (PI1) around the second through hole (T2) to immobilize it locally relative to the frame (CP). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Wheel trim Permanent positioning and immobilization for a vehicle door. Technical field of the invention.

[0001] The invention relates to vehicle doors (or side doors), and more specifically to the trim pieces that equip such doors. State of the art

[0002] Many vehicles, generally of the automobile type, include at least one door (or side door) comprising a frame including an outer face on which a trim piece is installed. In order to allow precise positioning of a sub-part (for example, the upper part) of this trim piece relative to the frame, the latter may include a first through hole and a first inner face provided with an indexing piece including a second through hole located opposite the first hole, and the trim piece may include a second inner face provided with an indexing protrusion which is adapted to pass through the first and second through holes.

[0003] Such an indexing arrangement ensures that a wheel trim maintains its position, for example, vertically, and thus prevents it from sagging. However, this indexing arrangement does not guarantee that the sub-part of the wheel trim that includes the indexing protrusion is properly seated against the outer face of the frame. Therefore, vibrations, shocks, and / or temperature fluctuations may cause this sub-part to become detached, which is generally considered a quality defect. Furthermore, such detachment can lead to aeroacoustic defects, such as noise, an increase in the vehicle's drag coefficient and therefore its energy consumption, and air leaks / exhausts that increase the energy required to control the temperature inside the vehicle.

[0004] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0005] In particular, it proposes for this purpose a trim piece, on the one hand, suitable for fitting an external face of a door frame intended to fit a vehicle, this frame comprising a first through hole and a first internal face provided with an indexing piece comprising a second through hole located opposite the first hole, and, on the other hand, comprising a second internal face provided with an indexing protuberance suitable for passing through the first and second through holes.

[0006] This trim piece is characterized by the fact that its indexing protuberance defines a clip which is designed to clip it onto the indexing piece around the second through hole to immobilize it locally with respect to the frame.

[0007] Thanks to the invention, the indexing protuberance now ensures not only an indexing function for its permanent positioning relative to the frame, but also and advantageously a clipping fixing function for the permanent immobilization relative to the frame of the trim sub-part which includes it, which makes it possible to avoid the generation of aero-acoustic noise and a perceived quality defect.

[0008] The hubcap according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0009] - its indexing protuberance may be adapted to clip onto a part of a third internal face of the indexing piece which surrounds the second through hole to immobilize it relative to the indexing piece;

[0010] - its indexing protuberance may include a main part erected on the second inner face of the hubcap, designed to pass through the first and second through holes to ensure the indexing of the hubcap relative to the second through hole, and extended by at least one notch in the general shape of a triangular prism and ensuring clipping onto the indexing piece;

[0011] - in the presence of the first two options, the main part of the protuberance indexing can have a general U shape with two sub-parts substantially parallel to each other and extended respectively by two notches having opposite inclined faces to ensure double clipping on two sub-parts of the third internal face of the indexing piece which contain two opposite edges of the second through hole;

[0012] - its indexing protuberance can be an integral part of the second inner face of the hubcap;

[0013] - its indexing protuberance can be located in an upper part of the hubcap.

[0014] The invention also proposes a door suitable for equipping a vehicle and comprising a frame having a first through hole and a first internal face provided with an indexing piece comprising a second through hole located opposite this first through hole.

[0015] This door is characterized by the fact that it also includes a trim piece of the type shown above and installed on an external face of the frame with its indexing protuberance indexed in the first and second through holes and clipped onto the indexing piece around the second through hole.

[0016] For example, the trim of this door can be installed on a rising lateral part of the outer face of the frame in an upper area that borders a window sliding. In this case, the first hole can be defined in an interface area of ​​the frame which is located next to a track in which the sliding glass is designed to slide.

[0017] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising at least one door of the type presented above. Brief description of the figures

[0018] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings (obtained using CAD / CAM (“Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing”)), in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] illustrates schematically and functionally, in a perspective view on the external side, a portion of an example vehicle door comprising an example embodiment of a trim piece according to the invention,

[0020] [Fig.2] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a perspective view from the inside, the door part of [Fig.1], with the indexing protrusion of the trim clipped onto the indexing piece,

[0021] [Fig.3] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a perspective view from the inner side, the inner face of the trim piece of [Fig.2], before indexing and clipping its indexing protrusion onto the indexing part, and

[0022] [Fig.4] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a horizontal plane, a part of the door frame of the [Fig.1], equipped with its trim. Detailed description of the invention

[0023] The invention aims in particular to provide an EP trim suitable for equipping an external face FE1 of a CP frame of a PV door intended to equip a vehicle by having an indexed and permanently clipped part.

[0024] In what follows, the vehicle is considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be of the automobile type. For example, a car. However, the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates in fact to any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air) comprising at least one door which may have a trim piece on an external face.

[0025] Furthermore, in what follows and what precedes, the notion of "internal" designates a face of an element that is oriented towards the interior of the vehicle, while the notion of "external" designates a face of an element that is oriented towards the exterior of the vehicle and therefore opposite to its internal face.

[0026] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate at least partially part of an example of a PV door intended to equip a vehicle (here a motor vehicle), and comprising a CP frame having an external face FE1 on which is fixedly installed an example of an embodiment of an EP trim according to the invention.

[0027] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 2 and 4, the frame CP includes a first through hole Tl and a first internal face Fil (opposite to its external face FE1) which is provided with an indexing piece PII comprising a second through hole T2 located opposite this first through hole Tl.

[0028] It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the EP trim is installed on a rising lateral portion PLM of the external face FE1 of the CP frame, in an upper area bordering a sliding window VC. However, the EP trim could be installed on another part of the external face FE1 of the CP frame, such as, for example, the upper part along the roof (or roof panel).

[0029] It should also be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 2 and 4, the first hole Tl is defined in an interface zone ZI of the frame CP which is located next to a track in which the sliding pane VC is designed to slide. However, this is not mandatory. Indeed, the first hole Tl could be defined in a track of the frame CP, for example.

[0030] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 2 to 4, the EP trim piece comprises a second inner face FI2 (oriented towards the outer face FE1 of the CP frame) which is provided with an indexing protrusion PI2 adapted to pass through the first T1 and second T2 through holes to ensure its indexing relative to the indexing piece PII, and therefore also relative to the CP frame. Furthermore, the indexing protrusion PI2 defines a clip adapted to clip it onto the indexing piece PII around the second through hole T2 to immobilize it locally relative to the CP frame (see Figures 2 and 4).

[0031] Thus, the indexing protuberance PI2 ensures a dual function, namely an indexing function for its permanent positioning relative to the frame CP, and a clipping fixing function for the permanent immobilization relative to the frame CP of the sub-part of the trim EP which includes it.

[0032] This offers several advantages, including:

[0033] - no risk of aero-acoustic noise generation by the sub-part of the trim EP including the PI2 indexing protrusion which ensures clipping,

[0034] - no perceived quality defect due to a close plating of the sub-part EP trim including the PI2 indexing protrusion against the FE1 external face of the CP frame,

[0035] - improved resistance to sunlight and increased durability,

[0036] - an invisibility of the elements involved in clipping,

[0037] - an additional development / manufacturing cost of the hubcap which is negligible by in relation to a hubcap of the prior art,

[0038] - no additional mounting constraints for the EP trim on the CP frame.

[0039] It will be noted, although it does not appear in the figures, that in addition to its indexing and fixing via the indexing protuberance PI2, the cover EP is also fixedly attached to the frame CP, in at least one other sub-part than that comprising its indexing protuberance PI2.

[0040] For example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 2 and 4, the indexing protrusion PI2 can be adapted to clip onto a portion of the third inner face FI3 of the indexing piece PII that surrounds the second through hole T2. This clipping makes it possible to immobilize the indexing protrusion PI2 (and therefore the trim sub-part EP that includes it) relative to the indexing piece PII. But the clipping could also take place inside the second through hole T2, for example.

[0041] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 3 and 4, the indexing protrusion PI2 may include a main part PP which is extended towards the interior of the vehicle by at least one notch CC. The main part PP is mounted on the second inner face FI2 of the cover EP and is designed to pass through the first T1 and second T2 through holes so as to ensure the indexing of its cover EP with respect to the second through hole T2. It therefore performs the aforementioned position indexing function. Each notch CC has a general triangular prism shape and ensures clipping onto the indexing part PII. Each notch CC thus participates in the aforementioned clipping function.

[0042] Also, for example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 3 and 4, the main part PP of the indexing protrusion PI2 may have a general U-shape with two substantially parallel sub-parts SP, each extended by two notches CC. In this case, the two notches CC have inclined faces that are opposite each other to ensure double clipping onto two sub-parts of the third inner face FI3 of the indexing part PII, which contain two opposite edges of the second through hole T2. It will be understood that the two sub-parts SP are mounted on a base that constitutes the central part of the U and is fixedly attached to the second inner face FI2 of the cover EP.

[0043] Preferably, the width and thickness of the U (excluding notches CC) are respectively equal, by lower values, to the width and thickness of the second hole through T2, so that the position indexing is optimal.

[0044] It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, Figures 3 and 4, the indexing protrusion PI2 is an integral part of the second inner face FI2 of the cover EP. This is advantageous because it allows it to be manufactured at the same time as the rest of the cover, for example by means of injection molding of a plastic or synthetic material. However, this is not mandatory. Indeed, the indexing protrusion PI2 could be attached to the second inner face FI2 of the EP trim, for example by gluing or welding.

[0045] It should also be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, Figures 1 and 2, the indexing protrusion PI2 is located in an upper part of the EP trim. However, this is not mandatory. Indeed, the indexing protrusion PI2 could be located in a lower part of the EP trim.

Claims

Demands

1. A trim piece (EP) suitable for fitting an external face (FE1) of a door frame (CP) intended for fitting a vehicle, said frame (CP) comprising a first through hole (T1) and a first internal face (F1) provided with an indexing piece (PI2) comprising a second through hole (T2) located opposite said first through hole (T1), and said trim piece (EP) comprising a second internal face (FI2) provided with an indexing protrusion (PI2) suitable for passing through said first (T1) and second (T2) through holes, characterized in that said indexing protrusion (PI2) defines a clip suitable for clipping it onto said indexing piece (PII) around said second through hole (T2) to immobilize it locally relative to said frame (CP), in that said indexing protrusion (PI2) comprises a principal part (PP) erected on said second inner face (FI2) of the trim (EP),adapted to pass through said first (T1) and second (T2) through holes to ensure the indexing of said trim piece (EP) with respect to said second through hole (T2), and extended by at least one notch (CC) in the general shape of a triangular prism and ensuring clipping onto said indexing piece (PII), and in that said main part (PP) has a general U-shape with two sub-parts (SP) substantially parallel to each other and extended respectively by two notches (CC) having opposite inclined faces to ensure double clipping onto two sub-parts of said third internal face (FI3) of the indexing piece (PII) containing two opposite edges of said second through hole (T2), and in that said indexing protrusion (PI2) is an integral part of said second internal face (FI2) of the trim piece (EP).

2. Trim according to claim 1, characterized in that said indexing protuberance (PI2) is located in an upper part of said trim (EP).

3. A door (PV) suitable for fitting a vehicle and comprising a frame (CP) having a first through hole (T1) and a first inner face (F1) provided with an indexing piece (PI1) comprising a second through hole (T2) located opposite said first through hole (T1), characterized in that it further comprises a trim piece (EP) according to any one of the preceding claims, installed

4.

5.

6. on an external face (FE1) of said frame (CP) having its indexing protuberance (PI2) indexed in said first (T1) and second (T2) through holes and clipped onto said indexing piece (PII) around said second through hole (T2). Door according to claim 3, characterized in that said trim (EP) is installed on a rising lateral part (PLM) of said external face (FE1) of the frame (CP) in an upper area bordering a sliding window (VC). Door according to claim 4, characterized in that said first hole (Tl) is defined in an interface zone (ZI) of said frame (CP) located next to a slide in which said sliding window (VC) is suitable for sliding. Vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one door (PV) according to any one of claims 3 to 5.

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