Assembly device for a motor vehicle bumper

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for assembling a motor vehicle bumper comprising an internal reinforcing element (1) and an external element (2) provided, at their upper part, with connecting means intended to be arranged adjacent to headlight housings, characterized in that said connecting means comprise at least one opening (10) passing through said internal reinforcing element (1) via a front end and a rear end and intended to receive an elastically deformable boss (21) carried by said external element (2), the cross-section of at least the rear end of said opening (10) being smaller than the cross-section of the boss (21) such that the boss is press-fitted into the front end of said opening and then locked by returning to its initial state at the rear end so as to ensure the mutual retention of the two elements (1, 2). (Fig. 2)

Description

Title of the invention: Device for assembling a motor vehicle bumper

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the field of front bumpers of motor vehicles and is concerned, in particular, with the connection between an internal reinforcement element of the bumper and an external element or skin of this bumper.

[0002] The front bumpers of most motor vehicles today have, in their upper part, a cavity closed by a glass and in which are housed, on either side of the vehicle, the headlights of the lighting system. In the junction area between the upper edge of the bumper and the lower periphery of this glass, there is generally a slight play which is difficult to control. However, this play is detrimental both from the point of view of sealing and aesthetic appearance.

[0003] Under these conditions, current bumpers generally include an internal reinforcement element fixed by snap-fastening and / or welding to the external element. This internal element makes it possible, in particular, to stiffen the skin in its upper part corresponding to the area where the bumper meets the headlight glass so that it does not deform.

[0004] However, this traditional method of assembly between the internal and external elements is not satisfactory because it does not prevent the absence of deformation of the skin over time, in particular under the effect of solar radiation, nor the rupture of their assembly during an impact. In addition, due to the narrowness of the area where the bumper meets the headlight glass, it is not possible to weld the reinforcing element to the skin in this area.

[0005] Patent application EP4070993A1 describes bumper reinforcement means which are produced in the form of three elements extending around the headlight. However, the structure of these means is thick and bulky, which is unfavorable from an aesthetic point of view and which also does not allow the clearance between the skin of the bumper and the headlight glass to be effectively eliminated.

[0006] In this context, the invention sought a solution for assembling the reinforcing element with the skin of the bumper allowing both to ensure their mutual retention in a solid and durable manner and a close and precise docking of the upper part of the bumper with the lower edge of the headlight glass.

[0007] This object is achieved, according to the invention, by means of a device for assembling a motor vehicle bumper comprising an internal reinforcing element and an external element provided, at their upper part, with connecting means intended to be arranged adjacent to headlight housings, characterized in that said connecting means comprise at least one orifice passing through said internal reinforcing element via a front end and a rear end and intended to receive an elastically deformable boss carried by said external element, the section of at least the rear end of said orifice being smaller than the section of the boss so that the boss is forcefully introduced at the front end of said orifice then locked by returning to its initial state at the rear end so as to ensure the mutual retention of the two elements.

[0008] According to an advantageous characteristic of the assembly device of the invention, the orifice is flared at its front end to facilitate the introduction of the elastically deformable boss.

[0009] According to another characteristic of the device of the invention, the internal reinforcing element carries a set of tabs intended to come into abutment against said external element during assembly of the two elements.

[0010] According to yet another characteristic of the device of the invention, the external element carries stiffening ribs which extend perpendicular to the axis of the boss.

[0011] According to a specific variant embodiment of the device of the invention, the upper edge of the internal reinforcing element carries centering tabs intended to be housed in cavities provided in the upper part of the external element.

[0012] Another object of the invention is a motor vehicle bumper comprising an internal reinforcing element and an external element assembled by means of a device as defined above.

[0013] Yet another object of the invention is a method of mounting a bumper as defined above at the front of a motor vehicle equipped with a lighting system comprising headlights housed in lateral cavities closed by glass, characterized in that the internal reinforcing element is welded to the lower periphery and the sides of the rear face of the external element and then pressure is exerted on the internal reinforcing element in the direction of the external element to introduce and lock the boss of the external element in the orifice of the internal element and secure the two elements, then the assembly is positioned and fixed in a contiguous manner under the glass of the headlights.

[0014] A final object of the invention is a motor vehicle comprising a front bumper having the characteristics defined above.

[0015] Thanks to the invention, the constituent elements of the bumper can be easily assembled and the integral assembly is then mounted adjacent and joined under the headlight lenses while controlling the small interposed play at the docking line.

[0016] The device of the invention ensures correct and precise positioning of the element reinforcement on the bumper skin before their mutual assembly and their final joining by welding and snap-fastening of their upper parts.

[0017] The invention thus makes it possible to guarantee the absence of deformation over time of the bumper docking line to the headlights, which contributes to increasing the quality and reliability of the vehicle. In addition, the assembly method according to the invention is more compact and makes it possible to obtain a larger docking area under the headlight glass, which improves the aesthetic appearance.

[0018] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, for which:

[0019] [Fig. 1] is a partial exterior view of the front of a motor vehicle equipped with a grille and a bumper adjoining, in the upper lateral part, the docking area of ​​the headlight housing.

[0020] [Fig.2] is a partial perspective view of the rear of a bumper comprising a internal reinforcing element and an external element provided with an embodiment of the assembly device of the invention, close to the docking zone of the projector.

[0021] [Fig.3] is a partial top view of the bumper of [Fig.2] before assembly of both internal and external elements.

[0022] [Fig.4] is a detailed perspective view of the rear of the bumper of [Fig.2] after assembly of the two internal and external elements.

[0023] [Fig.5] is another detailed sectional view along plane AA of [Fig.4] of the internal and external elements of a bumper, assembled using the device of the invention.

[0024] [Fig.6] is yet another detail view of the rear of the outer element (or skin) of the bumper of [Fig.2] before assembly with the internal element.

[0025] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures.

[0026] Naturally, the embodiments of the bumper of the invention illustrated schematically by the figures presented above and described below are given only as non-limiting examples. It is explicitly provided within the scope of the invention that different embodiments can be proposed and combined with each other to propose others.

[0027] The invention relates to the general field of the production of bodywork components for motor vehicles and is more particularly concerned with the front bumpers of these vehicles.

[0028] Today and as illustrated by figures 1 and 2, such bumpers P generally comprise an internal reinforcing element 1 and an external element or skin 2, provided at their upper part with connecting means. These bumpers today delimit, in their upper part, a cavity closed by a window (not shown) and in which are housed, on either side of the vehicle, the headlights of the lighting system (not shown). This cavity is delimited downwards by a line C called the docking line with the bumper P.

[0029] However, given its relatively flexible nature, the external element 2 has a tendency to deform over time, in particular under the effect of solar radiation, which leads to the creation of an interposed clearance between the bumper and the glass of the headlights. However, due to the narrowness of the area where the bumper P meets this glass, it is not possible to weld the reinforcing element to the skin in this area in order to counter this possible deformation.

[0030] The invention aims to propose means for controlling, over time, the interposed play which may be found in the junction zone and, more precisely at the level of the docking line C, between the upper edge of the bumper P and the lower periphery of this window. For this purpose, the invention consists of an improved device intended to improve the mechanical strength of the connection between the internal 1 and external 2 elements, essentially in the immediate vicinity of the line C and therefore at the upper part of these elements.

[0031] According to the invention, these connecting means comprise, on either side of the bumper, at least one orifice 10 passing through the internal reinforcing element 1 via a front end 10a and a rear end 10b and intended to receive an elastically deformable boss 21 carried by the external element 2, as illustrated by figures 4 and 5. In the embodiment of the invention shown here in the figures, the assembly device comprises, on either side of the bumper, two orifices cooperating with two bosses.

[0032] In order to improve the connection between the internal 1 and external 2 elements, it is provided that the section of at least the rear end 10b of the orifice 10 is smaller than the section of the boss 21. Under these conditions, the boss is introduced by force at the front end 10a of the orifice 10 then locked by returning to its initial state at the rear end 10b so as to ensure the mutual and integral retention of the two elements 1, 2 ([Fig. 5]). Thus, during assembly, the material constituting the boss 21 is crushed before returning to its shape after passing through the orifice 10. Once the assembly between the two elements 1, 2 has been carried out, there is no longer any residual play. Preferably, the orifice 10 is flared at its front end 10a to facilitate the introduction of the elastically deformable boss 21, as illustrated in detail by [Fig. 5].

[0033] As illustrated by figures 4 and 5, the internal reinforcing element 1 carries a set of tabs 12 intended to come into abutment against the rear face of the external element 2 during assembly of the two elements.

[0034] The invention also provides that the external element 2 carries stiffening ribs 22- fication which extend substantially perpendicular to the axis of the boss 2, as illustrated in [Fig.6].

[0035] The upper edge of the internal reinforcing element 1 also carries centering tabs 11 intended to be housed in cavities 20 provided in the upper part of the external element 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. These tabs allow the internal element 1 to be pre-positioned on the skin 2 by the assembly operator.

[0036] The bumper is mounted at the front of the vehicle in the following manner. First, the internal reinforcing element 1 is welded to the lower periphery and the sides of the rear face of the external element 2. However, it is not possible to weld between the respective upper parts of the reinforcing element 1 and the skin 2, and therefore close to the docking line C with the glass. In fact, due to the lack of space in this part of the bumper, such a weld is not feasible because it would require a surface area of ​​at least 20mm x 35mm.

[0037] Once the welds have been made, pressure is exerted on the upper part of the internal reinforcing element 1 in the direction of the external element 2 to introduce and lock the boss 21 of the external element into the orifice 10 of the internal element and to completely secure the two elements. If necessary, this support can be carried out by means of the welding tool. The integral assembly is then positioned and fixed in a jointed manner under the headlight lenses in a manner known per se and with traditional means.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for assembling a bumper (P) of a motor vehicle comprising an internal reinforcing element (1) and an external element (2) provided, at their upper part, with connecting means intended to be arranged adjacent to headlight housings, characterized in that said connecting means comprise at least one orifice (10) passing through said internal reinforcing element (1) via a front end (10a) and a rear end (10b) and intended to receive an elastically deformable boss (21) carried by said external element (2), the section of at least the rear end (10b) of said orifice (10) being smaller than the section of the boss (21) so that the boss is force-fitted at the front end (10a) of said orifice and then locked by returning to its initial state at the rear end (10b) so as to ensure the mutual retention of the two elements (1, 2).

2. Assembly device according to claim 1, characterized in that said orifice (10) is flared at its front end (10a) to facilitate the introduction of the elastically deformable boss (21).

3. Assembly device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said internal reinforcing element (1) carries a set of tabs (12) intended to come into abutment against said external element (2) during the assembly of the two elements.

4. Assembly device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said external element (2) carries stiffening ribs (22) which extend perpendicular to the axis of the boss (21).

5. Assembly device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper edge of the internal reinforcing element (1) carries centering tabs (11) intended to be housed in cavities (20) provided in the upper part of the external element (2).

6. Bumper (P) of a motor vehicle comprising an internal reinforcing element (1) and an external element (2) assembled by means of a device according to one of the preceding claims.

7. Method for mounting a bumper (P) according to the preceding claim at the front of a motor vehicle equipped with a lighting system comprising headlights housed in lateral cavities (C) closed by glass, characterized in that the internal reinforcing element (1) is welded to the lower periphery and the sides of the face

8. rear of the element (2) and pressure is exerted on the internal reinforcing element (1) in the direction of the external element (2) to introduce and lock the boss (21) of the external element into the orifice (10) of the internal element and secure the two elements then the assembly is positioned and fixed in a jointed manner under the headlight lenses. Motor vehicle comprising a front bumper (P) according to claim 6.

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