Bumper sensor mounting device and locking interface.

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening device (1) designed to allow the attachment of a functional component to a support (3), the device (1) comprising a body (7) having a receiving area (8) designed for the attachment of the functional component (2) and at least one locking fin (11) projecting from the body (7), each designed to cooperate with a fastening interface (14) formed in the support (3) to ensure the locking of the device (1) in the interface (14), each fin (11) being designed to be engaged in a locking groove (15) by rotation of the body (7), in order to ensure the locking of the device (1) in the interface (14). The invention also relates to a lighting support (3) having at least one interface (14) for allowing the locking of a device (1) onto the support (3). (Figure 3)

Description

Title of the invention: Fixing device and locking interface for a bumper sensor.

[0001] The technical field concerns fixing devices designed to allow the fixing of a functional member on a bumper, lighting supports having a fixing interface cooperating with such a device, bumpers having at least one such device locked on such a support and finally vehicles having at least one such bumper.

[0002] Modern vehicles are most often equipped with various sensors installed in their bumpers, in particular to detect obstacles and help the driver to maneuver. Each of these sensors is usually fixed to the bumper skin using a specific support, itself fixed by clipping into a hole in the bumper skin. The fixing system is hidden behind the bumper skin and the active face of the sensor appears through a circular hole made in the specific support and the bumper skin.

[0003] Such specific sensor supports require particular positioning and orientation depending on the type of sensor on the bumper skin, in order to ensure the correct operation of the sensor. In particular, certain sensors must be positioned on the sides of the bumper, in areas having openings and cutouts likely to accommodate daytime running lighting devices and which are likely to hinder the positioning of the sensor support. Indeed, daytime running lighting devices require fixing means which reduce the surface area available on the bumper skin for the positioning and fixing of the sensor supports, around the cutouts.

[0004] Furthermore, fixing a sensor support to the bumper skin can be relatively time-consuming during vehicle assembly. Optimizing assembly times is a constant concern for automobile manufacturers.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a solution for fixing a sensor to a bumper near a daytime running light device.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, one aim of the present invention is to provide a fixing device allowing the fixing of a functional member such as a sensor on a bumper near a daytime running lighting device.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a fixing device designed to allow the fixing of a functional member on a daytime lighting support, the device comprising a body having a reception area designed for fixing of the functional member to the device, the body having at least one locking fin projecting from the body of the device, each designed to cooperate with a fixing interface provided in the daytime running light support to ensure the locking of the device in the fixing interface, each fin being designed to be engaged in a locking groove of the fixing interface by rotation of the body, in order to ensure the locking of the device in the interface.

[0008] The invention also relates to a daytime lighting support designed to be arranged at least partly against an internal face of a bumper skin, to support daytime lighting, the support having at least one fixing interface designed to cooperate with a device according to the invention to allow the locking of a device on the support, each interface having at least one locking groove designed to allow the introduction of a locking fin of the device by rotation of the body of the device, the introduction of each fin into a locking groove making it possible to lock the device in the interface.

[0009] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle bumper having a bumper skin and at least one support according to the invention fixed to an internal face of the bumper skin, the bumper further having at least one fixing device according to the invention, each locked in a fixing interface by inserting each locking fin into a locking groove.

[0010] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having at least one bumper according to the invention.

[0011] Thus, the fixing device according to the invention is designed to be fixed to a lighting support. Such a fixing on the lighting support makes it possible to position the functional member, such as a sensor, around a daytime lighting device without being hindered in its positioning due to the environment. Indeed, the replacement of the fixing means of a conventional daytime lighting device by a lighting support according to the invention allows the positioning near the lighting device of a fixing device according to the invention. Furthermore, the cooperation of each fin with a corresponding groove makes it easier to mount the fixing device on the bumper according to the invention.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the device, the body has a cylindrical shape with a circular base, each fin extending radially around the body.

[0013] According to one possibility, the device has a support collar extending at least partly around the body in order to position the device in support on the fixing interface.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the device, the body has a through orifice extending from the receiving area.

[0015] According to one possibility, the reception area is designed to accommodate a sensor, in particular a sensor of a parking assistance system.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the bumper, the interface has a rim designed to guide rotation of the device in the attachment interface.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the bumper, each locking groove and each fixing fin are sized to allow locking of the device in the interface by rotating the body of the device a quarter turn in the corresponding interface.

[0018] The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of a bumper according to the invention seen from outside the vehicle;

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents an internal and detailed view of the bumper of [Fig.l] showing a device according to the invention locked in an interface according to the invention, a sensor being accommodated in the reception area of ​​the device;

[0021] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a detail view of the fixing device of [Fig.2] before its installation in the locking interface;

[0022] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a detailed view of the fixing device of [Fig.2] arranged in the fixing interface, before the body is rotated to operate the locking;

[0023] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] represents a detailed view of the fixing device according to the invention locked in the fixing interface.

[0024] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0025] A fixing device 1 according to the invention, illustrated in particular in [Fig. 3], is designed to allow the fixing of a functional member 2, illustrated in [Fig. 2], on a daytime lighting support 3 according to the invention, illustrated in Figures 2 to 5. The daytime lighting support 3 is designed to be arranged at least partly against an internal face 4 of a bumper skin 5 to reinforce the bumper skin 5 and allow the fixing of a daytime lighting device, not illustrated. For this purpose, it comprises, for example, means for fixing a daytime lighting device. The device 1 and the support 3 make it possible to obtain a bumper 6 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures and in particular in [Fig. 1].

[0026] The device 1 comprises a body 7 having a receiving zone 8 designed for fixing the functional member 2 to the device 1. In the example illustrated in the figures, the functional member 2 is a sensor 9 of a parking assistance system. The receiving zone 8 has, for example, a plurality of clipping tabs 10 allowing the functional organ 2 to be clipped into the reception area 8.

[0027] The body 7 has at least one locking fin 11 projecting from the body 7 of the device 1. In the example illustrated in the figures, the body 7 has a cylindrical shape with a circular base, each locking fin 11 extending radially around the body 7. As illustrated in [Fig. 3], the fins 11 are substantially planar and extend substantially perpendicularly to the body 7. Advantageously, the fins 11 of a device 1 are distributed around the body 7 in order to cover angular sectors distributed uniformly around the body 7. In the example illustrated in the figures, the device 1 comprises two fins 11 diametrically opposite each other with respect to the body 7.

[0028] The body 7 further has a through orifice 12, visible in FIGS. 4 and 5, extending from the receiving zone 8. Thus, at least part of the orifice 12 can be occupied by the sensor 9, the latter having an active face 13, illustrated in [Fig. 1], designed to be flush with the bumper skin 5 when the sensor 9 is received in the receiving zone 8 and the device 1 is mounted on the bumper 6.

[0029] Each locking fin 11 is designed to cooperate with a fixing interface 14, illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, provided in the daytime lighting support 3 to ensure the locking of the device 1 in the fixing interface 14. For this purpose, each locking fin 11 is designed to be engaged in a locking groove 15 of the fixing interface 14 by rotation of the body 7, in order to ensure the locking of the device 1 in the interface 14.

[0030] The body 7 of the device 1 advantageously has a support collar 16, illustrated in [Fig. 3], extending at least partly around the body 7 in order to position the device 1 in support on the fixing interface 14.

[0031] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the support 3 has at least one fixing interface 14 integral with the support 3. Each fixing interface 14 is designed to cooperate with at least one fin 11 to ensure the locking of the device 1 by rotation of the fin 11 in the interface 14. For this purpose, each interface 14 has at least one locking groove 15, in this case two locking grooves 15 designed to allow the introduction of a fin 11 into the groove 15. When a fin 11 is introduced into a groove 15, the rotation of the body 7 also causes the collar 16 to be pressed against a rim 17 of the interface 14 designed to guide the rotation of the device 1 in the fixing interface 14. The rim 17 surrounds, for example, a hole 18 made in the support 3 and sized to allow the passage of the device 1 and the sensor 9 received in the reception zone 8.

[0032] In order to form the bumper 6 according to the invention, the body 7 of the device 1 is introduced into the bore 18 in order to bring the fins 11 into abutment against the rim 17. As illustrated in [Fig.4]. The body 7 is then rotated, in this case counterclockwise, in order to introduce the fins 11 into a corresponding groove 15. [Fig.4] illustrates the device 1 locked in the interface 14. Advantageously, each groove 15 and each fin 11 are dimensioned to allow locking of the device 1 in the interface 14 by rotating the body 7 of the device 1 a quarter turn in the corresponding interface 14. By locking, it should be understood that at least one fin 11 comes into abutment in a groove 15 so that rotation of the body 7, in order to make the fin 11 penetrate into the groove 15, becomes impossible.

[0033] Advantageously, each fin 11 has grooves 19 projecting from the fin 11 to prevent the fin 11 from accidentally sliding into the groove 15. Finally, at least one fin 11 advantageously has a locking stop 20, illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, making it possible to block the rotation of the body 7 when the device 1 is locked in the interface 14.

[0034] Thus, each interface 14 provided on a lighting support 3 according to the invention allows the positioning of a sensor 9 around a daytime lighting device. The fixing of the device 1 in the interface 14 is simple, in particular when a rotation of a quarter turn is sufficient, making it possible to optimize the assembly steps of the bumper 6 according to the invention.

[0035] The invention is not limited to the embodiments of the fixing device or the support described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Fixing device (1) designed to allow the fixing of a functional member (2) on a lighting support (3), the device (1) comprising a body (7) having a receiving zone (8) designed for the fixing of the functional member (2) to the device (1), the body (7) having at least one locking fin (11) projecting from the body (7) of the device (1), each designed to cooperate with a fixing interface (14) provided in the lighting support (3) to ensure the locking of the device (1) in the fixing interface (14), each fin (11) being designed to be engaged in a locking groove (15) of the fixing interface (14) by rotation of the body (7), in order to ensure the locking of the device (1) in the interface (14).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (7) has a cylindrical shape with a circular base, each fin (11) extending radially around the body (7).

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device (1) has a support collar (16) extending at least partly around the body (7) in order to position the device (1) in support on the fixing interface (14).

4. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the body (7) has a through orifice (12) extending from the receiving zone (8).

5. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the reception area (8) is designed to accommodate a sensor (9), in particular a sensor (9) of a parking assistance system.

6. Lighting support (3) designed to be arranged at least partly against an internal face (4) of a bumper skin (5), to support daytime lighting, the support (3) having at least one fixing interface (14) designed to cooperate with a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5 to allow the locking of a device (1) on the support (3), each interface (14) having at least one locking groove (15) designed to allow the introduction of a fin (11) for locking the device (1) by rotation of the body (7) of the device (1), the introduction of each fin (11) into a locking groove (15) making it possible to lock the device (1) in the interface (14).

7. Lighting support (3) according to claim 6, characterized in that the interface (14) has a rim (17) designed to guide the rotation of the device (1) in the fixing interface (14).

8. Motor vehicle bumper (6) having a bumper skin (5) and at least one support (3) according to claim 6 or 7 fixed on an internal face (4) of the bumper skin (5), the bumper (6) further having at least one fixing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, each locked in a fixing interface (14) by insertion of each locking fin (11) into a locking groove (15).

9. Bumper (6) according to claim 8, characterized in that each locking groove (15) and each fixing fin (11) are dimensioned to allow locking of the device (1) in the interface by rotating the body (7) of the device (1) by a quarter turn in the corresponding interface (14).

10. Motor vehicle having at least one bumper (6) according to claim 8 or 9.

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