Bumper reinforcement with daytime running light bracket.

Abstract

The invention relates to a bumper reinforcement (1), the reinforcement (1) having at least one opening designed to accommodate a daytime running light device (2), the reinforcement (1) having means (8) for attaching the device (2) to the reinforcement (1), the reinforcement (1) having a shim interface (10) designed to interact with a periphery (11) of the device (2), when the latter is positioned in the opening and resting against the reinforcement (1), in order to allow correct positioning and orientation of the lighting device (2) for attachment by the fasteners (8), the interface (10) having at least a first zone (12) designed to accommodate a first tab (5) of the device (2) and provided with at least one shim rib (13) forming a stop for the first tab (5) to prevent rotation of the device (2) when it is attached to the reinforcement (1). (Figure 3)

Description

Title of the invention: Bumper reinforcement with daytime running light support.

[0001] The technical field relates to bumper reinforcements for strengthening a bumper skin and designed to accommodate a daytime running light device, as well as bumpers including such reinforcement and vehicles equipped with such bumpers.

[0002] For car manufacturers, the quality of their vehicles' finish and their aesthetic appearance are essential to differentiate themselves from other brands. For this reason, manufacturers make considerable efforts to constantly improve these areas. In particular, customers pay close attention to the quality of the assembly of the various body panels of a vehicle, and it is therefore important to offer assemblies free of visual defects.

[0003] In this context, some motor vehicles have a bumper cover that includes at least one opening housing the lens of a headlight assembly. This lens is then completely surrounded by the bumper cover. This is the case, for example, with the lens of certain headlight assemblies that function as daytime running lights (or DRLs – lights that automatically illuminate when the vehicle is started during the day). Such an arrangement requires very precise positioning of the headlight assembly relative to the bumper cover so that its lens is correctly positioned relative to the corresponding opening. Furthermore, during assembly by screwing, the headlight assembly sometimes tends to rotate, which is detrimental to the accuracy of its positioning.

[0004] Furthermore, for reasons of symmetry, a bumper generally includes headlight units, each of which has another headlight unit that is the mirror image of the other. However, it is not always easy to distinguish them during vehicle assembly.

[0005] Thus, such a bumper presents challenges which significantly complicate its assembly, resulting in high assembly times and costs as well as greater risks of producing visual defects.

[0006] Thus, there is a need for a solution to simplify the assembly of optical blocks, in particular daytime running lights, while ensuring optimal assembly quality.

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a bumper reinforcement that simplifies the positioning of daytime running lights and ensures optimal visual assembly quality.

[0008] To this end, the present invention relates to a bumper reinforcement designed to reinforce a bumper, the reinforcement having at least one opening designed to accommodate a daytime running light device, the bumper reinforcement having means for fixing the device to the reinforcement, the reinforcement further having a shimming interface designed to interact with a periphery of the lighting device, when the latter is positioned in the opening and resting on the reinforcement, in order to allow correct positioning and orientation of the lighting device for the purpose of fixing it by the fixing means, the shimming interface having at least a first area designed to accommodate a first fixing tab of the lighting device and provided with at least one shimming rib forming a stop for the first fixing tab to prevent rotation of the lighting device when fixing it to the reinforcement.

[0009] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle bumper comprising at least one reinforcement according to the invention and at least one daytime running light device, each having at least one first fixing tab designed to be inserted into a first area of ​​the reinforcement, each device being fixed in an opening of the reinforcement so that each first tab is positioned in a corresponding first area.

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

[0011] Thus, the reinforcement according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a bumper according to the invention featuring optimally adjusted daytime running lights thanks to the alignment interface, which ensures the correct positioning and orientation of the device. Furthermore, during screwing, the device is held in position and is not subject to unwanted rotation that could alter its alignment, thanks to each alignment rib. Therefore, the positioning and fastening of the device onto the reinforcement according to the invention are made particularly simple and quick.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first zone comprises at least two shim ribs arranged in the first zone so that the first fixing tab is positioned between the two shim ribs when the first tab is placed in the first zone.

[0013] According to one possibility of the bumper reinforcement, the shimming interface further comprises a second area provided with at least one support rib, each designed to allow the positioning, in support of each support rib, of a second fixing tab of the lighting device to hold the device in the opening, when the reinforcement is positioned so that the opening extends substantially along a vertical plane.

[0014] Advantageously, the first zone is designed to oppose a movement of rotation of the lighting device caused by tightening the second fixing tab.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the reinforcement includes at least one notch formed on the periphery of the opening, each designed to accommodate a shim for the lighting device.

[0016] According to one possibility, the reinforcement comprises two openings, two shimming interfaces and a central plane of symmetry in which each opening, respectively each interface, is the image of the other by symmetry.

[0017] According to one possibility, each second fixing tab is housed in a second zone, where the shimming interface further comprises a second zone provided with at least one support rib, each designed to allow the positioning in support on each support rib of a second fixing tab of the lighting device to hold the device in the opening, when the reinforcement is positioned so that the opening extends substantially along a vertical plane.

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

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] represents a perspective view of a bumper reinforcement according to the invention and of a daytime running light device being installed in an opening in the reinforcement;

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a detailed view of the reinforcement showing the opening and the alignment interface with the daytime running light system being installed;

[0021] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] shows a detailed view of the first area of ​​the reinforcement of the [Fig.2];

[0022] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a cross-sectional view along axis AA of [Fig.3];

[0023] [Fig. 5] [Fig. 5] shows a detailed view of the second area of ​​the reinforcement of the [Fig.2];

[0024] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] represents a cross-sectional view along axis BB of [Fig.5].

[0025] In these figures, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements.

[0026] A bumper reinforcement 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures, is designed to reinforce a bumper according to the invention and to allow the shimming and attachment of a daytime running light device 2 shown in particular in [Fig. 1]. The reinforcement 1 according to the invention is, for example, made of molded plastic material.

[0027] The lighting device 2 conventionally comprises a housing 3 containing luminous elements (not shown) and a protective lens 4. The housing 3 has first 5 and second 6 mounting tabs designed to allow the housing 3 to be fixed to the reinforcement 1 according to the invention.

[0028] The reinforcement 1 has at least one opening 7, in this case two openings 7, each designed to accommodate the daytime lighting device 2.

[0029] The bumper reinforcement 1 has fastening means 8, illustrated in [Fig.2], allowing the device 2 to be fixed to the reinforcement 1. In this case, the fastening means 8 comprise a plurality of screw barrels 9 designed to receive a screw for fixing the device 1.

[0030] The reinforcement 1 further has a shimming interface 10 designed to interact with a periphery 11 of the lighting device 2, when the latter is positioned in the opening 7 and resting on the reinforcement 1, in order to allow correct positioning and orientation of the lighting device 2 for its fixing by the fixing means 8. The shimming interface 10 thus facilitates the positioning and holding in position on the reinforcement 1 of the device 2 while awaiting its fixing by screwing with the screw barrels 9. As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the reinforcement 1 has two openings 7, two shimming interfaces 10 and a central plane of symmetry in which each opening 7, respectively each interface 10, is the mirror image of the other.

[0031] The interface 10 has at least one first zone 12 designed to accommodate the first mounting tab 5 of the lighting device 2. The first zone 12 is provided with at least one shim 13 forming a stop for the first mounting tab 5 in order to prevent rotation of the lighting device 2 when it is attached to the reinforcement 1. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the first zone 12 is designed to resist rotation of the lighting device 2 caused by tightening the second mounting tab 6. To this end, the first zone 12 has at least two shims 13 arranged within it, such that the first mounting tab 5 is positioned between the two shims 13 when the first tab 5 is placed in the first zone 12.

[0032] In the example illustrated in the figures, the shimming interface 10 further comprises a second zone 14 provided with at least one support rib 15, each designed to allow the positioning in support on each support rib 15 of the second fixing tab 6 of the lighting device 2, to hold the device 2 in the opening 7, when the reinforcement 1 is positioned so that the opening 7 extends substantially along a vertical plane.

[0033] In order to perfect the alignment, the alignment interface 10 further includes at least one notch, not illustrated, made on the periphery of the opening 7, each designed to accommodate an alignment tab of the lighting device 2, not illustrated.

[0034] Thus, in the bumper according to the invention, at least one daytime running light device 2 is fixed in a respective opening 7 by screwing using screw barrels 9. The device 2 is positioned so that the first tab 5 is positioned in the first zone 12, while the second tab 6 is positioned in the second zone 14 of interface 10 of reinforcement 1 alignment.

[0035] Advantageously and as illustrated in the figures, each of the first 12 and second 14 zones includes one of the screw barrels 9.

[0036] Thus, when fixing the device 2, screwing a screw into a first screw shank 9, located in the second zone 14, causes a rotational moment of the device 1 relative to the reinforcement 1 in the clockwise direction of the device 2. This rotational movement is prevented by the interface 10 by means of one of the shims 13, for the device 2 positioned to the right of the reinforcement 1 and by means of the other of the shims 13, for the device 2 positioned to the left of the reinforcement 1.

[0037] Thus, the reinforcement 1 according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a bumper according to the invention having daytime running lights 2 that are optimally adjusted thanks to the shimming interface 10 which guarantees the correct positioning and orientation of the device 2 using the shimming ribs 13.

[0038] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the bumper reinforcement described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Bumper reinforcement (1) designed to reinforce a bumper, the reinforcement (1) having at least one opening (7) designed to accommodate a daytime lighting device (2), the bumper reinforcement (1) having means (8) for fixing the device (2) to the reinforcement (1), the reinforcement (1) further having a wedging interface (10) designed to interact with a periphery (11) of the lighting device (2), when the latter is positioned in the opening (7) and resting on the reinforcement (1), in order to allow correct positioning and orientation of the lighting device (2) with a view to its fixing by the fixing means (8),the wedging interface (10) having at least a first zone (12) designed to accommodate a first fixing lug (5) of the lighting device (2) and provided with at least one wedging rib (13) forming a stop for the first fixing lug (5) to prevent rotation of the lighting device (2) when it is fixed to the reinforcement (1).,

2. Bumper reinforcement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first zone (12) comprises at least two wedging ribs (13) arranged in the first zone (12) so that the first fixing tab (5) is positioned between the two wedging ribs (13), when the first tab (5) is placed in the first zone (12).

3. Bumper reinforcement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wedging interface (10) further comprises a second zone (14) provided with at least one support rib (15), each designed to allow the positioning in support on each support rib (15) of a second tab (6) for fixing the lighting device (2) to hold the device (2) in the opening (7), when the reinforcement (1) is positioned so that the opening (7) extends substantially along a vertical plane.

4. Reinforcement (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first zone (12) is designed to oppose a rotational movement of the lighting device (2) caused by screwing the second fixing lug (6).

5. Reinforcement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one notch provided around the perimeter of the opening (7), each designed to accommodate a wedging tab of the lighting device (2).

6. Reinforcement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises two openings (7), two wedging interfaces (10) and a central plane of symmetry in which each opening (7), respectively each interface (10) is the image of the other by symmetry.

7. Motor vehicle bumper comprising at least one reinforcement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6 and at least one daytime lighting device (2), each having at least one first fixing lug (5) designed to be introduced into a first zone (12) of the reinforcement (1), each device (2) being fixed in an opening (7) of the reinforcement (1) so that each first lug (5) is positioned in a corresponding first zone (12).

8. Bumper according to claim 7, in combination with claim 3, characterized in that each second fixing lug (6) is housed in a second zone (14).

9. A motor vehicle having a bumper according to claim 7 or 8.

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