Elastically deformable filling element

Abstract

Elastically deformable packing element The present invention relates to a packing element (12) comprising: a first (14) and a second (16) main layer, comprising first structural fibers (26); and a spacer (18), arranged between said main layers in a first direction (Z). At least one of the main layers (14, 16) comprises a network (28) of meshes (30) extending in a second (X) and in a third (Y) direction perpendicular to the first direction (Z), said network (28) of meshes being elastically deformable in the second (X) and / or in the third (Y) direction; and the spacer (18) comprises a plurality of second fibers (36), each of said second fibers (36) extending between a first and a second end, said first and second ends being fixed respectively to the first (14) and to the second (16) main layers. Figure for abstract: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Elastically deformable packing element

[0001] The present invention relates to a packing element, of the type comprising an assembly, said assembly comprising: a first and a second main layer, each of said first and second main layers comprising first structural fibers; and a spacer, arranged between said first and second main layers in a first direction.

[0002] It is known to use such a trim element to trim the interior of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, as described in document EP0855974.

[0003] Certain pieces of equipment arranged inside a vehicle have raised shapes, having edges and / or small radii of curvature. It is then advantageous to have an elastically deformable trim element, making it possible to closely match this type of shape.

[0004] Other advantages are sought for vehicle trim elements, such as a pleasant feel, low weight, limited cost and optimized environmental impact.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a packing element of the aforementioned type, in which: at least one of the first and second main layers comprises a mesh network formed by the first structural fibers, said mesh network extending in a second and in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, said mesh network being elastically deformable in the second and / or in the third direction; and the spacer comprises a plurality of second fibers, each of said second fibers extending between a first and a second end, said first and second ends being fixed respectively to the first and to the second main layers.

[0006] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the filling element comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0007] - the mesh network is configured so that each mesh of said network comprises: sides formed by the first structural fibers; and a central opening surrounded by said sides;

[0008] - each side of a mesh of the network is formed by a plurality of first fibers structural;

[0009] - the mesh network is configured so that each mesh of said network forms substantially a polygon having a number of sides greater than or equal to four;

[0010] - the mesh network is configured so that each mesh of said network forms roughly a hexagon;

[0011] - each of the first and second main layers comprises a network of meshes formed by the first structural fibers, each of said mesh networks extending and being elastically deformable in the second and / or in the third direction;

[0012] - each of the second fibers comprises a first and a second branch end, adjacent respectively to the first and second ends, and a central portion, the central portions of the second fibers forming the spacer; and each of the second fibers is arranged in a U-shape, the first and second end branches being substantially parallel to each other, the central portion being curved.

[0013] - the filling element further comprises at least one additional layer, at contact of at least one of the first and second main layers;

[0014] - the first structural fibers of the first and / or second layer main, and / or the second fibers of the spacer comprise natural fibers, preferably chosen from linen, hemp, kenaf, coconut, sisal, jute fibers and / or artificial fibers of natural base, such as wood-based viscose and its derivatives;

[0015] - the first structural fibers of the first and / or second layer main, and / or the second fibers of the spacer comprise between 2% and 100% by weight of natural fibers relative to the total weight of the first structural fibers and the second fibers.

[0016] The invention further relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a trim element as described above.

[0017] The invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is an exploded view, in section, of a packing element according to a embodiment of the invention; and

[0019] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a top view of a portion of the trim element of [Fig.l].

[0020] [Fig. 1] is a detailed schematic view, in exploded section, of a packing element 10 according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0021] The trim element 10 is for example intended to line the interior of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. As a variant, the trim element 10 is intended to cover an item of furniture, a sports accessory or another object receiving a padding covering.

[0022] The packing element 10 comprises an assembly 12, formed by a first 14 and a second 16 main layers and by a spacer 18.

[0023] In the embodiment shown, the trim element 10 further comprises a covering layer 20, an intermediate layer 22 and an interface layer 24.

[0024] In the remainder of the description, an orthonormal base (X, Y, Z) associated with the packing element 10 is considered. A first direction Z corresponds to a stacking direction, the spacer 18 being in particular arranged between the first 14 and second 16 main layers along said first direction Z.

[0025] Each of the first 14 and second 16 main layers of the assembly 12 comprises first structural fibers 26. Preferably, the first structural fibers 26 of the first 14 and / or of the second 16 main layer comprise natural fibers. Said natural fibers are for example chosen from linen, hemp, kenaf, coconut, sisal, jute fibers and / or artificial fibers with a natural base, such as wood-based viscose and its derivatives.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the first structural fibers 26 of the first 14 and / or of the second 16 main layer comprise polyolefin fibers. The polyolefins are notably chosen from polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and their mixtures.

[0027] The first structural fibers 26 of the first 14 and second 16 main layers are similar or different.

[0028] The first structural fibers 26 of the first main layer 14 comprise a percentage of natural fibers preferably between 2% and 50%, more preferably between 20% and 45%, even more preferably close to 30%.

[0029] The first structural fibers 26 of the second main layer 16 comprise a percentage of natural fibers preferably between 20% and 90%, more preferably between 30% and 80%.

[0030] The first structural fibers 26 of each of the first 14 and second 16 main layers are assembled to each other in woven or non-woven form.

[0031] [Fig.2] shows a top view of the assembly 12.

[0032] Each of the first 14 and second 16 main layers of the set 12 extends substantially in a plane (X, Y) comprising a second direction X and a third direction Y, perpendicular to the first direction Z.

[0033] More precisely, at least one of the first 14 and second 16 main layers comprises a network 28 of meshes 30, formed by the first structural fibers 26. Said network 28 of meshes 30 extends in the plane (X, Y) corresponding to said first 14 or second 16 main layer.

[0034] The network 28 of meshes 30 is configured so that each mesh 30 of said network 28 comprises: sides 32 formed by the first structural fibers 26; and a central opening 34 surrounded by said sides 32. Each side 32 of a mesh 30 is defined in that it is common to two adjacent meshes and separates one from the other said adjacent meshes.

[0035] Preferably, the central opening 34 of each mesh 30 of the network 28 has a maximum dimension of the order of 10 mm in the corresponding plane (X, Y).

[0036] Preferably, each side 32 of a mesh 30 of the network 28 is formed by a plurality of first structural fibers 26, in woven or non-woven form.

[0037] The network 28 of meshes 30 is elastically deformable in the second direction X and / or in the third direction Y. Preferably, in order to guarantee such deformability, each mesh 30 of said network 28 substantially forms a polygon having a number of sides greater than or equal to four. In the embodiment shown, each mesh 30 of the network 28 has six sides 32 and forms a substantially regular hexagon.

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the first 14 and second 16 main layers of the assembly 12 comprises a network 28 of meshes 30 formed by the first structural fibers 26, each of said networks 28 of meshes 30 extending and being elastically deformable in the plane (X, Y) of the corresponding main layer 14, 16. According to a variant not shown, one of the main layers 14, 16 does not comprise such a network of meshes but nevertheless has elastic deformability along the second X and / or along the third Y direction.

[0039] Preferably, as in the embodiment shown, the meshes 30 of the networks 28 of the first 14 and second 16 main layers are substantially identical. More preferably, as in the embodiment shown, the networks 28 of the first 14 and second 16 main layers are substantially arranged so as to be the image of one another by a translation along the first direction Z. According to a variant not shown, the meshes of the first 14 and second 16 main layers are different from one another.

[0040] Preferably, each of the first 14 and second 16 main layers has a weight of between 50 and 200 g / m2 and a thickness of between 1 mm and 15 mm. The weights and thicknesses of the first 14 and second 16 main layers are similar or different.

[0041] The spacer 18 of the assembly 12 comprises a plurality of second fibers 36. Each of said second fibers 36 extends between a first and a second end, said first and second ends being fixed respectively to the first 14 and to the second 16 main layers.

[0042] For example, as shown in [Fig.l] for one of the second fibers 36, each of said second fibers 36 comprises: a first 40 and a second 42 end branches, adjacent respectively to the first and to the second end; and a central portion 44. Each of the first 40 and second 42 end branches is intermingled with the first structural fibers 26, respectively of the first 14 and of the second 16 main layer.

[0043] The central portions 44 of the second fibers 36 are arranged between the first 14 and second 16 main layers, thus forming the spacer 18.

[0044] Preferably, each of the second fibers 36 is arranged in a U-shape in a plane parallel to the first direction Z. The first 40 and second 42 end branches of said second fiber extend substantially parallel to one another. The central portion 44 is thus curved, exerting a force tending to separate the first 14 and second 16 main layers from one another.

[0045] More preferably, as visible in Figures 1 and 2, the second fibers 36 are arranged in a U shape in planes substantially parallel to each other and parallel to Z. Each of the second fibers 36 thus contributes to exerting a uniform force separating the first 14 and second 16 main layers from each other.

[0046] Preferably, the spacer 18 has a thickness 38 along Z of between 0.5 mm and 50 mm. More preferably, said thickness 38 is between 0.5 mm and 10 mm.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the second fibers 36 of the spacer 18 comprise polyolefin fibers, such as PP, PE or PET. Optionally, the PP, PE or PET fibers are bio-sourced or recycled.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the second fibers 36 of the spacer 18 comprise fibers chosen from natural fibers or polylactic acid fibers. Preferably, the natural fibers are chosen from linen, hemp, kenaf, coconut, sisal, jute fibers. Alternatively, the second fibers 36 comprise artificial fibers with a natural base, such as wood-based viscose and its derivatives.

[0049] The second fibers 36 of the spacer 18 comprise a percentage of natural fibers preferably between 2% and 40%, more preferably between 20% and 45%, even more preferably close to 30%. According to one embodiment, the first structural fibers 26 of the first 14 and / or of the second 16 main layer, and / or the second fibers 36 of the spacer 18 comprise between 2% and 100% by weight of natural fibers relative to the total weight of the first structural fibers 26 and the second fibers 36.

[0050] In the embodiment shown, the covering layer 20 forms an external surface of the trim element 10. The covering layer 20 comprises one or more sub-layers, comprising for example one or more materials chosen from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), a thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) or a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

[0051] In the embodiment shown, the intermediate layer 22 is arranged between the covering layer 20 and the first main layer 14 of the assembly 12.

[0052] The intermediate layer 22 comprises, for example, a mat, woven or non-woven, of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polylactic acid (PLA) fibers.

[0053] In the embodiment shown, the interface layer 24 is arranged in contact with the second main layer 16 of the assembly 12. The interface layer 24 is in particular intended to come into contact with a support (not shown) coated with the filling element 10.

[0054] The interface layer 24 comprises, for example, a mat, preferably non-woven, of natural fibers and / or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers, preferably recycled.

[0055] Preferably, each of the covering layers 20, intermediate layers 22 and interface layers 24 is elastically deformable in the second direction X and / or in the third direction Y.

[0056] The trim element 10 is for example used to dress a vehicle interior, such as a motor vehicle. The trim element 10 is advantageously used to dress equipment parts having three-dimensional reliefs, for example seat armrests. The elastic deformability of the assembly 12 allows the trim element 10 to closely match the shape of the corresponding equipment part, to lead to an aesthetic appearance of said part.

[0057] The presence of the spacer 18 makes it possible to obtain the desired thickness, while lightening the weight of the filling element 10 and giving it flexibility to the touch.

[0058] The additional layers 20, 22, 24, in particular the covering layer 20, make it possible to obtain the desired appearance and texture for the filling element 10.

Claims

Claims

1. A packing element (10) comprising an assembly (12), said assembly comprising: a first (14) and a second (16) main layer, each of said first and second main layers (14, 16) comprising first structural fibers (26); and a spacer (18), disposed between said first and second main layers (14, 16) in a first direction (Z); said filling element (10, 12) being characterized in that: - at least one of the first and second main layers (14, 16) comprises a network (28) of meshes (30) formed by the first structural fibers (26), said network (28) of meshes (30) extending in a second (X) and in a third (Y) direction perpendicular to the first direction (Z), said network (28) of meshes (30) being elastically deformable in the second (X) and / or in the third (Y) direction;and - the spacer (18) comprises a plurality of second fibers (36), each of said second fibers (36) extending between a first and a second end, said first and second ends being fixed respectively to the first (14) and to the second (16) main layers.;

2. The packing element (10) of claim 1, wherein each of the second fibers (36) comprises: a first (40) and a second (42) end branch, adjacent respectively to the first and second ends of the second fiber; and a central portion (44); each of the first and second end branches being intermingled with the first structural fibers (26), respectively of the first (14) and second (16) main layers; the central portions (44) of the second fibers being disposed between the first and second main layers, forming the spacer (18).

3. A packing element (10) according to claim 2, wherein the first (40) and second (42) end branches of each second fiber extend substantially parallel to each other and the central portion (44) is curved.

4. A packing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the network (28) of meshes (30) is configured such that each mesh (30) of said network (28) comprises: sides (32) formed by the first structural fibers (26); and a central opening (34) surrounded by said sides (32).

5. A packing element (10) according to claim 2, wherein each side (32) of a mesh (30) of the network (28) is formed by a plurality of first structural fibers (26).

6. A packing element (10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the network (28) of meshes (30) is configured such that each mesh (30) of said network (28) substantially forms a polygon having a number of sides (32) greater than or equal to four.

7. A packing element (10) according to claim 6, wherein the network (28) of meshes (30) is configured such that each mesh (30) of said network substantially forms a hexagon.

8. A packing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first (14) and second (16) main layers comprises a network (28) of meshes (30) formed by the first structural fibers (26), each of said networks (28) of meshes (30) extending and being elastically deformable in the second (X) and / or in the third (Y) direction.

9. A packing element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one additional layer (20, 22, 24), in contact with at least one of the first (14) and second (16) main layers.

10. A filling element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first structural fibers (26) of the first (14) and / or second (16) main layer, and / or the second fibers (36) of the spacer (18) comprise natural fibers, preferably chosen from linen, hemp, kenaf, coconut, sisal, jute fibers and / or natural-based artificial fibers, such as wood-based viscose and its derivatives.

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