Structural element such as a back panel

Abstract

The invention relates to a structural element for a vehicle body, such as a rear panel (1), comprising an elongated panel to which a lining element (31, 32) is attached. The rear panel (1) has a central portion (11) and two end portions (12). One edge of the rear panel (1) has a U-shaped profile intended to form the lower part of a trunk opening. The U-shaped edge has a substantially linear central portion (14), a curved portion (15) on each side of the central portion (14), and a substantially linear end portion (16) for attaching other bodywork elements, such as a rear light housing (2). The invention consists in the fact that the curved portion (15) of the edge of the rear panel (1) is intended to form a first section of the curvature of the trunk opening. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Structural element such as a rear panel

[0001] The present invention relates to a structural element for a motor vehicle body and more precisely a structural element such as a rear panel consisting of a panel and a lining fixed thereon, a space being provided between the panel and the lining to form a hollow body.

[0002] In the context of the development of new vehicles, it is common to resize the various parts constituting the structure or body of the vehicle in order to configure specific style characteristics for this new model. However, in the interest of reducing costs, it is proposed to carry over certain parts from one model to another. However, if certain parts or structural elements can be carried over easily, the rear panel which defines with its lateral ends the trunk entrance width cannot be used on several silhouettes of the same production program.

[0003] This impossibility of renewing a rear panel PA of the conventional type as shown in [Fig. 1] is generally linked to the fact that said rear panel PA comprises a central portion PC and lateral end portions PEL, one edge of which projects relative to that of the central portion PC, which is linked to an air extraction interface EA formed in said lateral end portions PEL, giving the upper edge of said rear panel PA a U-shape, the upper edge of the central portion and the end portions being connected by a curved portion PCO of said edge, which is intended to constitute the lower curvature of the trunk entrance of the vehicle. The space between the branches of the U fixes the trunk entrance width LE, which means that a new rear panel PA has to be made.

[0004] Thus, in a conventional design such as that shown in [Fig.l], the rear panel PA comprises a cutout which induces an automatically fixed trunk entry width. The reuse of such a rear panel PA induces a new vehicle to have the same trunk entry width.

[0005] Document EP-A-3007961 proposes producing a rear panel consisting of three parts, namely two side parts assembled on a central part. This central part is thus made thicker than the side parts so as to be able to carry a closing part without the need for reinforcing elements. This central part being made of a thicker and therefore heavier sheet metal, it is preferable that its length is as small as possible in relation to the total length of the rear panel. On each of the side parts of this rear panel, the radius is then provided lower trunk entrance defining with the length of said side parts and the central part the trunk entrance width.

[0006] Although this document proposes a modular rear panel, the definition of the trunk entrance width is achievable by varying the length of the central part, which is therefore heavier, and / or varying the length of the side parts, which always requires different production tools. Such a solution is therefore not entirely satisfactory.

[0007] The invention therefore aims to propose a structural element such as a rear panel intended to be mounted in the rear part of the body of a motor vehicle, comprising an elongated panel and at least one lining element fixed to said panel, defining between them a hollow body, said rear panel having an edge intended to define at least in part, the lower part of the trunk entrance of the vehicle body, said edge comprising a central part and lateral end parts projecting from the central part, connected by a curved part, said end parts making it possible to assemble this rear panel to other bodywork elements of the structure, said rear panel being usable for vehicle models having different trunk opening widths.

[0008] The subject of the invention is a structural element for a vehicle body, such as a rear panel, comprising an elongated panel on which at least one lining element is fixed, said rear panel having a central portion and two lateral end portions, one of the edges of said rear panel having a U-shaped profile, intended to constitute the lower part of a trunk entrance of the vehicle, said U-shaped edge having a substantially linear central portion, a curved portion on each side of the central portion, then a substantially linear end portion intended for the fixing of other structural elements, such as a rear light housing, remarkable in that the curved portion of the edge of the rear panel is intended to form a first section of the line of curvature of the trunk entrance.

[0009] Thus, advantageously, the curved portion of the edge of the rear panel makes it possible to create the start of the curvature line of the trunk entrance, such that the rear panel can thus be used with a plurality of bodywork elements such as rear light housings which respectively comprise a different second section of the curvature line of the trunk entrance, such that it is thus possible to define a trunk entrance width, this being different depending on the rear light housing used, while the rear panel is the same.

[0010] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, when the rear panel has an air extraction interface above which the end portion is delimited, the curved part of the edge of the rear panel is intended to form a first section of the curvature line of the trunk entrance, the edge of said rear panel then forming a first section of the end portion of said edge, then a second section of said end portion of said edge having a height greater than that of the first section of the end portion of said edge, the notch thus formed in the edge of the rear panel being intended to allow the fixing, on the first section of the end portion of said edge, of a part of a structural element intended to be fixed on the end portion of the rear panel, said part having the second section of the curvature line of the trunk entrance of the vehicle.

[0011] Thus, the profile of the upper edge of the rear panel by providing only a part of the line of curvature of the trunk entrance makes it possible to vary this line of curvature and therefore the width of the resulting trunk entrance, by allowing the fixing in the notch formed, a part of another structural element shaped to constitute the second section of the line of curvature, while allowing the fixing of the rest of the structural element on the second section of the end part of the edge of the rear panel above the air extraction interface.

[0012] It is thus possible to use the same rear panel without having to modify its dimensions on vehicle models having different trunk opening widths, even when the height of the rear panel is constrained by the presence of an air extraction interface.

[0013] Such a rear panel according to the invention therefore allows the management of different trunk entry widths, allowing its reuse on all the silhouettes of a vehicle program and also its potential use on certain silhouettes of another vehicle program.

[0014] A rear panel according to the invention therefore makes it possible to limit investments in tools and to manage specific architectural and style features.

[0015] Advantageously, the back panel lining is made up of three separate pieces, a central lining and two side linings. The upper edge of the central lining follows the same profile as the edge of the central portion of the back panel and the upper edge of the side linings follows the same profile as the curved portion, the notch and the end portion of the edge of the back panel.

[0016] Preferably, the rear panel according to the invention comprises a shutter strike reinforcement attached to the central lining of the rear panel.

[0017] The invention also relates to a set of structural elements defining the lower part of the trunk entrance of a motor vehicle body, remarkable in that one of the structural elements is a rear panel as described above, and the other structural element is a rear light housing comprising the second section of the curvature of the trunk entrance.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, this second section of the curvature line is carried by a part of said rear light housing, shaped to fit into the notch provided on the rear panel.

[0019] Advantageously, the rear light housing has an edge for attachment to the end portion of the edge of the rear panel, said edge of the light housing having a projecting portion intended to be housed in the notch of the rear panel, this projecting portion being shaped to constitute the second section of the trunk curvature.

[0020] Thus, it is possible to propose a set of body structure elements in which the rear panel, which is always the same, can be combined with rear light housings having different second sections of the curvature line, the rear light housings each making it possible to define a specific trunk opening width.

[0021] The invention will be well understood and other aspects and advantages will appear clearly on reading the following description, given by way of example with reference to the attached drawing sheet in which the figures represent:

[0022] [Fig. 1] a view of the inner face of a rear panel according to the state of the art;

[0023] [Fig.2] a view of the outer face of a rear panel according to the invention;

[0024] [Fig.3] a view of the external face of an assembly according to the invention consisting of a rear panel and light housings fixed on it;

[0025] [Fig.4] an enlarged view of part A of [Fig.3];

[0026] [Fig.5] an exploded view of the inner face of a rear panel and its elements lining according to the invention;

[0027] [Fig.6] an enlarged side perspective view of part B of [Fig.3];

[0028] [Fig.7] a side perspective view of the inner face of the structural element at the level of its central part;

[0029] [Fig.8] a side perspective view of the outer face of the rear panel according to the invention;

[0030] [Fig.9] a view according to [Fig.8] with a stop element;

[0031] [Fig.10] a side perspective view of the inner face of a side lining element according to the invention; and

[0032] [Fig. 11] a sectional view AA of [Fig.7]

[0033] In the remainder of the description, the terms "lower", "upper", "top" and "bottom" are understood according to their usual definition in relation to the ground on which the vehicle comprising the structural element according to the invention is located. The terms "interior" and "exterior" are defined in relation to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The terms "front" and "rear" are understood in relation to the orientation of the vehicle as as taken in its normal direction of travel. In the different figures, the same references designate identical elements.

[0034] A structural element such as a rear panel 1 according to the invention is intended to be mounted in the rear part of the body of a motor vehicle, at the end of the trunk floor.

[0035] Such an element therefore comprises an elongated panel and at least one lining element fixed to said rear panel, defining between them a hollow body. The rear panel 1 consists of an elongated stamped sheet extending transversely to the rear of the vehicle between the rear vertical uprights of the vehicle body.

[0036] The rear panel 1 thus has a central portion 11 and two lateral end portions 12 which respectively comprise an orifice 13 forming an air extraction interface which imposes a certain height of the panel 1. Thus, the rear panel 1 has in its upper part an edge with a substantially U-shaped shape, the upper edge or rebate of said rear panel 1 is thus intended to constitute the lower part of an entrance E of the trunk of the vehicle.

[0037] The edge thus has a central part 14 extending linearly, transversely to the rear of the vehicle and on each side of the central part 14, a curved part 15 and an end part 16 also extending linearly to the lateral ends of the rear panel 1, this end part 16 being projecting and higher than the central part of the edge 14 and intended for the fixing of other structural elements such as a rear light housing 2.

[0038] As can be seen in [Fig. 2], the central portion 14 of the edge of the rear panel 1 is extended on each side by a curved portion 15 of said edge. This portion of the curved portion 15 defines only a first section of the trunk entrance curvature. The edge of the rear panel 1 then forms a first intermediate end portion of said edge 17, between said curved portion 15 and the second end portion 16, the height of the first intermediate end portion 17 being less than that of said end portion of said edge 16. Thus, a substantially L-shaped notch 18 is formed between each curved portion 15 and each end portion 16 of the edge of the rear panel 1.

[0039] This notch 18 defines two parts 17, 16 of the edge of the rear panel 1 respectively having different fixing heights D1, D2 for a structural element such as a light housing.

[0040] This light housing 2 thus has a lower edge 21 for fixing to the edge of the rear panel 1, this edge having a projecting part 22 intended to be housed in the notch 18. This projecting part 22 has an edge 23 forming a part of the trunk entrance, this edge 23 being shaped to constitute the second section of the trunk curvature in the extension of the first section defined by the curved portion 15.

[0041] This notch 18 forming two different heights makes it possible to manage different trunk entry widths thanks to the projecting part 22 of the rear light housing 2, which, being always specific to a given vehicle, makes it possible, with an arranged shape of the projecting part, to define the second section of the trunk entry curvature line, which makes it possible to offer different trunk entry widths.

[0042] This cutout or notch 18 being provided following the curved portion 15 of the edge of the panel 1 allows the rear light housing 2 to be fitted, the shape of the lower edge 21 of which is adapted to these two heights DI and D2, the projecting part 22 of the light housing 2 being housed in the notch 18 and the lateral edge 23 of the projecting part 22 extending the curvature of the trunk entrance so as to define the width L1 of the trunk entrance.

[0043] The cutout made thus allows the docking of at least two different rear light parts or housings each having an edge 23 to define the second section of the trunk entrance curvature and form two different trunk entrance curvatures and therefore two trunk entrance half-widths L1, L2 as can be seen in [Fig.4]. The difference between the minimum trunk entrance widths L1 and maximum L2 defined by the invention may be less than the width L of the defined notch 18, but this is not systematic.

[0044] The shape on two different heights of the end portion 12 of the rear panel 1 integrating an air extraction interface makes it possible to manage at least two trunk entrance widths L1, L2, (only the half-width between the middle part of the trunk entrance and the edge of the rear light housing 2 being shown), by using two different rear light housings 2.

[0045] The first rear light housing 2 is shown in [Fig.4], fixed on the upper part of the rear panel 1 with its projecting part 22 housed in the notch 18 and extending the curved line of the portion 15 of the rear panel to define a width L1 with its lateral edge 23.

[0046] The second rear light housing is materialized by a second dotted line defining in the extension of the curved portion 15, a line of curvature LC2 different from the line of curvature defined by the first rear light housing 2 and leading to a trunk half-width L2 greater than LL

[0047] The rear light housing 2 being always specific to a given vehicle allows, with an arrangement of the radius of curvature, to be able to generate different trunk entry widths.

[0048] As can be seen in [Fig.5], the lower end of the rear light housing 2 overlaps the upper end of the rear panel 1 and the connection can then be performed by spot welding.

[0049] According to a preferred, particularly advantageous embodiment, the lining 3 of the rear panel 1 is made up of three separate pieces, a central lining 31 and two lateral linings 32. This makes it possible to limit the addition of mass only to the parts of the rear panel 1 that are most significant with respect to the expected stiffness of said rear panel 1.

[0050] The upper edge of the central lining 31 follows the same profile as the central portion 14 of the edge of the rear panel 1 while the panel 1 and the central lining 31 have a shape with stampings forming a hollow body when assembled (see [Fig. 11]).

[0051] The side lining elements 32 have an edge profile in the upper part corresponding to the curved portion 15, the notch 18 and the end part 16 of the upper edge of the rear panel 1. Similarly, an orifice 33 is provided in each side lining 32 corresponding to an air extractor interface.

[0052] Preferably, the rear panel 1 according to the invention further comprises a shutter strike reinforcement 4 attached to the central lining 31 of the rear panel 1. This strike reinforcement 4, 4' thus makes it possible to offer different strike orientations depending on the inclination of the shutter without it being necessary to modify the central lining 31 of the rear panel 1 (see [Fig. 11]).

[0053] Furthermore, depending on the type of vehicle, it may be useful to add flap stops 5 on the external face of the rear panel 1. Thus, preferably the rear panel 1 has a surface S allowing the addition of said flap stop 5.

[0054] It is also possible to weld at the level of the side linings 32 of the rear panel 1, a support 34 with a welded wire 35 thus making it possible to carry out a lashing according to the type of vehicle.

Claims

Claims

1. Structural element for a vehicle body, said structural element being a rear panel (1), comprising an elongated panel on which is fixed at least one lining element (31, 32), said rear panel (1) having a central portion (11) and two end portions (12), one of the edges of said rear panel (1) having a U-shaped profile, intended to constitute the lower part of an entrance (E) of the trunk of the vehicle, said U-shaped edge having a substantially linear central portion (14), a curved portion (15) on each side of the central portion (14), then a substantially linear end portion (16) intended for the fixing of other bodywork elements, such as a rear light housing (2), characterized in that the curved portion (15) of the edge of the rear panel (1) is intended to form a first section of a line of curvature of the entrance (E) of the trunk.

2. Structural element according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear panel (1) having an air extraction interface, the curved portion of the edge of the rear panel is intended to form a first section of the line of curvature of the trunk entrance (E), the edge of said rear panel then forming a first section of the end portion of said edge (17), then a second section of said end portion (16) of said edge having a height (D2) greater than that (D1) of the first section of the end portion of said edge (16), the notch (18) thus formed in the edge of the rear panel (1) being intended to allow the fixing on the first section of the end portion (17) of said edge, of a part of a structural element intended to be fixed on the end portion (12) of the rear panel (1),said part of a structural element (22) having a second section of the line of curvature of the entrance (E) of the trunk of the vehicle.,

3. Structural element according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the lining (3) of the rear panel (1) is made up of three separate elements, a central lining (31) and two side linings (32).

4. Structural element according to claim 3 dependent on the resale- dication 2, characterized in that the upper edge of the central lining (31) follows the same profile as the central part (14) of the edge of the rear panel (1) and the upper edge of the side linings (32) follows the same profile as the curved part (15), the notch (18) and the end part (16) of the edge of the rear panel (1).

5. Structural element according to claim 3, characterized in that the rear panel (1) comprises a shutter strike reinforcement (4) attached to the central lining (31) of the rear panel (1).

6. Set of structural elements defining the lower part of the trunk entrance (E) of a motor vehicle body, characterized in that one of the structural elements is a structural element according to claim 1, and the other structural element is a rear light housing (2) comprising a second section of the line of curvature of the trunk entrance (E).

7. Set of structural elements defining the lower part of the trunk entrance (E) of a motor vehicle body, characterized in that one of the structural elements is a structural element according to claim 2 or one of claims 3 to 5 dependent on claim 2, and the other structural element is a rear light housing (2) comprising the second section of the curvature of the trunk entrance (E), carried by a part of said rear light housing (2), shaped to fit into the notch (18) provided on the rear panel (1).

8. Assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the rear light housing (2) has an edge (21) for fixing to the edge of the rear panel (1), this edge of the rear light housing having a projecting part (22) intended to be housed in the notch (18), this projecting part (22) being shaped to constitute the second section of the trunk curvature.

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