Bumper beam for motor vehicle comprising at least one device for fixing a bodywork element.

Abstract

The invention relates to a bumper beam for a motor vehicle comprising at least one fastening device for a body panel. The bumper beam 2 comprises a front face 4, intended to face the road when the bumper beam is mounted on a motor vehicle, and a rear face opposite the front face. The bumper beam comprises at least one fastening device 12, enabling the retention of a body panel to the bumper beam. The invention is notable in that at least one fastening device 12 is integral with the rear face of the bumper beam 2. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Bumper beam for a motor vehicle comprising at least one device for fixing a bodywork element. Technical field to which the invention relates

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of the automotive sector and, more specifically, to a beam for a bumper of a motor vehicle. Technological background

[0002] Motor vehicles incorporate a set of safety features, aimed at protecting their occupants as well as other road users, in the event of accidents. Among these features, bumpers stand out as essential safety components for absorbing and mitigating the kinetic energy generated during low-speed collisions. This crucial function helps to minimize damage both to the vehicle body and, more importantly, to the safety of passengers and pedestrians.

[0003] To achieve this, a bumper consists of an outer shell, usually made of plastic or metal, which serves a dual purpose. On the one hand, the outer shell serves an aesthetic function, being the visible part of the bumper, thus contributing to the overall appearance of the vehicle. On the other hand, the outer shell serves as a first line of defense by absorbing the initial impact during low-speed collisions.

[0004] Behind the outer shell is an absorbent foam, designed to absorb much of the energy generated during an impact.

[0005] Finally, a bumper beam, located behind the absorbent foam, forms a reinforced structure intended to maintain the shape of the bumper and also transfer the energy of the impact to other absorbent parts of the vehicle.

[0006] It should be noted that the bumper beam also serves as a structural support for other elements of the bodywork. For example, the radiator grille is partly supported by the bumper beam. To achieve this, it is known to use various fastening devices, such as fasteners, screws or clips, in order to securely attach the grille to the bumper beam.

[0007] In order to allow easier mounting of the grille on the bumper beam, the fixing devices are arranged on a front face of said beam facing the road, when the bumper is mounted on a motor vehicle. Thus, after removal of the outer shell and the foam, an operator can easily have access to the fixing devices present on the front face of the bumper beam.

[0008] However, this arrangement has a major drawback, namely that it directly exposes the fastening devices to frontal impacts suffered by the bumper beam. As a result, when a vehicle is involved in a low-speed frontal collision, the deformation of the outer shell and the foam generates sudden pressure on the fastening devices. This sudden pressure is capable of permanently deforming the fastening devices. In this case, the fastening devices are no longer usable. It is then necessary to replace them with new fastening devices, which can be tricky or even impossible. In the latter case, it is necessary to replace the bumper beam. The presence of the fastening devices on the front face of a bumper beam therefore presents a drawback in terms of use of the fastening devices.

[0009] According to another disadvantage, by positioning the fixing devices at the front face of the bumper beam, the parts attached to said fixing devices are also positioned in front of the bumper beam and therefore more exposed to frontal impacts as mentioned above. In the event of a low-speed impact, it is usual to have to replace the other bodywork elements held by said fixing devices.

[0010] The present invention aims to solve these problems by proposing a bumper beam comprising fixing devices less exposed to impacts at low speed. Subject of the invention

[0011] For this purpose, the invention proposes a bumper beam comprising a front face, intended to face the road when the bumper beam is mounted on a motor vehicle, as well as a rear face opposite the front face, the bumper beam comprising at least one fixing device allowing a bodywork element to be held on the bumper beam, characterized in that at least one fixing device is integral with the rear face of the bumper beam.

[0012] The term "bodywork element" means any part intended to be attached to a bumper beam, such as a grille, an optical device, a detector, etc.

[0013] Remarkably, the invention proposes to position at least one fixing device at the rear face of the bumper beam, so that the bumper beam can protect the fixing device(s) from an impact originating from the outer shell of a bumper. Thus, the fixing device(s) are not exposed to a risk of deformation during a low-speed impact suffered by a bumper equipped with a beam according to the invention. As a result, the fixing device(s) are always operational during this type of impact, advantageously allowing a substitution of the bodywork elements attached to the bumper beam. The invention therefore allows replacement of bodywork elements in the event of a low-speed impact, without necessarily having to replace the bumper beam.

[0014] According to another advantage, by positioning the fixing devices at the rear face of the bumper, it is easier to remove the bodywork elements behind the front face of the bumper. The bumper then makes it possible to better protect said bodywork elements from a frontal impact suffered by the bumper.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the invention, at least one fixing device comprises a first element secured to the rear face of the bumper and a second element connected to the first element so as to be able to be movable relative to the first element, the second element is intended to allow the maintenance of a bodywork element to the fixing device. This embodiment advantageously makes it possible to attach a bodywork element to the rear face of the beam, while making it possible to adjust the positioning of said element relative to the bumper beam. Thus, the fixing device can, for example, adapt the position of the bodywork element in order to compensate for the dispersions generated both by a positioning defect and by a geometric deformation specific to the bodywork element and / or to the fixing device and / or to the bumper beam.

[0016] According to an alternative embodiment, the second element is connected to the first element by a sliding connection. By "sliding connection" is meant a mechanical connection allowing a translational movement, in the direction of the connection, of the second element relative to the first element.

[0017] According to an alternative embodiment, the sliding connection allows a translational movement of the second element in a direction normal or substantially normal to the direction of elongation of the bumper beam.

[0018] According to another variant embodiment, the fixing device comprises a means for locking the sliding connection, and the locking means is reversible.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the first element of the fixing device comprises a holding blade held at a distance from and facing the rear face of the bumper beam, a distal end of the holding blade extends beyond an edge of the bumper beam, said end comprises an appendage which extends perpendicularly or substantially to the holding blade.

[0020] According to another embodiment, the second element of the fixing device comprises a holding blade crossed by a slot, the slot is capable of allowing the insertion of a part of the appendage extending from the holding blade of the first fixing element.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the fixing device comprises a movable member, capable of cooperating with the appendage which extends from the retaining blade of the first fixing element, so as to grip the holding blade of the second fixing element between said movable member and the holding blade of the first fixing element. Preferably, the appendage is threaded and the fixing member is a nut capable of being screwed onto said appendage.

[0022] According to another embodiment, a support blade is integral with the holding blade of the second fixing element.

[0023] Preferably, the support blade extends in a direction opposite to the bumper beam. Thus, the support blade makes it easier to hold a bodywork element behind the bumper beam in order to protect said element from a low-speed impact suffered by a vehicle equipped with a bumper comprising the beam according to the invention.

[0024] The support blade may comprise means for reversibly holding a bodywork element to said blade.

[0025] According to an alternative embodiment, the support blade extends perpendicularly or substantially to the holding blade of the first fixing element.

[0026] Of course, the various features, variants and embodiments mentioned above can be combined with each other in various combinations, to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0027] The invention also relates to a bumper for a motor vehicle, comprising a bumper beam according to the invention.

[0028] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a bumper as mentioned above. Description of figures

[0029] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

[0030] [Fig-1] illustrates a schematic view of a front face of a bumper beam according to the invention;

[0031] [Fig.2] illustrates a perspective and partial view of the beam visible in [Fig.l];

[0032] [Fig.3] illustrates a cross-section of the beam visible in [Fig.l]. Detailed description of the invention

[0033] As a reminder, the invention proposes a bumper beam comprising fixing devices less exposed to impacts at low speed.

[0034] [Fig. 1] illustrates a non-limiting example of embodiment of the invention. According to this example, the bumper beam 2 comprises a front face 4. The front face is intended to face the road, when the bumper is mounted on a vehicle at car. To do this, the bumper beam has plates 6, held at a distance from a rear face of said beam. The rear face 8 is visible in [Fig.3].

[0035] The bumper 2 extends substantially along a direction of elongation 10 visible in [Fig. 1]. Remarkably, the bumper beam 2 comprises several fixing devices 12, held on the rear face 8 of said beam.

[0036] Each attachment device 12 is intended to hold a bodywork element to the bumper beam. By “bodywork element” is meant any part intended to be attached to a bumper beam, such as a grille, an optical device, a detector, etc.

[0037] To do this, as illustrated by [Fig.2], each fixing device 12 consists of a first element 14 and a second element 16. The first element 14 comprises a holding blade 18, held at a distance from and facing the rear face 8 of the bumper beam.

[0038] According to the present example, the lateral edges of the retaining blade are extended by fins 20 bearing against the rear face 8 of the bumper. The fins are configured to keep the retaining blade 18 at a distance from the rear face 8. The fins 20 can be welded, glued, riveted or held by any other known means to the rear face 8.

[0039] The retaining blade 18 has a distal end 22 which extends beyond an edge 24 of the bumper beam. The distal end 22 has an appendage 26 which extends perpendicularly or substantially to the retaining blade.

[0040] According to the present example, the appendage 26 extends at least partially above the bumper beam. The appendage 26 is threaded to allow a bolt 28 to be screwed onto said appendage.

[0041] The second element 16 of the fixing device 12 comprises a holding blade 30, partly crossed by a slot 32. The slot is capable of allowing the insertion of a part of the appendage 26 which extends from the holding blade 18 of the first fixing element.

[0042] Thus, advantageously, an operator can easily and readily reversibly attach, using the bolt 28, the second element 16 to the first element 14, as illustrated in [Fig.3].

[0043] Preferably, the slot 32 extends in a direction normal or substantially normal to the direction of elongation 10 of the bumper beam, in order to form a sliding connection with the first element 14. Thus, the sliding connection allows a translational movement of the second element relative to the first element 14 secured to the bumper beam, in a direction normal or substantially normal to the direction of elongation of said beam.

[0044] Preferably, the dimensions of the holding blade 30 are adapted to allow the movement of said blade between the fins 20 keeping the holding blade 18 at a distance from the first fixing element 14 of the bumper beam. Thus, the translational movement of the second fixing element 16 can be greater, relative to the first fixing element 14. According to another advantage, the fins can prevent a rotational movement of the holding blade 30 of the second element when the latter is translated relative to the first element 14.

[0045] Preferably, the second element 16 can move over a distance of between 3 cm and 15 cm, or between 3 cm and 10 cm.

[0046] According to the present example, a support blade 34 is integral with the holding blade 30 of the second fixing element 16. The support blade 34 extends in a direction opposite to the bumper beam 2. This advantageously makes it easier to hold a bodywork element behind the bumper beam, in order to protect said element from a low-speed impact suffered by a vehicle equipped with a bumper comprising the beam according to the invention.

[0047] Of course, the support blade 34 may comprise means for reversibly holding a bodywork element to said blade, in order to facilitate the replacement of said element.

[0048] Preferably, the fixing device 12 described above is made from one or more metals, such as steel.

Claims

Claims

1. Bumper beam (2) comprising a front face (4), intended to face the road when the bumper beam (2) is mounted on a motor vehicle, as well as a rear face (8) opposite the front face (4), the bumper beam (2) comprising at least one fixing device (12) allowing the maintenance of a bodywork element to the bumper beam (2), characterized in that at least one fixing device (12) is integral with the rear face (8) of the bumper beam (2).

2. Bumper beam (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one fixing device (12) comprises a first element (14) secured to the rear face (8) of the bumper, and a second element (16) linked to the first element (14), so that the second element (16) is movable relative to the first element (14), the second element (16) is intended to allow the maintenance of a bodywork element to the fixing device (12).

3. Bumper beam (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the second element (16) is connected to the first element (14) by a sliding connection.

4. Bumper beam (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the sliding connection allows a translational movement of the second element (16) in a direction normal or substantially normal to the direction of elongation (10) of the bumper beam (2).

5. Bumper beam (2) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the fixing device (12) comprises a means for locking the sliding connection, and the locking means is reversible.

6. Bumper beam (2) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the first element (14) of the fixing device (12) comprises a holding blade (30) held at a distance from and facing the rear face (8) of the bumper beam (2), and in that a distal end (22) of the holding blade extends beyond an edge of the bumper beam (2), and in that the distal end (22) comprises an appendage (26) which extends perpendicularly or substantially to the holding blade (30).

7. Bumper beam (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the second element (16) of the fixing device (12) comprises a holding blade (30), crossed by a slot (32), and in that the slot (32) is capable of allowing the insertion of a portion of the appendage (26) which extends from the holding blade (30) of the first fixing element (14).

8. Bumper beam (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the fixing device (12) comprises a movable member (28), capable of cooperating with the appendage (26) which extends from the holding blade (30) of the first fixing element (14), so as to grip the holding blade (30) of the second fixing element (16), between said movable member and the holding blade (30) of the first fixing element (14).

9. Bumper beam (2) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a support blade (34) is integral with the holding blade (30) of the second fixing element (16), and in that the support blade (34) extends in a direction opposite to the bumper beam (2).

10. Motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises a bumper beam (2) according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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