Bumper skin for automobile

Abstract

The invention relates to a bumper skin (1) for a motor vehicle, the bumper skin (1) comprising a front face (11) and a connecting flap (12) located at each lateral end of the front face (11), the connecting flap (12) being configured to be associated with a side fender of the motor vehicle. The connecting flap (12) has a groove extending along a base of the connecting flap (12) against the front face (11), the groove extending between a lower edge (121) and an upper edge (122) of the bumper skin (1), so as to form a flexible hinge in the event of a frontal impact on the bumper skin (1). Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Bumper skin for a motor vehicle

[0001] The technical context of the present invention is that of the structural elements of motor vehicles equipping the front or rear of the motor vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a bumper skin for motor vehicles.

[0002] In the state of the art, structural elements of motor vehicles are known, and in particular protection assemblies configured to absorb an impact occurring at the motor vehicle. These protection assemblies make it possible to dissipate the impact in order to protect elements of the motor vehicle, in particular the elements located at the level of an engine compartment of said motor vehicle, as well as the elements located at the level of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, as well as their occupants.

[0003] Among these protection assemblies, bumpers equip motor vehicles, a front bumper and a rear bumper are respectively configured to equip the front and the rear of the motor vehicle. In particular, such bumpers comprise a bumper support which is fixed to the chassis of the motor vehicle and a bumper skin which is mounted on the bumper support. The bumper support provides the necessary rigidity, while the bumper skin provides continuity of style with the adjacent bodywork elements, and in particular the side wings of the motor vehicle.

[0004] For this purpose, an interface zone is known between the front bumper skin and the side wings of the motor vehicle: such a bumper skin comprises a front face and a connecting flap located at each lateral end of the front face of the bumper skin, the connecting flap being configured to be associated with the side wing of the motor vehicle.

[0005] A disadvantage of known bumper skins lies in poor management of the forces generated by a front impact, and in particular a so-called front repairable impact. In such an impact, the front bumper is impacted and moves back under the effect of the impact. As the front bumper is fixed to the side wings by means of the connecting flap, the bumper therefore transmits the forces resulting from the impact to the side wing which, in turn, could be caused to move back and impact the front side doors of the motor vehicle. It is understood that this situation is not desired because it would lead to very high repair costs, in the event that one of the front side doors is damaged.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to propose a new bumper skin in order to respond at least to a large extent to the preceding problems and to further lead to other advantages.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to protect the front side door of the motor vehicle in the event of an impact before repairability.

[0008] Another aim of the invention is to guarantee that the side wing does not recoil in the event of an impact before it can be repaired.

[0009] Another aim of the invention is to reduce the repairability class of the motor vehicle, and therefore the associated cost of motor insurance.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a bumper skin for a motor vehicle, the bumper skin comprising a front face and a connecting flap located at each lateral end of the front face, the connecting flap being configured to be associated with a side wing of the motor vehicle.

[0011] According to the invention, the connecting flap comprises a groove which extends along a base of the connecting flap against the front face.

[0012] In the context of the present invention, a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis and a vertical axis are defined relative to the motor vehicle on which the bumper skin according to the first aspect of the invention is intended to be mounted. More particularly, the transverse axis is understood as a direction taken between a lateral side of the motor vehicle and an opposite lateral side of said motor vehicle. In other words, the transverse axis is understood as a direction which extends from a passenger side of the motor vehicle to a driver's side of said motor vehicle, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, inboard and outboard refer to such a transverse axis. Furthermore, the longitudinal axis extends as being taken along a direction which extends from front to rear or from back to front of the motor vehicle. The longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the transverse axis.The adjectives frontal, front and rear refer to this longitudinal axis. Finally, the vertical axis is understood to be taken along an axis which extends from the wheels of the motor vehicle and towards the roof of said motor vehicle, or vice versa, the vertical axis being simultaneously perpendicular to the transverse axis and to the longitudinal axis. The adjectives above and below, or lower and upper refer to this vertical axis.

[0013] In the context of the present invention, the bumper skin forms a facing intended to cover a bumper support. In other words, the bumper skin is a visible part of a bumper assembly from the outside of the motor vehicle it equips.

[0014] In the context of the present invention, the front face of the bumper skin is the part of the bumper skin located at a grille of the motor vehicle, in front of an engine compartment of said motor vehicle.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, the connecting flap is located at a rear lateral end of the bumper skin. The connecting flap forms a mechanical mounting and fixing interface between the bumper skin and the side wing of the motor vehicle. The connecting flap extends inclined relative to the front face of the bumper skin. Generally speaking, the connecting flap extends mainly along the transverse axis. The connecting flap preferably extends along the entire height of the bumper skin, relative to the vertical axis.

[0016] In the context of the present invention, the groove is arranged on the connecting flap, on the side of the side wing or, possibly, on the side of the front face. The groove thus arranges a local thinning of material at the level of the connecting flap, thus forming an initiation of folding of the bumper skin and thus making it possible to achieve mechanical decoupling with the side wing to which it is attached. Thus, in the event of a front impact, the transmission of stresses through the front face of the bumper skin will lead said stresses to be concentrated along the groove, thus leading to the folding of the bumper skin around the groove which then forms a sort of hinge in the event of an impact. This folding of the bumper skin at the level of the connecting flap thus makes it possible to preserve the side wing and, ultimately, the front side door of the motor vehicle.

[0017] The bumper skin according to the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination:

[0018] - the groove extends from a lower edge of the bumper skin to an edge upper edge of the bumper skin. In the context of the present invention, the lower edge is proximal to a rolling surface of the motor vehicle, and the upper edge is proximal to a roof of the motor vehicle, relative to the vertical axis;

[0019] - a directing profile of the throat follows a geometry of the front face of the skin of bumper. In the context of the present invention, the direction profile of the groove corresponds to the path of the groove along the bumper skin. This advantageous configuration makes it easier to fold the bumper skin in the event of a front impact;

[0020] - a transverse profile of the groove is delimited by a bottom and two vertical edges located on either side of the bottom of the groove, the vertical edges extending in an inclined manner relative to the bottom of the groove. Preferably, the groove has a transverse profile in the shape of a “U”, or possibly a “V”;

[0021] - a distance between the two vertical edges is between 2 mm and 3 mm, preferably potentially equal to 2.5 mm. More generally, a distance between the two vertical edges is between 86% of a thickness of the connecting flap and 100% of the thickness of the connecting flap, preferably equal to 93% of the thickness of the connecting flap.

[0022] - a thickness of the connecting flap, taken outside the groove, is between 2.2 mm and 3.2 mm, preferably equal to 2.7 mm. More generally, a thickness of the connecting flap, taken at the level of the groove, is between 1.2 mm and 2.2 mm, preferably equal to 1.7 mm.

[0023] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a motor vehicle comprising:

[0024] - a front bumper comprising a bumper support and a bumper skin in accordance with the first aspect of the invention or according to any of its improvements;

[0025] - side wings located on either side of the front bumper, the side wings being bonded to the bumper skin at the bumper skin bonding flaps.

[0026] Various embodiments of the invention are provided, integrating according to all of their possible combinations the different optional characteristics set out here.

[0027] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several exemplary embodiments given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the attached schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0028] [Fig-1] illustrates a three-dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a skin of bumpers conforming to the first aspect of the invention;

[0029] [Fig.2] illustrates a detail view of a bumper skin connecting flap illustrated in [Fig.l];

[0030] [Fig.3] illustrates a detailed and perspective view of the groove of the connecting flap illustrated in [Fig.2];

[0031] [Fig.4] illustrates a detail and profile view of the groove of the connecting flap illustrated in [Fig.2];

[0032] [Fig.5] illustrates a schematic view of a first stage of the kinematics of the skin bumper shown in the previous FIGURES in the event of a front impact on the bumper skin;

[0033] [Fig.6] illustrates a schematic view of a second stage of the kinematics of the bumper skin shown in the previous FIGURES in the event of a front impact on the bumper skin.

[0034] Of course, the characteristics, variants and different embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other, in various combinations, to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. from others. In particular, it will be possible to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described below in isolation from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0035] In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described can be combined with each other if nothing prevents this combination from a technical point of view.

[0036] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0037] In the description of the FIGURES which follows, a longitudinal axis X, a lateral axis and a vertical axis Z are defined relative to the motor vehicle on which the bumper skin 1 according to the invention is intended to be mounted.

[0038] More particularly, the transverse axis Y is understood as a direction taken between a lateral side of the motor vehicle and an opposite lateral side of said motor vehicle. In other words, the transverse axis Y is understood in a direction which extends from a passenger side of the motor vehicle to a driver's side of said motor vehicle, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, interior and exterior refer to such a transverse axis Y.

[0039] Furthermore, the longitudinal axis X extends as taken along a direction that extends from front to rear or from back to front of the motor vehicle. The longitudinal axis X is perpendicular to the transverse axis Y. The adjectives frontal, front and rear refer to this longitudinal axis X.

[0040] Finally, the vertical axis Z is understood as being taken along an axis which extends from the wheels of the motor vehicle and towards the roof of said motor vehicle, or vice versa, the vertical axis Z being simultaneously perpendicular to the transverse axis Y and to the longitudinal axis X. The adjectives above and below, or lower and upper refer to this vertical axis Z.

[0041] With reference to FIGURES 1 to 4, the invention relates to a bumper skin 1 for a motor vehicle, the bumper skin 1 comprising a front face 11 and a connecting flap 12 located at each lateral end of the front face 11, the connecting flap 12 being configured to be associated with a side wing 2 of the motor vehicle.

[0042] By associate, it is understood that the connecting flap 12 is configured to be able to be pressed against the side wing 2 of the motor vehicle and / or fixed integrally to said side wing 2. In particular, the connecting flap 12 is located at a connecting zone 10 located at a rear lateral end of the bumper skin 1, relative to the longitudinal axis X. The connecting flap 12 forms a mechanical interface between the bumper skin 1 and the side wing 2 of the motor vehicle.

[0043] The connecting flap 12 extends in an inclined manner relative to the front face 11 of the bumper skin 1, while the side wing 2 of the motor vehicle is intended to be located in the longitudinal extension of the front face 11 of the bumper skin. Generally speaking, the connecting flap 12 extends mainly along the transverse axis Y. As visible in [Fig.2], the connecting flap 12 preferably extends along an entire height of the bumper skin 1, relative to the vertical axis Z.

[0044] According to the invention, and as can be seen more particularly in FIGURES 3 and 4, the connecting flap 12 comprises a groove 13 which extends along a base 110 of the connecting flap 12 against the front face 11. The groove 13 thus makes it possible to provide a flexible zone on the connecting flap 12. More generally, the connecting flap 12 comprises a flexible hinge which extends along a base 110 of the connecting flap 12 against the front face 11.

[0045] The base 110 of the connecting flap 12 is located on the side of the front face 11 of the bumper skin 1, that is to say in the direction of the outer side, relative to the transverse axis Y of the motor vehicle.

[0046] The groove 13 - or the flexible hinge - extends from a lower edge 121 of the bumper skin 1 to an upper edge 122 of the bumper skin 1. A director profile of the groove 13 or the flexible hinge follows a geometry of the front face 11 of the bumper skin 1. In other words, from the lower edge 121 to the upper edge 122, the groove 13 or the flexible hinge extends at a constant distance from the front face 11 of the bumper skin 1.

[0047] In particular, as visible in [Fig. 4], a transverse profile of the groove 13 is delimited by a bottom 131 and two vertical edges 132, 133 located on either side of the bottom 131 of the groove 13, the vertical edges 132, 133 extending in an inclined manner relative to the bottom 131 of the groove 13. Preferably, the groove 13 has a transverse profile in the shape of a “U”, or possibly a “V”. A distance between the two vertical edges 132, 133 is between 2 mm and 3 mm, preferably equal to 2.5 mm. More generally, a distance between the two vertical edges 132, 133 is between 86% of a thickness of the connecting flap 12 and 100% of the thickness of the connecting flap 12, preferably equal to 93% of the thickness of the connecting flap 12.

[0048] - a thickness of the connecting flap 12, taken outside the groove 13, is included between 2.2 mm and 3.2 mm, preferably equal to 2.7 mm. More generally, a thickness of the connecting flap 12, taken at the level of the groove 13, is between 1.2 mm and 2.2 mm, preferably equal to 1.7 mm. This local thinning of the flap thus makes it possible to localize mechanical stresses in the event of an impact and, finally, to allow folding of the front face 11 relative to the connecting flap 12, around the groove 13 which then acts as a flexible, or plastic, hinge.

[0049] As can be seen in FIGURES 5 and 6, the base 110 of the connecting flap 12 bears against a heel 20 of the lateral wing 2. The heel 20 of the lateral wing 2 forms an inward fold, relative to the lateral wing 2 and relative to the transverse axis Y. The heel 20 of the lateral wing 2 extends opposite and parallel to the connecting flap 12 of the bumper skin 1. In a particularly advantageous manner, the groove 13 provided on the connecting flap 12 is located against the heel 20 of the lateral wing 2. In other words, the groove 13 provided on the connecting flap 12 is located opposite the heel 20 of the lateral wing 2. This advantageous configuration thus makes it possible to provide a bearing face when the bumper skin 1 is pushed in at the front and undergoes a backward movement, relative to the longitudinal axis X and as shown schematically in [Fig.5]

[0050] In such a situation, the mechanical stresses propagate longitudinally towards the rear along the bumper skin 1, then concentrate at the level of the groove 13 which forms an initiation of folding for the bumper skin 1 and the connecting flap 12. As can be seen schematically in [Fig. 5], such mechanical stresses thus lead to folding the support heel 20 around the groove 13, making it possible to extract the bumper skin 1 at the level of the lateral wing 2, as shown schematically in [Fig. 6].

[0051] This configuration thus makes it possible to bring out the bumper skin 1 and to reduce the forces transmitted to the side wing 2, then leading to isolating and sparing the side door of the motor vehicle.

[0052] In summary, the invention relates to a bumper skin 1 for a motor vehicle, the bumper skin 1 comprising a front face 11 and a connecting flap 12 located at each lateral end of the front face 11, the connecting flap 12 being configured to be associated with a side wing 2 of the motor vehicle. The connecting flap 12 comprises a groove 13 which extends along a base 110 of the connecting flap 12 against the front face 11, the groove extending between a lower edge 121 and an upper edge 122 of the bumper skin 1, so as to form a flexible hinge in the event of a front impact on the bumper skin 1.

[0053] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the different characteristics, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above can be combined with each other.

Claims

Claims

1. Bumper skin (1) for a motor vehicle, the bumper skin (1) comprising a front face (11) and a connecting flap (12) located at each lateral end of the front face (11), the connecting flap (12) being configured to be associated with a side wing (2) of the motor vehicle, characterized in that the connecting flap (12) comprises a groove (13) which extends along a base (110) of the connecting flap (12) against the front face (11).

2. Bumper skin (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the groove (13) extends from a lower edge (121) of the bumper skin (1) to an upper edge (122) of the bumper skin (1).

3. A bumper skin (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein a leading profile of the groove (13) follows a geometry of the front face (11) of the bumper skin (1).

4. Bumper skin (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a transverse profile of the groove (13) is delimited by a bottom (131) and two vertical edges (132, 133) located on either side of the bottom (131) of the groove (13), the vertical edges (132, 133) extending in an inclined manner relative to the bottom (131) of the groove (13).

5. Bumper skin (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the groove (13) has a transverse “U” profile.

6. Bumper skin (1) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, wherein a distance between the two vertical edges (132, 133) is between 2 mm and 3 mm, preferably equal to 2.5 mm.

7. Bumper skin (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein a distance between the two vertical edges (132, 133) is between 86% of a thickness of the connecting flap (12) and 100% of the thickness of the connecting flap (12), preferably equal to 93% of the thickness of the connecting flap (12).

8. Bumper skin (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a thickness of the connecting flap (12), taken outside the groove (13), is between 2.2 mm and 3.2 mm, preferably equal to 2.7 mm.

9. A bumper skin (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein a thickness of the connecting flap (12), taken at level of the groove (13), is between 1.2 mm and 2.2 mm, preferably equal to 1.7 mm.

10. Motor vehicle comprising: - a front bumper comprising a bumper support and a bumper skin (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; - side wings (2) located on either side of the front bumper, the side wings (2) being connected to the bumper skin (1) at the level of the connecting flaps (12) of the bumper skin (1).

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