Grille for electric motor vehicle.

Abstract

The invention relates to a grille for an electric motor vehicle. The grille (2) comprises an external face intended to be visible from outside the electric motor vehicle when the grille (2) is fitted to said vehicle. The invention is notable in that the grille (2) comprises a mechanical reinforcement (8) applied against an internal face (6) of the grille, the internal face (6) of the grille being not visible from outside said vehicle when the grille (2) is fitted to said vehicle. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Grille for an electric motor vehicle. Technical field to which the invention relates

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of grilles for electric motor vehicles. Technological background

[0002] As is known, a grille is a part positioned at the front of a motor vehicle, generally composed of horizontal bars or decorative patterns which form a grid.

[0003] For motor vehicles equipped with a combustion engine, the grille is designed to promote diffusion of air coming from outside the motor vehicle, into the engine compartment of said vehicle, in particular near the radiator of the combustion engine.

[0004] In other words, the grille is configured to expose the radiator of the combustion engine to a greater flow of air from outside the motor vehicle, when the latter is in motion.

[0005] The outside air thus enters through the grille and then circulates through the fins of the radiator, thereby allowing faster dissipation via the radiator of the heat generated by the combustion engine. This configuration allows the temperature of the combustion engine to be maintained within an optimal operating temperature range of said engine.

[0006] However, with the advent of electric motor vehicles, the need to ventilate the engine compartment has evolved. Indeed, electric motors generate less heat than combustion engines, and consequently, it is no longer necessary to ventilate the elements arranged behind the grille of an electric motor vehicle as much. This evolution has led to a gradual reduction in the size of the air inlets in the grilles of electric motor vehicles.

[0007] A recent trend in the automotive industry is the adoption of completely enclosed grilles for electric motor vehicles. However, the grilles delineating the air intakes in the grilles also played a vital role in the rigidity and durability of the grilles. The removal of the grilles now raises concerns about the grilles' ability to withstand shocks and impacts, while still providing pleasing aesthetics.

[0008] The invention aims to solve this problem by proposing a grille for an electric motor vehicle, closed or partially closed, while offering sufficient rigidity. Subject of the invention

[0009] For this, the invention proposes a grille for an electric motor vehicle comprising an external face, intended to be visible from the outside of the motor vehicle, when the grille is fitted to an electric motor vehicle.

[0010] The invention is remarkable in that the grille comprises a mechanical reinforcement applied against an internal face of the grille, the internal face of the grille being invisible from the outside of the electric motor vehicle when the grille is fitted to an electric motor vehicle.

[0011] In other words, the inner face is opposite the outer face of the grille.

[0012] Thus, advantageously, a grille according to the invention comprises a mechanical reinforcement, not visible from the outside of the electric motor vehicle, making it possible to increase the mechanical rigidity of the grille. Thus, the grille offers increased mechanical resistance in order to meet current safety standards, despite the fact that the grille comprises a small grid, delimiting air inlets.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the invention, the grille is closed. The term "closed" means that the grille does not have any opening or slot intended to allow air to enter the engine compartment, which compartment is at least partially closed by said grille. In other words, the grille does not have any hole or opening to allow air to circulate in an engine compartment.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the invention, the mechanical reinforcement extends along the entire length of the grille. This embodiment allows for increased and more uniform mechanical strength of the mechanical reinforcement along the grille. The term "along" means a positioning of the mechanical reinforcement along the largest dimension of the grille.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the invention, the grille delimits a housing or an opening intended to accommodate, at least partially, an emblem. Preferably, the housing or the opening delimits a rounded or substantially rounded shape. By the term "rounded shape" is meant an elliptical or substantially elliptical shape.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the invention, the mechanical reinforcement is held to the internal face of the grille by reversible fixing means. Preferably, the reversible fixing means comprise at least one pressure closing device or more commonly called a "clip" in the automotive industry.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the invention, the smallest distance between two pressure closure devices is between 80 mm and 120 mm, preferably of the order of 100 mm.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the invention, the calender is formed from polyethylene or a similar material. Optionally, the mechanical reinforcement is of the same nature as the calender.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, the thickness of the mechanical reinforcement is between 5 mm and 30 mm, preferably between 10 mm and 20 mm.

[0020] Of course, the various features, variants and embodiments mentioned above can be combined with each other in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0021] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a grille according to the invention. Description of figures

[0022] 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:

[0023] [Fig.l] illustrates a perspective view of an outer face of a grille according to the invention for an electric motor vehicle;

[0024] [Fig.2] illustrates a perspective view of an internal face of a grille shown by [Fig.l], when mounting a mechanical reinforcement on said internal face;

[0025] [Fig.3] illustrates a perspective view of an internal face of a grille shown by [Fig.l], equipped with a mechanical reinforcement according to the invention;

[0026] [Fig.4] illustrates a partial view of a mechanical reinforcement fixed on an internal face of the grille represented by [Fig.3];

[0027] [Fig.5] illustrates an exterior view of a grille represented by [Fig.3], provided of an emblem. Detailed description of the invention

[0028] As a reminder, the invention proposes a grille for an electric motor vehicle, closed or partially closed, while offering sufficient rigidity.

[0029] [Fig.l] illustrates a non-limiting embodiment of a grille for an electric motor vehicle according to the invention. The grille 2 consists of an external face 4 intended to be visible from the outside of a motor vehicle equipped with said grille. Preferably, the grille 2 is made from polyethylene.

[0030] [Fig. 2] illustrates a perspective view of an internal face 6 of the grille represented by [Fig. 1]. [Fig. 2] illustrates more precisely a step of mounting a mechanical reinforcement 8 according to the invention, on the internal face 6 of the grille 2.

[0031] [Fig.3] illustrates a perspective view of the internal face 6 of the grille, after the mounting of mechanical reinforcement 8 on the grille 2.

[0032] The mechanical reinforcement 8 extends along the calender 2. Preferably, the thickness of the mechanical reinforcement is between 5 mm and 30 mm, preferably between 10 mm and 20 mm.

[0033] The mechanical reinforcement 8 may be of the same nature as the grille.

[0034] In order to facilitate the mounting of the mechanical reinforcement 8 on the internal face 6 of the grille, the mechanical reinforcement 8 comprises reversible fixing means 10. Preferably, the fixing means comprise pressure closing devices or more commonly called “clips” in the automotive sector.

[0035] According to the present example, the greatest distance between two pressure closure devices is between 80 mm and 120 mm, preferably of the order of 100 mm.

[0036] According to a characteristic of the invention, the grille 2 delimits an opening 12 visible in Figures 1 to 3, intended to accommodate at least partially, an emblem 14 as represented by [Fig.5]. Thus, advantageously, the grille can serve as a support for an emblem of a motor vehicle.

Claims

Claims

1. Grille (2) for an electric motor vehicle comprising an external face (4), intended to be visible from outside the motor vehicle, when the grille (2) is fitted to an electric motor vehicle, characterized in that the grille (2) comprises a mechanical reinforcement (8) applied against an internal face (6) of the grille, the internal face (6) of the grille being not visible from outside the electric motor vehicle, when the grille (2) is fitted to an electric motor vehicle.

2. Grille (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the grille (2) is closed.

3. Grille (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mechanical reinforcement (8) extends along the entire length of the grille (2).

4. Grille (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the grille (2) delimits an opening (12) intended to accommodate, at least partially, an emblem (14).

5. Grille (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the opening (12) delimits a rounded shape.

6. Grille (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mechanical reinforcement (8) is held to the internal face (6) of the grille (2) by reversible fixing means (10).

7. Grille (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the reversible fixing means comprise at least one pressure closing device.

8. Calender (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the smallest distance between two pressure closing devices is between 80 mm and 120 mm.

9. Calender (2) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the calender (2) is formed from polyethylene.

10. Electric motor vehicle comprising a grille (2) according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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