Vehicle structure with armrest support attached to the rear wheel arch

Abstract

[Vehicle structure comprising two rear wheel arches (1), a right wheel arch and a left wheel arch, each of the two wheel arches (1) having on its face facing the interior of the vehicle a receiving surface (20) on which is fixed an armrest support (2) intended to receive an armrest, notable in that the right receiving surface (20) located on the right wheel arch and the left receiving surface (20) located on the left wheel arch are symmetrical with respect to the vertical median plane of the vehicle structure, and the armrest support (2) located on the right receiving surface (20) is identical to the armrest support (2) located on the left receiving surface (20). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 2]

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle structure with armrest support attached to the rear wheel arch

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle structure comprising two rear wheel arches on each of which an armrest support is fixed, as well as to a vehicle comprising such a structure.

[0002] It is known to arrange armrests on the side walls of a vehicle in order to provide a comfortable support surface for the passengers' arms. In vehicles with three rows of seats, the third row is generally arranged between the rear wheel arches of the vehicle. Lateral armrests are then arranged on either side of this third row, at the level of the rear wheel arches. In order to be able to ensure rigid support of the armrests under the force or weight of a passenger leaning on said armrests, rigid support necessary to offer good comfort and a rewarding perceived quality, it is known to fix such an armrest to the sheet metal panel forming the wheel arch, on the passenger compartment side of the vehicle, by means of a plastic support fixed to said wheel arch. For example, the vehicle with the trade name Espace marketed by the Renault brand offers such an arrangement.However, the design of the wheel arch and the vehicle requires making a specific armrest support for each side of the vehicle, which cannot be installed on the opposite side.

[0003] Thus, the disadvantage of such a solution is that it is necessary to produce two different supports to equip each side of the vehicle, involving managing two part references in the factory and producing two different tools to manufacture each of the parts. This diversity increases the cost of the parts and the vehicle.

[0004] The objective of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks. In particular, one of the aims of the invention is to propose a vehicle structure comprising an armrest support fixed to the rear wheel arch and whose cost is reduced. One of the objectives is in particular to reduce the diversity of parts used to produce such a vehicle structure.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention, thanks to a vehicle structure comprising two rear wheel arches, a right wheel arch and a left wheel arch, each of the two wheel arches comprises on its face oriented towards the inside of the vehicle a receiving surface on which is fixed an armrest support intended to receive an armrest, remarkable in that the right receiving surface arranged on the right wheel arch and the left receiving surface arranged on the left wheel arch are symmetrical with respect to the vertical median plane of the structure of the vehicle, and the armrest support provided on the right receiving surface is identical to the armrest support provided on the left receiving surface.

[0006] Thus advantageously, the use of an identical armrest support fixed on the right and left wheel arches makes it possible to have only one part reference to manage in the factory, and a single manufacturing tool to produce the armrest support whether it is for the left side or for the right side. Preferably, the armrest supports are made of stamped sheet metal. They are for example welded onto their respective sheet metal wheel arches.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the armrest support comprises a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and intersecting said support in its middle along this longitudinal axis.

[0008] Thus, advantageously, the design is simplified thanks to the symmetry of the part. It is thus sufficient to return, that is to say to rotate it by 180° with respect to a vertical axis with respect to the structure of the vehicle, the armrest support arranged on one of the wheel arches to install it on the opposite wheel arch.

[0009] In another embodiment of the invention, each armrest support comprises several bearing faces resting on the receiving surface of the wheel arch on which it is fixed, and a fixing interface arranged between the bearing faces, offset relative to the bearing faces along a vertical axis of the structure of the vehicle, the fixing interface being between two bearing faces.

[0010] Thus advantageously, the support forces coming from an armrest fixed to the armrest support are distributed over several areas of the wheel arch, ensuring effective support of the armrest.

[0011] In another embodiment of the invention, each of the armrest supports comprises three bearing faces, a first bearing face and a second bearing face being arranged at the ends of the armrest support and a central bearing face being arranged between the first bearing face and the second bearing face, the armrest support comprising two fixing interfaces, a first fixing interface arranged between the first bearing face and the central bearing face, and a second fixing interface arranged between the second bearing face and the central bearing face, along the longitudinal axis.

[0012] Thus advantageously, the rigidity of the armrest support and its capacity to rigidly hold an armrest relative to the wheel arch is improved, while retaining the same armrest support on the right wheel arch and the left wheel arch.

[0013] In another embodiment of the invention, the bearing faces of each of the armrest supports and the receiving surface of each of the wheel arches are parallel to a longitudinal axis of said vehicle structure.

[0014] Thus advantageously, the receiving surface of each of the wheel arches can be at an angle relative to the plane perpendicular to the vertical axis Z of the vehicle structure, that is to say parallel to the longitudinal axis X but not parallel to the transverse axis Y, while allowing the use of identical armrest supports on the right and left wheel arches.

[0015] In another embodiment of the invention, the fixing interfaces each comprise a planar fixing face parallel to the longitudinal axis, the fixing faces each comprising a fixing means intended to fix the armrest, the fixing faces being aligned along the longitudinal axis.

[0016] Thus advantageously, the same armrest can be fixed on the right and left armrest support, while respecting a symmetrical positioning. There is no need to design two different armrests.

[0017] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the fixing faces are parallel to the longitudinal axis and to a transverse axis of the vehicle structure.

[0018] Thus advantageously, the vertical forces coming from the armrest are transmitted efficiently to the support without generating transverse forces.

[0019] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the receiving surface on each of the wheel arches comprises at least one stiffening relief arranged between bearing faces of the armrest support.

[0020] Thus advantageously, the receiving surface is stiffened using the reliefs without interfering with the fixing of the support on the wheel arch, the reliefs being between the support faces.

[0021] In a particular embodiment of the invention, each wheel arch comprises an interior main panel on which a reinforcement panel is fixed, said reinforcement panel comprising the receiving surface.

[0022] Thus advantageously, each of the armrest supports is fixed to a rigid element, the reinforcement panel, and the forces from the armrest are not transmitted directly to the main panel of the wheel arch and can be distributed over a larger surface area of ​​the main panel.

[0023] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a structure as described above and two armrests each fixed to one of the armrest supports.

[0024] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0025] [Fig-1] represents a view of the rear of a vehicle without the rear hatch in order to make the wheel arch area visible from the inside, the structure of the vehicle being according to the invention.

[0026] [Fig.2] represents a view of one of the wheel arches of the vehicle of [Fig.l] from the interior of the vehicle.

[0027] [Fig.3] is an enlarged view of the wheel arch of [Fig.2] at the level of the support armrest.

[0028] The drawings are schematic representations to facilitate understanding of the invention. The components are not necessarily shown to scale. The same references correspond to the same components from one figure to another.

[0029] The X axis represents the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the Y axis the transverse direction and the Z axis the vertical direction. The forward, backward, up, down directions are taken in the vehicle's reference frame.

[0030] In [Fig.l], the vehicle 100 is shown without a rear flap in order to make the interior volume visible. The vehicle 100 has two rear wheels each arranged in a wheel arch volume delimited by a wheel arch 1. The vehicle 100 therefore has a right wheel arch 1 and a left wheel arch 1. A lining covers each of the wheel arches 1, inside the vehicle. An armrest 10 is arranged on each of the wheel arches 1, above the lining or through the lining, therefore inside the vehicle 100. Rear seats, not shown in [Fig.l], for example a bench seat, extend between the rear wheel arches 1, the armrests 10 being intended for the passengers of these rear seats.These rear seats are for example so-called row three seats, that is to say that the vehicle comprises three rows of seats, a first row comprising a driver's seat of the vehicle, called row one, a second row arranged behind this first row, called row two, and a third row behind the second row of seats, called row three. The vehicle 100 comprises a structure comprising the right and left rear wheel arches 1.

[0031] In [Fig.l], only the right wheel arch 1 is visible, equipped with an armrest 10.

[0032] [Fig. 2] illustrates the right wheel arch 1. The wheel arch is for example a sheet metal element having a general shape curved towards the inside of the vehicle in an axis transverse Y to the vehicle, and therefore hollow on the outside of the vehicle 100 so as to receive the rear wheel there. Each wheel arch 1, that is to say the right wheel arch 1 and the left wheel arch 1, comprises on its face oriented towards the inside of the vehicle a receiving surface 20 on which is fixed an armrest support 2 intended to receive an armrest 10. The right receiving surface 20 is arranged on the right wheel arch 1 and the left receiving surface 20 arranged on the left wheel arch 1 are symmetrical with respect to a vertical median plane of the structure of the vehicle 100. The armrest support 2 arranged on the right receiving surface 20 is identical to the armrest support 2 arranged on the left receiving surface 20.

[0033] The right wheel arch 1 equipped with the support 2 is for example symmetrical to the left wheel arch equipped with the support with respect to a plane parallel to the longitudinal axes X and vertical axes Z median to the vehicle 100. The same references are used for the wheel arch with the support whether it is on the right or left of the vehicle. Right and left are taken looking towards the front of the vehicle 100.

[0034] In the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, the armrest support 2 comprises a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and intersecting said support 2 in its middle along this longitudinal axis X. Thus, the same armrest support 2 can be installed on the receiving surface 20 of the right wheel arch 1 and on the left wheel arch 1 by a rotation around the vertical axis Z.

[0035] In an alternative embodiment, each armrest support 2 comprises several bearing faces 22a, 22b, 22c bearing on the receiving surface 20 of the wheel arch 1 on which it is fixed. Each armrest support 1 further comprises at least one fixing interface 21a, 21b, intended to fix the armrest 10, arranged between the bearing faces 22a, 22b, 22c, and said fixing interface 21a, 21b is offset along the vertical axis Z relative to the bearing faces 22a, 22b, 22c. The receiving interface 21a, 21b is arranged between two bearing faces 22a, 22b, 22c.

[0036] In the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, each of the armrest supports 2 comprises three bearing faces 22a, 22b, 22c: a first bearing face 22a and a second bearing face 22b are arranged at the ends of the armrest support 2 and a central bearing face 22c is arranged between the first bearing face 22a and the second bearing face 22c. The three bearing faces 22a, 22b, 22c are spaced apart from each other. The armrest support 2 comprises two fixing interfaces 21a, 21b: a first fixing interface 21a arranged between the first support face 22a and the central support face 22c, and a second fixing interface 21b arranged between the second support face 22b and the central support face 22c, along the longitudinal axis X.In other words, moving along the longitudinal axis X, the first support face 22a, the first fixing interface 21a, the central support face 22c, the second fixing interface 21b, and the second support face 22b follow one another.

[0037] The bearing faces 22a, 22b, 22c of each of the armrest supports 2 and the receiving surface 20 of each of the wheel arches 1 are parallel to a longitudinal axis X of said structure of the vehicle 100, and at an angle relative to a plane parallel to the longitudinal axes X and transverse Y, in other words not parallel to the transverse axis Y.

[0038] As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the fixing interfaces 21a, 21b of each armrest support 1 each comprise, for example, a planar fixing face parallel to the longitudinal axis X and which each comprises a fixing means 23a, 23b intended to fix the armrest 10. The fixing faces are, for example, aligned along the longitudinal axis X. The fixing means 23a, 23b on each of the fixing faces is, for example, a through hole capable of receiving a fixing screw or a cage nut. In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the fixing faces are parallel to the longitudinal axis X and to the transverse axis Y of the vehicle structure 100.

[0039] An embodiment may be envisaged in which the receiving surface 20 on each of the wheel arches 1 comprises at least one stiffening relief 121a, 121b arranged between bearing faces 22a, 22b, 22c of the armrest support 2. For example, a first stiffening relief 121a is arranged between the first bearing face 22a and the central bearing face 22c, and a second relief is arranged between the central bearing face 22c and the second bearing face 22b as illustrated in [Fig.2].

[0040] In another embodiment, as shown in [Fig.2], each wheel arch 1 comprises an interior main panel 11 on which a reinforcement panel 12 is fixed, said reinforcement panel 12 comprising the receiving surface 20.

[0041] The armrest support 2 is produced for example by stamping or folding a metal sheet. The support 2 has a shape for example of a crenellation extending in the longitudinal axis X, the fixing interfaces 21a, 21b forming the projecting parts of the crenellations, and the bearing faces 22a, 22b, 22c the hollow parts along the vertical axis Z. In other words, the first fixing interface 21a is connected on one side to the first bearing face 22a and on the other to the central bearing face 22c respectively by a first junction wall 24a and a second junction wall 24b which are for example substantially vertical. Likewise, the second fixing interface 21b is connected on one side to the second bearing face 22b and on the other to the central bearing face 22c respectively by a first joining wall 25a and a second joining wall 25b which are for example substantially vertical.Stiffening ribs may be provided at the angle between the joining walls 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b and bearing faces 22a, 22b, 22c, as well as between the fixing interfaces 21a, 21b and these joining walls 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b.

[0042] Each armrest support 2 is for example fixed by welding points to the wheel arch 1, the welding points being made on each of the bearing faces 22a, 22b, 22c. The fact of having bearing faces 22a, 22b, 22c on each side of each fixing interface 21a, 21b, allows effective maintenance of these fixing interfaces 21a, 21b.

[0043] The spacing between the first fixing interface 21a and the second fixing interface 21b, and the dimension of the central bearing face 22c are chosen so as to allow the passage of a tool such as a welding pliers.

[0044] In an alternative embodiment as illustrated in [Fig.2], each wheel arch 1 comprises an interior main panel 11 on which a reinforcement panel 12 is fixed, said reinforcement panel 12 comprising the receiving surface 20. That is to say that the reinforcement panel 12 is arranged on the face of the main panel 11 facing the interior of the vehicle.

[0045] In this variant comprising the reinforcement panel 12, an assembly method following the steps below is possible:

[0046] - step of fixing the armrest support 2 on the reinforcement panel 12,

[0047] - step of fixing the reinforcement panel 12 equipped with the armrest support 2 on the main panel 11.

[0048] A vehicle 100 equipped with such a structure comprises two armrests 10 each fixed to one of the armrest supports 10.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle structure (100) comprising two rear wheel arches (1), a right wheel arch and a left wheel arch, each of the two wheel arches (1) comprises on its face facing the inside of the vehicle a receiving surface (20) on which is fixed an armrest support (2) intended to receive an armrest (10), characterized in that the right receiving surface (20) arranged on the right wheel arch and the left receiving surface (20) arranged on the left wheel arch are symmetrical with respect to the vertical median plane of the vehicle structure (100), and the armrest support (2) arranged on the right receiving surface (20) is identical to the armrest support (2) arranged on the left receiving surface (20).

2. Vehicle structure (100) according to claim 1, the armrest support (2) of which comprises a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) and intersecting said support (2) in its middle along this longitudinal axis (X).

3. Vehicle structure (100) according to one of the preceding claims, each armrest support (2) of which comprises several bearing faces (22a, 22b, 22c) bearing on the receiving surface (20) of the wheel arch (1) on which it is fixed, and a fixing interface (21a, 21b) arranged between the bearing faces (22a, 22b, 22c), offset along a vertical axis (Z) of the vehicle structure (100) relative to the bearing faces (22a, 22b, 22c), the fixing interface (21a, 21b) being between two bearing faces (22a, 22b, 22c).

4. Vehicle structure (100) according to the preceding claim, each of the armrest supports (2) comprises three bearing faces (22a, 22b, 22c), a first bearing face (22a) and a second bearing face (22b) being arranged at the ends of the armrest support (2) and a central bearing face (22c) being arranged between the first bearing face (22a) and the second bearing face (22c), the armrest support (2) comprising two fixing interfaces (21a, 21b), a first fixing interface (21a) arranged between the first bearing face (22a) and the central bearing face (22c), and a second fixing interface (21b) arranged between the second bearing face (22b) and the central bearing face (22c), being placed along the longitudinal axis (X).

5. Vehicle structure (100) according to one of claims 3 or 4, the bearing faces (22a, 22b, 22c) of each of the armrest supports (2) and the receiving surface (20) of each of the wheel arches (1) are parallel to a longitudinal axis (X) of said vehicle structure (100).

6. Vehicle structure (100) according to claims 4 and 5, the fixing interfaces (21a, 21b) of which each comprise a planar fixing face parallel to the longitudinal axis (X), the fixing faces each comprising a fixing means (23a, 23b) intended to fix the armrest (10), the fixing faces being aligned along the longitudinal axis (X).

7. Vehicle structure (100) according to the preceding claim, the fixing faces of which are parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) and to a transverse axis (Y) of the vehicle structure (100).

8. Vehicle structure (100) according to one of the preceding claims taken in combination with one of claims 2 or 3, the receiving surface (20) of which on each of the wheel arches (1) comprises at least one stiffening relief (121a, 121b) arranged between bearing faces (22a, 22b, 22c) of the armrest support (2).

9. Vehicle structure (100) according to one of the preceding claims, each wheel arch (1) of which comprises an inner main panel (11) on which a reinforcing panel (12) is fixed, said reinforcing panel (12) comprising the receiving surface (20).

10. Vehicle (100) comprising a structure according to one of the preceding claims and two armrests (10) each fixed on one of the armrest supports (2).

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