Car canopy extension

Abstract

The invention relates to a canopy extension (1) for a motor vehicle, the canopy extension (1) being intended to be placed at the base of a front windshield pillar, so as to cover a hood hinge and to be located under a front hood lining of the motor vehicle, the canopy extension (1) comprising a body (11) and means for attaching (12) to a structural element of the motor vehicle, the body (11) extending at least partially under the hood lining.According to the invention, a rear edge (14) of the body (11) is not located directly above the hood liner, the cowl extension (1) comprising a cap (15) extending from the rear edge (14) towards the front edge and directly above the hood liner, the cap (15) being connected to the body (11) by a constriction zone (16) to allow the cap (15) to break at the constriction zone (16) in the event of an impact on the portion of the hood liner located above the cowl extension (1). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Awning extension for a motor vehicle

[0001] The technical context of the present invention is that of passive safety for pedestrians and cyclists in the event of a front impact with a motor vehicle, leading to the pedestrian's or cyclist's head impacting against an area of ​​the front hood located in a rear corner of the hood, close to a front windshield pillar. More particularly, the invention relates to a canopy extension for a motor vehicle.

[0002] In the state of the art, the presence of an awning extending relative to a transverse axis of the motor vehicle is known in order to collect air at the base of the front windshield and direct it towards a passenger compartment and / or towards an air intake vent of an air circuit of an air conditioning installation of the motor vehicle. In addition, such awnings also make it possible to collect and evacuate water, in particular runoff water from the windshield.

[0003] Such known awnings extend below and / or behind a rear flank of a hood lining covering the engine compartment of the motor vehicle. Laterally, opposite each side pillar framing the front windshield, the use of a awning extension to cover a hinge of the front hood is known. The known awning extensions extend below the hood lining, reinforcing the rigidity of the hood lining at this area, relative to the vertical axis.

[0004] Also, a known disadvantage of awning extensions is that, in the event of an impact with a pedestrian or cyclist, the excessive rigidity of the hood lining in the area of ​​the awning extension leads to significant damage to the impacted pedestrian or cyclist. This situation is not desired.

[0005] Indeed, certain regulations concerning automobile safety and prevention of risks and injuries inflicted on pedestrians and cyclists in the event of a frontal collision provide for extending the area inspected during normative tests to the area located at the level of the front windshield. The high rigidity of this area leads or will lead to a downgrading of the motor vehicle.

[0006] In order to reduce the rigidity of this area, the use of flexible materials for the awning extension is known to reduce its rigidity, for example by using several different materials. However, these solutions require a significant amount of space to provide the expected flexibility. They are therefore not always feasible depending on the space available on certain motor vehicles.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to propose a new awning extension in order to address at least a large part of the above problems and to further lead to other advantages.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to allow easy and flexible closing of the hood, in contact with the awning extension.

[0009] Another aim of the invention is to obtain both sufficient rigidity to maintain the hood and to avoid the occurrence of vibrations during use of the motor vehicle, while allowing sufficient flexibility in the event of a head impact on the hood.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a cowl extension for a motor vehicle, the cowl extension being intended to be placed at the foot of a front windshield pillar, so as to cover a hood hinge and to be located under a front hood lining of the motor vehicle, the cowl extension comprising a body comprising means for attachment to a structural element of the motor vehicle, the body extending at least partly under the hood lining.

[0011] According to the invention, a rear edge of the body is not located directly above the hood lining, and in that the cowl extension comprises a cap which extends from the rear edge towards the front edge, the cap extending directly above the hood lining.

[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 awning extension 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 awning is a device which extends at the base of the front windshield in order to collect air and redirect it towards a passenger compartment and / or towards an air intake vent of a heating and air conditioning system of the motor vehicle. The awning thus takes the form of a collector surmounted by a grille whose own extension axis is along the transverse axis.

[0014] Such known awnings extend below and / or behind a rear flank of a hood lining covering the engine compartment of the motor vehicle. Later- Rally, opposite each side pillar framing the front windshield, the use of cowl extensions to cover a hinge of the front hood is known. The known cowl extensions extend below the hood lining, reinforcing the rigidity of the hood lining at this area, relative to the vertical axis.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, the cowl extension is located in the extension of the cowl, relative to the transverse axis. The cowl extension is located at a rear corner of the front hood, so as to cover a hinge allowing the front hood to pivot. The cowl extension is therefore a cover of the hinge located in the lateral extension of the cowl, and in front of a pillar of the front windshield. In the context of the present invention, a motor vehicle comprises two cowl extensions, one located at each lateral end of the cowl, relative to the transverse axis, each cowl extension covering one of the articulation hinges of the front hood.

[0016] In the context of the present invention, the front windshield is a glazed surface closing the front of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The front windshield pillar is one of the front legs of the passenger compartment, serving as a support for the roof of the motor vehicle and to which said front windshield is securely fixed.

[0017] In the context of the present invention, the hood liner is a body part securely attached to a hood support that closes the engine compartment of the motor vehicle. The hood liner - with the hood support - is hinged by the hinges located in front of the front windshield pillars, under the cowl extension. In the context of the present invention, the hood liner extends above the cowl extension.

[0018] In the context of the present invention, the cowl extension comprises a main body which is connected to the chassis of the motor vehicle and which at least partially covers the corresponding hinge. In the context of the present invention, the main body can take any shape. Generally, the body of the cowl extension forms a concave surface above the hinge. The body of the cowl extension is delimited towards the front by a front edge, and towards the rear by a rear edge, relative to the longitudinal axis. According to the invention, the cap extends from the rear edge of the body of the cowl extension, so as to form a rim distant from the main body. The cap extends towards the hood lining with which the cowl extension is intended to collaborate when the front hood is closed.Thus, the cap is located in a position proximal to the hood liner, when the front hood is closed, while the body of the cowl extension is located in a position distal to said liner. In other words, the cap forms a rim which is located at a distance from the main body, relative to the vertical axis.

[0019] Furthermore, in a particularly advantageous manner, the cowl extension has a geometry such that the bearing surface of the hood lining now rests on the cap, and that there is therefore a non-zero vertical reserve between the cap and the body of the cowl extension, so that it is possible to push the hood lining and the cap towards the body of the cowl extension, in the event of a head impact at the level of the hood lining located above the cowl extension.

[0020] Thus, the cowl extension according to the first aspect of the invention makes it possible to allow easy and flexible closing of the front hood, in contact with the cap of the cowl extension. Consequently, this configuration makes it possible to obtain both sufficient rigidity for maintaining the front hood while allowing sufficient flexibility in the event of a head impact on the front hood.

[0021] The awning extension 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:

[0022] - a rear flank of the hood liner is located in front of the rear edge of the body of the cowl extension, relative to the longitudinal axis. In other words, the rear flank of the hood lining is located in an intermediate position between the rear edge of the cowl extension and a front edge of the body of the cowl extension. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to provide a conformation which makes it possible to deform the bumper lining along the vertical axis. Indeed, the rear edge of the body of the bumper extension displays great rigidity, along the vertical axis. It is therefore particularly clever to offset it relative to the hood lining, so as to no longer depend on this rigidity. Conversely, it is the cap which is placed in abutment against the hood lining, because it has sufficient rigidity for normal use of the front hood, i.e. for closing it for example;

[0023] - the cap is located at a distance from the body of the awning extension, relative to the vertical axis. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to provide a vertical reserve which offers a possible freedom of deformation to the cap in the event of a head impact at the level of the hood lining located above the cowl extension. Thus, the cap overhangs the body of the cowl extension. In other words, there is a non-zero reserve between the cap and the main body of the cowl extension located directly below said cap. In other words again, there is a non-zero distance between the cap and the body of the cowl extension, relative to the vertical axis;

[0024] - the awning extension comprises a constriction zone configured to allow a deformation - elastic or plastic - of the awning extension at the level of the said zone of constriction in the event of an impact on the hood lining, directly above the cowl extension. The constriction zone thus forms an incipient fracture of the cowl extension so that, in the event of a head impact at the hood lining located above the cowl extension, the constriction zone leads to deformation or breakage of the cowl extension at the constriction zone;

[0025] - the necking zone has a groove which extends along the extension of the cowl. The groove thus provides a reduction in the thickness of the cowl extension which leads, in the event of a head impact at the level of the hood lining located above the cowl extension, to a concentration of mechanical stresses which results in the deformation or even breakage of said cowl extension along the constriction zone;

[0026] - advantageously, the constriction zone extends in a rectilinear manner;

[0027] - according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the constriction zone is located at the rear edge of the awning extension. In particular, the necking zone extends to the interface between the rear edge and the cap. Alternatively, the necking zone extends to the cap.

[0028] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a motor vehicle comprising:

[0029] - a front windshield pillar;

[0030] - an awning extending at the foot of the front windshield;

[0031] - a front hood covering an engine compartment located in front of the front windshield, the front hood being pivotally mounted by means of a hood hinge;

[0032] - an awning extension according to the first aspect of the invention or according to one of any of its improvements, the awning extension extending in the extension of the awning and covering the hood hinge and the front hood overhanging said awning extension.

[0033] In the context of the present invention, the front hood comprises a hood liner which covers the engine compartment when the front hood is closed. The hood liner is integral with the front hood.

[0034] The motor vehicle in accordance with the second 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:

[0035] - the awning extension is located in the extension of the awning, relative to the transverse axis;

[0036] - the rear edge of the main body of the awning extension is located behind the front hood. More generally, in a horizontal plane formed by the longitudinal axis and the vertical axis, the rear edge of the main body of the cowl extension is located outside the area covered by the front hood. In other words, the rear edge of the cowl extension is not located directly above the hood liner when the front hood is closed;

[0037] - relative to the vertical axis, the cap extends between the body of the extension cowl and the hood lining. Furthermore, there is a non-zero volume, and in particular a non-zero distance taken relative to the vertical axis, between the cap and the main body, so as to form a reserve for possible crushing of the cap and the hood lining along the vertical axis, in the event of a head impact in the area of ​​the front hood located directly above the cowl extension;

[0038] - the hood liner is not supported against the main body of the extension awning. Conversely, the hood lining rests exclusively against the cap of the awning extension.

[0039] Various embodiments of the invention are provided, integrating according to all of their possible combinations the different optional characteristics set out here.

[0040] 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:

[0041] [Fig.l] illustrates a three-dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of the awning extension according to the first aspect of the invention;

[0042] [Fig.2] illustrates a schematic side view of the awning extension of [Fig.l] associated with a motor vehicle hood;

[0043] [Fig.3] illustrates a top view of the hood associated with the cowl extension illustrated in [Fig.l];

[0044] [Fig.4] illustrates a rear view of the hood associated with the illustrated cowl extension on [Fig.l].

[0045] Of course, the features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other, in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0046] 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.

[0047] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0048] With reference to FIGURES 1 to 4, the invention relates to a cowl extension 1 for a motor vehicle, the cowl extension 1 being intended to be placed at the foot of a front windshield pillar 2, on either side of a cowl of the motor vehicle, so as to cover a hood hinge 33. The cowl extension 1 is also intended to be located under a lining 31 of the front hood 33 of the motor vehicle, so as to form a rear bearing surface for the front hood 33, at a rear flank 32 of said front hood 33.

[0049] The cowl extension 1 comprises a body 11 comprising means 12 for fixing to a structural element of the motor vehicle, the body 11 extending at least partly under the lining 31 of the hood 33. More particularly, with reference to [Fig. 1], the body 11 comprises two support legs 13 allowing it to be fixed to a chassis of the motor vehicle. As visible in [Fig. 1], the body 11 and the support legs 13 together form a concave geometry allowing the cowl extension 1 to cover a hinge of the front hood 33.

[0050] In order to improve the support of the rear flank 32 of the front hood 33, a rear edge 14 of the body 11 is not located directly above the lining 31 of the hood 33. Conversely, the rear edge 14 of the body 11 of the cowl extension 1 is located behind the rear flank 32 of the front hood 33 and the lining 31 of the hood 33, as visible in FIGURES 2 to 4. In other words, a rear flank 32 of the lining 31 of the hood 33 is located in front of the rear edge 14 of the body 11 of the cowl extension 1, relative to the longitudinal axis. Complementarily, relative to the vertical axis, the rear flank 32 of the lining 31 of the hood 33 is located above the rear edge 14 of the cowl extension 1.

[0051] Furthermore, the cowl extension 1 comprises a cap 15 which extends from the rear edge 14 of the body 11 towards the front edge, the cap 15 extending directly above the lining 31 of the hood 33. Thus, according to the invention, the lining 31 of the hood 33, when the front hood 33 is closed, now rests on the cap 15 of the cowl extension 1, and not on the body 11 of the cowl extension 1 itself. Thus, as can be seen in FIGURES 2 to 4, it is the cap 15 of the cowl extension 1 which extends under the lining 31 of the hood 33, or which is even placed in abutment against said lining 31 of the hood 33, because it has sufficient rigidity for normal use of the front hood 33, that is to say for its closure for example. The cap 15 thus forms a rim forming a support surface for the lining 31 of the hood 33.

[0052] In a particularly advantageous manner, as can be seen in [Fig.2] in particular, the cap 15 is located at a distance from the body 11 of the awning extension 1, relative to the vertical axis. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to provide a reserve vertical which offers possible freedom of deformation to the cap 15 in the event of a head impact at the level of the lining 31 of the hood 33 located above the cowl extension 1. Thus, the cap 15 overhangs the body 11 of the cowl extension 1, so as to allow possible crushing of the cap 15 in the event of an impact on the part of the lining 31 of the hood 33 located above the cowl extension 1.

[0053] In order to reduce the rigidity of the cowl extension 1 in the event of an impact on the part of the lining 31 of the hood 33 located directly above, the cowl extension 1 comprises a constriction zone 16 configured to allow deformation - elastic or plastic - of the cowl extension 1 at the level of said constriction zone 16 in the event of an impact on the lining 31 of the hood 33, directly above the cowl extension 1, or even to promote its breakage in such circumstances. The constriction zone 16 thus forms an initiation of rupture of the cowl extension 1 - and more particularly of the cap 15 - so that, in the event of a head impact at the level of the lining 31 of the hood 33 located above the cowl extension 1, the constriction zone 16 leads to a deformation or breakage of the cowl extension 1 at the level of the constriction zone 16 and, consequently, to a collapse of the cap 15 and, finally, to a loss of support for the lining 31 of the hood 33.This configuration allows for a collapse of the rigidity of the hood liner 31 33 in the event of an impact, thereby reducing damage to the head of the impacted pedestrian.

[0054] The constriction zone 16 comprises a groove which extends along the cowl extension 1. The groove thus provides a reduction in the thickness of the cowl extension which leads, in the event of a head impact at the level of the lining 31 of the hood 33 located above the cowl extension 1, to a concentration of mechanical stresses which results in the deformation, or even breakage, of said cowl extension 1 along the constriction zone 16. Advantageously, the constriction zone 16 extends in a rectilinear manner.

[0055] As visible in [Fig.l], the constriction zone 16 is located at the rear edge 14 of the awning extension 1. In particular, the constriction zone 16 extends to the interface between the rear edge 14 and the cap 15.

[0056] In summary, the invention relates to a cowl extension 1 for a motor vehicle, the cowl extension 1 being intended to be placed at the foot of a front windshield pillar 2, so as to cover a hood hinge 33 and to be located under a lining 31 of the front hood 33 of the motor vehicle, the cowl extension 1 comprising a body 11 and means 12 for fixing to a structural element of the motor vehicle, the body 11 extending at least partly under the lining 31 of the hood 33. According to the invention, a rear edge 14 of the body 11 is not located directly above the lining 31 of the hood 33, the cowl extension 1 comprising a cap 15 which extends from the rear edge 14 towards the front edge and directly above the lining 31 of hood 33, the cap 15 is connected to the body 11 by a constriction zone 16 in order to allow breakage of the cap 15 at the constriction zone 16 in the event of an impact on the part of the lining 31 of hood 33 located above the cowl extension 1.

[0057] 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. A cowl extension (1) for a motor vehicle, the cowl extension (1) being intended to be placed at the foot of a front windshield pillar (2), so as to cover a hood hinge (33) and to be located under a lining (31) of the front hood (33) of the motor vehicle, the cowl extension (1) comprising a body (11) having means (12) for fixing to a structural element of the motor vehicle, the body (11) extending at least partly under the lining (31) of the hood (33), characterized in that a rear edge (14) of the body (11) is not located directly above the lining (31) of the hood (33), and in that the cowl extension (1) comprises a cap (15) which extends from the rear edge (14) towards the front edge, the cap (15) extending directly above of the lining (31) of the hood (33).

2. Awning extension (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein a rear flank (32) of the hood (33) lining (31) is located in front of the rear edge (14) of the body (11) of the awning extension (1), relative to the longitudinal axis.

3. A canopy extension (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap (15) is located at a distance from the body (11) of the canopy extension (1), relative to the vertical axis.

4. An awning extension (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the cap (15) overhangs the body (11) of the awning extension (1).

5. Awning extension (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the awning extension (1) comprises a constriction zone (16) configured to allow deformation - elastic or plastic - of the awning extension (1) at the level of said constriction zone (16) in the event of an impact on the lining (31) of the hood (33), directly above the awning extension (1).

6. Awning extension (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the necking zone (16) comprises a groove which extends along the awning extension (1).

7. Awning extension (1) according to any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the necking area (16) is located at the rear edge (14) of the awning extension (1).

8. A canopy extension (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the necking zone (16) extends at the interface between the edge rear (14) and the cap (15).

9. Awning extension (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the necking zone (16) extends at the level of the cap (15).

10. Motor vehicle comprising: - a front windshield pillar (2); - a cowl extending at the foot of the front windshield (2); - a front hood (33) covering an engine compartment located in front of the front windshield (2), the front hood (33) being pivotally mounted by means of a hood hinge (33); - a cowl extension (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the cowl extension (1) extending in the extension of the cowl and covering the hood hinge (33) and the front hood (33) overhanging said cowl extension (1).

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