Motor vehicle comprising elastic means exerting a restoring force on a wing of the motor vehicle when the wing moves towards a door of said vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising an elastic means exerting a restoring force on a wing of the motor vehicle when the wing moves towards a door of said vehicle. The motor vehicle (2) comprises a wing (6) interposed between a bumper (4) and a door (8). The motor vehicle (2) comprises at least one elastic means (12) of which a first part is attached to the wing and a second part is attached to another element (10) of the motor vehicle, such that the elastic means (12) exerts a restoring force on the wing (6) when the wing moves towards the door (8). Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle comprising an elastic means exerting a restoring force on a wing of the motor vehicle when the wing moves towards a door of said vehicle Technical field to which the invention relates

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of the automobile industry and more particularly, to a device making it possible to preserve the integrity of a door when a motor vehicle suffers a frontal impact at low speed. Technological background

[0002] In the automotive industry, the term "shock repairability" refers to specific tests, focusing on the repairability of a motor vehicle following an accident.

[0003] One of these tests consists of subjecting a motor vehicle, at low speed, to a frontal impact against a wall. During this so-called reparability test, the damage suffered by the motor vehicle is assessed, in particular to the bodywork elements located at the front of the motor vehicle.

[0004] The objective of this test is to determine to what extent these bodywork elements can be repaired, after a frontal collision, while minimizing repair costs while optimizing the repair process.

[0005] The reparability test has thus made it possible to design vehicles which, in the event of a low-speed collision, exhibit better reparability, thus reducing the time required for repairs and their associated costs.

[0006] During this type of test, it was found that a frontal impact, even at low speed, is capable of producing a chain effect of deformation of the bodywork elements located at the front of a motor vehicle.

[0007] More specifically, when a vehicle collides head-on with an obstacle, even at low speed, the impact causes a sudden backward movement of the front bumper which then impacts the front wings. This impact causes deformation of the front wings, but also a backward movement of said wings.

[0008] In some cases, this backward movement forces the front fenders to pass over the front doors. By covering the front doors, the front fenders hinder or worse prevent the front doors from opening.

[0009] The invention aims to prevent this risk by proposing a solution making it possible to limit the phenomenon of overlapping described above, of a door by a wing of a motor vehicle, when the motor vehicle suffers a frontal impact at low speed. Subject of the invention

[0010] To achieve this result, the invention proposes a motor vehicle comprising a wing, interposed between a bumper and a door.

[0011] Remarkably, the motor vehicle comprises at least one elastic means of which a first part is attached to the wing, and a second part of the elastic means is attached to another element of the motor vehicle, so that the elastic means exerts a restoring force on the wing when the wing moves towards the door.

[0012] The invention therefore proposes the use of an elastic means for exerting a restoring force on a wing of a motor vehicle, when the wing moves towards a door of said vehicle.

[0013] Preferably, the elastic means is configured to move the wing when the wing overlaps the door, so that the wing returns to its initial or substantially initial position, following a frontal impact suffered by the motor vehicle at low speed.

[0014] By “low speed” is meant a speed less than 40 km / h, or less than 20 km / h, preferably equal to or less than 15 km / h.

[0015] Thus, advantageously, the invention makes it possible to prevent hindrance or an impediment to opening the door, following a low-speed collision suffered by the motor vehicle.

[0016] According to another embodiment, the first part and the second part of the elastic means define an axis which is parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle. This mode promotes a more efficient return of the wing to its initial position.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the invention, the first part corresponds to a first end of the elastic means, and the second part corresponds to a second end of the elastic means. Preferably, the elastic means is elongate between its first and second ends.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the invention, the second part of the elastic means is attached to a wing support of the motor vehicle.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, the second part of the elastic means is attached at the level of a pillar of the door.

[0020] According to another embodiment of the invention, the second part of the elastic means is attached at the level of a pillar of the front door of the motor vehicle.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the invention, the second part of the elastic means is attached at the level of a pillar of the rear door of the vehicle au- car.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the invention, the second part of the elastic means is attached to an element located near the bumper. Preferably, the element is located near the front bumper of the motor vehicle.

[0023] According to another embodiment of the invention, the elastic means is a mechanical spring.

[0024] Preferably, the mechanical spring is a tension spring. The tension spring stretches when a force is applied to its ends, and returns to its original length when the force is released.

[0025] Of course, the various features, variants and embodiments mentioned above may be combined with each other in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Description of the figures

[0026] The invention will be better understood upon reading the description below, presenting a non-limiting example of embodiment of the invention, illustrated by the following figures:

[0027] [Fig-1] illustrates a schematic and partial view of a motor vehicle in the state of the technique, comprising a front bumper, a left front door and a front wing interposed between the front bumper and the front door of the vehicle;

[0028] [Fig.2] illustrates the motor vehicle shown in [Fig.l], after having undergone a low-speed frontal impact;

[0029] [Fig.3] illustrates a schematic and partial view of a motor vehicle according to the invention, comprising a mechanical spring having a first end attached to a front fender of the vehicle and a second end of the mechanical spring attached to a pillar of a front door of said vehicle, such that the mechanical spring exerts a restoring force on the fender when the fender moves towards the front door;

[0030] [Fig.4] illustrates the motor vehicle shown in [Fig.3], during a frontal impact at low speed, when the front fender overlaps the front door of the motor vehicle. Detailed description of the invention

[0031] As a reminder, the invention proposes a solution making it possible to limit the phenomenon of a door being overlapped by a wing of a motor vehicle, when the motor vehicle suffers a frontal impact at low speed.

[0032] [Fig.l] partially and schematically represents a motor vehicle 2 according to the state of the art. More precisely, in this [Fig.l], the reference 4 designates a front bumper of the motor vehicle of which only the left side is shown. The reference 6 designates a left front wing of the motor vehicle and the reference 8 a left front door of said vehicle. Reference 10 designates the pillar of the front door 8, positioned between said door and the front wing 6.

[0033] As illustrated by [Fig.2], in the event of a low-speed frontal collision, the front bumper 4 moves towards the rear of the motor vehicle. The front bumper then collides with the front fender 6. The front fender in turn moves towards the rear of the motor vehicle and overlaps the pillar 10 of the front door 8 as well as a portion of said door.

[0034] The front wing 6, by pressing against the front door 8, can damage the door when it is opened or worse, prevent it from opening.

[0035] The invention aims to remedy this problem by proposing the use of a mechanical spring 12 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. More precisely, the mechanical spring comprises a first end 14 which is attached to the front wing 6, and a second end 16 attached to the pillar 10 of the front door 8.

[0036] The ends of the mechanical spring may be connected directly or indirectly to the front wing 6 and / or to the upright 10. According to the present example, the ends of the mechanical spring are held to appendages 18 which are integral with the front wing and the upright. Each appendage extends towards the inside of the motor vehicle 2, so that the mechanical spring 12 is concealed by the bodywork elements of the motor vehicle.

[0037] The appendages 18 hold the mechanical spring so that the latter extends along a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

[0038] The ends of the mechanical spring 12 are attached to the appendages 18 so that the spring works in traction as illustrated by [Fig.4].

[0039] [Fig. 4] shows the motor vehicle according to the invention when it undergoes a frontal impact at low speed. During this impact, the bumper suddenly moves towards the rear of the motor vehicle. During its movement, the front bumper bears against the front wing 6 which also causes it to move towards the rear of the motor vehicle.

[0040] As mentioned above, under the effect of the impact, the front wing 6 is caused to overlap the pillar 10 as well as a part of the front door 8.

[0041] Advantageously, the mechanical spring 12 then exerts a force on the front wing 8, so that the wing returns to its initial or substantially initial position as illustrated by [Fig.3], following a frontal impact suffered by the motor vehicle.

[0042] The invention thus makes it possible to prevent damage to the front door 8 by the front wing 6, when it is opened after the motor vehicle has suffered a frontal impact at low speed, it also makes it possible to prevent inconvenience caused by the front wing 6 when opening said door.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle (2) comprising a wing (6) interposed between a bumper (4) and a door (8), characterized in that the motor vehicle (2) comprises at least one elastic means (12) of which a first part (14) is attached to the wing and a second part (16) is attached to another element (10) of the motor vehicle, so that the elastic means (12) exerts a restoring force on the wing (6) when the wing moves towards the door (8).

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the first part (14) and the second part (16) define an axis which is parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the first part (14) corresponds to a first end of the elastic means (12), and in that the second part (16) corresponds to a second end of the elastic means (12).

4. Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second part (16) of the elastic means (12) is attached to a wing support of the motor vehicle.

5. Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second part (16) of the elastic means (12) is attached at the level of an upright (10) of the door (8).

6. Motor vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the second part (10) of the elastic means (12) is attached at the level of an upright (10) of the front door (8) of the motor vehicle.

7. Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second part (16) of the elastic means (12) is attached to an element located near the bumper (4).

8. Motor vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the element is located near the front bumper of the motor vehicle.

9. Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the elastic means is a mechanical spring (12).

10. Motor vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that the mechanical spring (12) is a tension spring.

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