Exterior skin of front bumper of motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an outer skin of a front bumper comprising a main body having in its upper central part a cutout opening at its top and intended to accommodate a grille, said skin also comprising a closing strip intended to cover said grille from above by connecting by its two lateral end portions (121) to two respective docking zones (Za) provided on said main body, each lateral end portion (121) comprising an upper wall (123) the outer lateral edge of which is intended to be flush along a joint line with the inner edge of a corresponding upper return (113) provided on said main body,each lateral end portion (121) comprising a finger (125) forming with the rear portion of its upper wall (123) a fork defining a mortise (126) intended to cooperate by interlocking with a respective tenon (117) comprising the corresponding abutment zone (Za). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 4,

Description

Title of the invention: Outer skin for front bumper of motor vehicle technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the front bumper skins of motor vehicles.

[0002] It relates in particular to such a front bumper skin comprising a main body having in its upper central part a cutout opening at its top and intended to accommodate the grille of said vehicle, said skin also comprising a closure strip intended to cover said grille from above by connecting by its two lateral end portions to two respective docking zones provided on said main body on either side of this cutout. Previous technique

[0003] The front bumpers of motor vehicles conventionally comprise an outer skin made from one or more pieces, each molded from a thermoplastic material.

[0004] The main body of this outer skin is generally provided in the upper central part with a cutout on which a grille is mounted.

[0005] Playing an essential role in the cooling system of thermal or hybrid vehicles equipped with an internal combustion engine, such a grille classically presents a mesh structure defining openings allowing outside air to circulate towards the radiator to ensure the cooling of the engine and avoid any risk of overheating of the latter which could damage it.

[0006] The grille is also an essential element of the visual identity of motor vehicles, so that it is also found in most electric vehicles, although they do not have the same cooling requirements.

[0007] In these electrically powered vehicles, these grilles are therefore not required to have a mesh structure, which offers greater stylistic freedom for designers.

[0008] Thus, more and more electric vehicles are now equipped with a so-called "illuminated" grille, incorporating one or more functional and / or aesthetic lighting devices, the latter being able, for example, to be arranged in different ways to generate a distinctive light signature creating a unique and recognizable visual identity of the vehicle, day and night.

[0009] Some of these illuminated grilles may be equipped with dynamic lighting devices that change color, flash or adjust according to various conditions, such as vehicle speed, turn signals, or other signals.

[0010] Also for stylistic reasons, the grilles of these electric vehicles tend to extend vertically almost to the upper limit of the front bumper skin of the vehicle, so as to be visually in continuity with the front hood of this vehicle.

[0011] In such a case, the band of the outer skin surmounting the upper edge of the cutout for the calender extends over a very small height, which does not allow, in particular for reasons of stability during demolding, to make it in one piece by molding with the main body of this outer skin.

[0012] This band, commonly referred to as the "plastron", must therefore be manufactured independently by molding, then mounted on the upper part of the main body so as to cover the top of the grille by being connected by its two lateral end portions to two respective docking zones provided at the upper internal ends of the upper lateral portions of this main body located on either side of the cutout.

[0013] Each lateral end portion of this band includes an upper wall whose external lateral edge is intended to be flush along a joint line with the internal edge of a corresponding upper return formed on the main body.

[0014] Contributing to the aesthetics of the front of the vehicle, the management of the gaps and flushness at the level of these joint lines proves to be particularly delicate, especially at the rear portions of the lateral end portions of the band. Description of the invention

[0015] The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

[0016] It proposes for this purpose an outer skin of front bumper of motor vehicle comprising a main body having in the upper central part a cut-out opening at its top and intended to accommodate the grille of said vehicle, said skin also comprising a closing band intended to cover the top of said grille by connecting by its two lateral end portions to two respective docking zones provided on said main body on either side of said cut-out, each lateral end portion of said band comprising an upper wall whose outer lateral edge is intended to be flush along a joint line with the inner edge of a corresponding upper return provided on said main body; characterized in that each lateral end portion of said band includes a finger forming with the rear portion of its upper wall a two-pronged fork defining between them a mortise intended to cooperate by interlocking, when the said band is put in place, with a respective tenon which comprises the corresponding abutment area of ​​said main body.

[0017] Such cooperation by embedding thus makes it possible to guarantee an optimal flushness and without vertical play between the rear portion of the upper wall of each lateral end portion of the band and a corresponding upper return of the main body along their joint line.

[0018] According to preferred characteristics of said outer skin of front bumper according to the invention: - the mortise of each said fork and the tenon of the corresponding landing area each present, in cross-section, a profile flaring from front to back at a predetermined angle; - said predetermined angle is between 2 and 5°; - each tenon consists of a lower parietal base surmounted in its front portion by a stress rib; - each docking zone of said main body includes a support step to ensure the sliding guidance of the finger of the corresponding lateral end portion of said strip during its placement, so that the mortise automatically fits into the tenon of the corresponding docking zone of said main body; - each lateral end portion of said band includes a stopping surface intended, at the end of the placement of this band, to cooperate in buttock with at least one element of the corresponding docking zone of said main body so as to limit the sinking of this band; - the stopping surface of each lateral end portion of said strip is constituted by a portion of the rear end edge of a side panel forming the external lateral limit of that end portion; and / or - the finger of each lateral end portion of said band takes root from the inner face of the rear portion of its cheek and extends substantially longitudinally backwards laterally from the latter.

[0019] The invention also relates, in a second aspect, to a front bumper of a motor vehicle comprising such an outer skin.

[0020] The invention finally aims, in a third aspect, at a motor vehicle comprising such a front bumper. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] The description of the invention will now be continued by a detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, on which: - [Fig.l] represents a three-quarter front perspective view of an outer skin of a front bumper of a motor vehicle according to the invention comprising a main body and a closing strip; - [Fig.2] is a three-quarter front perspective view of one of the docking areas of the lateral end portions of the band on the main body; - [Fig.3] represents a three-quarter rear perspective view of one of the lateral end portions of the band intended to cooperate with the docking area of ​​[Fig.2]; - [Fig.4] is a perspective cross-sectional view along a vertical longitudinal plane of the docking area of ​​[Fig.2], taken at the moment of the forking of a portion of the lateral end of the band; - [Fig. 5] represents a perspective cross-sectional view along a horizontal longitudinal plane of the docking area of ​​[Fig. 2], taken after the forking of this lateral end portion of the band; and - [Fig. 6] A three-quarter rear perspective view illustrating the approach phase of a lateral end portion of the strip onto the berthing area of ​​[Fig. 2]. Description of embodiments

[0022] Fig. 1 represents a three-quarter front view of a front bumper 1 of an electrically powered motor vehicle comprising an outer skin 100 and a grille 200, fixedly mounted in a reception window provided in the upper central part of this bumper skin 100.

[0023] In the following description, and by convention, an orthogonal XYZ coordinate system is defined with respect to the front bumper 1, comprising three axes perpendicular in pairs, namely: - an X-axis, defining a longitudinal, horizontal direction, - a Y-axis, defining a horizontal, transverse direction, which, together with the X-axis, defines a horizontal XY plane, and - a Z-axis, defining a vertical direction, perpendicular to the horizontal XY plane.

[0024] In the remainder of the description and with reference to the frame of reference defined above, the terms "Longitudinal" or "longitudinally" will refer to a direction parallel to the X axis, the terms "transverse" or "transversely" will refer to a direction parallel to the Y axis, and the terms "vertical" or "vertically" will refer to a direction parallel to the Z axis.

[0025] On the other hand, the terms "front" and "rear" will be used to specify the longitudinal positioning of certain elements relative to the orientation of the X axis. Similarly, the terms "upper" and "lower" will be used to specify the relative position of certain elements relative to the orientation of the Z axis.

[0026] The terms "external" and "internal" will be used to define the relative position of an element with reference to the median vertical longitudinal plane of the bumper 1. The element closest to this plane will thus be described as internal as opposed to the other element further from this same plane which will be described as external.

[0027] Finally, the term "substantially" will indicate that a slight deviation is permitted from a predetermined nominal position or arrangement, while remaining within the scope of the invention. For example, "substantially vertical" indicates that a deviation of approximately 15 to 20° from a strictly vertical orientation is permitted within the scope of the invention.

[0028] Not having to perform any particular cooling function, the grille 200 incorporates several functional and / or aesthetic lighting devices 210 generating a distinctive light signature creating a unique and recognizable visual identity of the vehicle, day and night.

[0029] As can be seen on this [Fig.1], this grille 200 extends vertically in height almost to the upper limit of the outer skin 100, so as to be visually in continuity with the front hood of this vehicle.

[0030] This outer skin 100 comprises a main body 110 advantageously produced from a single piece molding of a thermoplastic polymer such as Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA) or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene / Polycarbonate (ABS / PC), possibly reinforced with natural and / or synthetic fibers.

[0031] This main body 110 of the outer skin 100 has in its upper central part a cut 111 in the shape of a crenellation opening at its top and in which the grille 200 is housed.

[0032] The outer skin 100 also includes a closure band 120, advantageously made from a single piece of molding from a thermoplastic polymer advantageously identical to that constituting the main body 110.

[0033] Commonly referred to as the "plastron", this closing band 120 covers the top of the grille 200 by being connected by its two lateral end portions 121 to two respective docking zones Za (see [Fig.2]) provided at the upper internal ends of the lateral portions 112 of the main body 110 located on either side of the cutout 111.

[0034] These two lateral portions 112 of the main body 110 each further have an upper return 113 extending substantially horizontally rearward from and along their upper edge, except at their respective docking zone Za,

[0035] As can be seen in this [Fig.2], each of the berthing areas Za comprises a substantially horizontal support step 115 connected to the rest of the respective lateral portion 112 by means of a corresponding lateral edge 114 extending substantially vertically downwards from and along the inner end edge of the return 113. Each support step 115 opens at its front end onto a riser 116 extending substantially vertically downwards and also being connected to the corresponding lateral edge 114.

[0036] Each docking zone Za also has at its rear end a tenon 117 extending in a substantially transverse direction from the outer face of the corresponding lateral rim 114.

[0037] This rear end of each berthing area Za also includes a support pilaster 118 backed against the external face of this corresponding lateral edge 114 and extending vertically between the support step 115 and the tenon 117, so as to improve the mechanical resistance of this tenon 117.

[0038] With reference to [Fig.3], each of the two lateral end portions 121 of the band 120 comprises a front wall 122 extending substantially vertically over a limited height (typically on the order of a centimeter) and whose lower and external edges are intended to be flush with the front face of the main body 110 at the docking areas Za.

[0039] Each lateral end portion 121 of the band 120 also includes an upper wall 123 extending substantially horizontally backwards from the upper edge of this front wall 122 and whose outer lateral edge is intended to come into contact along a substantially longitudinal joint line L (see [Fig. 1]) with the inner edge of the upper return 113 of the corresponding lateral portion 112 of the main body 110.

[0040] Still with reference to [Fig.3], each lateral end portion 121 of the band 120 further includes a cheek 124 forming its external lateral limit and extending substantially vertically, this cheek 124 having a lower stepped edge intended to cooperate by correspondence of shape with the step 115 and the riser 116 of the corresponding landing area Za.

[0041] Each of the lateral end portions 121 of this band 120 further comprises a finger 125 originating from the inner face of the rear portion of its cheek 124 and extending substantially longitudinally backwards. laterally to the latter, this finger 125 is intended, as illustrated by [Fig.4], to slide on the support step 115 of the corresponding berthing area Za.

[0042] As can be seen in [Fig.4], each finger 125 forms, with the rear portion of the corresponding upper wall 123 of the band 120, a two-pronged fork defining between them a mortise 126 intended to cooperate by embedding, when this band 120 is put in place following a longitudinal sliding movement oriented from front to back, with the tenon 117 of a corresponding docking zone Za of the main body 110.

[0043] Such cooperation by embedding thus makes it possible to guarantee an optimal flushness and without vertical play between the rear portion of the upper wall 123 of each lateral end portion 121 of the band 120 and the upper return 113 of the corresponding lateral portion 112 of the main body 110 along the joint line L.

[0044] In order to ensure a tight fit with stressing of the two parts, the tenon 117 and the mortise 126 advantageously each have, in cross section, a profile flaring from front to back by an angle 0 preferably between 2 and 5°.

[0045] As illustrated by this [Fig.4], each tenon 117 consists of a lower parietal base 117A surmounted in its front portion by a stress rib 117B whose height can be easily adjusted by removing or adding material in the injection mold used to manufacture the main body 110 of the outer bumper skin 100, so as to finely adjust the height and / or the flare angle of these tenons 117.

[0046] Again with reference to [Fig.3], the upper portion of the rear end edge 124A of the cheek 124 of each lateral end portion 121 constitutes a stop surface intended, at the end of the placement of the band 120 and as illustrated by [Fig.5], to cooperate in butt with the proximal portion of the tenon 117 and with the pilaster 118 so as to limit the longitudinal sinking of this band 120.

[0047] Finally, and as illustrated by [Fig.6], the support step 115 of each docking zone Za ensures the sliding guidance of the finger 125 of the corresponding lateral end portion 121 of the band 120 during its placement, so that the mortise 126 automatically engages with the tenon 117 of the corresponding docking zone Za of the main body 110.

[0048] Many embodiments are conceivable and it is recalled in this regard that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented, but also encompasses all the embodiments within the reach of a person skilled in the art.

Claims

Demands

1. Outer skin (100) of front bumper (1) of motor vehicle comprising a main body (110) having in its upper central part a cutout (111) opening at its top and intended to accommodate the grille (200) of said vehicle, said skin (100) also comprising a closing strip (120) intended to cover from above said grille (200) by connecting by its two lateral end portions (121) to two respective docking zones (Za) provided on said main body (110) on either side of said cutout (111), each lateral end portion (121) of said strip (120) comprising an upper wall (123) the outer lateral edge of which is intended to be flush along a joint line (L) with the inner edge of a corresponding upper return (113) provided on said main body (110);characterized in that each lateral end portion (121) of said band (120) includes a finger (125) forming with the rear portion of its upper wall (123) a two-pronged fork defining between them a mortise (126) intended to cooperate by interlocking, during the installation of said band (120), with a respective tenon (117) which comprises the corresponding abutment zone (Za) of said main body (110).;

2. Outer skin (100) of front bumper (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the mortise (126) of each said fork and the tenon (117) of the corresponding docking zone (Za) each have, in cross section, a profile flaring from front to back at a predetermined angle (0).

3. Outer skin (100) of front bumper (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said predetermined angle (0) is between 2 and 5°.

4. Outer skin (100) of front bumper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each tenon (117) consists of a lower parietal base (117A) surmounted in its front portion by a stress rib (117B).

5. Outer skin (100) of front bumper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each docking zone (Za) of said main body (110) comprises a support step (115) enabling the sliding guidance of the finger (125) of the corresponding lateral end portion (121) of said band (120) during its placement, so that the mortise (126) automatically engages with the tenon (117) of the corresponding docking zone (Za) of said main body (110).

6. Outer skin (100) of front bumper (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each lateral end portion (121) of said strip (120) comprises a stop surface (124A) intended, at the end of the installation of this strip (120), to cooperate in butt with at least one element (117, 118) of the corresponding docking zone (Za) of said main body (110) so as to limit the sinking of this strip (120).

7. Outer skin (100) of front bumper (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the stopping surface of each lateral end portion (121) of said strip (120) is constituted by a portion (124A) of the rear end edge of a cheek (124) forming the external lateral limit of this lateral end portion (121).

8. Outer skin (100) of front bumper (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the finger (125) of each lateral end portion (121) of said strip (120) originates from the inner face of the rear portion of its cheek (124) and extends substantially longitudinally rearward, set back laterally from the latter.

9. Front bumper (1) of a motor vehicle comprising an outer skin (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Motor vehicle comprising a front bumper (1) according to claim 9.

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