Trunk arrangement for motor vehicle with an external dump bed

Abstract

The invention relates to a trunk arrangement (1) for a pickup-type motor vehicle (3), i.e. comprising an external bed (11) located behind a passenger compartment (21) of the motor vehicle (3). The trunk arrangement (1) comprises the external bed (11), a rear door (13) pivotally mounted from a side wall (15) of the external bed (11) and articulated by means of a trunk handle, a closing flap (12) configured to cover the external bed (11), the closing flap (12) being pivotally mounted relative to the external bed (11) by means of an articulation mechanism (16) controlled by the trunk handle. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Trunk arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising an external bin

[0001] The technical context of the present invention is that of trunk arrangements for motor vehicles of the "pickup" type, i.e. equipped with an external dump body located behind a passenger compartment. More particularly, the invention relates to a trunk arrangement.

[0002] In the state of the art, motor vehicles of the pick-up type are known, that is to say equipped with an external bucket forming a storage location offering a large available volume. In a known manner, the external bucket is located behind the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, thus making it easy to load it with bulky materials or objects. For safety reasons, both civil and road, such external buckets are, in a known manner, closed both by a rear swing door which allows access to the external bucket, but also by a closing flap which extends over the external bucket. The closing flap can take the form of a tarpaulin or be of the rigid plate type, integral with the external bucket. Of course, to access the contents of the external bucket, in particular in the case of particularly bulky objects, the closing flap is detachable.

[0003] Unfortunately, the operations of detaching or fixing the closing flap are not easy. Firstly, due to the dimensions of the external container, handling the closing flap by one person is not easy. In addition, the weight of the closing flap makes it difficult to handle, increasing the risks of injury or damage to the closing flap itself or to the motor vehicle.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to propose a new trunk arrangement in order to address at least in large part the above problems and to further lead to other advantages.

[0005] Another object of the invention is to facilitate the loading and unloading of the external bin.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a trunk arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising an external bin located behind a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, the trunk arrangement comprising:

[0007] - the outer bucket extending relative to a longitudinal axis;

[0008] - at least one rear door pivotally mounted from a side wall of the body exterior, the at least one rear door comprising a trunk handle configured to lock the at least one rear door in a closed configuration or to unlock said at least one rear door in an open configuration;

[0009] - a closing flap for the external bin;

[0010] - a hinge mechanism associated with the closing flap and configured to being able to establish the closing flap in a closed configuration in which said closing flap covers the outer bin and an open configuration in which said closing flap allows access to the outer bin.

[0011] According to the invention, the trunk handle is configured to control the articulation mechanism.

[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 trunk arrangement 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 outer bucket forms a location delimited by side walls relative to the transverse axis, and by the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle relative to the longitudinal axis and towards the front. Generally speaking, the outer bucket has a rectangular shape.

[0014] In the context of the present invention, the rear door delimits the external dumpster from the rear, also allowing its accessibility. For this purpose, the rear door is pivotally mounted, like a swing door. The rear door can be operated by the door handle which allows it to be locked in its closed configuration or, on the contrary, to be opened in its open configuration, by pivoting.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, the outer container is closed, relative to the vertical axis, by the closing flap which thus forms a hood upper protection. The closing flap takes the form of a plate whose dimensions and shape correspond to the opening of the outer bucket. The closing flap rests on the side walls of the outer bucket. Advantageously, in the context of the present invention, the closing flap is a movable flap, so that it can be configured in a first configuration in which it completely covers the outer bucket, said closing flap resting against the side walls, and in a second configuration in which it does not completely cover the outer bucket, so as to allow access to its contents. The articulation of the closing flap is allowed by the articulation mechanism. Thus, according to the invention, the articulation flap is linked to the outer bucket by means of a connection allowing mobility of said closing flap.During its movement, the closing flap is always connected to the trunk arrangement according to the invention.

[0016] According to the invention, and in a particularly advantageous manner, the movement of the closing flap is permitted by the trunk handle. In other words, it is the manipulation of the trunk handle which makes the closing flap articulable. This advantageous configuration thus makes it easier to access the contents of the external bin without having to remove the closing flap itself, thus limiting the risks of injury or damage to the closing flap or the motor vehicle.

[0017] The trunk arrangement 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:

[0018] - the trunk handle is configured to (i) allow opening and closing of the at least one rear door, (ii) the opening and closing of the closing flap of the external bin. Thus, the door handle makes it possible to make the closing flap articulable, that is to say manipulable or controllable. In the context of the invention, according to a first variant embodiment, the trunk handle can be configured to authorize the opening or closing of the closing flap, without controlling the opening mechanism. In other words, in this variant embodiment, the trunk handle forms a device for locking the closing flap in its closed configuration or for unlocking it in order to authorize its manipulation and opening. According to a second variant embodiment, the trunk handle is configured to control the opening and closing of the closing flap, via the articulation mechanism of said closing flap.In this embodiment, the trunk handle directly or indirectly controls the opening and closing movement of the closing flap; .

[0019] - in particular, in the second embodiment, the trunk arrangement comprises a linkage device connecting the trunk handle to the hinge mechanism of the closing flap. Thus, manipulation of the trunk handle leads to activation of the hinge mechanism, leading to movement of the closing flap. In the context of the present invention, the linkage device makes it possible to establish a connection between the trunk handle and the hinge mechanism of the closing flap. In other words, the linkage device makes it possible to achieve a mechanical and functional coupling between the trunk handle and the hinge mechanism. By way of non-limiting example, the movement of the closing flap is preferably of the type of a pivot movement around a pivot axis which extends along the transverse axis of the motor vehicle;

[0020] - cleverly, the trunk handle allows the flap to be opened closing by a translational movement of said trunk handle. In particular, a translational movement of the door handle in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis leads to the activation of the articulation mechanism. Preferably, when the rear door is opened so as to be made parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, then the rear door is located in the extension of a side wall of the outer trunk, and a rearward translational movement of the handle makes it possible to activate the articulation mechanism located in the axis, further forward;

[0021] - in particular, as mentioned previously, the opening of the closing flap is permitted when the at least one rear door is configured in its open configuration;

[0022] - the closing flap comprises (i) a cover portion configured to extend over the outer bed when the closing flap is configured in its closed configuration, and (ii) a support extending projecting from a front edge of the cover portion, the support forming a non-zero angle with the cover portion, so as to be able to be leaned against a rear wall of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle when the closing flap is configured in its closed configuration. In the context of the present invention, the cover portion of the closing flap is configured to extend over the outer bed. The dimensions and shape of the cover portion are similar to those of the outer bed. The cover portion is thus configured to rest on the side walls delimiting the outer bed. In the context of the present invention, the support extends in front of the cover portion and forms a non-zero angle with said cover portion.In particular, the support is configured to bear against a rear wall of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. More particularly, the trunk arrangement according to the invention comprises the rear wall of the motor vehicle, the support. of the closing flap extending along the rear wall of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle;

[0023] - the articulation mechanism is associated with both the support of the closing flap and to the rear wall of the trunk arrangement, so that the articulation mechanism is configured to allow the articulation of the closing flap - and in particular of its support - relative to the rear wall of the passenger compartment. In particular, the articulation mechanism of the closing flap comprises a hinge collaborating with the support of the closing flap and the rear wall of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The hinge thus determines a pivot axis of the closing flap, parallel to the transverse axis. The frontal position of the hinge thus makes it possible to lift the rear part of the closing flap and to allow simplified access to the external bin and its contents;

[0024] - the linkage device is linked to the cover part of the closing flap, so as to allow the closing flap to pivot around the hinge and in order to pivot the closing flap above the external bin. In particular, the linkage device is for example linked to a front edge of the cover part of the closing flap, so as to be able to engage in translation and towards the rear said front edge when the trunk handle is manipulated to control the articulation mechanism in order to open the closing flap;

[0025] - the linkage device is configured to allow the opening of the shutter of closing to a first position forming a first angular configuration of the closing flap around its hinge. The first angular configuration makes it possible to define an intermediate open position of the closing flap in which the closing flap is held above the external bucket. For this purpose, the linkage device comprises, for example, a member for retaining the closing flap in its first angular configuration;

[0026] - the trunk arrangement includes a device for locking the flap of closing, the locking device being configured to (i) form a rotational stop of the closing flap at its first angular configuration, when the locking device is engaged, and (ii) allow rotation of the closing flap beyond its first angular configuration when the locking device is disengaged. The locking device thus makes it possible to control the opening of the closing flap beyond the first angular configuration. Thus, once unlocked, the closing flap can open completely with respect to the external bin and allow full access to it. When the locking device is disengaged, the hinge of the closing flap is configured to allow rotation of the closing flap so that it rests on a roof of the passenger compartment or so that it extends above said roof;

[0027] - the hinge of the closing flap is configured to allow a 180° rotation said closing flap around an axis of rotation of the hinge;

[0028] - according to a first variant embodiment, the locking device is located near the front edge of the closing flap. According to a second embodiment, the locking device is located in the outer body of the motor vehicle. According to a third embodiment, complementary or alternative to the first embodiment, the locking device is located on an outer face of a side wall of the outer body of the motor vehicle.

[0029] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of controlling a trunk arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention or according to any of its improvements, the control method comprising the following steps:

[0030] - a step of opening the at least one rear door of the trunk arrangement, by manipulating the trunk handle;

[0031] - a step of activating the closing shutter via the handle of trunk, the closing flap pivoting around a hinge associated with a front edge of the closing flap;

[0032] - a step of retaining the closing flap in a first configuration angular.

[0033] The pivoting of the closing flap following the activation step is carried out manually and / or assisted by a linkage device and / or controlled by an actuator controlling the linkage device.

[0034] The control method advantageously comprises:

[0035] - a subsequent step of unlocking the hinge of the closing flap by a locking device;

[0036] - a step of pivoting the closing flap beyond the first configuration angular.

[0037] Various embodiments of the invention are provided, integrating according to all of their possible combinations the different optional characteristics set out here.

[0038] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a motor vehicle comprising a passenger compartment and, at the rear of said passenger compartment, a trunk arrangement in accordance with the first aspect of the invention or according to any of its improvements.

[0039] Advantageously, the trunk arrangement is implemented by a control method according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0040] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows on the one hand, and from several exemplary embodiments given as indicative and not limiting with reference to the schematic drawings annexed on the other hand, on which:

[0041] [Fig.l] illustrates a synoptic view of the control method according to the third aspect of the invention;

[0042] [Fig.2] illustrates a schematic view of a motor vehicle according to the invention equipped with the trunk arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention;

[0043] [Fig.3] illustrates the motor vehicle illustrated in [Fig.2] in a first stage of the control method according to the invention;

[0044] [Fig.4] illustrates the motor vehicle illustrated in [Fig.2] in a second stage of the control method according to the invention;

[0045] [Fig.5] illustrates the motor vehicle illustrated in [Fig.2] in a third stage of the control method according to the invention.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0049] In the FIGURES described below, a vertical axis Z is defined relative to the motor vehicle 2 on which the trunk arrangement 1 is mounted. More particularly, the transverse axis Y is understood as a direction taken between a lateral side of the motor vehicle 2 and an opposite lateral side of said motor vehicle 2. In other words, the transverse axis Y is understood in a direction which extends from a passenger side of the motor vehicle 2 to a driver's side of said motor vehicle 2, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, interior and exterior refer to such a transverse axis Y.

[0050] Furthermore, the longitudinal axis X extends as taken along a direction that extends from front to rear or from rear to front of the motor vehicle 3. The longitudinal axis X is perpendicular to the transverse axis Y. The adjectives frontal, front and rear refer to this longitudinal axis X.

[0051] Finally, the vertical axis Z is understood as being taken along an axis which extends from the wheels of the motor vehicle 2 and towards the roof of said motor vehicle 3, or conversely, the vertical axis Z being simultaneously perpendicular to the transverse axis Y and to the longitudinal axis X. The adjectives above and below, or lower and higher refer to this vertical axis Z.

[0052] [Fig. 1] illustrates in a synoptic manner the method 3 for controlling a trunk arrangement 1 according to the invention. The optional steps of the control method 3 are represented by dotted lines. In general, the control method 3 comprises the following steps:

[0053] - an opening step 31 of a rear door 13 of the trunk arrangement 1, by manipulation of a trunk handle 131 associated with the rear door 13;

[0054] - a step of activating 32 a closing flap 12 covering a skip exterior 11 of the motor vehicle 3, the closing flap 12 being activated by means of the trunk handle 131 so as to authorize or cause the rotation of the closing flap 12 around a hinge forming an articulation mechanism 16 of said closing flap 12. The hinge of the articulation mechanism 16 is associated with a front edge of the closing flap 12 and with a rear wall 14 of a passenger compartment 21 of the motor vehicle 2;

[0055] - a step 33 of retaining the closing flap 12 in a first configuration angular Al allowing access to the external bin 11 and its loading, via the rear door 13 of the trunk arrangement 1.

[0056] Furthermore, if a user of the motor vehicle 32 wishes to obtain better access to the external bin 11, for example to load very bulky objects therein, such as a refrigerator, a dishwasher or a washing machine for example, then the control method 3 advantageously comprises:

[0057] - a step 34 of unlocking the hinge forming the articulation mechanism 16 of the closing flap 12, the unlocking step 34 being carried out by a locking device 17 configured to erase the rotational stop of the closing flap 12 at its first angular configuration A1, so as to make possible its subsequent pivoting beyond the first angular configuration A1;

[0058] - a pivoting step 35 of the closing flap 12 beyond the first angular configuration AL This pivoting step 35 can be:

[0059] - manual, the locking device 17 simply authorizing rotation beyond of the first angular configuration Al; or

[0060] - piloted, the locking device 17 piloting the articulation mechanism 16 of the closing shutter 12 so as to generate a motor torque leading to the rotational movement of the closing shutter 12 around its hinge; or

[0061] - guided, the locking device 17 simply authorizing rotation beyond of the first angular configuration Al and the articulation mechanism 16 of the closing flap 12 comprising a passive torque generator, such as a jack or a return spring, generating either a driving torque or a resistive torque making it possible to facilitate the opening of the closing flap 12 beyond the first angular configuration A1 or respectively to retain the closing flap 12 in the direction of said first angular configuration A1.

[0062] With reference to FIGURES 2 to 5, the control method 3 is particularly intended for the manipulation of a trunk arrangement 1 as visible in FIGURES 2 to 5 in different configurations.

[0063] [Fig.2] illustrates a motor vehicle 2 of the “pickup” type, that is to say comprising an external bucket 11 to an automobile passenger compartment 21 located at the front, the external bucket 11 being located at the rear of the passenger compartment 21, and in particular behind the rear wall 14 of said passenger compartment 21.

[0064] The exterior door is delimited on the lateral sides by side walls 15 and, at the rear, by one or two rear doors 13 pivotally mounted so as to form hinged doors. The rear doors 13 are manipulated by means of a trunk handle 131 which allows them to be opened or closed.

[0065] In a particularly advantageous manner, the invention further provides that the door handle also controls the closing flap 12, and at least its partial lifting in order to make the rear area of ​​the external bucket 11 accessible.

[0066] As visible in FIGURES 2 to 5, the closing flap 12 here comprises a covering portion 121 which completely covers the external bucket 11 when the closing flap 12 is leaning against the side walls 15. At a front portion, the closing flap 12 comprises a support 122 which projects from the covering portion 121. More particularly, the support 122 extends perpendicular to the covering portion 121, so as to be able to be leaned against the rear wall 14 of the passenger compartment 21 of the motor vehicle 3. Thus, the support 122 of the closing flap 12 is fixed to the rear wall 14 by means of an articulation mechanism 16 which makes it possible to articulate the closing flap 12 to access the external bucket 11 or to close it.

[0067] Advantageously, the articulation mechanism 16 comprises a hinge which defines an axis of rotation for the closing flap 12, the axis of rotation extending parallel to the transverse axis Y and directly behind the rear wall 14 of the passenger compartment 21.

[0068] Also, when the trunk handle 131 is manipulated to open the rear door 13 of the external bin 11, as visible in [Fig. 3], it is then possible to activate the trunk handle 131 in order to activate the articulation mechanism 16 or to make the latter activatable. For this purpose, the activation of the trunk handle 131 is for example obtained by a translational movement towards the rear, as indicated by an arrow in [Fig. 4].

[0069] The activation of the articulation mechanism 16 consists of the mechanical coupling between the trunk handle 131 and the articulation mechanism 16, so that the movement of the door handle induces a movement of the articulation mechanism 16 which leads to the movement of the closing flap 12. This movement can remain manual - the effort necessary to move the closing flap 12 being carried out by the user of the trunk arrangement 1, or it can be piloted and controlled by an electric or pneumatic actuator.

[0070] As visible in [Fig.4], the movement of the closing flap 12 is preferably of the type of rotation around the axis of rotation defined by the hinge forming the articulation mechanism 16, at the front of the closing flap 12, at the level of its support 122 and the rear wall 14 of the passenger compartment 21.

[0071] During this activation step 32 of the closing flap 12, the latter pivots to a first angular configuration A1 corresponding to a partial opening of said closing flap 12 above the external bucket 11. Once this first angular configuration A1 - visible in [Fig. 4] has been reached, the closing flap 12 is held in position - this is the retention step 33 of the control method 3 - in order to allow the user easy access to the interior of the external bucket 11.

[0072] In the case where the user wishes to store larger or more voluminous objects in the outer bin 11, it is necessary to be able to pivot the closing flap 12 further in order to completely open the outer bin 11. This advantageous configuration is shown schematically in [Fig. 5] in which the closing flap 12 is completely tilted forward and above the roof 22 of the motor vehicle 3. This second angular configuration A2 is particularly advantageous and results in a complete rotation around the axis of rotation of the hinge forming the articulation mechanism 16, at 180° in the example illustrated here. Thus, a hinge with a large angular clearance is necessary to allow such a rotation of the closing flap 12 and to completely free up the space above the outer bin 11.

[0073] In summary, the invention relates to a trunk arrangement 1 for a pickup-type motor vehicle 2, i.e. comprising an external bucket 11 located behind a passenger compartment 21 of the motor vehicle 3. The trunk arrangement 1 comprises the external bucket 11, a rear door 13 pivotally mounted from a side wall 15 of the external bucket 11 and articulated by means of a trunk handle 131, a closing flap 12 configured to cover the external bucket 11, the closing flap 12 being pivotally mounted relative to the external bucket 11 by means of an articulation mechanism 16 controlled by the trunk handle 131.

[0074] 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. Trunk arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle (3) comprising an external bucket (11) located behind a passenger compartment (21) of the motor vehicle (3), the trunk arrangement (1) comprising: - the external bucket (11) extending relative to a longitudinal axis (X); - at least one rear door (13) pivotally mounted from a side wall (15) of the external bucket (11), the at least one rear door (13) comprising a trunk handle (131) configured to lock the at least one rear door (13) in a closed configuration or to unlock said at least one rear door (13) in an open configuration; - a closing flap (12) of the external bucket (11);- an articulation mechanism (16) associated with the closing flap (12) and configured to be able to establish the closing flap (12) in a closed configuration in which said closing flap (12) covers the external bin (11) and an open configuration in which said closing flap (12) allows access to the external bin (11); characterized in that the trunk handle (131) is configured to control the articulation mechanism (16).;

2. Trunk arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the trunk handle (131) is configured to: - allow the opening and closing of the at least one rear door (13); - the opening and closing of the closing flap (12) of the external bin (11).

3. Trunk arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the trunk handle (131) allows the closing flap (12) to be opened by a translational movement of said trunk handle (131).

4. A trunk arrangement (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein opening of the closing flap (12) is permitted when the at least one rear door (13) is configured in its open configuration.

5. A trunk arrangement (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure flap (12) comprises: - a cover portion (121) configured to extend over the outer bin (11) when the closing flap (12) is configured in its closed configuration; and - a support (122) extending projecting from a front edge of the cover portion (121), the support (122) forming a non-zero angle with the cover portion (121), so as to be able to be leaned against a rear wall (14) of the passenger compartment (21) of the motor vehicle (3) when the closing flap (12) is configured in its closed configuration.

6. Trunk arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the articulation mechanism (16) of the closing flap (12) comprises a hinge collaborating with the support (122) and the rear wall (14) of the passenger compartment (21) of the motor vehicle (3).

7. A trunk arrangement (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the trunk arrangement (1) comprises a locking device (17) for the closure flap (12), the locking device (17) being configured to - form a rotational stop of the closure flap (12) at its first angular configuration (A1), when the locking device (17) is engaged; and - allow rotation of the closure flap (12) beyond its first angular configuration (A1) when the locking device (17) is disengaged.

8. Trunk arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim taken in combination with claim 6, wherein, when the locking device (17) is disengaged, the hinge of the closing flap (12) is configured to allow rotation of the closing flap (12) so that it rests on a roof panel (22) of the passenger compartment (21) or so that it extends above said roof panel (22).

9. Method (3) for controlling a trunk arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the method (3) for controlling comprising the following steps: - a step of opening (31) the at least one rear door (13) of the trunk arrangement (1), by manipulating the trunk handle (131); - a step of activating (32) the closing flap (12) via the trunk handle (131), the closing flap

10. (12) pivoting about a hinge associated with a front edge of the closing flap (12); - a step (33) of retaining the closing flap (12) in a first angular configuration (Al). Motor vehicle (2) comprising a passenger compartment (21) and, at the rear of said passenger compartment (21), a trunk arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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