Body wing of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a body wing (1) of a motor vehicle, the body wing (1) providing a wheel arch for the motor vehicle delimited by an arched edge (11), the arched edge (11) comprising, at its free end located laterally on the outside, a fold (12) oriented towards the wheel arch and on which at least one notch is arranged, the notch forming a through opening of the arched edge (11) in order to receive a hooking tab of a mudguard collaborating with the body wing (1), the notch forming an external lateral retaining member of the mudguard on said body wing (1). Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Body wing of a motor vehicle

[0001] The technical context of the present invention is that of motor vehicles and bodywork components located at the wheel arch, and more specifically the assembly constraints associated with these components. More particularly, the invention relates to a bodywork wing and an arrangement comprising such a bodywork wing and a mudguard mounted on the bodywork wing.

[0002] In a known manner, a motor vehicle comprises chassis elements which constitute a framework onto which various components of the motor vehicle are attached, including bodywork elements. Such bodywork elements form a covering for the motor vehicle, giving it its aerodynamics and defining its exterior style which makes it recognizable among other motor vehicles. Among the bodywork elements, the focus here is more particularly on the side wings of the motor vehicle, and more specifically on the wheel arches found at the level of said side wings.

[0003] In the context of the present invention, the side wing conventionally covers a right or left lateral longitudinal end zone of the motor vehicle, being fixed to one of the chassis elements of the motor vehicle at a plurality of attachment points. The side wing comprises an arcuate edge configured to dock against a body edge in order to delimit the wheel arch on the outer lateral side of the motor vehicle. The side wing is thus fixed to the body edge by means of its docking edge and comprises a clearance delimited at least in part by its arcuate edge to provide access to the volume of the wheel arch and to the mudguard from the outer lateral side of the motor vehicle.

[0004] In the context of the present invention, the mudguard is a semi-rigid component of the motor vehicle, arranged in a shell generally shaped like a dome. The mudguard is arranged inside a wheel arch, to prevent dirt and / or particles likely to be projected by the wheel when the motor vehicle is moving. The mudguard typically comprises a lateral outlet towards the outside of the motor vehicle, to provide access to the wheel from the outer lateral side of the motor vehicle. In a known manner, the mudguard is fixed to the body at a plurality of attachment points to hold it in position inside the wheel arch.

[0005] In the state of the art, lateral arrangements are known comprising mudguards mounted on such side wings by docking along the vertical axis, that is to say from below the wheel arch. The mudguard is thus approached and, once docked against the side wing, fixed securely to it, for example by screwing. Thus, the disadvantage of such lateral arrangements lies in the fact that, during its assembly, the mudguard must be held in position by the operator, in the docking position, to permanently fix it to the side wing.

[0006] This configuration is not easy and makes assembly operations delicate and, in fact, longer to implement by operators, ultimately leading to lower productivity and possible assembly inaccuracies.

[0007] Furthermore, such lateral arrangements also show a lack of rigidity at the outer lateral edge of the mudguard which is not rigid enough in itself and not sufficiently held to the bodywork wing, leading to vibrations and premature wear during the driving phases of the motor vehicle.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to propose a new body wing in order to respond at least to a large extent to the preceding problems and to further lead to other advantages.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to facilitate the mounting of a mudguard on such a body wing.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to reduce manufacturing costs and to ensure better retention of the mudguard on the bodywork wing.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a body wing of a motor vehicle, the body wing providing a wheel arch for the motor vehicle delimited by an arched edge of the body wing, the arched edge comprising, at its free end, a fold on which at least one notch is arranged, the notch being intended to accommodate a hooking tab of a mudguard intended to collaborate with the body wing.

[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 body wing 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 bodywork wing comprises a sheet metal part shaped according to a geometry of the motor vehicle. The bodywork wing is located behind a front bumper of the motor vehicle. The bodywork wing extends from front to rear of the motor vehicle and mainly from top to bottom. The bodywork wing possibly has a curved shape and delimits the wheel arch, shape and arcuate edge located on the outer lateral side of the wing,

[0014] In the context of the present invention, the arcuate edge of the body wing is located on the outer lateral side of the body wing. The arcuate edge forms an arc of a circle oriented downwards, relative to the vertical axis, so as to allow movement of the wheel of the motor vehicle.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, the fold of the arched edge takes the form of a fold of the body wing, at the level of the arched edge, and towards the inside of the body wing, relative to the transverse axis. In other words, the fold comprises a folding of the arched edge in the direction of the wheel arch, so as to allow collaboration with the mudguard when the latter is inserted into the wheel arch.

[0016] Thus, the fold of the bodywork wing according to the first aspect of the invention allows temporary fixing of the mudguard during its assembly, facilitating its assembly by providing a means of retention along the vertical axis. In addition, once the mudguard is mounted, the collaboration of the fold with a hooking tab makes it possible to reinforce the hold of the mudguard and to prevent it from vibrating at its outer edge. In other words, the fold of the bodywork wing improves the hold of the mudguard both during its assembly, but also once the latter is fixed securely to the bodywork wing, during the driving phases of the motor vehicle.

[0017] The body wing 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 wheel arch has a dome shape and delimits a lateral outlet, the passage wheel being associated with a mudguard of the motor vehicle. The fold of the body wing is located on the side of the lateral outlet of the wheel arch;

[0019] - the fold forms a flap of the free end of the body wing, towards the passage of wheel. In other words, the fold forms a flap oriented towards the transverse axis of the motor vehicle and towards the inside of the body wing and the wheel arch;

[0020] - the fold extends at least at a front part and / or a rear part of the arched edge of the body wing. According to a first embodiment, the fold extends continuously between the front part and the rear part of the car wing rosserie. According to a second embodiment, the fold extends discontinuously between the front part and the rear part of the body wing. In other words, the fold comprises a front fold located at the front part of the body wing and a rear fold located at the rear part of the body wing, the rear fold being distant from the front fold;

[0021] - the fold forms a “U” shaped groove oriented towards the wheel arch. This advantageous configuration makes it easier to accommodate the mudguard and / or the hooking tabs of said mudguard;

[0022] - the fold comprises a plurality of notches distributed between the front part and / or the part rear of the arched edge. Each at least one notch takes the form of an elongated opening which extends along the fold. The opening forming the notch is a through opening forming a hole in the thickness of the body wing taken at the level of the fold of the arched edge;

[0023] - each notch extends along the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle;

[0024] - the fold has, at each lower end, a beveled edge in order to allow gravity flow of water present in the fold. The beveled edge forms a local thinning of material so as to reduce the lateral dimension of the fold.

[0025] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a lateral arrangement for a motor vehicle, the lateral arrangement comprising:

[0026] - a body wing according to the first aspect of the invention or according to one of any of its improvements;

[0027] - a mudguard mounted in the wheel arch delimited by the body wing, the mudguard comprising, at an outer curved edge, a cap configured to cooperate with the fold of the bodywork fender, such that the cap is engaged in the fold in order to hold the mudguard in position in the wheel arch, relative to the bodywork fender.

[0028] The fender cap includes at least one hooking tab extending projecting from the cap, each at least one hooking tab being engaged in one of the at least one notch in the fold of the body fender. Each hooking tab extends toward the arcuate edge of the associated body fender.

[0029] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a motor vehicle comprising at least one lateral arrangement in accordance with the second aspect of the invention.

[0030] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of mounting a lateral arrangement according to the second aspect of the invention, the mounting method comprising the following steps:

[0031] - an approach step following the vertical axis of the mudguard in the wheel arch of the body wing;

[0032] - a step of elastic deformation of the fold of the body wing in order to accommodate the mudguard cap;

[0033] - a step of engaging the at least one hooking tab in the notch located opposite.

[0034] Various embodiments of the invention are provided, integrating according to all of their possible combinations the different optional characteristics set out here.

[0035] 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:

[0036] [Fig. 1] illustrates a side view of a lateral arrangement according to the second aspect of the invention and incorporating a body wing according to the invention;

[0037] [Fig.2] illustrates a three-dimensional detailed view of an exemplary embodiment of a body wing according to the first aspect of the invention;

[0038] [Fig.3] illustrates a front view of the body wing illustrated in [Fig.2];

[0039] [Fig.4] illustrates a truncated detail view of the lateral arrangement illustrated in the [Fig.l];

[0040] [Fig.5] illustrates a side view of the lateral arrangement illustrated in [Fig.4];

[0041] [Fig.6] illustrates a synoptic view of the assembly method according to the fourth aspect of the invention.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0045] In the FIGURES described below, a longitudinal axis X, a lateral axis and a vertical axis Z are defined relative to the motor vehicle on which the body wing 1 is intended to be mounted.

[0046] More particularly, the transverse axis Y is understood as a direction taken between a lateral side of the motor vehicle and a lateral side opposite said vehicle to the car. In other words, the transverse Y axis is understood to be a direction that extends from a passenger side of the motor vehicle to a driver's side of said motor vehicle, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, interior and exterior refer to such a transverse Y axis.

[0047] Furthermore, the longitudinal axis X extends as taken along a direction that extends from front to rear or from back to front of the motor vehicle. The longitudinal axis X is perpendicular to the transverse axis Y. The adjectives frontal, front and rear refer to this longitudinal axis X.

[0048] Finally, the vertical axis Z is understood as being 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 Z being simultaneously perpendicular to the transverse axis Y and to the longitudinal axis X. The adjectives above and below, or lower and upper refer to this vertical axis Z.

[0049] With reference to FIGURES 1 to 5, the invention relates to a bodywork wing 1 of a motor vehicle, the bodywork wing 1 providing a wheel arch 10 for the motor vehicle and in which a mudguard 21 is intended to be mounted. The wheel arch 10 has a dome shape and delimits a lateral outlet for the wheel and the mudguard 21. The wheel arch 10 is delimited by an arcuate edge 11 of the bodywork wing 1. In a particularly advantageous manner, the arcuate edge 11 comprises, at a free end, a fold 12 on which at least one notch 121 is arranged, the notch 121 being intended to receive a hooking tab 211 of a mudguard 21 intended to collaborate with the bodywork wing 1.

[0050] The free end is the part of the body wing 1 located laterally to the outside, relative to the transverse axis Y. The fold 12 forms a fold of the arcuate edge 11, in the direction of the wheel arch 10. The fold 12 results from the shaping of the arcuate edge 11 of the body wing 1 in order to form a concavity oriented in the direction of the wheel arch 10, as visible in FIGURES 4 and 5.

[0051] In order to allow the engagement of a hooking tab 211 formed on the mudguard 21 collaborating with the bodywork wing 1, the fold 12 comprises at least one notch 121 forming a through opening arranged in the fold 12. The notch 121 is located on the inner part of the fold 12, that is to say that which is located on the side of the wheel arch 10, relative to the transverse axis Y. In other words, each notch 121 is located laterally inside the arcuate edge 11 of the bodywork wing 1. Each notch 121 thus forms a means for retaining the mudguard 21, insofar as the engagement of the hooking tab 211 makes it possible to retain said mudguard 21 on the bodywork wing 1 and to prevent it from falling back. This configuration is particularly advantageous because it allows both:

[0052] - to propose a means of temporarily retaining the mudguard 21 during mounting on the wheel arch 10 of the body wing 1, allowing the operator to put the fixing screws in place more precisely without having to support the mudguard 21. Conversely, when it is docked from below, the mudguard 21 is then engaged on the inner face of the fold 12 so as to be held in position;

[0053] - to propose a force recovery on the external lateral part of the mudguard 21, once it is mounted on the body wing 1. Indeed, the presence of the fold 12 arranged on the body wing 1 makes it possible to retain the mudguard 21 at its outer lateral part, that is to say at a lateral distance from the already known assembly means of the mudguard 21 with the body wing 1, at the inner part of the mudguard 21.

[0054] The shape and position of the fold 12 are such that they allow elastic deformation of the arched edge 11 during assembly of the mudguard 21. For this purpose, the body wing 1 is preferably formed from a molded plastic material or from a sheet of metal shaped by stamping.

[0055] The fold 12 extends along the arcuate edge 11 along the longitudinal axis X of the body wing 1. Optionally, the fold 12 extends continuously between a front portion 112 and a rear portion 111 of the arcuate edge 11. Alternatively, the fold 12 may be limited to several distinct zones distant from each other.

[0056] In a transverse plane, the fold 12 takes the form of a groove oriented towards the inside of the wheel arch 10. In other words, the fold 12 takes the form of a groove open towards the inside of the wheel arch 10. As visible in the sectional view illustrated in [Fig. 5], the fold 12 has a concave shape, for example in a “U” or “V” shape so as to form a retaining member for a free end of the mudguard 21 forming a cap or a hooking tab 211. Thus, the cap or the hooking tab 211 of the mudguard 21 is configured to engage in the groove formed by the fold 12.

[0057] At its front part 112 and / or its rear part 111, the fold 12 comprises, at each lower end, a beveled edge 13 in order to allow a gravitational flow of water present in the fold 12. The beveled edge 13 forms a local thinning of material so as to reduce the lateral dimension of the fold 12. The beveled edge 13 is located at its lower end, so as to form a low point for evacuation of water which would infiltrate into the fold 12 of the arcuate edge 11.

[0058] Consequently, the invention also relates to a lateral arrangement 2 for a motor vehicle, the lateral arrangement 2 comprising:

[0059] - a body wing 1 according to the first aspect of the invention as visible for example in FIGURES 2 and 3;

[0060] - a mudguard 21 mounted in the wheel arch 10 delimited by the car wing mudguard 1, the mudguard 21 comprising, at an outer curved edge, a cap configured to cooperate with the fold 12 of the body wing 1, such that the cap is engaged in the fold 12 in order to hold the mudguard 21 in position in the wheel arch 10, relative to the body wing 1.

[0061] The mudguard cap 21 extends laterally outwardly and towards the bodywork wing 1, and more particularly towards the fold 12 of the arcuate edge 11 of the bodywork wing 1. comprises at least one hooking tab 211 which extends projecting from the cap, each at least one hooking tab 211 being engaged in one of the at least one notch 121 of the fold 12 of the bodywork wing 1. Each hooking tab 211 extends towards the arcuate edge 11 of the associated bodywork wing 1.

[0062] The dimensions and shape of each notch 121 correspond with those of the associated hooking tab 211, such that the hooking tab 211 is configured to engage in the notch 121 located opposite, thus forming a means for retaining the mudguard 21 at its outer edge. Optionally, the notch 121 and the hooking tab 211 comprise snap-fastening members in order to retain the hooking tab 211 in the notch 121.

[0063] In connection with [Fig. 6], the invention finally addresses a method 3 for mounting a lateral arrangement 2 conforming to the one described previously, the method of mounting 3 comprises a step 31 of approaching the mudguard 21 along the vertical axis Z in the wheel arch 10 of the bodywork wing 1. In particular, the mudguard 21 is approached from below and upwards, in the wheel arch 10, so as to approach the bodywork wing 1.

[0064] When the mudguard 21 is engaged in the wheel arch 10, the assembly method 3 comprises a step of elastic deformation 32 of the fold 12 of the bodywork wing 1 in order to house the cap of the mudguard 21. Indeed, during the approach step 31, the docking tab(s) of the mudguard 21 are placed in abutment against the inner face of the bodywork wing 1, at its arcuate edge 11. In other words, a free end of the hooking tab 211 is engaged in the groove formed by the fold 12.

[0065] Finally, the mounting method 3 comprises a step 33 of engaging the at least one hooking tab 211 in the notch 121 located opposite. This step thus makes it possible to maintain the mudguard 21 on the bodywork wing 1, at an external lateral part of said mudguard 21. As mentioned previously, this maintenance then makes it possible to more easily fix the mudguard 21 on the chassis of the motor vehicle or on a laterally internal part of the bodywork wing 1. In addition, such maintenance also makes it possible to guarantee better stability of the mudguard 21 mounted on the bodywork wing 1 during driving phases of the motor vehicle.

[0066] In summary, the invention relates to a body wing 1 of a motor vehicle, the bodywork wing 1 providing a wheel arch 10 for the motor vehicle delimited by an arcuate edge 11, the arcuate edge 11 comprising, at its free end located laterally on the outside, a fold 12 oriented towards the wheel arch 10 and on which at least one notch 121 is arranged, the notch 121 forming a through opening of the arcuate edge 11 in order to receive a hooking tab 211 of a mudguard 21 collaborating with the bodywork wing 1, the notch 121 forming an external lateral retaining member of the mudguard 21 on said bodywork wing 1.

[0067] 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. Body wing (1) of a motor vehicle, the body wing (1) providing a wheel arch (10) for the motor vehicle delimited by an arcuate edge (11) of the body wing (1), characterized in that the arcuate edge (11) comprises, at its free end, a fold (12) on which at least one notch (121) is arranged, the notch (121) being intended to accommodate a hooking tab (211) of a mudguard (21) intended to collaborate with the body wing (1).

2. Body wing (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the fold (12) extends at least at a front portion (112) and / or a rear portion (111) of the arcuate edge (11) of the body wing (1).

3. Body wing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the fold (12) forms a U-shaped groove oriented towards the wheel arch (10).

4. Body wing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fold (12) comprises a plurality of notches distributed between the front portion (112) and / or the rear portion (111) of the arcuate edge (11).

5. Body wing (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein each at least one notch (121) takes the form of an elongated opening which extends along the fold (12).

6. Body wing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the fold (12) comprises, at each lower end, a beveled edge (13) in order to allow gravity flow of water present in the fold (12).

7. Lateral arrangement (2) for a motor vehicle, the lateral arrangement (2) comprising: - a body wing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims; - a mudguard (21) mounted in the wheel arch (10) delimited by the body wing (1), the mudguard (21) comprising, at an outer curved edge, a cap configured to collaborate with the fold (12) of the body wing (1), so that the cap is engaged in the fold (12) in order to hold the mudguard (21) in position in the wheel arch (10), relative to the body wing (1).

8. A side arrangement (2) according to any preceding claim, wherein the mudguard cap (21) comprises at least at least one hooking tab (211) which extends projecting from the cap, each at least one hooking tab (211) being engaged in one of the at least one notch (121) of the fold (12) of the body wing (1).

9. Motor vehicle comprising at least one lateral arrangement (2) according to any one of claims 7 or 8.

10. Method of mounting (3) a lateral arrangement (2) according to claim 8, the mounting method (3) comprising the following steps: - a step of approach (31) along the vertical axis (Z) of the mudguard (21) in the wheel arch (10) of the bodywork wing (1); - a step of elastic deformation (32) of the fold (12) of the bodywork wing (1) in order to house the cap of the mudguard (21); - a step of engagement (33) of the at least one hooking tab (211) in the notch (121) located opposite.

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