Bistable device for temporarily retaining a bodywork opening

Abstract

The invention proposes a device for temporarily retaining a second element (200) relative to a first element (100) which comprises a body (12) for fixing the device (10) which carries a rigid and automatically armed bistable stop pad (30), which is pivotally mounted between an active armed angular position, in which the bistable stop pad (30) is able to cooperate with the first element (100) to retain it relative to the body (12) and a non-active retracted position in which the first element (100) is free. Abstract figure: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Bistable device for temporarily retaining a bodywork opening Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a device for temporarily retaining, in particular in the closed position, an opening bodywork element relative to a support element such as a frame.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a device for temporarily closing a door or a movable element, in particular of a motor vehicle, for example a tailgate or a hood, relative to a fixed structural element such as the body or the bodywork of the vehicle. Technical background of the invention

[0003] As is known, in the automotive field, the four main stages of manufacturing a vehicle consist of stamping, assembly of the sheet metal, application of paint and final assembly.

[0004] During the application of the paint, tools, intended to hold the openings in position during painting, are installed on the body of the vehicle, then are removed after painting.

[0005] Among these tools, temporary vehicle door retainers are mounted on the body to hold the doors in position and prevent them from opening during paint application. These devices may be mounted during the sheet metal assembly stage or at the beginning of the paint application stage.

[0006] Such known retaining devices comprise a body or fixing plate intended to be fixed for example on the frame, and an element carried by the body and forming a stop capable of cooperating with a portion of the opening element to retain the latter.

[0007] In the example of a vehicle door, the supporting dormant structural element is the structural door frame and the opening element is the vehicle door. In this case, the temporary retaining device is for example arranged at the level where the strike plate of the door lock will be located, which will be installed later during assembly in the assembly workshop.

[0008] According to a known design, for example from document EP3835523A1, the body carries stop means for retaining the opening element comprising: - a first fixed stop element which is capable of cooperating with a portion of the opening element when the opening element is in a so-called closed position; and - a flexible stop tab which is capable of cooperating with a portion of the opening element to retain it in its closed position, and which is capable of deforming elastically to release the opening element and allow it to move to a so-called open position.

[0009] During a first stage of closing, the opening element gradually approaches the flexible tongue until it comes into contact with it, which is mounted to be mobile in rotation relative to the body and its pivoting relative to the stop body is ensured by an elastic hinge with a return spring effect.

[0010] Thanks to this elastic hinge, the flexible stop tab can pivot to allow the opening element to pass through.

[0011] The flexible stop tab has low resistance to the opening element.

[0012] Once the opening element passes the flexible tab, this tab automatically returns to its initial state and position, which prevents the opening element from returning, and therefore its untimely opening.

[0013] When the opening leaf is opened, it is moved in a direction opposite to the closing direction until it is again in contact with the flexible stop tab.

[0014] Since the flexible tab can deform elastically, it is sufficient to apply a relatively small adapted force to cause the flexible stop tab to flex again, by elastic deformation, to release the opening element.

[0015] According to such a design of the flexible tab, as soon as the device is mounted, it is permanently in an active functional position, and in particular from the first closing of the opening element, for example for carrying out painting operations.

[0016] However, such operation is not always desirable, and in particular to avoid so-called “grain” phenomena between the flexible tab and one or more painted areas.

[0017] On the other hand, it may prove necessary to be able to subsequently retain the opening element relative to the dormant structural element, and in particular between painting operations and assembly operations; in particular because the transfer actions, particularly when they are robotized, between the workshops and / or stations at which these successive painting and assembly operations are carried out, require a reliable retainer that is resistant to significant forces likely to be applied to the retaining element.

[0018] The invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the state of the art by proposing an improved device for temporary retention, in particular a temporary closing device, of a movable element relative to a fixed support element which is in particular very easy and reliable to use. Summary of the invention

[0019] The invention proposes a bistable device for temporarily retaining a second element, in particular of bodywork, relative to a first element, in particular of bodywork, a device which comprises a body allowing the device to be fixed to the second element and an end section of which carries a bistable stop pad, rigid and self-arming, which is pivotally mounted relative to the end section of the body around a pivot axis between: - a stable armed angular position, called active, in which the bistable stop pad is able to cooperate with the first element to retain it relative to the body in a predefined relative position; - and a retracted stable angular position, called non-active, in which the first element is free relative to the second element.

[0020] Thanks to this design, the combination of a rigid bistable stop pad - that is to say one which does not deform during the various changes in the relative position of the two bodywork elements - and with automatic arming makes it possible to guarantee total reliability of implementation at the end of a temporary closing step during which the only relative movement of the opening towards its closed position causes the automatic arming of the stop pad.

[0021] Similarly, opening the opening again automatically causes the stop pad to retract, releasing the opening.

[0022] According to other characteristics of the device: - the bistable stop pad belongs to a bistable stop member: — which is pivotally mounted, on the end section of the body around said pivot axis, between said armed stable angular position and said retracted stable position; — and which carries a rigid finger which is capable of cooperating with the first element to cause the bistable stop member to pivot from its stable retracted position to its stable armed position. - in the active angular position of the bistable stop pad, a portion of the first element is retained between a portion of the rigid finger and a portion opposite the bistable stop pad; - in the active angular position of the bistable stop pad, a portion of the bistable stop pad extends opposite a portion of the first element with which it is able to cooperate to cause the bistable stop member to pivot from its stable armed position to its stable retracted position. - the end section of the body includes a portion for angular positioning of the bistable stop nose in its stable armed position. - the bistable stop member is elastically returned to one of its two stable positions, armed and retracted. - the bistable stop member is connected to the end section of the body by at least one connecting branch: — which is elastically deformable; — a first end of which is mounted articulated on the end section of the body around a first articulation axis parallel to the pivot axis; — and a second end of which is mounted articulated on the bistable stop member around a second articulation axis parallel to the pivot axis; - the second hinge axis is located longitudinally between the first hinge axis and the pivot axis; - the end section of the body and the stop member are made in a single piece by plastic molding, and the pivot axis is made using a thinned portion forming a hinge; - the connecting branch, the end section of the body and the stop member are made in a single piece by plastic molding, and each of said first and second articulation axes is made using a thinned portion forming a hinge. - the body has a lower fixing face intended to be pressed against the second element when fixing the body to the first element, and the pivot axis of the bistable stop pad is parallel to the plane of this fixing face; - the bistable stop member comprises an upper part shaped as a bistable stop pad and an opposite lower part which comprises the rigid control finger. - the bistable stop member extends in a plane orthogonal to the pivot axis; - the bistable stop member carries an elastically deformable hook which, in the armed stable angular position of the stop member, cooperates, in a disengageable manner, with a complementary notch of said end section of the body to increase the resistance of the bistable stop element to leaving its armed stable position. - the device is made in one piece by plastic molding; - the first element is a frame, and the second element is an opening mounted pivoting relative to the first element. Brief description of the Figures

[0023] [Fig.l] - [Fig.l] is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention in which the bistable stop pad is shown in its stable, retracted, non-active position;

[0024] [Fig.2] - [Fig.2] is a view similar to that of [Fig.l], in which the skate bistable stop is shown in its active armed stable position;

[0025] [Fig.3] - [Fig.3] is a partial perspective view which shows in detail the front longitudinal end portion of the device shown in [Fig.l];

[0026] [Fig.4] - [Fig.4] is a partial view, in perspective and in section through a plane median vertical, which represents in detail the front longitudinal end part of the device shown in [Fig.l];

[0027] [Fig.5] - [Fig.5] is a partial perspective view which shows in detail the front longitudinal end portion of the device shown in [Fig.2];

[0028] [Fig.6] - [Fig.6] is a partial view, in perspective and in section through a plane median vertical, which represents in detail the front longitudinal end part of the device shown in [Fig.2]. Detailed Description of Figures

[0029] For the description of the invention and the understanding of the claims, without reference to Earth's gravity and for non-limiting purposes, the vertical, longitudinal and transverse orientations will be adopted according to the reference V, L, T indicated in the figures, the longitudinal L and transverse T axes of which extend in a horizontal plane.

[0030] By convention, the longitudinal axis L is oriented from rear to front, from left to right, considering figures 1 and 2.

[0031] In the following description, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numbers.

[0032] Figures 1 and 2 show a device 10 for temporarily retaining an opening 200 relative to a frame 100.

[0033] The opening 200 is for example a door belonging to the bodywork of a motor vehicle of which a plate-shaped portion is shown which comprises an upper face 204 and a lower face 202.

[0034] The frame 100 is for example a structural bodywork element of which a wall portion is shown which comprises an inner face 102 and an outer face 104.

[0035] The opening 200 is mounted to move relative to the frame 100, here pivoting around a transverse articulation axis not shown.

[0036] Without limitation, the device 10 here has a general symmetry of design with respect to a median vertical and longitudinal plane corresponding to the section plane of figures 4 and 6.

[0037] The device 10 comprises a body 12 whose rear longitudinal part is designed to allow the mounting and fixing of the device 10 on the opening 200, and whose front longitudinal part is designed to allow the opening 200 to be temporarily retained and carries a bistable stop shoe 30 which is capable of cooperating with the opening to retain it relative to the body 12 in a predefined relative position corresponding here to a temporary closing position of the opening.

[0038] The body 12 comprises a substantially flat lower fixing face 14 intended to be pressed against a portion opposite the upper face 204 of the opening. 200.

[0039] The front longitudinal part of the body 12 comprises a lower longitudinal and horizontal branch 16 with a front free end 18.

[0040] At its front free end 18, the upper face of the lower branch 16 carries an end section 20.

[0041] The end section 20 is here a section curved in the shape of a cylinder arc, with a transverse axis parallel to the plane of the lower fixing face 14, which is delimited upwards by a concave cylindrical wall 22.

[0042] The end section 20 is of constant transverse width and it extends between a high rear longitudinal end 24 and a low front longitudinal end 26.

[0043] As will be explained below, the longitudinal end 24 corresponds substantially to the position of a fixed transverse pivot axis AP, while the front longitudinal end 26 corresponds substantially to the position of a first transverse articulation axis AR1.

[0044] The axis AP is the pivot axis of a bistable stop member 28 to which belongs a stop pad 30 which, by pivoting about the pivot axis AP, is able to occupy a stable armed angular position, called active, in which ([Fig.l]) the bistable stop pad 30 is able to cooperate with the frame 100 to retain it relative to the body 12 in a predefined relative position or a stable retracted angular position, called non-active, in which ([Fig.2]) the frame 100 is free relative to the opening 200.

[0045] The stop member 28 is constituted by a rigid annular body 32 in the shape of a cylinder, with a transverse axis parallel to the plane of the lower fixing face 14, which is delimited externally by a convex cylindrical wall 34 and which is reinforced and stiffened by a flat reinforcing core 36 which extends in a median vertical plane.

[0046] The body 32 is pivotally mounted relative to the end section 20, around the pivot axis AP.

[0047] For this purpose, the end section 20 of the body 12 and the rigid body 32 of the stop member 28 are produced in a single piece by molding and the pivot axis AP is produced by means of a thinned portion 25 forming a hinge which connects the rear longitudinal end 24 of the end section 20 to the convex peripheral wall 34 of the rigid body 32 (See figures 4 and 6).

[0048] Above the pivot axis AP, at the upper front free end of its rigid body 32, the stop member 28 carries the stop pad 30 which is delimited vertically downwards by a convex curved stop surface 40 which is capable of cooperating with a portion of the inner face 102 of the frame 100 (See [Fig.l]).

[0049] Below the pivot axis AP, the rigid body 32 comprises a portion 42 of angular positioning of the bistable stop pad 28 in its stable armed position.

[0050] For this purpose, the convex peripheral wall of this angular positioning portion 42 is complementary to the concave cylindrical wall 22 of the end section 20.

[0051] In addition to the stop pad 30, to cause the pivoting of the stop member 28, the frame 100 is also capable of cooperating with a rigid finger 44 for controlling the “arming” of the stop pad 30 in order to reach the stable angular armed position shown in [Fig. 2] in which the portion of the opening 100 is “captive” of the device 10 by being retained between the control finger 44 and the stop pad 30.

[0052] The control finger 44 extends longitudinally forward from the rigid body 32 and below the stop pad 30.

[0053] At its free end 46, the upper face of the control finger 44 comprises a convex bulge 48 capable of cooperating with the outer face 104 of the frame 100.

[0054] In addition to its rigidity, in the stable angular position armed with the stop member 28, the lower face of the free end 46 of the control finger bears, vertically downwards, on an extension 50 of the end section 20 beyond its front longitudinal end 26.

[0055] We will now describe the means 52 for elastically returning the bistable stop member 28 to one and the other of its two stable positions, armed and retracted.

[0056] These means 52 comprise a first elastically deformable connecting branch 54, which connects the front longitudinal end 26 of the end section 20 to the stable stop member 28.

[0057] A first longitudinal front end 56 of the first connecting branch 54 is mounted articulated on the front longitudinal end 26 around the first articulation axis AR1 parallel to the pivot axis AP.

[0058] The articulation axis AR1 is produced by means of a thinned portion 55 forming a hinge which connects the front longitudinal end 26 of the end section 20 to the front longitudinal end 56.

[0059] The second, longitudinal rear end 58 of the first connecting branch 54 is mounted articulated on the bistable stop member 28 around a second articulation axis AR2 which is parallel to the pivot axis AP and to the first articulation axis AR1.

[0060] The articulation axis AR2 is produced by means of a thinned portion 64 forming a hinge which connects the front longitudinal end 62 of the second branch 60 to the rear longitudinal end 58 of the first branch 54.

[0061] As can be seen in particular in Figures 4 and 6, the three axes AP, AR2 and AR1 are arranged successively from rear to front.

[0062] In the stable armed position of the stop member 28 (See [Fig.6]), the second axis of articulation AR2, is vertically offset below a straight line D passing through the pivot axis AP and the first articulation axis AR1.

[0063] In the stable retracted position of the stop member 28 (See [Fig.4]), the second articulation axis AR2 is offset vertically above the straight line D.

[0064] The transition from one to the other of these two stable positions is effected by elastic deformation of the first connecting branch 54 and by crossing the straight line D by the second articulation axis AR2.

[0065] Without limitation, the capacity of the elastic return means 52 of the bistable stop member 28 to deform is supplemented by a second elastically deformable connecting branch 60, which extends longitudinally forward from the rigid body 32.

[0066] The front longitudinal end 62 of this second connecting branch is connected to the rear longitudinal end 58 of the first connecting branch 54 with respect to which it is articulated around the second articulation axis AR2.

[0067] The second articulation axis AR2 is produced by means of a thinned portion 64 forming a hinge which connects the front longitudinal end 62 of the second connecting branch 60 to the rear longitudinal end 58 of the first connecting branch 54.

[0068] As can be seen in [Fig.l], in the retracted angular position ([Fig.l]) of the stop member 28, the control finger 44 and more particularly its free end with the convex bulge 48 extends opposite the portion of the frame 100.

[0069] The operation and implementation of the device 10 are as follows.

[0070] After mounting the device 10 on the opening 200, to allow the opening to close, the stop pad 30 must occupy its retracted position of [Fig.l]. Indeed, in the case where the stop pad 30 would be in its armed position of [Fig.2], during the attempt to close the opening 200, the upper part 31 of the stop pad 30 would come to abut against the external face 104 of the portion of the frame 100, preventing the opening from being placed in the closed position (See the position of the portion 100 illustrated in dotted lines in [Fig.2]) preventing the device 10 from performing its role.

[0071] Thus, after mounting the device 10 on the opening 200, if necessary, a first step consists of pivoting the stop pad in the counterclockwise direction S1 to bring it into its retracted position of [Fig.l].

[0072] Then, the opening 200 can be closed by moving it according to the arrow F2 until the outer face 104 is adjacent to the free end of the control finger 44.

[0073] In this position, by applying a sufficient closing force to the opening 200, the closing stroke of the opening 200 is continued, during which the outer face 104 of the frame 100 acts on the control finger 44-48 which then drives the member of stop 28 pivoting around the pivot axis AP in the clockwise direction S2 considering [Fig.l].

[0074] Thus, the stable stop member 28 leaves its retracted stable position, then the second articulation axis AR2 crosses the straight line D then, under the action of the elastically deformable means 52, the stable stop member 28 reaches its stable armed position of [Fig.2] in which the angular positioning portion 42 is supported on the concave cylindrical wall 22.

[0075] This automatically arms the stop pad 30, without having to act manually on the latter.

[0076] The portion of the opening 100 is then “captive” of the device 10 by being retained between the rigid control finger and the stop pad 30.

[0077] Conversely, to automatically release the opening 200, without direct manual action on the stop member 28, the operator simply needs to apply a sufficient opening force to the opening 200 to cause the stop pad 30 to come into contact with the inner face 102 of the frame 100.

[0078] The opening of the opening 200 according to the arrow F2 of [Fig.2] extends the relative movement of the frame 100.

[0079] Thus, the stable stop member 28 leaves its armed stable position, then the second articulation axis AR2 crosses the straight line D and, under the action of the elastically deformable means, reaches its retracted stable position of [Fig.l].

[0080] This automatically “disarms” the stop pad 30, without having to act manually on the latter.

[0081] As a supplementary but not obligatory measure - in the stable closed "retaining position" illustrated in [Fig.2] - the resistance of the stop member 28 to involuntarily leaving this position can be increased by providing at the front longitudinal end of the control finger 44 an elastically deformable hook which cooperates, in a disengageable manner, with a complementary notch of the end section 20 of the body 12 which is here constituted by the extension 50.

[0082] The invention has been described according to an example in which the device 10 is fixed to an opening and is capable of cooperating with a portion of a frame.

[0083] Symmetrically, the invention finds application in fixing the device 10 on a frame to cooperate with a portion of an opening.

Claims

Claims

1. Bistable device (10) for temporarily retaining a second element (200), in particular of bodywork, relative to a first element (100), in particular of bodywork, device (10) which comprises a body (12) allowing the fixing of the device (10) on the second element (200) and of which an end section (20) carries a bistable stop pad (30), rigid and automatically armed, which is pivotally mounted relative to the end section of the body around a pivot axis (AP) between: - a stable armed angular position, called active, in which the bistable stop pad (30) is able to cooperate with the first element (100) to retain it relative to the body (12) in a predefined relative position; - and a stable retracted angular position, called non-active, in which the first element (100) is free relative to the second element (200).

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bistable stop pad (30) belongs to a bistable stop member (28): - which is pivotally mounted, on the end section (20) of the body (12) around said pivot axis (A), between said armed stable angular position and said retracted stable position; - and which carries a rigid finger (44) which is capable of cooperating with the first element (100) to cause the bistable stop member (28) to pivot from its retracted stable position to its armed stable position.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the active angular position of the bistable stop pad (30), a portion of the first element (100) is retained between a portion of the rigid finger (44) and a portion (40) opposite the bistable stop pad (30).

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the active angular position of the bistable stop shoe (30), a portion (40) of the bistable stop shoe (30) extends opposite a portion (102) of the first element (100) with which it is able to cooperate to cause the bistable stop member (28) to pivot from its stable armed position to its stable retracted position.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end section (20) of the body (12) comprises a portion (22) for angular positioning of the bistable stop nose (30) in its stable armed position.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bistable stop member (28) is elastically returned towards one and the other of its two stable positions, armed and retracted.

7. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bistable stop member (28) is connected to the end section of the body (12) by at least one connecting branch (54): - which is elastically deformable; - a first end (56) of which is mounted articulated on the end section (20) of the body (12) around a first articulation axis (AR1) parallel to the pivot axis (AP); - and a second end (58) of which is mounted articulated on the bistable stop member (28) around a second articulation axis (AR2) parallel to the pivot axis (AP).

8. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second articulation axis (AR2) is located longitudinally between the first articulation axis (AR1) and the pivot axis (AP).

9. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the end section (20) of the body (12) and the stop member (28) are made in a single piece by molding in plastic material, and in that the pivot axis (AP) is made by means of a thinned portion forming a hinge.

10. Device according to claim 7 taken in combination with claim 2, characterized in that the connecting branch (54), the end section (20) of the body (12) and the stop member (28) are made in a single piece by molding in plastic material, and in that each of said first (AR1) and second (AR2) articulation axes is made by means of a thinned portion (55, 64) forming a hinge.

11. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (12) comprises a lower fixing face (14) intended to be pressed against the second element (200) when fixing the body (12) to the first element (100), and in that the pivot axis (A) of the bistable stop pad (30) is parallel to the plane of this fixing face (14).

12. Device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the bistable stop member (30) comprises an upper part (34) shaped as bistable stop pad (30) and an opposite lower part which includes the rigid control finger.

13. Device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the bistable stop member (28) extends in a plane orthogonal to the pivot axis (A).

14. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the bistable stop member (28) carries an elastically deformable hook (64) which, in the armed stable angular position of the stop member (28) cooperates, in a disengageable manner, with a complementary notch (50) of said end section (20) of the body (12) to increase the resistance of the bistable stop element (28) to leave its armed stable position.

15. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made in a single piece by molding in plastic material.

16. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first element (100) is a frame, and in that the second element (200) is an opening element mounted to pivot relative to the first element (100).

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