Front panel for vehicle including several lighting devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a front end (10) for a vehicle, the front end comprising a first lighting device (11), a second lighting device (12), and an upper bumper assembly (131). Specifically, the first lighting device comprises at least one support (112) configured to receive a resting surface (12a) of the second lighting device on an upper surface (112a) of the support and to maintain the second lighting device in a vertical position relative to the first lighting device. The second lighting device comprises a housing (12b) configured to receive at least one plate (131a) of the upper bumper assembly and to maintain the upper bumper assembly in a vertical position relative to the second lighting device. (See Figure 6 for abbreviations.)

Description

Title of the invention: Front panel for vehicle comprising several lighting devices. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a front face for a vehicle comprising several lighting devices and a method for assembling such a front face for a vehicle. Technological background

[0002] Many vehicles include lighting systems or devices with various functions. For example, a vehicle includes headlights or projectors to illuminate the vehicle's surroundings so that the driver can best perceive them. A vehicle also includes parking lights, position lights, or daytime running lights (also called daytime running lights) to ensure visibility to other road users and / or recognition through a distinctive light signature. A vehicle may also include other lighting devices to warn other road users of a maneuver, such as turn signals.

[0003] These lighting systems or devices are designed to follow the vehicle's silhouette and can highlight certain lines of that silhouette. To integrate a lighting system into certain body parts, it is sometimes composed of several sub-assemblies or lighting devices arranged side by side. It is therefore important to control the functional clearances between the different sub-assemblies or lighting devices, as well as with the body parts incorporating them, in order to give an impression of unity and also to ensure their proper assembly. It is also important to maintain them in their relative positions to prevent these sub-assemblies or lighting devices from colliding or rubbing against each other, which would cause premature wear of their components. Summary of the present invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above by designing a front end of a vehicle which makes it possible to improve the assembly of its components and their relative positioning and to guarantee their lifespan.

[0005] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a front panel for a vehicle, the front panel comprising a first lighting device, a second lighting device and an upper bumper assembly, and being characterized in that: - the first lighting device includes at least one support configured to receive a resting surface for the second lighting device on an upper surface of the support and to maintain the second lighting device in a vertical position relative to the first lighting device, and - the second light device includes a housing configured to receive at least one plate of the upper bumper assembly and to hold the upper bumper assembly in a vertical position relative to the second light device, the plate extending in a non-vertical direction.

[0006] The relative arrangement of the first light device, the second light device and the upper bumper assembly is then controlled, the vertical positioning of the second light device relative to the first light device being guaranteed by the positioning of the resting surface on the upper surface of the support and the vertical positioning of the upper bumper assembly being guaranteed by the insertion of the plate into the housing.

[0007] According to a variant of the front face, the resting surface corresponds to a set of lower rib surfaces, the ribs extending vertically and being contained within the second light-emitting device. Because the ribs extend vertically, the resting surface is rigid and supports significant vertical stresses.

[0008] According to another variant of the front face, at least one support comprises a rib extending opposite the upper surface and perpendicular to the upper surface. This rib mechanically reinforces at least one support, giving it rigidity and strength to withstand vertical forces exerted in particular by the second lighting device.

[0009] According to yet another variant of the front face, at least one support is included in a first diffuser of the first lighting device. This configuration allows for the sharing of different functions for the diffuser, particularly in an area where it is not visible and therefore locally devoid of an optical function.

[0010] According to yet another variant of the front face, the first lighting device comprises two supports. Having several supports allows both the forces applied to each support to be distributed and prevents the second device from rotating around a single support.

[0011] According to an additional variant of the front face, the second light device includes a clip cooperating with an assembly tab of the upper bumper assembly, the upper bumper assembly being held in position relative to the second light device when the clip is inserted into the assembly tab. This mechanical interface allows the second light device to be held in position relative to the first light device in directions other than the vertical direction, in particular in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction of the vehicle equipped with this front face.

[0012] According to another variant of the front face, the mounting tab extends in the non-vertical direction. The mounting tab and at least one plate guide the upper bumper assembly during assembly of the upper bumper assembly by translating the upper bumper assembly in the non-vertical direction, and the clip locks the upper bumper assembly in the final position.

[0013] According to yet another variant of the front face, the height of a first gap between a first external surface of the first light device and a second external surface of the upper bumper assembly is between 1 and 3 mm. This gap dimension ensures functional clearance and is visually acceptable.

[0014] According to yet another variant of the front face, the first light device corresponds to a front projector and the second light device corresponds to a daytime running light device.

[0015] The invention also relates, according to a second aspect, to a vehicle comprising a front face as described above according to the first aspect of the present invention. Brief description of the figures

[0016] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the particular and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the attached Figures 1 to 7, in which:

[0017] [Fig-1] illustrates a perspective view of part of the front face of a vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting example of the present invention;

[0018] [Fig.2] illustrates a perspective view of the first lighting device equipping the front face of the [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] [Fig.3] illustrates a perspective view of a first sub-assembly of the front face of [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting example of the present invention;

[0020] [Fig.4] illustrates a detailed view of the first subset of [Fig.3], according to a a particular and non-limiting example of a realization of the present invention;

[0021] [Fig. 5] illustrates a perspective view of a second subassembly of the front face of [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting example of the present invention;

[0022] [Fig. 6] illustrates a cross-sectional view of the front face of [Fig. 1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention; and

[0023] [Fig.7] illustrates a detailed view of a third sub-assembly of the front face of the [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of achievements

[0024] An example of a vehicle front end will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. According to this example, the front end comprises a first and a second lighting device and an upper bumper assembly. Specifically, the first lighting device includes at least one support configured to receive a resting surface for the second lighting device on an upper surface of the support and to hold the second lighting device in a vertical position relative to the first lighting device, and the second lighting device includes a housing configured to receive at least one plate of the upper bumper assembly and to hold the upper bumper assembly in a vertical position relative to the second lighting device.

[0025] The terms "first," "second" (or "firsts," "seconds"), etc., are used in this document by arbitrary convention to allow for the identification and distinction of different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0026] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of part of a front end of a vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. This front end 10 is specifically designed to improve the assembly of its components and their relative positioning, as well as to guarantee their service life.

[0027] In this example, the vehicle equipped with the lighting system 10 corresponds to a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, an electric motor(s), or a hybrid vehicle with an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors. The vehicle thus corresponds, for example, to a land vehicle such as a car, a truck, a bus, or a motorcycle. Finally, the vehicle corresponds to an autonomous or non-autonomous vehicle, that is to say, a vehicle operating according to a predetermined level of autonomy or under the total supervision of the driver.

[0028] The front face 10 comprises a first 11 and a second 12 light devices. The first light device 10 corresponds, for example, to a headlight, and the second light device 12 corresponds to a daytime running light or daytime running light. In another example, the second light device 12 is a turn signal, also called a turn signal. It should be noted that, in this example, only one side of the vehicle is shown. However, it is obvious that the invention extends to a front face equipped with a pair of first lighting devices and a pair of second lighting devices, each pair comprising, for example, symmetrical lighting devices, the plane of symmetry corresponding to a vertical plane including a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Thus, the front face is, consequently, symmetrical.

[0029] According to this example, the first light device 11 is positioned above the second light device 12 in the vertical direction. The vertical direction corresponds to the direction normal to the plane on which the vehicle is located; this direction is generally normal to the plane defined by the road on which the vehicle travels, thus forming an orthonormal coordinate system with the longitudinal and transverse directions defined in the vehicle's frame of reference. It should then be noted that the gravitational force is thus parallel to the vertical direction and acts downwards on each component of the front face 10 of the vehicle.

[0030] The first 11 and second 12 lighting devices comprise, for example, numerous components. For instance, each lighting device includes an electrical connection means for being connected to a vehicle's electrical harness, electrical conductors, at least one socket to which a bulb is connected, or electronic components connected, for example, to a light source such as a light-emitting diode (LED) or laser. Optionally, the first and / or second lighting device 11, 12 includes a means for adjusting the inclination of a light beam that it emits through, for example, a diffuser, particularly in the case of a spotlight. All these components are then placed in an enclosure, thus forming an optical unit. The term optical unit is therefore synonymous with the term lighting device. It should be noted that the aforementioned diffuser may be an integral part of this enclosure.This casing, for example, includes mounting hardware that allows the optical unit or lighting device to be installed in the vehicle.

[0031] The enclosures of the first and second lighting devices 11, 12 serve to make each lighting device watertight or to prevent any contact by a user with a conductive part located inside these lighting devices 11, 12. These enclosures include, for example, different parts, such as a base, a diffuser, and one or more covers allowing access to the inside of the lighting device, for example, for maintenance operations. Typically, each enclosure includes a concealed part, i.e., a part that is not visible once the lighting device is mounted in the vehicle. This concealed part is often opaque. Conversely, an enclosure includes a visible part that is more aesthetically pleasing, incorporating, for example, trim pieces. The visible part of the enclosure generally includes a diffuser, allowing the emitted light to pass through. the lighting device. The diffuser is for example totally transparent, of the crystal type, or opal, thus allowing the diffusion of light without letting the inside of the lighting device or optical block show through.

[0032] The front face 10 illustrated in [Fig. 1] also includes an upper bumper assembly 131 and a lower bumper assembly 132. The upper bumper assembly 131 includes a portion located below the first light device 11 and above the second light device 12, the upper bumper assembly 131 being located inside the front face 10, while the lower bumper assembly 132 includes a portion positioned below the second light device 12, also located inside the front face 10, and a portion located outside the front face 10 and located on the other side of the second light device 12, the lower bumper assembly 132 partially enveloping the second light device 12. Of course, the invention is not limited to this example of the arrangement of the upper and lower bumper assemblies 131, 132.Similarly, the invention is not limited to the presence of a bumper comprising two sub-assemblies, the bumper being able to be made in a single piece corresponding then to the upper bumper assembly 131.

[0033] As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the upper and lower bumper assemblies 131, 132 comprise various parts, such as grilles corresponding to a radiator grille or a diffuser. Generally speaking, the upper and lower bumper assemblies 131, 132 are understood to mean one or two sets of at least one body element constituting the front end 10 of a vehicle.

[0034] Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the first light device 11 fitted to the front face of Fig. 1.

[0035] This first lighting device 11 comprises a housing incorporating a diffuser 111 allowing the light emitted by light sources arranged in the first lighting device 11 to pass through an external surface 111a visible from outside the vehicle. This external surface 11a is generally vertical and extends horizontally in its lower part into a lower surface 111b.

[0036] Beneath the visible portion of the diffuser 111, supports 112 are positioned, two in number according to this particular embodiment. However, the number of supports 112 is not limited to two; in other examples, the number of supports 112 is one, three, or more than three. Each of these supports 112 comprises a substantially horizontal upper surface 112a, spaced apart from the lower surface 111b. It should be noted that when the number of supports 112 is two or more, the upper surfaces 112a are, for example, parallel to facilitate the subsequent assembly of front panel elements 10 that bear on these upper surfaces 112a.

[0037] According to a particular embodiment, each support 112 comprises a rib 112b extending opposite the upper surface 112a and perpendicular to the upper surface 112a. These ribs 112b serve to locally stiffen the diffuser 111 and to support the upper surface 112a in order to transfer any vertical load supported by each support 112.

[0038] According to the example illustrated in [Fig. 2], each support 112 is integrated into the diffuser 111 and obtained by injection molding of the diffuser 111, particularly when the diffuser 111 is made of a thermoplastic material such as polycarbonate (PC) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). This material offers good impact resistance and durability. Furthermore, it has a good capacity to transmit light efficiently while resisting various environmental conditions, such as temperature changes and UV radiation from the sun.

[0039] According to other particular embodiments not shown, a support 112 is made in another part of the envelope of the first light device 11 or is attached to a part of the envelope of the first light device 11, for example by welding or screwing.

[0040] Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a first subset of the front face of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 illustrates a detailed view of the first subset of Fig. 3.

[0041] This first subset includes the first light device 11 and the second light device 12.

[0042] Each support 112 is configured to receive a resting surface 12a of the second light device 12 on an upper surface 112a of the support 112. Thus, when assembling the second light device 12 onto the first light device 11, the second light device 12 is slid or translated along a direction A1 so that the resting surface 12a slides on the upper surface 112a. The inclination of the upper surface 112a is then defined so as to maintain the second light device 12 in a vertical position relative to the first light device 11, the upper surface 112a being substantially horizontal or inclined at an angle α with respect to a horizontal axis H so that its height decreases towards the rear. Thus, the angle α is, for example, between 0 and 10 degrees (0 < α < 10°). In this way, gravity constantly pushes the second device 12 towards the first light device 11.

[0043] According to this example, the resting surface 12a corresponds to a set of lower surfaces of ribs 12c of the second light device 12, the ribs 12c extending vertically. As with the ribs of the first light device 11, these give the resting surface 12a rigidity and strength. Thus, the forces, in particular the weight exerted on the second light device 12, are transmitted appropriately to the supports 112.

[0044] Clips 12d are formed by protrusions arranged above or on top of ribs 12c, these clips 12d being subsequently used to lock in position the upper bumper assembly 131.

[0045] It is also worth noting the presence of housings 12b formed in the second light device 12 configured to receive part of the upper bumper assembly 131.

[0046] Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of a second subassembly of the front face of Figure 1, the second subassembly comprising the first and second lighting devices 11, 12 and the upper and lower bumper assemblies 131, 132. This second subassembly corresponds to the front face 10 with these elements assembled. As previously stated, the upper and lower bumper assemblies 131, 132 form a single element or two separate elements, depending on the embodiment.

[0047] Figure 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the front face 10 of Figure 1. Starting from the top of Figure 6, the diffuser 111 of the first light-emitting device 11 is visible, comprising the first external surface 111a extending substantially vertically and then continuing substantially horizontally into a lower surface 111b. Distant from this lower surface 111b is a support 112, the upper surface 112a of which bears against the lower ribbed surface 12c of the second light-emitting device 12, the lower ribbed surface 12c forming the resting surface 12a.

[0048] Above the ribs 12c are positioned protrusions forming the clips 12d, each clip 12d of the second light device 12 being configured to receive and lock in position an assembly tab 131b by inserting into an opening 13Id formed in the assembly tab 131b, the assembly tab 131b deforming during the assembly of the upper bumper assembly 131 and then returning to its rest position, the clip 12d being inserted into the opening 13Id and thus preventing the upper bumper assembly 131 from translating freely in the non-vertical direction dl.

[0049] During this assembly, the upper bumper assembly is positioned by translation along the non-vertical direction dl, each mounting tab 131b being guided between the second light device 12, for example via a rib 12c, and the lower surface 111b of the diffuser 111 of the first light device 11, and each plate 131a being guided into a recess 12b of the second light device 12. Each mounting tab 131b and each plate 131a extends from preference along the non-vertical direction dl in order to facilitate this assembly and is thus maintained in a vertical position.

[0050] A first gap 99a then appears, positioned between a second external surface 131c of the upper bumper assembly 131 and the first external surface 11a of the first lighting device 11. This first gap 99a separates two visible external surfaces and is also visible; therefore, its height el must be controlled. This height is, for example, between 1 and 3 mm in order to allow for a functional assembly clearance that avoids any abrasion or mechanical stress exerted between the surfaces defining this first gap 99a, and to prevent an excessive height el that would create an unsightly first gap 99a. In this configuration, the height el of the first gap is thus defined by a relatively short dimension chain, this dimension chain comprising a dimension related to the diffuser 111, a dimension related to an element of the second lighting device 12, and a dimension related to an element of the upper bumper assembly 131.

[0051] Similarly, a second gap 99b is positioned between the second external surface 131c of the upper bumper assembly 131 and a third external surface 12e of the second light device 12, the third external surface 12e belonging, for example, to a diffuser of the second light device. As with the first gap 99a, the second gap 99b is visible, and its height e2 must therefore be controlled to be acceptable. Thus, the height e2 has, for example, a nominal value equal to that of the height el. The tolerances on this height e2 are also similar to those defined for the height el; however, the dimension chain associated with the height e2 is shorter than that associated with the height el because it depends only on dimensions associated with the housing 12b and an element of the upper bumper assembly 131.

[0052] According to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 6], a third gap 99c is positioned between the third external surface 12e of the second light device 12 and a fourth external surface 132a of the lower bumper assembly 132. As with the first and second gaps 99a, 99b, the third gap 99c is visible, and its height e3 must therefore also be controlled to be acceptable. Thus, the height e3 has, for example, a nominal value equal to that of the height e1. The tolerances on this height e3 are, for example, also similar to those defined for the height e1 or to those defined for the height e2. A dimension chain associated with the height e3 is not defined in this example because it depends on a means of attaching the lower bumper assembly 132.Indeed, the lower bumper assembly 132 is for example fixed on a cross member 133 belonging to the vehicle chassis, in which case it is necessary to define the connections allowing the second one to be positioned. lighting device 12 relative to the chassis, for example via the first lighting device 11 itself fixed to the chassis of the vehicle.

[0053] Figure 7 illustrates a detailed view of a third subassembly of the front face of Figure 1. This third subassembly of the front face 10 comprises the second light device 12, the upper bumper assembly 131 and the lower bumper assembly 132.

[0054] The detail of a mechanical interface between the second light device 12 and the upper bumper assembly 131 shows in particular the clips 12d of the second light device 12, which have a part inserted into the openings 13Id made in the assembly tabs 131b. One of the clips 12d is in particular positioned directly on ribs 12c, making the clip 12d rigid and allowing a transfer of load to the second light device 12 via a second mechanical interface between these ribs 12c and an upper surface 112a of a support 112 (not shown in this figure) on which the ribs 12c rest, the support 112 being itself supported by a rib 112b (see [Fig.2]).

[0055] The vertical positioning of the upper bumper assembly 131 is thus ensured by the first and second superimposed mechanical interfaces, each element comprising substantially vertical ribs offering high resistance to vertical forces. The weight of elements such as the second lighting device 12 and the upper bumper assembly 131, as well as shocks due to vibrations of these elements generated by vehicle movements, are thus better absorbed, while the relative positioning of the front end elements 10 is ensured by precise control of the dimensions related to these mechanical interfaces.

[0056] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a front face for a vehicle which would include additional elements without going outside the scope of the present invention.

[0057] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land-powered vehicle, comprising the front face of the [Fig. 1].

Claims

Demands

1. Front face (10) for vehicle, said front face (10) comprising a first light device (11), a second light device (12) and an upper bumper assembly (131), and being characterized in that: - the first light device (11) comprises at least one support (112) configured to receive a resting surface (12a) of the second light device (12) on an upper surface (112a) of said support (112) and to hold the second light device (12) in a vertical position relative to the first light device (11), and - the second light device (12) comprises a housing (12b) configured to receive at least one plate (131a) of the upper bumper assembly (131) and to hold said upper bumper assembly (131) in a vertical position relative to the second light device (12), the plate (131a) extending in a non-vertical direction (dl).

2. Front face (10) according to claim 1, wherein said resting surface (12a) corresponds to a set of lower rib surfaces (12c), the ribs (12c) extending vertically and being included in the second light device (12).

3. Front face (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one support (112) comprises a rib (112b) extending opposite the upper surface (112a) and perpendicular to the upper surface (112a).

4. Front face (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one support (112) is included in a first diffuser of the first light device (11).

5. Front face (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first light device comprises two supports (112).

6. Front face (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second light device (12) comprises a clip (12d) cooperating with an assembly tab (131b) of the upper bumper assembly (131), the upper bumper assembly (131) being held in position relative to the second light device (12) when said clip (12d) is inserted into the assembly tab (131b).

7. Front face (10) according to claim 6, wherein the assembly tab (131b) extends along said non-vertical direction (dl).

8. Front face (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a height of a first gap (99a) between a first external surface (11la) of the first light device (11) and a second external surface (13Id) of the upper bumper assembly (131) is between 1 and 3mm.

9. Front face (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first light device (11) corresponds to a front projector and the second light device (12) corresponds to a daytime running light device.

10. Vehicle comprising a front face (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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