VEHICLE OPENING WITH IMPROVED SOUND INSULATION PROTECTION

Abstract

The invention relates to an opening (2) of a motor vehicle (1) comprising a housing (3) and a protective element (4) the upper part (41) of which covers the lower part of an outer panel (32) of the housing (3), said protective element (4) comprising a vertical extension (42) extending downwards from the upper part (41) of said protective element (4), said vertical extension (42) being at least partially projecting below the housing (3), an inner face of said vertical extension (42) being at least partially covered by a sound insulation device, said inner face being intended to be positioned towards the interior of the vehicle (1) when said opening (2) is positioned on the vehicle (1). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: VEHICLE OPENING WITH IMPROVED ACOUSTIC INSULATION PROTECTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle opening which comprises a box and a protective element, the upper part of which covers at least partially the lower part of an outer panel of the box.

[0002] This outer panel is intended to be positioned towards the outside of the vehicle when the opening is positioned on the vehicle.

[0003] The protective element includes a vertical extension part which extends downwards from the upper part of the protective element, the vertical extension part being at least partly projecting below the casing.

[0004] It is known to have such an opening comprising a protective element, the upper part of which covers at least partially the lower part of an outer body panel of the opening, and the lower part of which extends below the opening.

[0005] Such protection is made to minimize the marking effects of gravel projected onto the opening by the front wheel of the vehicle during driving.

[0006] Such protection is made of a rigid plastic material, which is resistant to these projections, but transmits the noise and vibrations created by the projection of these gravel into the housing of the opening and, consequently, into the entire passenger compartment of the vehicle, which is unpleasant for those passing through the vehicle.

[0007] In particular, the part of the protruding protection below the opening is the most exposed to the projection of gravel, thus transmitting the most noise into the opening and into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0008] The device according to the invention makes it possible to remedy these drawbacks.

[0009] According to the invention, it comprises an opening for a motor vehicle which includes a housing and a protective element, the upper part of which at least partially covers the lower part of an outer panel of the housing, the outer panel being intended to be positioned towards the outside of the vehicle when the opening is positioned on the vehicle, the protective element having a vertical extension portion which extends downwards from the upper part of the protective element, the vertical extension portion being at least partially projecting below the housing, an inner face of the vertical extension portion being at least partially covered by a sound insulation device, the face interior being intended to be positioned towards the interior of the vehicle when the opening is positioned on the vehicle.

[0010] According to a first characteristic of the opening, the acoustic insulation device covers the entire inner face of the vertical extension part of the protective element.

[0011] According to a second feature of the opening, the protective element extends horizontally below the casing by means of a horizontal extension part.

[0012] According to a third feature of the opening, the lower face of the horizontal extension part of the protective element is at least partially covered by a sound insulation device, said lower face being intended to be positioned towards the bottom of the vehicle when said opening is positioned on the vehicle.

[0013] According to a fourth feature of the opening, the acoustic insulation device covers the entire lower face of the horizontal extension part of the protective element.

[0014] According to a fifth feature of the opening, the acoustic insulation device extends from the inner face of said vertical extension part to the lower face of the horizontal extension part of said protective element.

[0015] According to a sixth feature of the opening, the protective element is essentially formed in a first material and the sound insulation device is essentially formed in a second material different from the first material.

[0016] According to a seventh feature of the opening, the sound insulation device includes an insulating layer comprising polyurethane, the protective element comprising a mixture of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

[0017] According to an eighth feature of the opening, the acoustic insulation device is secured by gluing or overmolding along the protective element.

[0018] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle which includes at least one opening which has at least one of the preceding characteristics.

[0019] The attached drawings illustrate the invention:

[0020] [Fig-1] represents a side view of a vehicle which includes elements of protections according to the invention.

[0021] [Fig.2] represents a cross-sectional view along section AA' of one of the elements of protection according to the invention.

[0022] The terms "exterior" and "interior" refer to a positioning relative to the vehicle, respectively towards the exterior of the vehicle and towards the interior of the vehicle.

[0023] The same applies to the positioning of the opening, which is determined in relation to its positioning once the opening is mounted on the vehicle, the parts and faces " upper and lower dimensions of the opening are determined in relation to the positioning of the opening when it is correctly positioned on the vehicle.

[0024] With reference to these drawings, an opening 2 of a motor vehicle 1 comprises a box 3 and a protective element 4 of which an upper part 41 covers at least partially a lower part 31 of an outer panel 32 of the box 3.

[0025] Such a box 3 comprises the outer panel 32 and an inner reinforcing lining 33, with the outer panel 32 intended to be positioned towards the outside of the vehicle 1 when the opening 2 is positioned on the vehicle 1, forming part of the body of the vehicle 1.

[0026] The reinforcement panel 33 is intended to be positioned towards the inside of the vehicle 1 when the opening 2 is positioned on the vehicle 1, forming a support for the window lift mechanism and for the interior trim of the opening (the window lift mechanism and the interior trim of the opening not being shown).

[0027] As particularly visible on [Fig.2], which is a cross-sectional view along section AA' as shown on [Fig.1], along a junction line 34 between the outer panel 32 and the reinforcement panel 33 is positioned a lower sealing gasket 35 of the opening 2.

[0028] The vehicle 1 includes a longitudinal member 11 which is positioned opposite the lower part of the reinforcement panel 33.

[0029] Along the lower part of the longitudinal member 11 is positioned a sealing gasket 12 against which the lower sealing gasket 35 of the opening 2 rests.

[0030] The protective element 4 forms a cover for the junction line 34 between the outer panel 32 and the reinforcement panel 33 of the box 3 and extends vertically upwards from the outer panel 32 to protect it from the projection of stones, gravel and other small elements that may be projected by the front wheels when the vehicle 1 is moving.

[0031] The protective element 4 also extends vertically under the outer panel 32 of the box 3 by means of a vertical extension part 42 which is projecting below the box 3 and which makes it possible to mask technical parts of the opening 2 and of the longitudinal member 11.

[0032] The protective element 4 extends horizontally below the box 3 by means of a horizontal extension part 44 which extends to the junction line 34, the free end of the horizontal extension part 44 of the protective element 4, includes fastening means 46 for fixing the protective element 4 on the junction line 34 of the box 3.

[0033] Due to the configuration of such an assembly, an inner face 43 of the vertical extension part 42 and a lower face 45 of the horizontal extension part 44 are particularly exposed to gravel projections and other small objects, creating acoustic waves which propagate in the box 3 and consequently create noise and vibrations in the opening 2 and in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1.

[0034] To avoid such a problem and according to the invention, the inner face 43 of the vertical extension part 42 and the lower face 45 of the horizontal extension part 44 are at least partially covered by a sound insulation device 5.

[0035] According to an embodiment as shown in [Fig.2], the acoustic insulation device 5 covers the entire inner face 43 of the vertical extension part 42 and the lower face 45 of the horizontal extension part 44 of the protective element 4, and this in a single part.

[0036] The protective element 4 is essentially formed from a first material which preferably comprises a mixture of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, generally designated by the acronym "ABS PC". This material optimizes resistance to impacts and abrasion, and makes it possible to reduce the mass of the opening 2.

[0037] The acoustic insulation device 5 is essentially formed from a second material different from the first material and must possess sound insulation qualities, enabling it to dampen the impact of gravel and other small elements.

[0038] The sound insulation device 5 includes an insulating layer 51.

[0039] The acoustic insulation device 5 is secured by gluing or overmolding the along the protective element 4.

[0040] The insulating layer 51 preferably comprises polyurethane.

[0041] According to an alternative of the invention, the insulating layer 51 comprises elastomer or foam.

[0042] According to the invention, the protective element 4 extends on both sides of the opening 2 while maintaining the same shape in its lower part and the same acoustic insulation device 5.

Claims

Demands

1. Opening (2) of a motor vehicle (1) comprising a casing (3) and a protective element (4) of which an upper part (41) at least partially covers the lower part (31) of an outer panel (32) of said casing (3), said outer panel (32) being intended to be positioned towards the outside of the vehicle (1) when said opening (2) is positioned on the vehicle (1), said protective element (4) comprising a vertical extension part (42) which extends downwards from the upper part (41) of said protective element (4), said vertical extension part (42) being at least partially projecting below the casing (3), characterized in that an inner face (43) of said vertical extension part (42) is at least partially covered by a sound insulation device (5),said inner face (43) being intended to be positioned towards the interior of the vehicle (1) when said opening (2) is positioned on the vehicle (1).

2. Opening (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sound insulation device (5) covers the entire inner face (43) of the vertical extension part (42) of the protective element (4).

3. Opening (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the protective element (4) extends horizontally below the box (3) by means of a horizontal extension part (44).

4. Opening (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the lower face (46) of the horizontal extension part (44) of the protective element (4) is at least partially covered by a sound insulation device (5), said lower face (46) being intended to be positioned towards the bottom of the vehicle (1) when said opening (2) is positioned on the vehicle (1).

5. Opening (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the sound insulation device (5) covers the entire lower face (46) of the horizontal extension part (44) of the protective element (4).

6. Opening (2) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the sound insulation device (5) extends from the inner face (43) of said vertical extension portion (42) to the face lower (46) of the horizontal extension part (44) of said protective element (4).

7. Opening (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective element (4) is essentially formed in a first material and the sound insulation device (5) is essentially formed in a second material different from the first material.

8. Opening (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sound insulation device (5) comprises an insulating layer (51) which comprises polyurethane, the protective element (4) comprising a mixture of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

9. Opening (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sound insulation device (5) is secured by gluing or by long overmolding of the protective element (4).

10. Motor vehicle (1) comprising at least one opening (2), characterized in that the opening (2) conforms to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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