Spacer for attaching trim to a vehicle door panel

Abstract

The invention relates to a spacer (100) for attaching a trim panel to a motor vehicle door frame, comprising a collar (110) configured to abut the edges of a receiving hole located in said trim panel, so as to engage said trim panel with said frame; and arms (120) extending from opposite sides of said collar (110), configured to position and secure said spacer (100) in the receiving hole. Said arms (120) are further configured to allow relative movement of the spacer (100) with respect to the trim panel along a longitudinal direction of said arms (120) during deformation of said trim panel. Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: Spacer for attaching trim to a motor vehicle door frame. Technical field and technological background

[0001] The present invention relates to a spacer for fixing a trim on a motor vehicle door box, an assembly comprising a box and the spacer according to the invention and its assembly method, as well as a motor vehicle door and a vehicle comprising it.

[0002] For the purposes of this description, reference will be made to a direct orthonormal coordinate system XYZ illustrated in [Fig. 1], classically used in automotive design. In this XYZ coordinate system, the X-axis designates the front-to-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear; the Y-axis designates the transverse direction, and is oriented towards the right of the vehicle; the Z-axis designates the vertical direction, and is oriented upwards.

[0003] Typically, a door 1 of a motor vehicle, for example illustrated in [Fig. 2], comprises a housing 2 on which a trim piece 3 is mounted. In particular, the housing 2 is made of sheet metal and the trim piece 3 is made of plastic. A retaining screw 4 secures the trim piece 3 against the housing 2 in the Y direction. The retaining screw 4 secures the trim piece 3 in the event of a side impact, particularly with another vehicle. Thus, the deployment of an airbag located in the seat back facing the occupant to protect their torso is not obstructed by the trim piece. The retaining screw is typically located at an upper rear corner of the trim piece 2.

[0004] In a vehicle parked in direct sunlight for an extended period, the trim 3 expands due to the increased temperature. Generally, a return to normal temperature restores the trim 2 to its initial shape. However, depending on the shape of the trim 2, it may not return to its initial shape upon a return to normal temperature, but retains permanent deformations. Such a deformation has been observed, for example, at an upper rear corner of the trim 2. It manifests as a separation of the corner of the trim 2 along the Y direction, up to 3.5 mm from the housing 2, for example. Such a permanent deformation of the trim 3 is perceived by the customer as a sign of poor quality.

[0005] A solution is therefore sought to prevent permanent deformation of a motor vehicle door trim resulting in the trim coming loose. Summary of the invention

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a spacer for fixing a trim piece to a door frame of a motor vehicle comprising: - a collar configured to come against the edges of a receiving hole, located in said fitting, so as to engage said fitting with said housing; - arms, extending from opposite sides of said collar, configured so as to position and fix said spacer in the receiving hole, in particular in the middle of the receiving hole; said arms being further configured to allow relative movement of the spacer with respect to the lining along a longitudinal direction of said arms during a deformation of said lining.

[0007] In particular, when the trim is mounted on the housing, the fixing screw fits into the spacer. The spacer allows relative freedom of movement of the trim with respect to the fixing screw in the X and Z directions, for example, when the trim expands due to a temperature increase, which is notably the case when the vehicle is parked in direct sunlight for several hours. Thanks to its arms, the spacer can be pre-positioned and secured in the receiving hole before the trim is mounted on the housing. This facilitates the installation of the spacer. However, the arms do not impede the relative movement of the spacer with respect to the trim.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the arms include distal ends configured to correspond with the trim to position and hold said spacer in the receiving hole.

[0009] The invention further relates to an assembly comprising - a motor vehicle door trim, and - a spacer according to the invention for fixing the trim with a motor vehicle door box, said door trim comprising a receiving hole in which the spacer is positioned and fixed by its arms.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the receiving hole has a span along said longitudinal direction which is greater than the span along said longitudinal direction of a portion of the spacer passing through said receiving hole.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the distal ends of the arms correspond with notches in the trim.

[0012] According to one variant, said notches form recesses in the edge of the receiving hole or openings at a distance from the edges of the receiving hole.

[0013] According to one embodiment, said spacer and said receiving hole are configured to allow relative movement of the spacer with respect to the lining along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said arms during a deformation of said lining.

[0014] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle door, equipped with an assembly according to the invention.

[0015] The invention also relates to a method for assembling a motor vehicle door comprising: - an assembly of a set according to the invention, comprising the positioning and fixing of the spacer in the receiving hole located in the trim, then - the mounting of said assembled set on a motor vehicle door frame, said mounting comprising engaging the trim with said frame via the collar of the spacer.

[0016] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle door comprising: - a box, - a trim piece placed against the said box, - a spacer positioned in a receiving hole located in the said fitting, the said spacer having a collar coming against the edges of the receiving hole so as to engage the said fitting with the said box; said receiving hole being further configured to permit relative movement of the spacer with respect to the lining along a longitudinal direction of said receiving hole during a deformation of said lining.

[0017] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a door according to the invention. Brief description of the figures

[0018] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will clearly explain what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented. In the accompanying figures:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents an XYZ coordinate system commonly used in design automobile;

[0020] [Fig.2] Fig.2, already described, represents a motor vehicle door according to prior art;

[0021] [Fig.3] Fig.3, already described, represents a detailed view of the vehicle door automobile of the [Fig.l];

[0022] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents an example of a spacer according to the invention;

[0023] [Fig. 5] [Fig. 5] represents an example of an assembly comprising an example spacer according to the invention and a motor vehicle door trim;

[0024] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] represents a detailed view of an example of trim;

[0025] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] represents a detailed view of another example of trim;

[0026] [Fig-8] [Fig.8] represents a cross-sectional view of an example of a vehicle door automobile according to the invention;

[0027] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] represents another cross-sectional view of the example door of motor vehicle according to the invention. Detailed description

[0028] Figure 4 shows an example of a spacer 100 according to the invention. The spacer 100 comprises a flange 110 and arms 120 extending from opposite sides of the flange 110. The spacer 100 is intended to fix a trim piece 200 to a door frame of a motor vehicle, as illustrated for example in Figure 5. For this purpose, the flange 110 comes against the edges of a receiving hole 210 located in the trim piece 200; while the arms 120 position and fix the spacer 100 in the receiving hole 210. In particular, a fixing rod V, such as a locking screw, is received in the spacer 100 to come against the flange 110 and engage the trim piece 200 with the frame. However, during a deformation of the lining 200, the arms 120 allow a relative movement of the spacer 100 with respect to the lining 200 along a longitudinal direction AA of the arms 120.

[0029] The inventors realized that, in the prior art, during a significant increase in temperature, particularly during prolonged parking of the motor vehicle in direct sunlight, the expansion of the trim 200 along the X direction is blocked by the fixing rod V. This leads to the formation of creases along the Y direction, which do not disappear upon cooling and cause the trim 200 to detach, particularly at the upper rear corner of the trim 200.

[0030] By being positioned at the interface between the fixing rod V and the edges of the receiving hole 210, the spacer 100 allows the gasket 200 to slide relative to the fixing rod V along the longitudinal direction AA. Thus, during the expansion of the gasket 200, a relative movement occurs between the gasket 200 on the one hand and the collar 110, the fixing rod V, and the housing on the other. This prevents the formation of creases in the gasket 200, particularly along the Y direction, and therefore prevents the gasket 200 from detaching.

[0031] Thanks to its arms 120, the spacer 100 is pre-positioned and fixed in the receiving hole 210, particularly before the fitting 200 is mounted on the housing. This facilitates the mounting of the spacer 100. However, the arms 120 do not impede the relative movement of the spacer 100 with respect to the fitting 200.

[0032] In particular, the arms 120 position the flange 110 at the center of the receiving hole 210, to allow equal movement in both directions along the longitudinal direction AA. For this purpose, the arms preferably have dimensions and / or Similar or identical mechanical properties. In particular, the arms 120 are not sufficiently rigid to prevent or cause disturbances, especially in the trim 200, during relative movement between the spacer 100 and the trim 200. Specifically, the arms 120 are resilient or deformable to allow the spacer 100 to move closer to or further from the edges of the receiving hole 210, particularly from opposite edges of the receiving holes located along the longitudinal direction AA. Each arm 120 may include one or more folds 120a to achieve elasticity or resilience. Alternatively, the arms 120 may break or undergo permanent deformation during the relative movement of the spacer 100 with respect to the trim 200. Such a break would not be problematic, as the spacer is then in place on the motor vehicle door between the trim 200 and the body.

[0033] In particular, the longitudinal direction AA is a direction along which the two arms AA extend from the collar 110 towards their respective distal ends 120b.

[0034] In particular, the collar 110 extends around a through hole 112 intended to receive the fixing rod V. The hole 112 is, for example, in the center of the collar 110. In particular, the collar 110 comprises an upper surface against which one end of the fixing rod V rests and a lower face intended to come against a face of the trim 200.

[0035] In particular, the spacer 100 includes a shaft 130 configured to pass through the receiving hole 210 and receive the fixing rod V. In particular, the shaft 130 extends from the collar 110, in particular from its lower face around the hole 112 receiving the fixing rod V.

[0036] In particular, the distal ends 120b of the arms correspond with the insert 200 to position and hold the spacer 100 in the receiving hole 210. The distal ends 120b are notably clip-shaped. Specifically, the distal ends 120b of the spacer 100 correspond with notches 221, 222 of the insert 200, illustrated in particular in Figures 6 and 7. The notches 221 can form recesses 221 in the edge of the receiving hole 210 as illustrated in [Fig. 6]. Alternatively, the notches 222 can form openings at a distance from the edges of the receiving hole 210, notably in the material of the insert 200, as illustrated for example in [Fig. 7]. By being positioned at a distance from the receiving hole 210, the notches 222 can free up the entire span of the receiving hole 210 for the relative movement of the spacer 100 with respect to the fitting 200.

[0037] In particular, a portion of the spacer 100 passing through the receiving hole 210 has a first span El along the longitudinal direction AA. The portion of The spacer 100 passing through the receiving hole 210 corresponds in particular to the shaft 130 described previously. The receiving hole 210, located in the fitting 200, has a second span E2 along the longitudinal direction AA. Preferably, the second span E2 is greater than the first span E1. Thus, the receiving hole 210 provides space to allow the relative movement of the spacer 100 with respect to the fitting 200.

[0038] Furthermore, the spacer 100 and the receiving hole 210 can be configured to allow relative movement of the spacer 100 with respect to the lining 200, along a direction BB perpendicular to the longitudinal direction AA of the arms 120 during deformation of the lining 200. This improves the prevention of creasing in the lining 200. To this end, the notches 221, 222 have, in particular, a span along the direction BB perpendicular to the longitudinal direction AA that is greater than that of the distal ends 120b of the arms 120. The receiving hole 210 has, in particular, a span along the direction BB perpendicular to the longitudinal direction AA that is greater than that of the portion 130 of the spacer that passes through the receiving hole 210. Alternatively, movement is not permitted along the direction BB perpendicular to the longitudinal direction AA.Specifically, the span of the notches 221, 222 along the BB direction perpendicular to the longitudinal AA direction is then adjusted to that of the distal ends 120b of the arms 120 so as to avoid deflection along the perpendicular BB direction. Similarly, the span along the BB direction perpendicular to the longitudinal AA direction of the portion 130 of the spacer that passes through the receiving hole 210 is then adjusted to that of the receiving hole 210 so as to avoid deflection along the perpendicular BB direction.

[0039] By positioning and securing the spacer 100 in the receiving hole 210 using the arms 120, an assembly is created that can be subsequently mounted on the automotive door frame. The trim assembly 200, equipped with the spacer 100, is thus pre-assembled before its mounting on the automotive door frame, which facilitates the positioning of the spacer 100 in the receiving hole 210 of the trim 200. For example, it is easier to center the spacer 100 in the receiving hole 210 using the arms 120. Thanks to the arms 120, the spacer 100 remains in position in the receiving hole 210 of the trim 200 until it is mounted on the frame. In particular, the mounting on the casing includes connecting the trim 200 to the casing via the collar 110, and in particular the fixing rod V. After fixing the trim 200 to the casing, the arms 120 are less useful and can be broken or left as is.

[0040] Figures 8 and 9 show partial cross-sectional views of a motor vehicle door comprising a trim 200 mounted on a housing 300 by via a spacer 100. Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the spacer along the BB direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal AA direction. Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the spacer along the longitudinal AA direction. The spacer 100 is positioned in the receiving hole 210 located in the trim 200. The collar 110 presses against the edges of the receiving hole 210 so as to engage the trim 200 with the housing 300, notably via the retaining rod V. In particular, the retaining rod V forms a locking screw whose head bears against the upper face of the collar 110. As seen in Figure 9, the receiving hole 210 allows relative movement of the spacer 100 with respect to the trim 200 along the longitudinal AA direction of said receiving hole 210 during deformation of the trim 210.The longitudinal direction AA of the receiving hole 210 corresponds in particular to the longitudinal direction of the arms 120 of the spacer 100. In particular, the housing 300 includes a molar 310 into which the fixing rod V engages for fixing the trim 200 to the housing 300. After fixing the trim 200 to the housing 300, the receiving hole 200 can be covered by a cover 400, in particular to conceal it from a vehicle occupant.

[0041] Thus, for example, the distal ends of the arms 120 of the spacer 100 correspond with notches 221, 222 in the trim 200, to position the spacer 100 in the center of the receiving hole 210 and hold it in the receiving hole 210 until its final fixing to the housing 300 during screw tightening.

[0042] After mounting on the 300 box, the spacer 100 can retain its arms 120 or the arms 120 can be removed.

[0043] The motor vehicle door can be included in a vehicle for example illustrated in [Fig.1].

Claims

Demands

1. Spacer (100) for fixing a trim (200) on a motor vehicle door frame (300) comprising: - a collar (110) configured to come against the edges of a receiving hole (210), located in said trim (200), so as to engage said trim (200) with said frame (300); - arms (120), extending from opposite sides of said collar (110), configured so as to position and fix said spacer (100) in the receiving hole (210); said arms (120) being further configured to allow relative movement of the spacer (100) with respect to the trim (200) along a longitudinal direction (AA) of said arms (120) during a deformation of said trim (200).

2. Spacer (100) according to claim 1, wherein the arms (120) comprise distal ends (120b) configured to correspond with the trim (200) to position and hold said spacer (100) in the receiving hole (210).

3. Assembly comprising - a motor vehicle door trim (200), and - a spacer (100) according to any one of the preceding claims for fixing the trim (200) with a motor vehicle door box (300), said door trim (200) comprising a receiving hole (210) in which the spacer (100) is positioned and fixed by its arms (120).

4. Assembly according to claim 3, wherein the receiving hole (210) has a span along said longitudinal direction (AA) which is greater than the span along said longitudinal direction (AA) of a portion of the spacer (100) passing through said receiving hole (210).

5. Assembly according to claim 3 or 4 comprising a spacer (100) according to claim 2, the distal ends (120b) of the arms (120) corresponding with notches (221, 222) of the trim (200).

6. Assembly according to claim 5, wherein said notches form recesses (221) in the edge of the receiving hole (210) or openings (222) at a distance from the edges of the receiving hole (210).

7. Assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein said spacer (100) and said receiving hole (210) are configured to permit relative movement of the spacer (100) with respect to the packing (200) in a direction (BB) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said arms (120) during deformation of said packing (200).

8. Motor vehicle door, equipped with an assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 7.

9. Method of assembling a motor vehicle door comprising: - an assembly of a unit according to any one of claims 3 to 7, comprising positioning and fixing the spacer (100) in the receiving hole (210) located in the trim (200), then - mounting said assembled unit on a body (300) of the motor vehicle door, said mounting comprising engaging the trim (200) with said body (300) via the collar (110) of the spacer (100).

10. Motor vehicle door comprising: - a body (300), - a trim (200) coming against said body (300), - a spacer (100) positioned in a receiving hole (210) located in said trim (200), said spacer (100) having a collar (110) coming against the edges of the receiving hole (210) so as to engage said trim (200) with said body (300); said receiving hole (210) being further configured to allow relative movement of the spacer (100) with respect to the trim (200) along a longitudinal direction (AA) of said receiving hole (210) during a deformation of said trim (200).

11. Motor vehicle comprising a door according to claim 8 or 10.

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