REAR BUMPER WITH MOVING PART(S), FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A bumper (PM) is fitted to a motor vehicle and comprises: - a main part (MP) fixed to the rear end of the vehicle, - at least one movable part (MP) capable of extending the main part (MP) downwards in a non-offset position, and at least one offset position capable of extending the main part (MP) rearwards in order to reduce the vehicle's rear wake, and - at least one displacement device (DP) arranged to place the movable part (MP) in the non-offset position or an offset position on command. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Rear bumper with moving part(s), for a motor vehicle Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to motor vehicles, and more specifically to rear bumpers which are attached to the rear ends of such vehicles. State of the art

[0002] Many motor vehicles include a rear end to which a bumper is attached, providing at least passive protection and whose shape is designed to limit the rear wake as much as possible. Indeed, as those skilled in the art know, the greater the rear wake of a motor vehicle, the more it contributes to the degradation of the vehicle's aerodynamics and therefore the more it reduces its driving range.

[0003] In order to reduce the rear wake of a motor vehicle, several solutions have been proposed. They consist of adding a wake-limiting device to the rear bumper. This device is either attached to the outer face of the rear bumper in a lower area, as proposed in particular in US patent document B2 10,040,493, or attached to the outer (lower) face of the floor in a rear area, as proposed in particular in DE patent document B4 10 2013 219 894, or attached to the inside of the bumper by being associated with a dedicated rear opening defined therein, as proposed in particular in US patent document B2 11,891,126.

[0004] In the first two alternatives, the wake limiting device is very exposed and therefore can be relatively damaged, or even torn off, during a collision. In the third and final alternative, it is necessary to design and define a dedicated rear opening and initial fastening means in the bumper, then to install the wake limiting device inside the bumper, before its fixed attachment to the rear end of the vehicle, by making its secondary fastening means cooperate with the initial fastening means, which is relatively time-consuming and therefore expensive.

[0005] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0006] It proposes in particular for this purpose a bumper suitable for equipping a motor vehicle, and characterized in that it comprises:

[0007] - a main part suitable for being attached to a rear end of the vehicle,

[0008] - at least one movable part of its own in a non-offset position to be extended towards the lower part of this main section, and in at least one offset position to extend the main section rearward in order to reduce a rear wake from the vehicle, and

[0009] - at least one displacement device arranged to place on command the moving part in the non-offset position or in an offset position.

[0010] Thanks to the invention, it is now the bumper itself that ensures the reduction of the rear wake of its vehicle, and therefore it does not risk being damaged due to significant exposure under the vehicle, and does not require the installation of an added wake limiting device before its fixed attachment to the rear end of the vehicle, which reduces costs.

[0011] The bumper according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0012] - it may comprise a single movable part coupled to two lateral zones, right and left, of the main part;

[0013] - Alternatively, it may comprise at least two coupled moving parts respectively to selected areas of the main part;

[0014] - each movable part can be positioned in several offset positions different and associated respectively with different reductions in the rear wake;

[0015] - in the presence of the last option, the non-shifted position and the shifted positions can be associated respectively with different vehicle speed intervals. In this case, the displacement device can be arranged so as to place the moving part in the non-offset position or in one of the offset positions according to an order which is received and is a function of a current vehicle speed;

[0016] - the (each) displacement device may include, firstly, at least one support element fixedly attached to an internal face of the main part, secondly, at least one mount capable of moving relative to this support element and fixedly attached to an internal face of the moving (associated) part, and, thirdly, at least one electrical equipment capable of moving the mount relative to the support element on command;

[0017] - in the presence of the last option, each support element may include at less a slide fixedly attached to the inner face of the main part and relative to which the associated mount is slidably mounted.

[0018] The invention also proposes a motor vehicle comprising a rear end to which is fixedly attached a bumper of the type shown above. Brief description of the figures

[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings (some of which were obtained using CAD / CAM (“Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing”)), in which:

[0020] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates, in a front view of the rear side, part of an example of an embodiment of a rear bumper according to the invention, before it is fitted to the rear end of a motor vehicle,

[0021] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a side view (left), the left part of the rear bumper of [Fig. 1], once the left moving part is placed in an offset position,

[0022] [Fig.3] illustrates schematically and functionally, in a cross-sectional view in a horizontal plane, the left part of the rear bumper of [Fig. 1], with an example of an embodiment of a displacement device having placed the left moving part in its non-offset position, and

[0023] [Fig.4] illustrates schematically and functionally, in a cross-sectional view in a horizontal plane, the left part of the rear bumper of [Fig.1] with an example of the realization of a displacement device having placed the left moving part in an offset position. Detailed description of the invention

[0024] The invention aims in particular to provide a rear bumper PC, intended to be fixedly attached to the rear end of a motor vehicle, and comprising at least one movable part PM suitable for reducing the rear wake of this motor vehicle.

[0025] In what follows, a motor vehicle is considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be a car. However, the invention is not limited to this type of motor vehicle. It relates in fact to any motor vehicle comprising a rear end to which a bumper must be attached.

[0026] In figures 1 to 4, the direction X is intended to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the direction Y is intended to be parallel to the transverse direction of the motor vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the direction Z is intended to be parallel to the vertical direction of the motor vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0027] Figures 1 to 4 schematically illustrate at least partially part of an example of an embodiment of a PC (rear) bumper according to the invention, before it is fitted to the rear end of a motor vehicle.

[0028] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 4, a (rear) bumper PC, according to the invention, comprises a main part PP, at least one movable part PM, and at least one displacement device DP.

[0029] It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, and at least partially illustrated, in Figures 1 to 4, the (rear) bumper PC comprises at least two movable parts PM coupled respectively to two selected zones of the main part PP. For example, and as illustrated but not limited to, the (rear) bumper PC may comprise two movable parts PM, right and left, coupled respectively to two lateral zones ZL, right and left, of the main part PP and separated from each other by a central zone ZC. This arrangement is advantageous because it allows the installation of a coupling device in the central zone ZC.

[0030] However, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the (rear) bumper PC could comprise only a single movable part PM coupled to two lateral zones, right and left, of the main part PP. It should be noted that in this alternative, the extension of the single movable part PM along the transverse direction Y can be variable and can range from the entire width of the bumper PC to a portion of its width.

[0031] The main part PP is arranged so as to be attached to a rear end of a vehicle (automobile).

[0032] Each moving part PM is suitable for being placed in a non-offset (or retracted) position or at least an offset (or extended) position. In the non-offset position, illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, each moving part PM extends the main part PP downwards. In the offset position, illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, each moving part PM extends the main part PP towards the rear (of the vehicle) in order to reduce the vehicle's rear wake.

[0033] It will be understood that the shape of (each) moving part PM is chosen so that it allows the reduction of the rear wake in all offset (rear) positions.

[0034] The (each) displacement device DP is arranged so as to place on command the (each or one) moving part PM in its non-offset position or in an offset position.

[0035] It should be noted that the PC bumper can include a single displacement device DP to move a single moving part PM (central) or at least two moving parts PM, or at least two displacement devices DP to move at least two moving parts PM respectively.

[0036] Thus, it is the PC bumper itself that ensures the reduction of the vehicle's rear wake with at least one moving part PM. It is therefore not at risk of being damaged due to significant exposure under the vehicle, and does not require the installation of a wake limiting device added before its fixed attachment to the rear end of the vehicle, which helps to reduce costs.

[0037] For example, each moving part PM can be positioned in several different offset positions, each associated with a different reduction in the tail wake. The reduction can vary substantially continuously or in selected steps.

[0038] Also, for example, the non-offset position and the offset positions can be associated respectively with different vehicle speed ranges. In this case, the (each) displacement device DP can be arranged so as to place the (each or one) moving part PM in its non-offset position or in one of its offset positions according to a command that is received and is a function of the vehicle's current speed. This is particularly advantageous because it allows for an optimal rearward offset to be established for each (speed) range(s), in order to reduce the rear wake as a function of the vehicle's current speed.

[0039] The command can, for example, be determined by, and originate from, the vehicle's powertrain monitoring computer or on-board computer. It should be noted that this command may optionally include only the vehicle's current speed, and in this case, the displacement device DP is arranged to determine the position of each moving part PM that corresponds to this current speed. It then has, for example, a speed / position lookup table or at least a mathematical formula.

[0040] For example, the gap between the unshifted position and the most rearward shifted position can be between 15 cm and 25 cm. By way of illustration (and therefore not limiting), this gap can be equal to 20 cm.

[0041] Also, for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2 to 4, the (each) displacement device DP may include at least one support element ES, at least one mount MD, and at least one electrical equipment ME.

[0042] Each support element ES is fixedly attached to the inner face Fil of the main part PP. It can be rectilinear to allow a translation (arrow Fl) of the movable part PM, as illustrated non-limitingly in figures 3 and 4, or curvilinear to allow a displacement of the movable part PM along an upward (upward) or downward (downward) curve.

[0043] The (each) mount MD is designed to move relative to the support element ES and is fixedly attached to the inner face FI2 of the (one) moving part PM.

[0044] Each electrical device ME is capable of moving, on command, the mount MD relative to the associated support element ES. For example, each electrical device ME may be an electric motor or a piston, possibly associated with a rack and pinion type mechanism or a connecting rod(s) / crank(s) mechanism.

[0045] Also, for example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 3 and 4, each support element ES may include at least one slide which is fixedly attached to the inner face Fil of the main part PP and relative to which the associated mount MD is slidably mounted. It should be noted that a slide may, for example, be a rail.

[0046] However, other arrangements of the (each) displacement device DP allowing the movement of at least one moving part PM can be envisaged. Generally speaking, the (each) displacement device DP is a kind of kinematic chain or mechanical assembly capable of imposing a translational motion or a translational motion combined with a rotation or an inclination.

Claims

Demands

1. Bumper (PC) for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises i) a main part (PP) adapted to be attached to a rear end of said vehicle, ii) at least one movable part (PM) adapted in a non-offset position to extend said main part (PP) downwards, and in at least one offset position to extend said main part (PP) rearwards in order to reduce a rear wake of said vehicle, and iii) at least one displacement device (DP) arranged to place said movable part (PM) on command in said non-offset position or in an offset position.

2. Bumper according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a single movable part (PM) coupled to two lateral zones, right and left, of said main part (PP).

3. Bumper according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two movable parts (PM) coupled respectively to selected zones (ZL) of said main part (PP).

4. Bumper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each movable part (MP) is suitable for being placed in several different offset positions and associated respectively with different reductions of said wake.

5. Bumper according to claim 4, characterized in that said non-offset position and said offset positions are associated respectively with different speed intervals of said vehicle, and in that said displacement device (DP) is arranged so as to place said moving part (PM) in said non-offset position or in one of said offset positions according to a received command and function of a current speed of said vehicle.

6. Bumper according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said displacement device (DP) comprises i) at least one support element (ES) fixedly attached to an inner face (Wire) of said main part (PP), ii) at least one mount (MD) adapted to move relative to said support element (ES) and fixedly attached to an inner face (FI2) of said moving part (PM), and iii) at least one electrical equipment (ME) adapted to move said mount (MD) relative to said support element (ES) on command.

7. 8 Bumper according to claim 6, characterized in that each support element (ES) comprises at least one slide fixedly attached to said inner face (Wire) of the main part (PP) and relative to which said associated mount (MD) is slidably mounted.

8. Motor vehicle comprising a rear end, characterized in that it further comprises a bumper (PC) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, fixedly attached to said rear end.

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