Car canopy grille

Abstract

The invention relates to a canopy grille (1) intended to extend along the bottom of a windshield (3) of a motor vehicle, transversely to the vehicle. The canopy grille (1) is designed to be fixed in a seal (4) of the windshield (3) and to support a canopy stiffener (5). The grille (1) comprises, on the one hand, a first portion (6) designed to be positioned between the windshield (3) and the canopy stiffener (5) and designed to form a canopy collector (7), and, on the other hand, a second portion (8) formed from the same material as the first portion (6) and designed to be fixed against a first face (9) of the canopy stiffener (5). The second portion (8) comprises a sealing gasket (10) designed to be compressed against a second face (11) of the canopy stiffener (5), distinct from the first face (9), in order to ensure a seal between the stiffener and the canopy. awning (5) and awning grille (1). (Figure 2)

Description

Title of the invention: Canopy grille for motor vehicle

[0001] The technical field relates to canopy grilles, vehicle structures comprising at least one canopy grille and motor vehicles having such a structure.

[0002] It is common for a family of vehicles, sharing the same silhouette, to have different levels of trim and equipment. Each difference in equipment or trim often requires specific parts, thus multiplying the number of part numbers used in the production of the vehicles in the family. The diversity of part numbers has repercussions on many aspects, ranging from the sourcing and storage of part numbers to their production. For example, it frequently happens that a part has at least two distinct shapes and therefore two part numbers; in order to produce both part numbers, it is then possible to use a single tool capable of producing both part numbers in successive production runs or to use two different tools.While the first solution complicates production due to the need to manage staggered production and supply flows, the second solution generates additional costs and / or larger investments.

[0003] Thus, in general, the diversity of references necessarily leads to an increase in development and production costs as well as a complexity in the supply logistics of the assembly lines of the different versions of the vehicle.

[0004] In this context, motor vehicles generally include a plastic cowl collector attached to the body panel. A grille is then attached to this cowl collector. To accommodate the diversity of vehicle shapes, several versions of the grille exist. Thus, the diversity of body shapes sometimes necessitates several grilles and several cowl collectors. Furthermore, some body structures have a design that makes it difficult to install a cowl collector without adapting the structure itself, which increases the complexity and costs associated with the diversity of body shapes.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a solution that reduces the diversity of elements required for canopies and reduces their complexity.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a canopy grid that reduces complexity and simplifies the canopy structure.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a canopy grille intended to extend below a windshield of a motor vehicle, transversely to the vehicle, the canopy grille being designed to be fixed in a seal of the windshield and to support a canopy stiffener, the grille comprising, on the one hand, a first part designed to be disposed between the windshield and the canopy stiffener and designed to form a canopy collector and, on the other hand, a second part made of the same material as the first part and designed to be fixed to support a first face of the canopy stiffener, the second part comprising a sealing gasket designed to be compressed against a second face of the canopy stiffener, distinct from the first face, in order to ensure sealing between the canopy stiffener and the canopy grille.

[0008] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle structure comprising a canopy stiffener and a windscreen held on the structure by a seal, spaced from the canopy stiffener, the structure further comprising a canopy grille according to the invention, the first part extending between the seal and the canopy stiffener, the second part being fixed on a first face of the canopy stiffener and in support of a second distinct face of the canopy stiffener, the structure being devoid of a separate collector from the grille.

[0009] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having a structure according to the invention.

[0010] Thus, the canopy grille according to the invention makes it possible to form a structure according to the invention without a collector, the canopy grille according to the invention performing the function of the collector thanks to its first part. This reduces the number of components required, as one element is no longer necessary. Furthermore, the second part ensures a seal between the grille according to the invention and the canopy stiffener. The interaction of the second part with two distinct faces of the canopy stiffener thus allows for the integration of variations in the position and / or height of the canopy grille under the structure's cover. Therefore, the grille according to the invention reduces the number of components required and the complexity. Indeed, the canopy grille allows for the integration of variations in the position of the canopy grille on a common base, eliminating the diversity that would lead to costly investments.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the canopy grid, the second part is designed to support first and second faces extending in two distinct substantially parallel planes.

[0012] According to one possibility of the grid, the sealing gasket includes a sealing foam cord.

[0013] In one embodiment of the canopy grid, the second part includes fastening means to ensure positive fastening on the first face of the canopy stiffener.

[0014] According to one possibility, the grille includes a hood seal, designed to support a hood of the vehicle, the seal being fixed along an edge of the second part.

[0015] Advantageously, the grid includes at least one ventilation zone provided with a plurality of openings and / or designed to accommodate a mesh, each ventilation zone being designed to allow an airflow to pass through the ventilation zone to supply an air circuit.

[0016] According to one possibility of the structure, the second face is a rebate of the canopy stiffener.

[0017] Advantageously still, the second face is offset forward and downward relative to the first face.

[0018] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a perspective view of part of a structure of vehicle according to the invention showing a canopy grille according to the invention;

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a cross-sectional view of the structure of [Fig.1] following the AA axis;

[0021] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0022] A canopy grille 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures, is intended to equip a structure 2 of a motor vehicle according to the invention. In the structure 2, the grille 1 extends along the bottom of a motor vehicle windshield 3, transversely to the vehicle. The grille 1 according to the invention is a single piece. The grille 1 is, for example, obtained by molding plastic material.

[0023] The canopy grille 1 is designed to be fixed in a seal 4, illustrated in [Fig. 2], of the windshield 3 and to support a canopy stiffener 5, also illustrated in [Fig. 2]. The canopy stiffener 5 is a basic element of the structure 2 present in all versions of the vehicle. The canopy stiffener 5 is, for example, formed from a stamped sheet metal extending transversely between the sides of the structure 2 and having a U-shaped cross-section.

[0024] The grille 1 comprises, on the one hand, a first portion 6 designed to be positioned between the windshield 3 and the canopy stiffener 5. The first portion 6 is designed to form a canopy collector 7. Thus, the canopy collector 7 collects and channels the water running off the windshield 3. Therefore, thanks to the first portion 6, the structure 2 according to the invention does not require a separate collector from the grille 1.

[0025] The grid 1 includes, on the other hand, a second part 8 made of the same material as the first part 6 and designed to be fixed in support of a first face 9, illustrated on [Fig.2], of the canopy stiffener 5. The second part 8 includes a sealing gasket 10 designed to be compressed against a second face 11, illustrated on [Fig.2], of the canopy stiffener 5, distinct from the first face 9, in order to ensure sealing between the canopy stiffener 5 and the canopy grid 1.

[0026] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the first 9 and second 11 faces extend in two distinct, substantially parallel planes. Advantageously, the second face 11 is offset forward and downward relative to the first face 9. Forward and downward refer to the front and bottom of the vehicle according to the invention equipped with the grille 1.

[0027] In the structure 2 according to the invention illustrated in [Fig.2], the first face 9 is the upper face of the canopy stiffener 5. The second face 11 is, for example, a rebate 12 of the canopy stiffener 5.

[0028] In the example illustrated in the figures, the sealing joint 10 is formed of a sealing foam cord.

[0029] To ensure the attachment of the grid 1 to the structure 2 and the compression of the sealing bead on the second face 11, the second part 8 includes fastening means 13 for ensuring positive attachment of the second part 8 to the first face 9. A fastening is said to be positive when it is designed to guarantee that the parts remain securely in place even under significant forces, such as those generated by an accident or collision. For example, a positive fastening is achieved using bolts or screws. Such a positive fastening also ensures that the effort required from an assembly operator to secure the canopy grid 1 to the canopy stiffener 5 is feasible on a series production scale.

[0030] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the grille 1 includes a hood seal 14, designed to support a hood 15 of the vehicle, the hood seal 14 being fixed along an edge 16 of the second part 8.

[0031] Furthermore, and as shown in [Fig. 1], the canopy grille 1 comprises at least one ventilation zone 17 provided with a plurality of openings 18. Alternatively, a ventilation zone 17 is designed to accommodate a mesh screen, not shown. Each ventilation zone 17 is designed to allow an airflow to pass through the ventilation zone 17 to supply an air circuit, not shown.

[0032] Thus, the canopy grid 1 allows the formation of structure 2 without a collector. The canopy grid 1 performs the function of the collector thanks to its first part 6. Thus, diversity is reduced since the canopy collector is no longer necessary. Furthermore, the second part 8 ensures the seal between the grid 1 and the canopy stiffener 5.

[0033] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the canopy grid described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. A canopy grille (1) intended to extend along the bottom of a motor vehicle windshield (3), transversely to the vehicle, the canopy grille (1) being designed to be fixed in a seal (4) of the windshield (3) and to support a canopy stiffener (5), the grille (1) comprising, on the one hand, a first portion (6) designed to be disposed between the windshield (3) and the canopy stiffener (5) and designed to form a canopy collector (7) and, on the other hand, a second portion (8) made of the same material as the first portion (6) and designed to be fixed against a first face (9) of the canopy stiffener (5), the second portion (8) comprising a sealing gasket (10) designed to be compressed against a second face (11) of the canopy stiffener (5), distinct from the first face (9), in order to ensure a seal between the awning stiffener (5) and the awning grid (1).

2. Awning grid (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second part (8) is designed to be in support of first (9) and second (11) faces extending in two distinct substantially parallel planes.

3. Awning grid (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealing joint (10) comprises a sealing foam cord.

4. Awning grid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second part (8) comprises fastening means (13) enabling positive fastening on the first face (9) of the awning stiffener (5).

5. Canopy grille (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the grille (1) includes a hood seal (14), designed to support a hood (15) of the vehicle, the hood seal (14) being fixed along an edge (16) of the second part (8).

6. Awning grid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the grid (1) has at least one ventilation zone (17) provided with a plurality of openings (18) and / or designed to accommodate a mesh, each ventilation zone (17) being designed to allow an airflow to pass through the ventilation zone (17) to supply an air circuit.

7. Motor vehicle structure (2) comprising a canopy stiffener (5) and a windscreen (3) held on the structure (2) by a joint (4), spaced from the canopy stiffener (5), the structure (2) further comprising a canopy grille (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the first part (6) extending between the joint (4) and the canopy stiffener (5), the second part (8) being fixed on a first face (9) of the canopy stiffener (5) and in support of a second face (11) separate from the canopy stiffener (5), the structure (2) being devoid of a collector separate from the grille (1).

8. Structure (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the second face (11) is a rebate (12) of the canopy stiffener (5).

9. Structure (2) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the second face (11) is offset forward and downward relative to the first face (9).

10. Motor vehicle having a structure (2) according to any one of claims 7 to 9.

Images