Protective device designed to be fitted to the bottom of a vehicle step

Abstract

Protective device for equipping a vehicle step. The invention relates to a protective device (100) for equipping a vehicle step (200), the step (200) having an exposure layer (210) at least partially covered by a coating layer (220), the protective device being characterized in that it comprises at least two plates (110), each plate having a lower surface (111) for being disposed on the coating layer (220) and comprising a fastening area for fixing the plate (110) to the exposure layer (210) of the step (200). The invention also relates to a step comprising such a protective device. (Figure 3)

Description

Title of the invention: Protective device for equipping a vehicle step

[0001] The present invention relates to the fields of mechanics and in particular that of automobiles, and more specifically concerns a protective device intended to equip a vehicle step.

[0002] In a vehicle, the sill extends partially into the door frame. In the lower part of the door, the sill is connected to a floor panel. The sill corresponds to the area where the front or rear door of the vehicle enters the doorway. This area, connected to the floor panel, forms a raised section at the lower part of the door opening. In other words, at the door entrance, one can define an outer part, which corresponds to the bodywork side of the vehicle, and an inner part, which corresponds to the interior side and is covered in plastic. The sill extends from a peripheral edge of the floor panel to the outer part.

[0003] To enter or exit the vehicle, people step over the lower step at the level of a so-called exposure layer. As a result, the lower step is frequently bumped or stepped on at its upper surface, which will be referred to herein as the exposure surface. Typically, the lower step is made with a reinforced plastic backing to ensure sufficient rigidity to withstand the stresses experienced during passenger entry and exit. At the lower step of the vehicle's entry and exit points, plastic or leather trim systems are placed on the upper surface of the exposure layer (the exposure surface) to protect and enhance the appearance of this area.

[0004] Indeed, in the automotive sector, vehicle aesthetics are crucial for their commercial success. Therefore, vehicle interiors are studied and designed to provide maximum comfort and a sense of well-being. With this in mind, as mentioned previously, a coating layer can be applied to the exposed layer of the lower door sill. However, due to exposure to wear and tear from passengers' feet, the coating must be robust to prevent deterioration over time. If vehicle designers wish to offer a coating for the lower door sill, they are thus faced with the challenge of providing protection. Ultimately, this results in two alternatives: either the coating is a plastic coating, or a plate covering the entire exposed surface of the exposed layer is fixed to the coating.

[0005] The present invention falls within this context and aims to provide a protective device for a vehicle step with a coating that allows the coating to be protected from friction or any other external aggression in a safe manner, and which can be modular in terms of shape and size.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a protective device intended to equip a vehicle step, the step having an exposure layer covered at least partially by a coating layer, the protective device being characterized in that it comprises at least two plates, each plate having a lower surface intended to be disposed on the coating layer and comprising a fixing area intended to fix the plate to the exposure layer of the step.

[0007] Thanks to these features, the coating layer is protected from external aggressions such as friction from the feet of passengers entering and exiting the vehicle or friction caused during the loading of certain parts into the vehicle. Furthermore, the multi-plate design of the fastening device allows for customization depending on the coating layer to be protected and the area of ​​the coating layer that needs protection. If the coating is not very sensitive to external aggressions, fewer plates can be used than if the coating is very fragile. It is also possible to use more plates in a central area of ​​the exposed layer, which may be more exposed to the risk of friction from passengers entering and exiting the vehicle.

[0008] Advantageously, the pads are spaced apart from each other. While ensuring its protective role for the coating layer, the spacing of the pads allows portions of the coating layer to remain visible.

[0009] According to an optional feature of the invention, the pads have a thickness greater than a predefined value, the predefined value preferably being the thickness of the coating layer. When the pad is fixed to the bottom of the step, depending on the coating layer, the pad may sink slightly into the coating layer. By having a thickness greater than a predefined value, it is ensured that once fixed, the upper surface of the pad will protrude from the coating layer, for example by at least three millimeters to guarantee a good level of protection.

[0010] According to an optional feature of the invention, at least one plate includes a through opening forming the fixing area. This through opening allows the passage of a fixing device, for example a rivet, to fix the plate to the bottom of the step.

[0011] In one variant, the through opening of the plate can be tapped, to proceed to the fixing of the plate to the bottom of the step by means of a screw.

[0012] According to another optional feature of the invention, the fastening area extends from the lower surface of the plate perpendicularly to the lower surface and includes a tapped blind hole. The fastening area locally penetrates the coating layer, and an opening in the exposure layer allows a screw to pass through the exposure layer to enable the fastening of the plate to the exposure layer of the bottom of the tread.

[0013] According to an optional feature of the invention, the pads are metallic, for example made of steel or aluminum. This gives the protective device good resistance when subjected to friction from feet or loads.

[0014] The invention also relates to a vehicle step having an exposure layer covered at least partially by a coating layer, the step comprising a protective device as described above disposed on the coating layer, the exposure layer and the coating layer comprising openings at the fixing area of ​​at least two pads, and for each pad: a fixing device passing through the openings of the exposure layer and the coating layer at the fixing area, and cooperating with the fixing area, so as to fix the pad to the exposure layer.

[0015] According to an optional feature of the invention, the exposure layer includes a recess at the fixing area, so as to accommodate the fixing area of ​​the plate.

[0016] The invention also covers a vehicle comprising such a lower step.

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] schematically represents a lower step of a front vehicle door viewed from the outside with the protective device according to the invention,

[0019] [Fig.2] schematically represents the protection device according to the invention

[0020] [Fig.3] represents a cross-sectional view of a step bottom equipped with the device protection according to the invention,

[0021] [Fig.4] represents a cross-sectional view of the bottom of a step at the level of an area of fixation according to the invention.

[0022] The features, variants, and different embodiments of the invention, as described or as they will be presented in the detailed description that follows, can be combined with one another in various ways, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined that do not including that a selection of features described subsequently in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0023] For the sake of clarity, the same elements are designated by the same references in the different figures.

[0024] Figure 1 schematically represents a lower step 200 of a front vehicle door 300 viewed from the outside 30 of the vehicle with the protective device 100 according to the invention. The interior of the vehicle is indicated by reference numeral 31 (this is therefore the passenger compartment area, reference numeral 32 representing a seat and reference numeral 33 indicating the floor panel). The lower step 200 has an upper surface of width 201. This upper surface can be divided into flat surfaces and / or curved surfaces. In the illustration of Figure 1 and in the remainder of the description of the invention, the protective device will be described in the case of a flat portion of the lower step to be protected. We will call this flat portion to be protected the exposure layer, the upper surface of which is referred to as the exposure surface.However, based on the description of the invention which will be given, it is understood that the invention applies similarly to any type of surface, whether flat, or curved (as is the case at the lower portion of the bottom of the step 200 on the left and right of the representation of the protective device 100) or spherical surface.

[0025] The exposure layer 210 is covered at least partially by a coating layer 220. In other words, the coating layer 220 covers either the entire exposure layer 210, or a part of the exposure layer, for example in pieces or only on a strip which covers the exposure layer over its entire width 201 but only on the lower central portion.

[0026] The upholstery layer 220 can be made of leather, textile, or woven fabric, for example, wool velvet, or cut-pile or loop pile carpet (the latter examples are also commonly referred to as carpeting). Such an upholstery layer covers the lower part of the step and contributes to a more premium feel in the passenger compartment, particularly due to the visual continuity between the step covered by layer 220 and the carpet or rug laid on the floor panel 33. However, such an upholstery layer is only feasible if it is protected, otherwise it will need to be replaced regularly.

[0027] According to the invention, the protective device comprises at least two plates 110, 120. Each plate has a lower surface 111, 121 intended to be placed on the coating layer 220. Each plate includes a fixing area for fixing the plate 110, 120 to the exposure layer 210 at the bottom of step 200. The lower surface 111 of the plate 110 is in contact with the exposed surface of the exposure layer 210, and the plate 110 is fixed to the bottom of the step, through the coating layer and the exposure layer, via its fixing zone (not visible in [Fig. 1]). The fixing principle will be detailed below.

[0028] Similarly, the lower surface 121 of the plate 120 is in contact with the exposure surface of the exposure layer 210, and the plate 120 is fixed by means of its fixing area to the bottom of the step, through the coating layer and the exposure layer.

[0029] Such a protective device, composed of a plurality of plates, provides localized protection for the upholstery layer. The plurality of plates allows a certain area of ​​the upholstery layer to be covered without completely obscuring it. The protective device of the invention fulfills the dual role of protecting the upholstery layer while leaving it visible. For example, if the upholstery layer is carpet, the protective device prevents direct contact between the passenger's foot and the carpet. This prevents delamination of the carpet and the stretching and breaking of its fibers.

[0030] The invention is described with two plates. However, the invention applies similarly with a larger number of plates. In [Fig. 1], twenty-eight plates make up the protective device 100.

[0031] The pads 110, 120 are spaced apart. This means that the pads are not in contact with each other. A distance 50 (visible in [Fig. 2]) separates the pads. This distance can be a few millimeters or centimeters, and can be variable; that is, two adjacent pads can be separated by five millimeters in one portion of the protective device, and two other adjacent pads can be separated by three or eight millimeters in another portion of the protective device. The possible variation in the spacing between two adjacent pads allows the coating layer to be more or less visible, or the spacing between two adjacent pads to be adapted according to the fragility of the coating layer.If the coating layer is more sensitive to repeated friction, as may be the case for a carpet coating layer, two adjacent pads of the protective device will be arranged with a small spacing, for example on the order of a few millimeters.

[0032] Figure 2 schematically represents the protective device according to the invention arranged on a carpet coating layer 220. In Figure 2, ten plates form the protective device 100.

[0033] The plates 110, 120 have a thickness 113, 123. This thickness is advantageously greater than a predefined value, the predefined value being Preferably, a thickness of 223 (visible in [Fig. 4]) of the 220 coating layer is used. Thus, when the pads are fixed, it is ensured that they protrude from the coating layer in a direction perpendicular to the exposed surface of the bottom of the step. Indeed, in the example of a carpet coating layer, the pad can partially sink into the coating layer. In order to ensure its protective function, the thickness of the pad must be greater than the predefined value (for example, the thickness of the carpet). The pads remain raised above the coating layer and ensure that passengers' feet will not rub against it.

[0034] Figure 2 illustrates an example of plate embodiments. It should be noted that all the plates in the protective device shown are identical. However, plates of different shapes in a protective device do not depart from the scope of the invention.

[0035] The plate 110 has a general rectangular parallelepiped shape with a height of 113 (corresponding to its thickness discussed previously). It extends over a length of 117. Advantageously, the length 117 is equal to the width 201 of the exposed layer 210 to cover the entire width of the area exposed to friction by the coating layer. However, it may be less than the width 201, in which case the plate covers a portion of the exposed layer along its width. The plate 110 has a width of 118. In the example embodiment of the plate 110, the plate 110 has a width of 118 at one of its two ends and a width 119, different from the width 118, at the other end. This is a non-limiting example embodiment.It is therefore understood that the plates can have different shapes, sizes and spacing between them, which makes the protective device modular in terms of the surface area covered by the exposure.

[0036] As discussed previously, the principle of the invention applies to any type of exposure surface, that is, to a flat surface, a curved surface, or even a spherical surface. In the case of a stair tread with a curved portion that is to be protected by the protective device of the invention, the plates are of complementary shape. The lower surface 111 of the plate 110 is thus a curved surface with the same curvature as the curved surface of the protective surface. Viewed in perspective, the plate 110 has the shape of an arc. It is understood that the curvature can be along the length or the width of the plate, in accordance with the curvature of the exposure surface. In other words, the plate conforms to the shape of the exposure surface to which it is intended to be fixed. Although less common, the same reasoning applies to a portion of the stair tread with a spherical surface.

[0037] It should be noted that the invention remains within the scope of the invention with oval or circular cross-section plates. The protective device of the invention may also consist of a plurality of oval or circular cross-section plates distributed over the surface to be protected. For example, if circular cross-section plates are used, one or more plates across the width of the surface to be protected may be covered. The protective device of the invention may also include a plate with a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and a plate with a circular cross-section. This variety of possible shapes for the protective device offers the possibility of customizing the protective device and allows for localized protection of the coating layer.This results in the possibility of generating a more refined protective mesh, i.e., a finer one (understood as a higher density of plates), in areas most sensitive to external aggressions. For example, the protective device of the invention makes it possible to provide denser protection in the central area of ​​the exposure surface (where the majority of entry and exit points are located) and less dense protection in its peripheral areas. It is thus possible to create a wide variety of patterns based on the number, shape, size, and spacing of the plates in the protective device to ensure that the coating layer is protected as closely as possible to the required area.

[0038] In order to ensure a protective role, the plates are advantageously metallic, for example made of steel or aluminum. However, they can also be made of plastic.

[0039] Another advantage of the protection device is related to its composition in several plates which can be changed individually, either for reasons of personalization to the consumer's taste, or for reasons of protection to adapt if it is observed that an area of ​​the coating layer is more affected by friction requiring a larger plate.

[0040] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a stair tread 200 equipped with the protective device 100 according to the invention. The stair tread 200 has the exposed layer 210. In this illustration, the exposed layer 210 is completely covered by the coating layer 220. In this non-limiting example, the coating layer covers the entire stair tread, from the flat area of ​​the floor panel 33 to the outer part (sheet metal side) discussed in the introduction.

[0041] The tread 200 includes the protective device 100 on the coating layer 220, and more specifically on the exposed surface of the exposed layer 210 to be protected. The attachment of the protective device to the exposed layer of the tread will now be detailed based on [Fig. 4].

[0042] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a stair tread 200 according to the invention. The level of a fixing zone for plate 120 is determined by the exposure layer 210. From the above, it is understood that plate 120 must be fixed to the bottom of the step; that is, the fixing of plate 120 is achieved through the coating layer 220 and the exposure layer 210. In the following sections, we will detail the fixing of a single plate. The same principle applies similarly to the other plates in the protective device. Furthermore, we will discuss fixing per plate. Depending on the size and shape of the plate, two fixing zones may be required to secure the plate and prevent rotational movement around the plate's fixing axis. In the case of a plate with a circular cross-section, a single central fixing zone is sufficient.

[0043] The exposure layer 210 includes an opening 310 opposite the fixing area 122 of the wafer 120. The coating layer 220 includes an opening 320 opposite the fixing area 122 of the wafer 120. In other words, the openings 310 and 320 are opposite the fixing area 122. In the stacking of the exposure layer 210 and the coating layer 220, the openings are superimposed.

[0044] For each plate, the bottom of the step includes a fixing device 126 passing through the openings 310, 320 of the exposure layer 210 and the coating layer 220 at the fixing zone 122. The fixing device cooperates with the fixing zone, so as to fix the plate 120 to the exposure layer 210.

[0045] In one embodiment of the invention schematically represented at the bottom of the figure, the plate may include a through opening 124 forming the fastening zone 122. Thus, the bottom of the step has three openings (through opening 124 of the plate, opening 320 of the coating layer 220, and opening 310 of the exposure layer) opposite each other. The fastening device may be a rivet whose shank is inserted into the three openings to secure the plate to the exposure layer.

[0046] The through opening 124 can be tapped, in which case the fastening device is a screw. The plate is then fixed to the exposure layer by screwing.

[0047] In another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], the fastening area 122 extends from the lower surface 121 of the insert 120 perpendicularly to the lower surface and includes a blind tapped hole 125. In other words, the insert 120 has a cylindrical protrusion extending from its lower surface 121. This protrusion houses the tapped hole, thus forming the blind tapped hole 125. The protrusion is disposed through the opening 320 of the coating layer 220. The diameter of the opening 320 is therefore substantially the same as the outer diameter of the protrusion. The device of The fixing is a screw positioned through the openings 310, 320 in the exposure and coating layers. The plate is then fixed to the exposure layer by screwing it in.

[0048] As can be seen in [Fig. 4], the exposure layer 210 includes a recess 213 at the location of the mounting area 122, so as to accommodate the mounting area of ​​the insert. The mounting area of ​​the insert is the area in which the screw thread engages with the tapped hole of the blind hole. The recess 123 allows for a greater protrusion height and therefore a higher number of threads, resulting in a greater engagement length than if there were no recess, thus enabling better screw fixation in the mounting area.

[0049] Finally, the invention also relates to a vehicle 300 comprising a lower step 200 as described above.

[0050] The protective device of the invention is applicable to all types of vehicles in the automotive industry: passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, and luxury vehicles. Such a protective device prevents premature wear of the lower tread coating. This results in a longer service life for this coating.

[0051] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the features of different embodiments of the invention can be combined to carry out the invention, provided that these embodiments are not incompatible with each other.

Claims

Demands

1. Protective device (100) for equipping a vehicle (300) step (200), the step (200) having an exposure layer (210) covered at least partially by a coating layer (220), the protective device being characterized in that it comprises at least two plates (110, 120), each plate having a lower surface (111, 121) for being disposed on the coating layer (220) and comprising a fixing area (122) for fixing the plate (110, 120) to the exposure layer (210) of the step (200).

2. Protective device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the plates (110, 120) are spaced apart from each other.

3. Protective device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plates (110, 120) have a thickness (113, 123) greater than a predefined value, the predefined value being preferably a thickness (223) of the coating layer (220).

4. Protective device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one plate (110, 120) includes a through opening (114, 124) forming the fixing area (122).

5. Protective device (100) according to claim 4, in which the through opening (114, 124) is tapped.

6. Protective device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fixing area (122) extends from the lower surface (111, 121) of the plate (110, 120) perpendicularly to the lower surface and includes a tapped blind hole (125).

7. Protective device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plates (110, 120) are metallic.

8. A vehicle step (200) having an exposure layer (210) at least partially covered by a coating layer (220), the step comprising: - a protective device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 disposed on the coating layer (220), the exposure layer (210) and the layer of coating (220) comprising openings (310; 320) at the fixing zone (122) of at least two plates (110, 120) of the protective device (100), - and for each plate (110, 120): a fixing device (116, 126) passing through the openings (310; 320) of the exposure layer (210) and the coating layer (220) at the fixing zone (122), and cooperating with the fixing zone, so as to fix the plate (110, 120) to the exposure layer (210).

9. Step bottom (200) according to claim 8 in combination with claim 6, wherein the exposure layer (210) includes a recess (213) at the fixing area (122), so as to accommodate the fixing area of ​​the plate.

10. Vehicle (300) comprising a lower step (200) according to any one of claims 8 to 9.

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