VEHICLE OPENING WITH A PROTECTION PART OF WHICH FORMES IMPROVED ACOUSTIC INSULATION

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (1) opening (2) comprising a housing (3) and a protective element (4) that at least partially covers the lower part of an outer panel (32) of said housing (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), the protective element (4) comprising at least two parts, an upper part (41) and a lower part (42), the upper part (41) being formed of a first plastic material and the lower part (42) being formed of a second plastic material, the second plastic material being adapted to provide acoustic insulation for said housing (3) from the opening (2) when various elements such as gravel are projected against said lower part (42) while the vehicle is in motion. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: VEHICLE OPENING COMPRISING A PROTECTION PART OF WHICH FORMES IMPROVED ACOUSTIC INSULATION

[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 that such an opening includes 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 more 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] It comprises, in fact, according to the invention, an opening of a motor vehicle which includes a box and a protective element which covers at least partially the lower part of an outer panel of said box, said outer panel being intended to be positioned towards the outside of the vehicle when said opening is positioned on the vehicle, the protective element comprising at least two parts; an upper part and a lower part, the upper part being formed in a first plastic material and the lower part being formed in a second plastic material, the second plastic material being adapted to acoustically insulate said box from the opening during the projection of various elements such as gravel against said lower part during the movement of the vehicle.

[0010] According to a first characteristic of the opening, the protective element includes a vertical extension part which extends vertically below the box said lower part of said protective element.

[0011] According to a second feature of the opening, the protective element includes a horizontal extension part which extends horizontally below the casing of said lower part of the protective element.

[0012] According to a third feature of the opening, the lower part of the protective element is formed partly of polyurethane, the upper part of the protective element being formed of a mixture of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

[0013] According to a fourth feature of the opening, a free end of the horizontal extension of the lower part of the protective element has fastening means adapted to collaborate with complementary fastening means positioned in the lower part of the box.

[0014] According to a fifth feature of the opening, a free end of the horizontal extension of the lower part of the protective element has a support wall adapted to be positioned against a lower seal positioned on the vehicle structure.

[0015] According to a sixth feature of the opening, the overlap area between the upper and lower parts follows a beveled profile.

[0016] According to a seventh feature of the opening, the cover area has a shoulder formed on the lower edge of the upper part of the protective element, masking the top of the lower part of the protective element.

[0017] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle which includes at least one opening which has at least one of the preceding characteristics.

[0018] The attached drawings illustrate the invention:

[0019] [Fig-1] represents a side view of a vehicle which includes elements of protections according to the invention.

[0020] [Fig.2] represents a cross-sectional view along section AA' of one of the protective elements according to the invention.

[0021] 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.

[0022] The same applies to the positioning of the opening which is done in relation to its positioning once the opening is mounted on the vehicle, the "upper" and "lower" parts and faces of the opening being done in relation to the positioning of the opening when it is correctly positioned on the vehicle.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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).

[0026] 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.

[0027] The vehicle 1 includes a longitudinal member 11 which is positioned opposite the lower part of the reinforcement panel 33.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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 projections of stones, gravel and other small elements that may be projected by the front wheels when the vehicle 1 is moving.

[0030] 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.

[0031] The protective element 4 extends horizontally below the box 3 by means of a horizontal extension part 43 which extends to the junction line 34, the free end of the horizontal extension part 43 of the protective element 4, includes fastening means 46 for fixing the protective element 4 on the junction line 34 of the box 3.

[0032] Due to the configuration of such an assembly, an inner face of the vertical extension part 42 and an underside of the horizontal extension part 43 are particularly exposed to the projection of gravel 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.

[0033] To avoid such a problem and according to the invention, the protective element 4 which comprises at least three parts, the upper part 41 which is formed in a first plastic material and two lower parts; the vertical extension part 42 and the horizontal extension part 43 which are formed in a second plastic material, the second plastic material being adapted to acoustically isolate said box 3 from the opening 2 during the projection of various elements such as gravel against the vertical extension part 42 and against the horizontal extension part 43 during the movement of the vehicle.

[0034] The upper part 41 of the protective element 4 is formed of a mixture of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, generally designated by the acronym "ABS PC", the lower vertical extension part 42 and the horizontal extension part 43 are formed partly of polyurethane.

[0035] The material of the upper part 41 is optimized for resistance to impacts, abrasion, with an attractive appearance and allows for a reduction in the mass of the opening 2. The material of the lower vertical extension part 42 and the horizontal extension part 43 is mainly optimized for noise reduction when various elements such as gravel are projected, but has a somewhat coarse surface grain, giving a less attractive appearance.

[0036] The overlap zone between the upper part 41 and the lower vertical extension part 42 follows a beveled profile, allowing a larger attachment surface, ensuring better long-term stability compared to a junction along a separation line extending perpendicularly to the outer wall of the protective element 4

[0037] A shoulder 44 is formed at the bottom of the upper part 41 of the protective element 4, just above the junction line which is formed along the junction between the upper part 41 and the lower vertical extension part 42 to mask the junction line when a person normally stands facing the side of the vehicle which has such a protective element 4.

Claims

Demands

1. Opening (2) of a motor vehicle (1) comprising a casing (3) and a protective element (4) which 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), characterized in that the protective element (4) comprises at least two parts, an upper part (41) and a lower part (42, 43), the upper part (41) being formed of a first plastic material and the lower part (42, 43) being formed of a second plastic material, the second plastic material being adapted to acoustically insulate said casing (3) from the opening (2) when various elements such as gravel are projected against said lower part (42, 43) when the vehicle is in motion.

2. Opening (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that said protective element (4) comprises a vertical extension part (42) which extends vertically below the box (3) said lower part (42, 43) of said protective element (4).

3. Opening (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the protective element (4) comprises a horizontal extension part (43) which extends horizontally below the box (3) said lower part (42, 43) of said protective element (4).

4. Opening (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower part (42, 43) of the protective element (4) is formed partly of polyurethane, the upper part (41) of the protective element (4) being formed of a mixture of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

5. Opening (2) according to claim 3 or according to claim 4 taken in dependence on claim 3, characterized in that a free end of the horizontal extension (43) of the lower part (42, 43) of the protective element (4) has fastening means (46) adapted to collaborate with complementary fastening means (34) positioned in the lower part of the box (3).

6. Opening (2) according to claim 3 or according to claim 4 or 5 taken in dependence on claim 3, characterized in that a free end of the horizontal extension (43) of the lower part (42, 43) of the protective element (4) has a support wall adapted to be positioned in support against a lower seal (12) positioned on the structure (11) of the vehicle (1).

7. Opening (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overlap zone between the upper part and the lower part is made following a beveled profile.

8. Opening (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover area has a shoulder formed on the lower edge of the upper part (41) of the protective element (4), masking the top of the lower part (42) of the protective element (4).

9. Motor vehicle (1) comprising at least one opening (2), characterized in that the opening (2) conforms to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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