Rear bumper arrangement of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a rear bumper arrangement (1) of a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising a rear panel (11) extending between two side rails of the motor vehicle and comprising fastening elements (14) of a central rear bumper support (12), the central support (12) of the rear bumper being integral with a central part of the rear panel (11) via fastening members (13) complementary to the fastening members (14) of the rear panel (11), said fastening members (14) comprising studs (131) welded to the rear panel (11) and extending towards the central support (12), the fastening members (13) of said central support (12) comprising openings (141) configured to receive the studs (131) and corresponding stud (131) retaining members configured to axially retain each stud (131), relative to the longitudinal axis (X). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Rear bumper arrangement of a motor vehicle

[0001] The technical context of the present invention is that of structural elements of motor vehicles allowing the attachment of a rear bumper. More particularly, the invention relates to a rear bumper arrangement of a motor vehicle.

[0002] In the prior art, bumper assemblies configured to absorb an impact occurring at the rear of the motor vehicle are known. During such an impact, these bumper assemblies dissipate the shock in order to protect elements of the motor vehicle located further forward, such as, for example, elements located at the level of a rear trunk of the motor vehicle, or even occupants of a passenger compartment of said motor vehicle.

[0003] In a known manner, such rear bumpers are attached to a rear panel that extends across the motor vehicle, between two longitudinal members. More specifically, it is known that such rear bumpers are attached to the rear panel by means of a central support that supports the rear bumper and absorbs rear impacts.

[0004] As is known, such central supports form a structural lining for the rear panel. However, attaching these known central supports to known rear panels reveals technical and implementation difficulties that the present invention aims to resolve. Thus, as is known, the central support is attached to the rear panel by first indexing it onto the rear panel, then pre-holding it in the expected mounting position, and finally, definitively attaching the central support to the rear panel.

[0005] The indexing step is performed by lugs extending from the rear panel, which act as guides for centering and aligning the central support with the rear panel. Next, the pre-holding step is performed by hooks extending from the rear panel, which interact with complementary shapes on the central support, thus temporarily holding the central support in the previously indexed position. Finally, the final fastening step consists of inserting and tightening fastening screws through the rear panel and the central support.

[0006] Thus, it is understood that the assembly of the rear panel and its known central support is not easy and involves a plurality of technical parts which They complicate and make it more expensive to manufacture both the back panel and the central support.

[0007] This situation is not desirable.

[0008] The present invention aims to propose a new rear bumper arrangement in order to address at least largely the previous problems and to lead to further advantages.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to simplify the assembly of such a rear bumper arrangement.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to facilitate the assembly of the central support on the rear panel.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a rear bumper arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

[0012] - a rear panel extending between two side rails of the vehicle automobile, relative to a transverse axis, the rear panel comprising fixing elements for a central rear bumper support;

[0013] - the central support of the rear bumper integral with a central part of the panel rear, the central support having additional fixing elements to the fixing elements of the rear panel.

[0014] In the rear bumper arrangement according to the invention, the fastening elements comprise studs welded to the rear panel and extending through said rear panel, and in that the fastening members comprise openings configured to accommodate the studs, each opening comprising corresponding stud retention elements.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, and a vertical axis are defined with respect to the motor vehicle on which the rear bumper arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention is intended to be mounted. More particularly, the transverse axis is understood as a direction taken between one lateral side of the motor vehicle and an opposite lateral side of said motor vehicle. In other words, the transverse axis is understood as a direction extending from a passenger side of the motor vehicle to a driver's side of said motor vehicle, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, inside, and outside refer to such a transverse axis. Furthermore, the longitudinal axis is understood as being taken along a direction extending from front to rear or from rear to front of the motor vehicle. The longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the transverse axis.The adjectives front, front and rear refer to this longitudinal axis. Finally, the vertical axis is understood as being taken along an axis that extends from the wheels of the motor vehicle and towards the roof of said motor vehicle, or . Conversely, the vertical axis is simultaneously perpendicular to the transverse and longitudinal axes. The adjectives above and below, or inferior and superior, refer to this vertical axis.

[0016] In the context of the present invention, the rear panel forms a closing wall for the trunk at its rear longitudinal end. The closing panel is located at the rear bumper of the motor vehicle and extends laterally between two side fenders of said motor vehicle, and more particularly between two side rails.

[0017] In the context of the present invention, the side member forms a prismatic span extending relative to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, at each lateral edge of said motor vehicle. The side members form structural elements of the motor vehicle to which other parts of the motor vehicle are attached. The side members thus provide the rigidity necessary for the operation of the motor vehicle, during driving sequences, but also in the event of an accident in order to transmit the forces resulting from said impact towards absorption devices or towards the running gear of the motor vehicle, for example. The side members are generally made of steel profiles, giving the body structure its robustness.

[0018] In the context of the present invention, the central support is configured to be flat against the rear panel, at a central region thereof. The central support forms a mounting interface for the rear bumper.

[0019] Thus, the invention provides that the central support is pre-mounted on the rear panel using studs that are integral with the rear panel and that engage with openings formed directly on the central support. The studs form assembly surfaces, such as, for example, mounting lugs that project from the rear panel relative to the longitudinal axis. The corresponding openings in the central support engage with the studs to accommodate them. Subsequently, the openings include retaining elements to prevent the studs from being pulled out of the openings into which they were inserted during assembly.

[0020] Thus, the rear bumper arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention solves the technical problem in that it is now simpler to mount the central support on the rear panel, and the associated parts are less complex to manufacture. Indeed, it is no longer necessary to provide hooks on the rear panel to retain the central support. The studs and corresponding openings directly provide this retention, and these are much simpler to manufacture and design than the previously known hooks.

[0021] The rear bumper arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination:

[0022] - the retaining elements comprise a plurality of blades which extend in the direction from a central area of ​​the opening, the corresponding stud extends between the blades. This advantageous configuration promotes collaboration between the stud extending into the opening and the blades. The blades thus form a radial contact interface with the stud. To achieve this, at each opening, the central support has a reduced thickness to promote elastic deformation of the blades when the stud is inserted into the opening. As a non-limiting example, the thickness of the central support at the opening, and / or the thickness of the blades forming the retaining elements, is less than 2 mm;

[0023] - one free end of the blades is in contact with the corresponding stud, this An advantageous configuration allows for the retention of the stud and the central support on the rear panel even when the pivot angle of the central support is zero relative to the rear panel. The pivot angle is considered here around the transverse axis;

[0024] - the free end of the blades is located at the level of a thread of the stud. This The advantageous configuration makes it easier to insert the stud through the opening and the blades, but also to allow axial retention of said stud once inserted;

[0025] - the blades comprise a first row of blades located on a first edge of the opening, and a second row of blades located on a second edge of the opening, opposite the first edge, with the blades of the first row facing the blades of the second row. This advantageous configuration allows the blades to be positioned opposite each other to better retain the inserted dowel. More generally, the blades are arranged radially within the opening, said blades extending from a peripheral edge of the opening towards the central area of ​​said opening;

[0026] - the blades have a thickness of less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm;

[0027] - the bumper arrangement includes a rear bumper fixed rigidly to the rear panel and / or central support.

[0028] According to a second aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle is proposed comprising a bumper arrangement conforming to the first aspect of the invention or to any one of its improvements.

[0029] Various embodiments of the invention are provided, incorporating, according to all their possible combinations, the different optional features set out here.

[0030] 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:

[0031] [Fig-1] illustrates a three-dimensional view of an example of an embodiment of a rear bumper arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention;

[0032] [Fig.2] illustrates a rear view of the bumper arrangement shown in [Fig.1];

[0033] [Fig.3] illustrates a cross-sectional and detailed view of a collaborative fastening element with a rear bumper arrangement fixing device.

[0034] Of course, the features, variants, and different embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be conceived comprising only a selection of features, described hereafter in isolation from the other described features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0035] In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described are combinable with each other, if nothing prevents this combination from a technical point of view.

[0036] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0037] In the FIGURES described below, a longitudinal axis X, a lateral axis and a vertical axis Z are defined relative to the motor vehicle on which the rear bumper arrangement 1 according to the invention is intended to be mounted.

[0038] More specifically, the transverse axis Y is understood as a direction between one side of the motor vehicle and the opposite side of the same motor vehicle. In other words, the transverse axis Y is understood as a direction extending from a passenger side of the motor vehicle to a driver's side of the same motor vehicle, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, interior, and exterior refer to such a transverse axis Y.

[0039] Furthermore, the longitudinal axis X is understood to be taken along a direction extending from front to rear or rear to front of the motor vehicle. The longitudinal axis X is perpendicular to the transverse axis Y. The adjectives front, front, and rear refer to this longitudinal axis X.

[0040] Finally, the vertical axis Z is understood as being taken along an axis which extends from the wheels of the motor vehicle and towards the roof of said motor vehicle, or vice versa, the vertical axis Z being simultaneously perpendicular to the transverse axis Y and to the longitudinal axis X. The adjectives above and below, or lower and upper, refer to this vertical axis Z.

[0041] With reference to FIGURES 1 to 3, the invention addresses a rear bumper arrangement 1 of a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

[0042] - a rear panel 11 extending between two side rails of the vehicle automobile, relative to a transverse axis Y, the rear panel 11 comprising fixing elements 14 of a central support 12 of rear bumper;

[0043] - the central support 12 of the rear bumper integral with a central part of the rear panel 11, the central support 12 having fixing elements 13 complementary to the fixing elements 14 of the rear panel 11.

[0044] In the rear bumper arrangement 1 according to the invention, the fastening elements 14 comprise studs 131 welded to the rear panel 11 and extending through said rear panel 11, and in that the fastening members 13 comprise openings 141 configured to accommodate the studs 131, each opening 141 comprising retaining elements for the corresponding stud 131.

[0045] The central support 12 is configured to be mounted on the rear panel 11, via the fastening elements 14 and the fastening members 13. More particularly, the central support 12 is configured to extend against a rear face of the rear panel 11, the central support 12 extending along said rear panel 11. The central support 12 thus forms a mounting interface for the rear bumper intended to be mounted, not shown in the FIGURES.

[0046] The objective of the invention is to facilitate the mounting of the central support 12 on the rear panel 11, by means of retaining and pre-mounting elements of said central support 12 on the rear panel 11. These elements comprise the fixing members 13 and the fixing elements 14, respectively located on the central support 12 and on the rear panel 11.

[0047] For effective mounting, the rear panel 11 advantageously comprises at least two fastening elements 14 distributed along the transverse axis Y, and the central support 12 also comprises at least two fastening members 13, each cooperating with the fastening element 14 located opposite it. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the central panel comprises four fastening elements 14 distributed along the transverse axis Y, and the central support 12 comprises four fastening members 13 located opposite one of the fastening elements 14 of the rear panel 11.

[0048] The fastening elements 14 take the form of studs 131 which extend through the rear panel 11, relative to the longitudinal axis X, and towards the central support 12. The studs 131 forming the fastening elements 14 also pass through the central support 12 along the longitudinal axis X through the corresponding fastening members 13 which are configured to accommodate at least one axial end of said studs 131.

[0049] The studs 131 are advantageously attached to the rear panel 11 to facilitate the assembly of the central support 12 on said rear panel 11. For example, the studs 131 are welded to the rear panel 11.

[0050] At the central support 12, the fastening members 13 have openings 141 provided on the central support 12 and configured to receive a longitudinal end portion of the fastening element 14 located opposite it. The openings 141 are oblong, circular, or ovoid in shape.

[0051] Furthermore, the invention provides that the fastening members 13 of the central support 12 include retaining elements for the fastening element 14 extending through the corresponding opening 141. In particular, and as can be seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, each fastening member 13 includes blades 143 extending from a periphery of the opening 141 towards a central area 142 of said opening 141. These blades 143 cooperate with the longitudinal end portion of the stud 131 passing through the opening 141 in order to prevent it from moving backward.

[0052] More particularly, a free edge of the blades 143 collaborates with the axis of the stud 131, and more particularly with its thread, in order to retain it axially against the central support 12, in its opening 141.

[0053] To facilitate the insertion of the stud 131 into the corresponding opening 141, the blades 143 are advantageously flexible along the longitudinal axis X. In other words, the blades 143 are configured to allow elastic deformation along the longitudinal axis X when the stud 131 is inserted into the opposite opening 141. Once the stud 131 is installed, corresponding to an assembly configuration of the central support 12 against the rear panel 11, the blades 143 remain in their deformed state and thus form the desired retaining element.

[0054] This configuration is particularly advantageous because it allows for efficient and rapid pre-mounting of the central support 12 against the rear panel 11 of the rear bumper arrangement 1. Subsequently, it is possible to permanently fix the central support 12 to the rear panel 11 by any fastening means, not shown in the FIGURES, such as, for example, fixing screws.

[0055] In summary, the invention relates to a rear bumper arrangement 1 of a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising a rear panel 11 extending between two side rails of the motor vehicle and comprising fastening elements 14 of a central support 12 of the rear bumper, the central support 12 of the rear bumper being integral with a central part of the rear panel 11 via fastening members 13 complementary to the fastening members 14 of the rear panel 11, said fastening members 14 comprising studs 131 welded to the rear panel 11 and extending towards the central support 12, the fastening members 13 of said central support 12 comprising openings 141 configured to accommodate the studs 131 and corresponding stud 131 retaining members configured to axially retain each stud 131, relative to the longitudinal axis X.

[0056] 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 various features, forms, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined with one another in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Specifically, all the variants and embodiments described above are combinable.

Claims

Demands

1. Rear bumper arrangement (1) of a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising: - a rear panel (11) extending between two side rails of the motor vehicle, relative to a transverse axis (Y), the rear panel (11) comprising fastening elements (14) for a central support (12) of the rear bumper; - the central support (12) of the rear bumper integral with a central part of the rear panel (11), the central support (12) comprising fastening elements (13) complementary to the fastening elements (14) of the rear panel (11); characterized in that the fasteners (14) have studs (131) welded to the rear panel (11) and extending through said rear panel (11), and in that the fasteners (13) have openings (141) configured to accommodate the studs (131), each opening (141) having retaining elements for the corresponding stud (131).

2. Rear bumper arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the retaining elements comprise a plurality of blades (143) extending towards a central area (142) of the opening (141), the corresponding stud (131) extending between the blades (143).

3. Rear bumper arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein a free end of the blades (143) is in contact with the corresponding stud (131).

4. Rear bumper arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the free end of the blades (143) is located at the level of a thread of the stud (131).

5. Rear bumper arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the blades (143) comprise a first row of blades (143) located on a first edge of the opening (141), and a second row of blades (143) located on a second edge of the opening (141), opposite the first edge, the blades (143) of the first row facing the blades (143) of the second row.

6. Rear bumper arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the blades (143) have a thickness of less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm.

7. Rear bumper arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bumper arrangement (1) comprises a rear bumper fixed securely to the rear panel (11) and / or the center support (12).

8. Motor vehicle comprising a bumper arrangement (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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