Exterior vehicle trim element comprising a covering element bonded to a main body

Abstract

Exterior vehicle trim element comprising a covering element bonded to a main body. The exterior trim element (1) comprises: a main body (2) including an outer face (8), at least one covering element (4) extending between an inner face (24) and an outer face (26), the covering element (4) extending over a portion of the outer face (8) of the main body (2). The covering element (4) is bonded to the main body (2) by means of a bonding layer (32) and an adhesive (34) interposed between the outer face (8) of the main body (2) and the inner face (24) of the covering element (4), said bonding layer (32) being heat-deactivatable so as to allow separation of the inner face (24) of the covering element (4) and / or the outer face (8) of the main body (2) from the adhesive (34). Figure for the abridged version: 3

Description

Title of the invention: Exterior vehicle trim element comprising a covering element bonded to a main body

[0001] The present invention relates to an exterior vehicle trim element of the type comprising:

[0002] - a main body comprising an external face intended to be turned towards the outside of the vehicle,

[0003] -at least one cladding element extending between an inner face, turned towards the outer face of the main body, and an outer face, opposite the inner face and intended to be turned towards the outside of the vehicle, the cladding element extending over at least a part of the outer face of the main body.

[0004] Such an exterior trim element forms, for example, a vehicle tailgate or another vehicle bodywork element.

[0005] Such an exterior trim element generally comprises a main body forming a structural support, giving shape and rigidity to the exterior trim element, and a covering element fixed to the main body to be visible from outside the vehicle and giving appearance to the exterior trim element.

[0006] The cladding element is, for example, fixed to the main body by mechanical fasteners, such as screws or other fasteners, which makes the outer trim element removable but increases its weight due to the presence of the fasteners. Furthermore, such fasteners do not ensure a satisfactory seal between the main body and the cladding element.

[0007] Alternatively, the cladding element can be bonded to the main body so as to lighten the outer trim element and ensure a seal between the cladding element and the main body. However, in this case, separating the cladding element from the main body is complicated, or even impossible, which is unsatisfactory in terms of repairability and / or dismantling at the end of the outer trim element's life, particularly with regard to recycling the various parts of the outer trim element.

[0008] One of the aims of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a lightweight external trim element whose different elements can be easily separated.

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to an external trim element of the aforementioned type, in which the trim element is bonded to the main body by means of at least one bonding layer and an adhesive interposed between the external face of the main body and the inner face of the coating element, said bonding layer being deactivated by the application of heat so as to allow separation of the inner face of the coating element and / or the outer face of the main body from the glue and to disassemble the coating element from the main body by heating the outer lining element.

[0010] The lining element according to the invention is particularly lightweight because the lining element is bonded to the main body and does not require any mechanical fasteners. Furthermore, this ensures a seal between the lining element and the main body. The lining element remains removable, however, by simply heating the outer lining element, which allows the lining element to be separated from the main body by deactivating the bonding layer. The outer lining element thus remains easily repairable and recyclable.

[0011] The external trim element according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, considered alone or in any technically feasible combination:

[0012] - the bonding layer is applied to the outer face of the main body, respectively on the inner face of the coating element, the adhesive extending between the bonding layer and the inner face of the coating element, respectively the outer face of the main body;

[0013] - an additional bonding layer is applied to the inner face of the element of coating, respectively on the external face of the main body, the adhesive extending between the bonding layer applied on the external face of the main body, respectively on the internal face of the coating element, and the additional bonding layer, said additional bonding layer being deactivated by the application of heat.

[0014] - the outer trim element further includes a lighting device extending between an inner face, turned towards the outer face of the main body, and an outer face, opposite the inner face and turned towards the inner face of the coating element, said lighting device being glued to the main body by means of a bonding layer and an adhesive interposed between the outer face of the main body and the inner face of the lighting device, said bonding layer being deactivated by the application of heat;

[0015] - at least a portion of the coating element extends over the outer face of the lighting device, at least said part of the cladding element allowing light to pass from the inner face to the outer face of the cladding element, so that the light emitted by the lighting device is visible from the outer face of the cladding element;

[0016] - the coating element is made at least partly of a transparent material or translucent.

[0017] - a layer of paint is applied to the external face of the coating element, said paint layer comprising at least one through-opening extending opposite at least part of the lighting device, the light emitted by said lighting device passing through the coating element and being visible through said through-opening;

[0018] - the bonding layer comprises a heat-degradable agent, said a degradable agent that degrades under the effect of a temperature above a predetermined temperature threshold and results in a loss of adhesion between the adhesive and the surface of the bonding layer on which the glue is applied;

[0019] -the outer trim element comprises a plurality of cladding elements, each cladding element being bonded to a distinct part of the outer face of the main body;

[0020] - the exterior trim element forms a vehicle rear tailgate.

[0021] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0022] [Fig-1] - [Fig.1] is a schematic exploded perspective representation of a exterior vehicle trim element according to the invention,

[0023] [Fig.2] - [Fig.2] is a schematic perspective representation of the element of outer trim of the assembled [Fig. 1], and

[0024] [Fig.3] - [Fig.3] is a schematic cross-sectional representation of part of a exterior vehicle trim element according to the invention.

[0025] With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, an exterior trim element 1 of a vehicle is described. Generally, this exterior trim element 1 is intended to be visible from outside the vehicle on which it is mounted. Thus, the exterior trim element 1 can be any bodywork or trim panel of a vehicle body. In one embodiment, the vehicle trim element 1 is a vehicle opening, more particularly a vehicle tailgate intended to close the access opening to the rear storage space, or trunk, of the vehicle, as shown in [Fig. 2]. The remainder of the description will be given with reference to such a vehicle tailgate, but it is understood that the invention applies provided that the exterior trim element 1 comprises a main body 2 and at least one covering element 4 reversibly bonded to the main body 2, as will be described in more detail later.

[0026] The main body 2 forms a structural support for the outer trim element 2, that is to say, it gives rigidity and general shape to the trim element Exterior 1. For this purpose, the main body 2 is, for example, made from a single piece of plastic. The main body 2 may also include one or more metal reinforcements, for example, overmolded by the plastic. The main body 2 may also include reinforcing ribs, as seen in [Fig. 1]. As is known, the main body 2 can be arranged to receive functional elements of the opening, such as optical elements, as will be described in more detail later, one or more bundles of electrical cables, a lock, etc.

[0027] The main body 2 extends between an inner face 6, facing inwards towards the vehicle when the outer trim element 1 is mounted on a vehicle, and an outer face 8, opposite the inner face 6, and facing outwards towards the vehicle.

[0028] In the case of a vehicle's rear tailgate, the main body 2 can also be arranged to receive a window 10, forming, for example, the rear window, allowing visibility through the tailgate. To achieve this, the main body 2 defines an opening 12 passing through the main body 2 from the outside to the inside. The main body 2 forms a frame surrounding the opening 12 and comprising, in particular, a lower edge 14, an upper arm 16, and two lateral supports 18 connecting the lower edge 14 to the upper arm 16 on either side of the opening 12.

[0029] The covering element 4 is arranged to cover at least a portion of the outer face 8 of the main body 2 so as to form a visible part of the outer trim element 1 from outside the vehicle. According to the embodiment shown in [Fig. 1], the outer trim element 1 comprises several covering elements 4 arranged to cover the entire outer face 8 of the main body 2 so that it is not visible from outside the vehicle. These different covering elements 4 are then fixed to separate parts of the outer face 8 of the main body 2. Thus, according to the embodiment shown in [Fig. 1], the outer trim element 1 comprises several covering elements 4 arranged to cover the entire outer face 8 of the main body 2 so that it is not visible from outside the vehicle.[l] The outer trim element 1 comprises at least one central trim element 4a arranged to extend over part of the lower edge 14, running alongside the opening 12, and over the side posts 18, a lower trim element 4b arranged to extend over the rest of the lower edge 14 and an upper trim element 4c arranged to extend over the upper arm 16. It is understood that this arrangement is given only by way of example and that the outer trim element 1 may comprise more or fewer trim elements 4, in particular depending on the shape and arrangement of the main body 2. Each trim element 4 has a shape substantially complementary to the shape of the part of the main body 2 that it covers. Thus, the central cladding element 4a includes, for example, a lower branch 20 covering part of the lower edge 14 and two lateral branches 22 extending on either side of the branch. lower 20 in a direction substantially perpendicular to it and each covering one of the lateral uprights 18.

[0030] Apart from this shape, each coating element 4 is substantially identical so that only one of them will now be described in more detail.

[0031] The covering element 4 extends between an inner face 24, turned towards the outer face 8 of the main body 2, and an outer face 26, intended to be turned towards the outside of the vehicle so as to form the visible surface of the outer trim element 1 from outside the vehicle.

[0032] The covering element 4 is made in one piece, for example of plastic. In one embodiment, particularly when a lighting device 28 is installed between the main body 2 and the covering element 4, as will be described in more detail later, at least a portion of the covering element 4 is arranged to allow light to pass from the inner face 24 to the outer face 26. For this purpose, the covering element 4 is, for example, made of a transparent or translucent material. In this case, a layer of paint is, for example, applied to the outer face 26 so as to give the covering element 4 a particular appearance and to prevent the main body 2 from being seen through the covering element 4.In this case as well, at least one opening 30 is made in the paint layer in the area where light is to be allowed to pass through, i.e., opposite the lighting device 28, as will be described in more detail later. According to one embodiment, as shown in Figs 1 and 2, several openings 30 are made in the area through which light is to be allowed to pass so as to form a particular lighting pattern in that area when the lighting device 28 is switched on. According to another embodiment, several areas comprising at least one opening 30 are formed when several lighting devices 28 are interposed between the main body 2 and the coating element 4.Thus, for the central body panel 4a, two lighting devices 28 are provided, for example, at the lateral areas of the lower arm 20, and openings 30 are formed in these lateral areas to allow light from the two lighting devices 28 forming the vehicle's rear lights to pass through. The opening(s) 30 are, for example, made by laser ablation in the paint layer of the body panel 4.

[0033] Alternatively, the cladding element 4 may be made of an opaque material except for the part(s) extending in front of a lighting device. When no lighting device is provided between the main body 2 and a cladding element 4, this cladding element 4 may be made entirely of an opaque material.

[0034] In all cases, the covering element 4 is arranged to give its appearance to the part of the outer trim element 1 in which the covering element 4 extends.

[0035] As previously stated, the coating element 4 is bonded to the outer face 8 of the main body 2. More particularly, as shown in [Fig.3], the coating element 4 is bonded to the outer face 8 by means of at least one bonding layer 32 and an adhesive 34 interposed between the outer face 8 of the main body 2 and the inner face 24 of the coating element 4.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the bonding layer 32 is applied to the external face 8 of the main body 2 and the adhesive 34 is interposed between the bonding layer 32 and the internal face 24 of the coating element 4. Alternatively, the bonding layer 32 is applied to the internal face 24 of the coating element 4 and the adhesive 34 is interposed between the bonding layer 32 and the external face 8 of the main body 2. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment and as shown in [Fig. 3], the adhesive 34 extends between a bonding layer 32 and an additional bonding layer 32, one being applied to the external face 8 of the main body 2 and the other being applied to the internal face 24 of the coating element 4.

[0037] The bonding layer 32 is for example applied over an extended area, for example over the whole, of the external face 8 of the main body 2 and / or on the internal face 24 of the coating element 4, and the adhesive 34 is for example applied in the form of one or more beads on the bonding layer 32. Thus, the bonding layer 32 serves as a support surface for the adhesive 34.

[0038] The bonding layer 32 is deactivatable by the application of heat. By "heat-deactivatable," we mean that when the bonding layer 32 is heated to a temperature above a predetermined threshold, it loses its ability to retain the adhesive 34, thus causing the bonded elements to separate from each other via the bonding layer 32 and the adhesive 34. For this purpose, the bonding layer 32 includes, for example, a heat-degradable agent; that is, the degradable agent is designed to degrade beyond a predetermined temperature threshold, thereby causing the loss of adhesion between the adhesive 34 and the surface of the bonding layer 32 to which the adhesive 34 is applied. More specifically, the degradable agent is, for example, designed to decompose under the effect of heat and generate a gas that is released towards the surface of the bonding layer 32, the gas separating the adhesive 34 from the bonding layer 32.Alternatively, the degradable agent is arranged to be destroyed by heat, leading to a loss of cohesion in the bonding layer 32, which in turn destroys the substrate for the adhesive 34. In one embodiment, the bonding layer 32 comprises a polymer base, for example, an epoxy matrix, an acrylate matrix, a polyurethane matrix, or a silicone matrix. The agent. The biodegradable agent is formed by a polycarboxylic acid, which generates a gas when heated, or by glass microbeads, which decompose when heated, integrated into the polymer base. The temperature threshold that triggers the degradation of the biodegradable agent is, for example, approximately between 150°C and 220°C.

[0039] The adhesive 34 is a conventional adhesive for ensuring robust attachment of the coating element 4 to the external face 8 of the main body 2. More particularly, the adhesive 34 is sufficiently robust to prevent any unintentional detachment of the coating element 4 in the absence of a temperature exceeding the temperature threshold causing the deactivation of the bonding layer 32. For this purpose, the adhesive 34 is, for example, a two-component polyurethane adhesive.

[0040] Thus, by heating the outer filling element 1 to a temperature above the predetermined temperature threshold, it is possible to separate the bonding layer 32 from the glue 34 and thus to separate the element on which the bonding layer 32 is applied from the glue 34, which leads to the separation of the glued elements from each other.

[0041] It should be noted that the coating element 4 is attached to the main body 2 solely by means of the bonding layer 32 and the adhesive 34 described above. In other words, attaching the coating element 4 to the main body 2 does not require any additional mechanical fasteners. Thus, to separate the coating element 4 from the main body 2, it is sufficient to heat the entire outer lining element 1 to a temperature above the temperature threshold, which causes the coating element 4 to separate from the main body 2, so that the main body 2 and the coating element 4 can be recovered for replacement or recycling.When the glue 34 extends between two bonding layers 32, as described previously, heating the outer lining element 1 also allows the glue 34 to separate from the main body 2 and the lining element 4, further facilitating the recycling of these elements by not requiring an additional step to remove the glue 34 from the inner face 24 of the lining element 4 or from the outer face 8 of the main body 2.

[0042] When the outer trim element 1 comprises elements other than the main body 2 and one or more covering elements 4, these additional elements are also fixed to the main body 2 by means of at least one bonding layer 32 and an adhesive 34 as described previously, so that these additional elements can also be separated from the main body 2 by simply heating the outer trim element 1. Thus, in the case of a rear hatch as described previously, the window 10 and the lighting device(s) 28 are fixed to the main body 2 by means of at least one bonding layer 32 and an glue 34. The fixing of the lighting device(s) 28 will now be described in more detail.

[0043] Each lighting device 28 comprises an inner face 36, facing the outer face 8 of the main body 2, and an outer face 38 facing outwards from the vehicle. The lighting device 28 is arranged to emit light outwards from the vehicle, for example, to form a taillight, a brake light, or a flashing signal light at the rear of the vehicle. Alternatively or in addition, the lighting device 28 can be used to form an aesthetically pleasing light pattern on the outer face 26 of the trim element 4.

[0044] As previously stated, the lighting device 28 is interposed between the outer face 8 of the main body 2 and the inner face 24 of the cladding element 4 so that the light emitted by the lighting device 28 passes through the cladding element 4 and is visible from outside the outer trim element 1, for example through the opening(s) 30 made in the paint layer applied to the outer face 26 of the cladding element 4. In other words, the opening(s) 30 extend opposite at least part of the lighting device 28 to allow the light emitted by it to pass through the cladding element 4.The opening(s) 30 can be arranged to form a particular light pattern on the outer face 26 of the coating layer 4, for example by alternating open areas and areas of paint layer in order to form a light grid on the outer face 26 of the coating layer 4, as seen in [Fig.2].

[0045] It should be noted that, in this way, the cladding element 4 is used to form the lens of the lighting device 28, so that the structure of the latter can be simplified by not including such a lens, as is usually the case when the lighting device 28 is integrated into a separate housing fixed to the main body 2 and surrounded by one or more cladding elements. Thus, bonding the lighting device 28 to the main body 2 and using the cladding element 4 as the lens of the lighting device 28 also simplifies the assembly of the outer trim element 1.Indeed, thanks to the invention, it is not necessary to manage the problem of play and flushness between the lighting device and the cladding element(s) surrounding the lighting device which arises when the lighting device is integrated into a housing with one or more cladding elements extending around the lens of the lighting device, as is done traditionally when the outer trim element includes one or more lighting devices.

[0046] To fix the lighting device 28 to the outer face 8 of the main body 2, the bonding layer 32 applied to the outer face 8 of the main body 2 for Securing the coating element 4 can be achieved with at least one bead of adhesive 34 interposed between the inner face 36 of the lighting device 28 and this bonding layer 32, as shown in [Fig. 3]. In other words, a single bonding layer 32 can be applied to the entire outer face 8 of the main body 2 to secure all the elements provided on this outer face 8 with adhesive beads 34 provided at the locations in the bonding layer 32 where the added elements are to be fixed to the outer face 8. Alternatively, the bonding layer 32 is applied to the inner face 36 of the lighting device 28 and the adhesive 34 is interposed between the outer face 8 of the main body 2 and the bonding layer 32.Advantageously, the adhesive 34 extends between the bonding layer 32 applied to the outer face 8 of the main body 2 and an additional bonding layer 32 applied to the inner face 36 of the lighting device 28 so that the adhesive 34 can be separated from the main body 2 and the lighting device 28 when the outer trim element 1 is heated, as described previously.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the inner face 24 of the coating element 4 is applied directly to the outer face 38 of the lighting device 28, i.e., without a bonding layer or adhesive between the lighting device 28 and the coating element 4, so that the light emitted by the lighting device 28 is transmitted directly through the coating element 4 without passing through a bonding layer. In this case, the inner face 24 of the coating element 4 is fixed to the outer face 8 of the main body 2 surrounding the lighting device 28.

[0048] Like the coating element 4, the lighting device 28 is fixed to the main body 2 only by means of at least one bonding layer 32 and an adhesive 34, i.e. without additional mechanical fixing element so that the separation of the lighting device 28 from the main body 2 can be obtained by simply heating the outer lining element 1 to a temperature above the predetermined temperature threshold.

[0049] As shown in [Fig.1], in the case of a rear tailgate, at least two lighting devices 28 are for example fixed between the lower edge 8 of the main body 2 and the central trim element 4a to form the rear lights and / or flashing signal lights and an additional lighting device 28 is for example fixed between the upper arm 10 of the main body 2 and the upper trim element 4c.

[0050] The assembly and disassembly of the outer trim element 1 according to the invention are therefore particularly simple due to the absence of mechanical fasteners. Furthermore, due to this absence, the outer trim element 1 is also lighter. Thanks to the deactivation of the bonding layer 32 by the application of heat, the various constituent elements of the trim element exterior 1 can be separated without degrading them, in particular for the purposes of repairability and / or recycling of these different constituent elements.

Claims

Demands

1. Exterior vehicle trim element (1) comprising: - a main body (2) including an external face (8) intended to be turned towards the outside of the vehicle, - at least one covering element (4) extending between an internal face (24), turned towards the external face (8) of the main body (2), and an external face (26), opposite the internal face (24) and intended to be turned towards the outside of the vehicle, the covering element (4) extending over at least a part of the external face (8) of the main body (2), characterized in that the covering element (4) is bonded to the main body (2) by means of at least one bonding layer (32) and an adhesive (34) interposed between the external face (8) of the main body (2) and the internal face (24) of the covering element (4),said bonding layer (32) being deactivated by the application of heat so as to allow separation of the inner face (24) of the coating element (4) and / or the outer face (8) of the main body (2) from the adhesive (34) and to disassemble the coating element (4) from the main body (2) by heating the outer lining element.

2. Outer trim element according to claim 1, wherein the bonding layer (32) is applied to the outer face (8) of the main body (2), respectively to the inner face (24) of the trim element (4), the adhesive (34) extending between the bonding layer (32) and the inner face (24) of the trim element (4), respectively the outer face (8) of the main body (2).

3. An outer lining element according to claim 2, wherein an additional bonding layer (32) is applied to the inner face (24) of the lining element (4), respectively to the outer face (8) of the main body (2), the adhesive (34) extending between the bonding layer (32) applied to the outer face (8) of the main body (2), respectively to the inner face (24) of the lining element (4), and the additional bonding layer (32), said additional bonding layer (32) being deactivated by the application of heat.

4. An outer trim element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a lighting device (28) extending between an inner face (36), facing the outer face (8) of the main body (2), and an outer face (38), opposite the inner face (36) and facing the inner face (24) of the trim element (4), said lighting device (28) being bonded to the main body (2) by means of a bonding layer (32) and an adhesive (34) interposed between the outer face (8) of the main body (2) and the inner face (36) of the lighting device (28), said bonding layer (32) being deactivated by the application of heat.

5. Outer trim element according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the trim element (4) extends over the outer face (38) of the lighting device (28), at least said portion of the trim element (4) allowing light to pass from the inner face (24) to the outer face (26) of the trim element (4), so that the light emitted by the lighting device (28) is visible from the side of the outer face (26) of the trim element (4).

6. Outer trim element according to claim 5, wherein the covering element (4) is made at least partly of a transparent or translucent material.

7. An outer trim element according to claim 6, wherein a layer of paint is applied to the outer face (26) of the trim element (4), said layer of paint comprising at least one through opening (30) extending opposite at least a portion of the lighting device (28), the light emitted by said lighting device (28) passing through the trim element (4) and being visible through said through opening (30).

8. An outer trim element according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the bonding layer (32) comprises a heat-degradable agent, said degradable agent degrading under the effect of a temperature above a predetermined temperature threshold and resulting in a loss of adhesion between the adhesive (34) and the surface of the bonding layer (32) on which the glue (34) is applied.

9. An outer trim element according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a plurality of cladding elements (4a, 4b, 4c), each cladding element (4a, 4b, 4c)

10. being glued to a separate part of the outer face (8) of the main body (2). Exterior trim element according to any one of claims 1 to 9, forming a vehicle rear tailgate.

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