CABLE SUPPORT DEVICE FOR A LAND VEHICLE BUMPER

Abstract

A support device (SD) is fitted to a bumper (PC) of a land vehicle comprising at least one area (ZT) having at least one through hole (TT) near which passes at least one cable (CP) in front of its inner face (FI). This support device (SD) includes a part (PD) coupled to this inner face (FI) next to this area (ZT) and defining a channel to accommodate a predefined portion of this cable (CP), so that the latter is invisible to a person standing in front of the outer face (FE) of the bumper (PC). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: CABLE SUPPORT DEVICE FOR A LAND VEHICLE BUMPER Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to land vehicles comprising at least one bumper (or shield) housing at least one cable in front of an inner face, and more specifically to support devices suitable for equipping such bumpers to support a cable. State of the art

[0002] Certain land vehicles, generally of the automobile type, include at least one bumper (or shield) having at least one area comprising at least one through hole near which passes at least one cable (or wiring harness) in front of an inner face. For example, when the bumper (or shield) is installed at the front end of a (land) vehicle, the area with through hole(s) is generally intended to allow air to enter the front compartment of that vehicle, which very frequently includes at least part of the powertrain (or powertrain).

[0003] Sometimes, the cable (or cable bundle) must run along the inner face of the bumper for a relatively long distance, typically several tens of centimeters, and is therefore anchored to this inner face using clips. Typically, the distance between two clips coupling a cable (or cable bundle) to this inner face is between 10 cm and 20 cm. However, anchoring with clips spaced such far apart does not allow the cable (or cable bundle) to be substantially straight (a "garland effect" is observed between two successive anchor points due to gravity).

[0004] As a result, the cable (or wiring harness) may be partially positioned in front of an area with through-hole(s), which can disrupt airflow. Furthermore, this may make the cable (or wiring harness) visible to a person standing in front of the outer face of the bumper, opposite its inner face, which may give the impression of an assembly or design error, or a broken fastener, and thus detract from the perceived quality of the vehicle.

[0005] It would be possible to use many more clips to couple the cable (or wiring harness) to the inner face of the bumper and thus prevent the aforementioned "garland effect." However, this would complicate the bumper's construction and increase the installation costs of the cable (or wiring harness) and therefore the vehicle. Furthermore, The bumper design does not always allow for the installation of many clips.

[0006] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0007] In particular, it proposes for this purpose a support device suitable for equipping a bumper intended to equip a land vehicle and comprising at least one area having at least one through hole near which passes at least one cable in front of an inner face.

[0008] This support device is characterized by the fact that it includes a part suitable for being coupled to the inner face of the bumper next to the area (with through hole(s)) and defining a channel suitable for housing a predefined part of the cable, so that the latter is invisible to a person placed in front of an outer face of the bumper, opposite to this inner face.

[0009] Thus, there is no longer a risk that part of the cable will be partially placed in front of at least one through hole in an area of ​​the bumper, and therefore that this part of the cable will disrupt the air intake via at least one neighboring through hole and / or give the impression that there has been an assembly or design error or the breakage of a fastening element.

[0010] The support device according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0011] - its part can define a channel open on a part which is suitable for being placed in relation to the inner face of the bumper;

[0012] - its component may comprise at least two first coupling elements which are designed to cooperate respectively with corresponding second coupling elements, fixedly attached to the inner face of the bumper, to couple it to the bumper;

[0013] - in the presence of the last option, each of the first coupling elements can be a clipping tab designed to cooperate with a clipping hole or clipping notch constituting a second clipping element;

[0014] - its part may comprise at least one third coupling element which is its own to cooperate with a fourth coupling element, fixedly attached to the cable, to couple the latter to the part;

[0015] - in the presence of the last option, the third coupling element can be a hole traversing which is suitable to be traversed by a clip constituting the fourth coupling element.

[0016] The invention also proposes a bumper suitable for equipping a land vehicle and comprising, on the one hand, at least one area having at least one through hole near which passes at least one cable in front of an internal face, and, on the other hand, at least one support device of the type shown above, coupled to this internal face next to this area (with through hole(s)), and to which this cable is coupled.

[0017] The invention also proposes a land vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising at least one bumper of the type shown above.

[0018] For example, this land vehicle may include a front end which includes the bumper. Brief description of the figures

[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings (obtained using CAD / CAM (“Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing”)), in which:

[0020] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the inner face, a portion of an example of a land vehicle bumper comprising an example embodiment of a support device according to the invention,

[0021] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the external face, a part of the bumper of [Fig.1] with its support device,

[0022] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the part of the support device of the [Fig.1] before its coupling to the bumper, and

[0023] [Fig. 4] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the rear, the support device component of [Fig. 1] before its coupling to the bumper. Detailed description of the invention

[0024] The invention aims in particular to provide a DS support device, on the one hand, intended to equip a PC bumper (or shield) to be fitted to a land vehicle and comprising at least one ZT zone having at least one hole through TT near which passes at least one CP cable in front of its inner face FI, and on the other hand, suitable for supporting this CP cable in order to make it invisible from the outside.

[0025] In what follows, the land vehicle is considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be of the automobile type. For example, a car. However, the invention is not limited to this type of land vehicle. It relates in fact to any land vehicle comprising at least one bumper including at least one area having at least one through hole near which passes at least one cable in front of an inner face.

[0026] Furthermore, in the following, by way of non-limiting example, the PC bumper (or shield) is considered to be intended for installation at the front end of a (land) vehicle. However, it could also be intended for installation at the rear end of a (land) vehicle.

[0027] In figures 1 to 4 the direction X is intended to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (terrestrial), which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the direction Y is intended to be parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the direction Z is intended to be parallel to the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0028] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate part of an example of a PC bumper (or shield) intended to equip a (land) vehicle (and more specifically here the front end of the latter), and including an example of an embodiment of a DS support device according to the invention.

[0029] It should be noted that the PC bumper (or shield) could include several DS support devices in several remote locations.

[0030] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, this bumper (or shield) PC includes at least one area ZT which has at least one through hole TT near which passes at least one cable CP in front of its inner face FI, opposite its outer face FE visible from the outside.

[0031] For example, at least some of the through holes TT of a ZT area may be (here) intended to permit air entry into the front compartment of the vehicle, which may include at least part of the powertrain (or PWM).

[0032] As illustrated, without limitation and at least partially, in Figures 1 and 2, the support device DS comprises a part PD adapted to be coupled to the inner face FI of the bumper PC next to the (one) zone ZT (and preferably just below the latter (ZT)). As illustrated, without limitation and at least partially, in Figures 1, 3, and 4, this part PD defines a channel adapted to house a predefined portion of the aforementioned cable CP, so that the latter (CP) is invisible to a person standing in front of the outer face FE of the bumper PC.

[0033] It should be noted that the cable tray could receive several (at least two) CP cables.

[0034] Thanks to the housing and support of the CP cable in the PD part's channel, there is no longer a risk that this CP cable will end up partially positioned in front of at least one through hole TT of a ZT zone of the PC bumper. In other words, the portion of the CP cable housed in the channel can no longer be subject to a "festooning" effect. Consequently, there is no longer a risk that this portion of the CP cable will disrupt (here) the air intake into the front compartment or into equipment housed in this front compartment. Furthermore, there is no longer a risk that a person standing in front of the outer face FE of the PC bumper will think that there has been an assembly or design error or that a fastener has broken.

[0035] For example, and as illustrated, without limitation and at least partially, in Figures 1 to 4, the PD part can define a channel that is open at a front portion designed to be positioned opposite the inner face FI of the PC bumper. This opening, preferably along the entire length of the PD part (here along the transverse direction Y), significantly facilitates the installation of the CP cable in the channel. However, this opening at the front portion could be omitted, and an opening could be defined at the rear portion, or no opening could be defined at all (in which case the CP cable must be slid into a first open end of the (closed) channel until it emerges from a second open end, opposite the first end).

[0036] Also, for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 1 to 4, the part PD may include at least two first coupling elements EC1 which are suitable to cooperate respectively with corresponding second coupling elements EC2, fixedly attached to the inner face FI of the bumper PC, to couple it to the latter (PC).

[0037] It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, and at least partially, in Figures 1 to 4, the PD component comprises six first coupling elements EC1 designed to cooperate respectively with six second coupling elements EC2 of the PC bumper. This provides high stability to the PD component along its entire length. However, the number of first coupling elements EC1, like the number of second coupling elements EC2, can be any value greater than or equal to two. This number can, in particular, be chosen according to the length of the PD component. Similarly, the respective locations of the first and second EC2 coupling elements can vary depending on the arrangement of the PC bumper (and in particular the locations of its available solid areas).

[0038] Also, for example, and as illustrated, without limitation and at least partially, in Figures 1 to 4, each of the first coupling elements EC1 can be a clipping tab that is adapted to cooperate with a clipping hole or a clipping notch constituting a second coupling element EC2. A reverse arrangement, namely of the second coupling elements EC2 arranged in the form of clipping tabs and the first coupling elements EC1 arranged in the form of clipping holes or clipping notches, is also possible.

[0039] It should be noted that in an unillustrated variant, the coupling of part PD to the bumper PC could be achieved by screwing. In this variant, the first coupling elements EC1 may be screws, and the second coupling elements EC2 may be holes, possibly threaded, or alternatively, the second coupling elements EC2 may be screws and the first coupling elements EC1 may be holes, possibly threaded.

[0040] Also, for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the PD part may include at least one third coupling element EC3 which is suitable for cooperating with a fourth coupling element EC4 (see [Fig. 1]), fixedly attached to the cable CP, to couple the latter (CP) to the PD part.

[0041] It should be noted that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the part PD comprises a single third coupling element EC3 cooperating with a single fourth coupling element EC4. However, the number of third coupling elements EC3, like the number of fourth coupling elements EC4, can take any value greater than or equal to one.

[0042] For example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, and at least partially, in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the third coupling element EC3 can be a through hole which is suitable for a clip constituting the fourth coupling element EC4 to pass through. It will be understood that this clip EC4 is partially inserted through the through hole EC3 and then almost completely surrounds a corresponding sub-part of the cable CP housed in the duct, thus allowing it to be coupled to the part PD (and therefore to the bumper PC since it is coupled to the latter (PC) by cooperation of the first Cl and second EC2 coupling elements).

[0043] It should be noted that in an unillustrated variant, the coupling of the CP cable to the PD part could be achieved by clipping. In this variant, the PD part may include on its front face FV, here oriented towards the inner face FI of the bumper PC and opposite its rear face FR (here oriented towards the front compartment of the vehicle), at least one third coupling element EC3 arranged in the form of a clipping element, such as for example a semi-annular (and therefore open) and flexible element in which a sub-part of the CP cable is housed to keep it coupled to the PD part.

[0044] It should also be noted that the PD part can, for example, be made by molding a rigid plastic material.

Claims

Demands

1. Support device (DS) for a bumper (PC) suitable for equipping a land vehicle and comprising at least one zone (ZT) having at least one through hole (TT) near which passes at least one cable (CP) in front of an inner face (FI), characterized in that it comprises a part (PD) suitable for being coupled to said inner face (FI) next to said zone (ZT) and defining a channel suitable for housing a predefined part of said cable (CP), so that the latter (CP) is invisible to a person placed in front of an outer face (FE) of said bumper (PC), opposite said inner face (FI).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said part (PD) defines a channel open on a part suitable for being placed opposite said inner face (FI).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said part (PD) comprises at least two first coupling elements (EC1) adapted to cooperate respectively with corresponding second coupling elements (EC2), fixedly attached to said inner face (FI), to couple it to said bumper (PC).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that each of said first coupling elements (EC1) is a clipping tab adapted to cooperate with a clipping hole or a clipping notch constituting a second clipping element (EC2).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said part (PD) comprises at least one third coupling element (EC3) adapted to cooperate with a fourth coupling element (EC4), fixedly attached to said cable (CP), to couple the latter (CP) to said part (PD).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said third coupling element (EC3) is a through hole suitable for being traversed by a clip constituting said fourth coupling element (EC4).

7. Bumper (PC) suitable for equipping a land vehicle and comprising at least one zone (ZT) having at least one through hole (TT) near which passes at least one cable (CP) in front of an inner face (FI), characterized in that it comprises at least one support device (DS) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, coupled to said

8.

9.

10. inner face (FI) next to said zone (ZT), and to which said cable (CP) is coupled. Land vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one bumper (PC) according to claim 7. Land vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a front end including said bumper (PC). Land vehicle according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.

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