rear structure of motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a rear structure of a motor vehicle comprising: a trunk (12) delimited by two side walls (14, 16) and a floor wall (18); a roof wall (20) overhanging said floor wall (18) and joining said side walls (14, 16) by delimiting an opening (26); a tailgate (24) mounted hinged on said roof wall (20) to close said opening (26); a luggage cover shelf (36) adapted to extend above said trunk (12), said luggage cover shelf having a rear edge (44) and two opposite side edges, said rear edge (44) being hinged on said tailgate (24), while said two side edges are connected respectively to said side walls (14, 16).The structure comprises two slides (38, 40) mounted respectively on said two side walls, while said luggage cover (36) has two trunnions (50, 52) sliding respectively in said slides (38, 40) and two flexible links (70, 72) connecting the luggage cover (36) to said two side walls (14, 16). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 3.

Description

Title of the invention: Rear structure of a motor vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to a rear structure of a motor vehicle and in particular to a luggage cover shelf.

[0002] Known rear structures of motor vehicles usually include a trunk delimited by two side walls or quarter panels, erected opposite each other on the floor wall of the vehicle.

[0003] The vehicle floor, corresponding to the rear overhang, forms the bottom wall of the trunk. The vehicles have a roof wall that extends over the floor wall and meets the side walls on each side, defining an opening. The opening is then adapted to be closed by a tailgate that is mounted transversely hinged on the roof wall.

[0004] In addition, the trunk is also delimited at the front by the rear row of seats of the vehicle, and in particular by the backrest of the rear seats.

[0005] Also, the vehicle includes a luggage cover shelf which extends horizontally above the trunk, in a transverse direction from one side wall to the other and in a longitudinal direction, from the top of the rear seat backrests to the tailgate when the latter is lowered and closes the opening.

[0006] The luggage cover shelf is generally movable to allow free access to the trunk when the tailgate is raised.

[0007] Thus, it was conceived to mount the front edge of the hinged luggage cover along the top of the seatbacks and to connect its lateral edges to the tailgate by means of cords. In this way, when the tailgate is raised, the luggage cover also rises to at least partially free the trunk opening.

[0008] To access the trunk even more freely, it was conceived to mount the rear edge of the hinged luggage cover on the inner face of the tailgate and to connect its lateral edges at the level of the front edge, to the two side walls respectively by means of cords as well.

[0009] Thus, when the tailgate is raised, the luggage cover retracts and comes into contact with the inner face of the tailgate, freeing the opening. Conversely, when the tailgate is lowered to close the trunk opening, the front edge of the luggage cover swings back and forth, sweeping across the top of the space reserved for the trunk, potentially striking luggage stored on the floor.

[0010] Also, a problem that arises and that the present invention aims to solve is not only to provide a retractable luggage cover that frees up the trunk opening when the tailgate is raised, but also which does not interfere with the contents of the trunk when the tailgate is lowered.

[0011] In order to solve this problem, a rear structure of a motor vehicle is proposed comprising: a trunk delimited by two side walls erected opposite each other on a floor wall; a roof wall extending over the said floor wall and joining the said side walls by delimiting an opening; a tailgate mounted articulated transversely on the said roof wall to close the said opening when the said tailgate is lowered and to clear the said opening when the said tailgate is raised;and, a luggage cover adapted to extend above said trunk, said luggage cover having a rear edge opposite a front edge and two opposite side edges, said rear edge being hinged to said tailgate, while said two side edges are connected respectively to said side walls in order to guide said luggage cover in movement against said tailgate when said tailgate is raised to free said opening.

[0012] The rear structure comprises two slides mounted respectively on said two side walls, while said luggage compartment shelf has two trunnions extending respectively from said two side edges to slide respectively within said slides, and two flexible links connecting said luggage compartment shelf to said two side walls respectively, to retain said trunnions in the vicinity of said slides when said tailgate is raised. The two flexible links guide said trunnions towards said slides when said tailgate is lowered.

[0013] Thus, a feature of the invention lies in the implementation of slides in the two opposite side walls so as to be able to guide in translation the luggage cover shelf, in particular when the tailgate is carried, from a raised position in which it releases the opening, to a lowered position to close the opening.

[0014] Another feature of the invention lies in the implementation of flexible links that allow the luggage compartment cover to be held in place when the tailgate is in the raised position. The flexible links also guide the pivots in the tracks when the tailgate is lowered.

[0015] Thus, the front edge of the luggage compartment shelf and the trunnions are then guided, no longer according to a pendulum movement, which sweeps across the top of the space reserved for the trunk, but according to a substantially rectilinear translational movement above the space reserved for the trunk.

[0016] Consequently, the trunk can be loaded to its maximum volume without disturbing the movement of the luggage cover when the tailgate is raised or lowered.

[0017] This structure also allows for a wider opening onto the trunk, since the parcel shelf is visible when the tailgate is raised. Thus, even for a trunk longer than 1 meter, the user can have a view of the entire trunk.

[0018] The use of flexible links in combination with the slides also helps to limit the problems of acoustic vibrations which can damage the flexible links, and the presence of the slide helps to keep the luggage cover shelf in place.

[0019] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said two trunnions extend coaxially in a position close to said front edge. In this way, the luggage cover pivots about an axis parallel to and close to its front edge as it is drawn in translation to its terminal position where it extends substantially horizontally above the trunk. Consequently, the slides can be installed at the top of the space reserved for the trunk, as will be explained in more detail later in the description.

[0020] Advantageously, said slides extend at a distance from said floor wall.

[0021] Also, the rear structure according to the invention further comprises a transverse partition erected on said floor wall and extending from one side wall to the other, delimiting said trunk. Preferably, the transverse partition is formed by the backrests of the rear seats of the motor vehicle.

[0022] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said slides extend to said transverse partition. In this way, the luggage cover is guided in pivoting and translation to the transverse partition when the tailgate is lowered, so as to completely cover the trunk.

[0023] Preferably, said slides are formed in angle brackets and have a support strip and a guide wall perpendicular to said support strip so that the trunnions come to rest on the slide.

[0024] Preferably, said guide wall extends towards the transverse partition, curving in opposition to said support strip so that said slides form a U-shaped profile. Thus, the cross-section of the slide is modified as it extends towards the transverse partition. It therefore has an L-shaped cross-section and then gradually extends to form a U-shaped cross-section.

[0025] Furthermore, each of the two side walls has a trim, and advantageously, the trims of the side walls each have two grooves forming the slides. Thus, there is no need to provide anchor points for the slides in the body of the motor vehicle. These slides are therefore manufactured at a lower cost.

[0026] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, said inserts are made of a thermoplastic material, and said two grooves are respectively molded into said inserts. Consequently, the manufacturing cost of the slides is further reduced.

[0027] Advantageously, said trunnions are made of a polymer material. The luggage compartment shelf can be made of a composite material, for example, and it can be thermoformed onto the inserted trunnions.

[0028] Consequently, the two trunnions form a single piece with the shelf and, moreover, the luggage cover shelf is equipped with the two trunnions at an advantageous cost.

[0029] The polymer material in which the trunnions are molded must be a friction-resistant material, and compatible with that of the slides. Indeed, the trunnions are driven primarily by friction inside the slides.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the trunnions are respectively rotationally mounted in bearings, which bearings are adapted to slide freely inside the grooves.

[0031] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of example but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0032] [Fig.1] is a schematic left rear perspective view of an open motor vehicle trunk;

[0033] [Fig.2] is a schematic cross-sectional view of an open vehicle trunk automobile according to the invention and in a first state;

[0034] [Fig.3] is a schematic view of the object of [Fig.2] in intermediate state;

[0035] [Fig.4] is a schematic view of the object of [Fig.2] in another state;

[0036] [Fig.5] is a partial schematic detail view in right section of the object of the [Fig. 2]; and,

[0037] [Fig.6] is a schematic top view of another detail of the object in [Fig.2].

[0038] Figure 1 shows partially a motor vehicle and more specifically its rear structure 10 three-quarter left view, which is devoid of the object of the invention.

[0039] It is inscribed in an orthogonal coordinate system X, Y, Z, in which the X axis extends along a front-to-back longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, oriented towards the rear; the Y axis extends along a transverse direction of the vehicle, oriented from left to right when in a driving situation; and the Z axis extends along a vertical direction, oriented away from the ground.

[0040] Also, the rear structure 10 has a compartment 12, which is delimited in the transverse direction Y by two opposing side walls, a wall right 14 and a left wall 16. The trunk 12 also has a bottom wall 18 corresponding to the extension of the rear floor of the motor vehicle.

[0041] Also, the rear structure 10 includes a roof 20 extending over the bottom wall 18 of the trunk 12. The roof 20 has an edge 22 on which a tailgate 24 is hinged. The latter has a glazed wall 25 allowing the passage of visible light.

[0042] Thus, the bottom 18, the two side walls 14, 16 erected and the edge 22 of the roof 20 delimit an opening 26 which the tailgate 24 is able to close.

[0043] As shown in [Fig. 1], the tailgate 24 is raised and held in this position by means of two gas springs 28, 30, so as to allow access to the trunk 12.

[0044] Figure [Fig. 2] illustrates the object of Figure [Fig. 1] according to a median section parallel to the plane (X, Z). It includes chest 12 and its opening 26.

[0045] The floor 18 is also found, bordered by the right wall 14. In addition, the trunk 12 is delimited towards the front by the row of rear seats 32 and more particularly by the backrests 34 of the rear seats 32. The backrests 34 have a top 35, over which the driver of the motor vehicle can have a rear view via the interior rearview mirror.

[0046] In addition, the roof 20 and its edge 22, along which the tailgate 24 is hinged, also appear.

[0047] Furthermore, and in accordance with the invention, the rear structure 10 comprises a luggage compartment cover 36 attached to the tailgate 24 and two opposing slides, a right slide 38 and a left slide 40, adapted to cooperate with the luggage compartment cover 36 as will be explained below. The rear structure 10 also comprises two opposing flexible links, a right flexible link 70 and a left flexible link 72, connecting the right wall 14 and left wall 16 respectively to the luggage compartment cover 36 to retain it as will also be explained below.

[0048] The luggage cover shelf 36 will be described in detail first with reference to [Fig. 6]. The luggage cover shelf 36 is thermoformed in one piece from composite material. It has a front transverse edge 42 opposite a rear transverse edge 44. Furthermore, it has two opposing lateral edges, a right lateral edge 46 and a left lateral edge 48.

[0049] Also, it has a central recess 45 allowing the formation of mechanically reinforcing ribs.

[0050] In addition, the luggage cover shelf 36 includes two opposing trunnions 50, 52 extending coaxially in projection respectively from the right lateral edge 46 and the left lateral edge 48 near the front transverse edge 42.

[0051] The trunnions 50, 52 are made of a polymer material. They are, for example, molded from polyamide or polyethylene.

[0052] According to a preferred embodiment, the trunnions 52, 50 are inserted into the thermoforming mold of the tablet so as to form only one piece after molding.

[0053] The luggage compartment shelf 36 further has two notches 56, 58 formed in the rear edge 44 and spaced apart from each other. Also, two rods 60 extend respectively across the two notches 56, 58 while their two opposite ends are embedded in the thickness of the shelf.

[0054] In this way, the luggage compartment cover 36 can be mounted hinged inside the tailgate 24 as illustrated in [Fig. 2]. To do this, the two rods 60 are respectively engaged in two hooks spaced apart from each other and fixed to the inner wall of the tailgate 24. The hooks, not shown, have a locking latch to secure the rods 60, and to release them if necessary to detach the luggage compartment cover 36 from the tailgate 24.

[0055] On the contrary, the front edge 42 of the luggage cover shelf 36 is held and guided by means of the two trunnions 50, 52, which cooperate with the slides 38, 40, as will be explained below.

[0056] Thus, the two opposing side walls 14, 16 are covered with two trims 62, 64 forming the slides 38, 40. These two trims 62, 64 extend longitudinally from the opening 26 to the backrests of the rear seats 32.

[0057] They are shown in more detail in [Fig. 5], in cross-sectional views. The seals are each molded in one piece from a polymer material. And the seals 62, 64 are molded with opposite grooves 66, 68.

[0058] These grooves 66, 68 are formed from angles with an L-shaped profile and each has a bearing strip 74 with a width greater than the diameter of the trunnions 50, 52. Each groove 66, 68 also has a guide wall 76 perpendicular to the bearing strip 74. The guide wall 76 extends by curving so that the cross-section of the grooves 66, 68 gradually forms a U.

[0059] Thus, with reference to [Fig.5], the section of the grooves 66, 68 is L-shaped, then progressively the section is J-shaped as shown in [Fig.7] and finally, the section near the seat back is U-shaped as shown in [Fig.8].

[0060] In addition, the grooves 66, 68 are oriented along a longitudinal component X, and they are substantially parallel to this component.

[0061] Thus, the grooves 66, 68 respectively accommodate the trunnions 50, 52 inside which they are able to slide but also to rotate on themselves, as will be explained with reference to [Fig.2], [Fig.3] and [Fig.4].

[0062] The two flexible links 70, 74 are shown in [Fig.2], [Fig.3] and [Fig.4].

[0063] The right flexible link 70 is connected to the right wall 14 while the left flexible link 72 is connected to the left wall 16. They are connected by one of their ends to the wall 14, 16 by a pawl, not shown, around which the flexible link is wound and which allows it to be held.

[0064] The other end of the flexible links 70, 74, is connected to the luggage cover shelf. They are in particular sewn to the shelf and are spaced apart from each other and attached to the luggage cover shelf 36. The flexible links 70, 74 can be, for example, a cord or a string.

[0065] It will be observed on [Fig.2] that the luggage cover shelf 36, suspended from the tailgate 24, is inclined at an angle of less than 180° with respect to the rails 38, 40, for example 120°.

[0066] In this position of the tailgate 24, the trunnions 50, 52 of the luggage cover shelf 36 are not in contact with the slides 38, 40 and the flexible links retain the trunnions 50, 52 in the vicinity of the slides 38, 40. The luggage cover shelf 36 is also retained so that the front edge 42 does not move inside the trunk and close the opening 26.

[0067] From this position of the tailgate 24 and the luggage cover 36, in which the opening 26 is totally free and in which there is free access to the trunk 12, the tailgate 24 will be lowered in order to close the opening 26.

[0068] Thus, as illustrated in [Fig.3], when the tailgate is driven in pivoting along arrow F, the luggage cover shelf 36 is itself driven in translation and in pivoting.

[0069] Indeed, the trunnions 50, 52 are, first of all, driven in pivot towards the slides 38, 40. The flexible links also retain the luggage cover shelf so as to guide the trunnions 50, 52 towards and into the slides 38, 40.

[0070] The trunnions 50, 52 are then driven both in translation within the slides 38, 40 towards the top 35 of the backrests 34 according to arrow V, and simultaneously in rotation. At the same time, the rear edge 44 of the luggage compartment shelf 36 pivots relative to the tailgate 24.

[0071] In addition, the two opposite lateral edges 46, 48 of the luggage cover shelf 36 slide against the two opposite lateral walls 14, 16 respectively.

[0072] As the tailgate 24 continues to move, until it locks to completely close the opening 26, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], the trunnions 50, 52 continue their travel in the slides 38, 40 to the front end 67 of the latter. In the lowered position of the tailgate 24, the trunnions 50, 52 are then blocked by the slides 38, 40 due to their U-shape.

[0073] The front edge 42 of the luggage cover 36 then comes to rest against the seat backs 34 of the seats 32, near their top 35. The luggage cover 36 then extends substantially parallel to the bottom wall 18 of the trunk 12. These two lateral edges 46, 48 rest on the two trims 62, 64 respectively, while the rear edge 44 rests against the inside of the tailgate 24.

[0074] In this way, the contents of the trunk 12 are completely hidden by the luggage cover shelf 36.

[0075] Conversely, when the tailgate 24 is raised, as indicated by arrow R, it pulls the luggage compartment cover 36 with it, thanks to its two rods 60 engaged in the tailgate hooks. Simultaneously, the trunnions 50, 52 are driven in rotation and translation within the guides 38, 40.

[0076] The luggage cover shelf 36 is then moved in translation and pivoting until it comes into contact with the inner wall of the tailgate 24, when the latter reaches its final position as shown in [Fig.2].

[0077] The opening 26 is then completely freed to allow access to the inside of the trunk 12.

Claims

1. Demands Rear structure of a motor vehicle comprising: - a chest (12) delimited by two side walls (14, 16) erected opposite each other on a floor wall (18); - a roof wall (20) extending over the said floor wall (18) and joining the said side walls (14, 16) by defining an opening (26); - a tailgate (24) mounted articulated transversely on said roof wall (20) to close said opening (26) when said tailgate is lowered and to clear said opening (26) when said tailgate is raised; - a luggage cover shelf (36) adapted to extend above said trunk (12), said luggage cover shelf having a rear edge (44) opposite a front edge (42) and two opposing side edges (46, 48), said rear edge (44) being hinged to said tailgate (24), while said two side edges (46, 48) are connected respectively to said side panels (14, 16) so as to guide said luggage cover shelf (36) in movement against said tailgate (24) when said tailgate is raised to free said opening (26); characterized in that it comprises: - two slides (38, 40) mounted respectively on said two side walls (14, 16), while said luggage cover shelf (36) has two pivots (50, 52) extending respectively outward from said two side edges (46, 48) to slide respectively in said slides (38, 40), - two flexible links (70, 72) connecting said luggage cover shelf (36) to said two side walls (14, 16) respectively, to retain said trunnions (50, 52) in the vicinity of said slides (38, 40) when said tailgate (24) is raised, and, in that said two flexible links (70, 72) guide said trunnions (50, 52) towards said slides (38, 40) when said tailgate (24) is lowered.

2. Rear structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said two trunnions (50, 52) extend coaxially in a position close to said front edge (42).

3. Rear structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said slides (38, 40) extend at a distance from said floor wall (18).

4. Rear structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it further comprises a transverse partition (34) erected on said floor wall (18) and extending from one side wall (14, 16) to the other delimiting said box (12).

5. Rear structure according to claim 4, characterized in that said slides (38, 40) extend to said transverse partition (34).

6. Rear structure according to claim 5, characterized in that said slides (38, 40) are formed in angles and have a support strip (74) and a guide wall (76) perpendicular to said support strip (74).

7. Rear structure according to claim 6, characterized in that said guide wall (76) extend towards the transverse partition (34) by curving in opposition to said support strip (74) so ​​that said slides (38, 40) form a U-shaped profile.

8. Rear structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said two side walls (14, 16) each have a trim (62, 64), and in that the trims of said side walls respectively have two grooves (66, 68) forming said slides (38, 40).

9. Rear structure according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that said trims (62, 64) are made of a thermoplastic material, and in that said two grooves (66, 68) are respectively molded into said trims.

10. Rear structure according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said trunnions (50, 52) are in a polymer material.

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