Chassis for closing the trunk of a motor vehicle
A chassis with a reversible element in a groove addresses the issue of tailgate-roof damage by acting as a protective barrier while maintaining aesthetics and aerodynamics, and optionally sealing, thus preventing abrasion and mechanical impacts.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing solutions for preventing damage between a motor vehicle's tailgate and roof, such as shock absorbers, compromise aesthetics and aerodynamics, while traditional methods like affixing shock absorbers on the vehicle's surface are aesthetically unpleasing and negatively impact airflow.
A chassis with a reversible element in a groove that can switch between passive and active states, acting as a stop to prevent contact and abrasion, and optionally forming a seal, while remaining hidden when not in use to maintain aesthetics and aerodynamics.
Effectively prevents damage to the tailgate and roof by acting as a protective barrier without compromising the vehicle's appearance or aerodynamics, and optionally providing a seal to prevent liquid ingress.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Chassis for closing the trunk of a motor vehicle Technical field to which the invention relates
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of the automotive industry and, more particularly, to a device for protecting a tailgate of a motor vehicle preventing direct contact between said tailgate and the roof of the motor vehicle when the tailgate is opened. Technological background
[0002] A tailgate is an essential element of a motor vehicle, allowing easy access to the trunk or cargo area of the motor vehicle.
[0003] For sedan, station wagon or SUV type models, the tailgate can be tilted down until it rests on the roof of the motor vehicle in order to allow wider and easier access to the trunk of this type of vehicle.
[0004] However, when the tailgate is opened to its maximum angle and comes into direct contact with the roof of the motor vehicle, there is a significant risk of damage to the surfaces concerned. This damage manifests itself mainly in two forms: surface abrasion and mechanical deformation from impacts.
[0005] Abrasion occurs when the surfaces of the tailgate and roof rub against each other, whether during opening, closing, or due to vibrations when the tailgate is in the open position. This phenomenon can lead to premature wear of surface coatings, such as paint and protective varnish. In the long term, this abrasion can compromise not only the vehicle's appearance but also the corrosion protection of the underlying metal components.
[0006] Mechanical deformations, on the other hand, result primarily from shocks or excessive pressure exerted when the tailgate rests on the roof. These deformations can occur when the tailgate is opened abruptly, or when it is bearing a significant load in the open position. The consequences of these deformations can range from simple superficial dents to more serious alterations to the structure of the body panels. In the most severe cases, these deformations can affect the alignment of the tailgate and the roof, potentially compromising the vehicle's weatherproofing and aerodynamics.
[0007] These deteriorations can not only affect the aesthetics and functionality of the vehicle, but also require costly repairs, potentially including the replacement of entire body panels.
[0008] To prevent these deteriorations, one solution is to affix shock absorbers to the surface of the tailgate or to the surface of the roof of the motor vehicle, so that these elements act as a protective interface between these two elements.
[0009] However, the addition of visible elements on the tailgate or roof detracts from the aesthetics of the motor vehicle, compromising its visual harmony.
[0010] According to another drawback, the presence of shock absorbers on the surface of the motor vehicle negatively affects its aerodynamics. Even when small, these external elements disrupt the airflow around the body, increasing drag and thus reducing the vehicle's fuel efficiency. In a context where reducing fuel consumption is paramount, this impact on aerodynamics constitutes a significant obstacle.
[0011] Therefore, it is desirable to develop an alternative solution that would effectively prevent the deterioration of the tailgate and roof of a motor vehicle when the tailgate rests on the roof, preserving both the aesthetics of the motor vehicle and its aerodynamics. Object of the invention
[0012] To meet the needs stated above, the invention provides a frame for closing the trunk of a motor vehicle, comprising an outer face intended to be oriented towards the outside of the motor vehicle when said frame at least partially closes the trunk of said motor vehicle. The frame includes a proximal side intended to be closest to the body of the motor vehicle when said frame pivots to open the trunk of said motor vehicle.
[0013] The invention is remarkable in that near another side of the chassis, its outer face includes a groove and an element is present in said groove, and said element is configured to pass reversibly, from a passive state in which said element does not protrude from the groove, to an active state in which said element protrudes from the groove.
[0014] Advantageously, when the outer face of the chassis is likely to come into contact with the body of a motor vehicle, the element can be in an active position so as to protrude from the groove and act as a stop to prevent impact and / or direct contact between the outer face of the chassis and the body of the motor vehicle. Thus, the invention prevents damage to the chassis and bodywork due to abrasion or mechanical impacts between these elements.
[0015] According to another advantage, when the chassis is not likely to come into contact with the body of a motor vehicle, the element can be in a passive state of so as not to protrude from the outer face of the chassis and, thus, preserve the aesthetics and / or aerodynamics of the chassis and therefore of the motor vehicle equipped with said chassis.
[0016] Preferably, the groove formed in the outer face of the chassis is present at the level of an area of the chassis likely to be in contact with an element of a motor vehicle, when said chassis pivots to open the trunk of said motor vehicle.
[0017] According to another embodiment of the invention, the groove is located near a distal side of the chassis, and the distal side is opposite the proximal side.
[0018] According to another embodiment, when the element is in an active state, said element is capable of forming a sealing element preventing the passage of a liquid between said element and a surface bearing against said element.
[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, between its passive state and its active state, the volume of the element increases.
[0020] According to another embodiment of the invention, the element is capable of being inflated and then deflated on demand, by means of control.
[0021] According to another embodiment of the invention, the chassis includes control means configured to maintain the element in a passive state when the chassis is tilted to open or to close the trunk of a motor vehicle.
[0022] Preferably, the control means are configured to maintain the element in an active state, before the opening of a trunk of a motor vehicle by said chassis, and / or to maintain the element in an active state after the closing of a trunk of a motor vehicle by said chassis.
[0023] According to another embodiment of the invention, the chassis includes means for tilting said chassis around a pivot axis, and the tilting means are located near the proximal side of said chassis.
[0024] Of course, the different features, variants and embodiments mentioned above can be combined with each other in various ways, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.
[0025] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a chassis as described above, and its tilting means link the chassis to the motor vehicle so that the chassis can at least partially close off a trunk of the motor vehicle.
[0026] In other words, a chassis according to the invention can be used as a trunk lid of a motor vehicle.
[0027] Preferably, the tilting means allow the chassis to pivot, according to an angular sector equal to or greater than 120°, preferably equal to or greater than 150°.
[0028] According to another embodiment of the invention, the tilting means link the chassis to the motor vehicle so as to allow the chassis to pivot until the element comes into contact with the roof of the motor vehicle.
[0029] According to another embodiment of the invention, the motor vehicle includes a trunk lid, capable of pivoting between a closed position in which it partially closes the trunk of the car, and an open position in which it partially releases access to said trunk, and in the closed position, when the chassis partially closes the trunk of the motor vehicle, the trunk lid rests against the chassis element in an active state.
[0030] In other words, the element present in the groove formed in the outer face of the chassis can also serve as a stop for a trunk flap overlapping at least partially with the chassis, to close the trunk of the motor vehicle.
[0031] Preferably, the element is configured to ensure a seal between the chassis and the trunk lid. In other words, the element can also act as a sealing gasket between the chassis and the trunk lid when the trunk is closed by said chassis and said lid. Description of the figures
[0032] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:
[0033] [Fig.1] illustrates a schematic representation of a longitudinal section of a chassis according to the invention, intended to be used as a tailgate of a motor vehicle, comprising an element present in a groove formed in an outer face of the chassis, said element being in a passive state;
[0034] [Fig.2] illustrates a schematic representation of a longitudinal section of the chassis visible in [Fig.1], when the element in the groove is in an active state so as to protrude from the outer face of the chassis;
[0035] [Fig.3] illustrates a schematic representation of a longitudinal and partial section of a motor vehicle, the chassis illustrated by [Fig.2] is used as a tailgate and the tailgate is in the open position;
[0036] [Fig.4] illustrates the motor vehicle represented by [Fig.3], the tailgate being in closed position;
[0037] [Fig.5] illustrates the motor vehicle represented by [Fig.4] when the element present in the groove is in a passive state;
[0038] [Fig.6] illustrates the motor vehicle represented by [Fig.5] when a flap of trunk covers the outer face of the chassis;
[0039] [Fig.7] illustrates the motor vehicle represented by [Fig.6] when the element present in the groove is in an active state, in order to form a watertight seal between the tailgate and the trunk lid. Detailed description of the invention
[0040] As a reminder, the invention proposes a solution to effectively prevent the deterioration of a tailgate and roof of a motor vehicle when the tailgate rests on the roof, preserving both the aesthetics of the motor vehicle and its aerodynamics.
[0041] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a non-limiting embodiment of a chassis 2 intended to be used as a tailgate for a trunk of a motor vehicle as illustrated by Figures 3 to 7.
[0042] The chassis 2 includes an outer face 4 intended to be oriented towards the outside of a motor vehicle when said chassis at least partially closes a trunk of said motor vehicle. The chassis 2 includes a proximal side 6 intended to be closest to the body of a motor vehicle when said chassis pivots to open the trunk of said motor vehicle.
[0043] Remarkably, near a distal side 8 of the frame opposite its proximal side 6, the frame includes on its outer face 4 a groove 10. An element 12 is present in the groove 10.
[0044] According to the present example, element 12 is an inflatable element. Control means integrated into the chassis and not shown in the figures are configured to reversibly switch element 12 from a passive state in which it is deflated to an active state in which it is inflated.
[0045] As illustrated in [Fig. 1], when element 12 is in a deflated, and therefore passive, state, said element does not protrude from the groove 10. In other words, element 12 does not protrude from the outer face 4 of the chassis. When element 12 is in a passive state, it is barely or not at all visible from outside the motor vehicle, which helps to preserve both the aesthetics and the aerodynamics of a motor vehicle equipped with the chassis, as illustrated in [Fig. 5].
[0046] As illustrated in [Fig. 2], when element 12 is in an inflated, and therefore active, state, said element protrudes from the groove 10. In other words, element 12 protrudes from the outer face 4 of the chassis. When element 12 is in an active state, element 12 can act as a stop to prevent direct contact between the outer face 4 of the chassis and the roof 14 of a motor vehicle 16 equipped with said chassis, as illustrated in [Fig. 3].
[0047] Figures 3 to 7 illustrate an example of the use of a chassis 2 as described above, as a tailgate 20 of an SUV-type motor vehicle 16.
[0048] In [Fig.3], the proximal side 6 of the chassis 2 is held to the roof 14 of a motor vehicle 16, by means of tilting means or hinges 20. The hinges 20 are suitable for allowing the chassis to pivot until its outer face 4 bears against the roof of the motor vehicle.
[0049] To prevent damage to the chassis 2 and the roof 14 due to direct contact between them, the invention advantageously proposes that the control means are configured to maintain the element 12, present in the groove 10, in an active state when the chassis is likely to strike the roof. Thus, advantageously, the element 12 acts as a stop between the chassis and the roof to dampen shocks and vibrations between these elements.
[0050] Optionally, the control means can be configured to activate the element when the distance between the outer face 4 of the chassis and the roof is less than a predetermined threshold value. In one embodiment, the control means can be configured to activate the element when the chassis pivots beyond a predetermined critical angle.
[0051] Figures 4 to 7 illustrate a non-limiting example of the different steps implemented to close the trunk of the motor vehicle 16.
[0052] According to a first step illustrated by [Fig.4], the chassis 2 is pivoted so as to partially close the trunk.
[0053] According to a second step illustrated by [Fig.5], the control means deflate the element 12 so that the latter is no longer apparent at the level of the outer face 4 of the chassis.
[0054] According to a third step illustrated by [Fig.6], a trunk flap 22 is pivoted to cover the groove 10 provided in the outer face of the chassis and close the trunk 24. It should be noted that the trunk flap 22 is kept away from the outer face 4 of the chassis to prevent a risk of impact or abrasion between them.
[0055] According to a fourth step illustrated by [Fig.7], the control means inflate the element 12 so that it is in an active state to come out of the groove 10 and bear against the trunk flap 22.
[0056] Advantageously, the element 12 is sealed when in an active state, in order to form a sealed joint between the chassis 2 and the trunk flap 22 to prevent the passage of liquid.
[0057] Of course, the steps described above can be reproduced in reverse order to allow the opening of safe 24.
[0058] It should be noted that prior to closing the trunk, the control means are configured to deflate element 12 so that it does not suffer mechanical friction when positioning the trunk flap above the chassis.
[0059] The closing and opening steps described above can be stored by a storage unit. The storage unit can be coupled to a computing unit such as an on-board computer of a motor vehicle, so that said computing unit can supervise the control means for implementing the closing and opening steps of the trunk.
Claims
Demands
1. A chassis (2) for closing the trunk of a motor vehicle, comprising an outer face (4) intended to be oriented towards the outside of a motor vehicle, when said chassis (2) closes at least partially a trunk of said motor vehicle, the chassis (2) comprising a proximal side (6) intended to be closest to the body of a motor vehicle when said chassis (2) pivots to open the trunk of said motor vehicle, characterized in that near another side of the chassis (2), its outer face (4) comprises a groove (10), and in that an element (12) is present in said groove (10), and in that said element (12) is configured to transition reversibly from a passive state in which said element (12) does not protrude from the groove (10) to an active state in which said element (12) protrudes from the groove (10).
2. Chassis (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the groove (10) is located near a distal side (8) of the chassis (2), and in that the distal side (8) is opposite the proximal side (6).
3. Chassis (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that between its passive state and its active state, the volume of the element (12) increases.
4. Chassis (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the element (12) is capable of being inflated and then deflated on demand, by control means.
5. Chassis (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that it includes control means configured to maintain the element (12) in a passive state, when the chassis (2) is tilted to open or to close the trunk (24) of a motor vehicle (16).
6. Chassis (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the control means are configured to maintain the element (12) in an active state, before the opening of a trunk of a motor vehicle by said chassis (2), and / or to maintain the element (12) in an active state, after the closing of a trunk of a motor vehicle by said chassis (2).
7. Chassis (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises means for tilting said chassis (2) about a pivot axis, and in that the tilting means (20) are located near the proximal side (6) of said chassis (2).
8. Motor vehicle (16) characterized in that it comprises a chassis (2) according to claim 7, and in that the tilting means (20) link the chassis (2) to the motor vehicle (16) so that the chassis (2) can at least partially close a trunk (24) of the motor vehicle (16).
9. Motor vehicle (16) according to claim 8, characterized in that the tilting means (20) link the chassis (2) to the motor vehicle (16) so as to allow the chassis (2) to pivot until the element (12) comes into contact with the roof (14) of the motor vehicle (16).
10. Motor vehicle (16) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises a trunk lid (24) capable of pivoting between a closed position in which it partially closes the trunk (24) of the motor vehicle, and an open position in which it partially releases access to the trunk (24), and in that in the closed position, when the chassis (2) partially closes the trunk (24) of the motor vehicle (16), the trunk lid (24) rests against the element (12) of the chassis (2) in an active state.