Front structure of the vehicle.

Abstract

The invention relates to a front structure (1) of a motor vehicle body (2) comprising a front hood (3) covering a front compartment (4) of the structure (1), the front compartment (4) comprising a storage space (5) designed to allow the storage of a spare wheel (6), the storage space (5) having an opening (7) sized to allow the introduction, from outside the structure (1), of the spare wheel (6) into the storage space (5), the structure (1) comprising a front grille (8) having a first hatch (9) movably mounted on the grille (8) between a closed position, in which the first hatch (9) at least partially obstructs the opening (7) and prevents the passage of the spare wheel (6) through the opening (7), and an open position, in which the first hatch (9) allows the passage of the spare wheel (6) through the opening (7). (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Front structure of a vehicle.

[0001] The technical field relates to the front structures of vehicles having a storage space for a spare wheel, the vehicle bodies having such a front structure and finally the motor vehicles having such a vehicle body.

[0002] Car manufacturers take great care to improve passenger comfort in their vehicles. In this context, for car manufacturers, ease of use, on the one hand, and available storage space, on the other, contribute to comfort and are important for differentiating themselves from other brands.

[0003] When a motor vehicle is equipped with a spare tire, it is generally stored in the trunk, under a floor, or suspended beneath the vehicle. Accessing the spare tire usually requires the trunk to be empty, which can be problematic when it is not. Furthermore, storing the spare tire occupies trunk space, reducing the available storage capacity.

[0004] On some off-road vehicles, the spare wheel is sometimes mounted externally, on the engine hood or on the rear hatch closing the trunk. This type of storage, however, has certain drawbacks, notably because the wheel is exposed to the elements and dust.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a solution that allows a spare wheel to be stored without reducing the storage space in the rear trunk of the vehicle.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a front structure for a vehicle body that allows a spare wheel to be stored inside a vehicle in a front compartment.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a front structure of a motor vehicle body comprising a front hood covering a front compartment of the structure, the front compartment comprising a storage space designed to allow the storage of a spare wheel, the storage space having an opening sized to allow the spare wheel to be inserted into the storage space from outside the structure, the structure comprising a front grille having a first hatch movablely mounted on the grille between a closed position, in which the first hatch at least partially obstructs the opening and prevents the spare wheel from passing through the opening, and a position open, in which the first hatch allows the spare wheel to pass through the opening.

[0008] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle body having a front structure according to the invention.

[0009] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having at least one vehicle body according to the invention.

[0010] Thus, the front structure according to the invention allows the spare wheel to be stored in the front compartment of the vehicle. The latter offers available space that is not usually used. The front structure according to the invention is particularly well-suited to electric vehicles: in fact, in an electric vehicle, the available space in the front compartment is greater than in a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, since the electric motor is generally smaller than an internal combustion engine. Therefore, the front structure advantageously utilizes this storage space freed up by the electric motor. Access to the storage space is facilitated by the first hatch: a user wishing to store a spare wheel in the storage space or remove it from this storage space simply needs to tilt the first hatch to its open position to release the opening.Thus, the front structure according to the invention has the advantage of allowing the storage of a spare wheel in an easily accessible storage space while freeing up storage space in a rear trunk.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the front structure, the first hatch is mounted to rotate about an axis extending along a transverse direction of the vehicle, in particular a horizontal axis of the body.

[0012] According to one possibility of the front structure, the hood has a second hatch movablely mounted on the hood between a lowered position, in which the second hatch at least partially closes the opening, and a raised position in which, when the first hatch is in the open position, the passage of the spare wheel through the opening is permitted.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the first hatch includes locking means designed to lock the first hatch in its closed position.

[0014] Advantageously, when the hood has a second hatch movablely mounted on the hood between a lowered position, in which the second hatch at least partially closes the opening, and a raised position in which, when the first hatch is in the open position, the passage of the spare wheel through the opening is permitted, the locking means include a control disposed in the front compartment to be operated when the second hatch is in its raised position.

[0015] According to one possibility of the front structure, at least a part of the hood is transparent or translucent.

[0016] In one embodiment, a spare wheel is housed in the storage space.

[0017] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a perspective view of a front structure according to the invention and a user opening the first hatch of the structure to access a spare wheel located in the storage space of the front structure;

[0019] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a detailed view of locking means for the first structure hatch in front of [Fig.1];

[0020] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0021] A front structure 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures, forms part of a body 2 of a motor vehicle according to the invention, partially illustrated.

[0022] The front structure 1 includes a front hood 3 covering a front compartment 4 of the structure 1. The hood 3 is, for example, movablely mounted on the structure 1 or is fixed, in particular when the vehicle is electrically powered.

[0023] For example, compartment 4 houses a vehicle engine, not shown. In another embodiment, particularly when the vehicle is electrically powered, the front compartment 4 constitutes a storage volume.

[0024] The front compartment 4 includes a storage space 5 designed to accommodate a spare wheel 6, illustrated in [Fig. 1]. In the example shown in [Fig. 1], the storage space 5 is delimited by the cover 3. In the example, the spare wheel 6 is positioned horizontally in the storage space 5. The spare wheel 6 is, for example, a conventional spare wheel or a space-saver spare wheel.

[0025] As illustrated in [Fig.1], the storage space 5 has an opening 7 dimensioned to allow the introduction, from outside the front structure 1, of the spare wheel 6 into the storage space 5.

[0026] The front structure 1 according to the invention also includes a front grille 8 which has a first flap 9 movablely mounted on the grille 8 between a closed position and an open position. In its closed position, the first flap 9 at least partially obstructs the opening 7 and prevents the spare wheel 6 from passing through the opening 7. In its open position, the first flap 9 allows the spare wheel 6 to pass through the opening 7.

[0027] In one embodiment, at least a portion of the cover 3 is transparent or translucent. Thus, the cover 3 allows the spare wheel 6, housed in its storage compartment 5, to be exposed.

[0028] As illustrated in [Fig.1], the first hatch 9 is mounted to rotate about an axis A extending in a transverse direction from the body 2, corresponding in particular to a horizontal axis of the body 2. For example, the first hatch 9 forms part of a ventilation grille of the grille 8 or forms a visual continuity with the ventilation grille.

[0029] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 1], the hood 3 has a second hatch 10 movably mounted on the hood 3, between a lowered position, in which the second hatch 10 at least partially obstructs the opening 7, and a raised position in which, when the first hatch 9 is in its open position, the spare wheel 6 can pass through the opening 7. Advantageously, when the hood 3 has a second hatch 10, the portion of the hood 3 supplementing the second hatch 10 is fixed.

[0030] Advantageously, the front structure 1 includes locking means 11, illustrated in [Fig. 2], designed to lock the first hatch 9 in its closed position. The locking means 11 have at least one control 12 for locking and / or unlocking the first hatch 9. For example, a control 12 is accessible from inside the vehicle. Advantageously further, the locking means 11 include a control 12 located in the front compartment 4 so that it can be operated when the second hatch 10 is in its raised position.

[0031] Advantageously, when the front structure 1 has a first 9 and a second 10 hatches, the opening 7 is completely closed when the first hatch 9 is in the closed position and the second hatch 10 is in its lowered position. In one possible configuration, the first hatch 9 exposes a portion of the opening 7 sufficient to allow the passage of the spare wheel 6 when the second hatch 10 is in its lowered position. The second hatch 10 then facilitates access to the storage compartment 5 in its raised position or the operation of the control 12 for locking and / or unlocking the first hatch 9.

[0032] According to another embodiment, the passage of the spare wheel 6 requires positioning the first hatch 9 in its open position and the second hatch 10 in its raised position.

[0033] Advantageously, the front structure 1 also includes means, not illustrated, similar to the locking means 11 for locking the second hatch 10 in its lowered position.

[0034] In the example illustrated in [Fig.2], the control 12 forms a latch 13 sliding in an opening of the grille 8.

[0035] Thus, the front structure 1 allows the spare wheel 6 to be stored in the front compartment 4 of the vehicle. This compartment has an available storage space 5 that is not normally used. Access to the storage space 5 is facilitated by the first hatch 9. Simply tilting the first hatch 9 into its open position releases the opening 7. Therefore, the front structure 1 has the advantage of allowing the spare wheel 6 to be stored in an easily accessible storage space 5 while freeing up storage space in the rear trunk.

[0036] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the front structure described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Front structure (1) of a motor vehicle body (2) comprising a front hood (3) covering a front compartment (4) of the structure (1), the front compartment (4) comprising a storage space (5) designed to allow the storage of a spare wheel (6), the storage space (5) having an opening (7) dimensioned to allow the introduction, from outside the structure (1), of the spare wheel (6) into the storage space (5), the structure (1) comprising a front grille (8) having a first hatch (9) movably mounted on the grille (8) between a closed position, in which the first hatch (9) at least partially obstructs the opening (7) and prevents the passage of the spare wheel (6) through the opening (7), and an open position, in which the first hatch (9) allows the passage of the spare wheel (6) through the opening (7).

2. Front structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first hatch (9) is mounted movable in rotation about an axis (A) extending along a transverse direction of the vehicle, in particular a horizontal axis of the body (2).

3. Front structure (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the hood (3) has a second hatch (10) movablely mounted on the hood (3) between a lowered position, in which the second hatch (10) at least partially closes the opening (7), and a raised position in which, when the first hatch (9) is in the open position, the passage of the spare wheel (6) through the opening (7) is permitted.

4. Front structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first hatch (9) has locking means (11) designed to lock the first hatch (9) in its closed position.

5. Front structure (1) according to claim 4, in combination with claim 3, characterized in that the locking means (11) comprise a control (12) disposed in the front compartment (4) to be manipulated when the second hatch (9) is in its raised position.

6. Front structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least a part of the hood (3) is transparent or translucent.

7. Front structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a spare wheel (6) is housed in the storage space (5).

8. Motor vehicle body (2) having a front structure (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Motor vehicle having at least one vehicle body (2) according to claim 8.

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