Protective finish for the rear door of a vehicle's cargo compartment

Abstract

A protective finish (10) is described for the rear door (1 ) of a vehicle's cargo compartment, of the type to be fixed to the lower portion of the rear door (1). Said finish (10) comprises: a long and flat body (11); a protective flap (17) that projects itself from the front portion of the finish (10), at an angle, to a position capable of covering an edge (6) of the rear door (1); and wherein the distal end (18) of the protective flap (17) defines a rounded surface having a curvature radius greater than 2.5 mm.

Description

Protective finish for the rear door of a vehicle’s cargo compartment

[0001] The present invention relates to a finish for the lower edge of the rear door of a vehicle’s cargo compartment. More particularly, the invention relates to a finishing piece for the lower portion of the rear door of the cargo compartment, said piece combining aesthetic and protective functions, in particular in order to satisfy the requirements of Regulation 26.State of the Art

[0002] European Regulation 26 of the UN-ECE (Regulation no. 26 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe), of the year 2010, establishes a series of standards for the type-approval of vehicles within the jurisdiction of the European Union. In particular, these standards concern the external characteristics of vehicles capable of transit in European territory.

[0003] A particular standard concerns the dimension of the rear door edge of the cargo compartment (projecting edge of the vehicle, with the lid in the open condition), the radius of which may not be less than 2.5 mm. This same limiting radius is a condition applicable to several other parts projecting from the vehicle bodywork, and takes into account the non-formation of creases or sharp edges that could cause injury or harm to users or people around a vehicle, in the event of contact with these edges or creases.

[0004] In the particular case of a swing-out rear door of the cargo compartment, especially for SUV or similar vehicles, with the rear door in the open position, the lower edge thereof is completely exposed and dangerously close to the head of a user when placing or removing objects or suitcases from the cargo compartment. Figures 1A and 1 B illustrate an embodiment of a rear door in accordance with “Regulation 26”.

[0005] On the other hand, the state of art techniques for producing a rear door 101 , or any other vehicle’s metal doors - overlapping folding - usually provide for a premolded outer sheet 102 whose edges 104 are folded over the edges 105 of an inner sheet 103 also pre-molded. In this case, the folding of the edge 103 of the outer sheet 102 defines the final edge 106 of the assembled door 101. Since it is an edge 106 that overlaps an edge of the inner sheet 104, a sheet with limited thickness, it becomes extremely complex to perform the folding with a radius of curvature much greater than the thickness of the inner sheet. Figures 2A and 2B illustrate a rear door produced according to this technique, in particular from metal sheets with 0.7 mm thickness.

[0006] Document US 20080265599_A1 describes a flap of the cargo compartment or rear window, equipped with a plastic covering part which covers the said metaledge. The plastic covering is intended, for example, to compose a rear spoiler or aesthetic finishing element.

[0007] Consequently, it is required a finishing element capable of simultaneously covering an end edge of a rear door of a vehicle’s cargo compartment, produced according to the overlapping folding technique, as per the state of art as well as complying with Regulation 26.Summary of the Invention

[0008] This and other objects of the invention are achieved from a protective finish for the rear door of a vehicle’s cargo compartment, the type to be fixed to the lower portion of the rear door, comprising a long flat body and a protective flap that projects itself from the front portion of the finish, at an angle, to a position capable of covering an edge of the rear door, and wherein the distal end of the protective flap defines a rounded surface presenting a curvature radius greater than 2.5 mm. Preferably, the curvature radius of the distal end (18) is 2.7 mm.

[0009] In one embodiment, the protective flap projects itself from the finishing edge closest to the edge of the rear door, with the finish in the assembled condition. In the region of contact between the protective flap and the edge, the protective flap defines a pocket of complementary shape in relation to the rounded surface of the rear door edge.

[0010] In one embodiment, the body has a curved development, the curvature of which follows the curvature of the lower portion of the vehicle’s rear door. The body also has openings intended to allow access to rear door devices. The body also comprises end flaps provided with fixing holes. The body also comprises engagement teeth capable of penetrating and self-locking in respective seats of the rear door. Finally, the body comprises a structural reinforcement in the form of geometrically arranged projecting walls, which extends from one end flap to the opposite end flapBrief Description of the Figures

[0011] The object of the present invention may be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred and non-limiting form of carrying out the invention, which is made with the support of the attached figures, provided for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, in which:- Figure 1 A is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a rear door, in accordance with “Regulation 26”;- Figure 1 B is a cross-sectional view according to arrows 1 B-1 B in figure 1A;- Figure 2A is a perspective view of a vehicle’s rear door produced according to the overlapping folding technique;- Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view according to arrows 2B-2B in figure 2A, with an enlarged detail;- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the exterior of the protective finish, in accordance with the invention;- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the inside of the protective finish, according to the invention;- Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the boot lid and protective finish assembly; and- Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view, in accordance with arrows 1 B-1 B in Figure 1 A, with the protective finish installed, and including an enlarged detail.Preferred Form of Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] In accordance with Figures 3-6, 1 generally indicates the rear door of a vehicle’s cargo compartment, such as, for example, a SUV or similar vehicle type. Said rear door 1 is defined by a pre-molded outer sheet 2 whose edges 4 are folded over the edges 5 of an inner sheet 3 also pre-molded. Also in this case, the bending of the edge 4 of the outer leaf 2 defines the terminal and lower edge 6 (in the closed rear door position) of the rear door 1.

[0013] As in the case of the rear door 101 , according to the state of art (figures 2A and 2B), the bending radius of the outer leaf 2 over the edge 5 of the inner leaf 3 has a dimension, in absolute value, smaller than that permitted by the aforementioned Regulation 26, in practice, approximately 1.0 mm against 2.5 mm respectively. Therefore, the resulting edge 6 thus defined is sharp and potentially dangerous in terms of causing possible injuries.

[0014] In order to avoid such a risk to human integrity, a protective finish for the lower edge of the rear door of a vehicle’s cargo compartment is generally indicated as shown in figures 3 and 4. The finish 10 comprises a long and basically flat body 11 , with a slight curve, the curvature of which follows the curvature of the lower portion of the vehicle’s rear door 1 , that is, of the edge 6.

[0015] In the central region of the body 11 are provided several openings 12 A / B / C etc., intended to allow access to or operation of devices of the rear door 1 , such as, for example, the locking handle of the lock (not shown). From the lateral ends of the central body, respective end flaps 13 project themselves, provided with holes 14 for fixing the finish 10 to the lower portion of the door 1. Regarding the fixing of the finish 10 to the lower portion of the rear door 1 , there are also provided engagement teeth 15 (see figures 4 and 5) capable of penetrating and self-locking in respective seats (not illustrated) of the rear door 1 , so as to distribute the fixing tensions of the finish 10 to the rear door 1. In addition, and depending on the dimensions of the finish 10, a structural reinforcement 16 is also provided (see specifically figure 4), in the form of geometrically arranged projecting walls, and which extends across the entire width of the finish 10, that is, from one end flap 14 to the opposite end flap 14.

[0016] Finally, and from the front portion of the finish 10, that is, from the edge of the finish 10 closest to the edge 6 of the rear door 1 with the finish 10 in the assembled condition, a protective flap 17 projects itself (see figure 6 and the respective enlarged detail) up to the edge 6 of the rear door 1.

[0017] More specifically, from the edge of the finish 10 the protective flap 17 projects itself, at an angle, in relation to the plane of the body 11 of the finish 10, up to a position capable of covering the edge 6 of the rear door 1. In the region of contact between the edge 6, the protective flap 17 defines a pocket 19, which presents a complementary conformation in relation to the rounded surface of the edge 6 of the rear door 1. In this way, and even if the contact of the pocket 19 of the protective flap 17 is not capable of defining some type of mechanical fit with the edge 6, the structural rigidity of the finish 10 and the protective flap 17 cause the protective flap 17 to always overlap the edge 6.

[0018] Furthermore, the distal end 18 of the protective flap 17 defines a rounded surface and, more specifically, presents a curvature radius greater than 2.5 mm. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the radius of curvature of the distal end 18 is 2.7 mm.

[0019] By installing the finish 10 on the lower portion of a vehicle’s rear door 1, it is possible to “hide” the edge 6 in the pocket 18 of the protective flap 17, making only the distal end 18 visible, the curvature radius of which satisfies the vehicles approval requirements, in accordance with said Regulation 26. Thus, the lower end of the rear door 1 can be formed according to the conventional and efficient technique of overlapping the outer sheet 2 over the edge 5 of the inner sheet 3.

Claims

Claims1. Protective finish (10) for the rear door (1) of a vehicle’s cargo compartment, of the type to be fixed to the lower portion of the rear door (1), comprising said finish (10) a long and flat body (11), and a protective flap (17) that projects itself from the front portion of the finish (10), at an angle, to a position suitable for covering an edge (6) of the rear door (1), and the distal end (18) of the protective flap (17) defining a rounded surface with a curvature radius greater than 2.5 mm.

2. Protective finish (10), according to claim 1 , wherein the curvature radius of the distal end (18) is 2.7 mm.

3. Protective finish (10), according to claim 1 , wherein the protective flap (17) projects itself from the edge of the finish (10) closest to the edge (6) of the rear door (1), with the finish (10) in the assembled condition.

4. Protective finish (10), according to claim 1 , wherein the region of contact between the protective flap (17) and the edge (6), the protective flap (17) defines a pocket (19) of complementary shape in relation to the rounded surface of the edge (6) of the rear door (1).

5. Protective finish (10), according to claim 1 , wherein the body (11) presents a curved development, the curvature of which follows the curvature of the lower portion of the vehicle’s rear door (1).

6. Protective finish (10), according to claim 1 , wherein the body (11) presents openings (12A, 12B, 12C) intended to allow access to rear door (1) devices.

7. Protective finish (10), according to claim 1 , wherein the body (11) comprises end tabs (13) provided with fixing holes (14).

8. Protective finish (10), according to claim 1 , wherein the body (11) comprises engagement teeth (15) capable of penetrating and self-locking in respective seats of the rear door (1).

9. Protective finish (10), according to claim 1 , wherein the body (11) comprises a structural reinforcement (16) in the form of geometrically arranged projecting walls, which extends from an end flap (14) to the opposite end flap

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