Motor-vehicle provided inside the passenger compartment with a carpet element laterally coupled with a lateral protection and finishing component

Abstract

Motor-vehicle comprising: - a carpet element (1) forming part of the passenger compartment floor intended for the positioning of a front passenger's feet, - a component (2) for lateral protection and finishing of the vehicle bodywork, forming a protective and aesthetic finishing trim located at a lower part of the vehicle flank, to serve as a footrest for a passenger when boarding the vehicle, - wherein said component (2) is mounted along an outer longitudinal side of the carpet element (1), - a coupling system for joining the carpet element (1) and the component (2) including a plurality of fastening elements of the screw and / or channel type, and an auxiliary bracket (4) glued to the carpet element (1).

Description

[0001] “MOTOR-VEHICLE PROVIDED INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITH A CARPET ELEMENT LATERALLY COUPLED WITH A LATERAL PROTECTION AND FINISHING COMPONENT”

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a motor-vehicle comprising:

[0004] - a carpet element forming part of the passenger compartment floor intended for the positioning of a front passenger's feet,

[0005] - wherein said carpet element comprises a horizontal base portion and a front inclined portion forming a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal base portion,

[0006] - a lateral protection and finishing bodywork component of the vehicle, forming a protective and aesthetic finishing trim located at a lower part of the vehicle flank, to serve as a footrest for a passenger when boarding the vehicle, - wherein said component comprises a horizontal section and a front inclined section,

[0007] - wherein said component is mounted along an outer longitudinal side of the carpet element,

[0008] - a coupling system for joining, along said outer longitudinal side, said horizontal section to the horizontal base portion of the carpet element, and said front inclined section to the front inclined portion of the carpet element, -wherein said coupling system comprises a plurality of fastening elements of the screw and / or channel type, configured to join the horizontal section to the horizontal base portion.

[0009] Prior art

[0010] Solutions of the type described above are widely used by manufacturers in the sector. However, for some vehicle models, it may be impractical to insert fastening elements along the entire extension of the footrest, due to possible limitations related to the space present in the lower lateral area of the bodywork, determined mainly by the passage of electrical cables and / or the presence ofelectromechanical components. This spatial restriction therefore entails the risk of not being able to precisely fix the footrest and the carpet element, resulting in misalignments of the parts, which can compromise the robustness and / or precision of the coupling between the footrest and the carpet element.

[0011] Therefore, the present invention stems from the desire to find an alternative solution that allows obtaining a robust, precise and reliable coupling between the carpet element and the footrest, while respecting the spatial limit imposed by the presence of other components in the area concerned.

[0012] Object of the invention

[0013] The object of the invention is to satisfy the aforementioned needs by means of a solution that is relatively simple to implement and low-cost.

[0014] A further object of the invention is to develop a solution that is compatible with established production processes, for mounting the footrest onto the vehicle body.

[0015] Summary of the invention

[0016] According to one or more embodiments, one or more of the aforementioned objects are achieved through a motor-vehicle having the features indicated in the attached claim 1.

[0017] Further preferred features of the invention are described in the attached claims and in the following description.

[0018] Brief description of the figures

[0019] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:

[0020] - figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating from below a carpet element and a footrest component, according to a possible embodiment known to date, - figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating a possible embodiment of the invention, including an auxiliary bracket,

[0021] - figure 3 is a perspective view of the auxiliary bracket, and- figure 4 is an enlarged scale sectional view showing some features of the coupling between the footrest component and the carpet element.

[0022] Detailed description

[0023] In the following description, various specific details are illustrated for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various examples of embodiments according to the description. The embodiments may be obtained without one or more of the specific details, or with other processes, components, materials, etc. In other instances, known structures, materials or operations are not illustrated or described in detail so that various aspects of the embodiments are not obscured. A reference to “an embodiment” or “a solution” within the framework of the present description is intended to indicate that a particular configuration, structure or feature described in relation to the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment or solution. Phrases such as “in one embodiment” or “in one solution” that may be present at various points in the present description therefore do not necessarily refer to exactly the same embodiment or solutions. Furthermore, particular configurations, structures or features may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or solutions. The references used herein are provided merely for convenience and therefore do not define the scope of protection or the extent of the embodiments.

[0024] Figure 1 illustrates a possible embodiment known to date, relating to a carpet element 1 laterally coupled with a component 2 for lateral protection and finishing of the vehicle bodywork, so-called footrest.

[0025] By the expression “carpet element” is meant a part of the passenger compartment floor, on which the front passenger (and the driver) rests their feet. This part of the passenger compartment floor can advantageously be made from various materials, to provide the necessary characteristics, such as for example the combination of a base part made of sound-absorbing foam and an upper part made of fabric. Finally, removable floor mats, made of fabric, rubber or synthetic materials for additional protection, can be placed on top of the carpet element.

[0026] By the expression “lateral protection and finishing component of thevehicle bodywork, so-called footrest” is meant a protective and aesthetic finishing trim located at a lower part of a vehicle's bodywork, typically along the flank. More specifically, it is a reinforcing molding to avoid damage to the paint and sheet metal caused by minor impacts, and to serve as a footrest for the user when boarding the vehicle once the side passenger compartment access door is opened.

[0027] As illustrated in figure 1 , the carpet element 1 comprises a horizontal base portion T and a front inclined portion 1” forming a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal base portion T. Reference numeral 3 indicates a plurality of fastening buttons for securing the floor mat element (not shown) to the carpet element 1.

[0028] Still with reference to figure 1, the component 2, so-called footrest, is mounted along an outer longitudinal side of the carpet element 1. Similarly to the conformation of the carpet element 1, the component 2, so-called footrest, comprises a horizontal section 2’ and a front inclined section 2”.

[0029] In all established solutions, the vehicle is provided with a coupling system for joining the component 2, so-called footrest, to the carpet element 1 , including a plurality of fastening elements of the screw and / or channel type (not illustrated in figure 1 ) configured to securely and precisely join the footrest and the carpet element.

[0030] Starting from the technical problem mentioned earlier, related to the possible impediment of inserting fastening elements of the screw and / or channel type along some areas of the outer longitudinal side of the carpet element, figures 2-4 illustrate some peculiar features of the present invention, which provides for the insertion of an auxiliary bracket 4 for coupling the carpet element and the footrest along a specific area of the outer longitudinal side of the carpet element.

[0031] In one or more embodiments, the auxiliary bracket 4 is glued to the carpet element 1 , so as to extend at the outer longitudinal side, along said front inclined portion 1”. In order to achieve the interference fit with the footrest, the auxiliary bracket 4 comprises a longitudinal recess 5 dimensioned for coupling with a terminal edge of the component 2, so-called footrest (figures 3, 4).

[0032] With particular reference to 3, in one or more embodiments, the auxiliarybracket 4 is substantially in the form of an elongated bar, so as to cover the entire extension of the outer side of the front inclined portion 2”.

[0033] According to a further feature, the auxiliary bracket 4 comprises a plurality of holes 6 to allow the adhesive to flow out during the bonding process onto the carpet element 1, so as to avoid the formation of bonding defects that could compromise the stability of the connection.

[0034] It is therefore noted that in the case of the present invention, the fastening system for joining the carpet element 1 and the component 2 combines:

[0035] - a plurality of traditional fastening elements, of the screw and / or channel type, for connecting the horizontal base portion T and the horizontal section 2’, and

[0036] - the auxiliary bracket 4 for connecting the front inclined portion T and the front inclined section 2’.

[0037] Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the construction details and the embodiments may vary widely with respect to what has been described and illustrated purely by way of example, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Motor-vehicle comprising:- a carpet element (1 ) forming part of the passenger compartment floor, - wherein the carpet element (1) comprises a horizontal base portion (T) and a front inclined portion (1”) forming a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal base portion (T),- a component (2) for lateral protection and finishing of the vehicle bodywork, forming a protective and aesthetic finishing trim located at a lower part of the vehicle flank, to serve as a footrest for a passenger when boarding the vehicle,- wherein said component (2) comprises a horizontal section (2’) and a front inclined section (2”),- wherein said component (2) is mounted along an outer longitudinal side of the carpet element (1 ),- a coupling system for joining, along said outer longitudinal side, said horizontal section (2’) to the horizontal base portion (T) of the carpet element (1), and said front inclined section (2”) to the front inclined portion (1”) of the carpet element (1),-wherein said coupling system comprises:- a plurality of fastening elements of the screw and / or channel type, configured to join the horizontal section (2’) to the horizontal base portion (1 ’), said motor-vehicle being characterized in that:- the coupling system further comprises an auxiliary bracket (4) glued to the carpet element (1), so as to extend at the outer longitudinal side, along said front inclined portion (1”) of the carpet element (1),- said auxiliary bracket (4) includes a longitudinal recess (5) to achieve an interference fit with a terminal edge of said front inclined section (2”) of the component (2).

2. Motor-vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that the auxiliary bracket (4) is substantially in the form of an elongated bar, so as to cover theentire extension of the outer side of the front inclined portion (2”).

3. Motor-vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that the auxiliary bracket (4) comprises a plurality of holes (5) to allow the adhesive to flow out during the bonding process onto the carpet element (1), so as to avoid the formation of bonding defects that could compromise the stability of the connection between the carpet element (1) and the component (2).

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