WO2023161572A1

WO2023161572A1 - Optimized stop piece for a rear panel of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2023161572A1
Application number: PCT/FR2023/050080
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abdelkrim OUSSAADA
Original assignee: Psa Automobiles Sa
Priority date: 2022-02-24
Filing date: 2023-01-20
Publication date: 2023-08-31
Also published as: EP4483028A1; FR3132888A1; FR3132888B1

Abstract

A stop piece (PB) comprises a wall (PA) having a main part (PP) with an upper face (FS) defining a stop for a trunk lid of a vehicle and an upper peripheral edge (BPS) continuing this main part (PP) and rigidly connected to a rear panel (PR) of the vehicle. This main part (PP) comprises a lower sub-part (SPI) situated below its upper face (FS), extending as far as the rear panel (PR) and continued by at least one lower extension (EI) able to bear on and be rigidly connected to the rear panel (PR).

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE: OPTIMIZED STOPPER PART FOR A VEHICLE REAR PANEL

Technical field of the invention

The present invention claims the priority of French application 2201651 filed on February 24, 2022, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

The invention relates to vehicles comprising a trunk partially delimited by a rear panel on which a tailgate rests, and more specifically to the stop pieces fitted to such rear panels.

State of the art

Many vehicles, generally of the automobile type, include a boot which is partially delimited by a rear panel and access to which is controlled by a boot flap suitable for resting on this rear panel in its closed position.

In order to cushion the impact of the tailgate against the rear panel at the end of its closing, it is possible to fasten to the outer face of this rear panel at least one added abutment piece and possibly provided with a damping element rubber (possibly synthetic). Each stop piece comprises a wall comprising a main part having an upper face which projects towards the rear end of the vehicle and defines a stop for the tailgate and an upper peripheral edge which extends this main part and which is secured to the panel back.

In some vehicles, the shape of the rear panel does not allow the lower peripheral edge which extends the lower sub-part of the main part to rest against this rear panel, so that there is an empty space between this rear panel and this lower peripheral edge (which is in a way suspended). Consequently, when the rear bumper of the vehicle undergoes a so-called "repairability" shock (that is to say of an intensity lower than a threshold corresponding to a low intensity (or at low speed)), it can come to bear against an abutment part. However, this support almost always causes significant deformation of the rear panel, at least in the support zone in which the upper peripheral edge is welded, due to the lever arm effect resulting from the suspension of the sub-part lower part of the main part of the wall of the abutment part concerned. This proves to be problematic because if it is easy to replace a damaged rear bumper, the same cannot be said of the rear panel which can only be the subject of a specific repair in situ by hammering in a sheet metal workshop, which proves to be time-consuming, expensive and does not always allow a return to the initial shape and therefore can prove to be visible and/or disturbing for neighboring equipment.

Furthermore, the deformation of the rear panel can also cause damage to equipment near the damaged support zone.

The aim of the invention is therefore in particular to improve the situation.

Presentation of the invention

It proposes in particular for this purpose a stop piece comprising a wall comprising a main part, having an upper face which projects towards the rear of a vehicle and defines a stop for a tailgate of this vehicle, and a peripheral edge upper, extending this main part and able to be secured to a rear panel of the vehicle.

This abutment piece is characterized in that the main part of its wall comprises a lower sub-part located under the upper face, capable of extending as far as the rear panel, and extended by at least one lower extension specific to its press on, and be secured to, the rear panel.

Thanks to the absence of empty space between the rear panel and a portion of the main part of the wall of the abutment piece, when the rear bumper of the vehicle presses against this abutment piece during a reparability impact this does not induce any real deformation of the rear panel in the support zone where the stop piece is welded due to the absence of a lever arm effect.

The abutment piece according to the invention may comprise other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- in a first embodiment, the lower extension may constitute a lower peripheral edge extending the lower sub-part of the main part at an angle which is adapted to its support on the rear panel;

- in a second embodiment, the lower extension can constitute a fixing lug which extends the lower sub-part of the main part at an angle which is adapted to its support on the rear panel;

- in this second embodiment, the lower sub-part may comprise at least a first lateral zone located to the right or to the left of the lower extension and devoid of material;

- also at least in this second embodiment, the wall of the abutment part may comprise, on a part of the upper peripheral edge and/or the main wall, outside its lower sub-part, at least one second lateral zone located to the right or left of the lower extension and devoid of material;

- it can be made of steel;

- the upper peripheral edge and the lower extension can be suitable for being welded to the rear panel;

- it may include a damping element secured to the upper face.

The invention also proposes a vehicle, optionally of the automobile type, and comprising a rear panel partially delimiting a boot and comprising at least one abutment piece of the type of that presented above, and a boot flap controlling access to this safe and clean to lean on this rear panel.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examination of the detailed description below, and of the appended drawings, in which:

[Fig. 1] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a perspective view from the rear side of the vehicle, part of a first example of a vehicle rear panel comprising a first example embodiment of a stop piece according to the invention, and

[Fig. 2] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a perspective view of the rear side of the vehicle, part of a second example of a vehicle rear panel comprising a second embodiment of a stop piece according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The object of the invention is in particular to propose an abutment part PB intended to equip a rear panel PR of a vehicle and making it possible to avoid damage to this rear panel PR in the support zone comprising this abutment part PB when the rear bumper of the vehicle presses against the latter (PB) during a repairability impact.

In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the stop piece PB is intended to equip a rear panel PR of a vehicle of the automotive type, such as a car for example. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It concerns any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air) comprising a trunk partially delimited by a rear panel and access to which is controlled by a tailgate capable of leaning on this rear panel in its closed position.

There is schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 two examples of rear panel PR vehicle comprising respectively first and second embodiments of a stop piece PB according to the invention.

Although not illustrated, the rear panel PR partially delimits the boot of the vehicle, access to which is controlled by a boot flap. In its closed position, this tailgate rests on the rear panel PR and in particular on each stop piece PB that it includes.

As illustrated, an abutment part PB, according to the invention, comprises at least one wall PA which comprises a main part PP, an upper peripheral edge BPS and at least one lower extension El.

The main part PP has an upper face FS, which projects towards the rear end of the vehicle and which defines a stop for the tailgate of the vehicle, and a lower sub-part SPI. The upper peripheral edge BPS extends the main part PP and is capable of being secured to an upper sub-zone ZS of a bearing zone of the rear panel PR, for example by welding. This support zone is located close to the rear bumper of the vehicle.

The lower sub-part SPI of the main part PP is located under the upper face FS and capable of extending as far as the rear panel PR. In addition, this lower sub-part SPI is extended by at least one lower extension El which is able to rest on the rear panel PR and to be secured to this rear panel PR in a lower sub-zone ZI of the zone d aforementioned support.

Thus, there is no longer any empty space between the rear panel PR and a portion of the main part PP of the wall PA of the abutment piece PB, and therefore when the rear bumper of the vehicle comes to rest against this abutment part PB during a repairability impact this does not induce any real deformation of the rear panel PR in the support zone where the abutment part PB is welded due to the absence of arm effect of leverage. This is particularly advantageous because it avoids having to repair this area specifically in situ by hammering in a boiler workshop. In addition, the absence of deformation of the aforementioned zone prevents damage to equipment adjacent to this zone.

At least two embodiments of the stop piece PB can be envisaged.

In a first embodiment illustrated without limitation in Figure 1, the lower extension El may constitute a lower peripheral edge which extends the lower sub-part SPI at an angle adapted to its support on the rear panel PR.

The extension of this lower peripheral edge El around the lower sub-part SPI can be more or less large. However, the longer this extension, the greater the bearing surface of the stop piece PB on the rear panel PR and therefore the more the force absorbed during the impact can be distributed.

In a second embodiment illustrated without limitation in Figure 2, the lower extension El can constitute a fixing lug which extends the lower sub-part SPI at an angle adapted to its support on the rear panel PR.

This makes it possible to locally define a relatively large bearing surface while reducing the mass of a lower peripheral edge El of the type illustrated in FIG. The support surface here is smaller than that offered by the lower peripheral edge El of the first embodiment, and therefore the fixing lug El must withstand a significant force during the impact because this force is distributed over a smaller surface.

It will be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIG. 2, that the lower sub-part SPI can comprise at least a first lateral zone Z1 located to the right or to the left of the lower extension El and devoid of material. This makes it possible to reduce the mass of the abutment part PB. It will be noted that in the example illustrated without limitation in FIG. 2, the first lateral zone Z1 is located to the right of the lower extension El. But in a variant embodiment not illustrated, it could be located to the left of the lower extension El .

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIG. 2, that the wall PA may comprise, on a part of the upper peripheral edge BPS and/or the main wall PP (apart from its lower sub-part SPI), at least one second lateral zone Z2 situated to the right or to the left of the lower extension El and devoid of material. This also makes it possible to reduce the mass of the abutment piece PB. It will be noted that in the example illustrated without limitation in FIG. 2, the second lateral zone Z2 is located to the right of the lower extension El, and defined both in the upper peripheral edge BPS and the main wall PP. But in a variant embodiment not shown, it could be located to the left of the lower extension El.

In variant embodiments not shown, the abutment part PB could comprise only a first lateral zone Z1 or else only a second lateral zone Z2.

When the abutment part PB comprises a first lateral zone Z1 and a second lateral zone Z2, it is necessary, as illustrated in FIG. 2, that its part main PP comprises a lateral fixing lug PF between its first Z1 and second Z2 lateral zones (here on the right). This makes it strong enough.

It will also be noted, although this is not illustrated, that each abutment part PB may comprise a damping element secured to its upper face FS and intended to participate in the damping of the tailgate at the end of closing. This joining can be done by screwing thanks to the presence of a hole TF (possibly threaded) defined in the upper face FS, as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, or else by gluing. Such a damping element can, for example, be made of rubber (possibly synthetic). But in a variant embodiment, the damping element could be secured to the tailgate and in this case it abuts against the upper face FS at the end of closing its tailgate.

Preferably, each stop piece PB is made of metal. Thus, it can, for example, be made of steel or aluminum. But in a variant embodiment, each abutment part PB could be made of a rigid and very resistant plastic or synthetic material.

Also preferably, the upper peripheral edge BPS and the lower extension El of each abutment piece PB are welded to the rear panel PR. It will be noted that when the main part PP comprises a side fixing lug PF, the latter (PF) is also preferably welded to the rear panel PR. In Figure 2 the preferred locations of the weld points are materialized by dotted circles.

Claims

1 . Stop piece (PB) comprising a wall (PA) comprising a main part (PP) having an upper face (FS), projecting towards the rear of a vehicle and defining a stop for a tailgate of said vehicle, and an upper peripheral edge (BPS), extending said main part (PP) and able to be secured to a rear panel (PR) of said vehicle, characterized in that said main part (PP) comprises a lower sub-part (SPI) located under said upper face (FS), adapted to extend to said rear panel (PR), and extended by at least one lower extension (El) adapted to rest on said, and to be secured to said, rear panel ( PR).

2. Abutment piece according to claim 1, characterized in that said lower extension (El) constitutes a lower peripheral edge extending said lower sub-part (SPI) at an angle adapted to its support on said rear panel (PR).

3. Abutment piece according to claim 1, characterized in that said lower extension (El) constitutes a fixing lug extending said lower sub-part (SPI) at an angle adapted to its support on said rear panel (PR).

4. Abutment piece according to claim 3, characterized in that said lower sub-part (SPI) comprises at least a first lateral zone (Z1) situated to the right or to the left of said lower extension (El) and devoid of material.

5. Abutment piece according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said wall (PA) comprises, on a part of said upper peripheral edge (BPS) and/or said main wall (PP), outside of said sub-part lower (SPI), at least one second lateral zone (Z2) situated to the right or to the left of said lower extension (El) and devoid of material.

6. Stop piece according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is made of steel.

7. Abutment piece according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said upper peripheral edge (BPS) and said lower extension (El) are adapted to be welded to said rear panel (PR).

8. Abutment piece according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a damping element secured to said upper face (FS).

9. Vehicle comprising a rear panel (PR) partially delimiting a trunk and a trunk flap controlling access to said trunk and capable of resting on said rear panel (PR), characterized in that said rear panel (PR) comprises at least one stop piece (PB) according to one of the preceding claims.

10. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.