BE1027376B1 - PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR AN EDGE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention proposes a protective device (10) for an edge, which is intended in particular for detachable installation on the edge of a rotating sash or wing, in particular the edge of a vehicle door, comprising or consisting of an elongated damping body (12) which is supported by a profile is formed from polymeric foam and comprises a front surface (123) and a rear surface (121); and a continuous or discontinuous positioning bracket (11) which is fastened to the rear surface (121) of the damping body (12), the positioning bracket (11) having a U-shaped cross section with an open side (111) and a closed side ( 112), the open side (111) forming a receptacle for the edge to be protected, the U-shaped cross section preferably having at least a partial form fit with the edge to be protected.

Description

EDGE PROTECTION DEVICE Technical Field The present invention relates generally to edge protection devices, in particular for the edges of rotating sashes or sashes.

The invention relates more specifically to a protective device intended to be detachably installed on an edge of a vehicle door or the like.

Background of the Invention Repairing damage, even minor, caused to the body of new automobiles can be difficult, time consuming and costly.

As a result, manufacturers have every reason to protect the motor vehicle from all these types of damage before delivering the vehicle to the end customer.

This particularly applies to minor dents and scratches that can be caused on vehicle doors, hoods, bumpers or trunk compartments during loading, transport and unloading of the vehicles.

Manufacturers sometimes provide the doors of the vehicle with a horizontal trim that is formed from a resilient material and is permanently attached along the side of the vehicle doors so as to avoid the dents and scratches when the doors are opened and against an adjacent vehicle or vehicle encounter another obstacle.

However, these trimmings are rather fragile and, above all, they can affect the overall aesthetics of the vehicle.

Manufacturers therefore often resort to a temporary protective device for the body panels of the motor vehicle during transport from the factory to the dealer, where these protective devices are removed before the vehicle is handed over to the customer.

The transport process, for example by truck, rail or ship, requires numerous movements of the vehicles.

This leads to frequent door openings.

Since the motor vehicles have to be parked very close to one another, the risk of dents or scratches being caused by the doors of the vehicle increases.

Various devices have been developed to be permanently installed on the edge of vehicle doors or the like.

These devices generally comprise a deformable metal support lined inside with plastic material or rubber, as is the case in US Pat. No. 4,581,807.

These devices generally have a U-shaped cross-section intended to receive the edge of the vehicle door.

The metal support is generally deformed so that the device elastically encompasses the edge of the vehicle door.

These prior art devices are generally designed with metal supports so that they can be the subject of permanent attachment to the edge of the vehicle door.

They are designed with permanent installation in mind, as they are generally used as decorative trim or to install a sealing element around the edge of the vehicle door, as for example in US Pat. No. 4,902,549. Once these devices are installed, it is difficult to remove without damaging the edge of the vehicle door.

There are also temporary edge protection devices, such as those described in the documents EP1343659A1 or EP2091785A1, which are provided for attachment by one or more adhesive sections near the edge to be protected, in particular by means of a double-sided adhesive tape.

However, the attachment of these protective devices requires first of all to remove the release paper (s), to position the protective device correctly with respect to the edge to be protected and to discard the release paper or papers.

Object of the invention An object of the present invention is to propose a temporary protection device that can easily be attached to an edge of a

Can be installed rotary wing or wing and removed from this, in particular an edge of a door of a vehicle.

General description of the invention In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention proposes a protective device for an edge, which is particularly intended for detachable installation on the edge of a revolving leaf or wing, in particular the edge of a vehicle door, comprising or consisting of a Elongated (shock) damping body which is formed by a profile made of polymer foam and comprises a front surface and a rear surface; and a continuous or discontinuous positioning bracket which is attached to the rear surface of the damping body, the positioning bracket having a U-shaped cross section with an open side and a closed side, the open side forming a receptacle for the edge to be protected.

The U-shaped cross section preferably has at least a partial form fit with the edge to be protected.

The protective devices according to the invention can be easily installed by engaging the positioning bracket on the edge to be protected, the damping body made of flexible but light polymer foam then being positioned outwards in order to dampen the disturbance against any adjoining obstacles or vehicles, without first being able to or to pull off several release papers.

Furthermore, the correct positioning of the protective device can be carried out not only easily, but also in a reproducible manner thanks to the arrangement of the positioning bracket in relation to the damping body.

Furthermore, because of its lightness and flexibility, the protective device can be conveniently adapted to the shape of an edge, for example a door.

In addition, compared to the current solutions made from adhesive made foam, it is not necessary to exert a defined pressure in order to ensure good adhesion to the carrier.

Furthermore, these protective devices, due to the requirements for a temporary

Adhesion of the adhesive in these solutions, in contrast to the solution proposed by the present invention, generally has a limited useful life before its installation on the object to be protected.

Furthermore, when removing these protective devices, care must be taken to remove any trace of adhesive that remains on the surface of the object to be protected.

This is all the more true if the protective device has remained on the vehicle for a longer period of time, especially if it is exposed to the sun and the weather.

All of these disadvantages are eliminated by the protective devices presented here.

The polymer foam profile of the damping body generally contains one or more polar or non-polar polymers or copolymers made from olefin, from urethane, from terephthalate, from vinyl chloride, from styrene, from natural or synthetic rubbers, from silicones and from mixtures of these polymers.

The cells of the foam can be predominantly closed, predominantly open or partially open, depending on the desired shock absorption capacity.

The foams can be at least partially crosslinked or uncrosslinked.

The density of the polymer foam is preferably to values of 10kg / m? to 400 kg / m?, preferably from 15 kg / m * to 200 kg / m?, in particular from 20 kg / m? up to 100 kg / m®, adjusted.

Other densities, in particular greater than 400 kg / m², for example up to 600 kg / m², can also be selected if the application requires this.

In general, the shape of the cross-section of the damping body can be arbitrary to the extent that this shape allows the edge to be protected after the protective device has been installed on this edge.

The cross section of the damping body preferably has a spherical, oval or more generally polygonal (convex or concave) shape, preferably with rounded corners.

The cross section can be solid or have one or more depressions or cavities, in the latter case in order to further reduce the weight of the damping body.

Advantageously, the thickness of the damping body, measured between the front and rear surfaces, is greater towards the lateral surface on the closed side of the U-shaped cross section of the positioning bracket, that is, on the side of the edge, in order to better protect it, but off economic reasons to reduce the total volume of the damping body at the same time.

In certain embodiments, the damping body can comprise transversely directed incisions over at least part of its length or at certain points and / or recesses at least at certain points along its length; these cuts or recesses can be located on one or more of the front surface, rear surface or side surfaces. If necessary, the incisions can increase the flexibility of the damping body and can, for example, be provided at locations where the protective device has to follow an edge with a small radius of curvature. Recesses can be provided, for example, in order to better follow the shape of the edge at these points of curvature or, in particular, at points where permanent protective elements are installed on the door.

The expression “U-shaped cross-section” in connection with the positioning bracket generally means that the positioning bracket has or forms a channel according to a shape in section (cross-section) that is suitable for temporary positioning on an edge, whether in Shape of a U, C, J or V, with a closed side, for example semicircular, starting from which two legs, one frontal and the other dorsal, extend, the distal ends of which form the open side that can be engaged with the Edge serves. The positioning bracket is thus held on the edge by the retaining forces (friction, mechanical locking ...) that are exerted when the positioning bracket is engaged on the edge.

The positioning bracket can be continuous or discontinuous, that is, it can be in one piece over the entire length of the profile or, alternatively, it can be formed by a small number of brackets with smaller dimensions which are attached to the damping body at a certain distance from one another .

In certain embodiments, the positioning bracket is not continuous and preferably comprises a multiplicity of clips made of metal, which at least in places, at least on the inner surface of the U-shape, comprise a coating of foamed or non-foamed polymer material.

If the clips are made of metal which is coated with foamed polymer material, this preferably has a density of at least 30 kg / m 2? in particular of at least 45 kg / m * and in particular of at least 100 kg / m?, but preferably at most a density of 600 kg / m °, in particular of at most 500 kg / m? or even at most 300 kg / m °.

In other advantageous variants, the clips are clips made from foamed or non-foamed polymer material (without a metal carrier); These clips are preferably essentially or completely made of foamed polymer material, the foamed polymer material preferably having a density of at least 30 kg / m 3, in particular of at least 45 kg / m 2. and in particular of at least 100 kg / m? but preferably at most a density of 600 kg / m ?, in particular of at most 500 kg / m? or even at most 300 kg / m?

In other variants, the positioning bracket is continuous and made of foamed polymer material.

The positioning bracket is thus advantageously continuous (and thus in one piece) over the entire length of the damping body, the foamed polymer material particularly preferably having a density of at least 30 kg / m 2, in particular at least 45 kg / m 2. and in particular of at least 100 kg / m ?, but preferably at most a density of 600 kg / m?, in particular of at most 500 kg / m? or even at most 300 kg / m °.

In still further variants, the positioning bracket is continuous or not continuous and is made of non-foamed polymer material.

The positioning bracket is advantageously continuous (and thus in one piece) over the entire length of the damping body.

The thickness E on the closed side of the positioning bracket (i.e. the part connecting the two legs of the U) is generally less than the width of the slot that is present between the edge of the rotary vane and the frame, around the Frame not to be damaged. This is especially true in the case of variants that include a continuous or discontinuous positioning bracket that includes metal, or that are made from non-foamed polymer material.

In other particularly interesting variants according to the invention, the thickness on the closed side of the positioning bracket can approach or even exceed the width of the slot between the edge of the rotary wing or wing and the frame. In particular, the thickness E of the positioning brackets made of polymer foam can be 0.5 to 1.5 times, preferably 0.75 to 1.25 times the width of the slot between the edge of the rotary wing or wing and the frame. The further advantage that is achieved in the event that the width is substantially equal to or greater than the width of the slot is that the protective device is held in place even better when the rotary vane is in the closed position without the risk of damaging the frame when closing the sash.

The positioning bracket can be attached to the damping body by any suitable means, these means depending to a certain extent on the materials that are used for the positioning bracket and / or the damping body. Common means are, in particular, co-extrusion, post-extrusion, hot welding, adhesive bonding, latching ... Depending on the material chosen for the hanger or the situation, in particular the shape of the edge, etc., it can be continuous or discontinuous Positioning bracket comprise one or more notches in a part of its cross section, in particular to make it more flexible.

These incisions can mainly be in the outer leg (frontal side), in the inner leg (dorsal side), in the closed side that connects the two legs, or a combination of these possibilities.

In order to effectively protect the edge of a rotary vane, it is generally useful to provide a protrusion or projection distance S (see FIG. 3), which, measured along the straight line formed by the rotary vane, between on the one hand the tangency point t of a straight line parallel to and at a distance T from the obstacle and the edge of the rotary vane and on the other hand to the point x ', which corresponds to the contact point / contact center x of the damping body with the obstacle perpendicular to the straight line of the rotary vane based on this, between 01 and 10 cm, preferably is between 0.2 and 5 cm, in particular between 0.3 and 3 cm.

In the case of applications on a rotary wing edge, it is possible to calculate the minimum required thickness H of the damping body as a function of a permissible minimum distance T between the tangent to the edge parallel to the adjacent obstacle and to the contact point with the obstacle, from that for the rotary wing Considered opening angle a, from an overhang S, measured along the length of the rotating sash at the contact point t of the edge of the tangent door at a distance T from the obstacle and the point x ', which is the contact point x of the damping body with the obstacle on the straight line of the Rotary wing related corresponds, and of a compression factor C of the damping body, which is provided in view of the expected forces (Fig. 3). The height H can be calculated as follows: H = max [(-S * sin a + T) / (C * cos a)] where C = thickness of the damping body compressed with the expected force / thickness of the damping body in the uncompressed state and a varies between 0 and 90 °, in practice 10 ° <as 70 °, even 15 ° <a Ss 60 °. It should be noted that a "negative" protrusion S (that is, the related contact point x ‘is located on the opposite point of tangency t

Side) can protect the edge if the opening angle of the door is small and the thickness of the protective element is sufficient, i.e. greater than the distance T.

In general, the overhang S is not selected to be too large in order to avoid a “leverage” of the protective element which would lead to an opening of the positioning bracket in the event of contact with an obstacle, for example if the protective element is too stiff.

Consider the dimensions and stiffness of each component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further particularities and features of the invention emerge clearly from the detailed description of some advantageous embodiments which are shown below, for purposes of illustration, with reference to the attached drawings.

They show: FIG. 1 is a cross section through a variant of the protective device according to the invention; and FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of a variant of the protective device according to the invention, for example that of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic view in cross section of a variant of the protective device according to the invention, applied to an edge of an open rotating sash and against an obstacle .

Description of a preferred embodiment FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a variant of the protective device 10 according to the invention, a damping body 12 being attached to a positioning bracket 11.

The damping body 12 preferably has a cross section with a polygonal shape, generally with rounded corners.

The thickness H of the damping body 12, i.e. the distance between its frontal surface 123 and its dorsal surface 121, is dimensioned so that it is at least on the outer side of the rotary vane (or on the side near the frame when the rotary vane is in closed position), i.e. on the side 112 of the closed

Part of the positioning bracket 11 is sufficiently large.

Accordingly, it is generally advantageous that the thickness on the lateral side 124 (on the open side 111 of the bracket) is smaller than that on the opposite side 122. In practice, a thickness H of the protection device is generally between 0.3 and 10 cm, in particular it is between 0.5 and 5 cm, preferably between 1 and 3 cm.

Furthermore, it is generally advantageous for the lateral side 122 of the damping body to protrude or protrude by a sufficient distance S, for example by 0.1 and 10 cm, over the closed side 112 of the bracket in such a way that it touches the edge when the Effectively protects the rotary sash from neighboring obstacles.

The positioning bracket 11, which can be continuous (in one piece over the entire length of the profile of the damping body 12) or discontinuous, as illustrated in FIG. 2, preferably has a U-shaped (or similar) cross-section which is suitable to engage or lock onto an edge of a rotating leaf, for example a door of a vehicle.

The latching force is sufficient to temporarily hold the guard in place under the conditions intended for use, and is preferably not too great to ensure placement and removal of the guard without the edge or varnish with which it is coated to damage it.

In certain variants, the positioning bracket is made from foamed polymer with a relatively low density.

In these cases it is advantageous to provide a continuous positioning bracket 11 which can be produced simultaneously with the damping body 12, for example by (co) extrusion.

The material forming the damping body 12 and the positioning bracket 11 may or may not be identical in this case.

The thickness E of the bracket, especially in the area which corresponds to the distance or the slot between the opened rotary wing and the frame, is generally smaller than the width of the slot.

However, in cases where the positioning bracket 11 is made of foamed polymer, this thickness can (slightly) exceed the width of the slot, with the advantage that the protective device is clamped in the open position of the rotary vane between the rotary vane and the frame and so on is held in place.

It is clear that in such a case the force that the profile of the bracket has to exert on the edge must remain sufficient, despite the squeezing of the thickness, so that the composite remains in place when the rotating sash is opened.

3 shows a cross section of a rotary vane 30 with an edge 31 which is to be protected from damage which could result from an impact against the obstacle 40.

The protective device 10 makes it possible to avoid damage both in the area of the edge 31 of the rotary vane 30 and, if necessary, of the obstacle 40.

When opening, the rotary wing 30 forms an angle α with respect to its closed position.

The angle α, which can in principle vary between 0 ° and 90 °, is in practice, depending on the applications, most of the time between 10 ° and 70 ° or in general even between 15 ° and 60 °. The distance T, which is the permissible minimum distance between the obstacle 40 and the edge of the positioning bracket 11, which is attached to the edge 31 of the rotary vane 30, is determined according to needs and requirements.

The damping body 12 may or may not be mounted with a certain protrusion S (which, if S is negative, can be a recess), see FIG. 3. The protrusion, measured between the point of tangency t with that parallel to the obstacle 40 and around T distant straight line and the point x '(which corresponds to the contact point x with the obstacle 40 perpendicularly with respect to the straight line formed by the rotary vane, see FIG. 3) is denoted by S.

The height H of the attenuator 12 can then be calculated by taking the maximum of the values of [(-S * sin a + T) / (C * cos a)] over the range of angles a considered, where C a Is the compression factor calculated by taking the ratio of the thickness of the foam compressed with the expected force to the thickness of the foam when uncompressed.

Legend:

Protective device

11 positioning bracket

111 open side of the positioning bracket

112 closed side of the positioning bracket

E Thickness of the positioning bracket

12 damping bodies

121 dorsal side of the damping body

122 lateral surface of the damping body on the closed side of the positioning bracket

123 frontal surface of the damping body

124 lateral surface of the damping body on the open side of the positioning bracket

Rotary wing

31 Edge of the rotary sash a Opening angle of the rotary sash

40 obstacle

H Thickness of the damping body

S Distance of protrusion or protrusion of the damping body, measured between t and x ‘

T permissible minimum distance between the edge of the rotary wing and the obstacle t point of tangency of the edge of the rotary wing with a straight line parallel to the obstacle at a distance T.

X Contact point of the damping body with the obstacle

X ‘point x related perpendicular to the straight line that is formed by the rotary vane, which is open at an angle a

Claims (12)

EXPECTATIONS 1. Protection device (10) for an edge, which is in particular intended for detachable installation on the edge of a rotating leaf or wing, in particular the edge of a vehicle door, comprising or consisting of an elongated damping body (12) formed by a profile made of polymer foam and comprises a front surface (123) and a rear surface (121); and a continuous or discontinuous positioning bracket (11) which is fastened to the rear surface (121) of the damping body (12), the positioning bracket (11) having a U-shaped cross section with an open side (111) and a closed side ( 112), the open side (111) forming a receptacle for the edge to be protected, the U-shaped cross section preferably having at least a partial form fit with the edge to be protected. 2. Protection device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the profile of polymer foam of the damping body (12) has one or more polar or non-polar, crosslinked or uncrosslinked polymers or copolymers made of olefin, urethane, terephthalate, vinyl chloride, styrene, natural or synthetic rubbers, from silicones and from mixtures of these polymers, the polymer foam preferably having a density of 10 kg / m? up to 400 kg / m? preferably from 15 kg / m? up to 200 kg / m?, in particular from 20 kg / m? up to 100 kg / m? 3. Protection device (10) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the cross section of the damping body has a polygonal, convex or concave shape, preferably with rounded corners, so that particularly preferably the thickness (H) of the damping body (12) is measured between the front surface (123) and the rear surface (121), towards the side surface (122) on the closed side (112) of the U-shaped cross section of the positioning bracket (11) is larger. 4. Protection device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cross section of the damping body (12) comprises one or more cavities. 5. Protection device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the damping body (12) comprises transversely directed incisions over at least part of its length and / or recesses at least at certain points of its length; these cuts or recesses can be located on one or more of the front surface (123), rear surface (121) or side surfaces (122, 124). 6. Protection device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the positioning bracket (11) is not continuous and comprises a plurality of clips made of metal, which preferably at least in places comprise a coating of foamed or non-foamed polymer material, and / or clips comprised of foamed or non-foamed polymeric material; wherein the clips are preferably made of metal that is coated with non-foamed polymer material or foamed polymer material, the foamed polymer material particularly preferably having a density of at least 30 kg / m °, in particular of at least 45 kg / m? and in particular of at least 100 kg / m? 7. Protection device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the positioning bracket (11) is continuous or discontinuous and is made of foamed polymer material, wherein the positioning bracket (11) is preferably continuous over the entire length of the damping body (12), wherein the foamed polymer material particularly preferably has a density of at least 30 kg / m °, in particular of at least 45 kg / m? and in particular of at least 100 kg / m? 8. Protection device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the thickness (E) on the closed side (122) of the positioning bracket (11) equal to 0.75 to 1.25 times the width of the slot between the edge of the rotary vane or Wing and the frame is. 9. Protection device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the positioning bracket (11) is attached to the damping body (12) by co-extrusion, post-extrusion, hot welding, adhesive bonding or locking. 10. Protection device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the continuous or discontinuous positioning bracket (11) comprises one or more notches in part of its cross section. 11. Protection device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the protrusion or projection distance S, measured between the point of tangency t of the edge of the rotary vane with the straight line at a distance of T and parallel to the obstacle (40) and the point x ' , which corresponds to the contact point x of the damping body (12) with the obstacle (40), vertically with respect to the straight line formed by the rotary wing (30), is between 0.5 and 10 cm, preferably between 1 and 5 cm. 12. Protection device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the necessary minimum thickness H of the damping body is equal to H = max [(- S * sin a + T) / (C * cos a)], where T is the minimum allowable distance between the positioning bracket attached to the edge (31) of a rotary vane (30) and an adjacent obstacle (40), where a represents the range of the considered opening angles of the rotary vane (30), where C is a compression factor equal to the thickness of the damping body ( 12), which is compressed with an expected pressure force of the rotary vane (30) against the obstacle (40) / is the thickness of the damping body (12) in the uncompressed state, where S is the protrusion, measured between the point of tangency t of the edge of the rotary vane with the straight line removed by T and parallel to the obstacle (40) and the point x which relates to the contact point x of the damping body (12) with the obstacle (40), perpendicular to the straight line formed by the rotary vane (30) en, corresponds to; where a is preferably 10 ° <a <70 ° or even 15 ° <a <60 °.