CN117203465A

CN117203465A - Optical unit with external ribs reinforced against lateral support of a bumper of a land vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN117203465A
Application number: CN202280028321.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: F·维代拉; R·佩龙; J·布丹
Original assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Current assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Priority date: 2021-04-13
Filing date: 2022-03-10
Publication date: 2023-12-08
Also published as: FR3121734A1; FR3121734B1; WO2022219259A1; EP4323690A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical unit (BO) equipped on a land vehicle comprising a bumper, and comprising a glass-like element (GL) having a main portion (PP) and an outer lateral Portion (PLE) defined by a first injection and a second injection of a first plastic material (M1) and a second plastic material (M2), the main portion (PP) comprising a rib (N1) comprising a support surface (SA 1) on which an upper portion of the bumper is supported. The rib (N1) is located just before the junction with the lateral Portion (PLE) and comprises a concave housing (LC) which defines during the first injection a side opening simultaneously towards the lateral portion and is then at least partially filled with the second plastic material (M2) during the second injection.

Description

Optical unit with external ribs reinforced against lateral support of a bumper of a land vehicle

Technical Field

The present invention claims priority from french application 2103798 filed on 4.13 of 2021, the contents of which application (text, drawings and claims) are incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates to an optical unit to be equipped on some land vehicles, on which a bumper of such vehicles is supported.

Background

Some land vehicles (often of the motorized type) generally comprise, in a front portion, a bumper having an upper portion supported on a glass-like element of at least one optical unit (typically, two optical units, a right optical unit and a left optical unit).

To this end, the glass-like element of the (each) optical unit comprises a main portion (from which photons participating in at least one lighting function are output), and in a lower sub-portion at least one so-called "inner" rib (or protrusion) and a so-called "outer" rib (or protrusion), said "inner" rib (or protrusion) and said "outer" rib (or protrusion), respectively, comprising a bearing surface on which the upper portion of the bumper is supported.

Here, "outer" is understood to mean a rib located near a lateral (or longitudinal) side of the vehicle, and "inner" is understood to mean a rib spaced from the outer rib, which rib is located closer to the central axis of the vehicle than the outer rib.

In some optical units, the main part of the glass is defined by a first injection of a first plastic material in the mould, while usually having a so-called "crystal" colour, and the glass extends laterally at least on the lateral side to an outer lateral part defined by a second injection of a second plastic material in the same mould, while usually having a black colour in order to mask the technical part (and thus not be aesthetically pleasing).

The outer lateral portion is thus over-molded on the joining edge of the main portion. Such over-molding ensures a high quality integral and perfect tightness when the joint (main/outer lateral portion) is not subjected to relatively large stresses, for example when the outer rib is relatively far from the joint. However, when the outer rib is defined in the immediate vicinity of the joint, the joint is subjected to excessive shear stress (which may cause cracking of the outer rib and thus may cause a significant reduction in the quality of the integral and sealing). However, in some cases, the obstruction may be found to be detrimental. This is especially the case when it is desired to install equipment between the inner and outer ribs that has a larger lateral extension than is possible with the maximization between the inner and outer ribs due to the above-mentioned obstacles. Such equipment may for example be another optical unit for ensuring daytime running light function (or DRL ("Daytime running Light (or Lamp)" -a lighting signal that is automatically lit when the vehicle is put into operation during the daytime)).

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

Disclosure of Invention

To this end, the invention provides, inter alia, an optical unit that can be equipped on a land vehicle comprising a bumper, and that comprises a glass-like element having a main portion and an outer lateral portion, the main portion and the outer lateral portion being defined by a first injection and a second injection of a first plastic material and a second plastic material, respectively, the main portion comprising a rib comprising a support surface on which an upper portion of the bumper is intended to be supported.

The optical unit is characterized in that the rib is located just in front of the junction with the lateral portion and comprises a concave receptacle which defines during the first injection a side opening simultaneously towards the lateral portion and is then at least partially filled with the second plastic material during the second injection.

Thereby, the outer rib is an integral part of the joint between the main portion and the outer lateral portion, and thus the upper portion of the bumper can be extremely laterally supported on the support surface of the outer rib without causing cracking of the joint.

The optical unit according to the invention may comprise other features, in particular:

-a main portion of the glazing of the optical unit may comprise an upper sub-portion from which photons participating in at least one lighting function are output, and a lower sub-portion extending downwardly of the upper sub-portion, the lower sub-portion being for shielding by the bumper, and the ribs being defined in the lower sub-portion;

-in the presence of a first alternative configuration, a lower sub-portion of the main portion of the glass-like element may be defined to be recessed with respect to a lower edge of the upper sub-portion, the lower edge defining a mask above the bearing surface of the rib and defining with the bearing surface a receptacle for receiving a sub-portion of the bumper;

-in the presence of the latter sub-alternative configuration, the mask may be hollow and may comprise an inner face delimiting an inner housing opening towards the inside of the optical unit and comprising a lower portion covered with the second plastic material during the second injection in at least a part of the area located above the support surface of the rib;

-the rib may have a generally inverted L-shape;

the main part of the glass-like element of the optical unit may comprise further ribs (double layers) at a distance from the ribs, the further ribs comprising bearing surfaces on which the upper part of the bumper is intended to bear;

the optical unit may ensure at least one illumination function selected from a high beam illumination function and a low beam illumination function.

The invention also provides a land vehicle, optionally of the motorised type, comprising a bumper and at least one optical unit of the type described above, the bumper being supported on the at least one optical unit.

For example, the vehicle may include a front portion including a bumper and each optical unit.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings (which are taken by the CAO/DAO ("computer aided design/computer aided drafting")) in which:

figure 1 schematically shows in front perspective view an embodiment of an optical unit according to the invention before it is equipped on a land vehicle,

figure 2 schematically shows in a first front perspective view a portion of the optical unit of figure 1 comprising an outer rib,

figure 3 schematically shows in a second side perspective view a portion of the optical unit of figure 1 comprising an outer rib,

fig. 4 schematically shows a section of the optical unit of fig. 1 comprising an outer rib in a section along a vertical longitudinal plane, and

fig. 5 shows schematically in a front view the optical unit of fig. 1 with another optical unit mounted between the inner and outer ribs of the optical unit.

Detailed Description

The object of the invention is, inter alia, to provide an optical unit BO for equipping a land vehicle and comprising a glass-like element GL on which a bumper PC is intended to be supported, and which allows for example the placement of an equipment BO' having a large lateral volume in front of the glass-like element (GL).

Hereinafter, as a non-limiting example, the land vehicle is considered a motor vehicle (e.g., an automobile). The invention is not limited to this type of land vehicle. The invention relates to virtually any land vehicle comprising a bumper to be supported on at least one optical unit.

In addition, hereinafter, as a non-limiting example, the bumper PC and each optical unit BO are considered to be used as part of the front portion of the land vehicle. But this is not mandatory. In fact, the bumper and each optical unit may be used as part of the rear portion of a land vehicle.

In the above and in the following, the concept "front" is defined with respect to the front end of the vehicle, and the concept "rear" is defined with respect to the rear end of the vehicle (which is opposite to the front end). Thus, the front portion (or front face) of the element is oriented towards the front end of the vehicle, whereas the rear portion (or rear face) of the element is oriented towards the rear end of the vehicle.

Further, hereinafter, as a non-limiting example, each optical unit BO is considered to be a headlight (or headlight) for ensuring at least one lighting function (e.g., a high beam function or a low beam function). The invention is not limited to this type of optical unit.

In view of the latter assumption, the bumper PC is here intended to be supported on two optical units BO, a right optical unit and a left optical unit, which are respectively mounted in the vicinity of a right lateral (or longitudinal) side and a left lateral (or longitudinal) side of the vehicle including a lateral door.

In fig. 1 to 5, the direction X is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (which is parallel to the lateral side including the lateral door), the direction Y is the transverse direction of the vehicle (which is perpendicular to the lateral side and perpendicular to the direction X), and the direction Z is the vertical direction of the vehicle (which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y).

An embodiment of an optical unit BO according to the invention is schematically shown in fig. 1 before the optical unit is equipped on a (land) vehicle (here its front part) and before a bumper PC is supported on the optical unit.

As shown in part in the drawings, the optical unit BO according to the present invention includes a glass-like member GL fixedly connected to a housing (not shown) as one body. The glass-like element GL comprises a main portion PP and at least one outer lateral portion PLE, which are defined by a first injection and a second injection of a first plastic material M1 and a second plastic material M2, respectively, in a mould (which comprises at least one movable portion).

The main part PP of the glass-like element GL is the part of the optical unit BO from which the photons participating in each illumination function ensured by said optical unit (BO) are output. The main part is thus made of a first plastic material M1, typically having a so-called "crystal" colour.

The outer lateral portion PLE extends the main portion PP on a lateral (or longitudinal) side of the vehicle. The outer lateral portion thus has an edge that is partially over-molded at the location of the coupling joint (or integral joint) on the edge of the main portion PP during the second injection. Due to the technical part (and thus the unaesthetic appearance) for shielding (in particular the inner) the optical unit BO, said lateral part is made of a second plastic material M2, generally having a black color.

Note that the first plastic material M1 and the second plastic material M2 may be derived from polycarbonate (or PC), for example, but have different colors.

The main portion PP includes a rib N1 including a support surface SA1 on which an upper portion of the bumper PC is to be supported, as shown in fig. 4 extremely schematically.

The rib N1 is located just before the junction with the lateral portion PLE, which rib is thus referred to hereinafter as an outer rib. Furthermore, the outer rib N1 comprises a concave housing LC which defines during the first injection a side opening simultaneously towards the lateral Portion (PLE) and is then at least partially filled with a second plastic material M2 during the second injection. Preferably, the concave receiving portion LC is completely filled with the second plastic material M2.

In other words, the outer rib N1 comprises a first "main" layer made of a first plastic material M1 and a second "supplementary" layer made of a second plastic material M2, which is at least overmoulded in the concave housing LC on said first layer, as shown on fig. 3 and 4. The positioning of the first main layer of the outer rib N1 just in front of the joint enables it to add the second supplementary layer by overmoulding and thus enables it as an integral part of the joint, which enables the upper part of the bumper PC to be supported extremely laterally (along the transverse direction Y) on the support surface SA1 of the outer rib, which is made of a separate first main layer and not of the second supplementary layer and thus does not present the risk of joint cracking.

Furthermore, this configuration of the outer rib N1 can significantly increase the rigidity of the outer rib, which can reduce the extension of the outer rib in the transverse direction Y, in particular, in the case where there is a demand. This need may occur especially when (as shown in non-limiting manner in fig. 1 and 5) the main part PP comprises further ribs N2 (hereinafter called inner ribs, since they are spaced apart from the outer ribs N1 and comprise a bearing surface SA2 on which the upper part of the bumper PC is also intended to bear) and when it is desired to mount an arrangement BO' (see fig. 5) with a large lateral extension between these inner ribs N2 and outer ribs N1. In fact, it is understood that in the future a larger transverse space (which is adapted to a wider set up BO') may be arranged between the inner rib N2 and the outer rib N1.

In the example shown on fig. 5, without limitation, the equipment BO' is another optical unit for ensuring a daytime running light function (or DRL (Daytime running Light (or Lamp)) with three bands, but other types of equipment may be installed, whether or not the equipment relates to an optical unit.

Note that the "double-layer" manufacture of the outer rib N1 requires the use of a side-stripping double injection mold (capable of implementing the concave housing LC oriented towards the outside). In fact, the inner side of the outer rib N1 (which is opposite to the concave housing LC) is naturally demoulded, while the outer side of the outer rib N1 (concave housing LC) is demoulded by the lateral movement of a part of the mould adapted for this purpose, thanks to the resistance to the extraction.

For example, as shown in fig. 1 and 5 without limitation, the main portion PP may include an upper sub-portion SPS and a lower sub-portion SPI that extends downward from the upper sub-portion SPS. Photons (which participate in each illumination function of the optical unit BO) are output from the upper subsection SPS. The upper subsection is thus visible from the exterior of the vehicle. The outer rib N1 is defined in a lower subsection SPI intended to be shielded by the bumper PC and partly by the optional equipment BO'.

Note that, as shown in fig. 1-5 by way of non-limiting example, the lower subsection SPI may be defined to be indented relative to the lower edge BI of the upper subsection SPS. The edge BI thus defines a mask above the bearing surface SA1 of the outer rib N1 and, together with the bearing surface SA1, defines a receptacle LP for receiving a sub-portion of the upper portion of the bumper PC (see fig. 4). The mask can ensure the consistency of the visible and common butt line (between the bumper PC and the visible portion of the glass-like member GL of each optical unit BO).

It is also noted that, as shown in fig. 3 and 4 without limitation, the mask BI may be hollow and may comprise an inner face FI delimiting an inner housing LI opening towards the inside of the optical unit BO. The inner face FI comprises a lower portion PIF which is covered with a second plastic material M2 during the second injection in at least a part of the area located above the bearing surface SA1 of the outer rib N1. This can further reduce the risk of joint cracking, as the second plastic material M2 overmolded in the concave accommodation LC of the outer rib N1 continues to extend over said outer rib (N1) until onto the inner face FI of the mask BI.

It is also noted that the outer rib N1 may have a generally inverted L-shape, as shown in fig. 1, 2 and 5 without limitation. This can improve the rigidity of the outer rib while providing a relatively large bearing surface SA1. Other forms are also contemplated.

Claims

1. An optical unit (BO) which can be equipped on a land vehicle comprising a bumper (PC) and which comprises a glass-like element (GL) having a main portion (PP) and an outer lateral Portion (PLE) defined by a first injection and a second injection of a first plastic material and a second plastic material, respectively, the main portion (PP) comprising a rib (N1) comprising a bearing surface (SA 1) on which an upper portion of the bumper (PC) is intended to bear, characterized in that the rib (N1) is located just in front of a joint with the outer lateral Portion (PLE) and comprises a concave receptacle (LC) defining during the first injection a side opening simultaneously towards the outer lateral Portion (PLE) and then being at least partially filled with the second plastic material during the second injection.

2. Optical unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the main portion (PP) comprises an upper sub-portion (SPS) from which photons participating in at least one illumination function are output, and a lower sub-portion (SPI) extending downwards the upper sub-portion (SPS) for being shielded by the bumper (PC), and in that the rib (N1) is defined in the lower sub-portion.

3. The optical unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower Subsection (SPI) is defined so as to be retracted with respect to a lower edge (BI) of the upper subsection (SPS), which defines a mask above the bearing surface (SA 1) of the rib (N1) and together with the bearing surface (SA 1) delimits a receptacle (LP) for receiving a subsection of the bumper (PC).

4. An optical unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the mask (BI) is hollow and comprises an inner Face (FI) delimiting an inner housing (LI) opening towards the inside of the optical unit (BO) and comprising a lower Portion (PIF) covered with the second plastic material during the second injection in at least a portion of the area situated above the bearing surface (SA 1) of the rib (N1).

5. An optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rib (N1) has a substantially inverted L-shape.

6. An optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the main part (PP) comprises a further rib (N2) at a distance from the rib (N1), the further rib comprising a bearing surface (SA 2) on which an upper part of the bumper (PC) is intended to bear.

7. The optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it ensures at least one illumination function selected from a high beam illumination function and a low beam illumination function.

8. A land vehicle comprising a bumper (PC), characterized in that it further comprises at least one optical unit (BO) according to any of the preceding claims, on which the bumper (PC) is supported.

9. The land vehicle of claim 8, comprising a front portion comprising said bumper (PC) and each optical unit (BO).

10. Land vehicle according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it is of the motorised type.