Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
  • B60J5/00—Doors
  • B60J5/10—Doors arranged at the vehicle rear
  • B60J5/101—Doors arranged at the vehicle rear for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
  • B60J5/00—Doors
  • B60J5/10—Doors arranged at the vehicle rear
  • B60J5/101—Doors arranged at the vehicle rear for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans
  • B60J5/107—Doors arranged at the vehicle rear for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans constructional details, e.g. about door frame, panels, materials used, reinforcements

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a tailgate of a motor vehicle, and to a method of mounting this tailgate.
• the present invention aims to provide a tailgate to overcome these drawbacks.
• This object of the invention is achieved with a tailgate of a motor vehicle, remarkable in that it comprises an element forming a structure and at least one element forming a bodywork attached to said element, these elements defining a hollow volume.
• This equipment can thus be mounted with the tailgate in the closed position, which saves discomfort and fatigue for the person responsible for the assembly. According to other characteristics of the tailgate according to the invention:
• said tailgate comprises an upper part, a window, a lower part and at least one upper element forming a body attached to said element forming a structure in said upper part of said tailgate, said tailgate comprises a rear brake light embedded in said upper body-forming element,
• said connecting means between said structure-forming element and said upper body-forming element also maintain said rear brake light
• said upper body-forming element comprises a return part covering a bonding zone of said window on said structure element
• said tailgate comprises a rear brake light mounted on the surface of said return part
• said tailgate comprises means for fixing to hinges which are accessible to a tool such as an electric screwdriver when said upper body-forming element is removed,
• said tailgate comprises an upper part, a window, a lower part and at least one lower body-forming element attached to said structure-forming element in said lower part of said tailgate,
• said tailgate comprises a lock element mounted on said structure-forming element in said hollow volume defined by this element and by said lower body-forming element, said lower body-forming element comprises a housing for accommodating a license plate light, - said tailgate comprises first orifices formed in said structure-forming element, and second orifices formed in said lower body-forming element, so as to allow air circulation between the interior and exterior of said vehicle, - Said tailgate comprises a valve disposed above said first orifices.
• said structural element is stamped or molded so as to define a handle for gripping said tailgate,
• said tailgate comprises a wiper device chosen from the group comprising linear and rotary sweeping devices, said wiper device is mounted on said element forming a structure inside the hollow volume defined by this element and by said upper body-forming element, said wiper device is mounted on said structure-forming element inside the hollow volume defined by this element and by said lower body-forming element, - said wiper device is mounted in a housing attached to a part of said structure element which is shaped for this purpose, said tailgate comprises seals arranged so as to prevent the ingress of water into said wiper device, said structure element is locally profiled of so as to define a gutter zone suitable for recovering and discharging water which would have crossed the barrier of tin the sheath formed by said seals, said structural element comprises a plurality of ribs adapted to receive bundles of cables,
• said tailgate comprises means for fixing said at least one element forming a bodywork on said element forming a structure which are placed so as not to be seen from the outside,
• said fixing means are placed in inclined parts of said structure-forming element and of said at least one body-forming element,
• said fixing means are placed in recesses of said structure-forming element and of said at least one body-forming element,
• Said structure-forming element and said at least one body-forming element are formed from materials chosen from the group comprising pressed sheet metal and a molded plastic material.
• the present invention also provides a method of mounting a tailgate in accordance with the above, remarkable in that it comprises the steps consisting in: a) mounting said structural element on said motor vehicle, and in
• it comprises the additional step, located between said steps a) and b), consisting in fixing said lock element on said structure element in the closed position, - It includes the additional step, located between said steps a) and b), consisting of mounting said wiper device on said structural member in the closed position, - it includes the additional step, located between said steps a ) and b), consisting in placing said cable bundles in the ribs of said structure element in the closed position.
• FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of the rear of a vehicle equipped with the tailgate according to the invention
• - Figures 2 to 6 are sectional views along the plane PI of Figure 1 of different variants of the upper part of the tailgate according to the invention, when this tailgate is in the closed position (solid line) and open
• FIG. 7 is a sectional view along the plane P2 of Figure 2 of the variant of the upper part of the tailgate according to the invention shown in Figure 4,
• FIGS. 8 to 13 are sectional views along the plane PI of FIG. 1 of different variants of the lower part of the tailgate according to the invention.
• FIG. 14 to 16 are sectional views along the plane P3 of Figure 1 of different variants of the lower part of the tailgate according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 shows the rear of a motor vehicle 1 comprising a roof 2, a tailgate 3 according to the invention articulated on this roof and two rear lights 4a, 4b.
• This tailgate 3 preferably comprises an upper part 5, a window 7 and a lower part 9.
• a rear brake light 11 can be fixed on the upper tailgate 5.
• the tailgate 3 according to the invention comprises a structural member 13, shown in broken lines, formed for example in stamped sheet metal or molded plastic.
• a body-forming element 15 is attached to the structure-forming element 13, and fixed to the latter by any suitable means such as self-tapping screws 17, 19.
• the upper body element 15 can itself be formed from pressed sheet metal or molded plastic.
• a lining element 20 is attached under the structure element 13, and fixed to the latter by any appropriate means such as by clips (not shown).
• This lining element 20 can be formed of plastic material covered for example with fabric.
• Such a device comprises an electric motor 25, a drive pulley 27, a guide rail 29 and a wiper arm support 31 capable of moving in translation along the window 7.
• the guide rail 29 can be molded with the structural element 13.
• the wiper device can be, more conventionally, of the rotary sweeping type.
• the axis 33 of the pulley 27 is almost vertical.
• the window 7 is bonded to the structure-forming element 13 by means of a bead of adhesive 35.
• the upper body-forming element 15 comprises a return part 37 covering the bonding zone of the window 7, and first 39 and second 41 seals are respectively fixed on the part 37 and on the window 7 so as to pinch the wiper arm support 31.
• FIG. 3 differs from that of FIG. 2 essentially in that the electric motor, 25, the pulley 27 and the guide rail 29 are arranged in another way.
• the axis 35 of the pulley 27 is disposed in a substantially horizontal direction, and the guide rail 29 is oriented substantially at 90 ° relative to the position it occupies in FIG. 2.
• FIG. 4 a variant of the upper part 5 of the tailgate 3 is shown, in which the rear brake light 11 is recessed in a housing 45 provided for this purpose in the upper body-forming element 15.
• the screws 19 connecting the structure-forming element 13 to the upper body-forming element 15 are used to secure the light 11 with these elements.
• FIG. 5 in which a variant has been shown in which the rear brake light 11 is mounted on the back part 37 of the upper element forming the bodywork 15.
• FIG. 6 represents another variant in which the upper body-forming element 15 comprises a lip 46 which extends inside the light 11, this lip being provided with female parts 47 receiving fixing means such as screws 49 for immobilizing fire 11.
• FIG. 7 on which one sees one of the hinges 51 interposed between the structural element 13 and the roof 2 of the vehicle 1.
• This hinge comprises first 53 and second 55 knuckles fixed for example by means of first 57 and second 59 sets of screw-nuts respectively on the structural element 13 and ' on the roof 2.
• the hinge 51 and the part forming structure 13 are formed of. so that one can access the first set of screw-nut 57 by means of an electric screwdriver 61 when the upper body-forming element 15 is not in place.
• the structural element 13 preferably comprises a plurality of ribs 63 (only one of them being shown) allowing the installation of cable bundles 65 ( only one of these beams having been represented).
• a lower body-forming element 67 is attached to the structure-forming element 13, and fixed to the latter by any appropriate means such as sets of screw-nuts 69 and engagements of the lip 71 and groove 72 type (only one of these sets and only one of these engagements being shown).
• the lower body-forming element 67 can be formed from pressed sheet metal or molded plastic.
• the structure element 13 and the lower body element 67 define a hollow volume 73 in which various equipment can be placed, such as a rotary wiper device 74, and a latch bolt. lock 75 intended to cooperate with a keeper 76 mounted on the edge 77 of the vehicle trunk 1.
• These accessories can be fixed to the structural element 13 by means of sets of screw-nuts 78, 79 arranged so that they can be tightened with an electric screwdriver 81, 83 when the lower element forming the body 67 is not in place.
• the lower bodywork element 67 may include a housing 85 intended to accommodate a license plate light 87 (not shown) fixed on a rear bumper 89 of the vehicle 1.
• a license plate light 87 (not shown) fixed on a rear bumper 89 of the vehicle 1.
• FIG. 9 in which a variant is shown in which a linear wiper device 23 similar to that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is used.
• first 39 and second 41 seals are fixed respectively on the lower bodywork element 67 (for example in a groove 91 provided for this purpose) and on the window 7 so as to pinch the wiper arm support 31.
• the structure element 13 is locally profiled so as to define a gutter zone 93 suitable for recovering and discharging water which would have crossed the sealing barrier formed by the first 39 and second 41 joints.
• the rail 29 of the device 23 is fixed to the structural member 13 by means of a plurality of screws 95 of which only one is shown.
• the structure element 13, the rail 29 and the lower body element 67 can advantageously be assembled with the same screws 97 (only one of them having been shown).
• the structural element 13 is locally shaped so as to be able to receive from the outside of the hollow volume 73 a housing 103 comprising a wiper device with linear sweep 23 • 15-
• this device could be, more conventionally, of the rotary scanning type.
• a simple seal 105 is fixed to the window 7 and is supported on the lower element 20 forming the body 67, and covers 107 (of which only one is shown ) conceal orifices 109 formed in the structural element 13.
• the seal 105 is removed, the seal being ensured by seals 111, 112, 113 integrated into the housing 103.
• the covers 107 are removed so as to allow the installation of means for fixing the housing 103 to the structure element 13 such as screws 114.
• a groove 115 is formed over the entire length of the structure element 13 so as to allow the passage of the wiper arm support 31.
• Fixing means such as screws 116 (only one of which has been shown) allow also to secure the lower part of the housing
• the lower part 9 of the tailgate 3 may comprise on the one hand first holes 117 formed in the structural member 13, and on the other hand second orifices 119 formed in the lower element forming the bodywork 67, so as to allow air circulation (symbolized by the arrows 121) between the interior and the exterior of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1.
• valve 122 formed for example in flexible rubber and / or a grid (not shown) may be arranged above the first orifices 117.
• the structural element 13 can be stamped (when in sheet metal) or molded
• a trunk light 125 can be arranged in the area of the structural element
• FIG. 14 in which the arrangement of the tailgate according to the invention is shown when it is closed, in the area of one 4a of the two rear lights 4a, 4b of the vehicle 1.
• the structural element 13 can define ribs 63 allowing the installation of cable bundles 65, only one of these bundles having been shown.
• the screws 125 for fixing the lower body-forming element 67 on the structure-forming element 13 can be placed so as not to be seen through the slot 127 defined by the rear light 4a and the lower bodywork element 67.
• the lower body-forming element 67 can also include a plurality of orifices 133 (only one of which has been shown) arranged in the area of the rear lights 4a, 4b, so as to allow the evacuation of air (symbolized by the arrow 135) coming from the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1 towards the outside via the slot 127-
• the structure element 13 is then placed on the hinges 51, in the closed position.
• the sets of screw-nuts 57 are then put in place, and they are tightened by means of the screwdriver 61, taking care to correctly adjust the opening geometry of the element 13.
• this light is placed in the housing 45, then the ' screw 19 is put in place making it possible to keep the light 11 and the two elements 13, 15 assembled.
• this light 11 is fixed respectively to the return part 37 and to the lip 46 by means of the screw 49.
• the above-described equipment can be put in place on the upper surface of the element forming the structure 13, then cover this equipment by means of the upper 15 and lower 67 elements forming the bodywork.
• This equipment can thus be mounted with the structural element 13 in the closed position, which saves discomfort and fatigue for the person responsible for the assembly.
• the tailgate according to the invention can possibly support equipment on its lower surface without the means for fixing this equipment appearing on its upper surface. This appears in particular in Figure 12, where we see that the screws 114 and 116 remain invisible from the outside of the tailgate.
• the orientation of the guide rail 29 is more favorable than that of FIG. 2 when it is desired to bend this rail so that it follows the shape of a rounded rear of the vehicle 1.
• the return part 37 and / or the brake light 11 mask the upper edge of the window 7, which makes it possible to dispense with an enameling of this aiming edge to hide the bead of glue 35, and thus to achieve significant savings.
• the structural element 13 formed only one piece with the upper element forming the bodywork 15, since it would be difficult to stick the window 7 into the hollow volume located between the structural element 13 and the return part 37.
• the arrangement of the rear brake light 11 in the extension of the upper part 5 of the tailgate 3 makes it possible to give this part a minimum thickness, and thus to widen the field of vision on the rear window of the vehicle 1.
• Figure 13 is advantageous because it allows to take advantage of the hollow volume 73 located between the elements 13 and 67 to create a circulation corridor for the air to be evacuated from the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.
• FIGS. 14 to 16 make it possible to achieve a particularly satisfactory result from an aesthetic point of view insofar as they make it possible to mask the means for fixing the lower element forming the bodywork 67 to the element forming structure 13.
• the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, provided by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example.
• the upper 5 or lower part 9 of the tailgate 3 could conform to the teaching of the foregoing description.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8858974

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (7)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2001
  • 2001-01-18 FR FR0100674A patent/FR2819477B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-01-18 WO PCT/FR2002/000203 patent/WO2002057102A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-01-18 EP EP02700333A patent/EP1351833A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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