EP3924221A1

EP3924221A1 - Removable trunk front trim cover

Info

Publication number: EP3924221A1
Application number: EP19915289.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yu Li; Junxue Ma; Guohui Hu; Frederic DONNADIEU; Daniel CUNHA DA SILVA
Original assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Current assignee: Stellantis Auto SAS
Priority date: 2019-02-14
Filing date: 2019-02-14
Publication date: 2021-12-22
Also published as: WO2020164034A1; EP3924221A4

Abstract

A vehicle which comprises a trunk front trim cover (7) and a trunk side panel (15) arranged on each lateral side of the trunk, respectively. The trunk front trim cover of this vehicle further comprises two ends (17) configured to be attached to the trunk side panels, respectively, in a tool-less removable manner.

Description

REMOVABLE TRUNK FRONT TRIM COVER

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
The invention is directed to the automotive field, particularly to the trunk of vehicles, and more particularly to trim protections of the trunk of vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Many of the automotive vehicles have a trunk front trim cover positioned transversally between the two lateral trunk side panels and near to the rear seats. In addition to hiding the Blank-In-White (BIW) structure, this structure actually acts as a contact surface for avoiding any interference with the rear seats when loading material inside the trunk. Generally, this trunk front trim cover is fixed during mounting of the vehicle and presents therefore consequently the disadvantage to limit the surface itself of the trunk.
SUMMARY
The invention has for technical problem to provide a solution to at least one shortcoming of the above mentioned prior art. More specifically, the invention has for technical problem to obtain, in a simple and easy way, a trunk with an adjustable floor surface.
For this purpose, the invention is directed to a vehicle comprising a trunk front trim cover; a trunk side panel arranged on each lateral side of the trunk, respectively, wherein the trunk front trim cover comprises two ends configured to be attached to the trunk side panels, respectively, in a tool-less removable manner.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the two ends of the trunk front trim cover comprises a projection configured to be vertically and downwardly inserted into a corresponding cavity in the corresponding trunk side panel.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each cavity of the trunk side panel is opened laterally towards an interior side of the vehicle.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each projection of the trunk front trim cover comprises a pin configured to engage vertically into a corresponding aperture in the corresponding cavity.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each projection of the trunk front trim cover comprises a first clip member configured for engaging with a second clip member in the corresponding cavity, so as to form the tool-less removable attachment.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the trunk front trim cover comprises a scuff elongated plate and a reinforcement elongated member attached to said scuff elongated plate.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the scuff elongated plate has an L-shaped cross-section and shows, on an outer surface, longitudinal and parallel recesses, and the reinforcement elongated member forms the projections.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal and parallel recesses extend astraddle over the L-shaped cross-section.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reinforcement elongated member comprises wings extending longitudinally until an inner surface of the L-shaped cross-section of the scuff elongated plate.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the scuff elongated plate is made of plastic material and comprises on an inner surface tubular portions extending from said inner surface, and the reinforcement elongated member comprises holes receiving the tubular portions, said tubular portions comprising ends which are widened by thermal deformation so as to form retaining surfaces next to and around said holes.
The invention is particularly interesting in that the trunk front trim cover is easily implemented and removable without tools. This invention is also interesting in that in addition to modulating the volume of the trunk, it provides more space for the rear seats when they are movable and/or adjustable longitudinally. This invention is even more interesting in that the removing of the trunk front trim cover does not impact in fact the perceived quality of the interior of the trunk by the customer, essentially because of the ease of removal and repositioning, and also the exclusive fixation to the trunk side panels, i.e. at the two ends of the trunk front trim cover, leaving the central portion of the trunk floor free of fixation means like holes and/or screws and bolts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described more in details in relation with the following figures:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the trunk of an automotive vehicle, with a trunk front trim cover, according to the invention;
FIG. 2 presents a perspective view of the trunk side panel and the trunk front trim cover of figure 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the trunk front trim cover of figures 1 and 2 with an enlarged view of one of its ends;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an attachment means of each end of the trunk front trim cover of figures 1 to 3 to the trunk side panel of figure 2, where said attachment means is releasable without any tool.
FIG. 5 shows a below perspective of the scuff elongated plate of the trunk front trim cover illustrated in figures 1 to 3;
FIG. 6 is a below and perspective view of the reinforcement elongated member of the trunk front trim cover illustrated in figures 1 to 3;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the trunk front trim cover of figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a trunk 1 of an automotive vehicle according to the invention. This figure shows in particular the bottom floor 3 and the upper floor 5 of the trunk, with a trunk front trim cover 7. The two floors 3, 5 delimit in fact the volume of the trunk 1 in which is received the spare wheel, if any, or any equivalent (like a repair kit) while the trunk front trim cover 7, which extends transversally between each of two side panels (not represented) of the trunk 1, is positioned near to the rear seats (not represented) at the opposite side of the trunk sill 9 near the rear bumper (also not represented) . This trunk front trim cover 7 is actually formed by a scuff elongated plate 11 attached to a reinforcement elongated member 13, and the two ends (not visible) of this cover are configured to be attached to the two trunk side panels, respectively, in a tool-less removable manner.
Figure 2 is an exploded and perspective view of a side panel 15 of the trunk of figure 1, and of the trunk front trim cover 7 detached from said panel. The ends 17 of the trunk front trim cover 7 are configured to be attached to the trunk side panels 15 respectively. The trunk front trim cover 7 comprises at each of its ends 17 a projection (not visible on figure 2) each of them being configured to be vertically and downwardly inserted into a corresponding cavity 19 in the corresponding trunk side panel 15, these cavities 19 being advantageously opened laterally towards an interior side of the vehicle (not represented) . In this case on the figure 2, only the cavity 19 of the left trunk side panel 15 is visible.
Figure 3 presents a perspective view of the trunk front trim cover 7 of figures 1 and 2. This figure clearly shows a corresponding projection 21 of the left end 17 of the trunk front trim cover 7. The enlarged view of this projection 21, shows that it comprises a pin 23 and an opening 25. Actually, the pin 23 is configured to engage vertically into a corresponding aperture (not visible) in the corresponding cavity 19 of the corresponding trunk side panel (see figure 2) Concerning the opening 25, it serves to engage a first clip member (not represented on figure 3) configured for engaging with a second clip member (also not represented) in the corresponding cavity 19 of the corresponding trunk side panel 15, so as to form the tool-less removable attachment. Obviously, these details also apply to the projection 21 of the right end 17 of the trunk front trim cover 7.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a tool-less removable attachment 27 of one end of the trunk front trim cover 7 of the automotive vehicle according to the invention. On this figure, the second clip member 29 is represented as being positioned below the first clip member 31 and interconnected with him as it is the case when an end 17 of the trunk front trim cover 7 is fixed to the corresponding trunk side panel 15.
Figure 5 is a below and perspective view of the scuff elongated plate 11 of the trunk front trim cover 7 illustrated on the figures 1 to 3. This scuff elongated plate 11 presents an L-shaped cross-section with an outer (not visible because in the back) and an inner surface 33, and is advantageously made of plastic material. The outer surface of the scuff elongated plate comprises longitudinal and parallel recesses 36 which advantageously extend in fact astraddle over the L-shaped cross section. On its side, the inner surface 33 of the scuff elongated plate 11 comprises an inner surface 35 with tubular portions 37 extending therefrom. In the present case, six tubular portions 37 are provided.
Figure 6 is a below and perspective view of the reinforcement elongated member 13 of the trunk front trim cover 7 illustrated on the figures 1 to 3. This reinforcement elongated member 13 forms the projections 21 (see also figure 3) and presents wings 39 and holes 41.
Figure 7 presents a cross-sectional view of the trunk front trim cover 7 of the figure 3. In particular, this figure 7 shows the fixation of the scuff elongated plate 11 to the reinforcement elongated member 13. For this purpose, the wings 39 of the reinforcement elongated member 13 extend longitudinally until an inner surface 35 of the L-shaped cross-section of the scuff elongated plate 11, and the holes 41 receive the tubular portions 37 of this plate 11. Advantageously, the ends of the tubular portions 37 are further widened by thermal deformation so as to form retaining surfaces next to and around the holes 41.

Claims

A vehicle comprises:

a trunk front trim cover (7) ;

a trunk side panel (15) arranged on each lateral side of the trunk, respectively; characterized in that,

the trunk front trim cover (7) comprises two ends (17) configured to be attached to the trunk side panels (15) , respectively, in a tool-less removable manner.
The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each of the two ends (17) of the trunk front trim cover (7) comprises a projection (21) configured to be vertically and downwardly inserted into a corresponding cavity (19) in the corresponding trunk side panel (15) .
The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein each cavity (19) of the trunk side panel (15) is opened laterally towards an interior side of the vehicle.
The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein each projection (21) of the trunk front trim cover (7) comprises a pin (23) configured to engage vertically into a corresponding aperture in the corresponding cavity (19) .
The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein each projection (21) of the trunk front trim cover (7) comprises a first clip member (31) configured for engaging with a second clip member (29) in the corresponding cavity (19) , so as to form the tool-less removable attachment.
The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the trunk front trim cover (7) comprises a scuff elongated plate (11) and a reinforcement elongated member (13) attached to said scuff elongated plate.
The vehicle according to claim 2 and according to claim 6, wherein the scuff elongated plate (11) has an L-shaped cross-section and shows, on an outer surface, longitudinal and parallel recesses, and the reinforcement elongated member (13) forms the projections (21) .
The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the longitudinal and parallel recesses extend astraddle over the L-shaped cross-section.
The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the reinforcement elongated member (13) comprises wings (39) extending longitudinally until an inner surface (33) of the L-shaped cross-section of the scuff elongated plate (11) .
The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the scuff elongated plate (11) is made of plastic material and comprises on an inner surface tubular portions (37) extending from said inner surface (33) , and the reinforcement elongated member (13) comprises holes (41) receiving the tubular portions (37) , said tubular portions (37) comprising ends which are widened by thermal deformation so as to form retaining surfaces next to and around said holes (41) .