EP4065884B1 - Lighting unit for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention claims priority of the application French 1913261 filed on November 26, 2019 .

The invention lies in the field of lighting and/or signaling devices for motor vehicles. The invention relates in particular to multifunctional optical units comprising a plurality of masks assembled with a housing.

Lighting and/or signaling devices, more commonly called signal lights, of motor vehicles and in particular cars comprise an optical unit consisting of a housing, optical components, one or more reflectors adapted to respectively collect one or more luminous flux emitted by light sources, and a closing and protective glass.

Rear signaling devices, for example taillights, generally consist of so-called “multifunction” lights. These are lights in which several signaling functions are integrated. For example, multifunction lights may include a rear position light, a flashing light, a reversing light, a brake light, a fog light, etc. To delimit the different lighting functions and give an optical signature, the optical units include masks placed under the glass of the light.

Masks are at least partially transparent and/or colored pieces, generally made of plastic, placed in front of a light source, and configured to receive one or more respective functions. A function generally includes a specific way of directing and/or coloring the light that is emitted by a light source. For aesthetic reasons and perceived quality, the attachment of the masks to the box is hidden from an exterior point of view.

Commonly, this fixing of masks is done with interlocking systems by elastic deformation or with screw fixings. By simplification, we will use the term clip interchangeably in the following to designate a nesting system by elastic deformation. Screw fixings have less risk of unintentional disconnection but are more difficult to hide. For these reasons, clip fasteners are preferred for mounting optical unit masks.

Mask clip attachments generally include a clip tab which is fitted into a housing in a reflector or light housing. The clip tab has a thickness of a few millimeters, for example 4 mm, limiting its rigidity.

While the vehicle is moving, the attachments of the optical unit masks are subject to constant vibrations. The weight of the mask and the stresses on the mask fixings must be taken into account to ensure correct retention by the clips. In certain vehicles, style constraints require bulky multifunction lights, particularly very elongated ones. We have, for example, masks that can be around or over 30 cm long. The risks of disconnection of the classic elastic deformation fitting systems of the masks are then greater.

We therefore need fixing solutions for masks in an optical unit, which are both robust and aesthetic in the sense that they can be easily hidden.

We also know solutions as described in the document FR 2 921 875 A1 . The document describes a traffic light comprising an assembled mask and screen. The mask includes a recess which serves as a housing for the screen. The shield has protruding side tabs on each side for mounting on the mask. The legs of the screen are rigid and at least three in number, with at least two rear legs that fit behind the mask and a front leg that attaches in front of the mask. The front and rear tabs fit into a corresponding edge of the mask housing. The tabs allow the screen to be guided, but the latter is then fixed by conventional clip-type quick fixing means.

In this solution, the screen mounts are completely concealed from a user's point of view. On the other hand, the fixings are made by clips in a conventional manner, without taking into account a strongly elongated part whose weight and dimensions are likely to generate a risk of the clips coming loose. Furthermore, the patent application EP2082923 A1 presents a motor vehicle headlight housing with a hubcap comprising a fixing bracket which is fixed by elastic engagement.

The invention aims to improve the solutions known from the state of the art. The invention aims in particular to propose an optical unit comprising masks whose fixings are compact, easily concealable, robust, and are suitable for example also for masks with a length greater than 20 cm.

For this purpose and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to an optical unit for a motor vehicle, the optical unit comprising a support part, a first mask and a second mask, remarkable in that the first mask and the second mask are fixed to the support part by at least one elastic nesting means comprising a housing with at least two parallel walls forming an air gap and defining a female element, the housing being configured to retain by elastic nesting two superimposed fixing lugs according to the height of said air gap and forming male elements.

By female element, we mean an element provided with a hollow part which is intended to receive another element, called male element, by insertion or penetration.

The cooperation between the two male elements inside the female element allows the stiffening of the assembly and therefore forms a more robust and more compact fixing device than known devices.

The elastic nesting device makes it possible to use the mask fixing means two by two so as to obtain a common nesting device which is therefore more compact and robust without adding material to each mask. The masks can then be secured by elastic interlocking devices comprising tabs that are easy for a user to conceal.

According to the invention, the support part comprises at least said housing and, the first mask and the second mask respectively comprise at least a first, and at least a second fixing bracket intended to be inserted into said housing. The fixing brackets can be a few millimeters thick and can be easily hidden.

In embodiments, the housing is dimensioned so that the height of its air gap corresponds at least to the cumulative thickness of the first and the second fixing tab so that the retention by elastic interlocking of each fixing tab is done by cooperation on the one hand with one of the walls of the housing and on the other hand with the other fixing bracket. The fixing lugs are then retained in the air gap without the possibility of movement.

Advantageously, the housing comprises at least one retaining element projecting from one of its walls in the air gap and cooperating with a complementary retaining element shown by a fixing tab and formed by an opening or a hooking rim .

In embodiments, the housing comprises at least two retaining elements both projecting from one of its walls into the air gap, with a first retaining element showing a height less than the height of the second retaining element. retained, so that the first retaining element cooperates with a first fixing lug and the second retaining element cooperates with a second fixing lug for retaining by elastic nesting of the fixing lugs in said housing.

Advantageously, the housing comprises at least two retaining elements both projecting from one of its walls in the air gap, said elements being separated by a cutout in said wall allowing relative movement of the first retaining element in relation to to the second retaining element by elastic deformation of a part of the wall.

There is therefore no risk of the first mask coming loose when fitting the second mask.

Advantageously, the optical unit comprises a housing and at least one reflector, and the optical unit is remarkable in that the support part is formed in a reflector and/or in the housing of the optical unit.

In embodiments, the optical unit is an elongated part which comprises a single housing extending along the length of said optical unit, and the fixing lugs extend along at least half the length of said housing; preferably, the entire length of the accommodation.

Preferably, the optical unit is an elongated part which comprises a single housing extending along the length of said optical unit, and at least one fixing tab comprises at least two complementary retaining elements distributed over the length of the housing.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle, preferably a motor vehicle, comprising an optical unit according to the first aspect.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a method of mounting a first mask and a second mask in an optical unit comprising a support part comprising a housing, the first mask and the second mask respectively comprising a first, and a second fixing tab, the assembly method is remarkable in that the optical unit is according to the first aspect and in that the method comprises the steps of: inserting the first fixing tab in the housing of the support part; then, insert the second fixing tab into the housing by elastic engagement, in cooperation with the first fixing tab, so as to retain the first fixing tab and the second fixing tab in the housing.

Preferably, the housing comprises a first retaining element and a second retaining element making it possible to lock the first and the second lug respectively, and the step of inserting the first fixing lug into the housing by elastic nesting is done without movement of the first retaining element relative to the first tab.

• [Fig.1] est une vue en perspective d'un bloc optique selon un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention ;
• [Fig.2] est une vue en perspective éclatée des éléments de la figure 1 sans le boîtier ;
• [Fig.3] est une vue en coupe selon un plan vertical passant par un moyen d'emboîtage élastique du bloc optique de la figure 1 ;
• [Fig.4] est un détail en coupe passant par le premier élément de retenue d'un moyen d'emboîtage de la figure 1 avec seulement le premier masque monté sur le réflecteur ;
• [Fig.5] est un détail en coupe passant par le deuxième élément de retenue d'un moyen d'emboîtage de la figure 1 avec le premier et le deuxième masque montés sur le réflecteur ;
• [Fig.6] est un détail en coupe passant par le premier élément de retenue d'un moyen d'emboîtage de la figure 1 avec le premier et le deuxième masque montés sur le réflecteur.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during reading of the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which we will refer to the appended drawings in which:

• [ Fig.1 ] is a perspective view of an optical unit according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
• [ Fig.2 ] is an exploded perspective view of the elements of the figure 1 without the case;
• [ Fig.3 ] is a sectional view along a vertical plane passing through an elastic nesting means of the optical unit of the figure 1 ;
• [ Fig.4 ] is a sectional detail passing through the first retaining element of a nesting means of the figure 1 with only the first mask mounted on the reflector;
• [ Fig.5 ] is a sectional detail passing through the second retaining element of a nesting means of the figure 1 with the first and second masks mounted on the reflector;
• [ Fig.6 ] is a sectional detail passing through the first retaining element of a nesting means of the figure 1 with the first and second mask mounted on the reflector.

In the remainder of the description, the term "understand" is synonymous with "include" and is not restrictive in that it authorizes the presence of other elements in the device to which it refers, or other steps in the process. It is understood that the term “understand” includes the terms “consist of”.

In the remainder of the description, elements having an identical structure or similar functions will be designated by the same reference. We will adopt by convention, without limitation, longitudinal, transverse, vertical orientations indicated by the trihedron “X, Y, Z”, in the figures.

As shown in figure 1 , an optical unit 10 for a motor vehicle has a substantially elongated shape. The optical unit is here intended to be arranged in a transverse direction on a motor vehicle. The optical unit 10 comprises a housing 12, one side of which is covered by a glass 14 visible in Figure 3 .

THE figure 2 And 3 show elements which are arranged in the housing 12, under the glass 14. The housing 12 constitutes a support element for the optical unit. After assembly, the box 12 can be fixed to other elements of the vehicle. The housing 12 contains a reflector 16 fixed to the housing by any suitable means, such as for example screws or rivets.

The reflector 16 constitutes an internal support element of the optical unit for a first mask 18 called low mask, and a second mask 20 called high mask. The first and second masks are plastic elements, mounted on the reflector by elastic fitting means 24. Here, the masks are also mounted on the housing by other elastic fitting means 22.

The reflector 16 is a part obtained by molding, with a particular internal shape which includes reflective surfaces oriented in a predetermined manner. Thus, the reflector 16 makes it possible to direct the light emitted by a light source, not shown, and to return this light towards a respective mask 18, 20. The reflector has an elongated exterior appearance with a curvature whose angle allows multidirectional lighting.

As shown in Figure 3 , the reflector 16 here comprises two compartments separated by a curved transverse housing 26 of the elastic nesting means 24 of the masks 18, 20. The housing 26 is defined by a horizontal upper wall 28, that is to say in a plane transverse-longitudinal, and a lower wall 30 parallel to the upper wall 28. The walls 28, 30 here form an air gap defining the female element of the elastic fitting means 24 of the masks. The walls are linked by a plurality of vertical partitions 31 which have a spacer function for the lower and upper walls.

Each mask 18, 20 has a face 32 allowing light to pass through at least partially. The face 32 of each mask may include patterns having an aesthetic and/or functional purpose.

Each mask further comprises a lower border and an upper border by which the masks are fixed on the housing 12 and on the reflector 16. The borders each form at least one tab which projects from the face of the mask towards the housing 12. or the fixing lugs 34 are engaged by elastic engagement with a support part of the optical unit. The fixing lugs 34 constitute male elements for the elastic nesting means 24, and for the other elastic nesting means 22.

The number of legs depends on the dimensions, position, and shape of the mask. Here, the bottom mask 18 comprises for example 2 fixing lugs to its upper border and 3 fixing tabs at its lower border. The high mask 20 comprises, for example, 3 fixing tabs at its upper edge, and 2 fixing tabs at its lower edge.

The first mask 18 is fixed by its lower edge to the housing 12, and by its upper edge to the reflector 16. Thus, the fixing tabs of the lower edge of the first mask are fitted into the support box, and the fixing tabs of the upper edge, in the reflector housing.

The second mask 20 is fixed by its upper edge to the housing 12, and by its lower edge to the reflector 16. The fixing tabs of its upper edge are fitted into the support housing, and the fixing tabs of its lower edge into the reflector housing.

The fixing lugs of the first and second masks are respectively linked to the reflector by the elastic nesting devices 24.

These fitting devices 24 as well as the method of mounting the masks on the reflector will be described jointly with reference to the figures 4 to 6 . There figure 4 shows a sectional view of the optical unit. There is a fixing tab at each edge of each mask.

To simplify the description, at the level of the elastic nesting device, we will call first fixing tab 38 the fixing tab of the upper edge of the first mask 18 or bottom mask, and we will call second fixing tab 40 the fixing tab of the lower border of the second mask 20 or top mask.

In this embodiment, when assembling the optical unit, the first mask 18 is first mounted on the optical unit before the second mask 20.

As shown in figure 4 , the first fixing tab 38 comprises an opening 42. At the level of the housing 26, the lower wall 30 comprises a first retaining element 44 projecting towards the inside of the housing 26. Note that the upper wall 28 comprises a passage 45 which responds to reflector molding constraints.

The first retaining element 44 has a straight surface, perpendicular to the lower wall facing the bottom of the housing so as to retain the first fixing tab at the bottom of the housing 26, and a surface inclined relative to the lower wall, so as to not to oppose the insertion of the first fixing tab 38 towards the bottom of the housing 26.

By inserting the first fixing tab 38 into the housing 26, the latter pushes on the inclined surface of the first retaining element 44 and elastically pushes the lower wall 30 of the housing 26 towards the outside of the housing until the first retaining element 44 is elastically recalled in the opening 42 of the first fixing tab 38. The first retaining element is preferably dimensioned to completely pass through the opening 42.

After mounting the first mask, the second mask 20 is mounted on the optical unit 10.

The lower wall 30 of the housing further comprises a second retaining element 46, projecting from the lower wall towards the interior of the housing 26. The second retaining element has a shape similar to that of the first retaining element but dimensions, preferably different. In fact, the second retaining element is dimensioned so that it passes above the upper tab of the first mask after assembly of the latter as shown in figure 5 . That is to say that the second retaining element is closer to the upper wall 28 of the housing than the first retaining element 44.

The second retaining element 46 is positioned near the first retaining element 44 so as to be located right next to the first fixing tab 38 when the latter is completely inserted into the housing 26.

According to variants, not shown, the second retaining element 46 passes into the opening of the first fixing tab 38.

As shown in figure 5 , the second fixing tab 40 is provided at its free end with a rim 48 for hooking with the second retaining element 46 of the housing 26. Thus, by inserting the second fixing tab 40 into the housing, the second tab fixing pushes on the surface inclined of the second retaining element and elastically pushes back the lower wall 30. The second mask is inserted at least until the second retaining element is elastically recalled against the hooking edge 48 of the second fixing tab 40.

According to variants not shown, the second fixing tab comprises an opening and the second retaining element is engaged in the opening.

According to variants not shown, the lower wall comprises a retaining element common to two fixing tabs, said element passes through the opening of the first fixing tab locking the latter, and is in contact with the hooking edge of the second tab of fixation.

The first and second retaining elements 44, 46 are integral with the bottom wall. Preferably, the retaining elements are not integral with one another, in the sense that the second retaining element can be pushed back elastically without causing joint movement of the first retaining element. For example, the two retaining elements can be separated by means of a separation cutout, not shown, formed in the lower wall. Thus the insertion of the second fixing tab does not cause movement of the first retaining element.

The second fixing tab 40 is dimensioned to cover, once inserted in the housing, at least partially the first fixing tab 38 in a vertical direction perpendicular to the walls of the housing 26. Preferably, the second fixing tab completely covers the first fixing bracket after mounting the first and second masks on the reflector. For example, the legs are then completely superimposed.

After mounting the second mask 20, the arrangement of the mask fixing lugs at the level of the elastic nesting device 24 is as shown in figure 5 . The first fixing tab 38 and the second fixing tab 40 are housed in the housing 26 in contact with one another. The housing 26 is dimensioned so that the height of its air gap corresponds at least to the cumulative thickness of the first 38 and the second 40 fixing tab so that the retention by elastic interlocking of each tab fixing is done by cooperation on the one hand with one of the walls 28, 30 of the housing and on the other hand with the other fixing tab.

The second fixing tab 40 of the second mask 20 makes it possible to lock any movement of the first fixing tab 38 of the first mask 18 in the housing 26.

According to variants which are not included in the subject of the claims and which are not shown, the female element of the elastic fitting means is carried by one of the masks, and the other mask as well as the support part comprise each one a fixing bracket. The order of the parts inserted during assembly then depends on the configuration of the elastic nesting means.

Note that the nesting device is designed in a non-removable manner. It is not planned to be able to disassemble the masks.

Claims (9)

1. Optical unit (10) for a motor vehicle, the optical unit comprising a support part, a first mask (18) and a second mask (20), characterized in that the first mask (18) and the second mask (20) are fixed to the support part by at least one elastic interlocking means (24) comprising a housing (26) with at least two parallel walls (28, 30) forming an air gap and defining a female element, the housing being configured to retain by elastic interlocking a first and a second fixing lug (38, 40), the fixing lugs (38, 40) being superimposed according to the height of said air gap in a direction perpendicular to the walls of the housing (26) and forming male elements; the support piece (16) comprises at least said housing (26) and, the first mask (18) and the second mask (20) respectively comprise at least said first (38), and at least said second (40) tab fixing intended to be inserted into said housing (26).
2. Optical unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (26) is dimensioned so that the height of its air gap corresponds at least to the cumulative thickness of the first (38) and the second (40) fixing tab so that the retention by elastic interlocking of each fixing tab is done by cooperation on the one hand with one of the walls (28, 30) of the housing and on the other hand with the other tab of fixation.
3. Optical unit (10) according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the housing (26) comprises at least one retaining element projecting from one of its walls in the air gap and cooperating with a complementary retaining element shown by a fixing tab and formed by an opening (42) or a hooking rim (48).
4. Optical unit (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the housing (26) comprises at least two retaining elements (44, 46) both projecting from one of its walls in the air gap, with a first retaining element (44) showing a height less than the height of the second retaining element (46), so that the first retaining element (44) cooperates with a first fixing bracket (38 ) and the second retaining element (46) cooperates with a second fixing lug (40) for retaining by elastic nesting of the fixing lugs in said housing (26).
5. Optical unit (10) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the housing (26) comprises at least two retaining elements (44, 46) both projecting from one of its walls (30) in the air gap, said elements being separated by a cutout in said wall allowing relative movement of the first retaining element relative to the second retaining element by elastic deformation of a part of the wall.
6. Optical unit (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, the optical unit comprising a housing (12) and at least one reflector (16), the optical unit (10) is characterized in that the part support is formed in a reflector (16) and/or in the housing (12) of the optical unit.
7. Optical unit (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, the optical unit being an elongated part and is characterized in that it comprises a single housing (26) extending along the length of said block optical, and the fixing lugs (38, 40) extend along at least half the length of said housing (26); preferably, the entire length of the accommodation.
8. Vehicle, preferably motor vehicle, comprising an optical unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
9. Method for mounting a first mask (18) and a second mask (20) in an optical unit (10) comprising a support part comprising a housing (26), the first mask (18) and second mask (20) comprising respectively a first (38) and a second (40) fixing tab, the assembly method is characterized in that the optical unit is according to one of claims 1 to 7 and in that the method comprises the steps of: inserting the first fixing tab (38) into the housing (26) of the support part; then, insert the second fixing tab (40) into the housing (26) by elastic engagement, in cooperation with the first fixing tab (38), so as to retain the first fixing tab (38) and the second fixing tab fixing (40) in the housing (26); preferably, the housing (26) comprises a first retaining element (46) and a second retaining element (48) making it possible to lock the first and the second fixing tab respectively, and in which the step of inserting the first fixing tab in the housing by elastic engagement is done without movement of the first retaining element relative to the first fixing tab.

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