Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
  • F21S41/28—Cover glass
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/0003—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor of successively moulded portions rigidly joined to each other
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/16—Making multilayered or multicoloured articles
  • B29C45/1657—Making multilayered or multicoloured articles using means for adhering or bonding the layers or parts to each other
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/50—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
  • F21S41/55—Attachment thereof

Definitions

• TITLE OPTICAL BLOCK WITH REINFORCED EXTERNAL RIB FOR
• the present invention claims the priority of French application 2103798 filed on 04.13.2021, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.
• the invention relates to the optical units which equip certain land vehicles and on which the bumpers of such vehicles rest.
• Certain land vehicles often of the automobile type, generally comprise, in a front part, a bumper having an upper part resting on the glass of at least one optical unit (and generally of two right and left optical units) .
• the crystal of (each) optical unit comprises a main part, through which photons participating in at least one photometric function emerge, and comprising in a lower sub-part at least one rib (or protuberance) called “ internal” and a so-called “external” rib (or protuberance) respectively comprising bearing surfaces on which the upper part of the bumper rests.
• outer rib means a rib which is located close to a lateral (or longitudinal) side of a vehicle
• inner rib means a rib which is distant from this outer rib and located closer to the center line of the vehicle than the latter.
• the main part of the crystal is defined in a mold by a first injection of a first plastic material generally having a so-called “crystal" color, and it is extended laterally, 0 at least on an external lateral side, by an external lateral part defined in this same mold by a second injection of a second plastic material generally having a black color in order to mask technical (and therefore unsightly) parts.
• the outer side part is therefore molded over an interface edge of the main part.
• Such overmolding ensures high-quality fastening and perfect sealing when the interface (main part/external lateral part) is not subjected to a relatively high stress, such as when the external rib is relatively far from the interface.
• Such equipment may, for example, be another optical unit providing a daytime running light function (or DRL ("Daytime running Light (or Lamp)" - light signaling automatically switched on when the vehicle is put into operation during the day) .
• DRL Daytime running Light (or Lamp)
• the aim of the invention is therefore in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention
• an optical unit suitable for equipping a land vehicle comprising a bumper, and comprising a glass having a main part and an external lateral part defined respectively by first and second injections of first and second plastic materials, this main part comprising a rib comprising a bearing surface on which an upper part of the bumper is intended to rest.
• This optical unit is characterized in that the rib is located just before an interface with the external lateral part and comprises a concave housing defined during the first injection by being open on the side of the latter and then filled at least partially with the second material plastic during the second injection.
• the outer rib is an integral part of the interface between the part main part and the outer side part, and therefore the upper part of the bumper can rest very laterally on its bearing surface without this causing interface cracking.
• optical block according to the invention may comprise other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:
• the main part of its crystal may include an upper sub-part through which photons participating in at least one photometric function emerge, and a lower sub-part extending this upper sub-part downwards, intended to be masked by the visor -shocks and in which the rib is defined;
• the lower sub-part of the main part of the glass can be set back from a lower edge of the upper sub-part which defines a cap above the bearing surface of the rib and delimits with this bearing surface a housing intended to house a sub-part of the bumper;
• the cap can be hollow and can comprise an internal face delimiting an internal housing open towards the interior of the optical unit and comprising a lower part covered with the second plastic material during the second injection into at least part of a zone located above the bearing surface of the rib;
• the rib may have a general inverted L shape
• the main part of its glass may include another rib distant from the rib (“double layers”) and comprising a support surface on which the upper part of the bumper is intended to rest; - it can perform at least one photometric lighting function chosen from among a photometric main beam function and a photometric dipped beam function.
• the invention also proposes a land vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising a bumper and at least one optical unit of the type of that presented above and on which the bumper rests.
• this vehicle can comprise a front part comprising the bumper and each optical unit.
• FIG. 1 schematically illustrates, in a perspective view of the front side, an embodiment of an optical unit according to the invention, before it is fitted to a land vehicle,
• FIG. 2 schematically illustrates, in a first perspective view from the front side, a part of the optical block of FIG. 1 comprising the external rib,
• FIG. 3 schematically illustrates, in a second perspective view from the lateral side, the part of the optical block of FIG. 1 comprising the outer rib
• FIG. 4 schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a vertical and longitudinal plane, the part of the optical block of FIG. 1 comprising the external rib
• FIG. 5 schematically illustrates, in a front view of the front side, the optical unit of Figure 1 with another optical unit installed between its inner and outer ribs.
• the aim of the invention is in particular to propose an optical unit BO intended to equip a land vehicle and comprising a glass GL on which a bumper PC is intended to rest, and allowing for example the placement of another equipment BO 'with significant transverse space in front of it (GL).
• the land vehicle is a motor vehicle, such as a car for example.
• the invention is not limited to this type of land vehicle. It relates in fact to any land vehicle comprising a bumper that must rest on at least one optical unit.
• the bumper PC and each optical unit BO are intended to form part of the front part of a land vehicle. But this is not mandatory. Indeed, they could be intended to form part of the rear part of a land vehicle.
• the notion of "front” is defined in relation to the front end of the vehicle
• the notion of "rear” is defined in relation to the rear end of the vehicle (as opposed to the front end). Consequently, the front part (or face) of an element is oriented towards the front end of the vehicle, while the rear part (or face) of this element is oriented towards the rear end of the vehicle.
• each optical unit BO is a projector (or headlight) ensuring at least one lighting function, such as for example a high beam function or a low beam function.
• the invention is not limited to this type of optical block.
• the bumper PC is here intended to rest on two right and left optical units BO installed respectively close to the right and left lateral (or longitudinal) sides of the vehicle which comprise the side doors.
• FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of an optical unit BO according to the invention, before it does not equip a (land) vehicle (here its front part) and that a PC bumper comes to lean on it.
• an optical unit BO according to the invention, comprises a lens GL fixedly secured to a housing (not shown).
• This GL glass comprises a main part PP and at least one external side part
• the main part PP of the lens GL is the part of the optical block BO through which photons emerge which participate in each photometric function ensured by the latter (BO). It is therefore made of a first plastic material M1 generally having a so-called “crystal” color.
• the outer side part PLE extends the main part PP on a lateral (or longitudinal) side of the vehicle. It therefore has an edge which is partially overmoulded during the second injection on an edge of the main part PP, at the level of a connection (or joining) interface. Being intended to mask technical (and therefore unsightly) parts of the optical unit BO (particularly internal ones), it is made of a second plastic material M2 generally having a black color.
• first M1 and second M2 plastic materials can, for example, be polycarbonate (or PC) but having different colors.
• the main part PP comprises a rib N1 comprising a support surface SA1 on which an upper part of a bumper PC is intended to rest, as illustrated very schematically in FIG. 4.
• This rib N1 is located just before the interface with the external lateral part PLE, which means that it is called external rib hereafter.
• this outer rib N1 comprises a concave housing LC which is defined during the first injection by being open on the side of the latter (PLE) then which is filled at least partially with the second plastic material M2 during the second injection.
• the concave housing LC is completely filled with the second plastic material M2.
• the outer rib N1 comprises a first "main” layer made of the first plastic material M1, and a second "complementary" layer overmolded on the first layer at least in the concave housing LC and made of the second material plastic M2, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
• the positioning of the first main layer of the external rib N1 just before the interface makes it possible to add the second additional layer to it by overmolding and therefore to make it an integral part of the interface, which allows the upper part of the PC bumper to lean very laterally (in the transverse direction Y) on its bearing surface SA1 produced by the first main layer alone and not by the second complementary layer, and consequently without risk of interface cracking.
• the outer rib N1 makes it possible to significantly increase its rigidity, which makes it possible in particular, if necessary, to reduce its extension in the transverse direction Y.
• the main part PP comprises another rib N2, hereinafter called internal rib because it is remote from the external rib N1, and comprising a bearing surface SA2 on which is also intended to lean the upper part of the bumper PC, and that one wants to install between these internal ribs N2 and external N1 equipment BO 'having a large transverse extension (see Figure 5). It will indeed be understood that it is now possible to have a large transverse spacing between the internal N2 and external N1 ribs, suitable for a large equipment BO '.
• the equipment BO′ is another optical unit ensuring a daytime running light (or DRL (Daytime running Light (or Lamp)) function with three bands. But other types equipment could be installed, whether or not it is an optical block.
• DRL Daytime running Light (or Lamp)
• other types equipment could be installed, whether or not it is an optical block.
• the "two-layer" production of the external rib N1 requires the use of a bi-injection mold with lateral release allowing the realization of the concave housing LC oriented towards the outside. Indeed, the inner side of the external rib N1 (opposite to the concave housing LC) demolds naturally, while the external side of the external rib N1 (concave housing LC), in undercut, is unmolded by a lateral movement of a part of the mold adapted for this purpose.
• the main part PP can comprise an upper sub-part SPS and a lower sub-part SPI extending this upper sub-part SPS downwards. It is via this upper sub-part SPS that the photons taking part in each photometric function of the optical block BO emerge. It is therefore visible from outside the vehicle.
• the external rib N1 is defined in the lower sub-part SPI which is intended to be masked by the bumper PC and partially by any equipment BO'.
• the lower sub-part SPI can be set back from the lower edge B1 of the upper sub-part SPS.
• This edge Bl then defines a cap above the bearing surface SA1 of the external rib N1 and delimits with this bearing surface SA1 a housing LP which is intended to house a sub-part of the upper part of the visor.
• PC shocks see Figure 4. This cap makes it possible to guarantee the constancy of the visible and common docking line between the bumper PC and the visible part of the glass GL of each optical unit BO. It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIGS.
• the cap B1 may be hollow and may comprise an internal face F1 which delimits an internal housing L1 open towards the interior of the optical block BO.
• This internal face Fl comprises a lower part PIF which is covered with the second plastic material M2 during the second injection in at least part of a zone which is located above the bearing surface SA1 of the external rib N1 .
• outer rib N1 may have the general shape of an inverted L. This improves its rigidity while providing a relatively large SA1 support surface. But other forms can be considered.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=75954097

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2021
  • 2021-04-13 FR FR2103798A patent/FR3121734B1/fr active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-03-10 WO PCT/FR2022/050438 patent/WO2022219259A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2022-03-10 CN CN202280028321.5A patent/CN117203465A/zh active Pending
  • 2022-03-10 EP EP22713978.9A patent/EP4323690A1/de active Pending

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