FR2821321A1 - Motor vehicle rear body module has hinged and detachable roof panel for converting coupe into station wagon or pick-up - Google Patents

Abstract

The rear body module for a two-door coupe consists of a frame supporting a hinged and detachable roof panel (8) containing the rear windscreen. The frame can be set in two positions - one in which the roof panel extends from a front fixed roof section (9) to the top of a rear tailgate (2), and a second in which the rear end of the detachable roof panel is raised to give a station wagon configuration, with additional windows (28, 43) covering the side and rear gaps. With the detachable roof panel removed and a sliding window (23) fitted behind the vehicle's front seats (14) the vehicle has a pick-up configuration.

Description

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 The present invention relates to a module for covering the rear part of a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle equipped with such a module.

 It relates more particularly to a module for covering the rear part of a vehicle of the coupe type making it possible to transform the latter into a station wagon version or else into a vehicle provided with a fully discoverable rear platform, in such a way reversible.

enclenchement avec la portion de châssis de cabine de devant. Already known in the prior art, in particular by patent EP 149 648, such a transformable motor vehicle consisting of a cabin whose bitter part is transformable into an open platform section and having a roof section carrying capacity. Said section is connected to side panels or windows allowing a pivoting movement into a horizontal position parallel to the roof section, after which the roof section can be released from a support engagement with a portion of the forward cabin chassis , allowing downward guidance in a portable platform position, as supported by the chassis of the motor car. The side panels or windows are pivotable outward and upward in the horizontal position from which they are removable into the roof section, and in that the rear chassis portion with associated rear window means are removable forward towards a

engagement with the front cabin chassis portion.

This type of vehicle structure is complex to maneuver, costly and above all of a certain complexity to correctly ensure the seals between each panel.
Also known from document FR-A-2 544 682 is the reversible mechanical transformation of an automobile sedan version and station wagon version.

partie vitrée, articulés à leurs extrémités respectives avec joints d'étanchéité, réalisent soit, abaissés sur la carrosserie respectivement la lunette arrière et le dessus du coffre de la berlin, soit, en position haute, le toit de la porte hayon du break. Deux vitres latérales mobiles montées forment les flancs supérieurs du break. Ces vitres sont descendues dans la partie inférieure de la carrosserie pour la position berline. Un volet fermoir articulé à l'extrémité d'un panneau assure la For this, at the rear of the vehicle two panels each comprising a

glazed part, articulated at their respective ends with gaskets, realize either, lowered on the body respectively the rear window and the top of the trunk of the berlin, or, in the high position, the roof of the hatchback wagon door. Two mounted movable side windows form the upper sides of the station wagon. These windows are lowered into the lower part of the body for the sedan position. A clasp flap articulated at the end of a panel ensures the

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closure on a third panel opening from front to back.
Such a transformation turns out to be effortless, without tools and without bringing in new parts
However, handling for the user is somewhat difficult, especially for a single person.

 The object of the invention is to propose a covering module which is simple to implement, making it possible to solve the drawbacks mentioned above and also to rapidly transform the appearance of a vehicle, from the coupe configuration to the estate configuration or to vehicle configuration with a discoverable platform also known as a pick-up and vice versa.

- le panneau amovible comporte d'une part des moyens de guidage reliant le panneau à la structure du véhicule, destinés à permettre le démontage de ce dernier et son rangement dans un logement réalisé dans le coffre du véhicule et d'autre part des moyens de verrouillage avec ledit cadre en position de montage ; - les moyens de guidage sont constitués de deux bras sensiblement verticaux disposés symétriquement de part et d'autre du panneau de pavillon par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du véhicule, chacun de ces bras étant relié fixement par l'une de ses extrémités sensiblement au niveau de la partie avant du To this end, the present invention relates to a module for covering the rear part of a motor vehicle of the coupe type comprising two side doors, a rear flap and a rear window extending the roof to the upper end of the flap rear allowing the transformation of said vehicle, characterized in that this covering module of the rear part of the vehicle consists of a frame removably supporting a panel on which is mounted the rear window of the vehicle, this frame being able to take two positions respectively a low position in which said panel extends the roof to the upper end of the rear flap and a high position in which said panel is arranged substantially in a horizontal plane in extension of the roof, these two positions corresponding respectively to the configuration coupe and station wagon configuration
According to some interesting features and characteristics of the invention:

the removable panel comprises on the one hand guide means connecting the panel to the structure of the vehicle, intended to allow the disassembly of the latter and its storage in a housing produced in the boot of the vehicle and on the other hand means of locking with said frame in mounting position; - The guide means consist of two substantially vertical arms arranged symmetrically on either side of the roof panel relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, each of these arms being fixedly connected by one of its ends substantially to the level of the front part of the

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panneau et étant articulé autour d'un axe par son extrémité opposée sur l'un des flancs latéraux de la caisse du véhicule correspondant, situé sensiblement au voisinage de la partie supérieure des dos de sièges délimitant le coffre, - le cadre est constitué sur chaque côté latéral d'un montant arrière, d'une vitre mobile formant le flanc supérieur du véhicule en configuration break et d'un volet longitudinal surplombant le bord supérieur de la vitre, l'ensemble vitre, montant et volet étant apte à être descendu dans la partie inférieure de la carrosserie en configuration coupé ; - la montée et la descente du cadre portant le panneau et les montants sont assurées au moyen d'un moteur électrique disposé dans chaque flanc latéral du véhicule, les moteurs étant commandés au moyen d'une commande électrique disposée à proximité de la planche de bord

Un autre objet de la présente invention concerne un véhicule automobile caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte un module de recouvrement conforme à l'une quelconque des caractéristiques mentionnées ci-dessus
Selon une caractéristique de l'invention, le panneau amovible est apte à être rangé dans un logement réalisé dans le plancher du véhicule situé dans le compartiment du coffre.

panel and being articulated around an axis by its opposite end on one of the lateral flanks of the body of the corresponding vehicle, located substantially in the vicinity of the upper part of the seat backs delimiting the boot, - the frame is formed on each lateral side of a rear upright, of a movable window forming the upper side of the vehicle in station wagon configuration and of a longitudinal flap overhanging the upper edge of the window, the window, upright and flap assembly being able to be lowered into the lower part of the bodywork in the coupe configuration; - the raising and lowering of the frame carrying the panel and the uprights is ensured by means of an electric motor arranged in each lateral flank of the vehicle, the motors being controlled by means of an electric control placed near the dashboard

Another object of the present invention relates to a motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises a covering module conforming to any of the characteristics mentioned above
According to a characteristic of the invention, the removable panel is capable of being stored in a housing made in the floor of the vehicle located in the trunk compartment.

According to another characteristic of the invention, on the back of the seat backs delimiting the trunk is arranged a housing for a sliding window intended to separate the cabin from the trunk thus forming a cabin for the passengers when the removable panel is folded down in its housing
According to another characteristic of the invention, in the extreme closed position of the file pane, the upper part of the latter engages in a seal fitted in line with the rear part of the roof and is held in place each time. side by a slide arranged on the inner sides of the vehicle and inside which is capable of sliding said window, thus ensuring a seal against the outside of the vehicle.

 According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the rear flap consists of a lower box whose upper edge is located substantially at the upper edge of the door boxes and a sliding window positioned in said box between two extreme positions respectively a retracted position and a deployed position forming the rear window of the

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vehicle in station wagon configuration
According to a characteristic of the invention, the housing is covered by a removable raised floor.

passage de la configuration coupé à la configuration break et à la configuration véhicule pourvu d'une plate-forme découvrable ; - la figure 4 est une vue analogue à la figure 3, illustrant le démontage et le rangement du module selon l'invention dans le fond du coffre, - les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues de côté de la partie arrière d'un véhicule automobile, respectivement en configuration coupé et en configuration break, - les figures 7 et 8 sont des vues de détail à plus grande échelle du mécanisme du module de recouvrement selon l'invention respectivement des figures 5 et 6, - la figure 9 est une vue de détail en coupe longitudinale à plus grande échelle du dossier délimitant le coffre, et - les figures 10 à 12 sont des vues en coupe transversale d'un côté de caisse du véhicule selon l'invention, illustrant les différentes configurations du véhicule respectivement des figures 1 à 3. The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which - Figures 1 to 3 are rear perspective views of a motor vehicle provided with the module according to the invention, respectively illustrating the

transition from the coupé configuration to the station wagon configuration and to the vehicle configuration provided with a discoverable platform; - Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, illustrating the disassembly and storage of the module according to the invention in the bottom of the trunk, - Figures 5 and 6 are side views of the rear part of a vehicle automobile, respectively in the cut configuration and in the break configuration, - Figures 7 and 8 are detailed views on a larger scale of the mechanism of the covering module according to the invention of Figures 5 and 6 respectively, - Figure 9 is a view in detail in longitudinal section on a larger scale of the file defining the trunk, and - Figures 10 to 12 are cross-sectional views of a side of the body of the vehicle according to the invention, illustrating the different configurations of the vehicle respectively in the figures 1 to 3.

 In the following description, the terms front or rear are to be considered with respect to the front or rear of the vehicle.

 We can see in Figures 1 to 3, the rear part of a coupe type vehicle having two side doors 1, a rear flap 2 hinged in its lower part around a transverse axis 3, located substantially at the bumper 4 , allowing it to be opened from front to back and a rear window 5 extending the roof 9 to the upper end 41 of the rear flap 2 This vehicle is equipped with a removable covering module 6 from the rear part of the vehicle to the right of the trunk advantageously allowing to transform

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aisément le véhicule en différentes configurations réversibles à savoir en break ou en véhicule pourvu d'une plate-forme entièrement découvrable Selon la présente invention, ce module de recouvrement 6 de la partie arrière du véhicule est constitué d'un cadre 7 supportant de manière amovible un panneau 8 sur lequel est intégrée la lunette arrière 5 du véhicule. Ce cadre 7 est apte à prendre deux positions respectivement une position basse dans laquelle ledit panneau 8 prolonge le pavillon 9 jusqu'à l'extrémité supérieure du volet arnère 2 et une position haute dans laquelle ledit panneau 8 est disposé sensiblement dans un plan horizontal en prolongement du pavillon 9. Ces deux positions correspondent respectivement à la configuration coupé et à la configuration break du véhicule
Afin de permettre le retrait du panneau 8 du cadre 7, celui-ci est en outre pourvu de moyens de verrouillage 10 avec ledit cadre 7 et de moyens de guidage 11 reliant ledit panneau 8 à la structure du véhicule destinés à permettre le démontage dudit panneau 8 et son rangement dans un logement 12 réalisé dans le fond du coffre du véhicule.

easily the vehicle in different reversible configurations, namely in station wagon or in vehicle provided with a fully discoverable platform According to the present invention, this covering module 6 of the rear part of the vehicle consists of a frame 7 removably supporting a panel 8 on which is integrated the rear window 5 of the vehicle. This frame 7 is able to take two positions respectively a low position in which said panel 8 extends the flag 9 to the upper end of the rear flap 2 and a high position in which said panel 8 is arranged substantially in a horizontal plane in extension of the roof 9. These two positions correspond respectively to the coupé configuration and to the station wagon configuration
In order to allow the panel 8 to be removed from the frame 7, the latter is further provided with locking means 10 with said frame 7 and guide means 11 connecting said panel 8 to the structure of the vehicle intended to allow disassembly of said panel. 8 and its storage in a housing 12 made in the bottom of the trunk of the vehicle.

It will be noted that the panel 8 possibly includes a compensation device intended to assist the user in the manipulation of said panel 8 during the mounting or storing of the latter.
The compensation device, not shown, advantageously consists of a helical spring mounted coaxially on each of the articulation axes of the arms 11 One of the ends of the spring is linked to the arm 11 and the other end is linked to the inner side 13 of the body
Such a device makes it possible to assist the user in handling the panel 8 during its storage or its attachment to the frame 7 and the roof 9 of the vehicle.

 The guide means 11 consist for example of two substantially vertical arms arranged symmetrically on either side of the roof panel 8 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle Each of these arms 11 is fixedly connected by one 11 a of its ends substantially at the level of the front part of the panel 8 and is articulated about an axis by its opposite end 11b on one of the lateral interior flanks 13 of the body of the corresponding vehicle, located substantially in the vicinity of the upper part seat backs 14 delimiting the trunk as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8.

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Par ailleurs, comme mentionné ci-dessus le panneau 8 amovible est également muni de chaque côté latéral d'un moyen de verrouillage 10 avec le cadre 7, comme visible sur la figure 12. Ce moyen de verrouillage 10 est composé par exemple d'un crochet 19 destiné à coopérer avec les bords latéraux du cadre 7 et verrouillable en position de maintien au moyen d'un levier 20
On notera avantageusement que le panneau 8 amovible peut comporter une lunette amère 5 apte à s'ouvrir par pivotement autour d'un axe transversal

21 solidaire du panneau 8. L'ouverture de la lunette arrière 5 peut en outre être facilitée au moyen d'un vérin. Un tel agencement de la lunette amère 5 permet d'offrir une facilité de chargement du coffre notamment en configuration coupé mais permet également en configuration break de charger des objets encombrants en hauteur en ouvrant ladite lunette. The removable panel 8 is provided with two crosspieces 15 and 16 respectively disposed at the upper end and at the lower end, fixed to the panel 8 in order to stiffen it and avoid any twisting of the panel 8 relative to the pavilion during these various manipulations. . In addition, each of these crosspieces 15 and 16 as well as the lateral edges 17 comprise seals 18 (described in more detail below) intended to cooperate respectively with the elements of the vehicle structure and the frame 7 in order to 'ensure a tightness in the retracted position of the panel 8 but also the elimination of aerodynamic noise, as visible in Figures 7,8 and 12.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, the removable panel 8 is also provided on each lateral side with a locking means 10 with the frame 7, as visible in FIG. 12. This locking means 10 is composed for example of a hook 19 intended to cooperate with the lateral edges of the frame 7 and lockable in the holding position by means of a lever 20
Advantageously, it will be noted that the removable panel 8 may include a bitter bezel 5 capable of opening by pivoting around a transverse axis.

21 secured to the panel 8. The opening of the rear window 5 can also be facilitated by means of a jack. Such an arrangement of the bitter bezel 5 makes it possible to offer ease of loading the trunk, especially in the cut configuration, but also allows the station wagon configuration to load bulky objects at height by opening said bezel.

 On the back of the seat backs 14 delimiting the trunk is arranged a housing 22 for a sliding window 23 intended to separate the passenger compartment H from the trunk thus forming a cabin for the passengers when the roof panel 8 is folded back into its housing 12. In extreme position for closing the back window 23, the upper part of the latter engages in a gasket 24 fitted to the right of the rear part of the roof (Figure 9) and is held on each side by a slide 25 arranged on the inner sides 13 of the vehicle and inside which is able to slide the window 23, thus ensuring a seal against the outside of the vehicle.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the upper part of the file pane 23 engages in the seal 24 which is arranged in a housing L capable of being obstructed by a sliding shutter 26, as visible in FIG. 9, to ensure a finish of the vehicle when it is in station wagon configuration

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The frame 7 is constituted on each lateral side of a rear upright 27, of a movable window 28 forming the upper side of the vehicle in station wagon configuration and of a longitudinal flap 29 overhanging the upper edge of the window 28. The assembly window 28, upright 27 and flap 29 is lowered into the lower part of the body 30, as visible in FIG. 12, for the cut configuration (FIG. 1).

 The flap 29 is articulated around a longitudinal axis 31 and advantageously makes it possible to make up for the overhang d of the body during the transformation of the coupé into a station wagon, as visible in FIGS. 10 and 11.

This flap 29 further comprises a seal 32 in order to ensure the seal between it and the panel 8
In order to ensure the mobility of the panel 8, in particular during the transformation from coupé to station wagon, the latter is mounted articulated in its front part around the articulation axis 11a of the arm 11, constituting the guide means, with panel 8, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Advantageously, the ascent and descent of the panel 8 and of the frame 7 are ensured by means of a conventional system of an electric motor and for example of a rack arranged in each lateral flank of the vehicle, controlled by means of an electrical control, of the push button type, located near the dashboard
Furthermore, in order to ensure that the vehicle is sealed regardless of its coupe or station wagon configuration, the panel 8 is provided with a plurality of seals. Thus, the panel 8 comprises on its front cross member 15 a seal 18 in permanent contact with the rear cross member of the roof 9 on the one hand and a second seal 18a secured to the rear part of the pavilion 9 of which a lip partially covers the front part of the panel 8 and is in permanent contact with the latter on the other hand preventing a! ns! any penetration of water into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

 The panel 8 also includes on its rear crosspiece 16 a double lip seal 40; a first lip 40a intended to cooperate with the upper edge 41 of the box of the rear flap 2 in the cut configuration and a second lip 40b intended to cooperate with the upper edge 42 of a window 43 slidingly mounted inside the box.

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It will be noted that the side windows 28 and the sides of the body at the level of these are provided with conventional seals 44 of the door window seal type.

The bitter shutter 2 advantageously consists of a lower box whose upper edge 41 is located substantially at the upper edge of the door boxes and a sliding window 43 in said box between two extreme positions respectively a retracted position (Figure 1 ) and a deployed position (Figure. 4) forming the rear window of the vehicle
The window of the box 43 advantageously makes it possible to isolate the volume of the boot in station wagon configuration from the outside. This window 43 is furthermore controlled in a similar manner to an electric window for the vehicle door.
According to a preferred embodiment, the command to open the rear flap 2 automatically ensures in the station wagon configuration the descent of the window 43 into the box in order to protect it.

The transformation of the vehicle from a coupe configuration to a station wagon configuration or vehicle provided with a platform according to the present will now be described in relation to FIGS. 1 to 12
The user wishing to transform his vehicle into a station wagon configuration by a simple press on an electric control actuates the rise of the panel 8, the rear uprights 27 and the two side windows 28 hidden in the sides 30 of the body.

 Once the panel 8 in the high position, the user can actuate the raising of the window 43 of the box of the rear flap in order to complete the transformation or leave it retracted.

The reverse transformation is carried out very easily by actuating the electrical control for lowering the frame 7 and by consequence of the panel 8 in the manner of an electric window.
In addition, the user can, from the coupe configuration, transform his vehicle into a vehicle provided with a rear platform or pick-up by simple disassembly and storage of the removable panel in the vehicle (Figure 3)
The user must first open the rear flap 2 and then unlock

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 each latch 10 of the removable panel 8 connecting the latter to the frame 7 so as to allow the latter to pivot by pivoting around the hinge pins 11 a, 11 b of said panel 8, so that it is immobilized in its housing 12.

It will be noted that beforehand, the housing 12 of the panel must be uncovered by moving the false floor 45 of the trunk towards the bitter, the latter being mounted for example on horizontal slides, not shown, secured to the sides of the body
It will be noted that the false floor 45 is intended to cover and protect the panel when the latter is in its housing so that it can be produced in different ways.

 Once the panel 8 is placed in the housing 12, the user can inversely move the raised floor 45 in order to hide it and then close the rear flap 2.

 The window 23 of the seat back delimiting the trunk in the front part is lifted for example by means of a mechanism known per se of the electric motor type similar to the door windows in order to completely isolate the passenger compartment from the outside thus forming a passenger cabin. Likewise, the rear window or rear window 5 is capable of being retracted into the box of the rear flap 2, thereby making it possible to obtain a vehicle provided with a cabin and an open platform very easily and quickly.

 The assembly of the covering module 6 of the bitter part of the vehicle is carried out just as easily by carrying out the operations described above in reverse.

It is easy to understand from reading the description above that such a covering module according to the present invention advantageously makes it possible to transform the appearance of a vehicle in a simple and rapid manner and thus obtain a vehicle which adapts to the needs of the user and without the need for external parts and in very fast execution times
Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been described; one could on the contrary conceive various variants without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (11)

 1. Cover module (6) of the rear part of a coupé type motor vehicle comprising two side doors (1), a rear flap (2) and a rear window (5) extending the roof (9) up to the upper end (41) of the rear flap (2) allowing the transformation of said vehicle, characterized in that this covering module (6) of the rear part of the vehicle consists of a frame (7) removably supporting a panel (8) on which is mounted the rear window (5) of the vehicle, this frame (7) being able to take two positions respectively a low position in which said panel (8) extends the roof (9) up to the upper end (5) of the rear flap (2) and a high position in which said panel (8) is disposed substantially in a horizontal plane in extension of the roof (9), these two positions correspond respectively to the cut configuration and to the configuration station wagon .  2 covering module according to claim 1, characterized in that the removable panel (8) comprises on the one hand guide means (11) connecting the panel (8) to the vehicle structure intended to allow the dismantling of the latter and its storage in a housing (12) produced in the boot of the vehicle and on the other hand locking means (10) with said frame (7) in the mounting position.  front (15) of the panel (8) and is articulated around an axis by its opposite end (11 b) on one of the lateral interior flanks (13) of the body of the corresponding vehicle, located substantially in the vicinity of the part upper seat backs (14) delimiting the boot.

 3 recovery module according to claim 2, characterized in that the guide means (10) consist of two substantially vertical arms arranged symmetrically on either side of the panel (8) of the roof relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, each of these arms (11) being fixedly connected by one (11a) of its ends substantially at the level of the part  4. Cover module according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (7) is constituted for each lateral side of a rear upright (27), of a movable window (28) forming the upper side the vehicle in station wagon configuration and a longitudinal flap (29) overhanging the upper edge of the window (28); the window assembly (28), upright (27) <Desc / Clms Page number 11>  and flap (29) being able to be lowered into the lower part (30) of the body in the cut configuration.  5. Cover module according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the raising and lowering of the frame (7) carrying the panel (8) and the uprights (27) are ensured by means of an electric motor arranged in each lateral side of the vehicle, the engines being controlled by means of an electric control arranged near the dashboard 6 Motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises a covering module (6) according to any one of the preceding claims.  7. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the removable panel (8) is adapted to be stored in a housing (12) formed in the vehicle floor located in the trunk compartment.  8. Vehicle according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that on the back

 seat backs (14) delimiting the trunk is arranged a housing (22) for a sliding window (23) intended to separate the passenger compartment (H) from the trunk thus forming a cabin for the passengers when the removable panel (8) is folded back into its housing (12) 9 Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that in the extreme closed position of the file pane (23), the upper part of the latter engages in a seal (24) arranged in line with the rear part of the roof (9) and is held on each side by a slide (25) arranged on the inner sides (13) of the vehicle and inside which is capable of sliding said window (23), thus ensuring a seal vis-à-vis the outside of the vehicle.  10. Vehicle according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the rear flap (29) consists of a lower box whose upper edge (41) is located substantially at the upper edge of the door boxes and a sliding window (43) in said box between two

 extreme positions respectively a retracted position and a deployed position forming the rear window of the vehicle in station wagon configuration. <Desc / Clms Page number 12>  11. Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the housing (12) is covered by a removable false floor (45)