FR3092279A1 - VEHICLE DOOR INTERIOR PANEL, WITH REINFORCEMENT PART HOUSING AT LEAST ONE SLIDING DRAWER BOX - Google Patents

Abstract

An interior panel (1) is fitted to a door of a vehicle and comprises an interior wall (2) at least partially delimiting a storage space (3), comprising an opening (7) for access to the latter (3), and having an internal face (8) to which is coupled at least one housing (6) in which is slidably mounted a drawer (4) accessible via this opening (7). This panel (1) also comprises a reinforcing piece (5) fixedly secured to the internal face (8) of the internal wall (2), comprising at least a first corrugation (10) defining a first groove (11) in which is fixedly housed this housing (6), and defining a reinforcing spacer between this inner wall (2) and a structural part of the door which reinforces the stiffness of the inner wall (2) in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

INSIDE VEHICLE DOOR PANEL WITH REINFORCEMENT ACCOMMODATING AT LEAST ONE SLIDING DRAWER BOX

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to vehicles which include at least one door intended to equip one of their two lateral sides and allowing access to their passenger compartment, and more specifically the interior panels fitted to such doors.

State of the art

Certain vehicles, possibly of the automobile type, comprise at least one side door comprising a structural part to which an interior panel is fixedly secured.

In some (side) doors, the interior panel comprises at least one interior wall which at least partially delimits a storage space (sometimes called storage compartment) and has an opening for access to the latter. As has been recently proposed, it is possible to fixedly fasten to the internal face of such an internal wall at least one box in which is slidably mounted (in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle) a drawer which is accessible via this storage space. Such drawers prevent the small objects they house from being visible in the storage space (which affects interior aesthetics) and the accumulation of dust.

However, the presence of such boxes (with drawer) in a storage compartment prevents the installation on the internal face of the interior wall of a reinforcing spacer intended to locally reinforce the interior panel so that it has sufficient increased stiffness. to withstand without breaking (or being damaged) a collision with the pelvis of a passenger seated next to it, in the event of a side impact suffered by the vehicle. Due to the absence of this reinforcement spacer, generally made of alveolar polypropylene, in a storage compartment with drawer(s), the stiffness of the interior wall of the interior panel is insufficient to withstand a collision with the pelvis of a passenger at the start of a side impact, in particular when the drawers come out of their casings or when the casings become deformed and/or separate. Consequently, the inner wall of the inner panel can break, and in this case the passenger's pelvis is not optimally protected, which also induces dispersion during physical tests.

The aim of the invention is therefore in particular to improve the situation.

Presentation of the invention

It proposes in particular for this purpose an interior panel intended to equip a (side) door of a vehicle and comprising at least one interior wall at least partially delimiting a storage space, comprising an opening for access to the latter, and having an internal face to which is coupled at least one casing in which is slidably mounted a drawer accessible via this opening.

• solidarisée fixement à la face interne de la paroi intérieure,
• comportant au moins une première ondulation définissant une première gorge dans laquelle est logé fixement le boîtier, et
• destinée à définir une entretoise de renfort entre la paroi intérieure et une partie structurelle de la porte qui renforce une raideur de la paroi intérieure suivant une direction transversale du véhicule.

This interior panel is characterized by the fact that it also includes a reinforcement piece:

• fixedly attached to the internal face of the internal wall,
• comprising at least a first corrugation defining a first groove in which the housing is fixedly housed, and
• intended to define a reinforcing spacer between the inner wall and a structural part of the door which reinforces a stiffness of the inner wall in a transverse direction of the vehicle.

The reinforcing piece constituting a reinforcing spacer and housing each sliding drawer box, it makes it possible to increase the transverse rigidity of the inner wall at least in the zone comprising each first corrugation, and consequently allows this inner wall, in the event of side impact suffered by the vehicle, to support in this area, without breaking, a collision.

• sa pièce de renfort peut comporter deux premières ondulations définissant deux premières gorges dans lesquelles sont respectivement logés fixement deux boîtiers ;

• sa pièce de renfort peut comprendre entre deux premières ondulations voisines au moins une cloison de renfort qui est perpendiculaire aux premières gorges ;
• chaque première gorge peut présenter une section transverse qui est identique à une section transverse du boîtier qu’elle loge ;
• chaque première ondulation peut être destinée à être placée dans une zone de la porte qui est située dans un intervalle de niveaux suivant une direction verticale du véhicule, qui inclue un niveau où est installé un bassin d’un passager assis à côté dans le véhicule ;
• sa pièce de renfort peut comporter une seconde ondulation placée après une première ondulation suivant une direction verticale du véhicule et selon un sens allant de bas en haut, définissant une seconde gorge vide, et comportant au moins une zone d’affaiblissement permettant sa déformation en cas de collision entre la paroi intérieure et un abdomen d’un passager assis à côté dans le véhicule ;

• au moins une zone d’affaiblissement peut, par exemple, résulter d’une épaisseur localement réduite de la pièce de renfort ou bien de la définition d’au moins un trou ou d’une ligne de pli dans la pièce de renfort ;

• sa pièce de renfort peut, par exemple, être réalisée par moulage d’un matériau plastique ou composite.

The interior panel according to the invention may comprise other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

• its reinforcing piece may comprise two first undulations defining two first grooves in which two housings are respectively fixedly housed;

• its reinforcing piece may comprise between two first adjacent corrugations at least one reinforcing partition which is perpendicular to the first grooves;
• each first groove may have a cross-section which is identical to a cross-section of the housing that it houses;
• each first undulation may be intended to be placed in a zone of the door which is situated in an interval of levels along a vertical direction of the vehicle, which includes a level where a basin for a passenger seated next to it in the vehicle is installed;
• its reinforcing piece may comprise a second corrugation placed after a first corrugation in a vertical direction of the vehicle and in a direction going from bottom to top, defining a second empty groove, and comprising at least one zone of weakness allowing its deformation in the event of collision between the interior wall and an abdomen of a passenger seated next to it in the vehicle;

• at least one weakening zone can, for example, result from a locally reduced thickness of the reinforcement part or else from the definition of at least one hole or a fold line in the reinforcement part;

• its reinforcement piece can, for example, be made by molding a plastic or composite material.

The invention also proposes a (side) door intended to be fitted to a vehicle and comprising a structural part to which is fixedly attached an interior panel of the type presented above.

The invention also proposes a vehicle, optionally of the automotive type, and comprising at least one (side) door of the type presented above.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on examination of the detailed description below, and of the appended drawings (obtained in CAD/DAO (“Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Drawing”), from which the apparently discontinuous character of certain lines), on which:

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the side of the internal face, an embodiment of an interior panel according to the invention, with each of its drawers in the open position,

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the side of the outer face, the reinforcement part of the inner panel of Figure 1,

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the side of the internal face, the reinforcement part of the internal panel of figure 1,

schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a YZ plane, the reinforcement piece of Figures 2 and 3, before a collision with a seated passenger, and

schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in the YZ plane, the reinforcement part of FIGS. 2 and 3, after a collision with a seated passenger.

Detailed description of the invention

The object of the invention is in particular to propose an interior panel 1 intended to equip a side door of a vehicle and comprising at least one interior wall 2 at least partially delimiting a storage space 3 with drawer(s) 4 sliding(s) and locally reinforced stiffness.

In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicle is of the automobile type. This is for example a car comprising at least one row of seat(s). But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates to any type of vehicle comprising at least one side door providing access to a passenger compartment. Consequently, the invention relates at least to land vehicles (and in particular motor vehicles, commercial vehicles, and minibuses). It will be noted that the same vehicle can comprise several (at least two) side doors each comprising an interior panel 1 according to the invention.

In Figures 1 to 5, the X direction is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which is parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the Y direction is the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the lateral sides and to the longitudinal X direction, and the Z direction is the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal X and transverse Y directions.

There is schematically shown in Figure 1 an embodiment of an interior panel 1 according to the invention, intended to equip a door (side) to equip a lateral side of a vehicle and allowing access to the passenger compartment of this last. It will be noted that this side door can be installed on a lateral side of a vehicle in a front, central or rear zone.

This interior panel 1, according to the invention, is more specifically intended to be fixedly attached to the structural part of a door (side) that it hides by being located next to a passenger seat. It is therefore intended to be located inside the vehicle (when its door is closed).

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, an interior panel 1, according to the invention, comprises at least one interior wall 2, a reinforcing piece 5 and at least one casing 6.

The inner wall 2 at least partially delimits a storage space 3, has an opening 7 allowing a passenger's hand to access the latter (3), and has an inner face 8 to which is coupled at least one housing 6 in which is slidably mounted a drawer 4 accessible via this opening 7.

Here, the term "internal face" means a face 8 which is intended to be oriented towards the structural part of a door and therefore towards the outside of a vehicle. Furthermore, in what follows, the term “external face” is understood to mean a face 9 which is opposite to the internal face 8 and therefore intended to be oriented towards the inside of a vehicle cabin.

In the example illustrated without limitation in Figure 1 two boxes 6, slidably housing a drawer 4 that can accommodate small objects, are fixedly secured to the inner face 8 of the inner wall 2 of the inner panel 1. But the number of boxes 6, fixedly fixed to the inner face 8 of the inner wall 2 of an inner panel 1, can take any value greater than or equal to one (1).

For example, the inner wall 2 of the inner panel 1 can be made by molding (or injection) of a plastic material, such as polypropylene or polyamide, or a composite material (possibly fiber). But it can also be made of thin sheet metal (for example with a thickness of about 0.5 mm).

The reinforcing piece 5 is fixedly secured to the inner face 8 of the inner wall 2 and comprises at least a first corrugation 10 defining a first groove (or groove) 11 in which the housing (one of the housings) 6 is fixedly housed. This fixed connection can be made by gluing, screwing or clipping, for example. Each first groove (or groove) 11 here extends substantially along the longitudinal direction X. But it could be slightly inclined relative to this longitudinal direction X (this in fact depends on the ergonomics of the passenger compartment (which depends in the seat height and the inclination of the vehicle seat rails)).

In addition, this reinforcing piece 5 is intended to define a reinforcing spacer between the inner wall 2 and the structural part of the door in order to reinforce the stiffness of this inner wall 2 in the transverse direction Y of the vehicle.

Thanks to this reinforcing piece 5 which not only constitutes a reinforcing spacer but also houses each casing 6 with sliding drawer 4, the transverse rigidity of the inner wall 2 (and therefore of the inner panel 1) is reinforced at least in the zone comprising each first corrugation 10. In addition, no housing can move (or even deform). Consequently, in the event of a side impact suffered by the vehicle, the inner wall 2 can now withstand in the aforementioned zone, without breaking, a collision, for example with the pelvis of a passenger seated next to it, thus making it possible to protect this pool optimally.

It will be noted that in the example illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 to 5, the reinforcing piece 5 comprises two first undulations 10 defining respectively two adjacent first grooves 11 housing two boxes 6. But the number of first undulations 10 of the reinforcing piece 5 depends on the number of boxes 6 to be coupled to the inner face 8 of the inner wall 2. Consequently, this number can take any value greater than or equal to one (1).

For example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 3 to 5, the reinforcing piece 5 may comprise, between two adjacent first undulations 10, at least one reinforcing partition 12 perpendicular to the first grooves 11. Here, each reinforcing partition 12 is defined in a YZ plane. This option makes it possible to further reinforce the transverse rigidity of the inner wall 2 (and therefore of the inner panel 1) in the area comprising the first corrugations 10.

As illustrated without limitation in Figure 3, several reinforcing partitions 12 can be defined in the free space (or "tunnel") 13 which is defined between two first corrugations 10 adjacent. Here, there are more precisely five. But the number of reinforcing partitions 12 can take any value greater than or equal to one (1).

It will also be noted that to further reinforce the transverse rigidity of the inner wall 2 (and therefore of the inner panel 1) in the zone comprising the first undulations 10, it is also possible to define at least one reinforcing partition 12 in the free space 14 which is located against the first lowest corrugation 10 (in the vertical direction Z). Here, there are more precisely four. But the number of reinforcing partitions 12 in the free space 14 can take any value greater than or equal to one (1).

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIG. 1, that each first groove 11 can have a cross section (here in the YZ plane) which is identical to the cross section of the box 6 that it houses. But this is not mandatory. Indeed, the width (in the vertical direction Z) of a first groove 11 may be slightly greater than the width of the box 6 that it houses.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation in FIG. 1, that two neighboring first undulations 10 are linked by a wall portion 15 which can be substantially planar in order to optimize the zone of contact with the structural part of the door. Similarly, the lowest corrugation 10 (in the vertical direction Z) can be extended downwards by another substantially planar portion of wall 16 in order to optimize the area of contact with the structural part of the door.

When the storage space 3 is located in the lower part of the door, each first corrugation 10 can be intended to be placed in an area of the door which is located in an interval of levels along the vertical direction Z of the vehicle which includes the level where the pelvis of a passenger seated next to it in the vehicle is installed. In this case, the transverse rigidity of the inner wall 2 (and therefore of the inner panel 1) is advantageously reinforced in the area at which the basin is located, which makes it possible to optimize the protection of the latter.

For example, and as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 to 5, the reinforcement piece 5 may comprise a second corrugation 17 placed after a first corrugation 10 in the vertical direction Z of the vehicle and in a direction going from bottom to top, and defining a second empty groove 18. Here, the second corrugation 17 is therefore placed above the first corrugation 10 which is the highest. In this case, this second undulation 17 comprises at least one weakening zone 19 arranged in such a way as to allow its deformation in the event of a collision between the interior wall 2 and the abdomen of a passenger seated next to it in the vehicle.

This last option makes it possible to locally reduce the transverse rigidity of the reinforcing piece 5 (and therefore of the inner wall 2) at the level of the second corrugation 17 so that the inner wall 2 is less stiff in the zone at which the the abdomen, and thus optimize the protection of the latter (which is notably less rigid than the pelvis). The result of the collision of an abdomen with the inner wall 2 at the level of the second undulation 17 is illustrated in FIG. 4. As can be seen, the second undulation 17 is found to be very deformed, and more precisely flattened (or crushed). This deformation is preferentially programmed.

For example, and as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 3 to 5, at least one weakening zone 19 can result from the definition of at least one hole 20 in a portion of the second undulation 17. As a variant, at least one zone of weakness 19 may result from a locally reduced thickness of the reinforcement part 5 (in a portion of the second corrugation 17) or from a fold line in the reinforcement part 5 (in a portion of the second corrugation 17).

In the example illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 3 to 5, the reinforcement part 5 comprises a single weakened zone 19 resulting from the definition of several holes 20 in the wall portion which partially defines the second corrugation 17 and which is intended to be in contact with the internal face 8 of the internal wall 2. But the zone of weakening 19 can be defined in other wall portions of the second corrugation 17. Thus, when it results from a line of fold, the latter can, for example, be defined on the ridge 21 which is located at the interface between the lower end of the second corrugation 17 and the wall portion 22 extending upwards the neighboring first corrugation 10 and intended to contact the structural part of the door.

Furthermore, it will be noted that the second corrugation 17 can comprise several (at least two) zones of weakening 19, possibly of different types. Thus, it is possible, for example, to define oblong holes and/or slots.

For example, the height of the reinforcing piece 5 along the vertical direction Z can be between about 250 mm and about 350 mm. Also, for example, the length of the reinforcing piece 5 along the longitudinal direction X can be between about 200 mm and about 400 mm. Also, for example, the width of the reinforcing piece 5 in the transverse direction Y can be between about 50 mm and about 80 mm.

It will also be noted that the reinforcing part 5 can, for example, be produced by molding (or injection) of a plastic or composite material. Thus, it can, for example, be made of polypropylene (or PP), or of SMC (“Sheet Molding Compounds”) or of BMC (“Bulk Molding Compounds”) or else of composite material reinforced with fibers.

Claims (10)

Interior panel (1) for a door of a vehicle, said panel (1) comprising at least one interior wall (2) at least partially delimiting a storage space (3), comprising an opening (7) for access to the latter (3), and having an internal face (8) to which is coupled at least one housing (6) in which is slidably mounted a drawer (4) accessible via said opening (7), characterized in that it comprises furthermore a reinforcing piece (5) fixedly secured to said internal face (8) of the internal wall (2), comprising at least one first corrugation (10) defining a first groove (11) in which said housing is fixedly housed ( 6), and intended to define a reinforcing spacer between said inner wall (2) and a structural part of said door reinforcing a stiffness of said inner wall (2) in a transverse direction of said vehicle. Panel according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said reinforcing part (5) comprises two first corrugations (10) defining two first grooves (11) in which two boxes (6) are respectively fixedly housed. Panel according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said reinforcing part (5) comprises between two first adjacent corrugations (10) at least one reinforcing partition (12) perpendicular to the said first grooves (10). Panel according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each first groove (11) has a cross section identical to a cross section of said housing (6) which it accommodates. Panel according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each first corrugation (10) is intended to be placed in an area of said door located in an interval of levels in a vertical direction of said vehicle which includes a level where is installed a basin for a passenger seated next to said vehicle. Panel according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said reinforcing piece (5) comprises a second corrugation (17) placed after a first corrugation (10) in a vertical direction of said vehicle and in a direction going from the bottom at the top, defining a second empty groove (18), and comprising at least one weakened zone (19) allowing its deformation in the event of a collision between said inner wall (2) and an abdomen of a passenger seated alongside in said vehicle. Panel according to Claim 6, characterized in that at least one weakening zone (19) results from a locally reduced thickness of said reinforcing piece (5) or from the definition of at least one hole (20) or a fold line in said reinforcing piece (5). Panel according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said reinforcing piece (5) is made by molding a plastic or composite material. Door for a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a structural part to which is fixedly secured an interior panel (1) according to one of the preceding claims. Vehicle, characterized in that it comprises at least one door according to claim 9.