FR3096614A1 - Motor vehicle comprising a door opening at the level of a wheel arch fitted with a trim and sealing device - Google Patents

Abstract

Motor vehicle comprising at least one side of the body (1, 1 ') with a wheel arch and a side door (2, 2') with a cutout zone (23, 23 ') opening out at said wheel arch, said door comprising an interior panel (21, 21 ') and an exterior panel (22, 22') assembled at least by their respective edges forming the door edge, characterized in that said vehicle comprises a trim and sealing device (3 , 3 ') comprising an elongated main part fixed to the door, at least in said cutout zone (23, 23'), and an anti-fouling seal (34, 34 ') which is integral with said main part and concealed by part of said main room when the door is closed. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Motor vehicle comprising a door opening at the level of a wheel arch equipped with a trim and sealing device

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a door opening at the level of a wheel arch on the side of the body and a trim and sealing arrangement at this level. The invention also relates to a trim and sealing device for this arrangement.

A door of a so-called emergent motor vehicle is a door with a cut-out zone opening at the level of a wheel arch, that is to say which encroaches on the periphery of a wheel arch of the vehicle. Such a configuration is generally encountered for a rear side door. In such a configuration, the wheel arch is formed by a recess in the side of the body and has a visible outer lateral perimeter, substantially in the shape of an arch, which encroaches on the contour of the opening that said through door closes. Said cut-out area of the door generally has the shape of a portion of an arch, a shape which complements that of the rim of the wheel arch on the side of the body. Such a configuration comprises a conventional arrangement with a wheel arch trim, arranged along the visible edge of the wheel arch, for aesthetics by giving a nice finish. In addition, said hubcap often fulfills the function of fender widener, because the wheel may well extend in its width beyond the visible periphery of the wheel arch, and it is thus necessary to widen the fender part by a accessory to better wrap this wheel. The hubcap can also have an aerodynamic function. Said hubcap is most often made of plastic.

The term “trim” is therefore used here generically to also cover the case of a fender flare and all other usual functions of an accessory around the edge of a wheel arch.

Furthermore, such an arrangement usually includes an anti-dirt seal to prevent projections from the wheel arch from soiling the part of the body side visible when the door is open.

A door of a motor vehicle comprises an exterior panel and an interior panel assembled by their respective edges forming the door edge. This border is also usually called the door set, the door panels generally made of sheet metal being assembled by crimping.

Similarly, the body of a motor vehicle, at least in the area of a wheel arch and a door opening, comprises two walls, generally made of sheet metal, namely an inner wall and an outer wall, assembled by their respective edges forming the edge of the body, also usually called the seam of the body.

According to a prior art, there has been proposed an arrangement at the level of a wheel arch encroaching on the outline of an opening closed by a through side door, which comprises a wing widener and an anti-dirt seal. The fender flare is attached to the body of the vehicle. The seal is mounted on the door seam and rests against the side of the vehicle body, or against a plastic part attached to the side of the body. This embodiment has several drawbacks. Firstly, the anti-dirt seal is directly exposed to stone chippings from the wheel when driving, and can therefore be damaged fairly quickly. In addition, the fender flare attachments are far from its end closest to the wheel, and as a result the fender flare is cantilevered and cannot be indexed in the area of the bead setting. door due to the presence of the seal. This involves a risk of flapping and bending of the fender flare, and a perception of poor quality of the layout. In addition, since the anti-dirt seal is visible with the door closed, the level of perceived quality of the finish appears lower than that for a blind door.

According to another prior art illustrated by FIG. 5, there is proposed an arrangement at the level of a wheel arch, the periphery of which encroaches on the outline of an opening closed by an emerging side door, in which an antifouling seal J is mounted on the outermost part of the side of the body, in the wheel arch, at the front of the wheel R. Said seal rests against the box with the door closed. The layout includes a fender flare E secured to the vehicle body. This other embodiment has several drawbacks. Here again, the anti-fouling seal is directly exposed to the projections of gravel when driving, and can thus be damaged fairly quickly. Furthermore, the seal is exposed to foot traffic at the level of the door opening, when the door is open, and can be damaged, or even torn off, by the repeated passage of passengers in the vehicle. This risk is aggravated on a vehicle with three rows of seats where access to the last rear row is more complicated. In addition, as for the arrangement mentioned above, the anti-dirt seal is visible with the door closed, and the level of perceived quality of the finish appears lower than that for a blind door.

The invention aims to solve the drawbacks of stability, reliability and wear over time, of through-door and vehicle body arrangements at the level of a wheel arch, with trim and anti-dirt seal, of the art prior.

The invention aims to propose a motor vehicle comprising at least one side of the body with a wheel arch and a side door with a cut-out zone opening out at the level of said wheel arch, said door comprising an interior panel and an exterior panel assembled at the least by their respective edges forming the door edge. According to the invention, the vehicle comprises a trim and sealing device comprising an elongated main part fixed to the door, at least in said cut-out zone, and an anti-dirt seal which is integral with said main part and concealed by part of said main room when the door is closed.

More particularly according to the invention, said elongated main part of said device comprises a central wall arranged substantially parallel to the exterior face of the door and following the edge of the door, at least in said cut-out zone, and a deflecting element constituted by a wall transverse to the plane of said central wall, located in the extension of the lateral edge of said central wall proximal to the wheel arch, said deflector element masking said anti-dirt seal when the door is closed.

In this embodiment, said anti-dirt seal thus extends along the edge of the door and in a direction substantially transverse to the plane of the wall constituting said deflector element, so as to be positioned between the body side and the door. in said cutting zone when the door is closed.

More particularly according to the invention, said central wall of said elongated main part of said device has an inner face and an outer face, and said inner face is provided with means for fixing to the outer panel of said door.

Advantageously according to the invention, said main part of said device comprises bearing means, bearing against the outer face of said door. Preferably, said support means are present in the interior part of said central wall of said main part.

Said bearing means may be present discontinuously, in particular in the form of at least one row of studs, or continuously, in particular in the form of at least one continuous rib extending longitudinally to said central wall, along the inner face of said central wall of said main part.

Advantageously according to the invention, said device comprises retaining means, which hold said device to the interior side of the door.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, said main part of said device, in particular the central wall of said main part, comprises said retaining means.

More particularly according to the invention, said retaining means may be present discontinuously, in particular in the form of a row of hooks, said row extending longitudinally to said central wall, following the inner face of said central wall of said part main, and the hooks configured so that the hook part hooks on the inside of the door edge, at least in said cut-out area.

In a particular embodiment, said retaining means may be present continuously, in particular in the form of a rib hanging on the inside of the door edge.

Preferably according to the invention, said antifouling seal is secured to said deflector element, and in particular by gluing, or by molding the material constituting the seal with the main part of the device made in one piece.

In another alternative embodiment, said retaining means, holding said device to the interior side of the door, consist of another wall and fastening means securing said other wall to the interior side of the door. Said other wall is located on the inner face of the door, and substantially parallel to and facing said central wall of the main room located on the outer face of the door, and transversely to said deflector element, so that said other wall and said wall opposed central and said deflector element surround the door edge, which maintains said device to the door.

In this other embodiment, said antifouling seal can be secured to said other wall of the retaining means, for example fixed using fastening clips inserted by force into holes made in said other wall.

. In this other embodiment of the retaining means, said other wall of the retaining means may be an element separate from said main part or integrated into said main part, for example molded in one piece with said main part.

In particular according to the invention, said main part of said device may further comprise a wall generally transverse to the plane of the central wall, and located on the side edge of the central wall opposite to that in junction with said deflector element. By “generally transverse” is meant that said other wall is more or less at an angle relative to a plane transverse to the plane of said central wall. This other wall closes one side of the main part of the device resting on the door, and conceals the interior of said trim and sealing device.

According to a particular case of the invention, said main part of the device, in particular its central wall, is shaped as a wing widener.

The invention also relates to a trim and sealing device for an arrangement at the level of a wheel arch of a motor vehicle comprising a door with a cut-out zone opening at the level of the wheel arch, said device being capable of being fix on the door, at least in said cutout area. Said device comprises an elongated antifouling seal and an elongated main part comprising an elongated central wall having an inner face and an outer face, provided in its inner part with fixing means capable of being fixed to the outer side of the door and following the edge of the door, at least in the door cutout area opening out at the level of a wheel arch, and a deflector element consisting of a wall transverse to the plane of said central wall, located in the extension of a side edge of said central wall configured to be proximal to the wheel well, and having a width dimensioned to support said antifouling seal on its side edge opposite its joining edge with said central wall, and to mask said seal configured to be able to position itself between the side of the body and the door cut-out area opening into a wheel arch when the door is closed.

Preferably according to the invention, said antifouling seal is secured to said deflector element, and in particular by gluing, or by molding the material constituting the seal with the main part of said device made in one piece.

Advantageously according to the invention, said device comprises support means present on the inner face of said central wall, capable of coming to bear against the outer face of the door, and retaining means making said device capable of being held on the interior side of the door, so as to physically stabilize said device. In particular, said retaining means are arranged on the inner face of said central wall between said support means and said deflector element.

Said bearing means may be present discontinuously, in particular in the form of at least one row of studs, or continuously, in particular in the form of at least one continuous rib extending longitudinally to said central wall, along the inner face of said central wall of said main part.

Said retaining means may be present discontinuously, in particular in the form of a row of hooks, said row extending longitudinally to said central wall, following the inner face of said central wall of said main part, and the hooks being configured so that the hook part hooks on the inside of the door edge.

In a particular embodiment, said retaining means may be present continuously, in particular in the form of a rib hanging on the inside of the door edge.

In particular according to the invention, said main part of said device may further comprise a wall generally transverse to the plane of the central wall and located on the lateral edge of the central wall opposite to that in junction with said deflector element.

According to a particular case of the invention, said main part of the device, in particular its central wall, is shaped as a wing widener.

The invention also relates to a door of a motor vehicle, in particular a side door, having a cut-out zone making it capable of emerging at the level of a wheel arch of the vehicle, equipped in this said zone, with a trim and sealing device as described above.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the description given below of particular embodiments of the invention, given for information but not limitation, with reference to the appended drawings for which:

illustrates a motor vehicle according to a partial side view comprising a door arrangement opening out at the level of a wheel arch and a trim and sealing device according to the invention;

illustrates, according to a view in the inclined transverse section plane II-II of the vehicle of Figure 1, the arrangement of the door opening out at the level of a wheel arch and trim and sealing device of the vehicle of Figure 1 ;

illustrates the door emerging at the level of a wheel arch equipped with the trim and sealing device represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, according to a perspective view from inside the door;

illustrates, according to a view in an inclined transverse sectional plane of a motor vehicle, another embodiment of a door arrangement opening out at the level of a wheel arch with a trim and sealing device, according to invention;

illustrates an arrangement of a trim and an anti-dirt seal at the level of a wheel arch encroaching on an opening for a through door, according to the prior art.

The orientations expressed in the description of the figures are given with reference to the conventional XYZ reference of the vehicle in which X represents the longitudinal front-rear direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear, Y the transverse direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the right, and Z the vertical direction oriented towards the top of the vehicle, unless otherwise specified.

The terms “left” and “right” refer to the usual left and right sides of the vehicle respectively.

FIG. 5 illustrating a prior art has been described above in the introduction to the description.

The vehicle shown in Figure 1 comprises a body including a body side 1, according to the example the rear left side, in which is formed a wheel arch with an outer perimeter, visible, arch portion surrounding a rear wheel 4 of the vehicle, and a side opening 2, in other words a door, with a cutout area opening out at said wheel arch. Said cut-out zone of said opening thus has a shape in the form of an arch portion encroaching on the door closure on the periphery of the wheel arch, and complementary to said arch portion of the periphery of the wheel arch in the side of the body.

Said body side 1 consists of an assembly of an outer wall 10 and an inner wall 11.

Said opening side door 2 represented according to the example is a rear left side door, which comprises an interior panel 21 and an exterior panel 22, crimped together, in particular by their respective edges, forming the door edge, or the door seam , with a cutout zone 23 present in its lower rear part, in the form of an arch portion, opening into the wheel arch with the door closed.

Said trim and sealing device 3 comprises a main part, of generally elongated shape, which is fixed to the door, at least in said door cut-out area 23, and an anti-dirt seal 34 which is integral with said part. main and hidden when the door is closed.

Said device, and in particular said main part, is made of plastic. According to the example, said main part of the device is shaped as a fender flare.

More particularly according to the invention, said main part of said device comprises a central wall 30 arranged substantially parallel to the edge of the door, at least in said cutout zone, and a deflector element 35 consisting of a wall transverse to the plane of said wall central, located in the rear part of the main part, and more particularly in the extension of the side edge 300 of said central wall, proximal to the wheel arch. Said deflector element 35 hides said anti-dirt seal 34 when the door is closed.

According to the invention, said main part of the device is fixed to the outer door panel 22, in the said door cut-out zone 23 opening out at the level of the wheel arch, by a row of fixing clips 31 on the inner face of the said central wall 30, forced into said outer door panel, and following said door cutout area 23, in the form of an arch portion.

The rear of said device 3, and more particularly of the main part of said device, is indexed laterally by a row of supports 32 against the rear end of the outer door panel 22, to prevent it from flapping towards the interior against the vehicle door.

According to the example, the support means are not limited to the form of a discontinuous row of supports such as studs, present on the inside face of the central wall 30 of said main part of the device.

The support means can, according to one embodiment of the invention, be continuous and in the form of rib(s).

Furthermore, according to the example, retaining means prevent the trim and sealing device 3 from flapping outwards or being torn off. These said retaining means are presented according to the example in the form of a row of hooks 33, on the inside face of the central wall 30 of said main part of the device. Said hooks hook onto the assembly at the end of the exterior door panel 22, in the area of the door set, and more particularly in said door cut-out area 23.

These retaining means may be presented without limitation in the form of a discontinuous row of hooks or continuous.

The anti-dirt seal 34 extends substantially transversely to the wall forming the deflector 35, and along the edge of the door, at least in said cut-out zone opening into the wheel arch 23, in the form of an arch portion . Said deflector element 35 and said anti-fouling seal 34 are thus arranged so that said seal is masked by said deflector. Said seal is located on the inside of said deflector. According to the example, it is fixed along the free side edge 350 of said deflector, the edge opposite to that at the junction with the central wall of the main part of the device. Said seal is fixed by gluing with an adhesive or heat-sealed on the deflector so that it forms an integral part of said device 3. Said anti-fouling seal 34 is thus protected from projections sent by wheel 4, in particular projections of gravel thanks to said deflector 35, when the vehicle is moving.

In Figure 2, the shape of said anti-fouling seal 34 is shown according to its appearance either in solid lines when the door 2 is closed or in dotted lines when the door 2 is open. Said seal 34 rests, door closed, against a shelving of the body, on the end of the outer wall 12 of the body side 1.

Said deflector 35 also masks the edge of said door cutout zone 23 and the body side, when door 2 is closed. This allows a good perceived quality of finish, in particular better than that of known arrangements such as those presented in the prior art.

Said main part of said device further comprises another generally transverse wall 36 and arranged slightly obliquely relative to the central wall 30. This other wall 36 is located on the side edge of the central wall, opposite to that in junction with said wall forming the deflector element 35. This other wall 36 closes the main part of the device resting on the exterior face of the door, and conceals the interior of the trim device 3.

FIG. 4 represents in section at the level of a wheel arch of a motor vehicle, similar to that represented in FIG. 1, for a door with a cut-out zone configured to open out at the level of the wheel arch, according to a variant production of a trim and sealing device for an arrangement in the wheel arch.

As for the embodiment described previously, the vehicle comprises a body of which one side of the body 1', according to the example the left rear side, in which is formed the wheel arch whose periphery in the form of an arch portion surrounds a rear wheel 4' of the vehicle. It also includes a 2' rear left side door with a cut-out area opening into the wheel arch.

Said body side 1' consists of an outer wall 10' and an inner wall 11' crimped together.

Said door 2′ comprises an inner panel 21′ and an outer panel 22′, crimped together, forming the edge of the door with in particular a portion in the arch portion corresponding to the cut-out area opening into the wheel arch 23′.

A main part of the trim and sealing device 3′ is fixed mainly on the outer door panel 22, in said cut-out zone 23′ in the shape of an arch portion. As before, the main part of said device is fixed at its central wall 30' by a row of clips 31' forced into said exterior door panel, following the edge of the door, in said emerging cut-out zone 23', in shape of a portion of an arch.

Said device 3' is indexed laterally by support ribs 32' present longitudinally on the inside face of said central wall 30', coming to rest against the outside face of the door 22'.

As in the example of the previous embodiment, said main part of said trim and sealing device 3' also incorporates at its rear end, proximal to the wheel arch, a deflector element 35' formed of a wall which extends transversely to the plane of the central wall 30', in the direction of the vehicle, and further extends along the edge of the through-door cut-out zone 23', as a portion of an arch.

Unlike the embodiment described in Figure 2, said device 3 'does not include retaining hooks integrated into the central wall of the main part, but an additional part 33' for the retainer in the form of a plate which extends along the through door cutout area. This retaining plate 33' is secured to the interior panel 22' of the door, for example by fixing screws 38.

In addition, according to this non-limiting embodiment, the anti-dirt seal 34' is secured to said retaining plate 33' secured to the door of the vehicle. Said joint is for example secured by fixing clips 37 forced into said retaining plate 33'. Said anti-dirt seal 34' extends substantially transversely to deflector element 35', and at least along the edge of said emerging cutout zone 23' of the door, so as to seal the part between the door and the side of the door. body, said seal being additionally masked by the deflector 35', with the door closed. Said seal 34' is therefore protected from projections, in particular gravel, by the wheel thanks to the deflector 35'.

According to an alternative mode, not shown, the antifouling seal could also be molded with said retaining plate.

According to an alternative mode, not shown, the antifouling seal could also be fixed by gluing or heat-sealing, for example, at the end of the deflector, similarly as shown in Figures 2 or 3.

The invention has achieved its objectives by providing a hub cap and anti-dirt sealing device at the level of a wheel arch, mounted on the side opening opening at the level of the wheel arch, which incorporates its own anti-dirt sealing while protecting it stone chippings from the wheel when the vehicle is moving. The anti-dirt seal is protected from gravel projections, in particular by the deflector of said device when the door is closed, which ensures better durability and a better perception of robustness and reliability.

The trim and sealing device according to the invention also has good isostatism and better hold thanks to the support means and the retaining means in the door setting zone. The risks of flapping and bending of said device are eliminated. This implies a level of perceived quality which is good, and better than that of the arrangements of the prior art.

In addition, the masking of the seam on the side of the body and the anti-dirt sealing means (anti-dirt seal hidden by the deflector) when the vehicle door is closed, also makes it possible to have a finish with a high level of perceived quality.

Claims (10)

Motor vehicle comprising at least one side of the body (1, 1') with a wheel arch and a side door (2, 2') with a cut-out zone (23, 23') opening out at the level of the said wheel arch, the said door comprising an interior panel (21, 21') and an exterior panel (22, 22') assembled at least by their respective edges forming the edge of the door, characterized in that the said vehicle comprises a trim and sealing device (3 , 3') comprising an elongated main part fixed to the door, at least in said cutout zone (23, 23'), and an anti-dirt seal (34, 34') which is integral with said main part and concealed by a part of said main room when the door is closed. Motor vehicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said elongated main part of the said device comprises a central wall (30, 30') arranged substantially parallel to the exterior face of the door and following the edge of the door, at least in the said zone of cutout, and a deflector element (35, 35') consisting of a wall transverse to the plane of said central wall, located in the extension of the lateral edge of said central wall proximal to the wheel arch (300), said deflector element masking said joint dirt seal when the door is closed. Motor vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the said main part of the said device comprises support means (32, 32'), coming to bear against the exterior face of the said door. Motor vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said device comprises retaining means (33, 33'), which hold the said device to the interior side of the door. Motor vehicle according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the said antifouling seal (35) is secured to the said deflector element (34), and in particular by gluing, or by molding the material constituting the seal with the main part of the device made in one piece. Trim and sealing device (3) for an arrangement at the level of a wheel arch of a motor vehicle comprising a door (2) with a cut-out zone (23) emerging at the level of the wheel arch, said device being adapted to be fixed on the door, at least in said cut-out zone, and said device comprising an elongated anti-fouling seal (34) and an elongated main part comprising an elongated central wall (30) having an inner face and an exterior, provided in its interior part with fixing means (31) capable of being fixed to the exterior side of the door and following the edge of the door, at least in the area of the door cutout opening at the level of a wheel arch (23), and a deflector element (35) consisting of a wall transverse to the plane of said central wall, located in the extension of a lateral edge of said central wall (300) configured to be proximal to the wheel arch, and having a width dimensioned to support said antifouling seal (35) on its side edge (350) opposite its junction edge with said central wall, and to conceal said seal (34) configured to be able to be positioned between the side body (1) and the door cutout area opening into a wheel arch (23) when the door is closed. Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the said antifouling seal (34) is secured to the said deflector element, and in particular by gluing, or by molding the material constituting the seal with the main part of the said device made of one piece. Device according to one of Claims 6 to 7, characterized in that it comprises bearing means (32) present on the interior face of the said central wall (30), capable of coming to rest on the exterior face of the door, and retaining means (33) making said device (3) suitable for being retained on the inside of the door. Device according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the said main part of the said device may also comprise another wall (36) generally transverse to the plane of the central wall and located on the lateral edge of the central wall opposite that in junction with said deflector element. Door (2) of a motor vehicle, in particular on the side, having a cut-out zone (23) making it capable of emerging at the level of a wheel arch of the vehicle, equipped in this said zone with a trim device and seal (3) as defined in claims 6 to 9.