FR3104632A1 - PROVISIONAL CLOSING DEVICE OF AN ELEMENT OPENING ON A SUPPORT ELEMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the temporary closure (1) of an opening element on a support element comprising a first bore, said device (1) comprising a fixing plate (2) and a stop body (3) comprising locking means (31, 32) of the opening element, the fixing plate (2) comprising a first hooking member (21) intended to be engaged in the first bore of the support element. According to the invention, the first attachment member (21) comprises: - a fixed element (23); - a latch (24) movable relative to the fixed element (23) between: - a locked position in which the latch (24) is aligned with the fixed element (23) so as to form a block whose section is complementary to the section of the first bore (41) of the support element (4), - an unlocked position in which the lock (24) is offset with respect to the fixed element (23). Figure for abstract: 1

Description

PROVISIONAL CLOSING DEVICE OF AN ELEMENT OPENING ON A SUPPORT ELEMENT

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for temporarily closing an element opening onto a support element.

The invention relates more particularly to a device for temporarily closing a door or a movable element of a motor vehicle, for example a tailgate or a hood, on the body of said vehicle.

Technical background

As is known, in the automotive field, the four main stages of manufacturing a vehicle consist of stamping, assembly of the sheet metal, application of paint and final assembly.

During the application of the paint, tools, intended to hold the doors in position during the painting process, are installed on the vehicle chassis, then are removed after painting. Among these tools, temporary vehicle door closers are mounted on the frame to hold the doors in position and prevent them from opening during paint application. These devices can be fitted during the sheet metal assembly stage or at the start of the paint application stage.

In general, the existing temporary closure devices include a fixing plate intended to be fixed on a support element and a body attached to the fixing plate and forming a stop capable of serving as a support for the opening element. In the example of a vehicle door, the supporting member is the chassis frame and the opening member is the vehicle door. In this case, the temporary locking device is placed at the level where the strike plate of the lock installed later during assembly in the assembly workshop will be.

In order to be able to be fixed to the vehicle frame, the mounting plate can be provided with bores which are aligned with the fixing holes of the lock striker. In this way, the mounting plate can be screwed to the vehicle frame by means of screws inserted into the bores of said plate.

Therefore, the assembly and disassembly of such a temporary closure device require a screwing step, which requires labor time and results in time and a significant cost of assembly for each vehicle.

The invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a device for temporarily closing an element opening onto a support element, the assembly and disassembly of which are quick, simple and economical.

The invention provides a device for temporarily closing an element opening onto a support element according to claim 1.

The proposed closure device overcomes the problem posed by the devices of the state of the art. In particular, the closure device as proposed allows easy and quick assembly and disassembly thanks to a movable lock comprising a stop member. Indeed, it is possible to act on the lock so that it changes position, for example from the unlocked position to the locked position, so that the stop member of the lock and the first hooking member completely fill a first one. bore and thus blocks any degree of mobility of the mounting plate. Conversely, the lock can be acted on so that it passes to an unlocked position and thus frees the first catch member thanks to the space available in the first bore.

Furthermore, the proposed closure device does not require an additional step or additional tool for its assembly and disassembly, which makes it possible to reduce the cost of installing the closure device on the support member.

Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which reference is made to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view and a front view of a device for temporarily closing an element opening onto a support element, produced according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 is another perspective view of the closure device of Figure 1 showing a mounting plate forming part of said device; said fixing plate comprises a lock in the locked position;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view and a side view of the device of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is the same view as Figure 2 with the lock of the mounting plate in the unlocked position;

- Figure 5 is the same view as Figure 3 with the lock of the mounting plate in the unlocked position;

- Figure 6 is a bottom view of the fixing plate showing a first hooking member, a latch stop member and a second hooking member;

- Figure 7 is a detailed view of Figure 6 showing the first hooking member and the stop member of the lock;

- Figure 8 is side view of the first hooking member and the stop member of the lock;

- Figure 9 is the same view as Figure 6 showing the second attachment member;

- Figure 10 is a side view of a provisional closure device according to a second embodiment, said device being equipped with a variant of the lock in the locked position;

- Figure 11 is a detailed view of Figure 10 mainly showing the lock;

- Figure 12 is the same view as Figure 10 with the lock in the unlocked position;

- Figure 13 is a detailed view of Figure 12 mainly showing the lock;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the closing device of FIG. 1 and of the opening element during a first step of closing the opening element on the support element;

FIG. 15 is the same view as FIG. 14 showing a second step in the closing of the opening element on the support element;

FIG. 16 is the same view as FIG. 14 showing a third and final step in the closing of the opening element on the support element;

- Figure 17 is the same view as Figure 14 showing a first step in the opening of the opening element;

- Figure 18 is a front view of the temporary closure device during the opening of the opening element;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the temporary closure device and of the support element during the start of a first step of mounting said device on said support element;

- Figure 20 is a perspective view showing an inner face of the support element and part of the temporary closure device after the first assembly step;

- Figure 21 is the same view as Figure 19 showing a second step of mounting the temporary closure device on the support member;

- Figure 22 is the same view as Figure 20 showing the position of the temporary closure device relative to the support element after the second assembly step;

- Figure 23 is the same view as Figure 19 showing a third step of mounting the temporary closure device on the support member;

- Figure 24 is the same view as Figure 20 showing the position of the temporary closure device relative to the support element after the third assembly step;

- Figure 25 is the same view as Figure 19 showing the start of a first step of dismantling the temporary closure device.

- Figure 26 is a perspective view of the opening element in the closed position and of the temporary closing device.

Detailed description of the invention

In Figure 1, there is shown a provisional closure device 1 of an opening element 5 on a support element 4. In this exemplary embodiment, the provisional closing device 1 is made of one-piece molded plastic material while the opening element 5 is a door of a motor vehicle and that the support element 4 is a frame of the chassis of the vehicle.

The opening element 5 is shown for example in Figures 14 to 17 and in Figure 26. As shown in these figures, the opening element 5 comprises an opening 51 for the lock passage.

The support element 4 is shown for example in Figures 10, 11, 19 to 25. As illustrated in these figures, the support element 4 is composed of a wall 40 having an outer face 45 visible from the outside. and an inner face 46 opposite to the outer face 45.

The support member 4 further comprises fixing bores 41 to 44 passing through and arranged in pairs. The first pair of fixing bores comprises the first bore 41 and the second bore 42 aligned in an opening and closing direction F of the opening element 5. The second pair of fixing bores comprises the third bore 43 and the fourth bore 44 aligned in a direction perpendicular to the direction F. These bores are used to fix a part of the lock, in particular the part comprising the keeper, to the support element 4.

For the description of the invention and the understanding of the claims, the vertical, longitudinal and transverse orientations will be adopted without limitation and without limiting reference to the earth's gravity according to the reference mark V, L, T indicated in the figures, the longitudinal axes of which L and transverse T extend in a horizontal plane.

By convention, the longitudinal axis L is oriented from the right to the left of FIG. 1 and parallel to the opening and closing direction F. In addition, the vertical axis V is oriented from the bottom to the top of the figure 1.

In the example illustrated, the temporary closure device 1 comprises a fixing plate 2 and a stop body 3. As its name suggests, the fixing plate 2 secures the device 1 on the support element 4 by means of a first hooking member 21 and a second hooking member 22. In this example, the first hooking member 21 is intended to be engaged in the first bore 41 of the support element 4 while the second hooking member 22 is intended to be engaged in the second bore 42 of the support element. In another example, in particular when the temporary closure device 1 is used for the opposite door of the vehicle, the first bore 41 and the second bore 42 are arranged symmetrically on the support element 4 with respect to the opposite door. Element 240 is located at the top or at the bottom depending on the door considered. Thus, the same temporary closing device 1 is compatible with all the doors of the vehicle regardless of the side on which they are located.

The fixing plate 2 further comprises a base 25 intended to rest on the outer face 45 of the support element 4 when the temporary closure device 1 is mounted on said support element 4.

The mounting plate 2 also includes a lock 24 movable relative to the first attachment member 21 between a locked rest position and an unlocked constrained position.

Figures 2 to 5 are diagrams in different views of the temporary closure device in order to show in more detail the first fastening member 21 and the latch 24 as well as its different positions.

In these figures, the first attachment member 21 has the shape of a hook.

As for the latch 24, this takes the form of a tongue extending perpendicularly to the direction of opening and closing F. The latch 24 is elastically articulated with respect to the base 25 about an axis of rotation I parallel to the direction of opening and closing F. Here, the elastic hinge of the latch 24 is formed by a hinge connecting the latch 24 to the base 25, the axis of the hinge forming the axis of rotation I The hinge is an elastic spring hinge.

Thus, thanks to this hinge, the latch 24 is movable between a locked rest position as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 and an unlocked constrained position as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The locked rest position is referred to hereinafter as the rest position while the forced unlocked position is hereinafter referred to as the unlocked position.

In the locked position, the stop member 240 of the latch 24 is backed against the first hooking member 21 so as to form a block 26, the cross section of which is complementary to the shape of the first bore 41, which here has a shape rectangular.

In this way, when the block 26 composed of the first hooking member 21 and the stop member 240 is located in the first bore 41, the fixing plate 2, and therefore the temporary closure device 1, is immobilized by in relation to the support element 4. In other words, the engagement of this block 26 in the first bore 41 eliminates any degree of mobility of the temporary closure device 1. Such an engagement can also be observed in FIG. 6. and in figure 7.

Specifically, in these Figures 6 and 7, we see that the side face 241 of the stop member 240 and the side face 231 of the first hooking member 21 bear against a side edge 411 of the first bore 41. This support by both sides therefore makes it possible to block any transverse displacement of the device 1 relative to the support element 4. Here, the side faces 231, 241 as well as the lateral edge 411 are the elements oriented perpendicular to the transverse axis T.

In addition, the stop member 240 comprises an axial face bearing against a first axial edge of the first bore 41. The first hooking member 21 also comprises an axial face bearing against a second axial edge opposite the first axial edge of the first bore 41.

This makes it possible to block any axial movement of the device 1 relative to the support element 4. Here, the axial faces and the axial edges are the elements oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L.

As a result, the latch 24 in the locked position blocks the fixed element 23 and prevents it from coming out.

In Figures 4 and 5, the latch 24 is in an unlocked position in which the stop member 240 is offset upwards with respect to the fixed element 23 and is therefore no longer aligned with the fixed element 23. In the absence of the stop member 240 in the first bore 41, the fixed element 23 is free to move, which makes the temporary closure device 1 axially movable with respect to the support element 4.

In the example illustrated, the latch 24 in the form of a tab includes a gripping portion 246 allowing easy gripping of the tab to change the position of the latch 24.

Furthermore, another feature of the lock 24 lies in the shape of the stop member 240. Indeed, as can be observed in Figures 6 to 8, the stop member 240 comprises a lower face 245 inclined relative in the horizontal plane so as to form an inclined ramp. Here, in this document, the terms “lower” and “upper” are defined with respect to the vertical axis V. The more one moves away from the axis of rotation I, the more the inclination of the lower face 245 is important. .

In this way, when mounting the closure device 1 on the support element 4, the part of the lower face 245 which will first come into contact with the support element 4 will be the part furthest from the axis. of rotation I. This makes it possible to form a large lever arm to easily rotate the latch 24.

Furthermore, when the temporary closure device 1 is removed from the support element 4, following the lifting of the latch 24 upwards, the lower face 245 will be positioned parallel to the support element 4, which will facilitate the removal. lock 24 out of the first bore 41.

Of course, the inclination can be practiced on another face of the stop member 240.

FIG. 9 illustrates the positioning of the second hooking member 22 once the provisional closure device 1 is definitively placed on the support element 4. The second hooking member 22 has the shape of a hook and comprises a heel 221 and a nose 222.

As observed in Figure 9, the second hooking member 22 is engaged in the second bore 42 with the heel 221 and the nose 222 which are located below the inner face 46 of the wall 40, which also allows immobilize the temporary closing device 1.

In Figures 10 to 13, there is shown a temporary closure device 100 according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The temporary closure device 100 is identical to the temporary closure device 1 of the first example. The temporary closure device 100 comprises a latch 250, the shape of which is slightly different from that of the first example. The lock 250 comprises a lug 251 which is inserted in a slide 260 made on the fixing plate 25.

Thus, the travel of the lock is guided by the sliding of the lug 251 in the slideway 260. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, when the latch is in the locked position, the lug 251 is in abutment against a lower end. 261 of the slideway 260. According to Figures 12 and 13, when the lock is in the unlocked position, the lug 251 is in abutment against a top end 261 of the slide 260.

As for the stop body 3, this comprises a stop nose 31 which rests on a bottom 510 of the opening 51 for the lock passage of the opening element 5 when the opening element 5 is in a position of. closure as shown in figure 16.

In the other figures, in particular in Figures 1, 2, 4, 14 to 18, the stop body 3 further comprises a flexible tab 32 having the function of holding the opening element 5 to prevent any untimely opening of the opening element 5.

The stop nose 31 and the flexible tab 32 constitute locking means for the opening element 5.

Figures 14 to 16 illustrate the behavior of the stop body 3 when closing the opening element 5 on the support element 4, while Figures 17 and 18 illustrate the behavior of the stop body during opening of the opening element 3.

Figure 14 shows the first step of closing the opening element 5 on the support element 4. During this first step, the opening element 5 approaches the support element 4 following the direction of opening and closing F. Thus, the opening element gradually approaches the flexible tab 32 until it comes into contact with the latter.

The contact between the opening element 5 and the flexible tab 32 marks the start of the second stage of the closure. Here, contact is made at an edge of the lock passage opening 51 with a nose 321 of the flexible tab 32. The nose 321 is located at a free end of the flexible tab 32 on a front face 323. .

According to the invention and as in this example, the flexible tab 32 is mounted to be movable in rotation with respect to the stop body 3. The rotational movement of the flexible tab 32 is provided by a resilient spring-effect hinge 322 of axis K Thus, the axis K of the hinge 322 forms the axis of rotation of the flexible tab. In order to better guide the travel of the flexible tab 32, the latter comprises a pin 323 engaged in a slide 33 formed on the stop body 3. The pin 323 and the slide 33 are visible for example in Figures 3 and 5.

Thus, thanks to the elastic hinge 322 and the pin 323 in the slide 33, during contact between the opening element 5 and the flexible tab 32, the latter is articulated around the axis of rotation K and its movement is guided by the slide 33 so that the flexible tab 32 moves downwards to pass the opening element. Furthermore, given that the movement of the flexible tab 32 is facilitated by the guiding of the pin in the slide 33, the flexible tab 32 has low resistance to the opening element 5, which makes it possible to reduce the friction between these two. elements compared to existing solutions.

Once the opening element 5 passes the flexible tab 32, the latter returns to its initial position thanks to the elastic hinge 33, which prevents the return of the opening element 5, and therefore its closing.

In figure 16, the opening element 5 is in a fully closed position in which the edge 510 is in contact with the stop nose 31 of the stop body 3. In this position, there is a small operating clearance between the flexible tab 32 and the opening element 5. The stiffness of the flexible tab makes it possible to retain the opening element 5.

According to Figures 17 and 18, during opening, the opening element 5 is moved in a direction opposite to the direction of closing until it is again in contact with the flexible tab 32 at the rear face 324, opposite to the front face 323. Since the flexible tab 32 can be elastically deformed, it suffices to apply a suitable force, generally between 30N and 60N, to bend the flexible tab 32 which tilts forward according to the arrow P illustrated in Figure 18 to release the opening element.

We will now describe the method of mounting the temporary closure device 1 on the support member 4 in support of Figures 19 to 24.

Figures 19 and 20 illustrate the first step of the assembly process during which the second hooking member 22 is inserted into the second bore 42. At the end of this first step, the second hooking member 22 is positioned relative to to the support element 4 so that the nose 222 of said member is below the inner face 46 of the support element 4.

Then, the second step of the mounting method consists in tilting the device 1 according to the arrow B illustrated in FIG. 21 and in a counterclockwise direction to insert the first hooking member 21 into the first bore 41. At the end of the second step, the first hooking member 21 is located behind the inner face 46, just like the second hooking member 22. It should also be noted that at the end of the second step, the latch 24 is in the unlocked position due to the support of the stop member 240 against the outer face 45 of the support element 4.

Then, during the third step of the assembly process, the temporary closure device 1 is pushed back slightly towards the interior of the vehicle, here according to the arrow C illustrated in FIG. 23, so that the stop member 240 is opposite. of the first bore 41. Thanks to the elastic hinge connecting the latch 24 to the plate 2, the latch 24 returns to its initial position and therefore to the locked position. In other words, the stop member is automatically placed in a locking position of the first catch member 21 by the spring effect of the latch 24 provided by the elastic hinge.

At the same time, by pushing the device 1 towards the interior of the vehicle, the heel 221 of the second attachment member is caused to remain below the interior face 46 of the support element 4.

Therefore, as described above and illustrated in Figure 24, once the latch 24 is in the locked position, the temporary closure device 1 is fixedly attached to the support member 4.

As shown in FIG. 25, for the dismantling of the temporary closure device 1, it suffices to manually raise the latch 24 carrying the stop member 240 by manipulating the gripping part 246 and at the same time moving the device 1 towards it. 'Outside the vehicle in the direction indicated by arrow D. The stop member 240 being released from the first bore 41, the device 1 is free to be moved so as to bring out the first and second hooking members.

Thus, the method of mounting and removing the temporary closure device 1 does not require any additional tool. They can be done quickly and easily by the operator working on the assembly or painting line.

Claims (1)

Temporary closure device (1; 100) of an opening element (5) on a support element (4), the support element (4) comprises a wall (40), and a first bore (41) passing through said wall (40), said device (1; 100) comprising a fixing plate (2) and a stop body (3) comprising locking means (31, 32) of the opening element (5), the fixing (2) comprising:
- a base (25) intended to rest on the outer face (45) of the support element (4); and
-a first hooking member (21) fixed to the fixing plate (2) and intended to be engaged in the first bore (41) of the support element (4);
the temporary closure device (1) being characterized in that it comprises a lock (24) comprising a locking member (240) and movable relative to the first hooking member (21) between:
- a locked position in which the locking member (240) is aligned with the first hooking member (21) so as to form a block whose section is complementary to the section of the first bore (41) of the element support (4), and
- An unlocked position in which the locking member (240) is offset from the first hooking element (21).