FR3120347A1 - FRONT BUMPER WITH SIMPLIFIED ASSEMBLY, FOR ONE VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

A front bumper (BV) equips a vehicle and comprises a grille (CV) comprising a first upper part (PS1) and a first lower part (PI1), a reinforcement part (PR) comprising a second upper part (PS2) to be secured to the first upper part (PS1) and a second lower part (PI2), and an absorption part (PA) to be secured to the first (PI1) and second (PI2) lower parts. The first (PS1) and second (PS2) upper parts comprise first positioning elements (EP1) and second positioning elements (EP2) cooperating together to position them relative to each other before their joining. The first lower part (PI1) and absorption part (PA) comprise third positioning elements (EP3) and fourth positioning elements (EP4) cooperating together to position them relatively to each other before their solidarity. Figure to be published with abstract: Fig. 1

Description

FRONT BUMPER WITH SIMPLIFIED ASSEMBLY, FOR ONE VEHICLE

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to front bumpers which are intended to be fitted to the front parts of vehicles.

State of the art

Certain vehicles, generally of the automobile type, include a front shield (or extended bumper) intended to equip their front part. Some of these front bumpers include a grille, a reinforcement part and an absorption part that must be secured together, generally by clipping, before the securing of what those skilled in the art call a bumper skin. To do this, the grille comprises a first upper part and a first lower part, the reinforcing part comprises a second upper part intended to be secured to this first upper part and a second lower part, and the absorption part is intended to be secured to these first and second lower parts.

Due to the imposing respective sizes of the grille, reinforcement part and absorption part, the joining of the latter must be carried out almost blindly by a technician on the assembly line. However, given the relatively large number of clipping elements that must cooperate together for the connections to be effective, the technician's task proves to be difficult and not very ergonomic. In addition, the larger the respective sizes of grille, reinforcement piece and absorption piece, the more difficult and less ergonomic the aforementioned task becomes.

The aim of the invention is therefore in particular to improve the situation, by facilitating the assembly by a technician of the constituents of a front bumper.

Presentation of the invention

It proposes in particular for this purpose a front bumper intended to equip a front part of a vehicle and comprising a grille comprising a first upper part and a first lower part, a reinforcing part comprising a second upper part intended to be secured to this first upper part and a second lower part, and an absorption part intended to be secured to these first and second lower parts.

This front bumper is characterized by the fact:

- that the first and second upper parts respectively comprise at least one first positioning element and at least one second positioning element cooperating together to position them relative to each other before their joining, and

- that the first lower part and absorption part respectively comprise at least one third positioning element and at least one fourth positioning element cooperating together to position them relative to each other before their joining.

Thus, the assembly by a technician of the grille, reinforcement part and absorption part is notably easier and more ergonomic, including when their respective sizes are imposing.

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

- the first and second upper parts may respectively comprise two first positioning elements and two second positioning elements cooperating together in pairs to position them relative to each other before their joining, and/or the first lower part and absorption part may respectively comprise two third positioning elements and two fourth positioning elements cooperating together in pairs to position them relative to one another before they are joined together;

- in the presence of the last option, the two first positioning elements can be spaced symmetrically by a first distance with respect to a median vertical and longitudinal plane, and the two second positioning elements can be spaced symmetrically by this first distance with respect to the median vertical and longitudinal plane, and/or the two third positioning elements can be spaced symmetrically by a second distance with respect to the median vertical and longitudinal plane, and the two fourth positioning elements can be spaced symmetrically by this second distance by relation to the median vertical and longitudinal plane;

- each first positioning element can be a first lug, and each second positioning element can be a first housing capable of receiving a corresponding first lug;

- each third positioning element can be a second lug, and each fourth positioning element can be a second housing capable of receiving a corresponding second lug;

- in the presence of at least one of the last two options, each tab can be defined in a plastic injection zone when the grille is produced by injection moulding;

- the first and second upper parts may respectively comprise first and second clipping elements adapted to cooperate together once the first (s) and second (s) positioning elements cooperate together, in order to secure them together by clipping;

- the first lower part and absorption part may respectively comprise third and fourth clipping elements capable of cooperating together once the third(s) and fourth(s) positioning elements cooperate together, in order to secure them together by clipping ;

- the second lower part and absorption part may respectively comprise fifth and sixth clipping elements capable of cooperating together once the third(s) and fourth(s) positioning elements cooperate together, in order to secure them together by clipping .

The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automotive type, and comprising a front part to which is fixedly attached a front bumper 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")), on which :

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view of the front side, an embodiment of a front bumper according to the invention, once assembled and before fitting a front part of a vehicle,

schematically illustrates, in a front view of the front side, the lower part of the front shield (assembled) of the ,

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the front bumper of the before assembly,

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, a small part of the first and second upper parts respectively of the radiator grille and reinforcement part of the , before relative positioning of the grille with respect to the reinforcement part,

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, a small part of the first lower part of the radiator grille and of the absorption part of the , before relative positioning of the calender with respect to the absorption part, and

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the front side, the first lower parts of the radiator grille and absorption part of the , after relative positioning of the calender with respect to the absorption part.

Detailed description of the invention

The object of the invention is in particular to propose a front bumper (or extended bumper) BV intended to be installed in a front part of a vehicle and whose assembly of the constituents by a technician is facilitated.

In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the front bumper BV is intended to form part of a vehicle of the automotive type, such as for example a car. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates in fact to any land or air vehicle comprising a front part which may comprise a front bumper.

There is schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 an embodiment of a front bumper (or extended bumper) BV according to the invention, respectively after and before assembly of some (CV, PR and PA) of its constituents. This BV front bumper is intended to equip a front part of a vehicle in order to participate in the front facade of the latter.

As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 3, a front bumper BV, according to the invention, comprises in particular a grille CV, a reinforcement part PR and an absorption part PA intended to be assembled and secured together.

The CV grille is the part of the BV front bumper which allows outside air to enter the engine compartment and which is observable by a person in front of the vehicle.

As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 3, the grille CV comprises a first upper part PS1 and a first lower part PI1. The first upper part PS1 comprises at least one first positioning element EP1. The first lower part PI1 comprises at least one third positioning element EP3.

The PR reinforcement piece is so called because it is intended to reinforce a bumper skin (not shown in the figures) to be fixedly secured to it and to the PA absorption piece.

As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 3, the PR reinforcement piece comprises a second upper part PS2 intended to be secured to the first upper part PS1, and a second lower part PI2 intended to be secured to the absorption part PA (and very partially visible in Figures 1 to 3, 5 and 6). The second upper part PS2 comprises at least one second positioning element EP2 which is intended to cooperate with a corresponding first positioning element EP1 (of the grille CV) to relatively position the first upper part PS1 with respect to the second upper part PS2 before their attachment (and therefore relatively position the grille CV with respect to the PR reinforcement piece before their attachment).

The PA absorption part is intended to absorb part of the shocks suffered by its front bumper BV, and part of the bumper skin must be fixedly attached to it.

As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 3, the absorption part PA is intended to be secured to the first lower part PI1 (of the grille CV) and to the second lower part PI2 (of the reinforcing part PR) . This absorption part PA comprises at least a fourth positioning element EP4 which is intended to cooperate with a corresponding third positioning element EP3 (of the first lower part PI1) to relatively position the first lower part PI1 with respect to the part of PA absorption before joining them (and therefore positioning the calender CV relatively with respect to the PA absorption part before joining them).

When assembling the front bumper BV, the technician grasps the grille CV and moves it towards the reinforcement piece PR until each first positioning element EP1 cooperates with a corresponding second positioning element EP2 (see figures 3, 4 and 1). At this stage, the grille CV finds itself positioned relatively in relation to the reinforcement piece PR in a predefined way, and therefore the technician knows that he can now easily secure them together (for example by clipping as we will see later) . Then, the technician moves the sub-assembly, consisting of the calender CV and the reinforcement piece PR secured together, towards the absorption piece PA until each third positioning element EP3 cooperates with a corresponding fourth positioning element EP4 (see figures 3, 5, 6 and 2). At this stage, the grille CV finds itself positioned relatively in relation to the absorption part PA in a predefined way, and therefore the technician knows that he can now easily secure them together (for example by clipping as we will see later ). It will be noted that when the calender CV is positioned relatively with respect to the absorption part PA in a predefined manner, the reinforcement part PR is also positioned relatively with respect to the absorption part PA in a predefined manner, and therefore the technician can also easily attach them to each other (for example by clipping as we will see later).

Thanks to the invention, the assembly of the grille CV, reinforcement part PR and absorption part PA by a technician is notably facilitated and more ergonomic, including when their respective sizes are imposing.

Preferably, and as illustrated without limitation and at least partially in FIGS. 1 and 3, the first PS1 and second PS2 upper parts respectively comprise two first positioning elements EP1 and two second positioning elements EP2 which cooperate together in pairs for the relatively position one (PS1) with respect to the other (PS2) before joining them. This makes it possible to make the relative positioning of the grille CV with respect to the reinforcement part PR even more precise. However, in a variant embodiment not shown, only one first positioning element EP1 and only one corresponding second positioning element EP2 could be provided, preferably defined in a vertical and longitudinal median plane of the vehicle. It will be understood that this median plane is defined from the vertical and longitudinal directions of the vehicle.

Also preferably, and as illustrated without limitation and at least partially in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first lower part PI1 and absorption part PA respectively comprise two third positioning elements EP3 and two fourth positioning elements EP4 which cooperate together two two to position them relatively one (PI1) relative to the other (PA) before their joining. This makes it possible to make the relative positioning of the grille CV with respect to the absorption part PA even more precise. However, in a variant embodiment not shown, only one third positioning element EP3 and only one corresponding fourth positioning element EP4 could be provided, preferably defined in the median vertical and longitudinal plane of the vehicle.

It will be understood on reading the two preceding paragraphs that it is possible to provide either two first positioning elements EP1, two second positioning elements EP2, two third positioning elements EP3 and two fourth positioning elements EP4, or two first positioning elements EP1, two second positioning elements EP2, a third positioning element EP3 and a fourth positioning element EP4, or again a first positioning element EP1, a second positioning element EP2, two third positioning elements EP3 and two fourth positioning elements EP4 positioning.

It will be noted that in the presence of two first positioning elements EP1 and two second positioning elements EP2, and as illustrated without limitation and at least partially in FIGS. 1 and 3, the two first positioning elements EP1 can be spaced symmetrically by a first distance d1 relative to the median vertical and longitudinal plane, and the two second positioning elements EP2 can be spaced symmetrically by this first distance d1 relative to the median vertical and longitudinal plane. This makes it possible to properly balance the CV grille in relation to the PR reinforcement piece before their joining.

It will also be noted that in the presence of two third positioning elements EP3 and two fourth positioning elements EP4, and as illustrated without limitation and at least partially in FIGS. 2 and 3, the two third positioning elements EP3 can be spaced symmetrically d a second distance d2 relative to the median vertical and longitudinal plane, and the two fourth positioning elements EP4 can be spaced symmetrically by this second distance d2 relative to the median vertical and longitudinal plane. This makes it possible to properly balance the CV grille in relation to the PA absorption part before their joining.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation and at least partially in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, that each first positioning element EP1 can, for example, be arranged in the form of a first leg, and each second positioning element EP2 can, for example, be arranged in the form of a first housing capable of receiving a corresponding first leg EP1. But an inverse arrangement, in which each second positioning element EP2 is a lug and each first positioning element EP1 is a housing suitable for receiving a corresponding lug EP1, can be envisaged.

Each first lug EP1 extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, from the front to the rear of the latter. In this case, each first housing EP2 is in the form of a recess defined along the longitudinal and transverse directions of the vehicle in a wall of the second upper part PS2 of the reinforcement piece PR.

It will also be noted, as illustrated without limitation and at least partially in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6, that each third positioning element EP3 can, for example, be arranged in the form of a second leg, and each fourth element positioning EP4 can, for example, be arranged in the form of a second housing suitable for receiving a corresponding second leg EP3. But an inverse arrangement, in which each fourth positioning element EP4 is a lug and each third positioning element EP3 is a housing suitable for receiving a corresponding lug EP4, can be envisaged.

Each second leg EP3 extends substantially in the vertical direction of the vehicle, from top to bottom of the latter. In this case, each second housing EP4 is in the form of a recess defined along the vertical and transverse directions of the vehicle in a wall of the absorption part PA.

For example, when the grille CV is produced by injection molding of a resistant plastic material, each tab EP1, EP3 can be defined in a plastic material injection zone. This is advantageous because the tabs are ultimately hidden by the bumper skin and therefore do not need to have a quality finish. Thus, they may include irregularities resulting from the end of the injection. But in a variant, the CV grille could be made of metal.

For example, and as mentioned above, the connections (two by two) between the grille CV, the reinforcement part PR and the absorption part PA can be done by clipping.

In this case, the first PS1 and second PS2 upper parts may respectively comprise first and second clipping elements (not shown) which are capable of cooperating together once the first(s) EP1 and second(s) EP2 positioning elements cooperate together, in order to secure them together (PS1, PS2) by clipping. For example, the first clipping elements can be clipping lugs, and the second clipping elements can be holes in which the corresponding clipping lugs are respectively clipped.

Also in the aforementioned case, the first lower part PI1 and absorption part PA may respectively comprise third and fourth clipping elements (not shown) which are capable of cooperating together once the third(s) EP3 and fourth(s) ) EP4 positioning elements cooperate together, in order to secure them together (PI1, PA) by clipping. For example, the third clipping elements can be clipping lugs, and the fourth clipping elements can be holes in which the corresponding clipping lugs are respectively clipped.

Also in the aforementioned case, the second lower part PI2 and absorption part PA may respectively comprise fifth and sixth clipping elements (not shown) which are capable of cooperating together once the third(s) EP3 and fourth(s) ) EP4 positioning elements cooperate together, in order to secure them together (PI2, PA) by clipping. For example, the fifth clipping elements can be clipping lugs, and the sixth clipping elements can be holes in which the corresponding clipping lugs are respectively clipped.

It will also be noted that the reinforcement part PR and/or the absorption part PA can, for example, be produced by injection molding of a resistant plastic material. But in a variant, at least one of the reinforcement part PR and absorption part PA could be made of metal.

Claims (10)

Front bumper (BV) adapted to equip a front part of a vehicle, and comprising a grille (CV) comprising a first upper part (PS1) and a first lower part (PI1), a reinforcing part (PR) comprising a second upper part (PS2) intended to be secured to said first upper part (PS1) and a second lower part (PI2), and an absorption part (PA) intended to be secured to said first (PI1) and second (PI2) parts lower parts, characterized in that said first (PS1) and second (PS2) upper parts respectively comprise at least one first positioning element (EP1) and at least one second positioning element (EP2) cooperating together to position them relatively to one (PS1) with respect to the other (PS2) before joining them together, and in that said first lower part (PI1) and absorption part (PA) respectively comprise at least one third positioning element (EP3) and at least one at least a fourth positioning element (EP4) cooperating together to position them relatively to one (PI1) with respect to the other (PA) before their joining. Front bumper according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said first (PS1) and second (PS2) upper parts respectively comprise two first positioning elements (EP1) and two second positioning elements (EP2) cooperating together two by two to position them relatively to one (PS1) with respect to the other (PS2) before their joining, and/or said first lower part (PI1) and absorption part (PA) respectively comprise two third positioning elements (EP3) and two fourth positioning elements (EP4) cooperating together in pairs to position them relatively to one (PI1) with respect to the other (PA) before their joining. Front bumper according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said two first positioning elements (EP1) are spaced symmetrically by a first distance with respect to a median vertical and longitudinal plane, and the said two second positioning elements (EP2) are spaced symmetrically by said first distance with respect to said median vertical and longitudinal plane, and/or said two third positioning elements (EP3) are spaced symmetrically by a second distance with respect to said median vertical and longitudinal plane, and said two fourth positioning elements (EP4) are spaced symmetrically by said second distance from said median vertical and longitudinal plane. Front bumper according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each first positioning element (EP1) is a first lug, and each second positioning element (EP2) is a first housing capable of receiving a first lug (EP1 ) corresponding. Front bumper according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each third positioning element (EP3) is a second lug, and each fourth positioning element (EP4) is a second housing capable of receiving a second lug (EP3 ) corresponding. Front bumper according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that each lug (EP1, EP3) is defined in a plastic material injection zone when the said grille (CV) is produced by injection moulding. Front bumper according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the said first (PS1) and second (PS2) upper parts respectively comprise first and second clipping elements capable of cooperating together once the said first(s) ( EP1) and second(s) (EP2) positioning elements cooperate together, in order to secure them together (PS1, PS2) by clipping. Front bumper according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said first lower part (PI1) and absorption piece (PA) respectively comprise third and fourth clipping elements capable of cooperating together once said third ( s) (EP3) and fourth (s) (EP4) positioning elements cooperate together, in order to secure them together (PI1, PA) by clipping. Front bumper according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said second lower part (PI2) and absorption piece (PA) respectively comprise fifth and sixth clipping elements capable of cooperating together once said third ( s) (EP3) and fourth (s) (EP4) positioning elements cooperate together, in order to secure them together (PI2, PA) by clipping. Vehicle comprising a front part, characterized in that it comprises a front bumper (BV) according to one of the preceding claims, fixedly secured to the said front part.