FR3140331A1 - SHUTTER FOR INTERIOR TRIM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A SHUTTER - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a shutter (1) for interior trim of a motor vehicle, said interior trim comprising a cavity and a fixing interface, said shutter (1) being configured to cooperate with the fixing interface and close, in the mounted position, said cavity, said shutter (1) comprising: - a keying member (5) configured to cooperate with the interior trim; - a retaining system (7) configured to be mounted, via the fixing interface, in a captive manner on said interior trim. Abstract figure: [Fig. 3]

Description

SHUTTER FOR INTERIOR TRIM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A SHUTTER

The present invention relates to the field of passenger compartment linings (or interior trims) of motor vehicles, and more particularly to devices for closing openings provided in passenger compartment linings of motor vehicles. Thus, the invention relates to a shutter for an interior trim of a motor vehicle, for example a quarter panel trim.

In the state of the art, we know of passenger compartment linings of motor vehicles intended to cover the interior face of the bodywork of a motor vehicle, for example at the level of the rear quarter area of the side panel of the passenger compartment .

Such a side panel comprises a fixing device (such as a screw, a nut, etc.), the fixing device allowing in particular the fixing on said side panel of a rear side airbag, also called a side airbag ( for example rear). An opening or cavity is provided in the passenger compartment trim to provide access to a housing in which the fixing device is placed. However, to hide the fixing device fixed to the side panel, the opening (or cavity) made in the passenger compartment trim is known to be closed by a shutter allowing access to said fixing device.

These openings made in the interior trim are generally arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, therefore to the right and left of the vehicle, and can be located at the front and/or at the rear as well. of the vehicle. In addition, the symmetrical openings in the interior trim mean that the shutters will not be identical.

In fact, the shutters are configured to be mounted on one side or the other of the cabin trim. We can therefore consider that the apertures and the shutters have equivalent structures and conformations, but can be considered as "symmetrical" with respect to each other, that is to say that the aperture and the shutter have a structure and/or conformation which is the mirror image between the openings and shutters located respectively on each side of the vehicle.

Thus, on a vehicle production line, it is necessary to have two types of shutters, one dedicated for each side of the vehicle. Unfortunately, it can happen that the openings or cavities in the passenger compartment trim are closed with the wrong type of shutter, requiring rework to be carried out at the end of the line. This type of retouching is of course not acceptable, as it is time-consuming and expensive.

The other possible solution is to make the openings and the dedicated shutters identical to avoid any assembly errors, but this limits the customizations of said shutters, and therefore drastically reduces the freedom of style provided by the individualization of the shutters which are visible parts of the user and therefore also serve as an ornament for the vehicle interior.

The present invention thus proposes to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of shutter for interior trim of a motor vehicle, said interior trim having a cavity and a fixing interface, said shutter being configured to cooperate with the fixing interface and close, in the mounted position, said cavity,
said shutter comprising:
- a keying member configured to cooperate with the interior trim;
- a retaining system configured to be mounted, via the fixing interface, in a captive manner on said interior trim.

The coding device thus makes it possible to avoid positioning the wrong shutter on an interior trim.
In addition, the retaining system intended to be mounted captively on an interior trim makes it possible to connect said shutter to the appropriate interior trim cavity, without the shutter being in the mounted position on the cavity, that is to say so as to close said cavity.
In addition, the retaining system is advantageously arranged to cooperate with the existing fixing interface of the lining, thus avoiding the addition of an additional structure dedicated to the level of the lining to cooperate with said retaining system.
The retaining system makes it possible in particular to associate the shutter with the associated cavity, for example upstream of the vehicle manufacturing line, at the subcontractor manufacturing interior trim.
Thus, the interior trim of the vehicle can be delivered with shutters mounted in a captive manner on the appropriate cavities of the interior trim, leaving operators free to carry out additional assembly (or other) operations, and to close the cavity at the appropriate time. with the appropriate shutter.

This has the particular effect of avoiding the logistical management of a stock of shutters during the assembly of the interior trim of motor vehicles, thus reducing logistical costs and the risk of assembly errors.
It should also be noted that the retaining system mounted in a captive manner can also act as an anti-ejection device, that is to say prevent ejection of the shutter out of its cavity (and therefore of the interior lining) during of a collision.

According to a possible characteristic, said retaining system configured to be mounted in a captive manner has at least two mounting positions, a first position where the retaining system cooperates with the fixing interface without said shutter closing the cavity, and a second position where the retaining system cooperates with the fixing interface and the shutter closes said cavity.

According to a possible characteristic, said keying member is configured to cooperate with the fixing interface of the cavity.
Advantageously, said coding member cooperates with the fixing interface intended to cooperate with the shutter, thus avoiding adding and/or arranging an additional structure dedicated to cooperating with said coding member.

According to another possible characteristic, said shutter comprises a fixing system configured, on the one hand, to cooperate with the fixing interface and, on the other hand, to fix said shutter to said interior trim.
Said shutter fixing system comprises for example a plurality of fixing means, such as screws, clips, nuts, etc. configured to cooperate with complementary means of the fixing interface, for example openings.

According to another possible characteristic, said shutter comprises a projecting element on which the keying member and the retaining system are located. Advantageously, the keying member and the retaining system are located on the same structure, thus limiting the adjustments and modifications to be made at the level of the interior trim, in particular at the level of the fixing interface.

According to another possible characteristic, said projecting element is connected to said shutter fixing system.
Advantageously, the projecting element, on which the keying member and the retaining system are located, is connected or connected to the shutter fixing system, for example to a fixing means of said system intended to cooperate with a complementary means of said fixing interface.

According to another possible characteristic, said retaining system comprises at least two retaining projections configured, on the one hand, to insert into an opening of the fixing interface and, on the other hand, to act as retaining stops when removing the shutter from said cavity (in particular when removing the retaining system from the fixing interface).

According to another possible characteristic, the retaining system (and the projecting element) has substantially the shape of a harpoon.

According to another possible characteristic, said keying member is configured so that cooperation with the fixing interface of the interior trim is exercised before the retention system cooperates with the fixing interface of the interior trim.

According to another possible characteristic, said fixing system (of the shutter) cooperates with the fixing interface (of the interior trim), after the retaining system is cooperated with the fixing interface of the interior trim.

According to another possible characteristic, said shutter is one-piece (or unitary).
Advantageously, said shutter is in one piece, for example made of plastic material, in order to reduce its manufacturing cost and/or improve its mechanical strength.

According to another possible characteristic, said projecting element, as well as the keying member and the retaining system are a one-piece (or unitary) structure, for example made of plastic material.
The fact that the projecting element is a one-piece element makes it possible to avoid having to make a connection or weld between the different components or structures of said element, thus reducing manufacturing costs and reducing the risk of making a poor connection. quality.

The invention also relates to an arrangement intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises:
- a shutter as defined above;
- an interior trim of a motor vehicle comprising a cavity and a fixing interface configured to cooperate with said shutter, so that the shutter closes, in the mounted position, said cavity.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, for example thermal, electric or hybrid, which comprises an arrangement as defined above.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, for example thermal, electric or hybrid, comprising a shutter which comprises all or part of the characteristics set out above.

The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given solely for illustrative purposes and not restrictive, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
- There illustrates a schematic, partial view of an interior trim of a motor vehicle;
- there is a schematic and enlarged view of the interior trim of the on which a shutter according to the invention is mounted;
- there is a schematic, perspective, and side view of a shutter of the ;
- there is a schematic, perspective and bottom view of the shutter of the ;
- there is a schematic, perspective, partial and enlarged view of the shutter of the ;
- there illustrates, by means of two very schematic views, the operation of a system for retaining the shutter of the .

In the following description, the term “include” is synonymous with “include” and is not restrictive in that it authorizes the presence of other elements in the vehicle, or the structure to which it relates. It is understood that the term “understand” includes the terms “consist of”. Likewise, the terms “lower”, “upper”, “front”, “rear”, “longitudinal” and “transverse” will be understood in relation to the general orientation of the motor vehicle, whether hybrid or electric. .

The term “lower” will designate a greater proximity to the ground than “higher” along the vertical axis. Furthermore, it should be noted that in the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

In this application, it will be noted that “substantially parallel” means a direction deviating by at most 20°, or even by at most 10° or at most 5° from a parallel direction. It should also be noted that “substantially orthogonal” means a direction deviating by at most 20°, or even by at most 10° or by at most 5°, from an angle with a value of 100°. .

THE [ ] And thus illustrate schematic views of a part of the passenger compartment H of a motor vehicle, more particularly of an interior trim Ga covering the interior face of the bodywork of the vehicle, respectively without and with a shutter 1 according to the invention mounted on said interior trim Ga.
It will be noted that by vehicle interior trim Ga, we mean all the parts or panels, for example made of plastic with or without textile covering, covering or dressing the interior face of the body of the vehicle, and thus dressing the passenger compartment. H of the vehicle.

The interior trim Ga is for example a quarter panel trim of the vehicle, and has a cavity C which comprises:
- a fixing device V (generally placed at the bottom of the cavity C), such as a screw, etc. which makes it possible to secure the interior trim Ga to the body of the vehicle;
- a fixing interface IF configured to cooperate with a shutter 1 so that the shutter 1 can close the cavity C.

In an embodiment not shown, the fixing interface IF is arranged around the cavity C, the shutter 1 then being configured to cover said interface IF when it is mounted on the interior lining Ga and closes said cavity C.

There illustrates, for its part, a schematic, perspective and side view of the shutter 1 according to the invention, shutter 1 intended to be mounted on an interior trim Ga of a motor vehicle.

Said shutter 1 is therefore configured to cooperate with the fixing interface IF and close the cavity C provided in the interior lining Ga, thus hiding the fixing device V (generally a screw, a nut, etc.).

Advantageously, said shutter 1 comprises:
- a main body 3 which comprises two opposite faces 3a and 3b, a first face 3a, called "appearance face" configured to close the cavity C of said gasket Ga, and a second face 3b, called "technical face", intended to be facing the fixing device V of the interior Ga trim;
- a keying member 5 intended to cooperate with the fixing interface IF arranged in the cavity C of said gasket Ga;
- a retaining system 7 configured to be mounted in a captive manner on said interior trim Ga, in particular via said fixing interface IF.

The main body 3 of said shutter 1 has substantially the shape of a plate, the main faces of said plate being substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the plate, and corresponding respectively to the first and second faces 3a and 3b. It will also be noted that in the mounted position of the shutter 1, only the aspect face 3a is visible to the user located in the passenger compartment H of the motor vehicle.

The shutter 1 further comprises a fixing system 9 configured to cooperate with the fixing interface IF arranged in the cavity C of the gasket Ga.

Said fixing system 9 comprises for example a plurality of fixing means 10, such as clips, configured to cooperate with complementary means of the fixing interface IF, such as openings Op arranged in walls of the interface IF (openings more particularly visible at the ).

The fixing means, or clips 10, are advantageously located or arranged on the second face 3b of said main body 3, so that said fixing means 10 are no longer visible once the shutter 1 is mounted on the interior trim Ga (the fixing interface IF and the fixing device V then being hidden by the aspect face 3b of the shutter 1).

In addition, each of the clips 10 of the fixing system 9 is advantageously a protuberance, extending away from the second face 3b, configured to snap into one of said openings Op of the fixing interface IF of the cavity C.

Furthermore, as more particularly visible at the And , said shutter 1 comprises a projecting element 11 (or “connecting element”) on which the keying member 5 and the retaining system 7 are arranged or arranged. In addition, the projecting element 10 is advantageously located on one of the fixing means, here a clip 10 (for example in the extension of said clip 10).

The projection element 11 advantageously has an elongated shape, and thus comprises two opposite longitudinal ends 11a and 11b. The first longitudinal end 11a of said element 11 is connected to a clip 10 of the fixing system 9, for example at the upper part of said clip 10. While the second longitudinal end 11b (free end) of said projecting element 11 carries the the coding member 5 and the retaining system 7. Advantageously, the coding member 5 and the retaining system 7 are arranged or shaped on the element 11, in particular at its second end 11b.

The projecting element 11 extends away from the main body 3 of the shutter 1, and advantageously extends in a plane substantially parallel to the main extension plane of said main body 3.

The keying member 5, more particularly visible at [ ], is for example a rib 5a whose shape and/or section are shaped to cooperate with the opening Op of the fixing interface IF.
It will be noted that the keying function of said member 5 is achieved by a cooperation of shapes between the member 5 and the opening Op, in particular by the cooperation of the section of the opening Op with the cross section of the member 5. This cooperation makes it possible to obtain reliable coding and to limit errors during the positioning and/or mounting of a shutter 1 on an interior lining Ga.

As more particularly visible at the , the retaining system 7 comprises at least projections 7a, for example fins, configured to be inserted into the opening Op of the fixing interface IF of said cavity C. Said projections 7a are located on the element 11, for example example on either side of the longitudinal axis of said element 11. In addition, the projections 7a extend, on the one hand, away from said element 11 and, on the other hand, in the direction of the first end 11a (therefore towards the main body 3 or the clip 10).

Advantageously, each of the projections 7a, in particular their directions of extension, makes (or forms) an angle less than 70°, and preferably less than 50°, with the longitudinal axis of said element 11.
Thus, the retaining system 7 arranged on the element 11 has for example substantially the shape of a harpoon with two teeth.

There illustrates, by means of two very schematic views, the operation of the retaining system 7, and more particularly the operating kinematics of the element 11 and the projections or fins 7a.

The fins 7a are therefore configured to deform during insertion In of the retaining system 7 (and therefore of the free end 11a of the element 11) in the opening Op of the fixing interface IF, for example by contact with the edges of the opening Op, then to return to their initial positions after crossing said opening Op.
However, during removal Re of the retaining system 7 (and therefore of the element 11) from the opening Op, the fins 7a come into contact with the edges of the opening Op (in particular the wall in which the opening is arranged Op) and are configured to act as retaining stops when removing the shutter 1 from said cavity C. This configuration of the retaining system 7 thus makes it possible to mount, via the fixing interface IF, of in a captive manner said shutter 1 on an interior trim Ga.

It will also be noted that if the element 11 is sufficiently long, then said retaining system 7 mounted in a captive manner can have at least two mounting positions:
- a first position where the retaining system 7 cooperates with the fixing interface IF without said shutter 1 closing the cavity C, therefore leaving the fixing device V, located at the bottom of the cavity C, accessible and/or visible;
- a second position where the retaining system 7 cooperates with the fixing interface IF and where the shutter 1 closes said cavity C (thus hiding the fixing device V).
Furthermore, the element 11 must have a length which does not interfere with the assembly of the shutter 1 and/or the operations carried out by the operators during the assembly of the interior trim Ga in a motor vehicle.

It will be noted that, when inserting the element 11 projecting into the opening Op of the fixing interface IF, the polarizing member 5 is configured to pass through said opening O before the retaining system 7. Thus , the keying function of said member 5 is exercised before the shutter 1 is mounted, by means of the retaining system 7, in a captive manner on the gasket Ga.

In addition, said fixing system 9 is configured to cooperate with the fixing interface IF, after the retaining system is cooperated with the fixing interface IF of the interior trim.

Thus, advantageously, the keying member 5, the retaining system 7 and the fixing means 10 to which the element 11 is connected are arranged in this order starting from the second end 11b of the element 11 (and going towards the first end 11a). That is to say that the keying member is closer to the second end 11b than the retaining system 7, which is itself closer to said end 11b than the fixing means 10.

Furthermore, it will be noted that when the shutter 1 is mounted and closes the cavity C of the gasket Ga, the element 11 extends between the gasket Ga and the bodywork of the vehicle, in particular between the interior faces of said elements. In this position of the shutter 1, the element 11, the retaining member 5 and the retaining system 7 are configured not to be in contact with the bodywork, this in particular to avoid the generation of parasitic noise when driving .

Claims (10)

Shutter (1) for interior trim (Ga) of a motor vehicle, said interior trim (Ga) comprising a cavity (C) and a fixing interface (IF), said shutter (1) being configured to cooperate with the fixing interface ( IF) and close, in the mounted position, said cavity (C),
said shutter (1) comprising:
- a keying member (5) configured to cooperate with the interior lining (Ga);
- a retaining system (7) configured to be mounted, via the fixing interface (IF), in a captive manner on said interior trim (Ga). Shutter (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said keying member (5) is configured to cooperate with the fixing interface (IF) of the interior lining (Ga). Shutter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shutter (1) comprises a fixing system (9) configured, on the one hand, to cooperate with the fixing interface (IF) and, on the other hand, to fix said shutter (1) to said interior trim (Ga). Shutter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shutter (1) comprises a projecting element (11) on which the keying member (5) and the retaining system (7) are located. . Shutter (1) according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said projecting element (11) is connected to said fixing system (9) of the shutter (1). Shutter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said retaining system (7) comprises at least two retaining projections (7a) configured, on the one hand, to insert into an opening (Op) of the the fixing interface (IF) and, on the other hand, to act as retaining stops when removing the shutter (1) from said interior trim. Shutter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said coding member (5) is configured so that cooperation with the fixing interface (IF) of the interior lining (Ga) is exercised before the retaining system (7) does not cooperate with the fixing interface (IF) of the interior trim (Ga). Shutter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shutter (1) is in one piece. Arrangement intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises:
- a shutter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims;
- an interior trim (Ga) of a motor vehicle comprising a cavity (C) and a fixing interface (IF) configured to cooperate with said shutter (1), so that the shutter (1) closes, in the mounted position, said cavity (C). Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises an arrangement according to the preceding claim.