FR3142167A1 - EQUIPMENT WITH AN ANTI-FALL WALL, FOR A SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

Equipment (E1) is part of a system and comprises a first wall (P1) provided with at least one first through hole (T1) placed opposite a second through hole (T2) of a second wall (P2 ) for the passage of a screw (VF) intended to fix other equipment (E2) on an external face (FE) of the first wall (P1), the first (P1) and second (P2) walls defining an internal space (EI). This first wall (P1) comprises an internal face (FI) oriented towards the second wall (P2) and on which is erected, under the first through hole (T1), a protective wall (PP) extending in the direction of the second wall (P2) and preventing the screw (VF) and/or a washer associated with the latter from falling into this internal space (EI). Figure 3

Description

ANTI-FALL WALL EQUIPMENT, FOR A SYSTEM Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to equipment which is intended to form part of a system and which comprises a wall onto which other equipment is to be screwed.

State of the art

Some systems, such as for example certain vehicles, possibly of the automobile type, comprise equipment comprising a first wall defining an internal (hollow) space with a second wall (which it may also optionally comprise). As an illustrative example, the equipment may constitute a trunk lid of a system constituting a vehicle, and in this case, the first wall may constitute a shutter panel and the second wall may constitute a shutter lining.

Sometimes, this first wall is provided with at least one first through hole which is intended to be placed opposite a second through hole of the second wall in order to allow the passage of a screw intended to fix other equipment on its external face. In the illustrative example given in the preceding paragraph, the other equipment may, for example, constitute a shutter trim.

The first through hole is intended to be crossed by the threaded rod of a screw, so it is narrow. For its part, the second through hole is intended to allow access to the first through hole and the screwing of the screw, so it is less narrow than the first through hole. This can, for example, allow the passage of a screwdriver head previously fitted with a screw (possibly fitted with a washer).

The diameter of the second through hole remains relatively small, however, and it happens that during the approach phase of the first through hole, or during an unscrewing phase, the screw and/or the washer associated with the latter fall(s) into the internal space, including when the screw is coupled to the screwdriver by a magnetic effect. It then becomes very difficult, if not impossible, to recover the screw and/or the washer that has fallen into the bottom of the internal space, because this bottom is not accessible.

When the fallen screw and/or washer are salvageable, the recovery operations are time-consuming and therefore expensive, and can sometimes cause damage.

When the screw and/or washer that has fallen out cannot be recovered, the person carrying out the screwing must use a new screw (possibly fitted with a washer), which increases costs. In addition, there is a high risk that the screw and/or washer that has fallen out will move into the bottom of the internal space in the presence of vibrations generated by the system and/or shocks suffered by this system, and therefore induce noises that are potentially annoying and/or worrying for users of the system.

The invention is therefore intended in particular to improve the situation.

Presentation of the invention

For this purpose, it proposes in particular equipment suitable for forming part of a system and comprising a first wall provided with at least one first through hole intended to be placed opposite a second through hole of a second wall for the passage of a screw intended to fix other equipment on an external face of this first wall, the first and second walls defining an internal space.

This equipment is characterized by the fact that its first wall comprises an internal face intended to be oriented towards the second wall and on which is erected, under the first through hole, a protective wall which extends in the direction of the second wall and which is capable of preventing the screw and/or a washer associated with the latter from falling into the internal space.

Thanks to the invention, there is no longer any risk that in the phase of approaching the first through hole, or in an unscrewing phase, the screw and/or the associated washer will fall into the bottom of the internal space because it/they can only fall onto the protective wall, and therefore can be immediately and easily recovered by the person carrying out the screwing (or unscrewing).

The equipment according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- the (each) protective wall may be substantially perpendicular to the internal face of its first wall;

- the (each) protective wall may have a semi-cylindrical circular shape;

- the (each) protective wall may be intended to extend almost to the second wall;

- its first wall may be provided with two first through holes intended to be placed opposite two second through holes of the second wall, and under which two protective walls are located respectively;

- it can understand the second wall;

- in the presence of the last option, it may constitute a trunk flap of a system constituting a vehicle. In this case, the first wall constitutes a flap panel and the second wall constitutes a flap lining;

- it can understand other equipment;

- in the presence of the last option and the last sub-option, the other equipment can constitute a shutter trim.

The invention also proposes a system comprising at least one piece of equipment of the type presented above.

For example, this system may be a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type.

Brief description of the figures

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings (obtained in CAD/CAM (“Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Drawing”)), in which:

schematically and functionally illustrates, in a perspective view from the outside, an exemplary embodiment of equipment according to the invention, constituting a vehicle trunk lid,

schematically and functionally illustrates, in a perspective view from the interior side, part of the trunk lid of the , before securing by screwing other equipment,

schematically and functionally illustrates, in a perspective view from the interior side and partially in section in a longitudinal and vertical plane, the trunk lid of the after the screwing of other equipment, and

schematically and functionally illustrates, in a perspective view from the interior side, a small part of the first wall of the trunk lid of the , in which a first through hole and a protective wall are defined.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention aims in particular to propose a first piece of equipment E1 intended to form part of a system and arranged so as to prevent the falling (or dropping) of a screw VF and/or a washer into an internal space EI during a screwing or unscrewing phase of a second piece of equipment E2.

In the following, it is considered, as a non-limiting example, that the system is a vehicle of the automobile type, such as a car. However, the invention is not limited to this type of system. It relates in fact to any system comprising at least a first wall defining with a second wall an internal (hollow) space to be crossed by at least one screw. Thus, it relates in particular to vehicles (land, sea (or river), or air), devices (possibly general public), installations (possibly industrial type), and buildings.

Furthermore, it is considered in the following, as a non-limiting example, that the first equipment E1 is a trunk flap intended to control access to a rear trunk of a motor vehicle. However, the invention is not limited to this type of first equipment E1. It in fact concerns any first equipment comprising a first wall which must define with a second wall (which it also possibly comprises) an internal (hollow) space which must be crossed by at least one screw for fixing a second equipment on this first wall.

Figures 1 to 3 schematically illustrate, at least partially, a first piece of equipment E1 (here a trunk lid) which is suitable for forming part of a system (here a car) and comprising a first wall P1 intended to define an internal space EI (hollow) with a second wall P2 which is placed opposite the internal face FI of this first wall P1.

In the example described here, the first wall P1 constitutes a shutter panel and the second wall P2 constitutes a shutter lining which is fixedly secured to the internal face FI of the shutter panel P1 (oriented here towards the second wall P2 and therefore towards the interior of the vehicle). In this case, the second wall P2 is part of the first equipment E1. But this is not obligatory. Indeed, the second wall P2 could be one, or form part of another equipment placed opposite the internal face FI of the first wall P1.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the first wall P1 is provided with at least one first through hole T1 which is intended to be placed opposite a corresponding second through hole T2, defined in the second wall P2. These first T1 and second T2 through holes are intended to allow the passage of a screw VF which is intended to fix a second equipment E2 on the external face FE of the first wall P1, opposite its internal face FI (and therefore oriented towards the outside).

It should be noted that in the example illustrated non-limitingly in figures 1 and 3 the second equipment E2 is a shutter trim. In this case, the shutter trim E2 is part of the first equipment E1. But this is not obligatory.

As illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, a protective wall PP is erected on the internal face FI of the first wall P1, under the (each) first through hole T1. This protective wall PP extends towards the second wall P2 and is suitable for preventing the screw VF and/or a washer associated with the latter (VF) from falling (or dropping) into the internal space EI defined between the first P1 and second P2 walls.

Thanks to this PP protective wall placed under a first through hole T1 and extending towards the second wall P2, there is no longer any risk that in the approach phase of the first through hole T1, or in an unscrewing phase, the screw VF and/or a washer associated with the latter (VF) will fall (or fall) into the internal space EI. Indeed, the screw VF and/or the associated washer will fall (or fall) onto the PP protective wall and can therefore be immediately and easily recovered by the person carrying out the screwing (or unscrewing). There is therefore no longer any risk of damage, or of increased costs, or of generating noise that is potentially annoying and/or worrying for users of the system.

It will be noted that in the example illustrated non-limitingly in figures 1 and 2 the first wall P1 of the first equipment E1 is provided with two first through holes T1 intended to be placed facing respectively second through holes T2 of the second wall P2, and under which are respectively located two protective walls PP. But the number of first through holes T1, and therefore of two second through holes T2 as of protective walls PP, can take any value greater than or equal to one.

For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 2 to 4, the (each) protective wall PP may be substantially perpendicular to the internal face FI of the first wall P1. Here, “substantially perpendicular” means being erected at 90° +/- 5°. In the example illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, the (each) protective wall PP is perpendicular to the internal face FI, because this makes it easier to collect a screw VF and/or a washer that has fallen onto the protective wall PP.

Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 3 and 4, the (each) PP protective wall may have a semi-cylindrical circular shape. In other words, it (PP) delimits a concave housing which advantageously prevents the VF screw and/or the associated washer from falling at one of its two opposite ends. It will be understood that the VF screw and/or the associated washer is (are) thus forced to join the lowest zone of the concave housing where it (they) can be easily collected. In addition, there is no risk that a rebound during the fall will cause the VF screw and/or the associated washer to come out of the PP protective wall, since it rises from its center towards its two opposite ends to define the concave housing.

For example, the (each) PP protective wall may have a shape substantially homologous to that of approximately the lower half of the edge of the corresponding second through hole T2.

But in a variant embodiment not illustrated, the (each) PP protective wall could be flat.

Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in figures 2 and 3, the (each) PP protective wall can be intended to extend almost to the second wall P2. This makes it possible to prevent the screw VF and/or the associated washer from passing, or becoming stuck, between the free end of the PP protective wall and the second wall P2 once they have fallen.

It should also be noted that the first wall P1 can be made by injection molding a rigid and resistant plastic material, which makes it possible to define each PP protective wall at the same time.

Claims (10)

Equipment (E1) suitable for forming part of a system and comprising a first wall (P1) provided with at least one first through hole (T1) intended to be placed opposite a second through hole (T2) of a second wall (P2) for the passage of a screw (VF) intended to fix another equipment (E2) on an external face (FE) of said first wall (P1), said first (P1) and second (P2) walls defining an internal space (EI), characterized in that said first wall (P1) comprises an internal face (FI) intended to be oriented towards said second wall (P2) and on which is erected, under said first through hole (T1), a protective wall (PP) extending in the direction of said second wall (P2) and suitable for preventing said screw (VF) and/or a washer associated with the latter (VF) from falling into said internal space (EI). Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that said protective wall (PP) is substantially perpendicular to said internal face (FI). Equipment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said protective wall (PP) has a semi-cylindrical circular shape. Equipment according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said protective wall (PP) is intended to extend almost to said second wall (P2). Equipment according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said first wall (P1) is provided with two first through holes intended to be placed opposite respectively two second through holes (T2) of said second wall (P2), and under which are respectively located two protective walls (PP). Equipment according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises said second wall (P2). Equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that it constitutes a trunk flap of a system constituting a vehicle, said first wall (P1) constituting a flap panel and said second wall (P2) constituting a flap lining. Equipment according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises said other equipment (E2). Equipment according to the combination of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that said other equipment (E2) constitutes a shutter trim. System, characterized in that it comprises at least one item of equipment (E1) according to one of the preceding claims.