WO1999030923A1

WO1999030923A1 - Motor vehicle mat comprising a reinforcing piece

Info

Publication number: WO1999030923A1
Application number: PCT/FR1998/002743
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Peschard
Original assignee: Philippe Peschard
Priority date: 1997-12-15
Filing date: 1998-12-15
Publication date: 1999-06-24
Also published as: AU1763999A; FR2772321A1; FR2772321B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a motor vehicle mat comprising a flexible planar structure (1) whereof the rigidity is reinforced by a reinforcing piece (3) directly mounted and having greater rigidity than the flexible structure (1), comprising a central portion (3a) and two lateral flaps (3b), and which is mounted on the flexible structure (1) such that said flexible structure (1) is sandwiched between the central portion (3a) covering the flexible structure over its entire width (l) and the two lateral flaps (3b) which are folded back relative to the central portion (3a) astride on the flexible structure longitudinal edges (1a) respectively. The invention advantageously enables to prevent the mat from slipping without having to modify the vehicle passenger compartment,

Description

MOTOR VEHICLE MATS COMPRISING A REINFORCEMENT PIECE

The present invention relates to an improvement made to carpets for a motor vehicle, that is to say to carpets which are intended to be placed on the vehicle floor, inside the passenger compartment, at the location of the driver or passengers. More particularly, it relates to a carpet for a motor vehicle comprising a reinforcement piece making it possible to give it greater rigidity. Most car mats are in the form of a flexible planar structure, which can be deformed manually, and generally having a substantially rectangular shape. Several techniques for manufacturing carpets for motor vehicles are known to date. As an indication, the carpet can be constituted by a textile structure coated with a synthetic resin on its reverse side, the textile structure constituting the front face of the carpet. It can also be a carpet made by molding synthetic resin, and for example a carpet based on elastomers or rubber. Motor vehicle mats are intended to be placed on the vehicle floor, at the location for example of the driver or at the various locations of passengers. It is important that the mat is removable from the vehicle floor, so that it can be easily changed in the event of mechanical wear or soiling. One of the major drawbacks of carpets for motor vehicles results from the fact that under the effect of trampling, the carpet tends to slide relative to the floor of the vehicle. When the mat comes, by sliding relative to the vehicle floor, in contact with a vertical wall inside the passenger compartment, and for example in contact with a wall of the body of the vehicle chassis, it tends to go up along the wall, or to come into abutment against this wall, which causes creases in the carpet. In both cases, the raising of the carpet or the formation of folds cause discomfort for the passengers, and what is more can be very dangerous in the case of a carpet placed at the location of the driver; the carpet may indeed impede the driver in his movements to actuate the vehicle control pedals, and even may even cause a blockage of one or more of the motor vehicle control pedals.

To overcome these drawbacks, two solutions have been proposed to date. The first solution consists in providing on the back face of the mat, that is to say on the face coming into contact with the floor of the vehicle, studs or studs making it possible to increase the grip of the mat relative to the floor. of the vehicle, which floor is generally covered with carpet. This is the solution chosen for example in the publications EP-A-0 594925 and EP-A-031 1 736. This first solution has not been entirely satisfactory to date. The second solution consists in providing inside the vehicle interior fixing systems for the carpet. It is for example one or more pivoting fasteners which are fixed on the vehicle floor, and which are intended to be passed each through an eyelet provided in the carpet. These fastening systems can be pre-installed by the motor vehicle manufacturer. In the majority of cases, the fixing systems are sold, for example, with the carpet, the owner of the vehicle having to pierce the floor of the vehicle to mount the fixing systems. This second solution has the disadvantage of requiring intervention on the vehicle floor for the installation of the fixing systems. As a general rule, vehicle owners are completely reluctant to this type of intervention.

The invention provides a new carpet for a motor vehicle intended to provide a solution to the aforementioned problems associated with the sliding of the carpet, and having the advantage of not requiring modification. of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and in particular of the vehicle floor.

The carpet for a motor vehicle of the invention is known in that it comprises a flexible planar structure of width (!) And length

⁽ Characteristically according to the invention, the mat comprises a reinforcement piece which has a rigidity greater than that of the flexible structure, which comprises a central part and two lateral flaps, and which is mounted on the flexible structure in such a way that this flexible structure is sandwiched between on the one hand the central part covering the flexible structure over its entire width and on the other hand the two side flaps which are folded relative to the central part straddling respectively on the two longitudinal edges of the flexible structure.

The reinforcement piece of the invention advantageously makes it possible to effectively block the carpet in position when it is in abutment against a vertical wall inside the cabin, and which moreover limits the risks of the carpet rising, or formation of folds in the carpet, due to the greater rigidity imparted to the carpet.

It has certainly already been proposed to fix on the front face of a carpet, one or more reinforcement heels, which may have various shapes, generally made of synthetic resin and fixed by hot pressing or sewn on the face of place of the carpet. However, these heels do not extend over the entire width of the mat, from one longitudinal edge to the other, but are generally fixed at localized locations on the mat corresponding to the places where a passenger or a driver comes in practice to position their feet. These heels do not cover the longitudinal edges of the carpet. The function of these heels is to avoid mechanical wear of the structure of the carpet under the effect of trampling; these heels do not extend over the entire width of the mat and do not cover the longitudinal edges of the mat, they do not allow the mat to be stopped in abutment against a vertical wall inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle and do not allow no limit the risk of the carpet rising or undulating.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description below of two preferred embodiments of a carpet according to the invention, which description is given by way of non-limiting example and in reference to the attached drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a carpet for a motor vehicle comprising a removable added reinforcement piece,

- Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of the carpet of Figure 1 showing the structure of the reinforcing piece.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a carpet for a motor vehicle comprising an attached reinforcement piece fixed to the structure of the carpet by means of assembly elements of the rivet type,

- Figure 4 is a sectional view of the carpet of Figure 3, - and Figure 5 is a sectional view of the reinforcing part of the carpet of Figure 4 at the junction zone between the central part and a lateral flap of this reinforcement piece, which flap is unfolded in the same plane as the central part.

FIG. 1 shows a carpet for a motor vehicle in the form of a flexible flat structure 1 of substantially rectangular shape, of width i and of length L. In the particular example illustrated, the structure 1 has two edges longitudinal 1a rectilinear, a transverse rear edge 1b rectilinear, and a front edge 1ç having a non-rectilinear profile. In practice, the carpet of FIG. 1 is intended to be placed inside the passenger compartment of a vehicle, on the floor, so that the longitudinal edges 1a are aligned with the axis of the vehicle and that the front edge 1ç_ is oriented towards the front of the vehicle. The flexible planar structure 1 may be produced by any process known to date in the field of the manufacture of carpets for motor vehicles. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the structure 1 consists of a textile 1 d which constitutes the visible face side of the structure and which has been coated on the back with a layer of synthetic resin 1 e.

The rigidity of the structure 1 is reinforced according to an area referenced 2 in FIG. 1, by means of an added reinforcement piece (3).

Referring to Figure 2, the insert 3 consists of a central part 3a of rectangular shape of width i and height h, less than the length L of the structure 1, and two side flaps 3b , which are folded substantially parallel to the central part 3 and partially cover the two longitudinal edges 1a of the structure 1. Each flap 3b defines with the central part 3a a housing in which the structure 1 of the carpet can be slid. The two lateral flaps 3b have in the particular example illustrated a reduced dimension with respect to the central part 3b, resulting in a dimension ϋ less than the dimension i of the central part 3a (FIG. 2). Their dimension transverse to dimension V_, that is to say transversely to the view in FIG. 2, may be equal to the height of the reinforcement zone or else may be less or greater than the height h. In another variant, each lateral flap 3b can also be constituted by a plurality of flaps distributed over the height h of the central part 3a.

In the particular example of FIG. 2, the adaptation of the reinforcement piece 3 on the flexible structure 1 is carried out by manually separating the two flaps 3b from the central part 3a, by sliding the structure 1 of the mat between the two flaps 3b and the central part, then by releasing the flaps 3b so that the structure 1 is sandwiched between on the one hand the central part 3a and on the other hand the lateral flaps 3b. The central part 3a is placed in contact with the front face 1d of the structure 1. Advantageously, the position of the reinforcing piece 3 is adjusted relative to the structure 1 of the mat by sliding it relative to the structure 1 to the desired position, that is to say the position of FIG. 1.

More particularly, the reinforcing piece 3 comprises on one of its faces 3 ', intended to come into contact with the structure 1, a plurality of studs or lugs 4, distributed over the entire surface of the central part 3a. These studs or lugs have the function of fixing the central part 3a relative to the structure 1 once said structure is sandwiched between the central part 3a and the flaps 3b_. In addition, the other face 3 "of the reinforcement piece 3 is also provided with a plurality of lugs or studs 5, located at the level of the two lateral flaps 3b. The function of these studs or lugs 5, which can be or not identical to the studs or lugs 4 of the face 3 'is to increase, the adhesion of the side flaps 3b relative to the vehicle floor, which is generally covered with carpet.

The reinforcing part 3 is for example produced according to the following steps: there is produced, by injection-molding of one or more synthetic resins, and in particular of a mixture of polyethylene and EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer) , an intermediate piece which corresponds to the piece 3 flat, then this intermediate piece is shaped in the usual way, by hot folding of the side flaps 3b so as to give the piece its final configuration illustrated in FIG. 2. In a specific embodiment, the thickness e of the central part 3a was approximately 3mm; the thickness e of the side flaps was approximately 1 mm; the height h. represented approximately 1/3 of the length L of the structure 1 of the carpet, and the dimension \ _ of the side flaps was approximately 1/3 of the dimension \ of the central part 3a. The lugs or spikes 4 and 5 were identical and consisted of frustoconical points having a height a substantially equal to the diameter b of their base. The dimensions a and b were more particularly between 2.8mm and 3.2mm. The pins or spikes 4 or 5 were aligned in the longitudinal or transverse direction of the part with a spacing d_ between columns or rows between 9.8mm and 10.2mm.

There is shown in Figures 3 and 4 another alternative embodiment using an added reinforcement piece 3, fixed to the flexible structure 1 of the mat by means of rivets 6 and 6 '. Also, the reinforcement part 3 differs from the reinforcement part of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that it is produced by injection-molding of a plastic material plate having a thickness e substantially constant, the central part 3a of the reinforcement piece 3 and the two side flaps 3b having substantially the same thickness. More particularly, at each lateral flap 3b, the reinforcement part of FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises two parallel grooves 7a and 7b_ with the function of hinges, which are produced in the face 3 ′ of the reinforcement part 3 intended to come into contact with the structure 1 of the mat, and which define two parallel zones of smaller thickness e 'extending over the entire height of the reinforcement piece 3. Each lateral flap 3b thus consists of two articulated parts, a first part 8 d thickness e situated between the two grooves 7a and 7J3 and articulated with respect to the central part 3a by virtue of the groove 7a, and a second part 9 of thickness e which is articulated with respect to the first part 8 by means of the groove 7b. In an exemplary embodiment given, the part 3 was based on a mixture of polyethylene and EVA and the thicknesses e and e 'were respectively 3 mm and 1 mm.

In the example of FIGS. 3 and 4, the second part 9 of each lateral flap 3b is provided with two orifices 10 which, once the lateral flap 3b brought into the folded position of FIG. 4, come opposite each other. orifices 1 1 provided in the structure of the mat and of orifices 12 provided in the central part 3a of the reinforcement part 3. Also, in the central part 3a of the part 3 and in the flexible structure 1 two additional orifices are provided for the passage of rivets 6 '. The mounting and fixing of the reinforcement piece 3 of the variants of FIGS. 3 to 5 on the flexible structure 1 of the mat are carried out as follows. The central part 3a of the reinforcement piece 3 is positioned in contact with the textile face 1 d of the structure 1, so that this central part 3a is in the position in FIG. 3. Each lateral flap 3b is folded relative to to the central part 3a, straddling the corresponding longitudinal edge 1a of the flexible structure 1, so as to sandwich this flexible structure between the central part 3a and each lateral flap 3b. Each lateral flap 3b covers and protects over a limited portion the corresponding longitudinal edge 1a of the flexible structure 1. Finally, the reinforcing piece 3 is fixed, relative to the structure 1, on the one hand passing rivets 6 to through the central part 3a, through the structure 1 and through the side flaps 3b_, and on the other hand by passing the two rivets 6 'through the central part 3 of the reinforcement piece 3 and through the flexible structure 1 carpet. The rivets 6 'are also locked in position by means of an additional washer 13.

Under the effect of trampling, a carpet for a motor vehicle tends to slide either laterally with respect to the vehicle floor, that is to say in the two directions illustrated by the arrows F in the figures, or longitudinally in the axis and essentially towards the front of the vehicle, it is essentially in the direction illustrated by the arrow F 'in the figures. The mat of the invention, once positioned on the ground inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle is advantageously locked in position by the reinforcement piece 3 as this appears more clearly in FIGS. 3 to 4. On these two Figures, there is shown schematically and in dotted lines substantially vertical walls P that usually form the chassis of a vehicle at the location of the carpet. Once the carpet has been positioned on the floor of the passenger compartment, the reinforcement piece 3 is in abutment, via these two lateral flaps 3b, with the two vertical walls P. The reinforcement piece 3 thus makes it possible to immobilize the structure 1 of the mat between the two walls P of the passenger compartment, and thereby prevent the flexible structure of the mat from sliding laterally (arrows F). This avoids any rise of the flexible structure 1 along a wall P, the flexible structure 1 being immobilized flat on the ground of the vehicle. Likewise, as it appears in FIG. 3, the reinforcement piece 3 is positioned with respect to the flexible structure 1 so that it comes into abutment at its upper corners with bosses B which are customary formed by the vertical walls of the chassis of a motor vehicle at the location of the mat. Thus, the reinforcement piece 3 prevents any displacement of the planar flexible structure 1 in the direction F '.

It should be noted that under the effect of trampling, it has been observed that a carpet for a motor vehicle tends to slide towards the front of the vehicle (arrow F ') and in practice does not slide towards the rear of the vehicle. , that is to say in the opposite direction to the arrow F '. For this reason, it is not necessary to block the flexible structure 1 in the longitudinal direction opposite to the arrow F ', and it is preferable that the reinforcement zone is provided near the front edge 1ç_ of the structure 1, as as shown in Figure 1.

It is understood in light of the above explanation of the locking in position of the flexible structure 1 by the reinforcing part 3 inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, that it is not useful that the part reinforcement 3 extends over the entire length of the flexible structure 1. In practice, the height of the reinforcement piece 3 will be chosen as low as possible mainly depending on the nature of the material and the thickness of the reinforcement piece 3 in order to obtain sufficient rigidity. It should also be noted that it is not necessary for the reinforcement piece to be completely rigid, but that it suffices that it has a rigidity which is greater than that of the flexible planar structure and which is sufficient to obtain blocking previously describes the flexible structure 1.

Claims

1. Carpet for a motor vehicle comprising a flexible flat structure (1) of width (I) and length (L) characterized in that it comprises a reinforcement piece (3) which has a rigidity greater than that of the flexible structure (1 ), which comprises a central part (3a) and at least two lateral flaps (3b), and which is mounted on the flexible structure (1) so that this flexible structure (1) is sandwiched between on the one hand the central part (3a) covering the flexible structure (1) over its entire width (I) and on the other hand the two lateral flaps (3b_) which are folded relative to the central part (3a) straddling the two respectively longitudinal edge (1a) of the flexible structure (1).

2. Carpet according to claim 1 characterized in that the reinforcement piece (3) extends over a height (h_) limited relative to the length (L) of the flexible structure (1).

3. Carpet according to claim 2 characterized in that the reinforcing part (3) is positioned near the front edge (1ç_) of the structure of the carpet, that is to say the edge intended to be oriented towards the front of the motor vehicle.

4. Carpet according to claim 1 characterized in that the reinforcement piece (3) is removable relative to the structure (1) of the carpet.

5. Carpet according to claim 1 characterized in that the central part (3a) of the reinforcement piece (3) is provided on its face (3 ') in contact with the structure (1) of the carpet with a plurality of spikes or retaining lugs (4), capable of hooking into the structure (1).

6. Carpet according to claim 1 characterized in that the two lateral flaps (3b) of the reinforcing part are provided, on their face (3 ") opposite the structure of the carpet, with a plurality of clamps or retaining lugs (5).

7. Carpet according to claim 1 characterized in that the reinforcement piece (3) is fixed to the flexible structure (1) by means of at least two rivets (6) which pass through the central part (3a), the structure flexible (1) and respectively the two side flaps (3b).

8. Reinforcement piece (3) for a motor vehicle carpet comprising a flexible planar structure (1) characterized in that it comprises a central part (3a) and two lateral flaps (3b) which are able to be folded substantially parallel to the central part (3a).

9. Reinforcement piece according to claim 8 characterized in that it comprises on one (3 ') of its two faces, at the level of the central part (3a), a plurality of spikes or retaining lugs (4) .

10. Reinforcement piece according to claim 8 characterized in that it comprises on one (3 ") of its faces, at the level of the two lateral flaps (3b_), a plurality of crampons or retaining lugs (5).

1 1. Reinforcement piece according to claims 9 and 10 characterized in that the retaining lugs or lugs (4) at the central part (3a) and the retaining lugs or lugs (5) at the side flaps (3b) are provided respectively on opposite faces (3 ') and (3 ") of the reinforcement piece (3).

12. Reinforcement piece according to one of claims 8 to 1 1 characterized in that each side flap (3b_) has at least one orifice (10) which, once the side flap (3b) folded relative to the central part (3a), comes opposite one of the orifices (12) arranged in the central part (3a), so as to allow the passage of an assembly element (6) of the rivet type for fixing of the reinforcement piece on the flexible flat structure (1) of a motor vehicle carpet.

13. Reinforcement part according to claim 8 characterized in that it is produced by injection molding of one or more synthetic resins, and in particular of a mixture of polyethylene and EVA.