阅读说明：本技术 用于机动车辆立柱的抗旋转蒙皮装置 (Anti-rotation covering device for motor vehicle upright ) 是由 L·里维埃 L·维拉 于 2020-04-15 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于装配在机动车辆的立柱的内衬上的蒙皮装置(1),所述蒙皮装置包括：上部零件(4),所述上部零件包括下部部分(6),所述下部部分限定在凹部中并且配备有两个第一孔(8)和两个第二孔(9),所述两个第一孔用于所述下部部分与所述内衬的联结,所述两个第二孔沿所述车辆的纵向方向间隔开；以及下部零件(5),所述下部零件包括上部部分(7),所述上部部分配备有两个联结元件(11),所述两个联结元件用于分别穿过所述第二孔(8)以使所述上部部分(7)与所述下部部分(6)联结并带有沿所述车辆的竖直方向的间隙。所述下部部分(6)包括沿所述纵向方向间隔开的两个第三孔,并且所述上部部分(7)包括两个定位销(12),所述两个定位销分别穿过所述第三孔并且阻止所述上部部分(7)相对于所述下部部分(6)的定向错位。(The invention relates to a skin arrangement (1) for fitting on the interior lining of a pillar of a motor vehicle, comprising: an upper part (4) comprising a lower portion (6) defined in a recess and equipped with two first holes (8) for the coupling of the lower portion with the lining and two second holes (9) spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a lower part (5) comprising an upper portion (7) equipped with two coupling elements (11) for passing through the second holes (8) respectively to couple the upper portion (7) with the lower portion (6) with a clearance in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The lower part (6) comprises two third holes spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, and the upper part (7) comprises two positioning pins (12) which respectively pass through the third holes and prevent a misalignment of the orientation of the upper part (7) relative to the lower part (6).)

1. Skin-covering device (1) for a metal part (2) defining the lining of a pillar (3) of a motor vehicle, said skin-covering device (1) comprising i) an upper part (4) comprising a lower portion (6) defined in a recess and equipped with two first holes (8) for the coupling of said lower portion with said metal part (2) and two second holes (9) spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and ii) a lower part (5) comprising an upper portion (7) equipped with two coupling elements (11) for passing through said second holes (9) respectively to couple said upper portion (7) with said lower portion (6) with clearance in the vertical direction of the vehicle, characterized in that said lower portion (6) comprises two third holes (10) spaced apart along said longitudinal direction and in that said upper portion (7) comprises two positioning pins (12) intended to pass through said third holes (10) respectively and having the effect of preventing rotation in the opposite direction to prevent misalignment of the orientation of said upper portion (7) with respect to said lower portion (6).

2. The skin arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the third holes (10) are defined in two first opposite lateral edges (13) of the lower portion (6) of the upper part (4) and are intended to cover a portion of the lateral edges of the metal part (2), and in that the positioning pins (12) are defined in two second opposite lateral edges (14) of the upper portion (7) of the lower part (5) and are intended to cover the first lateral edges (13).

3. The skin arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each dowel pin (12) comprises a wall (15) adapted to abut against a lower edge or an upper edge participating in the delimitation of the corresponding third hole (10).

4. The skin arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tie element (11) is adapted to be clamped in the second hole (9).

5. The skin arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first holes (8) are elongated and at least one of the first holes has a greater length in the longitudinal direction.

6. The skin arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lower portion (6) of the upper part (4) comprises fourth holes (17) interposed between the second holes (9), and in that the upper portion (7) of the lower part (5) comprises a centring pin (18) interposed between the joining elements (11) and intended to pass through the fourth holes (17).

7. A motor vehicle comprising a structure delimiting a passenger compartment and comprising at least two opposite uprights (3) to which metal parts (2) defining an inner lining are respectively fixedly and integrally joined, characterized in that it further comprises at least two skin arrangements (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 respectively integrally joined to said metal parts (2).

8. A motor vehicle according to claim 7, characterised in that each upright (3) is located in a central portion of a lateral side of the cabin.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a skinning device (dispositif d' hobillage) for covering metal parts defining the interior lining of a motor vehicle pillar.

Background

Some motor vehicles include a structure that bounds a passenger compartment and includes pillars (or pillars) on opposite lateral sides.

As known to those skilled in the art, these pillars usually comprise on their inner surface (oriented towards the passenger compartment) a metal part defining an inner lining and covered on the passenger compartment side by an upholstery device sometimes called a trim.

Some of these skin means, which are usually fitted on the intermediate (or central) upright, comprise an upper part and a lower part, respectively comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, which cover each other. A lower portion of the upper part is defined in the recess and includes: two first holes for coupling (typically by screwing) the lower portion with the lining; two second holes spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a third hole interposed between the second holes. The upper part of the lower part comprises: two coupling members for respectively passing through the second holes to couple the upper portion with the lower portion with a gap in a vertical direction of the vehicle; and a centering pin interposed between the coupling members and for passing through the third hole.

The centring pin is intended to enable the upper part of the lower part to be positioned in a vertical direction relative to the lower part of the upper part. However, since the centering pin is defined in a substantially central position, when the upper part is fixedly integrally joined with the liner with slight deflection, an irregular gap may occur which expands between a recess edge defining a lower portion of the upper part and an end edge of an upper portion of the lower part. This irregular gap, sometimes referred to as a "cue de billard," detracts from the quality impression of the vehicle and, therefore, may require expensive and time-consuming rework at the end of the assembly line (when the irregular gap is detected on the assembly line) or in after-market service (when the irregular gap is detected by the owner of the vehicle).

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is therefore, inter alia, to improve this situation.

To this end, the invention provides, among other things, a skin arrangement for fitting on a metal part defining an interior lining of a pillar of a motor vehicle, comprising:

-an upper part comprising a lower portion defined in a recess and equipped with two first holes for the coupling of the lower portion with the lining and two second holes spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and

-a lower part comprising an upper part equipped with two coupling elements for passing through the second holes, respectively, to couple the upper part with the lower part with a gap in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

The decoration device is characterized in that:

-the lower part comprises two third holes spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, and

the upper portion comprises two positioning pins for passing through the third holes respectively and having the effect of preventing rotation in opposite directions to prevent misalignment of the orientation of the upper portion with respect to the lower portion.

Thus, the end edges of the upper part of the lower part are limited to remain substantially parallel to the end edges of the grooves, which can avoid the need to perform reworking.

The decorating device according to the invention may comprise other features that may be adopted individually or in combination, in particular:

-said third holes may be defined in two first opposite lateral edges of the lower portion of said upper part and are intended to cover a portion of the lateral edges of said metal part. In this case, the locating pins may be defined in two opposite second lateral edges of the upper part of the lower part and serve to cover the first lateral edges;

each dowel may comprise a wall adapted to abut against a lower or upper edge participating in the delimitation of the corresponding third hole;

-the coupling element may be adapted to be clamped in the second hole;

the first holes may be elongated and in the case at least one of the first holes has a greater length in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;

the lower portion of the upper part may comprise fourth holes, the fourth holes being sandwiched between the second holes. In this case, the upper portion of the lower part may comprise a centering pin interposed between the coupling elements and intended to pass through the fourth hole.

The present invention also provides a motor vehicle comprising: a structure delimiting a passenger compartment and comprising at least two opposite uprights, to which metal parts defining an inner lining are respectively fixedly integral joined; and at least two skin devices of the above type integrally connected with the metal parts, respectively.

For example, each pillar may be located in a central portion of a lateral side of the car.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of an example of a central (or intermediate) pillar fitted with a portion of an interlining metal part itself fitted with a portion of a skin arrangement according to the invention,

figure 2 schematically shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the lower part of the upper part of the skinning device according to the invention,

FIG. 3 schematically shows a perspective view of one embodiment of an upper part of a lower part of a skinning device according to the invention, which upper part is intended to be joined with the lower part of the upper part of FIG. 2,

figure 4 schematically shows a perspective view of the coupling between the upper part of the lower part of figure 3 and the lower part of the upper part of figure 2, an

Figure 5 schematically shows a perspective view of a portion of the coupling in vertical direction between the upper portion of the lower part of figure 3 and the lower portion of the upper part of figure 2.

Detailed Description

The aim of the invention is in particular to provide an anti-rotation skin arrangement 1 intended to be fitted on a metal part 2 defining the lining of a pillar 3 of a motor vehicle.

In the following, by way of non-limiting example, the motor vehicle is considered to be a car. The invention is not limited to this type of motor vehicle. In fact, the present invention relates to any motor vehicle comprising a structure delimiting a passenger compartment and comprising at least two uprights (or pillars). Thus, the present invention also relates to, for example, a unicycle, a cross over vehicle (crossover), a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), and a road vehicle.

Further, hereinafter, as a non-limiting example, it is considered that the pillars 3 are respectively located in central portions of both lateral sides of the vehicle compartment. But the pillars can also be front pillars (respectively in the front portions of the two lateral sides of the car) or rear pillars (respectively in the rear portions of the two lateral sides of the car).

In fig. 1 to 5, a direction X is a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which is parallel to a lateral side of the vehicle, a direction Y is a transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the direction X, and a direction Z is a vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

An example of a central (or intermediate) pillar 3 is schematically shown in fig. 1, which includes an inner surface (oriented towards the interior of the cabin) to which a metal part 2 (for example by welding) is fixedly integrally joined, which defines an inner lining and includes an inner surface, to which a skin arrangement 1 according to the invention is integrally joined.

As shown in the figures, the upholstery device 1 according to the invention comprises at least an upper part 4 and a lower part 5, which respectively comprise a lower portion 6 and an upper portion 7, which after joining cover each other.

The upper part 4 can be made, for example, of a plastic material (optionally with an additional coating, such as fabric or leather). The lower part 5 can be made, for example, of a plastic material (optionally with an additional coating, such as fabric or leather).

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, the lower portion 6 of the upper part 4 is defined in a recess and comprises at least two first holes 8, two second holes 9 and two third holes 10.

Two first holes 8 are used for the coupling of the lower portion 6 with the metal part (or lining) 2. This coupling is performed, for example, by means of two screws, the threaded ends of which are screwed into corresponding internal threads comprised by the metal part (or lining) 2.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, the two second holes 9 are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle.

As shown in fig. 2 and 4, the two third holes 10 are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction X.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the upper portion 7 of the lower part 5 comprises at least two coupling elements 11 and two positioning pins 12 on the outer surface oriented towards the metal part (or lining) 2.

As shown in fig. 4, two coupling elements 11 are provided for respectively passing through the second holes 9 to couple the upper portion 7 of the lower part 5 with the lower portion 6 of the upper part 4 with clearance in the vertical direction Z of the vehicle.

As also shown in fig. 4, two positioning pins 12 are provided to pass through the third holes 10, respectively. In addition, these positioning pins 12 have the effect of preventing rotation in the opposite direction to prevent misalignment of the orientation of the upper portion 7 of the lower part 5 with respect to the lower portion 6 of the upper part 4.

It will be appreciated in practice that the left locating pin 12 (and therefore on the right in figures 3 and 4) prevents the upper part 7 from rotating in a counterclockwise direction relative to the lower part 6 and therefore prevents the left end of the end edge of the upper part 7 of the lower part 5 from separating from the left end of the end edge of the recess defining the lower part 6 of the upper part 4. In contrast, the right locating pin 12 (thus on the left in fig. 3 and 4) prevents the upper part 7 from rotating in a clockwise direction relative to the lower part 6 and therefore prevents the right end of the end edge of the upper part 7 of the lower part 5 from separating from the right end of the end edge defining the recess of the lower part 6 of the upper part 4. The end edges of the upper portion 7 of the lower part 5 are therefore constrained to remain substantially parallel to the end edges of the recess, which makes it possible to avoid the need to perform reworking.

For example, as shown in non-limiting manner in fig. 2 and 4, the third holes 10 may be defined in two opposite first lateral edges 13 of the lower portion 6 of the upper part 4 and serve to cover a portion of the corresponding lateral edges of the metal part (or lining) 2. In this case, as shown in a non-limiting manner in figures 3 and 4, the positioning pins 12 are defined in two opposite second lateral edges 14 of the upper portion 7 of the lower part 5. These second lateral edges 14 serve to cover the first lateral edges 13 of the lower portion 6 and thus to make the third hole 10 and the positioning pin 12 invisible.

This alternative makes it possible to optimize the anti-rotation action of the positioning pin 12 by minimizing the moment, and therefore also to prevent the misalignment of the orientation of the upper part 7 of the lower part 5 with respect to the lower part 6 of the upper part 4.

In order to facilitate the entry of the positioning pin 12 into the third hole 10 when coupling the upper part 7 with the lower part 6, the upper part 7 of the lower part 5 is slightly flexible.

Also for example, as shown in a non-limiting manner on fig. 3 to 5, each dowel 12 may comprise a wall 15 adapted to abut against a lower edge or an upper edge participating in the confinement of the corresponding third hole 10. This wall 15 is defined on the outer surface of the upper portion 7 (oriented towards the metal portion 2) so as to be in a position substantially parallel to the aforesaid lower or upper edge. In the example shown in non-limiting manner on fig. 5, each wall 15 is arranged substantially parallel to the lower edge that partially delimits the corresponding third hole 10.

Each wall 15 preferably extends at about 90 ° beyond the other wall 16 of the dowel 12 in order to reinforce the strength of the dowel in the presence of constraints relating to the positioning of the upper portion 7 of the lower part 5 with respect to the lower portion 6 of the upper part 4.

It is noted that the coupling element 11 can be adapted to be clamped in the second hole 9, as shown in a non-limiting manner in figures 3 and 4. In the example shown, each coupling element 11 comprises a head with a rounded and deformable front portion, which enables it to pass through the second hole 9 and then to resume its shape once it has passed to be positioned behind the second hole 9 to prevent its retraction.

It is also noted that the first hole 8 is preferably elongated, as shown in a non-limiting manner in figure 2. In this case, at least one, preferably both, of these first holes 8 has a greater length in the longitudinal direction X, so as to be able to position the lower portion 6 of the upper part 4 precisely along X.

It is also noted that, as shown in a non-limiting way on figure 2, the lower portion 6 of the upper part 4 may optionally comprise fourth holes 17, interposed between the second holes 9 of the lower portion. In this case, as shown in non-limiting manner in figures 3 and 4, the upper portion 7 of the lower part 5 comprises, on its outer surface, a centring pin 18 interposed between the coupling elements 11 and intended to pass through the fourth hole 17. This enables an improved accuracy of the positioning of the upper portion 7 of the lower part 5 in the vertical direction Z with respect to the lower portion 6 of the upper part 4.