阅读说明：本技术 机动车辆的信号模块的壳体以及装备有所述模块的车辆 (Housing for a signaling module of a motor vehicle and vehicle equipped with said module ) 是由 R·佩龙 S·西芒德尔 于 2020-04-16 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种机动车辆的信号模块(DRL)的支撑壳体(B),所述支撑壳体包括光源和相关联的电子回路,其特征在于,所述壳体包括下壳(1)和上壳(2),所述下壳和所述上壳在彼此之间限界出在前部处开口的腔室,以允许所述模块(DRL)的引入,所述下壳和所述上壳在后部上配备有相互配合的引导构件、连接构件和锁定构件,以确保两个壳(1,2)的组装。(The invention relates to a support housing (B) of a signaling module (DRL) of a motor vehicle, comprising a light source and associated electronic circuits, characterized in that it comprises a lower shell (1) and an upper shell (2) delimiting between each other a cavity open at the front to allow the introduction of the module (DRL), said lower and upper shells being equipped on the rear with guide, connection and locking members cooperating with each other to ensure the assembly of the two shells (1, 2).)

1. Support housing (B) of a signal module (DRL) of a motor vehicle, comprising a light source and associated electronic circuits, characterized in that it comprises a lower shell (1) and an upper shell (2) delimiting between each other a cavity open at the front to allow the introduction of the signal module (DRL), said lower and upper shells being equipped on the rear with guide, connection and locking members cooperating with each other to ensure the assembly of the two shells (1, 2).

2. The support housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide means comprise a peripheral groove (10) on the lower shell (1) for receiving an end edge (2a) of the upper shell (2) while conforming to the contour of the end edge of the upper shell.

3. Support shell according to claim 2, wherein said peripheral groove (10) has a substantially vertical portion (10a) at one of its longitudinal ends and a truncated portion (10b) at its other end, said truncated portion providing an inter-freedom of said upper shell (2) during said assembly.

4. The support housing according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the guide means further comprise a tooth (11) which protrudes on the bottom of the lower shell (1) and in the vicinity of the peripheral groove (10) and whose chamfered rear edge cooperates with the end edge (2a) of the upper shell (2).

5. Support housing according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the end edge (2a) of the upper shell (2) is locally equipped with a boss (21) for ensuring the fastening of the lower shell (1) in the peripheral groove (10) during the assembly.

6. Support shell according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connection means comprise at least two substantially truncated-cone-shaped projections (12) carried by the bottom of said lower shell (1) for engagement, during said assembly, in two cavities (22) provided facing on said upper shell (2) and having a complementary appearance, in order to ensure the centering of said upper shell.

7. Support shell according to claim 6, characterized in that said protrusions (12) are equipped with elongated vertical ribs (12a) that ensure the restraint of said upper shell (2) during the assembly of said upper shell onto said lower shell (1).

8. Support shell according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said locking means comprise at least two projections (13) integral with the end edge (1a) of said lower shell (1) and intended to snap elastically in two complementary apertures (20) facing in two tabs (23) provided integral with the end edge (2a) of said upper shell (2).

9. Support housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective end edges (1a, 2a) of the lower shell (1) and the upper shell (2) are chamfered in order to facilitate the relative positioning of the lower and upper shells during the assembly.

10. Motor vehicle equipped with a signal module (DRL) housed in a housing (B) according to any one of the preceding claims.

Technical Field

The present invention claims priority from french application 1904752 filed on 7/5/2019, the contents of which (text, drawings and claims) are incorporated herein by reference.

The invention finds application in the field of lighting and signalling of motor vehicles.

More specifically, the invention relates to a specific housing specific to a signaling module for equipping a motor vehicle, such as a Daytime Running light or Daytime Running light (so-called DRL), and to a motor vehicle equipped with said module.

Background

Generally, a motor vehicle is equipped with lighting modules (headlamps, dipped headlamps, high beam) and signaling modules (daytime running lights (so-called "DRLs"), direction indicators, turn signals, etc.) on its own front surface. Each module comprises an electronic system (for example, a printed circuit board, PCB) for conditioning one or more illumination sources in the form of a bulb (halogen, xenon, LED, etc.) associated with an optical system (lens, reflector, etc.).

The electronic and optical components of each module are enclosed in a hermetically closed housing made of glass, usually fixed by soldering, either common to a plurality of housings or separate for each housing.

Nowadays, on some vehicles, the housing of the signaling module, in particular the housing of the daytime signaling module (DRL) itself, is housed in a larger housing, which also encloses the high beam module or the lighting module (high beam, low beam, etc.), in particular inside the headlamp housing enclosed by the front glass.

Such day line signal modules, which simultaneously integrate an illumination source (Leds bulbs, etc.) and an associated electronic system (PCB), have a flat and uniform appearance as a whole to ensure the uniformity of the light flow. The module is assembled inside the proper housing before the proper housing is finally closed and before the module is fixed in the headlamp housing.

The housing of the signaling module is usually implemented in one piece or based on parts assembled by screwing, gluing or riveting, which, in case of wear or malfunction, requires the complete replacement of the module and forced opening of the module.

However, these operations are costly, are also difficult and tricky to implement, and sometimes even lead to damage or even destruction of the casing.

Furthermore, existing housings enclosing these signal modules are subject to vibrations which propagate to the internal module and thereby generate problematic interference with the light emission signal.

Disclosure of Invention

Against this background, the present invention is directed to providing a technical solution capable of ensuring integration of interchangeable signal modules in an easily detachable housing, in which the signal modules are always accommodated, the appearance of which can be maintained unchanged without impairing the reliability of assembly of the headlamp housing.

This object is achieved by means of a support housing for a signaling module of a motor vehicle, comprising an illumination source and an associated electronic system, characterized in that said housing comprises a lower shell and an upper shell delimiting between each other a cavity open at the front to allow the introduction of said module, said lower shell and said upper shell being equipped on the rear with guide members, connecting members and locking members cooperating with each other to ensure the assembly of the two shells.

According to an advantageous feature of the casing according to the invention, the guide means comprise a peripheral groove on the lower casing for receiving the end edge of the upper casing while conforming to the contour of the end edge of the upper casing.

Preferably, said peripheral groove has a substantially vertical portion at one of its longitudinal ends and a truncated (tronquue) portion at the other end, said truncated portion providing a free (dofettement) degree of freedom of said upper shell during said assembly.

According to another feature, the guide member further comprises teeth projecting on the bottom of the lower shell and in the vicinity of the peripheral groove, and the chamfered rear edge of the teeth cooperates with the end edge of the upper shell.

Advantageously, the end edge of the upper shell is locally equipped with a boss for ensuring the fastening of the lower shell in the peripheral groove during the assembly.

According to a particular embodiment, the connecting member comprises at least two substantially truncated-cone-shaped protrusions carried by the bottom of the lower shell for engaging, during the assembly, in two cavities provided facing on the upper shell and having a complementary appearance, so as to ensure the centering of the upper shell.

Preferably, these projections are equipped with elongated (effilees) vertical ribs which ensure that the upper shell is restrained during assembly of the upper shell onto the lower shell.

According to another embodiment of the shell according to the invention, the locking means comprise at least two tabs integral with the end edge of the lower shell and intended to snap elastically in two complementary apertures provided facing in tabs integral with the end edge of the upper shell.

Further, according to another feature, the end edges of the lower shell and the upper shell are chamfered to facilitate the relative positioning of the lower shell and the upper shell during the assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle equipped with a signal module (DRL) housed in a casing having the characteristics defined above.

The invention applies to the integration of a signal module DRL in a lighting system with Led or halogen bulbs. This housing is manufactured separately from the headlamp housing in which the signal module DRL is accommodated.

A particular application of this housing is in the packaging of an interchangeable signal module DRL (of the "Flat Guide" type) that can be easily introduced into or removed from said housing after separation of the two shells (lower and upper shell, respectively).

Maintenance of the signal module is greatly facilitated, since the replacement of the module can be carried out manually and without tools, only by first disassembling the housing by opening the locking member of the housing.

Thus, the present invention provides economical savings and simplification of the assembly process.

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:

fig. 1A is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the housing of the present invention with its own internal signal module.

Fig. 1B is a rear perspective view of the housing of fig. 1A after the lower and upper housings are assembled.

Fig. 2A is a top perspective view of the lower shell of the housing of fig. 1A and 1B.

Fig. 2B is a bottom perspective view of the upper shell of the housing of fig. 1A and 1B.

Fig. 3A is a partial perspective view of the lower shell with its own guide member, one of its own coupling members and one of its own locking members.

Fig. 3B is a detailed perspective view of the lower shell with one of its connecting members.

Figure 3C is a detailed perspective view of the lower shell with its own guide member.

Fig. 4A is a partial bottom view of the upper shell with one of its connecting members.

Fig. 4B is a partial sectional view of the lower and upper shells after the respective coupling members are assembled.

Fig. 5A is a partial rear view of the lower and upper shells during assembly of the respective guide and locking members.

Fig. 5B is a partial rear view of the lower and upper shells after the respective locking members are assembled.

Detailed Description

For purposes of clarity, the same or similar elements are identified throughout the drawings by the same reference numerals.

Of course, the embodiments of the method of the invention shown by the figures shown in the context are given only as non-limiting examples. It is expressly intended that different embodiments may be provided and that combinations between the embodiments described may be provided to provide further embodiments.

The present invention relates to the field of lighting and signalling for motor vehicles.

More specifically, the invention relates to a housing B for a daytime running light or daytime running light signaling module (DRL). The module DRL generally comprises a lighting system consisting of a light source (e.g. Led bulb) associated with an electronic circuit (e.g. PSB).

The signal module DRL is enclosed inside the housing 1 between the lower case 1 and the upper case 2, as shown in fig. 1A. For this purpose, the lower shell 1 and the upper shell 2 delimit between each other a cavity for housing the module DRL, said cavity being open at the front to ensure the diffusion of the luminous signal and to allow the introduction or extraction of the module.

This module DRL is generally implemented in the form of a compact, Flat and uniform unit of the "Flat Guide" type, which integrates all the required optical and electronic components ready to be fitted into the housing B.

According to the invention, the lower 1 and upper 2 shells carry mutually cooperating guide, connection and locking means to ensure the assembly of the two shells and the closure of said shells, while simultaneously occluding (imprisonnant) the signal module DRL, as shown in fig. 1B. Since the front surface of the housing is open, these members are offset onto the rear of the housing B.

However, the arrangement of all or part of the guide member, the connecting member, and the locking member, which will be described in detail below, between the lower case 1 and the upper case 2 may be reversed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the embodiment shown here on the figures, the guide means comprise a peripheral groove 10 on the lower shell 1 for receiving the rear end edge 2a of the upper shell 2 while conforming to the contour of the latter. For this reason, the appearance of the rear end edge of the upper case 2 is complementary to the U-shaped cross section of the groove 10.

The peripheral groove 10 has a substantially vertical portion 10a at one of its longitudinal ends and a truncated portion 10b at the other end of itself, which provides a translational freedom during assembly of the peripheral groove with the upper shell 2, to avoid hyperstatic, as shown in fig. 2A, 3A and 5A.

Moreover, the end edge 2a of the upper shell 2 and the end edge 1a of the lower shell 1 are chamfered to perfect (paraair) the relative vertical positioning and the relative horizontal positioning of said lower and upper shells during assembly and before locking.

The lower shell 1 also comprises complementary guide means constituted by teeth 11 (four teeth in the embodiment of fig. 2A) projecting on the bottom of the lower shell and in the vicinity of the peripheral groove 10. The rear edges 11a of the teeth 11 are chamfered (as shown in particular in figure 3C) and come into contact with the end edge 2a of the upper shell 2 so as to orient said teeth towards the groove 10 and thus facilitate the assembly of said upper shell with the lower shell 1.

The end edge 2a of the upper shell 2 is also partially equipped with a series of bosses 21, as shown on fig. 2B and 4A. In fact, these bosses 21 enable to ensure mutual contact and fastening between the two shells 1, 2 in the peripheral groove 10 during said assembly, and to ensure an optimal nesting, given the relatively large length of the shell B.

The connecting means for connecting between the two shells 1, 2 comprise at least two substantially truncated-cone-shaped projections or uprights 12 carried by the bottom of the lower shell 1 (fig. 3A and 3B). Said protrusions 12 are intended to engage, during assembly of the casing B, in two cavities 22 provided facing on the upper shell 2 and having a complementary appearance, so as to ensure centering of said upper shell, as shown in fig. 3A, 3B and 4A. The cavities 22 are here provided in protruding piers 24 in the form of protuberances carried by the bottom of the upper shell 2.

Each projection 12 is preferably equipped with an elongated vertical rib 12a, here three in number (one rib on a first surface and two ribs on the opposite surface of the projection 12, respectively). These ribs 12a ensure that the upper case 2 is restrained when the cavity 22 covers the protruding portion 12 of the lower case 1 in the final stage of assembly, as shown in fig. 4B.

To facilitate engagement of the projections 12 in the cavities 22, the cavities have flared openings 22a, as shown in the cross-sectional view of fig. 4B. When assembled to each other, the shells 1, 2 are constrained, which makes it possible to avoid the propagation of vibrations and thus to protect the operation of the module DRL.

Said locking means comprise at least two projections 13 (visible in particular on fig. 1A, 1B and 3A) integral with the end edge 1A of the lower shell 1 and intended to snap elastically and therefore reversibly in two complementary apertures 20 facing in tabs 23 provided integral with the end edge 2a of the upper shell 2, as shown in fig. 5A, 5B.

The projection 13 is carried by a tab 14 having a size substantially equal to the size of the tab 23. The outer surface of the projection 13 is inclined downwards to facilitate the sliding of the tab 23 and the placing facing of the orifice 20.

Unlocking of the two shells 1, 2 and opening of the shell B can be easily performed by manually pressing on the outer surface of the projection 13 to release said projection from the tab 23, and then by applying a traction force on the upper shell 2 in order to separate the two shells. The internal chamber in which the module DRL is located is thus accessible.