Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
  • F21S41/50—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
  • F21S41/55—Attachment thereof
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
  • F21S43/50—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers
  • F21S43/51—Attachment thereof

Definitions

• Optical unit for a motor vehicle provided with a mask fixed on a frame
• the present invention relates generally to the field of lighting and signaling systems for motor vehicles.
• It relates in particular to an optical lighting or signaling unit for a motor vehicle.
• Such an optical unit conventionally comprises at least one frame intended to be fixed to the structure of the vehicle and on which is mounted, directly or via a dedicated support, at least one light module capable of ensuring a photometric function of lighting such as a position light (also known as a night light or lantern), or a photometric signaling function such as a reversing light, a STOP light, a flashing direction indicator light or even a daytime running light designated by the English acronym DRL (Daytime Running Light) and lights up automatically when the vehicle is moving forward to increase its visibility in daylight conditions.
• a position light also known as a night light or lantern
• a photometric signaling function such as a reversing light, a STOP light, a flashing direction indicator light or even a daytime running light designated by the English acronym DRL (Daytime Running Light) and lights up automatically when the vehicle is moving forward to increase its visibility in daylight conditions.
• DRL Daytime Running Light
• Each light module conventionally comprises at least one light source constituted for example by a halogen bulb or a light-emitting diode as well as an optical element such as a reflector or a light guide and capable of modifying the path of the light rays reaching it in the direction space to illuminate.
• a light source constituted for example by a halogen bulb or a light-emitting diode as well as an optical element such as a reflector or a light guide and capable of modifying the path of the light rays reaching it in the direction space to illuminate.
• the fixing member comprises a frustoconical barrel taking root on the frame and being provided with a hole in which one comes to screw a self-tapping screw having previously passed through a corresponding circular orifice made in a wall carried by the mask.
• the drilling of the barrel is not generally tapped (such a tapping having in fact to be systematically carried out post injection), the latter does not easily receive the screw at the rate of the screwing operation and tends to move back towards screw of the orifice (the mask and the frame then deviating slightly from each other).
• the present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.
• an optical signaling and / or lighting unit for a motor vehicle comprising a frame, an optical module mounted on said frame and comprising at least one light device capable of ensuring at least one photometric function, as well as a mask fixed to said frame by means of fixing means and being able to conceal part of said optical module from the view of an observer, said fixing means between the mask and the frame comprising at least one barrel carried by the '' one of these elements and being provided with a hole in which is screwed a screw having previously passed through a corresponding orifice made in a wall carried by the other element; characterized in that said optical unit comprises retaining means provided on said mask or on said frame and capable of cooperating, during the fitting of said mask on said frame, with complementary means provided on the other of these elements during placing said mask on said frame so as to prevent said barrel from moving away from said wall during the screwing of said screw in said piercing of the barrel.
• the invention thus greatly simplifies the assembly of the mask to the frame while also avoiding the appearance of residual fingerprints on these elements.
• optical unit According to preferred characteristics of said optical unit according to the invention, taken alone or in combination:
• retaining means comprise an elastically deformable tongue capable of cooperating in abutment with a stopper
• - Said stopper is constituted by the end of a tab extending along a plane perpendicular to the axis of said barrel and on which the base of this barrel takes root;
• said optical unit comprises means for pre-positioning said mask with respect to said frame, the latter comprising a guide arch extending opposite said wall and being intended to be crossed, during placing said mask by said barrel in order to guide it sliding to said wall so that its bore is aligned laterally with the axis of said orifice
• the lateral uprights of said arch having respective bosses projecting in relief from their inner faces and forming adjustment members for the lateral alignment of the axis of said bore with the axis of said orifice;
• pre-positioning means also comprise a cradle projecting from the face turned towards said arch of the wall on the lower periphery of said orifice, and designed to support an end portion of said barrel after the fitting of said mask so that its bore is aligned vertically with the axis of said orifice; and or
• the bottom of said cradle has a boss forming a member for adjusting the vertical alignment of the axis of said bore with the axis of said orifice.
• the invention also relates in a second aspect, to a motor vehicle comprising at least one such optical unit.
• FIG 1 shows a perspective view of an optical unit according to the invention
• FIG 2 is an exploded perspective view of the optical unit of Figure 1;
• FIG. 3 shows a perspective sectional view taken along a vertical longitudinal plane of the external lateral assembly zone by screwing between the mask and the frame of the optical unit of FIG. 1; and [Fig 4] is an enlargement in perspective from another angle of the part of the external lateral end of the frame of the optical unit of FIG. 1.
• an X axis defining a longitudinal direction, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, - a Y axis, defining a transverse, horizontal direction, which with the X axis defines a horizontal XY plane, and
• Figures 1 and 2 show a perspective view of a rear signaling optical unit 1 intended to be mounted on the body structure of a motor vehicle.
• the optical signaling unit 1 comprises a frame 10, an optical module 20 fitted onto the frame 10, a mask 30 mounted on the frame 10 and the optical module 20, an external lens of cover 40 mounted on the mask 30, as well as a side skirt 50 mounted on the frame 10.
• the frame 10 is advantageously molded in one piece from a thermoplastic polymer such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
• ABS acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
• the optical module 20 comprises a first light device 21 ensuring the position light or lantern function as well as a second light device 25 ensuring the light functions reversing and direction indicator flashing light.
• the first light device 21 comprises three light-emitting diodes (not visible) installed on a printed circuit board 22 of the PCB type (for “Printed Circuit Board” in English).
• This first device 22 also includes a transparent or translucent screen 23 mounted on a support plate 24 behind these diodes and intended to be crossed by the light rays coming from the latter.
• the second light device 25 comprises five light-emitting diodes (not visible) located on a second PCB not shown opposite five light guides 26 of the flat type (or "fiat guide” in English) located on the support plate 24 below the screen 23 and aligned transversely with respect to each other with a slight longitudinal offset.
• This optical module 20 is fitted onto the frame 10 and then fixed to the latter in a conventional manner by snap-fastening and screwing.
• the mask 30 covers certain portions of the optical module 20 and of the frame 10 so as to conceal them from the eyes of an observer located outside the vehicle while ensuring part of the style of the optical unit 1.
• an opaque thermoplastic polymer such as polycarbonate (PC)
• the mask 30 has a plurality of recesses 31, 32 revealing in particular the three portions of the screen 23 located opposite the diodes of the first light device 22, as well as the rear faces of light rays leaving the light guides 26.
• this mask 30 is fixed by screwing to the corresponding lateral ends of the frame 10.
• One of these lateral assembly zones will be described in more detail in the following description with the support of the figures 3 and 4.
• the transparent cover glass 40 produced in one piece by molding from a transparent thermoplastic polymer such as poly (methyl methacrylate) or polycarbonate (PC), covers the mask 30 by being fixed on the peripheral edge 33 of the latter by laser welding so as to ensure a perfect seal.
• a transparent thermoplastic polymer such as poly (methyl methacrylate) or polycarbonate (PC)
• the side skirt 50 is attached by snap-fastening and screwing on the internal lateral end of the frame 10 in order to provide the interface with a lateral edge of opening the luggage compartment of the vehicle.
• FIG. 3 shows the external lateral zone of assembly by screwing between the mask 30 and the frame 10.
• the mask 30 comprises, at its external lateral end, a fixing member constituted by a cylindrical barrel 34 extending in a substantially longitudinal direction.
• the barrel 34 is provided with a non-tapped blind bore (not visible in the figures) intended to receive a self-tapping screw 60 having previously passed through a circular orifice of longitudinal axis 11 formed in a substantially vertical plane wall 12 of the frame 10 extending near its external lateral edge (see FIG. 4).
• the latter comprises means for pre-positioning the cylindrical barrel 34 relative to the circular orifice 11.
• upstream and downstream used to characterize the position of certain elements of the frame 10 and of the mask 30 are to be considered with respect to the direction of movement of the cylindrical barrel 31 during assembly of this mask 30 on this frame 10.
• These pre-positioning means comprise a guide arch 13 extending opposite and upstream from the planar wall 12 along a median plane parallel to the latter.
• this arch 13 is intended to be crossed, during the fitting of the mask 30, by the cylindrical barrel 34 in order to guide it to slide until its annular edge comes to rest against the flat wall 12 of the frame 10 and so that the axis of its bore is aligned laterally with the axis of the orifice 11.
• the two lateral uprights 13A, 13B of the arch 13 have respective bosses 14 projecting in relief from their interior faces (only one of these bosses being visible in FIG. 4).
• bosses 14 the thicknesses of which can be adjusted by removing or adding material to the injection mold used to manufacture the reinforcement 10, thus constitute bodies for adjusting the lateral alignment of the axis of the bore. blind end of the cylindrical barrel 34 with the axis of the circular orifice 11.
• the pre-positioning means also include a cradle with a profile in an arc
• the bottom of the cradle 15 also has a boss 16 whose thickness can also be adjusted by removing or adding material to the injection mold used to manufacture the frame 10, this boss
• the frame 10 comprises an elastically deformable tongue 16, the free end 16A of which is capable of cooperating in abutment with a stopper 35 formed on the mask 30 during the fitting of this mask on the frame 10, so as to prevent the cylindrical barrel 31 from moving away from this wall 12 when the self-tapping screw 60 is screwed into its blind bore.
• the tongue 16 extends upstream of the guide arch 13 and the flat wall 12, from the edge of a cutout 17 made in a horizontal flange 18, and in a direction oriented towards this wall 12 and upwards .
• the stopper 35 is here constituted by the lower end of a tab 36 extending along a vertical plane perpendicular to the axis of the barrel 34 and on which the base of the latter takes root.
• the free lower end of the stopper 35 begins by sliding along the tongue 16 which folds elastically and gradually downwards.
• the pre-positioning means are shaped differently.
• the fixing barrel is located on the frame while the circular orifice is formed on a wall of the mask.
• the elastically deformable tongue is also shaped differently, the latter being able for example to be installed on the mask while the rigid element cooperating with it is formed on the frame.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
• Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=66049238

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2018
  • 2018-11-16 FR FR1871559A patent/FR3088596B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2019
  • 2019-10-22 EP EP19813084.1A patent/EP3881003B1/de active Active
  • 2019-10-22 WO PCT/FR2019/052507 patent/WO2020099746A1/fr not_active Ceased

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