Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Structural detail
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-30
2001-02-20
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Structural detail
C296S901010, C296S203020, C180S068400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189958
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a metal/plastic composite front panel for a motor vehicle.
Such a panel is a structural element of the vehicle capable of incorporating various items of equipment of the vehicle such as headlamps, direction indicators, horn, heat exchanger, electric fan unit or entire cooling module, etc.
The front panel, provided in this manner with these items of equipment, forms a single-unit assembly prepared and delivered by the equipment supplier, which is ready to be mounted on the vehicle by the manufacturer.
The mounting of this module is performed by connection to lateral structural elements of the vehicle such as side members, wings or body-frame, then positioning a bumper or a front shield mounted on the module.
As a panel structure which is made entirely of plastic material does not enable the safety requirements of crash tests to be complied with, for the structure of the front panel it is necessary to combine elements made of plastic material (for lightness and low manufacturing cost) and metal elements (for mechanical strength). The method that is currently used consists in deep-drawing a metal sheet to form a section which is then mounted on a plastic support by screwing or rivetting fixing sleeves.
One of the drawbacks of this method is an increase in the weight of the front panel, owing to the double thickness of metal+plastic at the level of the metal reinforcing section.
Moreover, the assembly of the reinforcing section by screwing or rivetting accordingly adversely affects the manufacturing cost of the panel.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One of the objects of the invention is to remove this drawback, by proposing a front panel structure that is both made lighter and reinforced, and which may be produced in accordance with the simplest and most economical possible process.
The panel of the invention is a composite panel of the known type comprising a frame of plastic material reinforced by an upper metal section extending over the whole width of the panel and provided with means for fixing it to structural elements of the vehicle.
According to the invention, the section is a section mounted and force-fitted onto a crosspiece of the plastic frame, whereas the section and crosspiece comprise mutual fitting means and cooperating elements that enable the section to be crimped onto the crosspiece.
According to various advantageous subsidiary characteristics:
the section is a section with an open cross-section having a general U-shaped section;
the cooperating elements comprise noses formed on the crosspiece, these noses being capable of locking the section onto the crosspiece by cooperating with a longitudinal edge, flanged by crimping inwards towards the noses, of one of the branches of the U of the section;
the fitting means comprise shoulders formed on the crosspiece, these shoulders being capable of guiding the section whilst it is being fitted onto the crosspiece by cooperating with a longitudinal edge, flanged outwards towards the shoulder, of one of the branches of the U of the section;
the crosspiece cooperates with the section by vertical ribs formed on said crosspiece, these ribs having an outer contour matching the inner contour of the section;
the panel also comprises a vertical metal central jamb, integral with the crosspiece and provided with means for fixing it to a bonnet lock, and this jamb is joined to the section at the site of the means for fixing the jamb to the bonnet lock, the jamb preferably being joined to the section by the other of the said branches of the U;
the section is formed from a punched and deep-drawn sheet;
the crosspiece and/or the section are capable of receiving a bundle of electrical cables and/or a cable for the mechanical control of a bonnet lock.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5658041 (1997-08-01), Girardot et al.
patent: 0 493 158 (1992-07-01), None
patent: 0 658 470 (1995-06-01), None
patent: 2 761331 (1998-10-01), None
International Search Report dated Jan. 18, 2000.
Cantineau Eric
Guyomard Jean-Nicolas
Sigonneau Jacques
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
Pape Joseph D.
Valeo Thermique Moteur
LandOfFree
Reinforced metal/plastic composite front panel for a motor... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Reinforced metal/plastic composite front panel for a motor..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Reinforced metal/plastic composite front panel for a motor... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2606576