FR3116486A1 - LIGHT MODULE WITH FRANGIBLE MOUNTING BRACKET - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle optical device housing (10) comprising: a frangible fastening tab (20) along a break line (21) so as to break along the break line (21) under a force greater than a breaking force applied in a given direction A and in a direction A1 on the housing, the fixing lug (20) being intended to fix said housing (10) to the vehicle, a guide wall (13) arranged along the break line and extending parallel to the break line (21) so as to guide the relative movement of said wall (13) against the fixing lug (20) during of the rupture of the rupture line (21) when a force in direction A and direction A1 is applied to said casing (10). Figure for abstract: Fig. 3

Description

LIGHT MODULE WITH FRANGIBLE MOUNTING BRACKET

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a housing of a vehicle optical device. It relates in particular to the fixings of such a vehicle device. It finds particular application in lighting and/or signaling devices for motor vehicles. The invention relates in particular to the field of the front part of motor vehicles and its deformation in the event of impact.
TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to design headlight housing fixing lugs which comprise stiffening ribs. It is also known to design headlight housing fixing brackets which have a frangible part during an impact. However, after breaking a fixing lug comprising ribs, during an impact, said ribs can block the movement of the case part opposite the ribs and opposite the ribs with respect to the frangible zone . Document FR3046759 describes a headlamp housing comprising a fixing lug with a frangible zone preferably extending transversely to the main direction of the lug and comprising means for guiding the headlamp housing after said fixing lug has broken.

There represents a solution of the prior art. Fixing lug 20 includes a break line 21. Fixing lug 20 is in the form of a plate and includes stiffening ribs 22 extending from the wall of the plate and perpendicular thereto. The case 1 comprises a main body 11 also comprising ribs 12. The fixing lug 20 and the main body 11 comprise a part of their respective ribs which are aligned in the same direction, and arranged on either side of the line break, and which are substantially perpendicular to the break line. During an impact generating the breakage of the fixing lug 20 at the level of the breakage line, said ribs 12 come into contact with the ribs 22 or with another part of the main body 11 causing a slowing down and/or a blocking of the box 10 during its displacement following the rupture of the rupture line 21.

The prior state of the art is therefore not effective enough to propose a definition of an optical device housing fixing lug which comprises stiffening ribs and a frangible zone of programmed rupture and of which said ribs do not constitute blocking elements in the event of an impact after rupture of the frangible zone

The object of the invention is to solve the problems of the prior art. In particular, one of the objectives is to improve the energy absorption of an impact by the headlight unit for the protection of pedestrians and to improve the repairability of the impacted parts of the vehicle, including the headlights. In particular, one of the objectives is to reduce the risks of jamming or slowing down during the relative movement of the case with respect to the fixing lug following the rupture of the rupture line 21 without slowing down or blocking.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention proposes a vehicle optical device housing comprising:
- a frangible fixing lug along a break line so as to break along the break line under a force greater than a breaking force applied in a given direction A and in a direction A1 on the case, the lug fixing being intended to fix said housing to the vehicle,
- a guide wall disposed along the break line and extending parallel to the break line in the direction A from the break line in the same direction A1 so as to guide the relative movement of the fixing bracket on said wall when the frangible line breaks when a force in direction A and direction A1 is applied to said casing.

In one embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises a main body to which the fixing lug is linked, the breaking line being at the junction between the lug and the main body, the wall being arranged on the main body.

In one embodiment of the invention, the fixing lug comprises reinforcing ribs arranged on the fixing lug.

Thus, due to the presence of the guide wall, the reinforcing ribs arranged on the fixing lug cannot come into contact against a part of the case and either block or slow down the movement of the case in its movement following the shock and rupture of the frangible zone.

In another embodiment of the invention, the fixing lug comprises reinforcing ribs on the fixing lug, and the main body of the box comprises reinforcing ribs, arranged on the side of the guide wall opposite to the area frangible.

Thus the guide wall prevents the ribs arranged on the fixing lug from coming into contact with the ribs arranged on the main body of the box. The movement of the box in its movement following the shock and the rupture of the frangible zone is then neither slowed down nor blocked by contacts between ribs arranged on either side of the frangible zone.

The invention relates to an optical device comprising a box according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising an optical device according to the invention.

In a particular mode of the invention, the vehicle comprises an optical device with a housing in which the fixing lug is arranged in a transverse and vertical plane of the vehicle, the fixing lug being frangible along a line of rupture following a force fracture comprising a majority component applied vertically from top to bottom.

Thus in this arrangement, the invention prevents the movement of the case from being slowed down and/or prevented following a vertical impact. In particular, the invention prevents the movement of the case from being slowed down and/or prevented following a head impact exerted substantially vertically from top to bottom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

shows a perspective view of an optical device according to the invention.

shows a view of the case and the fixing lug without the invention.

shows a view of the case and the fixing lug according to the invention

represent respective positions of the housing and of the fixing lug before the rupture of the rupture line.

represents respective positions of the housing and of the fixing lug during the rupture of the rupture line.

], represents respective positions of the housing and of the fixing lug during the rupture of the rupture line.

The drawings are schematic representations serving to facilitate the understanding of the invention. Components may not be shown to scale.

In the following description, the term "comprise" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it authorizes the presence of other elements or means of a projector module. It is understood that the term “include” includes the terms “consist of”. In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

The X direction is the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in running order. The Y direction is the transverse direction of the vehicle in running order. The Z direction is the vertical of the vehicle oriented upwards.

The schematic representations as presented are in a particular case of a front headlight. It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to this particular case of a headlight but relates to all types of optical devices of a vehicle.

There shows in perspective an optical device according to the invention.

Said optical device 1 shown in is a vehicle front headlight.

The optical device comprises light-emitting devices arranged in the housing, and a window 2 closing the housing.

The optical vehicle device 1 comprises a housing 10 itself comprising a fixing lug 20. The fixing lug 20 comprises a fixing interface 3 cooperating with a fixing means in order to be fixed to an element of the vehicle, for example a component of the vehicle structure.

There represents a box according to the invention.

The housing 10 of the optical device 1 of the vehicle comprises a fastening lug 20 which can be broken along a break line 21 so as to break along the break line 21 under a force greater than a breaking force applied in a given direction A and in a direction A1 on the housing. The fixing lug 20 comprises a fixing interface 3 so as to fix the fixing lug 20 to the vehicle, which constitutes before the rupture of the rupture line 21 a fixing of the case 10 to the vehicle.

The box 10 comprises a guide wall 13 arranged along the break line 21 and extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction A. The wall 13 guides the relative movement of the box 10 along the break line, the along the fixing lug 20, when the frangible line breaks when a force in the direction A and the direction A1 is applied to said box causes said break.

The box 10 is therefore guided by contact of the guide wall 13 against the part of the fixing lug 20 facing each other, located on the side opposite the guide wall 13 with respect to the line of rupture 21.

The break line 21 is shown in Figures 2 and 3 in the form of a curve. Other shapes of break line 22 are possible, such as an arc of a circle or a straight line.

The case 10 comprises a main body 11. The fixing lug 20 is connected to the main body 11. The fixing lug 20 and the main body 11 are made in one piece, in the same industrial process, for example by molding plastic materials.

In the embodiment shown in , the bracket 20 is a substantially flat plate.

In another variant, the fixing lug is a plate comprising curved walls.

The line of rupture 21 consists of a line of reduction in thickness with respect to the contiguous portions. In another variant, the rupture line 21 comprises holes providing the weakness necessary to have a frangible zone. In another variant, the break line is a combination of thickness reductions and holes.

As illustrated in , the rupture line 21 is at the junction between the tab 20 and the main body 11, the wall 13 being arranged on the main body 11.

Thus the main body 11 due to the presence of the wall 13 is neither slowed down nor blocked in its movement following the rupture of the frangible zone consisting of the rupture line. When the rupture line 21 breaks due to a force exerted along A1, for example during an impact on the case 10, the wall 13 bears against the constituent walls of the fixing lug 20 located along of the break line 21, which can rest and slide on the guide wall 13 after the break of the break line. Thus the box 10 is neither slowed down nor blocked in its movement after the rupture of the rupture line.

As illustrated in , reinforcing ribs 22 are disposed on the mounting bracket 20., A portion of the ribs 22 extend onto the mounting bracket 20 from the break line 21. For example, the ribs 22 on the mounting bracket are perpendicular to the breaking line 21 at their end closest to the breaking line 21.

The ribs 22 are perpendicular to said fixing lug 20, and the ribs 22 extend on the same side of the lug 20 as the guide wall 13.

The main body 11 of the box 10 comprises stiffening ribs 12, arranged on the side of the guide wall 13, opposite the line of rupture 21. The reinforcing ribs 22 and the stiffening ribs 12 are therefore arranged on either side of other of the guide wall 13, the reinforcing ribs 22 extending on the other side of the guide wall 13 by the stiffening ribs 12. For example, the ribs 12 and 22 are for example in the extension of each with the others being perpendicular to the breaking line.

The breaking line 21 is arranged at the junction between the fixing lug 20 and an edge of the main body 11 of the box 10. The guide wall 13 follows the junction between the fixing lug 20 and the edge of the main body, and forms a substantially perpendicular angle with the fixing lug 20 at the level of the line of rupture 21.

When the optical device 1 is installed on a vehicle, the fixing lug 20 is for example chosen so as to be arranged in a vertical plane of the vehicle. The fixing lug 20 is frangible along a break line 20 following a breaking force comprising a majority component applied vertically from top to bottom, for example during a head impact occurring above the optical device 1. The break line 21 extends between an upper edge and a lower edge of the mounting bracket 20, relative to the vehicle.

For example before the impact, and as shown in , the fixing lug 20 comprises at least one reinforcing rib 220 which extends on the fixing lug 20 perpendicular to the breaking line 21. The guide wall 13 is arranged on the main body 11 of the housing 10, along of the break line 2. A stiffening rib 120 is arranged perpendicular to the guide wall 13 on the side opposite the break line with respect to the guide wall. The rib 120 is arranged in the extension of the rib 220.

Following a shock generating a force in the direction A1, substantially in the vertical direction, the frangible rupture line 21 breaks and as shown in , the main body 11 of the box 10 begins to move in a direction mainly oriented along A1.

Due to the presence of the guide wall 13, the edge of the rib 220, placed against the guide wall, along the rupture line, following the rupture, bears and slides on this guide wall 13 and does not interfere with a part of the main body 11, for example with one of the stiffening ribs 12. In other words the guide wall 13 bears and slides on the elements of the fixing lug 20 facing screw along the line of rupture 21. The guide wall 13 therefore bears and slides on the rib 220 and slides on the latter. The main body is thus neither slowed down nor blocked in its movement following the impact. Once the break has been made, due to the movement of the main body 11, the rib 120 is no longer in the extension of the rib 120.

There , represents the respective positions of the fixing lug 20 and of the main body 11 at a time subsequent to that of the . During its movement which continues mainly in the direction of A1, the main body 11 continues to be guided by the guide wall 13 which bears in particular on the rib 220, and also on the elements of the fixing lug 20 in screws screw of the guide wall 13. This prevents the movements of the main body 11 in the direction of the fixing lug 20 and imposes a kinematics on the main body 11. These movements of the main body 11 therefore also depend on the shape of the lug of fixing 20 at the breaking line 21. This can make it possible in particular to avoid impacts of the main body 11 with other surrounding parts of the vehicle. It should be noted that due to the forces which are significant, the fixing lug 20 can also deform or bend during movement of the main body. The main body 11 by resting and being guided by the support of its guide wall 13 on the fixing lug 20 along the line of rupture 21, exerts on the fixing lug 20 significant contact forces which can lead to deformations or displacements of the fixing lug 20.

In the case of a fixing lug 20 placed in a vertical plane of the vehicle and arranged on the exterior side of the vehicle relative to the box 10, the box 10 and its main body 11 thus see their displacement constrained in the direction of the vehicle interior. , following the rupture of the rupture line 21 during an impact generating a force comprising a majority component oriented from top to bottom, such as for example a head impact above the case 10. This arrangement makes it possible, for example, to avoid shocks of the case 10 against a wing of the vehicle arranged in the vicinity of the optical device.

Other positions of the fixing lug 20 are possible, such as for example in a horizontal plane.

Claims (10)

Vehicle optical device housing (10) comprising:

• a frangible fastening tab (20) along a break line (21) so as to break along the break line (21) under a force greater than a breaking force applied in a given direction A and in a direction A1 on the housing, the fixing lug (20) being intended to fix said housing (10) to the vehicle,
• characterized in that it comprises a guide wall (13) arranged along the break line (21) and extending parallel to the break line (21) in the direction A from the break line in the same direction A1 so as to guide the relative movement of the fixing lug (20) against said wall (13) when the fixing lug (20) breaks at the level of the line of rupture (21) when a following force direction A and direction A1 is applied to said box (10).

Housing (10) according to claim 1 comprising a main body (11) to which the fixing lug (20) is connected, the break line (21) being at the junction between the lug (20) and the main body (11 ), Housing (10) according to claim 2, the wall (13) of which is arranged on the main body (11). Case according to Claim 2 or 3, in which the fixing lug (20) comprises reinforcing ribs (22). Case according to Claim 4, in which the main body (11) of the case (10) comprises stiffening ribs (12) arranged on the side of the guide wall (13) opposite the line of rupture (21). Case according to claim 5, the reinforcing (22) and stiffening (12) ribs of which are aligned on either side of the breaking line (21). Vehicle optical device comprising a housing (10) according to one of the preceding claims. Vehicle comprising an optical device according to the preceding claim. Vehicle according to the preceding claim, in which the box (10) comprises a fixing lug (20) arranged in a vertical plane of the vehicle, the fixing lug (20) being frangible along the line of rupture (21) following a force fracture comprising a majority component applied vertically from top to bottom. Vehicle according to the preceding claim, in which the fixing lug (20) is arranged on the outside of the vehicle with respect to the box (10).