Assembly consisting of a bumper skin and of masking means

The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicle bumpers.

already known in the prior art a bodywork part forming a bumper skin. The bumper skin comprises a face from outside the vehicle and is bounded by lower and upper transverse edges. The bumper skin is also bounded by side edges. A portion of each side edge is connected to each wing of the vehicle and another portion defines at least in part each wheel arch. These transverse side edges and may comprise straight sections or curved, concave or convex, depending on the style of the bumper skin.

Once skin bumper mounted on the vehicle, the upper edge comprises two portions masked by attached members of the vehicle, for example, two optical units. The portion of the complementary upper edge of the two portions masked by the optical block is, it is visible by the vehicle user, in particular in a cover open position of the vehicle.

To ensure a good perceived quality and aesthetics of the vehicle, the upper and lower edges form returns extending substantially in line with the face of bumper skin to which they are connected. Return formed by the upper edge makes it possible to offer a good finish of the vehicle, in particular during the opening of the hood of the vehicle, while the return formed by the lower edge generally serves to contribute to vehicle styling.

In the painting process of the skin of the bumper, there are several bumper skins on a vertical support of a paint line so that the lower and upper transverse edges of two successive parts are adjacent.

In order to paint the whole of each bumper skin, including the face and returns formed by the edges, are generally used for applying paint robots able to move according to a three-dimensional trajectory. On the one hand, these robots are very expensive and complex to control. On the other hand, the three-dimensional trajectory is, the time necessary for the application of the paint is relatively large. Finally, the spaces between the skins of the same medium must be relatively large to allow passage of robots among the skins and the application of paint on the back formed by the edges. These spaces between the skins reduce the number of skins can be provided on the support and therefore the performance of the paint line.<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US6511109B"><text>US 6511109</text></patcit> discloses an assembly according to the preamble of claim 1. <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US2004224099A"><text>US 2004/22 40 99</text></patcit> discloses an assembly comprising a bodywork part whose purpose of claim 1 differs in that the upper part of this piece is not masked by both a member of the

vehicle and a second complementary member of that body.

The invention aims to simplify the painting process bumper skin.

To this end, the invention relates to an assembly intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle comprising a bodywork part for forming at least a portion of a bumper skin of the vehicle, the piece being delimited by edges lower and upper, the upper edge having at least a portion intended to be hidden by at least one member of the vehicle relative to the piece once the piece mounted on the vehicle, characterized in that the assembly comprises at least a first insert masking the lower edge and at least a second insert of masking a portion of the complementary upper edge of the or portions of the upper edge intended to be masked by the organ or organs once the assembly mounted on the vehicle, the first and second masking members being fixed relative to the bodywork part.

Such a body can be painted by a simple process.

Indeed, the upper and lower transverse edges of the bodywork part being masked from one side edge to the other by the reported elements and the first and second masking members, it is then unnecessary to paint returns formed by the edges upper and lower. It is even possible to have a body part having transverse edges forming no return.

Due to the non-necessity to paint returns formed by the transverse edges, it is possible, firstly, to reduce the spaces between the body of the same support parts and thus to have a relatively large number of body parts on the paint medium and, on the other hand, use application robots able to move only along a bidirectional path and thus to allow an application of the relatively fast painting using robots whose cost is relatively low and relatively simple operation. Such robots are for example two-dimensional reciprocators.

According to an optional feature of the assembly according to the invention, the masking insert member at least a portion of the upper edge of the bodywork part includes an optical block.

According to another optional feature of the assembly according to the invention:<ul><li>either a first part identical to the bodywork part obtained not upward translation of the bodywork part in the use position on the vehicle, and</li><li>or a second part identical to the bodywork part obtained by downward translation of the bodywork part in the use position on the vehicle,</li></ul> the bodywork part is formed so that any portion of the upper edge of the bodywork part, respectively lower, projected on a projection plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in the use position on the vehicle, defining a non-planar convex projected portion of the part, is opposite a portion of the lower edge, respectively upper projected on the projection plane, defining a concave portion or plane of the first part, the second part respectively.

Such a part optimizes the footprint of parts on the paint media and thus increase the number of pieces that can be arranged on the paint medium. Indeed, the part is formed so that the upper and lower edges follow, at least some portions of substantially parallel paths, which allows to optimize the footprint of a set of superimposed pieces wherein the bottom edges and top of two successive parts are opposite one another.

Optionally, the bottom edge defines a notch formed in the bodywork part and the upper edge of which delimits at least one projection forming a visible portion of the part once the latter mounted on the vehicle, the bodywork part being shaped than :<ul><li>each projection of the body part is adapted to be positioned in the indentation of the first part of the same body, and</li><li>the recess of the bodywork part is capable of receiving the projection or projections of the second part of the same body.</li></ul>

Such body parts can be nested into each other during the painting process which allows to further increase the number of pieces that can be arranged on the paint medium.

In addition, the notch being adapted to receive the at least one projection of another identical part, the passage of the applicator in the vicinity of the notch also enables the paint or the protrusions of the other identical part positioned in notch which reduces losses classic painting related to the application of paint near the edges of the parts to be painted.

According to an optional feature of the assembly according to the invention, the first and second masking members are in one piece after casting, preferably in a plastic.

Optionally wherein the first and second masking members are interconnected by deformable connecting means resiliently.

In the case where the first and second masking members are in one piece, the deformable linking means allow to adjust the position of the first and second masking members with respect to the body by elastically deforming the connecting means. These connecting means thus make it possible to bring the masking elements to the piece despite any dimensional variations of the bodywork part and masking members.

According to another optional feature of the assembly according to the invention, the assembly comprises a support part of the piece of bodywork comprising:<ul><li>a support portion for supporting the body part, and</li><li>an area visible from outside the vehicle once the assembly mounted on the vehicle, the visible portion comprising the first and second masking members.</li></ul>

The support part ensures the masking function of the lower edge and the complementary portion of the upper edge, as well as the function of supporting the skin of the bumper. This support member may also include other parts fit to perform other functions, such as shock absorption.

Advantageously, the bodywork part comprises means for fixing the first and second masking members integrally molded with the body part.

Such fasteners are used to make a body part at low cost.

According to an optional feature of the assembly according to the invention, at least one of first and second masking members comprises at least one decorative element, for example an air inlet grille.

Thus, by having different models of the first and second masking members having decorative elements corresponding to different levels of range, it is possible to obtain different levels within a range set by changing the at least one of the first and second masking elements.

Optionally, the bodywork part comprises fixing means of the part to at least one other identical bodywork part.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises an assembly as defined above. There is also provided a method of painting at least a first and second body parts each forming a portion of a bumper skin, the first and second parts being identical to each other, wherein each first and second part body form a body part of an assembly as defined above and wherein one applies paint on each first and second part by means of a moving applicator according to two dimensions.

Advantageously, the second part is suspended at the first part.

It is thus secure the second part to the first part without the intermediary of a paint medium, but directly by suspension thereof in the first part. This will provide suspend several body part successively to each other, the highest part being the only suspended from a support.

The invention will be better understood from reading the description which follows, given by way of example and with reference to the drawings:<ul><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> is a perspective view of a motor vehicle according to the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref> is a perspective view of an assembly according to the invention;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0001">3</figref> is a perspective view of a body part of the whole <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref> ;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref> is a perspective view of a supporting part of the whole <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref> ;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">5</figref> is a partial perspective view of the support part of the <figref idrefs="f0002">4</figref>;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0002">6</figref> is another perspective view of the support part of the <figref idrefs="f0002">5</figref>;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0003">7</figref> is a perspective view of a set of body parts painted by a painting method according to a first embodiment;</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0004">8</figref> is a perspective view of a set of painted car body parts according to a painting method according to a second embodiment,</li><li>the <figref idrefs="f0005">9</figref> is a perspective view of the part of the <figref idrefs="f0001">3</figref> and first and second parts obtained by translation of this work upward and downward respectively.</li></ul>

On the <figref idrefs="f0001 f0002">Figures 1 to 6</figref>, There is shown the axes X, Y, Z orthogonal between them corresponding to the conventional orientations longitudinal X, transverse Y and vertical Z of a vehicle. The longitudinal axis is oriented from front to rear of the vehicle.

Shown on <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> a motor vehicle according to the invention designated by the general reference V.

The vehicle V includes a front assembly 10 attached to the motor vehicle, and shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>. The assembly 10 comprises a body part 11 forming a part of a PC bumper skin of the vehicle and a supporting part 12 of the body part 11, shown in<figref idrefs="f0002">Figures 4 and 6</figref>. The vehicle V also includes other body parts such as a cover C is movable relative to the bodywork part 11, and wings A. The vehicle V also comprises two optical blocks BO arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to a median longitudinal plane the vehicle substantially parallel to the XZ plane.

As also shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">Figures 2 and 3</figref>The piece 11 includes a face 13 is visible from outside the vehicle V and is delimited by the lower transverse edges 14 and 16. The upper part 11 is also delimited by two lateral edges 17, 18. Each side edge 17, 18 comprises a first portion 18a connected to each wing a and a second portion 18b which defines at least in part each wheel housing 20. the edges 14 and 16 form returns extending substantially perpendicular to the face 13. These returns have a dimension less than or equal to 10 mm or 7mm and, preferably, 5mm.

The lower edge 14 of the part 11 defines a notch 22 formed in the workpiece. This recess extends in the Y direction, about half the width of the part 11 and, in the Z direction, about one-third of the height of the room 11. The upper edge 16 defines two projections 24, 26 forming two visible parts of the piece 11 once it mounted on the vehicle as shown in<figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>. The two projections 24, 26 extend substantially in the vertical direction Z and are arranged symmetrically relative to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle V. Each projection extends in the Y direction, on a portion 28, 29 of the upper edge 16 located opposite to the notch 22 with respect to a horizontal median plane of the part 11 parallel to the XY plane.

Exhibit 11 also includes two holes 30 for the passage of light organs below 32, in the case of fog lights.

As shown in the <figref idrefs="f0001">3</figref>, The part 11 comprises fixing means 34 to the support member 12. The fixing means 34 are integrally molded with the workpiece 11. In this case, the part 11 being molded from a plastics material, the fastening means 34 comprise elastic fasteners such as clips 36.

Shown on <figref idrefs="f0002">Figures 4, 5 and 6</figref>, The support part 12. The part 12 is molded in one piece, preferably in a plastic, in particular an injection-molded plastic. Exhibit 12 includes a portion 38 for supporting the workpiece 11 and next to the part 11, behind it once the assembly 10 mounted on the vehicle V. The piece 12 also includes a part 40, visible from outside the vehicle V when the assembly 10 mounted thereon. This portion 40 comprises first and second elements 42, 44 intended to be fixed on the bodywork part 11 via means 34. Finally, the part 12 includes a converging bottom 45 providing an air guiding function, and possibly a function of absorbing shocks.

The portion 38 comprises connection means 46 of the first and second members 42, 44 between them. These connecting means 46 are elastically deformable and comprises a plurality of connecting members 48 divided in the Y direction between the first and second members 42, 44. Each member 48 has, in a plane parallel to the YZ plane, a corrugated section. Part 38 also comprises a member 50 of shock absorption for receiving an impact beam.

The first element 42, located at the bottom of the assembly 11, comprises an air inlet grille 52 and a spoiler 54. The second element 44, located in the upper part of the assembly 11, includes an element decorative, in this case a shell 56. Each element 42, 44 comprises, in addition, fixing means 58 for the support member 12 to the body part 11, these means 58 being complementary means 34. in the here, the means 58 include holes 60 for receiving clips 36.

As shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">2</figref>, The lower edge 14 is masked from the side edge 17 to side edge 18 by the first element 42 thereby forming a first masking member the lower edge 14 of the body part 11. In particular, the gate mask air 52 the lower edge of the notch 22.

As shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">Figures 1 to 3</figref>The top edge 16 comprises two portions 62a, 62b masked by two members of the vehicle once the bodywork part 11 mounted on the vehicle V, in this case the optical blocks BO. The upper edge 16 also comprises a portion 64, complementary to the portion 62a, 62b, so that the portions 62a, 62b and 64 form the edge 16 which extends from the side edge 17 to side edge 18. The portion 64 the edge 16 is hidden by the second element 44 thereby forming a second masking element of the portion 64 of top edge 16. when based on the body part 11, the first and second masking members 42, 44 are fixed relative to the bodywork part.

As shown in <figref idrefs="f0005">9</figref>The body part 11 is formed so that any portion 16a of the upper edge 16 of the projected bodywork part on a transverse projection plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, substantially parallel to the YZ plane, defining a convex projected portion non-planar the workpiece, is opposite a portion 14a of the lower edge projected on the transverse plane of projection, defining a concave portion or plane of a first part 11 a. This first piece 11a, shown in dotted on<figref idrefs="f0005">9</figref>Is obtained by upward translation of the part 11 in the use position on the vehicle.

The body part 11 is also formed so that any portion of the lower edge 14b projected on the projection plane in the use position on the vehicle, defining a convex projected portion non-planar workpiece, is opposite a portion 16b of the upper edge, projected onto the transverse plane, defining a flat or concave portion of a second part 11 b. This second part 11 b, also shown in dotted on<figref idrefs="f0005">9</figref>Is obtained by downward translation of the part 11 in the use position on the vehicle.

The body part 11 of the assembly 10 of the invention can be painted according to a painting process which will be specified below the main aspects of the invention.

Shown on <figref idrefs="f0003">7</figref> a set of 11 body parts painted by a painting method in a first embodiment.

A painting system 100 includes a support 102 forming hanger. Is suspended to support 102 first, second and third body parts to paint and respectively referenced 104, 106, 108. These three parts are identical. In this case, the piece 104 is achieved by upward movement of the second body part 106 in the use position on the vehicle and the workpiece 108 is obtained by downward movement of the bodywork part in the position of use on the vehicle. This movement comprises a translation, possibly supplemented by a rotation of a few degrees about an axis substantially parallel to the transverse axis Y.

Each bodywork part comprises fastening means for each piece to at least one other identical bodywork part. In this case, the first part 104 is suspended support 102 means the first suspension means 105, the second part 106 is suspended from the first part 102 by means of second suspension means 107 and the third part 108 is suspended the second part 106 through third suspension means 109.

Means the suspensions 105, 107, 109 respectively comprise pins 105a, 105b, 107a, 107b and 109a, 109b. These rods are preferably made of plastic. The rods 105a, 105b are fixed to the upper part of the piece 104. The rods 107a, 107b are fixed to the upper part of the part 106 and fixed on the lower part of the piece 104. Similarly, the rods 109a, 109b are fixed to the upper part of the part 108 and on the lower part of the piece 106.

As shown in <figref idrefs="f0003">7</figref> on which the first, second and third parts 104, 106, 108 are superimposed on each other in this order, each piece 104, 106, 108 is formed so that the projections 24, 26 of the second and third parts 106 and 108 are adapted to be positioned in the notch 22 respectively of the first and second parts 104, 106. the notch 22 of the first and second pieces 104, 106 is adapted to receive the projections respectively of the second and third parts 106, 108.

Advantageously, the rods are fixed removably to the fixing means 34 of two consecutive parts. Thus, the parts by means of a moving applicator is painted according to two dimensions, for example a reciprocator and, after the painting step, the rods are removed.

Alternatively, the rods may be movable between:<ul><li>a position slurry used in a step of applying a product, for example a room painting step in which the part which carries the suspended piece located above,</li><li>a separated position (<figref idrefs="f0001">3</figref>) Used in the workpiece transport step in which the rod allows to maintain a fixed difference between two consecutive parts.</li></ul>

Alternatively, the rooms 104, 106, 108 can be suspended in two continuous thread-like elements, for example cables, fixed to the support 102.

Shown on <figref idrefs="f0004">8</figref> a set of body parts to paint as a painting method according to a second embodiment.

On this <figref idrefs="f0004">8</figref>, The elements analogous to those shown in the preceding figures are designated by identical references.

The installation 200 comprises a support 202 forming mast. The installation also comprises first and second assemblies 204a, 204b of three parts. The first set 204a includes first, second and third pieces 208a, 210a, 212a. Each part 208a, 210a, 212a is independently attached to the mast 202 respectively by fixing means 209a, 211a, 213a. Each means 209a, 211 a, 213a comprises two spacer bars 209a1, 209a2, 211A1, 211A2, 213a1, 213A2 extending from the mast 202 to the corresponding piece. The second set 204b is symmetrically arranged to the first assembly 204a relative to a vertical plane P. The references of this second assembly 204b are deduced<i>mutatis mutandis</i> from those of the first set 204a.

As shown in <figref idrefs="f0004">8</figref>The spacer bars length is a function of the distance needed to put back to back two body parts without them touching. In the plant shown, the ends of the body parts are made almost flush with each other so as to minimize the bulk of the plant. Thus, the body parts are formed so as to minimize the size of two parts placed back to back.

The invention is not limited to the previously described embodiments.

Indeed, the body part may be made of sheet metal.

In addition, the body part may be molded by injection, compression or by thermoforming.

Skin bumper may also include one or more decorative elements integrally molded or reported such as shock absorbers or fog light trims.

In particular can be provided, regardless of other features, a method of painting at least a first and second body parts each forming a portion of a bumper skin, the first and second parts being identical to one another in which comprises applying paint on each first and second part by means of a moving applicator according to two dimensions.

In addition, it is noted that the features:<ul><li>of the body part 11,</li><li>masking elements 42, 44,</li><li>of the support piece 12, and</li><li>the painting process, and</li><li>of the assembly 10</li></ul>described above may be implementations independently of each other and independently of the fact that the assembly comprises at least a first insert masking the lower edge and at least a second insert of masking a portion of the upper edge or complementary to portions of the upper edge intended to be masked by the organ or organs once the assembly mounted on the vehicle, the first and second masking members being fixed relative to the bodywork part.