Motor vehicle equipment module

• US 7,029,057 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Systemes D'Essuyage (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Systemes D'Essuyage (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Izabel, Vincent, Simon, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US10/482,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20040174042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 296/56, 296/152, 296/146.8, 296/106, 296/146.1, 495/02, 293/128
• US Class Current: 296/152
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/101 for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/107 constructional details, e.g. about door frame, panels, materials used, reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/10 Arrangements for attaching the dashboard to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/85 for manual control of the light, e.g. of colour, orientation or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/88 Means for plugging to the electrical power supply of the vehicle, e.g. by using cigarette lighter sockets
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 27/06 readily releasable
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 29/048 Connections therefor, e.g. joints B62D29/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/16 the sub-units or components being exterior fittings, e.g. bumpers, lights, wipers , exhausts
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/16 Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets

Abstract

The invention relates to an external module for equipping a motor vehicle of the type that includes components to control the locking of the closed position of a movable part, such as a tailgate, with respect to a fixed part of the vehicle structure. The external equipment module includes a sealed external body which is received in a complementary housing in the movable part in which it is mounted from the outside of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An external module for equipping a motor vehicle of the type which comprises means of controlling the locking of a closed position of a movable part with respect to a fixed part of the vehicle,

characterised in that the external module comprises a sealed external body which is at least partially received in a complementary housing in the movable part in which the external module is mounted from the outside of the vehicle,

wherein the sealed external body comprises a rear shell closed sealingly by a front cover in the general form of a plate, and

wherein the sealed external body encapsulates the means of controlling the locking of the closed position of the movable part.

2. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that the movable part comprises an internal bearing structure and an external bodywork panel, and in that the sealed external body has a profile and shape complementary to those of the complementary housing which received the external module and which, in a mounted position, constitutes an attached part of the external bodywork panel.

3. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that the sealed external body is a piece molded from plastic material.

4. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that a seal is interposed between the front cover and the rear shell so as to make the sealed external body impermeable.

5. The external module according to claim 1, characterised in that the front cover and the rear shell are crimped and/or elastically fitted together so as to provide the seal on the sealed external body.

6. The external module according to claim 1, characterised in that the sealed external body carries fixing elements for the external module comprising fixing rods which extend parallel to the direction of mounting of the external module.

7. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that the means of controlling the locking of the closed position of the movable part comprises a control element able to move between an unlocking position and a locking position.

8. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 7, characterised in that the control element is a flexible deformable membrane which extends opposite an orifice in the sealed external body and whose internal wall is conductive so that, when the membrane is deformed towards the inside of the sealed external body, the internal wall comes into contact with an electrically conductive element, so as to modify the electrical state of an electrical circuit and to control the locking of the movable part.

9. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that the means of controlling the locking of the closed position of the movable part comprises a receiving element configured to receive information representing a locking control transmitted by external remote control means.

10. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that the external module comprises means forming an opening handle for the movable part.

11. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 1 further comprising an additional component.

12. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the additional component comprises a light source.

13. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 12, characterised in that the lighting source is separable from the sealed external body so as to form a movable lighting source.

14. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the light source comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a rear indicator light, a brake light a direction indicator light, a reversing light, and a fog light.

15. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 12, characterised in that the light source comprises a unit for lighting the outside of the motor vehicle.

16. The external module for equipping to motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the additional component comprises an anti break-in device for the external module.

17. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the additional component comprises an electronic vision system, wherein the electronic vision system includes oriented towards the outside of the motor vehicle and the camera is configured to provide information representing the external environment situated facing the electronic vision system.

18. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the additional component comprises a proximity detection system configured to assist in parking the motor vehicle.

19. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the additional component comprises a brightness sensor.

20. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a pre-positioning means configured to position the external module with respect to the movable part prior to mounting the movable part.

21. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according claim 11, wherein the additional component is electrically connected to a circuit holder plate.

22. The external module for equipping the motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that the sealed external body is made from electrically insulating material and is molded around at least one track or cable made from electrically conductive material for an electrical supply of the locking means.