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AssigneeCompagnie Plastic Omnium
InventorsFrancis Cordebar, Pascal Barbier
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The invention relates to a mount for securing a part to a support and for enabling the part to be positioned relative to its surroundings. The mount comprises: two pieces (6, 20) that are movable relative to each other parallel to a positioning axis (Y), one piece being for securing to the part and the other to the support; retaining means (22a, 26, 28) which prevent the two moving pieces from moving relative to each other and which release them only when the part (2) exerts against the support (4) a force that is greater than a given threshold in a direction parallel to the positioning axis; and locking means (31) suitable for being actuated to prevent the two moving pieces from moving relative to each other. The invention also provides a method of assembling a part to a support by means of such a mount.
1/ A mount for securing a part to a support and for enabling it to be positioned relative to its surroundings, the mount being characterized in that it comprises:
2/ A mount according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means define two thresholds:
3/ A mount according to claim 2, characterized in that the first and second thresholds are equal.
4/ A mount according to claim 2, characterized in that the first direction is the direction in which the part (2) moves towards the support (4), and the second direction is the direction in which the part moves away from the support, and in that the first threshold is less than the second threshold.
5/ A mount according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the retaining means are constituted by serrations formed in facing bearing surfaces (22a, 26) of the two moving pieces, and by resilient means (28) pressing said bearing surfaces against each other.
6/ A mount according to claim 5, characterized in that the serrations are symmetrical.
7/ A mount according to claim 5, characterized in that the serrations are asymmetrical.
8/ A mount according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the locking means (31) act on the retaining means by increasing the threshold above which a force tending to cause the part to slide over the support is capable of releasing the two moving pieces.
9/ A mount according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it includes, in its moving piece that is to be secured to the part, an energy absorber (56) arranged in such a manner as to absorb the energy of impacts corresponding to impacts against the part.
10/ A mount according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it includes a fuse zone (56) for separating the part from the support in the event of an impact.
11/ A mount according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is arranged in such a manner that in addition to adjustment in the positioning direction, it allows the part to slide relative to the support in a sliding direction (X) which is preferably substantially perpendicular to the positioning direction (Y).
12/ A method of assembling a part on a support by means of a mount according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the method being characterized in that it consists in:
13/ A method according to claim 12, characterized in that the moving pieces are secured to the part and to the support by initially fixing the mount assembly to the part, and subsequently securing said part fitted with the mount to the support.
14/ A method of assembling a bodywork part to a structural part of a motor vehicle by means of a mount according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the method being characterized in that it consists in:
15/ A method of assembling a motor vehicle front fender to a structural part of said vehicle, the vehicle having an engine compartment hood covering said structural part, the method being characterized in that it consists in:
16/ A method according to claim 15, characterized in that while the fender is being secured to the corresponding moving piece, said moving piece is already assembled to the other moving piece for securing to the structural part, such that the other moving piece is subsequently secured to the structural part by fitting the fender carrying the mount assembly to said structural part.