Abstract:
The invention relates to a liner for the grille of a motor vehicle. The liner permits simple management of the desired clearance between a bumper shield and grille. The liner is intended to position the grille relative to the bumper shield while simultaneously supporting a top rim of the bumper shield.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a liner for a motor vehicle grille. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the present preoccupations in the motor vehicle industry lies in managing the various clearances between bodywork parts in order to optimize the appearance of the vehicle and the functional effectiveness of said bodywork parts. 
     The inventors working on the present invention have found that the clearance between a bumper shield and a motor vehicle grille cannot be managed in simple manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A particular object of the invention is to overcome that problem. 
     To this end, the invention provides a liner for a grille, the liner being positioned above a bumper shield, said shield having a top rim, the liner being characterized in that it includes means for supporting the top rim of the shield. 
     Since this grill liner is intended to position the grille, the fact that it is used to support the shield makes it simple to manage the clearance between the shield and the grille. 
     Optionally, the means for supporting the top rim of the shield form a transverse beam constituting a bearing surface level with the femur of a pedestrian&#39;s leg when the liner is mounted on a vehicle. Thus, in the event of an impact against a pedestrian, a leg of the pedestrian pressing against the top rim of the shield is not subjected to potentially dangerous deformation. 
     A grille liner of the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics: 
     the means for supporting the top rim of the shield comprise a bottom shelf extending over the entire length of the grille and providing a support surface for the top rim of the shield; and 
     the bottom shelf includes at least one longitudinal reinforcing rib extending substantially perpendicularly to said bottom shelf. 
     Furthermore, the grille liner of the invention is optionally of a general shape that fits substantially to the inside shape of the grille, so as to stiffen the grille so as to avoid small deformations in response to weak forces being applied to the grille. 
     According to other optional characteristics: 
     the liner includes fastener means for fastening to the vehicle; 
     the fastener means for fastening on the vehicle are means for fastening to a front panel of the vehicle; 
     the means for fastening to the front panel are suitable for breaking in the event of the liner being subjected to a force greater than a predetermined force, corresponding to a Danner impact; 
     the liner is concave in shape and is shaped in such a manner as to be capable of flattening in the event of being subjected to a force greater than a predetermined force, corresponding to a Danner impact; 
     in its bottom portion the liner includes bearing ends for bearing against the front panel and shaped so as to escape downwards or sideways so as to preserve the front panel and/or members mounted thereon, such as a radiator, in the event of the liner being subjected to a force greater than a predetermined force, corresponding to a Danner impact; 
     the bearing ends are shaped to escape downwards or sideways in such a manner that a horizontal force exerted on said bearing ends causes them to tilt in a desired direction; and 
     each of the bearing ends is of chamfered shape. 
     These characteristics have the advantage of conferring protection on the front panel which, in the event of a Danner impact, is not damaged by the grille and its support being pushed in. 
     According to other optional characteristics: 
     the liner includes localized energy-absorber means on the liner suitable for being level with the higher part of a pedestrian&#39;s leg or the head of a child when said liner is mounted on a vehicle; and 
     the energy-absorber means comprise an array of ribs. 
     These characteristics have the advantage of protecting a pedestrian in the event of a pedestrian impact. 
     Finally, according to a last optional characteristic, the grille liner is made of thermoplastic material. 
     The invention will be better understood on reading the following description given purely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a longitudinal section view of a grille liner of the invention, mounted on a motor vehicle; and 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the  FIG. 1  grille liner. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a liner  10  for a motor vehicle grille  12 . 
     The liner  10  is generally made of thermoplastic material and comprises reinforcing ribs  13  serving to stiffen it, and means  14  for fastening to a vehicle. In the embodiment described, the vehicle has a front panel  16 , and the means  14  for fastening to the vehicle are means for being fastened to said front panel  16 . 
     The vehicle also includes a bumper shield  20 . The shield  20  is provided with a top rim  22  including means  23  for fastening the grille  12  to the bumper shield  20 . The bottom edge of the grille  12  is provided with horizontally-movable snap-fastener tabs  24  and the fastener means  23  include orifices formed on projections  25  from the top rim  22 , suitable for receiving the tabs  24  on snap-fastening. 
     The liner  10  is also designed to be positioned above the bumper shield  20 , and it has means  26  for supporting the top rim  22 . 
     In general, the means  26  for supporting the top rim  22  form a transverse beam  27 , as can be seen in  FIG. 2 . This beam  27  has a bottom shelf  28  extending over the full length of the grille  12  and providing a support surface for the top rim  22  of the shield  20 . Thus, the top rim  22  of the shield  20  is held against the bottom edge of the grille  12 . 
     In order to be reinforced, in particular in a vertical direction, the bottom shelf  28  includes at least one longitudinal reinforcing rib  30  extending substantially perpendicularly to said bottom shelf  28 . 
     In addition, the shield  20  is secured to the bottom shelf  28  at two fastening points  29  by means of two screws. 
     It should be observed that the liner  10  makes it simple to manage the clearance between the shield  20  and the grille  12 . Both of the shield  20  and the grille  12  are carried by the liner  10 . 
     In addition to managing the positioning of the shield  20  relative to the grille  12 , the liner  10  can also perform several other functions. 
     Thus, the liner  10  also performs the function of reinforcing the grille  12 . For this purpose, the liner  10  is of a shape that fits generally closely to the inside shape of the grille  12 . This stiffens the grille  12  and serves to prevent possible deformation of the grille  12  resulting from weak forces being applied thereto. 
     In addition, the liner  10  is made in such a manner as to provide protection for a pedestrian in the event of a pedestrian impact. For this purpose, the transverse beam  27  is situated level with the femur of a pedestrian&#39;s leg so as to press against the femur in the event of a pedestrian impact. The pedestrian&#39;s leg thus bears against the front of the vehicle during a pedestrian impact in such a manner as to avoid suffering potentially dangerous deformation. 
     The liner  10  also has energy-absorber means  32 , e.g. comprising an array of ribs. These energy-absorber means  32  are located level with the higher part of a pedestrian&#39;s leg or with the head of a child when the liner  10  is mounted on a vehicle. 
     Furthermore, the liner  10  is made in such a manner as to protect the front panel  16  in the event of a Danner impact. 
     For this purpose, it should be observed that the fastener means  14  for fastening the liner  10  to the front panel  16  are suitable for breaking in the event of said liner  10  being subjected to a force greater than a predetermined force that corresponds to a Danner impact. The energy corresponding to the Danner impact is thus not transmitted to the front panel  16  by the fastener means  14 . 
     In addition, the liner  10  is concave in shape, and it is shaped in such a manner as to be suitable for flattening on being subjected to a force corresponding to a Danner impact. 
     Finally, in its bottom portion the liner  10  has ends  34  for bearing against the front panel  16 . Both of these bearing ends  34  are chamfered in shape so as to be capable of tilting upwards or sideways in order to escape when a horizontal force is exerted on said bearing ends  34 , e.g. during a Danner impact. The front panel  16  is thus spared during a Danner impact.