Arrangement for attaching an inner door panel to an inner door sheet of a motor vehicle door

Abstract

Arrangement (10) for fastening an inner door panel (14) to an inner door panel (22) of a motor vehicle door (16), wherein the inner door panel (14) is clamped to the inner door panel (22A,B) by means of at least one retaining clip (40) on a longitudinal fold (V) of the inner door panel (22A,B), wherein the retaining clip (40) is clamped onto the longitudinal fold (V), characterized in that the inner door panel (14) extends through an opening (41) in the retaining clip (40) and the inner door panel (14) is provided with a projection (51) for extending through the opening (41), wherein the opening (41) is a punched or cut opening.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement for attaching an inner door panel to an inner door panel of a motor vehicle door according to claim 1.

[0002] Vehicle doors typically consist of several shaped sheet metal panels joined together to form a door frame. This frame includes an outer door panel, which defines the exterior of the door, and an inner door panel, which defines the interior of the door frame. Various door components, including windows, window regulators, door locks, speakers, and latches, are also installed. An interior door panel is attached to the inner door panel to shield and conceal these components from the vehicle occupants, integrate additional components such as door handles, pull handles, armrests, and window switches, and provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0003] Door panels themselves and their fastenings to the inner door panel must be designed and engineered for side-impact crashes in such a way that their stiffness is minimized, thus having only a minor influence on the magnitude of the forces exerted on the vehicle occupants. This applies particularly to those areas of the inner door panel against which the occupant's shoulder, rib, and abdominal muscles impact in the event of a side collision. The rigid, virtually collapsible portion of the installation space between the outer contour of the door panel and the inner door panel must therefore be as small as possible. However, due to the everyday use of the vehicle, this rigid portion of the installation space results from the structural substructure of the panel and its fastening elements.

[0004] Components of a door panel that are subject to heavy daily use—such as door openers and pull handles—are often attached to the inner door panel with screws. Since visible screws are generally undesirable for aesthetic reasons, they are covered with additional trim pieces, which should be designed so that they are not recognizable as screw covers. For aesthetic reasons and to reduce costs, clip connections are used in other areas to attach the door panel to the inner door panel, eliminating the need for additional covers. For repair purposes, these clip connections must be designed so that the removal force is low enough to prevent damage to the door panel.

[0005] Due to the deformation of the door frame in the event of a side impact and the bending stiffness of a door panel, door panels attached with clips can detach from the inner door panel and penetrate into the vehicle interior. This effect is particularly undesirable in the occupant's impact zone, as it could delay or prevent the full deployment of a side airbag.

[0006] From DE 100 39 655 A1, for example, it is known to mount the upper section of a door frame and an inner door sealing strip together on the upper section of an inner door panel using only clips, whereby a large number of clips are used to achieve the desired holding force. The clips used here thus serve as the primary fastening means and replace conventional screws or snap-in clips.

[0007] From DE 195 01 292 C2 it is known to use a clamping profile having the edge joint sealing profile on the edge section of a door panel element assigned to the glass surface for clamping the door panel element to the edge of the inner sheet metal facing the glass pane.

[0008] EP 1 702 779 A2 describes a motor vehicle door with a window, comprising a closed lower body formed from an outer metallic wall, a metallic intermediate structure and an inner lining panel, wherein there is a space delimited between said outer metallic wall and said metallic intermediate structure, through which the glass can move to close the window, wherein the space is delimited at its upper part by a window scraper mounted on the outer metallic wall and by a weatherproof sealing profile mounted on the metallic intermediate structure and is used for mounting the inner lining panel by means of a weatherproof sealing strip, wherein the weatherproof sealing strip is designed in the form of a ribbed profile.which is assembled by mounting it on an intermediate section of the weatherproof sealing profile and is provided with a longitudinal wing extending from the inner wall. The outer wall of said strip is provided, on its inner surface and from the free edge, with interrupted longitudinal ribs which can be coupled to the weatherproof sealing profile for mutual engagement, while transverse reinforcing partitions are located between the walls and under said longitudinal wing; and that the weatherproof sealing profile has a central wire and, on its outer surface facing the window sash, a longitudinal recess into which the longitudinal ribs of the outer wall of the weatherproof sealing strip are inserted.

[0009] DE F0010645M AZ describes a method for fastening window guide rails in motor vehicle bodies, wherein the window guide rail is held to the substrate by one-piece, U-shaped mounting clips. These clips grip the window guide rail from the base with their legs and are secured by locking elements in the form of barbs on their free legs. The clips are clamped to the substrate by retaining elements bent from their base, which prevent the mounting clip from detaching on its own. The legs of the mounting clip grip the window guide rail automatically without additional means. The locking elements are oriented in the same direction as the guide rail is inserted. The mounting clip is securely connected to the vehicle body by means of retaining tongues punched out of its base and running parallel to it.

[0010] US 2,562,343 A describes fasteners in which the free end of a strip defining a snap stud shank is shaped to provide a clip element or the like for fastening or securing an interacting part or object in an assembly, wherein a free end of the strip is fixed and rigid, comprising a head and an integral strip that is bent to provide the snap stud for fastening in a stud hole in a support part, together with the clip element formed from the free end of the strip to fasten an object or part to the support part in a manner

[0011] To prevent door panels from detaching in the deployment area of ​​a side airbag, a sufficiently strong fastening to the inner door panel is required. This can be achieved, for example, by screwing the door panel to the inner door panel. The screws are inserted directly into the inner door panel or via an additional bracket or base, which in turn must be mounted or attached to the inner door panel by means of rivets, screws, or welding. For aesthetic reasons, screw fastening of the door panel requires an additional screw cover. Furthermore, fastening methods are known in which door panels are positively suspended or hooked onto a bracket or base attached to the inner door panel using an integrated hook. Such separate brackets or bases must also be attached to the inner door panel, which—as described—can be done by riveting, welding, or screws.If a tab is molded directly onto the inner door panel instead of a separate holder or base, additional sealing against the ingress of moisture from the wet room of the door shell is usually required.

[0012] Known, sufficiently strong door panel fixings in the opening area of ​​the side airbag have the following disadvantages: Apart from the fact that these fixings provide additional rigidity, they require placement on the flatter areas of the inner door panel, which are usually located opposite the shoulder, rib or abdominal area of ​​the occupant, which should be avoided.

[0013] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a means of fastening door panels that meets the following requirements: minimal possible installation space requirement, placement as far as possible outside the shoulder, rib and abdominal area of ​​the vehicle occupant, sufficient hold in the opening area of ​​the side airbag, small number of components required, low component and assembly costs, and a concealed, non-visible arrangement and, in particular, secure fastening of the inner door panel in the event of a side crash.

[0014] According to the invention, it has been recognized that a simple and space-saving fastening is possible while simultaneously ensuring high resistance in the event of a side crash if the inner door panel extends through a fixed opening in the retaining clip.

[0015] The retaining clip is placed as far as possible outside the shoulder, rib and abdominal area of ​​the vehicle occupant and, to simplify installation, is clamped directly onto the flange of the inner door panel at the window channel.

[0016] According to the invention, the inner door panel is provided with a projection (e.g. hook) for reaching through the opening of the retaining clip, which can be formed integrally as a component of the door panel or as a separate component.

[0017] According to the invention, the opening is designed as a punched or cut opening or recess in the clamp. Preferably, it is vertically oriented and its edge is sharp. Together with the use of an extension, etc., this results in a particularly good retention function in the event of a side impact, since the edges of the opening then dig into the hook and thus prevent the extension from slipping upwards out of the recess.

[0018] Additionally, the sharp edges of the opening create a notch effect in the extension. To prevent notch or crack propagation and thus premature breakage, one or more transverse ribs can be designed as crack stoppers on the extension, parallel to the inner edge of the clamp opening. Furthermore, the radius at the base of the extension is designed to slow the penetration of the retaining clamp into the extension.

[0019] Preferably, the retaining clip has a cross-sectional shape approximately like a double-S shape, so that it can grip the flange of the inner door panel on one side and an inner window channel seal pushed onto it on the other, which in turn allows the hook of the door trim to be as short as possible, which offers advantages for the manufacturability of the integrated hook and its strength.

[0020] It is advantageous if the retaining clip has a bend to form a first pocket that is pushed onto the longitudinal edge of the inner door panel and / or the retaining clip has a bend to form a second pocket that is designed to grip a seal.

[0021] To improve the attachment to the longitudinal edge of the inner door panel, one leg of the bend has at least one chamfer to form a clamping effect.

[0022] To further improve the attachment to the longitudinal edge of the inner door panel, one leg of the bend has at least one sharp-edged bend that can dig into the inner door panel.

[0023] Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a car with an arrangement according to the invention for attaching an inner door panel to an inner door panel of a vehicle door; Fig. 2 an interior perspective view of a door arrangement of the vehicle Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a sectional view of the arrangement according to the invention for fastening an inner door panel to an inner door panel of a vehicle door along line III-III in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 a perspective view of a retaining clip made of Fig. 3.

[0024] The figures show an arrangement, designated as a whole by 10, for attaching an inner door panel 14 to a two-part inner door panel 22A, B of a door 16 of a motor vehicle 12. The arrangement 10 can hold an inner panel 14 to the vehicle structure, such as a door 16. In the embodiment shown, the arrangement 10 is configured in a side arrangement of a door 16 to retain the inner panel 14 during a side impact of the vehicle 12. However, it is understood that the corresponding arrangement can also be used for other components and arrangements within a vehicle.

[0025] The vehicle 12 comprises a passenger compartment 18 defined by an interior of the vehicle 12. Trim components, such as the door interior trim 14, help to define the passenger compartment 18 and, in the event of a vehicle crash, typically must meet requirements that limit intrusion into the passenger compartment 18.

[0026] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the door 16 comprises an outer door panel 20 and an inner door panel 22, which are connected to each other in a conventional manner. The outer door panel 20 and the inner door panel 22 form a cavity 24 between them, and energy-absorbing straps and structures, such as a window lifting device, a door lock, and other components, can be arranged within the cavity 24. The outer door panel 20 and the inner door panel 22 can be made of a suitable metallic material.

[0027] The inner door panel 14 is attached to the inner door sheet metal 22, forming a cavity 26, called the installation space, between them. The inner door panel 14 can be made of any suitable material, including plastic, fabric, vinyl, leather, carpet, or a combination thereof.

[0028] The arrangement 10 comprises a fastening clip 40, which is attached to the inner door panel 22, and a structural substructure 50, which is integrated into the inner door trim 14 or attached as a separate component. The fastening clip 40 and the structural substructure 50 are arranged within the installation space 26. The fastening clip 40 is slid onto the flange L, which lies on the longitudinal fold V, of the inner door panel in a clamping manner, and the inner door trim 14 passes through an opening 41 in the fastening clip 40, for which purpose the inner door trim 14 is provided with a projection 51. The projection is part of the structural substructure 50, which in turn is either integrated with the inner door trim 14 or attached to it as a separate component.

[0029] The opening 41 has a vertical, sharp-edged edge 63 and the radius of the extension 41 is larger at its base than the opening of the opening 41.

[0030] The fastening clamp 40, in cross-section, has an approximately double-S shape and comprises a first leg 42, a second leg 43, a third leg 44, and a fourth leg 45. The two legs 42 and 43, connected by a first bend 60, form a first pocket T1, which serves to be slid onto the flange L. Leg 42 has an inwardly projecting flange 46 for a clamping fit.

[0031] The two legs 43 and 44, connected by a second bend, form a further second pocket T2, which serves to grip a seal D that is also pushed onto the flange L or onto the clamp 40. The recess 41 is located in the subsequent leg 45. The mounting clamp 40 can be made of metal, hard plastic, or another suitable rigid material.

[0032] The structural substructure 50 is, in this case, a component integrated into the door panel 14. Alternatively, a design is conceivable in which it is attached to the door panel 14 as a separate component. The structural substructure 50 comprises the extension 51, which extends elongately towards the mounting bracket 40 or recess 41 at a substantially angular angle to the main body section 52. In the illustrated example, the extension 51 extends substantially vertically downwards from the main body section 52. The main body section 52 is elongated and extends along the inner surface of an upper section 56 of the door panel 14. The main body section 52 is rigidly attached to the inner surface of the door panel 14 by any suitable means, including bolted connections, welding, or ultrasonic welding. The structural substructure 50 can be made of metal, plastic, or another suitable rigid material.The extension 51 and the recess 41 are jointly designed in such a way that the desired holding force is achieved in the mostly horizontal direction of load, corresponding to the directions given in the side impact.

Claims

[1] Arrangement (10) for fastening an inner door panel (14) to an inner door panel (22) of a motor vehicle door (16), wherein the inner door panel (14) is clamped to the inner door panel (22A,B) by means of at least one retaining clip (40) on a longitudinal fold (V) of the inner door panel (22A,B), wherein the retaining clip (40) is clamped onto the longitudinal fold (V), characterized by , that the inner door panel (14) extends through a hole (41) in the retaining clip (40) in a fixing manner and the inner door panel (14) is provided with a projection (51) for reaching through the hole (41), wherein the hole (41) is a punched or cut opening. [2] Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by , that the extension (51) is a single component of the interior door panel, which optionally has one or more transverse ribs. [3] Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the retaining clip (40) has an approximately double-S shape when viewed in cross-section [4] Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the retaining clip (40) has a first bend (60) to form a first pocket (T1). [5] Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the retaining clip (40) has a second bend (61) to form a second pocket (T2). [6] Arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by , that one leg of the bend has at least one chamfer (46) to form a clamping. [7] Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the longitudinal fold (V) is a flange (L), in particular a welded flange, of the inner door panel (22A, B). [8] Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by, that the opening (41) is formed as a punched or cut opening or recess in the retaining clip (40) which has a vertical and sharp-edged edge (63).

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