Cover element for center console

Abstract

The invention relates to a cover element (10) for a center console, comprising a decorative element (11) for providing a surface decoration (12) and a flexible part (13), the flexible part (13) being designed to be flexible in order to avoid damage to adjacent components (e.g., the flexible part (13), when the cover element (10) is installed in and / or detached from the interior of a motor vehicle. The flexible part (13) is provided for reducing the gap dimension with an adjacent component (e.g., the instrument panel (14)) in the mounted state of the cover element (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a covering element for a center console.

[0002] The term "center console" refers specifically to the part of the vehicle's overall control panel that starts at about knee height between the two front footwells and extends to the backrest between the front seats. This area usually includes the gear selector, which in many vehicles is located between the front driver's seat and the front passenger seat. The center console can also include armrests for the driver and front passenger. The center console can also be used for comfort operating elements and display elements (ventilation / air conditioning system, car radio, navigation system). In addition, the gear selector can also be arranged on or in the center console area. The center console also usually has a small storage compartment, a cup holder and a cigarette lighter.

[0003] The center console is usually installed together with the instrument panel on the main control panel. Due to different installation curves and tolerances, a necessary target gap (Soll-Fuge) is formed between the center console and the instrument panel, which on the one hand allows to see what is under the instrument panel, but on the other hand also provides the possibility of items being lost in the gap, which in turn may cause noise. It is also impossible to prevent unnecessary "intervention" by occupants in the vehicle, which may lead to potential injuries.

[0004] In the interior of motor vehicles, there is an increasing demand for surfaces without recesses for covering elements, such as compartments or trays for placing items. Objects placed on such surfaces (e.g. mobile devices) could slip through the target gap under the dashboard, for example during braking, or could even be thrown out. This could happen even in the case of emergency braking, even with anti-slip structures.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a new covering element for a center console, in particular a covering element which closes a desired gap between a center console and an instrument panel at least substantially, in particular in all three spatial directions (x, y and z directions).

[0006] This object is achieved by a covering element having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and developments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0007] According to the present invention, the covering element comprises a decorative element for providing surface decoration and a soft component, wherein the soft component is designed to be flexible so as to avoid damaging adjacent components (e.g., the dashboard) when the covering element is installed into and / or removed from the interior space of a motor vehicle, and wherein the soft component is configured to reduce the gap size with adjacent components (e.g., the dashboard) when the covering element is in the installed state.

[0008] In particular, the soft component is designed and / or arranged as a visual protection and / or noise protection device.

[0009] In particular, the invention has the advantage that there is no longer any visibility between the instrument panel and the center console. Narrow objects such as cards can no longer be "lost" between the center console and the instrument panel without being stressed. In addition, the interface between the instrument panel and the center console is decoupled in terms of noise. A further advantage is that the covering element can be easily installed in the region of the instrument panel afterwards, since there are no rigid parts to break.

[0010] The decorative element may for example have a bowl shape Shape. It can be provided that the decorative element has a recess, in particular a U-shaped recess. The recess extends, for example, from an edge side of the decorative element into the decorative element.

[0011] Preferably, the soft component is arranged on the decorative element, in particular inserted into the decorative element. The decorative element may have ribs, in particular on the bottom surface opposite to the surface decoration, and the soft component may have through holes corresponding to the ribs, wherein the soft component is inserted into the decorative element by means of the ribs introduced into the through holes.

[0012] Preferably, the decorative element has at least two, preferably four ribs. In particular, the number of through holes of the soft component corresponds to the number of ribs.

[0013] Preferably, the covering element comprises one or more, preferably two, closure strips, for example made of chrome or plastic. The closure strips are preferably arranged transversely on the decorative element. In particular, the closure strip is placed or inserted onto the decorative element and is preferably welded to the decorative element, in particular by means of a hot caulking system.

[0014] The covering element can comprise one or more light elements, wherein the one or more light elements are arranged in particular in or in the region of one or more closure profiles.

[0015] It can be provided that the covering element comprises a closing frame, for example made of chrome or plastic, wherein the closing frame is preferably arranged at the edge of the recess of the decorative element.

[0016] The closing frame can be designed to be U-shaped, in particular for covering the edge of the recess of the decorative element. In particular, the closing frame is placed or inserted onto the decorative element and is preferably welded to the decorative element, in particular by means of a hot caulking system.

[0017] Furthermore, it can be provided that the covering element comprises a base support, wherein the decorative element and / or the soft component is arranged on the base support, in particular inserted into the base support.

[0018] The flexible part can be fastened to the base support by means of, for example, five hooks, in particular to prevent movement in the longitudinal direction.

[0019] Preferably, the closing strip and / or the closing frame are arranged on the base support.

[0020] It can be provided that the decorative element and / or the soft part (in particular together with the closing strip and / or the closing frame) are welded to the base support.

[0021] Particularly preferably, the soft component is produced from a flexible and / or deformable plastic, in particular a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer.

[0022] The material of the soft part can preferably be optically matched to the material of the decorative element by means of a film which is applied to the soft part and / or matched to the surface decoration. If the decorative element is a wooden veneer, for example, a film with the appearance of wooden veneer is applied to the soft part. In addition to foiling, other methods are also possible. In particular, a prerequisite for matching the appearance is that the flexibility of the soft part is not affected, or at least not to a large extent.

[0023] It can be provided that the decorative element for providing a surface decoration has a decorative layer with a front side designed as a visible surface and a rear side opposite the front side, wherein the decorative layer is a wooden veneer, for example.

[0024] Furthermore, it can be provided that a support element, in particular a plastic support element, is arranged on the rear side of the decorative layer, wherein an adhesive layer and / or a nonwoven is preferably arranged between the decorative layer and the support element.

[0025] It can also be provided that the protective layer and / or the appearance layer is arranged on the front side of the decorative layer, wherein the protective layer and / or the appearance layer is in particular a lacquer or comprises a lacquer.

[0026] For example, the covering element comprises one or more additional components, such as a light element, in particular an LED, and / or a light guide and / or a fastening element, in particular a clip.

[0027] It can be provided that the covering element, in particular in the surface area of ​​the covering element, comprises one or more anti-slip elements, for example recesses and / or projections (such as particles), so that in particular one or more objects can be placed on the covering element at least to a largely anti-slip manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in more detail below based on the description of the embodiments and with reference to the attached schematic diagrams. In the drawings:

[0029] Figure 1 An embodiment of a covering element according to the invention is shown in a three-dimensional view from above;

[0030] Figure 2 The following perspective shows the Figure 1 A portion of a covering element;

[0031] Figure 3 Shown from the back Figure 1 A portion of a covering element;

[0032] Figure 4 Shown from the back Figure 1 Covering elements;

[0033] Figure 5 Shown from a side view Figure 1 Covering elements;

[0034] Figure 6 The installation is shown from above. Figure 1 covering element.

[0035] Figure 1 A covering element 10 for a center console according to the invention is shown. The covering element 10 comprises a decorative element 11 for providing a surface decoration 12 and a soft component 13. The soft component 13 is designed to be flexible in order to avoid damage to adjacent components (e.g., a dashboard 14) when installing or removing the covering element 10 into or from the interior of a motor vehicle. A rigid component at this location (e.g., made of wood or plastic) could cause material fractures. Figure 5 and Figure 6 The installed state is shown. The soft component 13 is made of a flexible and / or deformable plastic (in particular, a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer). The soft component 13 can optically match the decorative element 11. The flexibility or deformability of the soft component 13 avoids damage to the instrument panel 14, in particular the switch unit 24 of the instrument panel 14, when installing the covering element 10, because the flexibility allows the soft component 13 to be "squeezed" without damage when colliding with the instrument panel 14. However, the material hardness of the soft component 13 is particularly sufficient to prevent the soft component 13 from "drooping". ". In the installed state, the soft component 13 preferably will not collide with the instrument panel 14 again, that is, it will not be deformed.

[0036] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6In the mounted state of the cover element 10 shown, the soft component 13 is also configured to reduce the gap size with the adjacent instrument panel 14. Figure 6 As shown, the soft part 13 forms visual protection and / or noise protection in the installed state. In the installed state, it is impossible to see under the instrument panel 14 with the help of the soft part 13. In addition, no objects can slide or fall under the instrument panel 14 in an undesirable manner. It is also avoided that the occupants in the motor vehicle intervene under the instrument panel 14.

[0037] The soft component 13 is arranged on the decorative element 11. Figure 2 As shown, the decorative element 11 has four ribs 17 on the bottom surface 16 opposite to the surface decoration 12 , and the soft component 13 has four through holes 18 corresponding to the ribs 17 , wherein the soft component 13 is inserted into the decorative element 11 by means of the ribs 17 introduced into the through holes 18 .

[0038] The covering element 10 also comprises, for example Figure 1 The two closure strips 19 made of chrome shown in the figure are arranged transversely on the decorative element 11. In particular, the closure strips 19 are placed or inserted on the decorative element 11 and are welded with the decorative element 11 by means of a hot caulking system.

[0039] Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 The decorative element 11 is shown to have a U-shaped recess 15. The recess 15 extends from the edge side of the decorative element 11 into the decorative element 11. The covering element 10 further comprises a closing frame 20 made of chrome, which is arranged at the edge of the recess 15 of the decorative element 11. The closing frame 20 is designed to be U-shaped to cover the edge of the recess 15 of the decorative element 11. In particular, the closing frame 20 is placed or inserted onto the decorative element 11 and welded with the decorative element 11 by means of a hot caulking system.

[0040] The covering element 10 further comprises a base support 21, wherein the decorative element 11 and the soft component 13 are arranged on the base support 21 in such a manner as to Figure 3 As shown, the decorative element 11 and the soft component 13 together with the closing strip 19 and the closing frame 20 are welded to the base bracket 21 by sandwich welding. Figure 4 As shown, in order to avoid movement in the longitudinal direction L, the flexible component 13 is also fastened to the base support 21 by means of five hooks 22, wherein the hooks are arranged on the flexible component 13 and hooked into corresponding openings 23 on the base support 21. In addition, the closing strip 19 and the closing frame 20 are arranged on the base support 21.

[0041] The decorative element 11 has a decorative layer for providing a surface decoration, wherein the decorative layer has a front side configured as a visible surface and a back side opposite to the front side. The decorative layer is, for example, a wood veneer, metal, stone, carbon or a film composite material. A support, in particular a plastic support, is arranged on the back side of the decorative layer, wherein an adhesive layer and a nonwoven fabric can be arranged between the decorative layer and the support. In addition, it can be provided that a protective layer and / or an appearance layer is arranged on the front side of the decorative layer, wherein the protective layer and / or the appearance layer is in particular a paint.

[0042] The covering element 10 may comprise further additional components (not shown in the figures), for example light elements (eg LEDs), light guides or fastening elements (eg clamps).

[0043] Reference Mark List

[0044] 10 Covering elements

[0045] 11 Decorative elements

[0046] 12 Surface decoration

[0047] 13 Soft parts

[0048] 14 Dashboard

[0049] 15 concavity

[0050] 16 Bottom

[0051] 17 Ribs

[0052] 18 Through Holes

[0053] 19 Closure strip

[0054] 20 Closed frame

[0055] 21 Base bracket

[0056] 22 Hook

[0057] 23 Opening

[0058] 24 Switching units

[0059] L Longitudinal direction.

Claims

1. A covering element (10) for a center console, comprising: A decorative element (11) for providing a surface decoration (12); as well as Soft parts (13), The soft component (13) is designed to be flexible so as to avoid damaging adjacent components when the covering element (10) is installed in the interior space of a motor vehicle and / or removed from the interior space of a motor vehicle, and the soft component (13) is configured to reduce the gap size with adjacent components when the covering element (10) is in the installed state.

2. The covering element (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The soft component (13) is arranged on the decorative element (11).

3. The covering element (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that The decorative element (11) has a rib (17), and the soft component (13) has a through hole (18) corresponding to the rib (17), wherein the soft component (13) is inserted onto the decorative element (11) by means of the rib (17) introduced into the through hole (18).

4. Covering element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The covering element (10) comprises one or more closure strips (19).

5. Covering element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The covering element (10) comprises one or more light elements.

6. Covering element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The covering element (10) comprises a closing frame (20).

7. Covering element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The covering element (10) comprises a base support (21), wherein the decorative element (11) and / or the soft component (13) are arranged on the base support (21).

8. Covering element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The soft component (13) is made of flexible and / or deformable plastic.

9. Covering element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The material of the soft component (13) corresponds optically to the material of the decorative element.

10. Covering element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The decorative element (11) has a decorative layer for providing surface decoration, wherein the decorative layer has a front side configured as a visible side and a back side opposite to the front side.

11. The covering element (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that A support is arranged on the rear side of the decorative layer.

12. Covering element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The covering element (10) comprises one or more additional components.

13. Covering element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The covering element (10) comprises one or more anti-slip elements.

Images