Fastening assembly for fastening an exterior part to a motor vehicle in a threadless and theft-proof manner

Abstract

The invention relates to a fixing assembly for fixing an exterior part (200) on a motor vehicle (K) in a threadless and theft-proof manner. The exterior part (200) has a plurality of mounting elements (210a, 210b, 210c) which are provided for clamping an opening edge of a fixing opening (110) which is configured on the motor vehicle (K). The exterior part (200) can be fixed from the outside by the exterior part being placed onto the fixing opening (110), wherein the mounting elements (210a, 210b, 210c) engage into the fixing opening (110), and subsequently the exterior part is displaced, wherein the mounting elements (210a, 210b, 210c) clamp the opening edge (110). The exterior part (200) has a locking element (220) which makes the fixed exterior part (200) non-removable (Z) from the outside and only unlockable from the inside. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle (K) having at least one exterior part (200) which is fixed accordingly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a fastening assembly, as described in the preamble of claim 1, for securing an exterior component to a motor vehicle in a threadless and theft-proof manner. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having at least one correspondingly secured exterior component. Background Technology

[0002] External components are external parts that are externally fixed to a motor vehicle, particularly the vehicle body. Examples of such external components include camera modules or camera brackets, lighting modules, sensor modules or sensor brackets, signage elements, or exterior design elements.

[0003] A mounting assembly for an exterior component of a motor vehicle is known from DE 20 2017 104 834 U1. After installation, the exterior component cannot be removed without damage, thus preventing its theft. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The fixing assembly according to claim 1 of the present invention enables easy installation of the exterior component, and further enables undamaged disassembly of the exterior component while providing anti-theft protection. According to the parallel independent claims, the present invention also relates to a motor vehicle having at least one exterior component correspondingly fixed, i.e., fixed by means of the fixing assembly according to the present invention.

[0005] Advantageous improvements and designs of the present invention are similar to those of the two inventive objects derived from the dependent claims, the following specification (which also explicitly includes features described optionally and exemplary), and the drawings.

[0006] The outer fitting of the fixing assembly according to the invention has a plurality of (i.e. at least two) mounting elements, which are configured and accordingly constructed to engage / grip the edges of a fixing opening constructed on a motor vehicle.

[0007] According to the invention, the outer component and the (vehicle-side) fixing opening are designed such that the outer component (at the fixing location) can be fixed from the outside by the following manner: the outer component is placed onto the fixing opening, wherein a mounting element engages in the fixing opening; subsequently, the outer component is displaced, wherein the mounting element engages with the edge of the fixing opening. "Displacement" specifically refers to a substantially translational pushing movement of the outer component parallel to the plane of the fixing opening. Furthermore, the outer component has a locking element that prevents the fixed outer component from retraction, and this locking element can or can only be unlocked from the inside.

[0008] The securing of the outer component is preferably achieved solely by means of mounting elements that engage with the edge of the opening, specifically referring to a "form-locking" engagement. Preferably, the mounting elements are hook-shaped. At least two, preferably at least three, mounting elements are provided, which, in particular, secure or hold the outer component in multiple directions. Specifically, no additional threaded connections and / or adhesives are required. Equivalently, multiple securing openings can be provided for securing the outer component. The outer component may also have multiple locking elements, wherein a single locking element is preferred. "Securing or installing the outer component" can be done manually, i.e., without tools. The above methods also apply to "loosening or removing the outer component."

[0009] According to the invention, at least one locking element is provided on the exterior component, which prevents the fixed exterior component, i.e., the component located in a predetermined fixed position after displacement, from moving back, thereby preventing the exterior component from being easily and without damage loosened or disassembled, and thus achieving anti-theft protection. The locking element can only be unlocked from the inside, i.e., from the back, particularly by manual unlocking, and then the exterior component is moved back in the opposite direction of the pushing motion that caused the fixing, and thus can be loosened in a non-damaging manner. This requires access to the inside or back at the fixed location, which is particularly possible only after large-scale disassembly work (e.g., removing trim from a motor vehicle). In particular, there is no need to provide predetermined break points on the exterior component to enable removal or disassembly. The locking element is preferably designed and arranged in such a way that the exterior component can be easily fixed or installed.

[0010] Preferably, the locking element is designed and arranged such that when the outer component (after displacement) is in the fixed position, the locking element locks at the edge of the fixed opening, thereby preventing the outer component from moving back. The locking element can be designed as a resilient locking element or similar element that pops out when the outer component is fixed or displaced (i.e., as long as the outer component is in the preset fixed position), particularly without engaging the edge of the opening, and then locks at the edge of the fixed opening to prevent the outer component from moving back.

[0011] Preferably, the locking element or locking element is designed such that the ejection can be perceived by touch and / or hearing, thereby confirming that "the outer part is correctly secured" during fixing or installation.

[0012] After the outer component is secured or installed, it can be unlocked by pressing back or pressing in the locking element (which can only be done from the inside or from the back), and then moved back and released or removed from the outer component.

[0013] Mounting and locking elements are components of the outer casing, particularly integrated components. Preferably, the outer casing, together with the mounting and locking elements, is integrally made of plastic, particularly thermoplastic. Preferably, the outer casing is a plastic injection-molded part. In this regard, the outer casing can also be referred to as a plastic mounting component.

[0014] The outer component may have a flange surrounding a fixed opening, by means of which the outer component is supported or can be supported around the fixed opening. A sealing portion may be arranged on the flange. In particular, the sealing portion is an adhesive or injection-molded sealing portion, preferably made of a soft plastic material or an elastic plastic material. The sealing portion is provided for sealing the fixed opening. In addition, the sealing portion can also serve as a tolerance compensation structure and a scratch-resistant protective structure.

[0015] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle having at least one correspondingly fixed exterior component. Specifically, the exterior component is fixed to the vehicle body, for which a corresponding fixing opening, particularly a stamped hole, is constructed in the body shell. The fixing opening, or stamped hole, can be formed during vehicle manufacturing and then used to fix or install the associated exterior component; the invention is also applicable to modifications. To unlock the locking element, internal or rear access must be possible at the fixing location, specifically only after the vehicle's trim has been removed.

[0016] In summary, the present invention offers the following advantages (not an exhaustive list):

[0017] - Reduced costs and time spent on fixing or installing external components.

[0018] - The installation and removal of external components can be done without tools (although tools can be used).

[0019] - Avoid paint damage and corrosion damage to motor vehicles, especially vehicle components with external parts attached to them.

[0020] - Reduce the number of components and parts by omitting individual mounting and / or fixing elements.

[0021] - Implement a new structural space utilization scheme because, on the one hand, there is no need for operating space for tools and installation and / or fixing components, and on the other hand, the installation of external components can only be achieved from the outside (simple installation accessibility), in which the installation time can be flexibly selected.

[0022] - No need to pre-determine the fracture location, etc.

[0023] - External components can be disassembled and reused without damage.

[0024] Within the scope of this invention, the foregoing and subsequently described features can be applied not only to the given combinations of features, but also to other combinations of features or individually. This also applies to the features shown in the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The invention is described in detail below in a non-limiting manner with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Features shown in the drawings and / or described below, regardless of specific combinations of features, may also be general features of the invention and correspondingly modify the invention.

[0026] Figure 1 The image shows a fender of a motor vehicle, which has an external fitting fixed thereto.

[0027] Figure 2 This shows how to fix the outer parts to Figure 1 The inside or back of the fixed part on the fender.

[0028] Figure 3 Similar to Figure 2 The fixed part is shown, wherein the outer part is located in a preset fixed position. Detailed Implementation

[0029] In the motor vehicle K, which is not shown in detail Figure 1 An external mount 200 is fixed to the outer side of the fender 100 shown. The external mount 200 may be a lighting module (e.g., a side flasher), a camera module, or a support component (bracket) for this purpose. The fender 100 may be made of sheet metal or plastic.

[0030] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The mounting portion of the outer component 200 is shown from the inside or rear, i.e., from the rear of the fender 100. The fender 100 has a mounting opening 110 with a complex hole geometry at this mounting portion. The outer component 200 has multiple hook-shaped mounting elements 210a, 210b, and 210c, which are configured to respectively and interlock with corresponding opening edge segments of the mounting opening 110, as shown in… Figure 3 As shown, this external fitting 200 is fixed to the fender 100.

[0031] To secure the outer component 200, the outer component is placed onto the fender 100 from the outside at the mounting location, thereby engaging the mounting elements 210a, 210b, and 210c into the mounting opening 110, as shown in... Figure 2As shown in the diagram. During the subsequent relocation of the outer fitting 200 relative to the fender 100 (and relative to the fixed opening 110), the outer fitting 200 enters a predetermined fixed position (final position), in which mounting elements 210a, 210b, 210c engage with the opening edge of the fixed opening 110 (rear hook engagement), as shown in... Figure 3 As shown in the diagram. This displacement is achieved approximately parallel to the plane of the fixed opening 110 along a pre-given direction and in... Figure 2 The movement is indicated by the arrow V (pushing motion).

[0032] Furthermore, the outer fitting 200 has a locking element 220 that prevents the fixed outer fitting 200 from being removed. Figure 3 The fixed position retraction is shown in the diagram. The locking element 220 is designed as a resilient locking element, more precisely, as a spring-loaded locking pin that is pressed in and preloaded when the outer assembly 200 is placed onto the fender 100, and then, as the outer assembly 200 shifts V, the locking element retracts or ejects as long as the outer assembly 200 is in the preset fixed position (final position). This is intuitively shown by… Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be seen, the pop-out locking element 220 locks or locks at the edge of the fixed opening 110 when not engaged, thereby preventing the outer component 200 from moving back in the opposite direction of the fixed pushing movement V. The mounting elements 210a, 210b, and 210c prevent the outer component 200 from shifting in another direction.

[0033] By applying back pressure, or pressing in the elastic locking element 220 (as in... Figure 3 As indicated by arrow F in the diagram, the lock can be released, and then the outer assembly 200 can be moved back and thereby loosened or removed (as shown in the diagram). Figure 3 (As indicated by arrow Z in the diagram). The locking element 220 cannot be unlocked from the outside, but only from the inside or from the rear. For this, the wheel and wheel arch cover located in the wheel arch of the vehicle K must be removed. The back pressure, or push-in F, of the resilient locking element 220 can be manually operated with the fingers or with the aid of a tool, such as a screwdriver. Furthermore, the resilient locking element 220 can also be designed in other ways.

[0034] External component 200 has in Figure 3 The flange 230, shown in dashed lines, is used by the outer component 200 to support the fender 100 on the outer side of the fender 100 around the fixed opening 110 (see also [reference]). Figure 1 A sealing portion may be arranged on the flange 230.

[0035] Other features and embodiments of the invention have been described above.

Claims

1. A fastening assembly for securing an external component (200) to a motor vehicle (K) in a threadless and theft-proof manner, wherein, The external component (200) has a plurality of mounting elements (210a, 210b, 210c) configured to engage with the edge of a fixed opening (110) constructed on the motor vehicle (K). Its features are, The outer component (200) can be secured from the outside by placing the outer component onto a fixed opening (110), wherein mounting elements (210a, 210b, 210c) engage in the fixed opening (110); subsequently, the outer component is displaced (V), wherein the mounting elements (210a, 210b, 210c) engage the edge of the opening (110), and the outer component (200) has a locking element (220) that prevents the secured outer component (200) from retracting (Z) and can only be unlocked from the inside.

2. The fixing component according to claim 1, Its features are, The locking element (220) is designed such that it locks at the edge of the fixed opening (110) and thereby prevents the outer part (200) from moving back (Z).

3. The fixing component according to claim 2, Its features are, The locking element (220) is designed as an elastic locking element that pops out when the outer part (200) is displaced (V) and then locks at the opening edge of the fixed opening (110).

4. The fixing component according to claim 3, Its features are, The popping of the locking element (220) can be perceived by touch and / or hearing.

5. The fixing component according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The outer component (200) has at least three mounting elements (210a, 210b, 210c).

6. The fixing component according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The outer casing (200) is made of one piece of plastic.

7. The fixing component according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The outer fitting (200) has a flange (230) surrounding the fixed opening (110).

8. The fixing component according to claim 7, Its features are, A sealing part is arranged on the flange (230).

9. A motor vehicle (K) having at least one exterior component (200) fixed according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. The motor vehicle (K) according to claim 9. Its features are, The exterior parts (200) are fixed to the vehicle body, and for this purpose, a fixing opening (110) is constructed in the body shell.

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