Motor vehicle with a fairing part attached via at least one hook connection

Abstract

Motor vehicle (1) with a fairing part (3) connected via at least one hook connection (2), wherein the at least one hook connection (2) has a hook element (4) formed on a rear side of the fairing part (3) and a hook opening (6) on the motor vehicle side, at which the hook element (4) engages an opening edge (7, 7') when the hook connection (2) is mounted, wherein a spring-loaded locking element (8) is additionally arranged on the hook element (4), which prevents the hook element (4) from unintentionally releasing from the associated hook opening (6), characterized in that a damping element (11) with lips (12) is provided in the area of ​​the hook element (4), wherein contact between the damping element (11) and the opening edge (7) of the hook opening (6) takes place at least predominantly via the lips (12).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle with a trim part connected via at least one hook connection according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] EP 1 170 159 A1 discloses a generic motor vehicle with a trim panel connected via at least one hook connection. The at least one hook connection comprises a hook element formed on a rear side of the trim panel and a hook opening on the motor vehicle side, at which the hook element engages around an opening edge when the hook connection is installed. A resilient locking element is also arranged on the hook element, preventing accidental release of the hook element from the associated hook opening.

[0003] DE 196 37 654 A1 discloses a cover for closing a recess arranged in a component. To ensure that the cover can be easily and securely attached to and removed from a corresponding recess, the cover is provided on at least a first side with a clip-like locking element containing a locking groove into which a locking tongue engages, which is arranged on the component provided with the recess.

[0004] From DE 299 22 641 U1, a retaining bracket for securing a noise encapsulation housing for a motor vehicle combustion engine to a vehicle body section is known, having a fastening section that can be positioned on the body side and a holding section on the housing side.

[0005] DE 37 40 988 A1 discloses a motor vehicle having a trim panel connected via at least one hook connection, said hook connection having a hook element formed onto a rear side of the trim panel and a hook opening on the motor vehicle side, at which hook opening the hook element engages around an opening edge when the hook connection is installed. In order to prevent water from overflowing through the hook opening, a wall section of the hook opening, i.e. of the body, located above the opening edge is offset in the depth direction relative to the hooking edge so that water running down above the hook opening on a damp room side of the body wall is drained downwards around the hooking edge and the hooked-in hook element.

[0006] From US 5 111 619 A, a motor vehicle with a trim part connected via hook connections is known, wherein the known trim part has a mounting hook which allows the trim part to be hung in a tilted position, for example for mounting purposes.

[0007] A similar trim part or motor vehicle is also known from US 5 345 721 A.

[0008] From US 7 240 955 B2, a covering part is known which is fastened to another component via a hook-like projection, wherein the hook-shaped projection is guided over a ramp during insertion.

[0009] The present invention addresses the problem of providing an improved or at least an alternative embodiment for a motor vehicle of the generic type, which is characterized in particular by easy assembly of a trim part and a simple and at the same time reliable fixing of this trim part to the motor vehicle.

[0010] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0011] The present invention is based on the general idea of ​​securing a trim part for a motor vehicle to the motor vehicle using a hook connection that is easy to install and simultaneously release. The hook connection consists of a hook opening on the motor vehicle side, in particular a body-side hook opening, and a hook element on the trim part side, on which a resilient locking element is additionally provided, reliably preventing inadvertent release of the hook element from the associated hook opening and thus inadvertent release of the hook connection. The hook connection according to the invention thus enables both installation and reliable fixation of the trim part to the body of the motor vehicle particularly easily.To do this, the trim part is first inserted with its hook element into the corresponding hook opening on the body and then moved essentially parallel to the hook opening or the body. Moving the trim part causes an opening edge to be inserted into a hook mouth formed by the hook element, whereby the spring-loaded locking element is simultaneously pre-tensioned upon insertion. Once the opening edge in the hook-mouth-shaped hook element has reached its final inserted position, the spring-loaded locking element locks into an edge of the hook opening opposite the opening edge encompassed by the hook element, reliably preventing unintentional release of the hook connection. In fact, the hook connection can only be released if the spring-loaded locking element is first released, for example using a screwdriver.Only then can the hook element be removed from the edge of the hook opening. The trim part according to the invention thus not only enables comparatively simple installation, but also a reliable and vibration-resistant fixation of the trim part to the vehicle.

[0012] According to the invention, a damping element with lips is provided in the region of the hook element, wherein contact between the damping element and the opening edge of the hook opening occurs at least predominantly via the lips. Such a damping element can, in particular, prevent or at least minimize vibration coupling between the motor vehicle and the trim element and the associated unpleasant noise development. Of course, the damping element can also rest flatly on the opening edge of the hook opening and not just via lips, whereby it must always be ensured that the damping element is made of an elastic material, in particular a plastic or rubber, so that the vibrations from the motor vehicle cannot be easily transmitted to the trim part.

[0013] The trim part, the hook element, and the locking element are expediently made of plastic, in particular as a plastic injection-molded part. Such a trim part can be, for example, an interior trim part or a door trim part and is therefore often designed as a plastic injection-molded part. It is particularly advantageous if both the trim part and the hook element and the locking element are formed as a single piece and can thus be manufactured together in a single work step. By designing them as a plastic injection-molded part, the trim part, including the hook element and locking element, can be manufactured cost-effectively and in almost any color variant, which is particularly advantageous for high flexibility with regard to equipment lines.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the solution according to the invention, the locking element has a V-shaped projection formed by two legs. The locking resistance of the locking element in the hook opening and thus the degree of fixation of the hook connection can be adjusted by adjusting the angle between these two legs of the V-shaped projection. Of course, this degree of fixation can also be influenced by the elasticity of the individual legs of the V-shaped projection. The less elastic the legs and the greater the angle between the two legs, the greater the force with which the hook-mouth-shaped hook element is pushed over the corresponding opening edge of the hook opening and thus pretensioned against a release force. A high pretension force is particularly advantageous for reducing the tendency to vibration.

[0015] A mounting hook is expediently arranged on the trim part, which allows the trim part to be suspended in a tilted position, i.e. for example in an assembly position, on the motor vehicle. With at least one such mounting hook, the trim part according to the invention can thus be pre-fixed to the body of the motor vehicle, with an installation space located behind it initially remaining freely accessible. Once the work required in the installation space behind it has been completed, for example laying cables, the trim element can be pressed completely onto the motor vehicle and the hook connection can be fixed in the process. The at least one mounting hook, preferably two or more mounting hooks are usually provided, only enables one installation position, which precedes the actual fixing position and which simplifies the assembly process overall.

[0016] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0017] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0018] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0019] They show, schematically Fig. 1 a sectional view through a motor vehicle in the area of ​​a hook connection for fastening a trim part to the motor vehicle, Fig. 2 a representation as in Fig. 1, but with fixed hook connection.

[0020] According to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention has at least one trim part 3, for example, an interior trim part or a door trim part, connected via a hook connection 2. A hook element 4 with a hook mouth 5 is formed on a rear side of the trim part 3, wherein a hook opening 6 with an opening edge 7, 7' surrounding it is provided on the motor vehicle side. When the hook connection 2 is mounted, the hook element 4 engages around the corresponding opening edge 7 of the hook opening 6. According to the invention, a resilient locking element 8 is additionally arranged on the hook element 4, which prevents unintentional detachment of the hook element 4 from the corresponding hook opening 6 and thus detachment of the trim part 3 from the motor vehicle 1. The hook connection 2 according to the invention is mounted as follows: First, according to the Fig. 1 the trim part 3 with its hook element 4 is inserted into the hook opening 6 of the motor vehicle 1, for example a body component 9 and then, as described in the Fig. 2, is displaced substantially parallel to the body component 9 until the opening edge 7 is inserted into the hook mouth 5 of the hook element 4. When inserting the hook element 4 into the hook opening 6 according to the Fig. 1, the locking element 8, which is formed from two legs 10 and 10' connected to one another in a V-shape, is pretensioned, this pretension being released after the opening edge 7 is inserted into the hook mouth 5 of the hook element 4, since the locking element 8 can now also engage in the hook opening 6. The hook element 4 engages around a first, in particular a lower, opening edge 7 of the hook opening 6, whereas the leg 10 of the locking element 8 is supported on the opposite second, in particular here on the upper, opening edge 7'.

[0021] The trim part 3, the hook element 4, and also the locking element 8 can be made of plastic, for example, as an injection-molded plastic part, and in particular as a single piece. This allows for a high-quality design of the trim part 3 while also being cost-effective. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, it can be seen that a damping element 11 is arranged in the area of ​​the hook element 4, which in the case shown has lips 12 that rest against the opening edge 7. Contact between the damping element 11 and the edge 7 of the hook opening 6 occurs predominantly via the lips 12, wherein, due to their elastic design, vibration transmission from the body component 9 to the trim part 3 is prevented, or at least greatly reduced. The damping element 11 can, for example, be made of plastic, in particular as an elastomer element, and in the present case is positively connected to the hook element 4 of the trim part 3. Of course, another arrangement is also conceivable, in particular gluing the damping element 11 to the hook element 4.

[0022] Looking at the Fig. 1 and Fig.2, it can be seen that the holding effect exerted by the locking element 8 is determined by both the elasticity of the locking element 8 and the angular position α between the two legs 10, 10'. Consequently, if the locking element 8 is made more rigid overall and / or if the angle α between the two legs is varied, the holding force exerted by the locking element 8 can be increased. Furthermore, the degree of springback of the leg 10 or the locking element 8 is dependent not only on the angle α, but also on a vertical dimension x of the hook opening 6, which simultaneously represents a distance dimension between the base of the hook mouth 5 and an intended contact point of the leg 10 with the opening edge 7' of the hook opening 6. The prestress of the locking element 8 geometrically generated in this way, in combination with the wedge-like clamping geometry of the V-shaped projection, consequently provides a force component F Z, which acts in the opposite direction to the dismantling direction of the trim part 3, so that under dynamic stress when the motor vehicle 1 is driving, a reliable securing of the position of the trim part 3 on the body component 9 and thus on the motor vehicle 1 is ensured as a result of the positive and non-positive connection between the locking element 8 and the hook opening 6. To dismantle the trim part 3 from the body component 9, the free end, i.e. the leg 10, of the locking element 8 is manually bent back with a tool, for example a screwdriver or a wedge, until the V-shaped projection of the locking element 8 is completely removed from the hook opening 6, so that the trim part 3 thus unlocked can then be lifted, here lifted upwards, and removed.

[0023] In addition to the hook element 4, a mounting hook (not further specified) can also be arranged on the trim part 3, which mounting hook allows the trim part 3 to be hooked in a tilted position, that is to say in particular in an assembly position, on the body component 9 and thus on the motor vehicle 1. This allows the actual assembly process to be divided into two assembly steps, namely a first assembly step in which the trim part 3 is usually only hooked onto the body component 9 via the mounting hook(s), thus leaving an installation space behind it accessible, and a subsequent second assembly step after the assembly work in the installation space has been completed and the trim part 3 has been pivoted, thus allowing the hook element 4 to be inserted into the hook opening 6 on the body.By subsequently moving the trim part 3 relative and parallel to the body component 9, the opening edge 7 of the hook opening 6 is inserted into the hook mouth 5 of the hook element 4 and at the same time the hook connection 2 is fixed via the locking element 8.

[0024] The hook connection 2 is typically assembled in the Z-direction, i.e., vertically, with an assembly force not exceeding 50 N. The disassembly forces must be greater than the forces occurring in the event of a crash, so that unwanted release of the hook connection 2 is avoided. Furthermore, the locking element 8 can provide reliable acoustic feedback to the operator upon engagement, i.e., upon closing the hook connection 2.

[0025] Such a hook connection 2 according to the invention can of course also be used for fastening loudspeakers, door handle covers, ventilation grilles, or any other trim parts 3. With the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention and in particular with the hook connection 2 according to the invention, a simple and reliable connection of a trim part 3 or generally of a component to the motor vehicle 1 can be realized.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle (1) with a trim part (3) connected via at least one hook connection (2), wherein the at least one hook connection (2) has a hook element (4) formed on a rear side of the trim part (3) and a hook opening (6) on the motor vehicle side, at which the hook element (4) engages around an opening edge (7, 7') when the hook connection (2) is mounted, wherein a resilient locking element (8) is additionally arranged on the hook element (4), which prevents unintentional release of the hook element (4) from the associated hook opening (6), characterized by that a damping element (11) with lips (12) is provided in the region of the hook element (4), wherein contact between the damping element (11) and the opening edge (7) of the hook opening (6) takes place at least predominantly via the lips (12). [2] Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized bythat the covering part (3), the hook element (4) and the locking element (8) are made of plastic, in particular as a plastic injection-molded part. [3] Motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the damping element (11) is designed as an elastomer element, and / or that the damping element (11) is positively connected to the hook element (4) of the trim part (3). [4] Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the locking element (8) has a V-shaped projection formed by two legs (10, 10'). [5] Motor vehicle according to claim 4, characterized by that the hook element (4) engages around a first, in particular a lower, opening edge (7) of the hook opening (6), whereas one of the legs (10) is supported on an opposite second, in particular an upper, opening edge (7'). [6] Motor vehicle according to claim 4 or 5, characterized bythat a locking resistance can be adjusted via an angular position between the two legs (10,10'). [7] Motor vehicle according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by that the trim part (3) is an interior trim part. [8] Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that a mounting hook is arranged on the trim part (3), which allows the trim part (3) to be hooked in a tilted position, in particular in the mounting position on the motor vehicle (1).

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