Trim panel

Abstract

A trim panel for a body part (18) with an angular area, the diverging legs (4, 5) of which enclose an angle (α), wherein a cutout (20) is provided in the angular area, the cutout (20) being at least partially closed with a closure part, the diverging legs (6, 7) of which enclose an angle (β), wherein one leg (4) of the angular area overlaps with one leg (6) of the angular closure part, resulting in a flush visible surface, characterized in that the angle (α) of the angular area is greater than the angle (β) of the closure part, wherein the second leg (5) of the angular area does not overlap with the second leg (7) of the closure part, resulting in a recess (15) with a difference angle (φ).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a trim part for a body part according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] In series vehicle construction, it is common for trim panels to be attached to body panels, covering them from the vehicle interior. It is common for functional parts attached to the body panels to also be covered by the trim panels, so that the occupants cannot see them. For any repairs or special adjustments to the functional parts, it is then necessary to remove the trim panel, i.e., disassemble it from the body panel.

[0003] To reduce the effort involved, it has become common practice to make individual components, such as exit lights, removable, allowing tools to be used to access the functional components located behind them. However, the effort required for disassembly remains.

[0004] DE 33 09 757 A1 discloses a generic trim part for a body part with an angular region, the diverging legs of which enclose an angle, wherein a cutout is provided in the angular region, the cutout being closed with a closure part, the diverging legs of which enclose an angle, wherein one leg of the angular region overlaps with one leg of the angular closure part, thereby resulting in a flush visible side.

[0005] Further trim parts for a body part are known from JP 2009 - 208 503 A, DE 10 2005 057 991 A1 and EP 1 072 383 A1.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide access to functional parts arranged behind a trim part without dismantling the trim part or parts thereof.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention with the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the features of the subordinate claims.

[0008] The essence of the invention lies in designing a closure part and inserting it into the trim part in such a way that an invisible, more or less concealed access to the functional part arranged behind the trim part is created. This is achieved by arranging the closure part in a cutout of an angular region of the trim part. The angular region is defined by two diverging legs that enclose an angle α. The closure part is also provided with two angular legs that enclose an angle β. If - as provided according to the invention - the leg of the angular region and the leg of the closure part overlap one another - viewed in cross-section - this results in a flush side, which is preferably located in the direction of vision of the occupant and is therefore referred to below as the flush visible side.The two visible legs extend at least up to the apex of the angle in the same area. The other two legs extend in different areas due to the different angular positions α and β. Because the angle β of the closure part is smaller than the angle α of the angular area of ​​the trim part, a segment with a difference angle φ is formed on the side of the trim that is invisible to an occupant. A tool can then be inserted behind the trim, at least in this area, via this segment in order to access the functional part behind it. The invention consists, so to speak, in using the closure part to cover, i.e. close, only an area of ​​a cutout in a trim that is visible to the occupant. In an area of ​​the cutout that is not visible to the occupant, a portion of it remains free and can be used for access by a tool.The geometry of this free area depends on the position of the functional part or its adjustment device.

[0009] The locking part can, for example, be an exit light integrated into a door panel. The functional part arranged behind the door panel can then be a window lift rail. However, the invention is not limited to this preferred embodiment.

[0010] A preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 a side view of a motor vehicle door from the vehicle interior, Fig. 2 a sectional view along line II-II in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a sectional view along line III-III in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 a sectional view along line IV-IV in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 a perspective view of the section in Fig. 1 without exit light installed.

[0011] Although the essence of the invention can be applied to a wide variety of cladding parts or closure parts, the embodiment according to the Fig. 1 to 5 are based on a door panel with an integrated exit light. The door panel 1 represents the panel part according to the invention, the exit light 2 represents the closure part, and the window lift rail 3 represents the functional part. Fig. The door trim 1 shown in Figure 1 therefore conceals the essentially vertically extending window lift rail 3.

[0012] According to Fig. 3, the door trim 1 is characterized in the area of ​​the lower edge of the door, so to speak next to or outside the exit light 2, by two legs 4 and 5 which diverge in cross section at the angle α, wherein the leg 5 runs essentially horizontally, ie in the y direction in the vehicle coordinate system.

[0013] According to Fig. 2, the translucent segment of the exit light 2 has, in cross-section, two legs 6 and 7 that diverge at an angle β. Furthermore, the angle α between the legs 4 and 5 at the lower edge of the door trim 1 is greater than the angle β between the legs 6 and 7 in the cross-section of the translucent segment of the exit light 2.

[0014] In the area of ​​the exit light 2, the lower edge of the door trim 1 is provided with a cutout 20 for the exit light 2, so that the legs 4 and 5 of the door trim 1 are shortened in cross-section or no longer connected to each other. Furthermore, the leg 6 in the cross-section of the translucent segment of the exit light 2 lies on an imaginary extension line of the leg 4 in the cross-section of the door trim 1, which in Fig.2 is shown as a dotted line 8. It is also conceivable for there to be only a small distance between the course of the leg 4 of the door trim 1 and the leg 6 of the exit light 2. Ultimately, the two legs 4 and 6 - seen in cross-section - overlap one another, so that in the top view of the door trim 1 the surface is flush between the translucent segment of the exit light 2 and the surfaces of the door trim 1 surrounding the exit light 2. The better the surfaces are aligned flush with one another, the better the light quality is, because deviations from this surface flush cause disturbing shadows on the adjacent surfaces of the door trim 1 at the outline of the exit light 2. In the contact area with the exit light 2, the leg 4 is also provided with a convex-concave bevel 9 in cross-section.Due to the difference between the angle α and the angle β, a flange 10 is provided at the end of the shortened and horizontally running leg 5, opposite the difference angle φ with α - β = φ, which is essentially perpendicular to the leg 5 and whose contact area with the exit light 2 is characterized in cross-section by an angled portion 11. The legs 6 and 7 of the translucent segment rest on the angled portion 11 and on the convex-concave portion 9, with positive-locking and spring-back fastening sections 12 on the exit light housing 13 being supported on the rear side of the angled portion 11 and on the rear side of the convex-concave portion 9, thereby securing the exit light 2 in its position in the door trim 1. This geometric configuration defines the opening at the lower edge of the door panel 1 for accommodating the exit light 2.

[0015] As mentioned at the beginning, the lower end of an adjustable window lift rail 3 is located behind the exit light 2. In order to create access to the adjustment element 14 of the window lift rail 3, legs 5 including flange 10 are removed locally in the cross-section of the door trim 1 and outside the effective surfaces of the door trim 1 for the fastening sections 12 spring-mounted on the exit light housing 13, so that a spatial recess 15 is created below the exit light 2. The adjustment element 14 can be reached via this recess 15, for example with a tool 16. Access to the adjustment element 14 via the recess 15 can therefore be achieved without dismantling the door trim 1 from the door 18 and without dismantling the exit light 2 from the door trim 1.

[0016] This configuration is advantageous because, particularly in frameless doors, the adjustment of the window lift rail 3 to ensure the flush fit between the door pane and the adjacent fixed glazing of the vehicle side panel, which is essential for high exterior quality, takes place only shortly before completion of vehicle assembly and when the doors are already installed in the vehicle body. The inventive concept eliminates the time-consuming and risky removal of the door trim 1, previously installed during interior or door pre-assembly, from the door already in the vehicle to adjust the window lift rail 3.Likewise, the logistically and qualitatively disadvantageous compromise solution of mounting the door trim 1 on the door 18 during vehicle production only after the station responsible for adjusting the window regulator rail 3, thus relocating it to an assembly station not originally intended for completing interior components, is no longer necessary. Given the variety of door trim variants, this compromise solution also requires a dedicated intermediate door trim storage facility for this assembly station and is also disadvantageous due to this logistical space requirement. The inventive idea therefore has a positive effect on internal production logistics because the door can already be equipped with the door trim 1 before installation in the vehicle body, while still allowing the option of adjusting the window regulator 3 at a later stage of production.Due to the fact that, in the installed state, the lowest point 17, i.e. the apex of the exit light 2, lies on or below the largely horizontal longitudinal axis of the adjustment element 14, the adjustment element 14 is discreetly placed despite good accessibility for tools and cannot be identified by the occupant in the plan view of the door trim 1.

Claims

[1] Trim part for a body part (18) with an angular region, the diverging legs (4, 5) of which enclose an angle (α), wherein a cutout (20) is provided in the angular region, wherein the cutout (20) is at least partially closed with a closure part, the diverging legs (6, 7) of which enclose an angle (β), wherein a leg (4) of the angular region lies in overlap with a leg (6) of the angular closure part, whereby a flush visible side results, characterized by that the angle (α) of the angular region is greater than the angle (β) of the closure part, wherein the second leg (5) of the angular region does not overlap with the second leg (7) of the closure part, whereby a recess (15) with a difference angle (φ) is obtained. [2] Covering part according to claim 1, characterized bythat the trim part is a door trim (1). [3] Covering part according to claim 1, characterized by that the locking part is an exit light (2). [4] Covering part according to claim 1, characterized by that a flange (10) is placed perpendicular to the second leg (5).

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