Device for fixing a front part to a fender of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Device for fixing a front part (2) to a fender (1) in a motor vehicle, wherein a corner part (5) is connected to the front part (2) and a retaining strip (4) for the corner part (5) is connected to the fender (1), and means are provided for guiding the corner part (5) in the retaining strip (4) during assembly of the corner part (5) in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and for limiting the assembly movement of the front part (2), characterized in that means are provided for pivoting the corner part (5) relative to the retaining strip (4) about an axis in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, said means having a ramp (14), wherein said pivoting means pivot the corner part (5) into contact with the fender (1) during assembly of the front part (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for fixing a front part to a fender of a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, wherein a corner part is connected to the front part and a retaining strip for the corner part is connected to the fender, and means are provided for guiding the corner part in the retaining strip during assembly of the front part in the vehicle longitudinal direction and for limiting the assembly movement of the front part.

[0002] For example, this front section is a vehicle's bumper. To precisely position the bumper's side panels, which surround the corners of the vehicle's body, relative to the fenders, guides must be provided between the bumper and fender to guide the bumper during installation.

[0003] A device having the features of the type mentioned above is known from DE 10 2008 036 621 A1. In this device, the means for guiding the corner part in the retaining strip during assembly of the front section in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and for limiting the assembly movement of the front section are designed as projections and guide slots. The projections engage in the guide slots. When the front section is assembled, one of the projections assumes a defined end position in the guide slot associated with this projection, which is conical or curved.

[0004] This design largely ensures precise positioning of the mounted component relative to the fender, particularly ensuring a precise gap between the front end and the fender. This is possible with a relatively simple design of the device, without having to make significant structural changes to the front end or fender.

[0005] In this known device, the corner section located above the retaining strip rests on the retaining strip, thus in the Z-axis of spatial coordinates. Furthermore, the mounted front section is supported in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, thus in the X-axis of spatial coordinates, due to the limitation of the assembly movement of the front section by the end of one guide slot. Since this is also curved, precise positioning of the front section relative to the fender is also ensured in the transverse direction of the vehicle, thus in the Y-axis of spatial coordinates.

[0006] However, this known device has the disadvantage that, due to the described mounting, the corner section can tilt relative to the retaining strip about an axis oriented essentially in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. This can mean that an exact gap cannot be determined between the front end and the fender.

[0007] DE 197 36 755 A1, DE 197 41 062 A1, US 4 700 977 A and DE 103 42 168 A1 disclose further prior art.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to further develop the device with the features of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that after the front part has been mounted on the fender, an exact gap is present between the front part and the fender.

[0009] The object is achieved in that means for pivoting the corner part relative to the retaining strip about an axis in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle are provided, said means having a ramp, said means for pivoting pivoting the corner part to rest against the fender when the front part is mounted.

[0010] The device according to the invention ensures that, when the front section is mounted on the fender, the corner section is also pivoted relative to the retaining strip about an axis in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This pivoting movement is effected by the ramp, and this pivoting movement continues until the corner section rests against the fender. Therefore, the slope of the ramp and thus the pivoting path of the corner section brought about by the ramp must be dimensioned relative to the position of the fender in order to achieve the desired precise gap.

[0011] Taking into account the component tolerances of the individual components of the system, it is considered advantageous if the overall system formed from the components exhibits a defined degree of flexibility, at least in the area of one component. The fender, usually made of metal, is best suited for this purpose, as it can yield slightly when the corner piece is in contact with the fender, almost like a spiral spring.

[0012] The design of the device according to the invention ensures not only the precise positioning of the front section relative to the fender in the spatial coordinates X, Y, and Z, but also that the front section is fixed relative to the fender, or the corner section relative to the retaining strip, with respect to a pivoting movement around the axis in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. This additional fixation around the axis in the vehicle's longitudinal direction enables the gap between the front section and the fender to be achieved with significantly higher quality, thus reducing the gap size.

[0013] The ramp's function according to the invention can be implemented particularly easily if the retaining strip includes the ramp. When the front section is pushed onto the retaining strip mounted on the fender, the corner section comes into contact with the ramp and is slightly raised, so that the corner section is supported in the Z direction on the retaining strip, thus downward.

[0014] The ramp attached to the retaining strip is positioned on the side of the retaining strip facing away from the adjacent vehicle exterior. If the corner piece thus contacts the ramp, the pivoting movement of the corner piece due to the effect of the ramp causes the corner piece to pivot slightly toward the adjacent vehicle exterior, making contact with the fender.

[0015] In particular, the corner part is designed to have a projection. During the assembly movement of the front part, the projection is moved along the ramp, corresponding to the contour of the ramp, and then along a support section of the retaining strip adjoining the ramp. The support section supports the projection when the front part is assembled. The support section is designed to prevent the corner part from pivoting further relative to the retaining strip when the projection of the corner part rests against the support section of the retaining strip.

[0016] A particularly suitable contact point for the corner part is when the fender has an area designed as a fender trim. The pivoting means pivot the corner part to rest against the fender trim when the front part is mounted. This fender trim represents a flat, planar area of the fender. In particular, the area of the fender containing the fender trim is arranged vertically. In the pivoted contact position of the corner part, it thus contacts the vertically oriented fender trim. It is considered advantageous if the corner part has a surface section on its side facing the fender trim for resting on the fender trim. This ensures even support of the corner part on the fender.

[0017] The means for guiding the corner section in the retaining strip during assembly of the front section in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and for limiting the assembly movement of the front section can be designed in different ways. It is considered particularly advantageous if these means are designed as guide pins and guide slots. The guide pins engage in the guide slots. When the front section is assembled, at least one of the guide pins assumes a defined end position in the guide slot assigned to this projection.

[0018] In particular, the retaining strip has two guide slots arranged one behind the other in the assembly direction of the front part and the corner part has two guide pins interacting with the guide slots.

[0019] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the accompanying drawings, and the description of the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, without being limited to them. It shows: Fig. 1 relating to the device according to the invention, the retaining strip intended for connection to the fender, in a spatial representation, seen obliquely from above, Fig. 2 relating to the device according to the invention, the corner part intended for connection to the front part, in a spatial representation, seen obliquely from below, Fig. 3 an arrangement of a partial area of the bow part and the corner part connected to it, shown in a spatial view, Fig. 4 a spatial representation of the arrangement of the corner part and the retaining strip, illustrated in a position before the retaining strip and the corner part are joined together, Fig. 5 in a spatial partial view of a passenger car, its fender and its front part designed as a bumper, when mounting the front part on the fender, Fig. 6 the order pursuant to Fig. 5 illustrates the assembled bow section, thus its final position.

[0020] Fig. 6 shows, with regard to a passenger car, the assembled arrangement of the left fender 1 and the left area of a front section 2, which is a bumper, for its front left area. Also illustrated is the adjacent shell area 3 of the body of the passenger car. A retaining strip 4 is connected to the fender 1, and a corner section 5 is connected to the front section 2. The front section 2 is mounted in the illustrated left area of the passenger car and correspondingly also in the right area of the front section 2 by means of the corner section 5 in the retaining strip 4 assigned to it. The front section 2 is mounted by sliding it onto the fender 1 in the direction of arrow 6 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0021] In the Fig. In the assembled position of the front section 2 illustrated in Figure 6, there is only a very small gap between it and the fender 1, as is illustrated, for example, by the visible upper gap 7. The same applies to the gap in the other visible areas between the fender 1 and the front section 2.

[0022] Fig. 5 illustrates the front part 2 during its assembly, thus before reaching the Fig. 6. It can be seen that the fender 1 has a fender cut 8. This cut surface on the fender 1 results in a flat contact surface that is essentially vertically oriented and serves, in a manner to be described in more detail below, for the contact of the corner part 5 during a pivoting movement of the corner part 5 about the axis of the assembly direction, thus the X-axis.

[0023] The Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 illustrate the basic structure of the retaining strip 4 and the corner part 5.

[0024] Fig. Figure 1 illustrates the retaining strip 4, which is provided at the top with two guide slots 9 and 10. These guide slots 9, 10 are oriented, with respect to their longitudinal extent, essentially in the X-direction, thus in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The guide slot 9 is designed as a labyrinth guide, with a funnel-shaped first section 11 and a second section 12 adjoining it, arranged at a slight angle to the X-axis.

[0025] With respect to the orientation of the passenger car, the guide link 9 is arranged at the front and the guide link 10 is arranged further back.

[0026] On the side of the retaining strip 4 facing away from the adjacent vehicle exterior, adjacent to the guide slot 9, the retaining strip is provided with a projection 13 extending upwards, thus in the Z direction. The front section of the projection 13 is designed as a ramp 14, which has a lower level at the front than at the rear. A support section 15 of the projection 13 adjoins the rear, higher level of the ramp 14 directly to the rear. This support section 15 has a flat, upper, horizontally extending support surface.

[0027] The retaining strip 4 is designed as a one-piece injection-molded plastic part.

[0028] In the Fig. 2 illustrates the corner part 5, which is also formed as a one-piece plastic injection-molded part. The corner part 5 has two guide pins 16 and 17 on its underside, which protrude beyond a flat bottom contour of the corner part 5. This flat bottom contour is formed by a plurality of ribs 18 in the area of the underside of the corner part 5.

[0029] The first guide pin 16 interacts with the guide slot 9, the second guide pin 17 interacts with the guide slot 10.

[0030] On the side facing away from the adjacent vehicle exterior, the corner part 5 has, in the region of the first guide pin 16, a projection 19 which extends substantially in the X-direction. This projection 19 has on its underside a flat surface 20 which is arranged parallel to the flat bottom contour of the corner part 5. On the surface facing away from the projection 19, thus the side facing the adjacent vehicle exterior, the corner part 5 has a plate section 21 which, on the side facing the vehicle exterior, has a flat contact surface or surface section 22 which is arranged substantially vertically and in the assembly direction according to arrow 6, as can be seen in the illustration of the Fig. 3 can be seen.

[0031] Fig. Figure 4 illustrates the arrangement of retaining strip 4 and corner piece 5 before these components interact. The retaining strip 4 is stationary, as it is firmly connected to the fender 1. The corner piece 5 is firmly connected to the front section 2. The assembly consisting of retaining strip 4 and corner piece 5, in conjunction with the fender 1 in the area of its fender trim 8, serves to fix the front section 2 to the fender 1.

[0032] Based on the presentation in Fig.4, the front part 2 with the corner part 5 is guided onto the fender 1 in the area of the associated retaining strip 4 in such a way that the first guide pin 16 on the corner part 5 is inserted in the area of the funnel-shaped first section 11 of the guide slot 9 and the second guide pin 17 is inserted into the guide slot 10. When the front part 2 is assembled, thus moving the front part 2 in the assembly direction according to arrow 6, the two guide pins 16 and 17 move along the guide slots 9 and 10 until they have reached their end positions. The second guide pin 17 rests against the U-shaped end of the guide slot 10 and the first guide pin 16 is inserted into the angled second section 12 of the guide slot 9.The end of the guide slot 10 thus fixes the corner piece 5 in the assembly direction, i.e., in the X-direction, while the angled second section 12 of the guide slot 9 also fixes the corner piece 5 relative to the retaining strip 4 in the Y-direction. By resting the corner piece 5 on the retaining strip 4, the corner piece 5 is also fixed in the Z-direction.

[0033] When the corner part 5 is moved relative to the retaining strip 4, thus the movement of the two guide pins 16 and 17 in the guide slots 9 and 10, the projection 19 comes with its leading end against the ramp 14, so that due to the angle of inclination of the ramp 14, the corner part 5 is pivoted slightly about the X-axis. Once the projection 19 has passed the ramp 14, the projection 19 comes into contact with the support section 15 of the retaining strip 4 located below it with its lower flat surface 20. The pivoting movement of the corner part 5 caused by the ramp 14 is dimensioned such that the contact surface or surface section 22 of the plate section 21 contacts the vertical surface of the fender trim 8 of the elastically flexible fender 1 in a straight line, if necessary with a certain preload.Thus, due to the interaction of ramp 14 and support section 15 with the projection 19 and the interaction of the plate section 21 with the fender trim 8, a defined position of the corner part 5 with respect to its pivoting about the X-axis is ensured.

[0034] Overall, by determining the positions of corner part 5 and retaining strip 4 relative to each other in the direction of the X, Y and Z coordinates and by determining the corner part 5 relative to the retaining strip 4 and the fender trim 8, an extremely precise gap dimension in the area of fender 1 and front part 2 can be achieved.

Claims

[1] Device for fixing a front part (2) to a fender (1) in a motor vehicle, wherein a corner part (5) is connected to the front part (2) and a retaining strip (4) for the corner part (5) is connected to the fender (1), and means are provided for guiding the corner part (5) in the retaining strip (4) during assembly of the corner part (5) in the vehicle longitudinal direction and for limiting the assembly movement of the front part (2), characterized by that means for pivoting the corner part (5) relative to the retaining strip (4) about an axis in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle are provided, which have a ramp (14), said means for pivoting pivoting the corner part (5) to rest against the fender (1) when the front part (2) is mounted. [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the retaining bar (4) has the ramp (14). [3] Device according to claim 2, characterized bythat the ramp (14) is arranged on that side of the retaining strip (4) which faces away from the adjacent vehicle exterior. [4] Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by in that the corner part (5) has a projection (19), wherein the projection (19) is moved during the assembly movement of the bow part (2) along the ramp (14) in accordance with the contour of the ramp (14) and along a support section (15) of the holding strip (4) adjoining the ramp (14), wherein the support section (15) supports the projection (19) when the bow part (2) is assembled. [5] Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the fender (1) has an area designed as a fender trim (8), wherein the means for pivoting pivot the corner part (5) to rest against the fender trim (8) when the front part (2) is mounted. [6] Device according to claim 5, characterized bythat the area of the fender (1) having the fender trim (8) is arranged vertically oriented. [7] Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by that the corner part (5) has, on its side facing the fender trim (8), a surface section (22) for contact with the fender trim (8). [8] Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by in that the means for guiding the corner part (5) in the retaining strip (4) during assembly of the front part (2) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and for limiting the assembly movement of the front part (2) are designed as guide slots (9, 10) and guide pins (16, 17), wherein the guide pins (16, 17) engage in the guide slots (9, 10), wherein at least one of the guide pins (17) assumes a defined end position in the guide slot (10) assigned to this guide pin (17) when the front part (2) is assembled. [9] Device according to claim 8, characterized bythat the retaining strip (4) has two guide slots (9, 10) arranged one behind the other in the assembly direction of the front part (2) and the corner part (5) has two guide pins (16, 17) cooperating with the guide slots (9, 10).

Images