Trim panel for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Trim panel for a motor vehicle, comprising: - a cladding base body (1) with a wall thickness and with an outer surface (A) that is visible when used as intended, - at least one light element (2), - a recess (3) extending inwards from the outer surface (A) in the cladding base body (1) for receiving and fixing the light element (2), wherein the recess (3) has a base section (4) to which the light element (2) is attached, wherein a transition area (6) is formed between an area (5) of the cladding base body (1) adjacent to the recess (3) and the base section (4), which connects the base section (4) and the adjacent area (5), characterized by the fact that a wall thickness (Y) of the transition area (6) in several damping zones (7) is thinner than a wall thickness (X) of the adjacent area (5) of the cladding base body (1), wherein the luminous element (2) has local projections (9) on its back side (8) facing the recess (3), each of which is opposite a damping zone (7), and the damping zones (7) each additionally have at least one opening (10) which locally penetrates the respective damping zone (7) in order to allow a springy yielding of the individual damping zones (7) when, due to a force acting on the luminaire element (2), the local projections (9) come into contact with the damping zones (7).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a trim part for a motor vehicle, comprising: - a cladding base body with a wall thickness and with a visible outer surface when used as intended, - at least one luminous element, - a recess in the cladding base body extending inwards away from the outer surface for receiving and fixing the luminous element, wherein the recess has a base section to which the luminous element is fastened, wherein a transition region is formed between the region of the cladding base body adjacent to the recess and the base section, which transition region connects the base section and the adjacent region to one another.

[0002] In the Fig. Figures 10 to 13 show a corresponding trim part with the features described above, according to the prior art. The lighting elements used generally have a component (e.g., a cover plate or a reflection plate) made of glass or a brittle plastic material. However, a disadvantage of this previously known trim part for a motor vehicle is that when a force acts on the lighting element (e.g., when the vehicle collides while parking), this force is not adequately absorbed, resulting in the lighting element being destroyed.

[0003] Further cladding parts from the technical field of the invention are disclosed in the documents US 2001 / 0 046 140 A1, US 2006 / 0 072 332 A1, US 2010 / 0 032 971 A1, and FR 3 036 669 A1.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a trim part for a motor vehicle which counteracts the destruction of the lighting element when a force is applied.

[0005] This task is achieved in the present case by a trim part for a motor vehicle, comprising: - a cladding base body with a wall thickness and with a visible outer surface when used as intended, - at least one luminous element, - a recess in the cladding base body extending inwardly from the outer surface for receiving and fixing the luminous element, wherein the recess has a base section to which the luminous element is attached, wherein a transition region is formed between the region of the cladding base body adjacent to the recess and the base section, which transition region connects the base section and the adjacent region to one another, wherein, according to the invention, the wall thickness of the transition region in several damping zones is thinner than the wall thickness of the adjacent region of the cladding base body, wherein the luminous element has local projections on its rear side facing the recess, each of which is opposite a damping zone, and the damping zone additionally has at least one opening which locally penetrates the respective damping zone,to enable the individual damping zones to yield when the local projections impact the damping zones due to a force acting on the luminous element.

[0006] Due to the provision of damping zones according to the invention, which, due to the openings passing through them, enable a resilient yielding of the damping zones, the force acting on the lighting element is absorbed and cushioned, whereby the risk of damage to the lighting element is considerably reduced or even completely avoided.

[0007] Preferably, at least some or all of the damping zones are elongated. Alternatively, or in combination, some or all of the damping zones can be round, oval, or rectangular.

[0008] The at least one opening is preferably elongated or preferably formed as a slot. An elongated or slot-shaped opening has the advantage that the opening allows only a small amount of water, for example, to pass through the cladding base body.

[0009] The wall thickness of the base section can be thicker than the wall thickness of the damping zones. In particular, the wall thickness of the base section can correspond to or substantially correspond to the wall thickness of the adjacent area of ​​the cladding body.

[0010] Particularly preferably, the transition region is formed circumferentially around the base section. Advantageously, the area of ​​the damping zone occupies at least 10% of the total area of ​​the recess.

[0011] The transition area between individual damping zones is preferably formed by connecting webs between the base section and the adjacent area of ​​the cladding body, the wall thickness of which is greater than the wall thickness of the damping zones.

[0012] The wall thickness of the connecting webs preferably corresponds to the wall thickness of the adjacent area of ​​the cladding base body.

[0013] The trim part can in particular be a bumper trim, a fender trim, a door trim or a sill trim.

[0014] The covering part and / or the lighting element preferably consists or consists of a polymeric material or preferably comprises or comprises a polymeric material.The polymeric material can be polysulfone (PSU), poly(ethersulfone) (PES), polyetherimide (PEI), poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS), polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketones (PEK), polyamideimide (PAI), poly-m-phenyleneisophthalamide (PMI), polyphthalamides (PPA), polybenzimidazoles (PBI), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluoroalkoxyalkane (PFA), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS), polycarbonate (PC), styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), polyphenylene ether (PPE), ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), Polylactate (PLA), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or mixtures of the aforementioned materials.

[0015] The lighting element is preferably formed in two parts, with a cover plate or a reflection plate arranged on a support structure, and the local projections formed on the support structure. The lighting element is preferably a retroreflective lighting element or a light-emitting lighting element. The lighting element is, in particular, a reflector or a side marker light or a daytime running light or a turn signal or a rear fog light or a tail light or a headlight or a front headlight or an auxiliary headlight or a tail light or a fog light.

[0016] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following illustrations. Identical or functionally equivalent parts are marked with the same functional symbols. They show: Fig. 1: an external view of the trim part without an inserted lighting element; Fig. 2: an interior view of the trim part with an inserted lighting element; Fig. 3 to Fig. 5: Cross-sectional view according to the section lines from Fig. 2; Fig. 6: External view of the trim part for a motor vehicle with inserted lighting element; Fig. 7: a view of the back of the lighting element; Fig. 8: a front view of the lighting element; Fig. 9: a perspective view of the back of the lighting element; Fig. 10 to Fig. 13: a fairing part according to the state of the art.

[0017] In Fig. 1 shows an external view of a trim part for a motor vehicle comprising: - a cladding base body 1 with a wall thickness and with a visible outer surface A when used as intended, - a recess 3 in the cladding base body 1 extending inwards from the outer surface A for receiving and fixing the lighting element 2, wherein the recess 3 has a base section 4 to which the lighting element 2 (not yet shown here) is fastened.

[0018] A transition region 6 is formed between the region 5 of the cladding base body 1 adjacent to the recess and the base section 4, which connects the base section 4 and the adjacent region 5. The wall thickness Y of the transition region 6 is thinner in several damping zones 7 than the wall thickness X of the adjacent region 5 of the cladding base body 1 (cf. cross-sectional illustration according to Fig. 3 to Fig. 5).

[0019] In Fig. 2 shows the inside view, ie the surface or side of the covering part opposite the outer surface A. In the Fig. A lighting element 2 is accommodated and fixed in the covering part shown in Figure 2. In Fig. 2 also shows the cutting lines for the following cross-sectional views.

[0020] In Fig. 3 it can be seen that the wall thickness Y of the transition region 6 in several damping zones 7 is thinner than the wall thickness X of the adjacent region 5 of the cladding base body 1, wherein the lighting element 2 has, on its rear side 8 facing the recess 3, local projections 9, each of which is opposite a damping zone 7. The damping zones 7 additionally each have an opening 10, which locally penetrates the respective damping zone 7 in order to enable a resilient yielding of the individual damping zones 7 when the local projections 9 impinge on the damping zone 7 due to a force acting on the lighting element 2.

[0021] The Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show the configuration according to the invention in other cross-sectional views. As particularly in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the damping zones 7 are elongated. The openings 10 are also elongated or formed as a slot. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shows that the transition region is formed circumferentially around the base section 4. The wall thickness of the base section 4 is also thicker than the wall thickness Y of the damping zones 7. The area of ​​the damping zones 7 occupies at least 10% of the total area of ​​the recess 3 (cf. Fig. 1 or Fig. 2).

[0022] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, connecting webs 11 are visible. The transition area 6 between individual damping zones 7 is formed by these connecting webs 11 between the base section 4 and the adjacent area 5 of the cladding body 1, wherein the wall thickness of the connecting webs 11 is greater than the wall thickness Y of the damping zones 7. The wall thickness of the connecting webs 11 corresponds to the wall thickness X of the adjacent area 5 of the cladding body 1.

[0023] The trim part is only schematically indicated in the figures shown. The trim part can be, in particular, a bumper trim, a door trim, a fender trim, or a sill trim. The lighting element 2 is formed in two parts, with a cover plate or a reflection plate 2a being arranged on a support structure 2b, and the local projections 9 being formed on the support structure 2b (see cross-sectional representations). Fig. 3 to Fig. 5). The luminous element is a retroreflective luminous element, in particular a retroreflector or a reflector or a side marker light.

[0024] Alternatively, the lighting element may be a light-emitting lighting element, in particular a side marker light or a daytime running light or an indicator light or a rear fog light or a tail light or a headlight or a front headlight or an additional headlight or a tail light or a fog light.

[0025] In Fig. 6 shows the trim part for a motor vehicle with the trim base body 1 and with the lighting element 2.

[0026] In the Fig. 7 to Fig. Figure 9 shows the individual lighting element 2 in detail. The lighting element 2 has 8 local projections 9 on its rear side facing the recess 3 in the installed state, each of which is opposite a damping zone 7 in the corresponding installed state. The light element 2 is connected to the base section 4 via snap-in connections 20 (only in Fig. 2), but can also be glued, welded, riveted or screwed.

[0027] The Fig. 10 to Fig. Figure 13 shows top views and cross-sectional views of a trim part as is known in the prior art. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the outer side of the fairing part visible in use and the Fig. 11 a corresponding top view of the back. The Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 are cross-sectional views according to the section lines from Fig.10. The reference numerals are analogous to those described above, but each with the suffix "a". As can be seen, a trim part according to the prior art has a uniform wall thickness of the trim base body 1a in the region of the recess 3a. The lighting element 2a, which is accommodated in the recess 3a and attached to the base section 4a, is supported by a relatively rigid trim base body 1a and must absorb the force almost entirely itself in the event of an acting force.

Claims

[1] Trim part for a motor vehicle, comprising: - a cladding base body (1) with a wall thickness and with a visible outer surface (A) when used as intended, - at least one luminous element (2), - a recess (3) extending inwards from the outer surface (A) in the cladding base body (1) for receiving and fixing the lighting element (2), wherein the recess (3) has a base portion (4) to which the luminous element (2) is attached, wherein a transition region (6) is formed between a region (5) of the cladding base body (1) adjoining the recess (3) and the base section (4), which transition region (6) connects the base section (4) and the adjoining region (5) to one another, characterized by , that a wall thickness (Y) of the transition region (6) in several damping zones (7) is thinner than a wall thickness (X) of the adjacent region (5) of the cladding base body (1), wherein the luminous element (2) has, on its rear side (8) facing the recess (3), local projections (9) which are each opposite a damping zone (7), and the damping zones (7) additionally each have at least one opening (10) which locally penetrates the respective damping zone (7) in order to enable a resilient yielding of the individual damping zones (7) when the local projections (9) impinge on the damping zones (7) due to a force acting on the lighting element (2). [2] Covering part according to claim 1, characterized by that at least some of the damping zones (7) are elongated. [3] Covering part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the at least one opening (10) is elongated or designed as a slot. [4] Covering part according to one of the preceding claims characterized by that a wall thickness of the base section (4) is thicker than the wall thickness (Y) of the damping zones (7). [5] Covering part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the transition region (6) is formed circumferentially around the base section (4). [6] Covering part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an area of the damping zones (7) occupies at least 10% of the total area of the recess (3). [7] Covering part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the transition area (6) between individual damping zones (7) is formed by connecting webs (11) between the base section (4) and the adjacent area (5) of the cladding base body (1), the wall thickness of which is greater than the wall thickness (Y) of the damping zones (7). [8] Covering part according to claim 7, characterized by that the wall thickness of the connecting webs (11) corresponds to the wall thickness (X) of the adjacent area (5) of the cladding base body (1). [9] Covering part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the trim part is a bumper cover, a fender cover, a door cover or a sill cover. [10] Covering part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the lighting element (2) is formed in two parts, wherein a cover plate or a reflection plate (2a) is arranged on a support structure (2b) and the local projections (9) are formed on the support structure (2b). [11] Covering part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the luminous element (2) is a retroreflective luminous element or a light-emitting luminous element.

Images