Adjustment device and trim arrangement

Abstract

Adjustment device (22) for positioning a trim part (12) in a motor vehicle, comprising a projection (24) extending from a substructure (18) of the trim part (12), an internal thread (34) provided on the projection (24), an adjusting screw (28) passing through the projection (24) and screwing into the internal thread (34), a support projection (30) extending from a vehicle segment (32) to be covered with the trim part (12) and a support thread (38) provided on the support projection (30) for screwing in the adjusting screw (28), wherein the adjusting screw (28) has a reduction (44) extending through the projection (24) and the internal thread (34) between an external thread (36) that can be screwed into the internal thread (34) and the support thread (38) and a screw head (42).

Description

The invention relates to an adjustment device with which the relative position of a trim part in a motor vehicle can be adjusted. Interior trim panels in a vehicle can feature decorative elements, such as lines, patterns, seams, and parting lines, that extend across different trim panels. Therefore, the relative position of these trim panels must be precise to avoid any perceived aesthetic misalignment of the decorative elements. This is particularly true for components of a vehicle that move relative to each other, such as a car door and an interior console, where larger tolerances exist, making precise alignment of the decorative elements more difficult. From US 6,357,957 B1 it is known to allow an adjusting screw screwed into a projection of a substructure of the fairing part to be abutted against a vehicle segment to be covered by the fairing part, so that a height offset of the fairing part to the vehicle segment can be adjusted via the screw-in depth of the adjusting screw in the projection. From DE 44 26 785 C1 a motor vehicle body with integrated structural cross member is known, wherein the structural cross member serves as a central mounting and support element for the cockpit of the vehicle and is screwed to the body on both sides in the area of ​​the A-pillar, wherein centering elements oriented in the longitudinal direction of the body are provided for positioning the structural cross member during its installation. There is a constant need to precisely adjust the relative position of a trim panel in a motor vehicle. The object of the invention is to demonstrate measures that enable a precise adjustment of the relative position of a fairing part in a motor vehicle. The problem is solved according to the invention by an adjustment device having the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims and the following description, each of which can individually or in combination represent an aspect of the invention. According to the invention, an adjustment device for positioning a trim part in a motor vehicle is provided with a projection extending from a substructure of the trim part, an internal thread provided on the projection, an adjusting screw passing through the projection and screwable into the internal thread, a support projection extending from a vehicle segment to be covered with the trim part, and a support thread provided on the support projection for screwing in the adjusting screw, wherein the adjusting screw has a taper extending through the projection and the internal thread between an external thread that can be screwed to the internal thread and the support thread and a screw head. Since the adjusting screw can be screwed not only into the mounting point of the trim panel but also into the support mounting point of the vehicle segment, precise axial alignment of the internal thread with the support thread, and thus precise alignment of the trim panel with the vehicle segment (which is, in particular, part of the vehicle's body shell), can be enforced in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the adjusting screw. This avoids the need for the adjusting screw to be supported at its shank end at an arbitrarily defined contact point with the vehicle segment. The moment the adjusting screw is screwed into both the internal thread and the support thread, the adjusting screw experiences relative movement to the trim panel and the vehicle segment, but the trim panel does not move relative to the vehicle segment.Only when the adjusting screw is screwed into the support thread far enough that an external thread of the adjusting screw disengages from the internal thread of the trim panel's substructure, and the tapered section of the adjusting screw is positioned in the area of ​​the internal thread, can the base of the substructure rest against the edge of the tapered section and accommodate any offset of the adjusting screw relative to the vehicle segment when screwed further into the support thread. The trim panel can then be positioned closer to the vehicle segment by increasing the screw-in depth of the adjusting screw into the support thread. Once the desired relative position of the trim panel is achieved, the adjusting screw can be turned in the opposite direction, so that the adjusting screw is unscrewed slightly from the support thread and simultaneously screwed back into the internal thread of the base.Since the external thread of the adjusting screw is then screwed into both the internal thread and the support thread, the relative movement of the trim panel relative to the vehicle segment does not occur due to the screw's rotation. The desired relative position of the trim panel to the vehicle segment remains unchanged. However, simultaneously screwing the adjusting screw into both the internal thread and the support thread, once the desired relative position is reached, results in precise positioning of the cover panel perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the adjusting screw. Any radial positional tolerance of the adjusting screw within the internal thread that might be caused by the tapered section is eliminated. At the same time, the significantly spaced axially between the screw connections—one with the internal thread and the other with the support thread—eliminates or at least reduces tilting relative to the longitudinal direction of the adjusting screw. By screwing the adjusting screw into both the internal thread and the support thread, lifting of the cover panel along the length of the adjusting screw is reliably prevented.This improves the precision of the positioning of the trim panel relative to the vehicle segment to be covered. If the trim panel is positioned too close to the vehicle segment, the adjusting screw can be unscrewed from the support thread. The end of the adjusting screw's shank can then rest axially against the support boss without being screwed into the support thread. As long as the adjusting screw is not screwed into the support thread, the internal thread and the trim panel connected to the internal thread via the boss can be adjusted towards the screw head by turning the adjusting screw. Once the desired relative position is reached, the direction of rotation of the adjusting screw can be reversed so that the adjusting screw is screwed back into the support thread without moving the trim panel relative to the vehicle segment. If the trim panel is positioned too far from the vehicle segment, the adjusting screw can be rotated while being screwed into the support thread or during a screwing motion in the opposite direction until the tapered section is positioned within the internal thread and the external thread of the adjusting screw disengages from the internal thread. In this situation, the trim panel can move towards the vehicle segment along with the adjusting screw as it is screwed into the support thread. The internal thread and the axially spaced support thread minimize positional tolerances, while the tapered section of the adjusting screw allows for movement of the trim panel relative to the vehicle segment during installation, thus enabling precise adjustment of the trim panel's relative position within a motor vehicle. In particular, the tapered section forms a sliding surface at an end spaced from the screw head and / or at an end merging into the screw head. This sliding surface can abut axially against the shoulder and / or the internal thread, and is specifically designed to be frustoconical. This means that a sliding surface is formed at each end of the tapered section. The sliding surface facing the external thread is frustoconical, while the sliding surface facing away from the external thread can also be formed by the underside of the screw head, which is not necessarily frustoconical. This allows the adjusting screw to be easily turned when the external thread of the adjusting screw is disengaged from the internal thread. The frustoconical shape of the sliding surface allows the shoulder and / or the internal thread, or the material forming the internal thread, to be centered on the adjusting screw.This prevents tilting of the substructure of the trim panel due to tolerances, thus simplifying a visual inspection to find the desired relative position of the trim panel. The adjusting screw preferably has a frustoconical chamfer for centering and / or supporting the adjusting screw on the support thread and / or a threading tip for threading the adjusting screw into the support thread. The threading tip can have a smaller diameter than the screw shank, in particular smaller than the core diameter of the screw shank. Preferably, the end of the threading tip pointing away from the screw head is tapered, for example, designed as a pointed cone or frustocone. The threading tip can, in particular, protrude from the chamfer. This simplifies the process of screwing the adjusting screw, which is initially axially spaced from the support thread, into the support thread.The threading tip, which is only roughly inserted into the support thread, and / or the chamfer, which partially abuts the edge of the support thread, can automatically align the adjusting screw with the support thread as it is further adjusted, allowing the adjusting screw to screw into the support thread. Furthermore, the chamfer bears against the support thread when the trim piece is adjusted towards the screw head. The threading tip of the screw, located within the support thread and freely rotatable there, ensures that the screw remains securely centered at its end during the screwing motion, preventing it from moving away from the edge of the support thread. Preferably, the adjusting screw is aligned in the Z-direction, the X-direction, or the Y-direction. The Z-direction corresponds to the vertical direction, while the X-direction corresponds to the direction of travel of the vehicle and the Y-direction to the horizontal transverse direction of the vehicle. When the adjusting screw is aligned in the Z-direction, the substructure can automatically rest against the lower edge of the tapered section, spaced apart from the screw head, under its own weight. This prevents a gap that could lead to an undesirable offset of the trim panel relative to the vehicle segment if the screw direction were reversed. However, it is also possible to align the adjusting device in a direction other than the Z-direction, thus allowing the relative position of the trim panel to be adjusted in a different direction.Preferably, two or more adjustment devices are provided, which in particular can each make an adjustment in different directions. Particularly preferred is a guide projection extending from the substructure of the cladding part between the projection and the support projection, wherein the guide projection has a through-hole for guiding the shank of the adjusting screw in a predefined direction, wherein the projection and the guide projection are, in particular, part of a single-piece hollow chamber. This prevents the adjusting screw from tilting, especially in a situation where the adjusting screw is not screwed into the internal thread and / or not into the support thread. A clearance fit is formed, in particular, between the shank of the adjusting screw and the through-hole of the guide projection. The hollow chamber results in a particularly rigid and dimensionally stable one-piece connection, so that the through-hole and the internal thread remain axially aligned with each other even under mechanical load. In particular, the guide element can be attached to the support element to limit the maximum possible relative position of the trim panel to the vehicle segment. This allows the guide element to define an extreme relative position of the trim panel. This prevents impact and bending of a part of the trim panel that is softer than the guide element. This, for example, prevents damage to the plastic covering of the substructure. Preferably, the substructure can be abutted against the vehicle segment to define a maximally close relative position of the trim panel to the vehicle segment. This allows an extreme relative position of the trim panel to be defined by the substructure. This prevents impact and bending of a part of the trim panel that is softer than the substructure. In particular, the maximally close relative position of the trim panel to the vehicle segment is defined by both the substructure and the guide extension, thus preventing the trim panel from tilting. It is particularly preferred that the internal thread is cut into the shoulder or formed by a nut with which the shoulder is fitted. This allows the internal thread to be provided in a cost-effective and easy-to-assemble manner. In particular, it is provided that the support thread is cut into the support extension or formed by a nut connected to the support extension. The support thread can thus be provided in a cost-effective and easy-to-assemble manner. The invention relates to a trim arrangement for a motor vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle door, comprising a trim part having at least one decorative element and a vehicle segment to be covered by the trim part, wherein the relative position of the trim part to the vehicle segment is adjustable by means of an adjusting device engaging a substructure of the trim part and a support thread provided in a support projection of the vehicle segment, which is designed and further developed as described above. In particular, the adjusting screw is screwed into both the internal thread and the support thread.The internal thread and the axially spaced support thread allow positional tolerances to be minimized, while the tapering of the adjusting screw during assembly allows the trim panel to be moved relative to the vehicle segment, thus enabling precise adjustment of the relative position of a trim panel in a motor vehicle. Preferably, the cladding part has a cover for the adjustment mechanism, which is attached directly or indirectly to the substructure, in particular detachably. The cover can, for example, be clipped to the substructure. The surface of the cover is integrated into the contour of the surface of the rest of the cladding part. This makes the adjustment mechanism easily accessible, allowing the relative position of the cladding part to be adjusted, if necessary, even after installation. The invention is now explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, wherein the features shown below can represent an aspect of the invention, either individually or in combination. The figures show: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a fairing arrangement, Fig. 2 a schematic perspective partial section view of the fairing arrangement from Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of an adjustment device of the fairing arrangement from Fig. 1 in a first state, Fig. 4 a schematic sectional view of the adjustment device from Fig. 3 in a second state, Fig. 5 a schematic sectional view of the adjustment device from Fig. 3 in a third state, Fig. 6 a schematic sectional view of the adjustment device from Fig. 3 in a fourth state, Fig.Fig. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the adjustment device from Fig. 3 in a fifth state, Fig. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the adjustment device from Fig. 3 in a sixth state, Fig. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of an adjustment device of the fairing arrangement from Fig. 1, Fig. 10 is a schematic sectional view of a third embodiment of an adjustment device of the fairing arrangement from Fig. 1, Fig. 11 is a schematic sectional view of a fourth embodiment of an adjustment device of the fairing arrangement from Fig. 1, and Fig. 12 is a schematic detail view of the adjustment device from Fig. 7. The trim assembly 10 shown in Fig. 1 in a motor vehicle comprises a trim panel 12, which in the illustrated embodiment is an interior trim panel of a side door. The trim panel 12 has linear decorative elements 14 that extend onto a fixed console 16 of the motor vehicle. To prevent misalignment of the decorative elements 14 between the trim panel 12 and the console 16, an adjustment device 22 is provided below a cover 20 that is detachably clipped to a substructure 18 of the trim panel 12. As shown in Fig. 2, the substructure 18 has a projecting extension 24, which is combined to form a hollow chamber, and a guide extension 26 into which an adjusting screw 28 is inserted. One shaft end of the adjusting screw 28 is supported on a projecting support extension 30 of a vehicle segment 32 of the side door. As shown in Fig. 3, an internal thread 34 is formed on the extension 24 by means of a clip-on nut attached to the extension 24. The adjusting screw 28, with an external thread 36, is screwed into this thread. A support thread 38 is cut into a flared recess in the support extension 30, into which the external thread 36 of the adjusting screw 28 can also be screwed. To ensure that the adjusting screw 28 easily engages the support thread 38, a through-hole 40 is provided in the guide extension 26, which at least assists in the correct alignment of the adjusting screw 28. A tapered section 44 is formed between the external thread 36 and a screw head 42 of the adjusting screw 38. At its end, which is spaced away from the screw head 42, the tapered section has a conical sliding surface 46 to which the external thread 36 engages. When the adjusting screw 28 is screwed into the support thread 38, as shown in Fig. 4, the external thread 36 of the adjusting screw 28 screws along both the internal thread 34 and the support thread 38 without changing the relative position of the trim part 12 to the vehicle segment 32. When the adjusting screw 28 is screwed into the support thread 38 to such an extent that the external thread 36 of the adjusting screw 28 disengages from the internal thread 34 and the tapered section 44 passes freely through the internal thread 34, the projection 24, or the internal thread 34, can rest on the sliding surface 46 of the tapered section 44. Likewise, the screw head 42 can rest on the upper cover surface of the projection 24.The fairing part 12 can be pressed towards the vehicle segment 32 via the screw support of the adjusting screw 28, thereby overcoming any friction-related resistance force acting between the fairing part 12 and the vehicle segment 32. If the adjusting screw 28 is screwed further into the support thread 38, the trim panel 12, which rests on the sliding surface 46 and / or abuts the screw head 42, can follow the relative movement of the adjusting screw 28 and be carried along with the adjusting screw 28 towards the vehicle segment 32. When the desired relative position is reached, the screw direction of the adjusting screw 28 can be reversed so that the external thread 36 of the adjusting screw 28 is screwed into both the internal thread 34 and the support thread 38. If the trim panel 12 has moved closer to the vehicle segment 32 than desired and / or the maximum close relative position has been reached and / or if the substructure 18 of the trim panel abuts the vehicle segment 32 and / or the guide extension 26 abuts the support extension 30, the direction of rotation of the adjusting screw 28 can be reversed. This allows the external thread 36 of the adjusting screw 28 to disengage from the support thread 38 and be screwed only into the internal thread 34, as shown in Fig. 6. The adjusting screw 28 then rests with its shaft end against the support projection 30 and, with a further screw movement, can move the trim panel 12 away from the vehicle segment 32, as shown in Fig. 7. When the desired relative position is reached, the screw direction of the adjusting screw 28 can be reversed so that the external thread 36 of the adjusting screw 28 can be screwed into both the internal thread 34 and the support thread 38, as shown in Fig. 8. In the embodiment of the adjusting device 22 shown in Fig. 9, in comparison to the embodiment of the adjusting device 22 shown in Fig. 3, the support thread 38 is formed by a clip-type snap nut clipped onto the support projection 30. In the embodiment of the adjusting device 22 shown in Fig. 10, in comparison to the embodiment of the adjusting device 22 shown in Fig. 3, the support thread 38 is formed by a weld nut welded to the support extension 30. In the embodiment of the adjusting device 22 shown in Fig. 11, in comparison to the embodiment of the adjusting device 22 shown in Fig. 3, the support thread 38 is formed by a riveted nut riveted to the support projection 30. The various alternatives for forming a thread that can be screwed to the external thread 36 of the adjusting screw 28, as illustrated by the example of the support thread 38, apply analogously to the formation of the internal thread 34 formed on the projection 24. As shown in Fig. 12, the adjusting screw 28 can have a chamfer 99 and a conically pointed threading tip 98 projecting from the chamfer 99 at its end region pointing away from the screw head 42. When the adjusting screw 28 is to be screwed into the support thread 38 of the support extension 30, the threading tip 98 can first be roughly threaded into the support thread 38 without actually tightening it. Then, if necessary, the chamfer 99 can partially engage the edge of the support thread 38, so that with further movement of the adjusting screw 28 towards the support thread 38, the adjusting screw 28 automatically centers itself on the support thread 38. The adjusting screw 28 can thus easily align itself with the support thread 38 and subsequently be easily screwed into it.Furthermore, when the trim part 12 is adjusted in the direction of the screw head 42, the chamfer 99 rests against the support thread 38, and the threading tip 98 of the adjusting screw 28, which is located in the support thread 38 and is freely rotatable there, ensures that the adjusting screw 28 is securely centered at its end in the support thread 38 under the influence of the screw movement and thus cannot move away from the edge of the support thread 38 under the influence of the screw movement.

Claims

Adjustment device (22) for positioning a trim part (12) in a motor vehicle, comprising a projection (24) extending from a substructure (18) of the trim part (12), an internal thread (34) provided on the projection (24), an adjusting screw (28) passing through the projection (24) and screwing into the internal thread (34), a support projection (30) extending from a vehicle segment (32) to be covered with the trim part (12) and a support thread (38) provided on the support projection (30) for screwing in the adjusting screw (28), wherein the adjusting screw (28) has a reduction (44) extending through the projection (24) and the internal thread (34) between an external thread (36) that can be screwed into the internal thread (34) and the support thread (38) and a screw head (42). Adjustment device (22) according to claim 1 characterized in that the tapering (44) forms a sliding surface (46) that can be axially stopped against the projection (24) and / or the internal thread (34) at an end spaced apart from the screw head (42) and / or at an end transitioning into the screw head (42), wherein in particular the sliding surface (46) is designed in a frustoconical shape. Adjustment device (22) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adjusting screw (28) has a frustoconical chamfer (99) for centering and / or supporting the adjusting screw (28) on the support thread (38) and / or a threading tip (98) for threading the adjusting screw (28) into the support thread (38). Adjustment device (22) according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the support thread (38) is cut into the support projection (30) or is formed by a nut connected to the support projection (30). Adjustment device (22) according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the internal thread (34) is cut into the projection (24) or is formed by a nut connected to the projection (24). Adjustment device (22) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the adjusting screw (28) is oriented substantially in the Z direction or in the X direction or in the Y direction. Adjustment device (22) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a guide projection (26) extending from the substructure (18) of the cladding part (12) is provided between the projection (24) and the support projection (30), wherein the guide projection (26) has a through-opening (40) for passing a screw shaft of the adjusting screw (28) through it in a predefined direction, wherein in particular the projection (24) and the guide projection (26) are part of a one-piece hollow chamber. Trim arrangement (10) for a motor vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle door, comprising a trim part (12) having at least one decorative element (14) and a vehicle segment (32) to be covered by the trim part (12), wherein a relative position of the trim part (12) to the vehicle segment (32) is adjustable by means of an adjusting device (22) acting on a substructure (18) of the trim part (12) and a support thread (38) provided in a support projection (30) of the vehicle segment (32) according to one of claims 1 to 7. Cladding arrangement (10) according to claim 8 characterized in that the cladding part (12) has a cover (20) for covering the adjustment device (22), which is attached directly or indirectly to the substructure (18), in particular detachably.

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