Housing for a protective device for a motor vehicle interior, protective device with such a housing and method for producing such a housing

Abstract

A housing (4) for a protective device (1) for a motor vehicle interior, which is provided for accommodating at least one winding shaft (2) and at least one flexible sheet-like structure (3) held on the winding shaft (2) so as to be wound up and unwound, comprising a housing profile (5) extending along a longitudinal direction (L), which has a square profile cross-section (6) which defines a receiving space (A) for receiving the at least one winding shaft (2) and the at least one flexible sheet-like structure (3), and a profile opening (7) extending into the receiving space (A), through which the at least one flexible sheet-like structure (3) can be displaced into and / or out of the receiving space (A) during winding and / or unwinding, characterized in that the housing profile (5) is formed from a plate-shaped semi-finished product (13) made of plastic (K),which - in a ready-to-use state - is angled along at least one predetermined bending line (14) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) to form the angular profile cross-section (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a housing for a protective device for a motor vehicle interior, which is provided for receiving at least one winding shaft and at least one flexible sheet material held on the winding shaft so as to be wound up and unwound, comprising a housing profile extending along a longitudinal direction, which has an angular profile cross-section which defines a receiving space for receiving the at least one winding shaft and the at least one flexible sheet material, and a profile opening extending into the receiving space, through which the at least one flexible sheet material can be displaced into and / or out of the receiving space during winding and / or unwinding. The invention also relates to a protective device having such a housing and a method for producing such a housing.

[0002] Such a housing in the form of a roller blind cassette is known from DE 10 2011 005 819 B4 and is intended for a protective device in the form of a roller blind for a motor vehicle interior. The roller blind has a rotatably mounted roller blind shaft and a flexible sheet-like structure in the form of a roller blind web that can be wound up and unwound on the roller blind shaft. The roller blind cassette has a housing profile with a square profile cross-section provided with a slot. The profile cross-section defines a receiving space in which the roller blind shaft and the roller blind web - at least in the wound-up state - are accommodated. The roller blind web can be pulled off the roller blind shaft through a profile opening in the housing profile. In the known roller blind cassette, the profile opening is formed by the said slot. For the production of the housing profile, DE 10 2011 005 819 B4 teaches production from sheet metal.

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a housing, a protective device and a method of the type mentioned at the outset, which each enable simplified production and / or assembly compared to the prior art.

[0004] This object is achieved for the housing in that the housing profile is formed from a plate-shaped semi-finished product made of plastic, which - in a ready-to-use state - is angled along at least one predetermined bending line extending in the longitudinal direction to form the angular profile cross-section. The solution according to the invention makes it possible, in particular, to dispense with complex metal forming to form the angular profile cross-section. Instead, the housing profile is formed from a semi-finished product made of plastic, which is angled for this purpose only along at least one longitudinally extending predetermined bending line. The semi-finished product is designed in the form of an at least essentially flat plate. Preferably, the semi-finished product as such is dimensionally stable and, in the region of the at least one predetermined bending line, is easily angled, kinked and / or bent - compared to the rest of the semi-finished product.The at least one predetermined bending line can, in particular, be a structural weakening of the semi-finished product due to the geometry and / or material. The at least one predetermined bending line can be longitudinally continuous or interrupted in sections. The semi-finished product and the at least one predetermined bending line are preferably designed such that manual bending of the semi-finished product along the predetermined bending line is easily possible. In the ready-to-use state—i.e., after bending the semi-finished product—the at least one predetermined bending line is arranged in a corner region of the housing profile. The angular profile cross-section preferably has a C- or U-shaped basic shape, wherein the basic shape can be provided with additional profile sections. If such a basic shape is provided, the semi-finished product can be angled along at least two predetermined bending lines.The profile opening can be subsequently cut out of the housing profile and / or formed between mutually angled end faces of the semi-finished product. The profile opening is preferably elongated and in the form of a gap, slot, or the like. The profile opening preferably extends over the entire length of the housing profile. The housing profile is preferably open at end face regions located opposite one another in the longitudinal direction and, to this extent, has an end face opening on each end face. To close these end face openings, an end cap can be provided, which can be placed onto and / or inserted into the respective end face opening.

[0005] In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one predetermined bending line is prefabricated on the semi-finished product. For example, the at least one predetermined bending line can be cut out of the plate-shaped semi-finished product by machining or formed into the semi-finished product without cutting. The at least one predetermined bending line is preferably continuously extended longitudinally over the entire length of the semi-finished product - and thus over the entire length of the housing profile. Alternatively, the at least one predetermined bending line can be interrupted in sections. The at least one predetermined bending line is preferably introduced in the form of a recess into a flat side of the semi-finished product. For example, the at least one predetermined bending line can be designed in the form of a groove, a channel, a ridge, or the like. The fact that the at least one predetermined bending line is already prefabricated on the semi-finished product makes production of the housing even easier.

[0006] In a further embodiment of the invention, the profile opening is formed between mutually angled ends of the semi-finished product. This embodiment of the invention eliminates the need for subsequent removal of the profile opening from the housing profile. This further simplifies housing production. In this embodiment of the invention, the profile opening is formed solely by bending the semi-finished product along at least one predetermined bending line.

[0007] In a further embodiment of the invention, the profile cross-section has a C-, U-, or rectangular basic shape, for which the semi-finished product is bent at right angles several times. In this embodiment, the semi-finished product therefore has at least two longitudinally extending predetermined bending lines. The predetermined bending lines are preferably oriented parallel to each other. This ensures a sufficiently rigid design of the housing profile while maintaining a low weight.

[0008] In a further embodiment of the invention, the housing profile—and thus the semi-finished product—has a layered structure with several different material layers. At least one of the material layers is made of plastic. The material layers are arranged one above the other in the thickness direction of the plate-shaped semi-finished product. The layered structure can be formed, for example, by lamination or compression molding, with the multiple material layers being firmly joined together. The layered structure of the housing profile or the semi-finished product enables a particularly functional design of the housing insofar as different material layers can have different functions.

[0009] In a further embodiment of the invention, a load-bearing support structure layer made of plastic is provided. The support structure layer serves to ensure the strength and dimensional stability of the housing profile. The support structure layer is made of a rigid plastic. Compared to any other material layers, the support structure layer preferably has a greater layer thickness. The support structure layer preferably forms a kind of core of the plate-shaped semi-finished product.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, the plastic is glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene. This choice of material allows for sufficient strength and dimensional stability of the housing profile while maintaining a comparatively low weight.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, a damping layer made of a sound-absorbing material, preferably felt, is provided and arranged on the inside. "Internal" means that the damping layer forms an inner surface of the housing profile that faces the receiving space. The damping layer prevents noise from developing inside the housing. Such noise can occur - when the protective device is installed - when the winding shaft or the flexible sheet material strikes the housing profile on the inside due to the driving condition. Since the damping layer is already provided in the layer structure of the semi-finished product, a subsequent internal coating of the housing profile is unnecessary, thus saving manufacturing costs.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, a cover layer made of a cover material is provided and arranged on the outside, which corresponds to a cover material of the motor vehicle interior, preferably corresponds to the cover material of the motor vehicle interior. "External" means that the cover layer forms an outer surface of the housing profile. This outer surface faces the motor vehicle interior when the housing is mounted on the vehicle. The cover material can be a textile, leather, or another cover material commonly used in a motor vehicle interior. Because the cover material of the cover layer corresponds to the cover material of the motor vehicle interior, a pleasing visual appearance and thus an improved impression of quality can be achieved. The cover layer is part of the layer structure of the semi-finished product.This eliminates the need for subsequent external application of the cover material to the housing profile, saving time and effort. This further simplifies production.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the plate-shaped semi-finished product is produced by compression molding. Compression molding is a well-known method for producing flat or slightly curved plastic components in the field of plastics engineering. In this case, the production of the semi-finished product by compression molding has proven particularly advantageous, especially when the semi-finished product has a layered structure with several different material layers. Compression molding can also be referred to as compression molding. This is a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention.

[0014] The invention also relates to a method for producing a housing according to the above description.

[0015] The object underlying the invention is achieved for the method in that it comprises a step: bending a plate-shaped semi-finished product made of plastic along at least one predetermined bending line extending in the longitudinal direction. In this way, the housing profile of the housing can be designed in a particularly simple manner from a manufacturing point of view.

[0016] In particular, complex metalworking or the like can be dispensed with. Preferably, the plate-shaped semi-finished product is bent several times along a predetermined bending line. This allows, for example, a C-, U-shaped, or rectangular basic shape of the angular profile cross-section to be formed in a particularly simple manner. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the features disclosed in connection with the housing described above, which also apply correspondingly in connection with the method according to the invention. In this respect, it is understood that the plate-shaped semi-finished product can, for example, have a layered structure according to the above description with several different material layers.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, the method comprises a step: heating the semi-finished product. Heating the semi-finished product makes it more flexible than in a cooled state, allowing it to be bent with less force. This further simplifies the production of the housing. For this purpose, the semi-finished product can be heated either entirely or only locally, for example, in the area of ​​the at least one predetermined bending line.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the invention, the method comprises a step: compression molding at least one plastic to form the plate-shaped semi-finished product, wherein the at least one predetermined bending line is formed on the semi-finished product. Compression molding is generally known as a method for producing flat or slightly curved components made of plastic and has proven particularly advantageous in this case.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one further material layer is compression-molded together with the at least one plastic. This results in a layered structure of the semi-finished product and thus of the housing profile. The further material layer can be made, for example, from a sound-damping material, preferably felt. A further material layer can be made, for example, from a covering material, such as a textile, leather, or the like. The multi-layer compression-molded nature of the semi-finished product eliminates the need for subsequent attachment of damping and / or covering material to the housing profile. This further significantly simplifies production.

[0020] The invention also relates to a protective device for a motor vehicle interior, comprising at least one winding shaft and at least one flexible sheet-like structure which is held on the winding shaft in a manner which can be wound up and unwound and which can be displaced between an angled protective position and a wound-up storage position.

[0021] The object underlying the invention is achieved for the protective device in that a housing as described above is provided for accommodating the winding shaft and the wound flexible sheet. The protective device is preferably designed in the form of a load compartment cover or a load compartment partition net. Alternatively, the protective device can be designed in the form of a sunshade device and provided for shading a vehicle-side window surface.

[0022] Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the claims and from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a protective device according to the invention in the form of a load compartment cover for a passenger car, which has an embodiment of a housing according to the invention, Fig. 2 in a schematic perspective exploded view the protective device according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a plate-shaped semi-finished product made of plastic, which is used to form the housing of the protective device according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is provided, Fig. 4 shows an enlarged view of the plate-shaped semi-finished product according to Fig. 3 in a side view, Fig. 5 in schematic perspective view - according to the viewing direction of Fig. 3 - a semi-finished product according to the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 manufactured housing profile of the protective device according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, Fig. 6 shows an enlarged view of the housing profile Fig. 5 in a side view and Fig. 7 shows a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of a method according to the invention for producing the housing of the protective device according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

[0023] According to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a protective device 1 in the form of a cargo space cover for a cargo space of a station wagon is provided. The protective device 1 has a winding shaft 2 and a flexible sheet 3 in the form of a roller blind, which is held at one end on the winding shaft 2 and can be wound up and unwound. The flexible sheet 3 is characterized by both Fig. 1 as well as Fig. 2 is shown in a wound-up state, which can also be referred to as a stowed position. To accommodate the winding shaft 2 and the flexible sheet 3, the protective device 1 has a housing 4 with a housing profile 5 extending along a longitudinal direction L. The housing profile 5 has a square profile cross-section 6 ( Fig. 6), which defines a receiving space A for accommodating the winding shaft 2 and the flexible sheet 3. Furthermore, the housing profile 5 has a profile opening 7 extending into the receiving space A.

[0024] In a fully assembled state, the winding shaft 2 is arranged in the receiving space A and is rotatably mounted on a bearing element 8 of the housing 4 at each end. In this case, the bearing elements 8 are each inserted into an end opening 9 of the housing profile 5 and joined to the same in a generally known manner. For the vehicle-side mounting of the protective device 1, the housing 4 has end caps 10 arranged at the end of the housing profile 5. The end caps 10 are each plugged onto the housing profile 5 at the end in the longitudinal direction L. In the vehicle-mounted state, the end caps 10 are releasably secured in a generally known manner with a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner to complementary receiving sections on the cargo space side. A contour plate 11 is arranged on an end of the flexible sheet-like structure 3 facing away from the winding shaft 2.In order to transfer the flexible sheet material 3 from the stowed position shown in the drawing into a functional position covering the loading space, the flexible sheet material 3 can be unwound from the winding shaft 2 by means of a pulling movement on the contour plate 11 that is oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction L. The flexible sheet material 3 is hereby displaced through the profile opening 7. In the functional position, the flexible sheet material is clamped essentially flat in a basically known manner. In order to transfer the flexible sheet material 3 from the functional into the stowed position, a winding spring 12 is assigned to the winding shaft 2. The winding spring 12 is attached at one end to the winding shaft 2 and at the other end to the - with respect to the plane of the drawing. Fig. 2 - right-hand bearing element 8. Accordingly, the coil spring 12 is preloaded during an unwinding movement of the winding shaft 2 and causes a torque acting in the winding direction around the rotational axis of the winding shaft 2. This torque serves to wind up the flexible sheet material 3.

[0025] As can be seen in particular from the Fig. 3 to 6, the housing profile 5 is formed from a plate-shaped semi-finished product 13 made of a plastic K, which - in a ready-to-use state ( Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 5, Fig. 6) - is angled along at least one predetermined bending line 14 extending in the longitudinal direction L to form the angular profile cross-section 6.

[0026] The plate-shaped semi-finished product 13 is flat and has a rectangular, elongated basic shape. The length to width ratio in this case is approximately 10:1. Three longitudinal predetermined bending lines 14 are provided and oriented parallel to one another. To form the housing profile 5, the semi-finished product 13 is formed from the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, is angled along the predetermined bending lines 14. The profile cross-section 6 has an approximately rectangular basic shape, so that the semi-finished product 13 is angled approximately at right angles along the predetermined bending lines 14.

[0027] Apart from the profile opening 7, the profile cross-section 6 is box-shaped in the manner of a slotted, rectangular hollow profile. This design is not mandatory. In an embodiment not shown, the semi-finished product 13 can be angled merely along a predetermined bending line 14. This results in an L-shaped basic shape of the profile cross-section 6. In a further embodiment not shown, the semi-finished product 13 can be angled along two predetermined bending lines 14. This results in a C- or U-shaped basic shape of the profile cross-section 6.

[0028] As shown by Fig. 4, the predetermined bending lines 14 are each formed in the form of a depression 14 prefabricated on the semi-finished product 13. These depressions 14 are formed on the semi-finished product 13 in a manner described in more detail below. The depressions 14 extend continuously over the entire length of the semi-finished product 13 and thus over the entire length of the housing profile 5. In an embodiment not shown, the depressions 14 can be interrupted in sections. The predetermined bending lines or depressions 14 serve to simplify the shaping of the semi-finished product 13, so that it can be geometrically defined and bent by 90° with reduced force to form the housing body 5. The depressions 14 each form a weakening of the semi-finished product 13. As a result of this weakening, the semi-finished product 13 bends in a defined manner in the area of ​​the predetermined bending lines under a corresponding bending load. The bending load is indicated by the moment arrow of the Fig. 4 illustrates this.

[0029] More precisely, to form the housing profile 5, a first profile wall section 15 of the semi-finished product 13 is initially angled upwards by approximately 90° relative to a second profile wall section 16. Thereafter, a third profile wall section 17 is angled upwards by approximately 90° relative to the second profile wall section 16 in the opposite direction. In this case, a fourth profile wall section 18 is displaced together with the third profile wall section 17. The fourth profile wall section 18 is then angled relative to the third profile wall section 17 under the influence of a corresponding bending load, so that the Fig. 6 apparent shape of the profile cross-section 6 or the Fig. 5 apparent shape of the housing profile 5. The recesses 14 are in the Fig. 6, faces the receiving space A and is folded as a result of the previously described forming of the semi-finished product 13. In addition to the described simplified bending, the recesses 14 ensure an accurate shaping of the profile cross-section 6, since excess material in the corner areas of the profile cross-section 6 is avoided.

[0030] The profile opening 7 is formed here between mutually angled ends 19, 20 of the plate-shaped semi-finished product 13. In the non-angled configuration of the semi-finished product 13, the ends 19, 20 are arranged opposite one another perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L ( Fig. 3, Fig. 4).

[0031] In the present case, the housing profile 5 and thus the semi-finished product 13 has a layered structure with several different material layers 21, 22, 23. The material layers 21, 22, 23 are not shown to scale and are described in particular with reference to Fig. 4 only schematically and in a very simplified manner. A first of the material layers is in this case a load-bearing supporting structure layer 21. The supporting structure layer 21 is made of the plastic K and serves to provide strength and mechanical stability to the housing profile 5. In this case, a glass fiber reinforced polypropylene is selected as the plastic K. The further material layers 22, 23 are arranged in the thickness direction of the layer structure on both sides of the supporting structure layer 21 and are firmly connected to it in a manner to be described in more detail. One of the material layers is a damping layer 22. The damping layer 22 is in this case made of felt and in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Thus, the damping layer 22 forms an inner surface of the housing profile 5 facing the receiving space A. A further material layer in the present case is a cover layer 23 made of a cover material not specified in more detail. The cover layer 23 is arranged on a flat side of the support structure layer 21 facing away from the damping layer 22 and forms an outer surface of the housing profile 5. The cover material in the present case corresponds to a cover material of the motor vehicle interior not shown in more detail and can be, for example, a textile upholstery material, leather or the like.

[0032] The plate-shaped semi-finished product 13 is manufactured here by compression molding. Compression molding is a well-known process in the field of plastics technology for producing flat or slightly curved plastic components. In this case, both the layered structure with the material layers 21, 22, 23 and the predetermined bending lines in the form of the recesses 14 are formed directly during compression molding of the semi-finished product 13. This allows for particularly simple and cost-effective production of the semi-finished product 13 and thus of the housing profile 5.

[0033] Based on Fig. 7 shows a method for producing the housing 4 in a highly simplified schematic representation. In the method, in a step a), the plate-shaped semi-finished product 13 made of plastic is bent along at least one - in this case along three - predetermined bending lines 14. For this purpose, the semi-finished product 13 is heated in a step b) which precedes step a). During heating b) of the semi-finished product 13, the same is softened to a flexible shape at least in the region of the predetermined bending lines 14, so that the bending a) can be carried out with reduced force. In a step c), which precedes heating b) and bending a), the plate-shaped semi-finished product 13 is formed by compression molding at least the plastic K, wherein in this case the predetermined bending lines in the form of the depressions 14 are formed at the same time.In this case, step c) also provides that at least one of the further material layers 22, 23 is compression-molded together with the plastic K.

[0034] To avoid repetition, please refer to the Fig. 1 to 6 in connection with the description concerning the manufacture of the housing profile 5, which applies in a corresponding manner to the method according to Fig. 7 can apply.

Claims

[1] Housing (4) for a protective device (1) for a motor vehicle interior, which is provided for receiving at least one winding shaft (2) and at least one flexible sheet material (3) held on the winding shaft (2) so as to be wound up and unwound, comprising a housing profile (5) extending along a longitudinal direction (L), which has a square profile cross-section (6) which defines a receiving space (A) for receiving the at least one winding shaft (2) and the at least one flexible sheet material (3), and a profile opening (7) extending into the receiving space (A), through which the at least one flexible sheet material (3) can be displaced into and / or out of the receiving space (A) during winding and / or unwinding, characterized bythat the housing profile (5) is formed from a plate-shaped semi-finished product (13) made of plastic (K), which - in a ready-to-use state - is angled along at least one predetermined bending line (14) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) to form the angular profile cross-section (6). [2] Housing (4) according to claim 1, characterized by that at least one predetermined bending line (14) is prefabricated on the semi-finished product (13). [3] Housing (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the profile opening (7) is formed between mutually angled ends (19, 20) of the semi-finished product (13). [4] Housing (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the profile cross-section (6) has a C-, U-shaped or rectangular basic shape, for the formation of which the semi-finished product (13) is angled several times at right angles. [5] Housing (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the housing profile (5) - and thus the semi-finished product (13) - has a layer structure with several different material layers (21, 22, 23). [6] Housing (4) according to claim 5, characterized by that a load-bearing support structure layer (21) made of plastic (K) is provided. [7] Housing (4) according to claim 6, characterized by that the plastic (K) is a glass fibre reinforced polypropylene. [8] Housing (4) according to one of the preceding claims 5 to 7, characterized by that a damping layer (22) made of a sound-absorbing material is provided and arranged internally. [9] Housing (4) according to one of the preceding claims 5 to 8, characterized by that a cover layer (23) made of a cover material is provided and arranged on the outside, which corresponds to a cover material of the motor vehicle interior. [10] Housing (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the semi-finished product (13) is produced by compression molding. [11] Method for producing a housing (4) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step a): bending a plate-shaped semi-finished product (13) made of plastic (K) along at least one predetermined bending line (14) extending in the longitudinal direction (L). [12] Method according to claim 11, comprising a step b): heating the semi-finished product (13). [13] Method according to claim 11 or 12, comprising a step c): compression molding of at least one plastic (K) to form the plate-shaped semi-finished product, wherein the at least one predetermined bending line (14) is formed on the semi-finished product (13). [14] Method according to claim 13, wherein at least one further material layer (22, 23) is compression-molded together with the at least one plastic (K). [15] Protective device (1) for a motor vehicle interior, comprising at least one winding shaft (2) and at least one flexible sheet-like structure (3) which is held on the winding shaft (2) in a wound-up and unwound manner and which can be displaced between an angled protective position and a wound-up stowed position, characterized by that a housing (4) according to one of claims 1 to 10 is provided for receiving the winding shaft (2) and the wound-up flexible sheet material (3).

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