Vehicle attachment with optional lighting device

Abstract

Vehicle attachment (2) with at least one opening (3, 4) for receiving a lighting device (6) and with electrical cabling (10, 15), characterized in that the cabling (10, 15) is arranged on the side of the vehicle attachment (2) that is not visible from the outside and is optionally connected to the lighting device (6) detachably mounted in the opening (3, 4) or to a cover element (14) detachably mounted in the opening (3, 4) instead of the lighting device (6) for closing the opening (3, 4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle attachment part with at least one opening for receiving a lighting device and a wiring.

[0002] A vehicle attachment within the meaning of the present invention can comprise an attachment for a vehicle, such as a bumper, a radiator grille, aerodynamic trim parts, and in particular bull bars or front protection bars, so-called bull bars, headlight brackets, and the like. These vehicle attachments are preferably, but not necessarily, arranged at least partially in the front area of ​​the vehicle, i.e., at the front in the direction of travel. They can, and this is known from the general prior art, be provided with additional lighting devices, which are accommodated in particular in openings provided for this purpose.

[0003] On a vehicle, lighting devices that shine forward in the direction of travel must emit white light if they are used when the vehicle is on the road. The regulations vary from country to country. In particular, in Germany and many neighbouring European countries, for example, additional white lights that shine forward are not permitted, or are only permitted to a very limited extent and in very precisely defined places on the vehicle. However, commercial vehicles in particular often have attached vehicle components such as front protection bars or headlight bars made of tubes that have openings that are or are intended to be fitted with lighting devices. According to the regulations applicable in Germany, a lighting device installed on a vehicle must always function.Furthermore, when used in Germany and neighboring European countries, it must always illuminate; it must not be covered, for example, by a cover, lid, or the like if it is present on the vehicle. Such a structure would violate the relevant legal regulations, meaning that in the worst case scenario, the vehicle's operating license would be revoked or the vehicle would not be approved for further use during its regular vehicle inspection by the technical inspection association. However, in other countries, particularly outside the EU, such as Russia, the Middle East, or Africa, such lighting devices are always tolerated and in some cases even required as additional lighting to supplement the vehicle's actual headlights.

[0004] This creates significant manufacturing and logistical costs for manufacturers of vehicle attachments, such as tubular front protection bars, because they must maintain different versions of their vehicle attachments depending on the vehicle's delivery location, for example, as suppliers to a vehicle manufacturer. If the vehicle is operated and registered in Germany, they are not permitted to include forward-facing lighting devices in the corresponding vehicle attachment. If it is operated in other countries, they are permitted to do so; in even more countries, these lighting devices are even required. This creates significant manufacturing and logistical costs.In particular, very close and very complex coordination with the vehicle manufacturer is necessary in order to deliver to them, on time and at the right location, the exact vehicle attachment part that can be used for the vehicle in the country of destination.

[0005] Furthermore, vehicles are often purchased and resold by intermediaries, meaning that neither the supplier nor the vehicle manufacturer knows at the time of production which country the vehicle will be sold to and registered in. This further increases the effort and, in cases of doubt, forces the intermediary to undertake complex conversion work, which entails considerable costs and assembly effort. A similar situation applies to the resale of used vehicles, particularly used commercial vehicles, which are sold to Russia, Asia, the Middle East, or Africa and, depending on the country of use, may or even must have lighting systems integrated into the vehicle components.

[0006] DE 698 30 685 T2 describes an exterior rearview mirror component and a method for its assembly. This component, which can be viewed as a vehicle attachment, offers the possibility of closing an opening with a decorative cover component or, alternatively, of installing an auxiliary warning light. This can be done during assembly, with the electrical connections located within the attachment and having to be routed out by the installer from the interior of the attachment during the eventual installation of the auxiliary warning light and connected to the auxiliary warning light. In principle, the design also offers the possibility, at the customer's request, of having the conversion carried out later by qualified specialists.

[0007] For further prior art, reference can also be made to US 6 864 787 B1, US 6 419 289 B1 and DE 10 2007 018 985 A1.

[0008] For further general state of the art, reference is also made to DE 20 2009 014 012 U1, DE 299 17 502 U1, DE 20 2018 101 687 U1 and WO 97 / 01 457 A1.

[0009] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved vehicle attachment according to the preamble of claim 1, which significantly reduces the effort in production, logistics and assembly of the vehicle attachments.

[0010] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a vehicle attachment part having the features in claim 1, and here in particular in the characterizing part of claim 1.

[0011] The inventor recognized that the problems described above can be solved very simply and efficiently by removably mounting the lighting devices in an opening for receiving them in the vehicle attachment. This makes it possible to either mount the lighting device in the opening or, instead of the lighting device, to mount a cover element to close the opening—just as the lighting device can be removably mounted, for example, using screws.In this case, the wiring for the lighting device is always integrated and is either connected to the lighting device to supply its light elements with electrical power, or the prefabricated wiring is connected to the cover element so that the wiring is directly accessible if the cover element is later replaced with the lighting device, eliminating the need to search for it behind or inside the vehicle attachment, which could, for example, be a tubular vehicle attachment. Therefore, if there are multiple openings, each opening preferably has its own wiring.

[0012] The invention can be used for all lighting devices, regardless of their color or orientation relative to the vehicle's direction of travel. However, it is particularly interesting and important for lighting devices that emit light – especially white light – forward in the direction of travel and are located in front openings in the vehicle attachment. It is precisely for such lighting devices that the greatest differences in the respective regulations of individual countries and regions exist.

[0013] If the vehicle attachments are delivered with the cover elements and the wiring attached to them, they can be installed in the vehicle, for example on the vehicle manufacturer's assembly line, regardless of the country in which the vehicle is later used. They therefore comply with the regulations that apply in Germany, for example, so that vehicles manufactured in Germany can be delivered in Germany and operated without the risk of conflicting with road traffic regulations. At the same time, the required set of lighting devices can be delivered together with the vehicle. If the vehicle is delivered to a country where lighting devices are mandatory, for example, the corresponding cover elements can be easily removed, for example by loosening screws. The cover element can then be removed from the opening together with the wiring connected to it.The wiring is pulled out a short distance from the opening. It can then be easily and conveniently connected to the corresponding prefabricated lighting device, especially if both the lighting device or a piece of cable attached to it and the pre-assembled wiring have a plug and a mating plug. The elements can then simply be plugged into one another. Preferably, a blanking plug is first removed from the wiring connector, which covers it accordingly in the event that no lighting device is provided. The lighting devices can then be screwed on in place of the cover elements, so that the vehicle attachment and the vehicle equipped with it can be converted very quickly to operate with or without the lighting devices, depending on the regulations.The cover elements can then be stored so that the vehicle can be returned to its previous condition if, for example, it is later sold to a country where the lighting devices are not approved.

[0014] According to an advantageous development of the vehicle attachment, it can be provided that the cover element has a lid and an intermediate element between the lid and an edge surrounding the opening. Such an intermediate element can compensate for the curvature, particularly in the case of a tubular vehicle attachment, and ensure a tight attachment of the cover element to the vehicle attachment. The intermediate element can be made of plastic, for example, and can have inserted or injection-molded sealing elements. The use of an intermediate element made of an injection-molded material, which can optionally be provided with reinforcing fibers, is conceivable. The lid itself can then, for example, be made of the same material or at least have the same material appearance as the vehicle attachment itself.For example, it can be painted in the same color, or, in the case of tubular elements made of stainless steel, also be made of stainless steel. In principle, it is also possible to design the lid in a contrasting color to the rest of the structure, to add a manufacturer's logo, or something similar.

[0015] According to a very advantageous development of this idea, it is further provided that the electrical wiring is connectable to the intermediate element. The electrical wiring can therefore in particular be connectable to the intermediate element. The cover, which can simultaneously hold the intermediate element, for example by two screws being able to be screwed through the cover and the intermediate element to the vehicle attachment, can then be designed in any desired manner, for example, as mentioned above, as a cover made of sheet metal. The intermediate element, which is preferably made of plastic, can then be very easily and efficiently provided with a hook, an eyelet, a web, or a tab, to which the wiring can be very easily fixed, for example using cable ties, wire, adhesive tape, or the like.Furthermore, it is of course also conceivable, particularly when designing the cabling with a connector, to connect a counter element or a "blind" counter connector to the intermediate element or the cover element, or, for example, to form such a counter element as a single piece with the intermediate element. This would then make it possible to achieve the functionality of a blind plug for sealing the connector and the functionality of fixing it to the cover element or the intermediate element encompassed by it simply and efficiently, without an additional part that could potentially be lost during disassembly and storage.

[0016] The lighting device can utilize various lighting elements. In particular, it should be implemented with light-emitting diodes of any design, such as LEDs, QLEDs, OLEDs, or the like, as the light source. Such a lighting device is simple and energy-efficient. It can be manufactured at a reasonable additional cost compared to a design without the lighting device and sold together with the vehicle attachment, allowing the buyer to independently choose between the cover element and the lighting device in the at least one opening of the vehicle attachment, depending on the vehicle's location.

[0017] In principle, it is also conceivable to equip the vehicle attachment, which in reality typically has a larger number of openings for optionally accommodating cover elements or lighting devices, in such a way that, for example, some of the openings are provided with lighting elements and others of the opening are provided with cover elements, for example in order to comply with local regulations or to adapt the appearance to the individual wishes of the vehicle user.

[0018] As already mentioned, the invention is most advantageous when used with lighting devices—particularly those with white illumination—in front openings of the vehicle attachment. According to a very advantageous development, the at least one opening for selectively accommodating the lighting device or the cover element is designed as at least one front opening for accommodating a lighting device that illuminates forward in the direction of travel.

[0019] According to a further very advantageous embodiment of this idea, it can further be provided that the vehicle attachment according to the invention comprises, in addition to the at least one front opening, at least one side opening which has a lighting device that illuminates transversely to the direction of travel. The vehicle attachment can therefore be realized, for example, as a bumper or tubular element that extends both in the direction of travel and transversely to the direction of travel. It can then have side openings to accommodate side lighting devices that illuminate yellow or orange transversely to the direction of travel, since these are typically permitted everywhere. It can then have cover elements and / or white, forward-facing lighting devices with pre-assembled cabling within the meaning of the invention in the section in which the openings for accommodating the lighting devices are designed as front openings.

[0020] The use of the vehicle attachments according to the invention in one or more of the above-described embodiments is intended for commercial vehicles, and in particular in the front area of ​​commercial vehicles. Furthermore, it is of course possible to provide such vehicle attachments in other areas, both in commercial vehicles and in the front area and other areas of other vehicles, such as light transport vehicles, so-called delivery vans, but also in the area of ​​passenger cars, trikes, quads, or two-wheelers.

[0021] Further advantageous embodiments of the vehicle attachment according to the invention also emerge from the exemplary embodiments which are described in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0022] The figures show: Fig. 1 a view of a part of a vehicle attachment on a section of a vehicle as viewed in the direction of travel from the front; Fig. 2 Sectional view of the vehicle attachment according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 enlarged section of a part of the vehicle attachment with mounted lighting device; Fig. 4 enlarged view of a part of the vehicle attachment with a possible cover element in a first embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 5 a cover element in a second embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 6 an add-on element in a third embodiment according to the invention; and Fig. 7 a section of the intermediate element of the Fig. 6.

[0023] In the presentation of the Fig. 1 schematically shows a part of a vehicle 1, for example a part of a motor vehicle, such as in particular a commercial vehicle, in a view from the front in the direction of travel F. A vehicle attachment 2 is mounted on this part of the vehicle 1.

[0024] In this exemplary embodiment, this should be a tubular vehicle attachment 2, for example, made of a bent stainless steel tube, in particular a part of a front and side-mounted front protection bar. Alternative vehicle attachments 2, as already mentioned above, are also conceivable; the following applies analogously to all of them.

[0025] In the Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view through the vehicle attachment 2 on the vehicle 1. The vehicle attachment 2 has, in the section shown here, two openings 3, 4, which are implemented here as front openings 3, 4 by way of example, and a side opening 5. The front openings 3 and 4 are formed in the section of the vehicle attachment 2 running transversely to the direction of travel F, and the side opening 5 is formed in the section of the vehicle attachment 2 running in the direction of travel F. However, the openings 3, 4 within the meaning of the invention could also be oriented rearward or to the side, even if the invention is explained below in the exemplary embodiment using front openings 3, 4, without, however, being restricted to such.

[0026] The front opening 3 and the side opening 5 are provided with a lighting device 6 and a side lighting device 7. The side lighting device 7 emits its light transversely to the direction of travel F of the vehicle 1. It emits yellow or orange light and, in accordance with all currently applicable regulations, can be implemented as a permanently installed lighting device 7 in the vehicle attachment 2. It is permanently connected to an electrical wiring 8, which runs in a manner not shown here into the interior of the vehicle 1, for example to a fuse box arranged on the passenger side of a commercial vehicle. A connection via a plug would, however, also be conceivable here. The lighting device 6 emits white light in the direction of travel F. For this purpose, it has lighting elements 9, which are shown in the sectional view of the enlarged Fig. 3 and designated there by reference numeral 9. The lighting device 6 is electrically connected via a wiring 10, for which purpose the wiring 10 has an optional plug 11 at its end. This plug 11 can then be plugged together with a mating plug 12 and thus contacted to establish an electrical connection. This mating plug 12 can be arranged directly on the lighting device 6, as shown in the illustration of Fig. 3, or alternatively it can be connected to the lighting device 6 via a cable 13.

[0027] As already discussed and mentioned in detail at the beginning, certain countries have different regulations regarding the emission of light forward in the direction of travel F. In some countries, the lighting devices 6 as shown in the front opening 3 of the vehicle attachment 2 are not permitted; in other countries they are permitted, but it is up to the user of the vehicle 1 whether they want to install them; and in still other countries they are mandatory. For this reason, for example, a cover element 14 is arranged in the front opening 4 of the vehicle attachment 2 instead of the lighting device 6. The cover element 14 is connected to another wiring 15, which also carries the connector 11 at its end and, in the case of Fig. 2 is fixed via an indicated clip 16, which is designed as a single piece with the cover element 14. This preparation with the wiring 15, even if the cover element 14 is used when the vehicle 1 is delivered to countries in which the lighting device 6 is not permitted, allows for easy conversion if the vehicle 1, despite being manufactured and delivered in a country where the lighting device 6 is prohibited, is delivered to a country with a permitted or required lighting device 6. The cover element 14 can then be easily replaced with the lighting device 6. The corresponding wiring 15 is present and connected to the cover element 14 in such a way that the cable of the wiring 15 protrudes through the front opening 4 together with the cover element 14 when it is removed and can be easily and efficiently connected to the lighting device 6.

[0028] The Fig. The case illustrated in Figure 2 will hardly occur in practice, since typically, depending on the country of delivery, the vehicle 1 will be delivered either with the lighting devices 6 or the cover elements 14 in the front openings 3 and 4 as well as further front openings (not shown) facing forward in the direction of travel F. Should the vehicle 1 be imported into a country with different regulations, the lighting device 6 can be easily and efficiently exchanged either for the cover element 14 or vice versa. For this purpose, both the cover element 14 and the lighting device 6, as shown in the illustration of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is detachably mounted using screws 17, allowing the cover element 14 and the lighting device 6 to be easily and extremely quickly interchanged. Ideally, the part not installed at the factory is supplied as an accessory, allowing all conceivable country versions and variants to be served with a single vehicle attachment. This reduces the effort involved in warehousing and production logistics, and only one variant of the vehicle attachment 2 needs to be produced.

[0029] In the Fig. 4 ff. are analogous to the representation of the lighting device 6 in Fig. 3 different embodiments of the cover element 14 are shown. All variants described so far and below can be combined with each other as required with regard to their details, such as the connection of the wiring, the assembly, etc., so that even with the Fig. 4 ff. of clip 16 could be used or accordingly in Fig. 2 the fastening option for the cabling 15 analogous to the Fig. 4 ff.

[0030] In the presentation of the Fig. 4, a simple cover 18 can be seen as a cover element 14. It can, for example, be made of the same material as the vehicle attachment 2 and screwed to it using the screws 17. In this case, for example, a seal - not shown here - can be provided around the front opening 4 in order to seal the interior of the vehicle attachment 2. The cover 18, which in the illustration of Fig. 4, which forms the entire cover element 14, has an eyelet 19 to which the wiring 15 is attached with a cable tie 20 or the like. The connector 11 is also provided with a blind plug 21, which seals the connector 11 as such to reliably prevent moisture from penetrating the area of ​​the wiring 15.

[0031] In the presentation of the Fig. 5, a cover element 14 is shown in an alternative embodiment using the example of the front opening 4. The cover element 14 in the embodiment shown here consists of a lid 18, which in turn can be made of the same material as the vehicle attachment 2. This is now connected via an intermediate element 22 as a further part of the cover element 14 to the edge surrounding the front opening 4. The intermediate element 22 can, for example, be designed as a plastic element. In the case of a tubular vehicle attachment 2, it can compensate for the curvature in order to be able to close the front opening 4 with a flat lid 18. The intermediate element 22 can also, and this is the case in the embodiment of the Fig. 5, comprise the blind plug 21. This can be formed integrally with the intermediate element 22, for example, by being molded onto it. By inserting the connector 11 of the wiring 15 into this blind plug 21, the seal is created on the one hand, and the connection to the intermediate element 22 as part of the cover element 14 is created on the other. The blind plug 21 can, as already explained, be formed integrally with the intermediate element 22. It can also be connected to it, for example, by screwing, gluing, or the like.

[0032] In the version of the Fig. 6, the cover element 14 is again formed from the lid 18 and the intermediate element 22. The intermediate element 22 has, as is also shown in the illustration of Fig. 7, a plan view of a section of the intermediate element 22 can be seen, has a recess 23 which is covered by the cover 18 after the cover element 14 has been installed. In the recess 23 there is a web 24 which, at least in the direction of the cover 18, has a smaller thickness than the intermediate element 22 itself. The cable tie 20, for example, can be guided through the recess 23 under the web 24, via which the wiring 15 can then be connected to the cover element 14. Here too, a blind plug 21, which is indicated here as optional, is conceivable in principle. However, if the vehicle attachment part 2 itself is sufficiently sealed, such a plug can also be dispensed with.

[0033] In addition to the described variants for connecting the wiring 15 or its plug 11 with the cover element 14, it is also possible to connect either the wiring 15 or the plug 11 via a clip 16, as shown in the illustration of the Fig. 2, or via other fastening options such as screwing, clamping, or the like. All of this falls within the scope of the invention presented here. Different fastening methods can also be combined and used simultaneously. List of reference symbols 1 vehicle 2 Vehicle attachment 3, 4 openings, front opening 5 Side opening 6 Lighting equipment 7 side lighting device 8 electrical wiring 9 light element 10 Cabling 11 plugs 12 mating connectors 13 cables 14 Cover element 15 Cabling 16 clip 17 screws 18 lids 19 eyelet 20 cable ties 21 blind plugs 22 Intermediate element 23 Recess 24 jetty F Direction of travel

Claims

[1] Vehicle attachment (2) with at least one opening (3,4) for receiving a lighting device (6) and with an electrical wiring (10,15), characterized by that the wiring (10, 15) is arranged on the side of the vehicle attachment (2) which is not visible from the outside and is optionally connected to the lighting device (6) which is detachably mounted in the opening (3, 4) or to a cover element (14) which is detachably mounted in the opening (3, 4) instead of the lighting device (6) for closing the opening (3, 4). [2] Vehicle attachment (2) according to claim 1, characterized by that if there are several openings (3, 4), a wiring (10, 15) is provided for each of the openings (3, 4). [3] Vehicle attachment (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the cover element (14) has a lid (18) and an intermediate element (22) between the lid (18) and an edge surrounding the opening (3,4). [4] Vehicle attachment (2) according to claim 3, characterized by that the wiring (10,15) can be connected to the intermediate element (22). [5] Vehicle attachment (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the cover element (14) has a hook, an eyelet (19), a web (24), a tab or a clip (16) to which the wiring (10, 15) can be fixed directly or indirectly by means of a cable tie, a wire, an adhesive tape, a clamp or the like. [6] Vehicle attachment (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the wiring (10, 15) has a plug (11) which can be connected optionally to a mating plug (12) of the lighting device (6) or to a dummy plug (21). [7] Vehicle attachment (2) according to claim 6, characterized by that the mating connector (12) is arranged on a cable (13) of the lighting device (6). [8] Vehicle attachment (2) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized bythat the blind plug (21) is connected to the cover element (14) or is part of it. [9] Vehicle attachment (2) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the lighting device (6) comprises light-emitting diodes as lighting elements (9). [10] Vehicle attachment (2) according to one of claims 1 to 9 characterized by its formation as a hollow body, especially as a tube. [11] Vehicle attachment (2) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the at least one opening (3,4) is designed as at least one front opening (3,4) for receiving a lighting device (6) shining forward in the direction of travel (F). [12] Vehicle attachment (2) according to claim 11, characterized by that in addition to the at least one front opening (3, 4), at least one side opening (5) is provided, which has a further side lighting device (7) illuminating transversely to the direction of travel (F).

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