Trim strip and plug connection for a motor vehicle body
The plug connection system for multi-part decorative strips on vehicle bodies addresses assembly challenges by using a C-shaped profile and spring tongues for secure engagement, enabling efficient and cost-effective assembly and disassembly with enhanced mechanical stability.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102019216483
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2019-10-25
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-10
- Estimated Expiration
- 2039-10-25
AI Technical Summary
Existing decorative strips for motor vehicle bodies are difficult to assemble and disassemble efficiently, require high production costs, and lack sufficient mechanical stability and durability.
A plug connection system for multi-part decorative strips, featuring an insertion pin and receptacle with latching elements and counter-latching elements that allow for easy assembly and disassembly, while ensuring mechanical stability and durability, using a C-shaped profile and spring tongues for secure engagement.
Facilitates easy and non-destructive assembly and disassembly of decorative strips on vehicle bodies, reduces production costs, and enhances mechanical stability and service life.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
Technical FieldThe present development relates to a trim strip and a plug connection for a motor vehicle body.BackgroundFor example, DE 10 2013 223 358 B4 discloses a device for fastening a decorative strip to a vehicle outer skin element. An end section of a decorative strip body is provided with a bore into which a fastening pin of a respective end cap can be inserted in order to be able to connect the end cap to the decorative strip element again in a releasable manner at least in a force-fitting manner.Furthermore, AU 1 977 022 226 B1 discloses a plug connection for connecting wall elements of furniture.For a particularly simple and rational and cost-effective production of decorative strips for arrangement in or on the outer region of a motor vehicle body, it may be advantageous and desirable to configure the decorative strip in multiple parts and to connect a plurality of strip sections to one another, for example by means of a plug connection, during assembly or before assembly on the motor vehicle.In this respect, the object of the present further development is to provide a plug connection for forming a multi-part decorative strip which can be joined together particularly easily and, if necessary, can also be achieved again comparatively easily. The plug connection is further to be distinguished by a high degree of mechanical stability and by a high service life. It is to be suitable in particular for use and for assembly in or on the exterior of a motor vehicle body.The plug connection is also intended to enable a direct arrangement of a plurality of strip sections of a decorative strip on the motor vehicle body, wherein the strip section can be connected to one another only or during the assembly on the motor vehicle body. In this respect, the aim is to simplify the assembly process for producing the decorative strip and also its arrangement on the motor vehicle body. It is therefore an object to reduce the production cost of an automobile.Advantageous EmbodimentsThis object is achieved with a decorative strip and with a motor vehicle according to the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of dependent patent claims.According to a first aspect of the present development, a decorative strip is provided for arrangement on a motor vehicle body. The decorative strip has a first strip section and a second strip section. The first and the second strip section can be detachably connected to one another by means of a plug connection adjoining one another in the longitudinal direction. The first strip section can, for example, function as a receiving part or be designed as a receiving part of the plug connection.The plug connection is provided for forming the multi-part decorative strip. The plug-in connection has an insertion part and a receiving part. The insertion part has an elongated insertion pin which can be inserted in the longitudinal direction into a receptacle of the receiving part which is formed correspondingly or complementarily to the insertion pin. The insertion pin has an upper side and an opposite lower side. The insertion pin further has two mutually opposite outer sides, for example a left outer side and a right outer side. The outer sides extend between the top side and the bottom side. They extend in particular along the side edges of the top side and the bottom side. The upper side therefore merges via the opposite outer sides into the lower side; and vice versa.The receptacle has, corresponding to the insertion pin, an upper side and two side cheeks which adjoin said insertion pin opposite and consequently also lie opposite one another. Facing away from the top side, the side cheeks each have an extension. The extension of one side cheek extends to the opposite side cheek. The extension of the other cheek also extends to the opposite side cheek. The extensions of the two side cheeks extend to opposite side cheeks. They are typically located on an end section of the respective side cheeks facing away from the upper side.At least one latching element is formed or arranged on the underside of the insertion pin. The latching element can be brought into latching engagement with a counter-latching element formed correspondingly to the latching element in order to form a positive connection between the plug-in part and the receptacle part. The counter-latching element is provided, formed or arranged on at least one of the extensions. The counter-latching element and the latching element can engage one another in a latching and accordingly form-locking manner in order to form a form-locking connection with respect to the longitudinal direction of the plug-in part and the receiving part, which connection can only be released again by transferring at least one of the latching element and the counter-latching element into a release position.In a final assembly configuration on the motor vehicle, and therefore on the motor vehicle body, the underside of the insertion pin points in the direction of the outer side of the motor vehicle body. The upper side of the receptacle is visible from the outside in the final assembly position on the motor vehicle body.Viewed from the outside or viewed from the top, the top side has a continuous surface which makes or forms the external appearance of the multi-part decorative strip. The receptacle formed in or on the receiving part has a profile which is C-shaped in cross section, wherein the upper side lies between the opposite side cheeks. The extensions on the side walls can extend approximately or substantially parallel to the plane of the top side. In a final assembly configuration, in which the insertion pin is inserted into the receptacle, the side cheeks can, for example, enclose the outer sides of the insertion pin, or at least overlap at least in regions, with their inwardly projecting extensions, as viewed in the circumferential direction.In this way, in particular in the case of a precisely fitting configuration of the receptacle and the insertion pin, a sliding guide for the insertion pin can be provided, which sliding guide can typically be inserted into the receptacle of the receiving part in the longitudinal direction, in particular can be inserted in a sliding manner, until a final assembly position is reached, in which the at least one latching element formed on the insertion pin or arranged thereon engages with the counter-latching element of the receptacle or the receiving part, which counter-latching element is configured correspondingly or complementarily thereto. The mutual engagement of the latching element and the counter-latching element brings about a mutual fixing of the receiving part and the insertion part with respect to the longitudinal direction of the receiving part and / or the insertion part.Because the at least one latching element is arranged on the underside of the insertion pin, it can be configured such that it is accessible from below, such that, for example in the case of a decorative strip which is disassembled from the motor vehicle body and in which the insertion part and the receiving part are still connected to one another in a form-fitting manner via the at least one latching element and the at least one counter-latching element, at least one of the latching element and the counter-latching element can be manually transferred, accessible from below by an end user or assembly person, into a release position in which the latching element releases the counter-latching element; or vice versa. Then, the insertion pin can be pulled out of the receptacle counter to the original mounting direction. This ultimately enables the multiple-part decorative strip to be disassembled in a non-destructive manner.It is particularly advantageous if the counter-latching element is formed or arranged on at least one of the inwardly projecting extensions of the receptacle which project inwardly from the side cheeks. This is because the inwardly projecting extensions of the receptacle can also be particularly easily accessible from below when the decorative strip is removed. The elements which come into latching engagement with one another, namely the at least one latching element and the at least one counter-latching element, can be arranged or formed in particular outside the surfaces of the plug-in part and the receiving part which are visible from the outside, such that the manner of the mutual connection of the plug-in part and the receiving part from the outside and in the case of a decorative strip mounted on the motor vehicle body is not visible.The second strip section can consequently function as an insertion part of the previously described plug connection or be designed as an insertion part of the plug connection. It is furthermore conceivable that a separate plug-in part is arranged or fastened at a longitudinal end of the second strip section and / or that a receiving part is arranged or fastened at a longitudinal end of the first strip section.According to a further embodiment, the latching element has at least one spring tongue which is movable or deformable transversely or perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction and has an end stop. The spring tongue is typically arranged on the insertion part so as to be movable or deformable between a latching position and a release position or is integrally formed thereon. During an assembly movement, the spring tongue can slide along the counter-latching element of the receptacle with a run-on slope. When a final assembly position is reached, the spring tongue can spring into the latching position and latch with the counter-latching element of the receptacle. In the final assembly position of the plug-in part and the receiving part, in particular when the spring tongue is in its latching position, the end stop abuts against a counterstop of the counter-latching element or it is supported thereon. The end stop and the counterstop abut each other directly in the longitudinal direction of the plug-in part and the receiving part, so that the end stop is supported in the longitudinal direction on the counterstop; and vice versa.According to a further embodiment, the end stop has a stop surface with a surface normal which is aligned in the longitudinal direction opposite to an insertion direction of the insertion part into the receiving part. The end stop thus functions as a kind of barb. It is oriented counter to the direction of insertion into the receiving part and prevents, assuming a bearing position on the counterstop, the insertion pin from being pulled out of the receiving part.According to a further embodiment, the counter-latching element has at least one recess extending transversely or perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction with the already mentioned counter-stop. The recess typically extends either on the inside of a side bolster or adjacent an inner edge of one of the inwardly extending extensions provided on the side bolster. The counterstop of the counterstop element is typically designed or formed correspondingly or complementarily to the end stop of the latching element. In this way, the end stop and the counterstop can abut each other in a supporting manner in the longitudinal direction when a final assembly position of the plug-in part and the receiving part is reached, and thus prevent or block the plug-in part from sliding out or being pulled out of the receptacle.According to a further embodiment, the counterstop has a stop surface with a surface normal which is aligned in the longitudinal direction along the insertion direction of the insertion part into the receiving part. The surface normal of the stop surface of the counterstop extends opposite the surface normal of the stop surface of the endstop. In this way, a mutual support of the latching element and the counter-latching element acting in the longitudinal direction of the plug-in part and / or the receiving part can be provided.According to further, in particular alternative, configurations of the decorative strip or the plug connection, it is provided that the latching element is not arranged on the side of the plug-in part but on the side of the receptacle, and that the counter-latching element corresponding or of complementary configuration thereto is not formed or arranged on the receptacle part but on the plug-in part. In this respect, a quasi kinematic reversal of the latching element and the counter latching element can also be provided on the plug-in part and on the receiving part.It is conceivable in principle that the latching element and / or its movable or deformable spring tongue is arranged or formed on the receptacle, in particular on a side cheek or on an extension of the receptacle, and that the counter-latching element corresponding thereto is arranged or formed on the underside of the insertion pin.According to a further embodiment, in which the latching element is located on the insertion pin, the at least one latching element is arranged set back with respect to the opposite outer sides of the insertion pin. The at least one counter-latching element is arranged or formed on an inner edge of the extension. The inner edge of the extension means here that edge of the extension which is remote from the side cheek adjoining the extension. In the case of a receptacle which is configured approximately in the manner of a C-profile, the side cheeks extend, for example, parallel to one another. At the ends of the side cheeks facing away from the top side, extensions facing one another extend.The mutually facing inner sides of the extensions form the aforementioned inner edges, on which the at least one counter-latching element is arranged or formed. The counter-latching element can be embedded or let into an inner edge of one of the extensions or also into the inner edges of both extensions. The arrangement of the latching element set back with respect to the outer sides is advantageous in so far that the latching element does not project from the outer side of the insertion pin.In this way, any damage to a latching element which otherwise protrudes from the outer side of the insertion pin can be effectively avoided. Furthermore, the latching element which does not protrude from the outer side can reduce a risk of injury possibly emanating from the latching element. The inner arrangement of the latching element is furthermore advantageous for latching the latching element and the counter-latching element, which is not visible from the outside. Thus, the counter-latching element corresponding to the latching element can be arranged or formed in a region of the receptacle that is not visible from the outside.According to a further embodiment, the insertion pin has a base section which merges in the longitudinal direction via a central section into a head section. The head section forms a free end of the insertion pin. The at least one latching element is furthermore arranged on the head section and extends into the central section in the longitudinal direction of the insert part. A free end of the latching element is typically located in the region of the central section. A base or guide section of the latching element is typically arranged on the head section or is formed integrally with the head section or formed integrally thereon.The spring tongue consequently has a movable or deformable free end lying in the region of the central section. The end stop of the spring tongue is typically located at the free end of the spring tongue, which lies in the region of the central section of the insertion pin. The end stop of the spring tongue can in particular point toward the base section of the insertion pin or be oriented in the direction of the base section. In this way, a mutual support of the latching element and the counter-latching element directed in the longitudinal direction can be provided.According to a further embodiment, at least one web extending from the underside is arranged or formed on the head section with a run-on slope. The run-on slope extends obliquely or perpendicularly to the plane of the underside of the insertion pin.The web extending from the underside can protrude from the underside of the insertion pin. The web can taper towards the free end of the head portion. This allows a particularly simple insertion of the insertion pin into the receptacle of the receiving part. By means of the inclined run-on surface of the web, a centering can be achieved perpendicular or transversely to the longitudinal direction of the insert part and the receiving part.According to a further embodiment, the at least one web can be brought into engagement with an inner edge of the extension formed on the side cheeks of the receptacle. Furthermore or alternatively, it can be provided that the web can be slidingly brought into engagement with a side of the extension of the side cheeks facing the top side of the receptacle.If the web is brought with an outer side typically slidingly into engagement with an inner edge of the extension, by means of the web of the head portion protruding downwards from the underside, a centering can take place transversely or perpendicularly to the mounting direction, in particular in the transverse direction of the receptacle.According to a further embodiment, two webs extending approximately parallel with a respective run-on slope can be arranged or formed on the underside. For example, a left web may be slidably engaged with an inner edge of a left extension of a left side bolster of the receiver, while an opposing right web may be slidably engaged with the inner edge of a right extension of a right side bolster. In this way, a mutual centering of the plug-in part and the receiving part transversely to the plug-in direction or transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plug-in part and the receiving part can be provided.According to a further embodiment, the central section of the insertion pin has an elongated web which extends from the head section into the base section. By means of the longitudinally extended web, a stiffening or stiffening of the insert part can be achieved. The mechanical structural rigidity of the plug-in part can be increased in this way. Laterally of the longitudinally extended web, according to a further embodiment, recesses or even through-openings can be provided or formed in the insertion part. In this way, the weight of the plug-in part can be reduced in an advantageous manner.The elongated web is typically located on the underside of the insert. It can protrude from the underside of the insertion part in a similar manner to the at least one latching element and thus contribute to stiffening of the insertion part.According to a further embodiment, the previously described web has in the region of the base section a web section extending transversely or perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, which in the assembly position of the plug-in part and the receiving part bears against the mutually opposite inner sides or inner edges of the extensions. In this way, in particular the outer sides of the web section extending, for example, transversely or perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction can bear against the inner sides of the extensions in the transverse direction and thus provide a mutual centering of the insert part and the receiving part in the transverse direction.The web section extending transversely or perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction can be connected in one piece to a longitudinally extended web section of the web. In particular, the web provided on or in the central section can have a T-shaped geometry or contour which contributes, on the one hand, to a mechanical stiffening of the plug-in part and, on the other hand, to a mutual centering of the plug-in part and the receiving part transversely or perpendicularly to the plug-in direction.According to a further embodiment, the upper side of the insertion pin can be slidably brought into engagement with the inner side of the upper side of the receptacle. Additionally or alternatively, the opposite outer sides of the insertion pin can be slidably brought into engagement with the inner sides of the side cheeks of the receptacle of the receiving part. The upper side of the insertion pin and the inner side of the upper side of the receptacle can be provided with corresponding sliding surfaces, so that a particularly simple sliding receptacle of the insertion pin can be realized in the receptacle of the receiving part.Likewise, the opposite outer sides of the insertion pin and the inner sides of the side cheeks can also be provided with corresponding sliding surfaces, typically corresponding to one another or configured complementarily to one another. In this way, particularly low joining forces can be realized, so that the insertion pin can be inserted into the receptacle in a particularly easy manner and, in effect, very low assembly forces are sufficient for the mutual assembly of the insertion part and the receiving part.According to a further embodiment of the plug connection, a first latching element, already described above, and a second latching element, which is configured symmetrically thereto, are formed or arranged on the underside of the plug-in pin. The first latching element can be brought into engagement with a first counter latching element of a side wall or its extension. The second latching element can be brought into latching engagement with a second counter latching element of an opposite side cheek or its extension.With respect to the longitudinal direction, the latching elements and the counter-latching elements can be arranged at the same height, so that here a mirror-symmetrical configuration of the first and second latching elements or of the first and second counter-latching elements can be realized with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the insertion part and the receptacle.By means of first and second latching elements, which engage in first and second counter-latching elements, an even further improved mechanical connection of receiving part and plug-in part can be achieved.The decorative strip is in no way limited to only two strip sections. A plurality of plug connections of first, second, optionally also third and / or fourth strip sections can be provided, which can each be connected to one another by a previously described plug connection, in order to provide an elongated decorative strip for arrangement on a motor vehicle body.According to a further aspect, the present disclosure further relates to a motor vehicle having a motor vehicle body and having a previously described decorative strip. The trim strip can be designed in particular as a roof-side trim strip which extends, for example, from an A-pillar to a B-pillar and / or to a C-pillar and / or to a D-pillar of the motor vehicle body.Brief Description of the FiguresFurther objects, features and advantageous embodiments of the present development are explained in the following description of an exemplary embodiment. The following are shown here: FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a motor vehicle, FIG. 2 shows a view of a decorative strip from below in the region of a plug connection, FIG. 3 shows an illustration of the plug connection according to FIG. 2, but in a pre-assembly configuration, FIG. 4 is an isolated perspective view of an insert, FIG. 5 shows a further perspective illustration of the plug-in part, FIG. 6 shows a further perspective illustration of the plug-in part, FIG. 7 shows a further perspective illustration of the plug-in part, viewed from above, FIG. 8 shows a perspective inner view of the receptacle of the receiving part, FIG. 9 shows a further perspective view of the receptacle of the receiving part, FIG. 10 is a top view of the plug-in part viewed from above, FIG. 11 shows a further perspective illustration of the plug-in part viewed obliquely from above, FIG. 12 shows a perspective illustration of a multi-part decorative strip, and FIG. 13 is a perspective cross-section A-A according to FIG. 12.Detailed DescriptionThe motor vehicle 1 schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 has a vehicle body 2 having an interior 3 functioning as a passenger compartment and a roof structure 4 extending above the interior 3. In the region of the roof structure 4, in particular in the transition region from a side wall of the motor vehicle body 2 into the roof structure 4, at least one decorative strip 10 is arranged on the motor vehicle roof.The decorative strip 10 shown in detail in FIG. 2, for example, is embodied in several parts. It has a first strip section 12 and a second strip section 14 adjoining it in the longitudinal direction. The strip sections 12, 14 butt against one another. An end of the first strip section 12 facing the second strip section 14 adjoins an end face 13 of the second strip section 12; and vice versa. For a mutual connection of the strip sections 12, 14, a plug connection 20 is provided, the structure of which is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 13.As is made clear in particular from a combination of FIGS. 3 to 11, the strip section 12 has a receiving part 80. The strip section 14 has an insertion part 30. The plug-in part 30 is formed complementary or corresponding to the receiving part 80. The strip section 12 has an approximately C-shaped profile in cross section, which in the final assembly position comes to rest with an end face 13 on an end face 15 of the strip section 14 designed correspondingly thereto.While the strip section 12 is provided with a receptacle 82 at one longitudinal end and thus the strip section 12 functions as a receiving part 80, the strip section 14 configured correspondingly thereto has an insertion pin 32 projecting from an end face 15 in the longitudinal direction at its longitudinal end. In this respect, the strip portion 14 functions as an insertion part 30 configured with the insertion pin 32. the insertion pin 32 can be inserted into the receptacle 82 in the longitudinal direction, in particular inserted or slidingly inserted.As can also be seen from the overview of FIGS. 2 to 13, the insertion pin 32 has an upper side 33 which, in the final assembly position, bears against an inner side 84 of an upper side 83 of the receptacle 82, which inner side is configured correspondingly or complementarily thereto. Transversely to the longitudinal direction, the upper side 33 merges into opposite outer sides 35, 36 of the insertion pin 32. Sliding surfaces 45, 46 are formed on the outer sides 35, 36, which slide along opposite side cheeks 85, 86 of the receptacle 82 during the assembly of the insert part 30 and the receptacle part 80 on the inner side of opposite side cheeks 85, 86 of complementary or corresponding configuration. During assembly, the outer side 36 or its sliding surface 46 slides along the inner side of the side cheek 86. Accordingly, the outer side 35 or the sliding surface 45 slides along an inner side of the side cheek 85 of the receptacle 82.As is illustrated in particular in FIGS. 8 and 9, extensions 87, 88 which project inwardly and towards one another in each case extend at the lower end of the side cheeks 85, 86 remote from the upper side 83, while the side cheeks 85, 86 extend approximately parallel to a surface normal of the upper side 83 or of the extensions 87, 88.The side walls 85, 86, the extensions 87, 88 and the upper side 83 form an approximately C-shaped profile in cross section. The external dimensions and the external contour of the insertion pin 32 are designed to correspond to the internal geometry of the receptacle 82.During assembly and at the latest when a final assembly position is reached, the insides of the extensions 87, 88 directed upward toward the top side 83 come to rest on the outside on the underside 34 of the insertion pin 32. In this way, the side cheeks 85, 86 and the extensions 87, 88 formed thereon or formed integrally thereon surround or encompass the outer edge or the outer sides 35, 36 of the insertion pin 32.With respect to a vertical axis and a transverse axis, which both extend approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the decorative strip 10, a positive reciprocal connection of the insertion pin 32 and the receptacle 82 can be established in this way. For mutual fixing in the longitudinal direction, two latching elements 53, 54 are provided on the underside 34 of the insertion pin 32 or are formed integrally thereon. The latching elements 53, 54 are designed in the present case as elastic spring tongues 63, 64. The spring tongues 63, 64 or the latching elements 53, 54 are designed to be complementary or corresponding to counter latching elements 89, 90 in the region of the extensions 87, 88.Upon reaching a final assembly configuration, the latching element 53 engages the counter latching element 89 in a latching manner. At the same time, the latching element 54 engages the opposite counter-latching element 90 in a latching manner and accordingly in a form-fitting manner.The counter-latching elements 89, 90 are designed as recesses 99, 100 in the inwardly projecting extensions 87, 88 of the side cheeks 85, 86. The recesses 99, 100 are configured as through-openings of the extensions 87, 88, which adjoin the inner inner edge 93, 94 of the respective extensions 87, 88 and thus form an edge recess of the inner edges 93, 94.The latching elements 53, 54 protrude from the underside 34 of the insertion pin 32 to the extent that, with respect to a vertical axis of the decorative strip 10, they are at the same level as the extensions 87, 88, while the opposite outer sides 35, 36 of the insertion pin 32 are virtually surrounded in the circumferential direction by the extensions 87, 88 and the side cheeks 85, 86 adjoining the latter.Projecting outwards from the side walls 85, 86, a longitudinally extended sealing lip 95, 96 made of an elastomer material is arranged in each case. By means of the sealing lip or lips 95, 96, a far-reaching sealing arrangement of the trim strip 10 on the outer side of the motor vehicle body 2 can be achieved. The decorative strip 10, or the strip section 12, 14 as well as the plug-in part 30 or the receiving part 80 can be made of a thermoplastic material. The decorative strip 10 or the strip sections 12, 14 thereof can be manufactured as injection molded components and / or as extrusion parts.The latching elements 53, 54 can be arranged set back with respect to the outer sides 35, 36 in each case in the transverse direction of the insertion pin 32, such that they do not protrude from the outer sides 35, 36. As is shown in particular in the overview of FIGS. 3 to 7 and 10, the insertion pin 32 has a head section 38, a central section 40 adjoining thereto in the longitudinal direction and a base section 39 adjoining thereto again in the longitudinal direction. The head portion 38 forms a free end portion of the insertion pin 32 remote from the strip portion 14, but the base portion 39 adjoins the strip portion 14 protruding slightly outwards from the insertion pin 32 in the longitudinal direction.Head section 38, base section 39 and middle section 40 can be configured in one piece, for example as a plastic injection-molded component. They can be configured in one part or in multiple parts with the strip section 14 or be connected separately thereto. On an underside of the rail section 14, a fastening element 16 is also shown, which is designed, for example, as a fastening clip and serves for mounting at a fastening point of the motor vehicle body 2 designed correspondingly thereto.The latching elements 53, 54 are arranged with a base on the head section 38 or are integrally formed thereon. The latching elements 53, 54 extend with their free end into the central section 40. They point toward the base portion 39. At the free end, the latching elements 53, 54 each have an end stop 55, 56. Each of the two end stops 55, 56 has a stop surface 65, which faces the base section 39, or whose surface normal extends in the longitudinal direction of the plug-in part 30 counter to the mounting direction of the plug-in part 30 into the receiving part 80.The counter-latching element 89, 90 formed on the receiving part 80 has a counter-stop 91, 92 formed correspondingly thereto. The counterstop 91, 92 has a stop surface 101 with a surface normal which extends substantially in the mounting direction in the longitudinal direction.In this way and when a final assembly position is reached, as is shown for example in FIG. 2, the counter-latching elements 53, 54 are supported with their stop surface 65 provided on the end stops 55, 56 on the stop surfaces 101 of the counter-stops 91, 92 of complementary configuration thereto. In this way, the strip portion 12 can be fixed to the strip portion 14 in the longitudinal direction.When the final assembly configuration is reached, the end face 13 of the strip section 12 is also in contact with the end face 15 of the strip section 14. The mutual contact position may require a type of press fit, so that the end faces 13, 15 are in firm contact with one another as far as possible without any appreciable gap, but in any case without play in the longitudinal direction, when the latching elements 53, 54 latch positively with the counter-latching elements 89, 90.It is also shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 that a contact surface 57, 58 is formed on the outer sides of the free ends of the latching elements 53, 54 or of the spring tongues 63, 64, respectively, which contact surface points outwards in the transverse direction and which, when the final assembly position is reached, comes to bear against the inner edge 93, 94 of the respective extension 87, 88 adjoining the respective counter-latching element 89, 90. The contact surfaces 57, 58 coming to bear against the inner edges 93, 94 in the transverse direction have the effect that the latching elements 53, 54 remain in the bearing position with the counter-latching elements 89, 90 and do not enter too far into the recesses 99, 100 formed by the counter-latching elements 89, 90.As shown in FIG. 2 in particular, the counter-latching elements 53, 54 are accessible from below. In the case of a decorative strip 10 which is assembled from a plurality of strip sections 12, 14 and is disassembled from the motor vehicle body 2, for example, a release position can be brought about in a particularly simple manner by the accessibility to the latching elements 53, 54 by the latching elements 53, 54 being moved towards one another and inward. The latching can then be canceled and the plug-in pin 32 can be pulled out of the receptacle 82 counter to the mounting direction.Furthermore, two webs 49, 50 protruding from the underside 34 are arranged in the head section 38 or formed on the insertion pin 32 on the underside 34 of the insertion pin 32. Toward the free end, the head portion 38 can have a chamfer 59 or a run-on chamfer, which furthermore makes it possible for the plug-in part 30 not only to be connectable to the receiving part 80 before mounting on the motor vehicle 1, but also for the plug-in part 30 to be insertable into the receptacle 82 of a receiving part 80 already fastened to the motor vehicle body 2. An initial insertion of the plug-in part 30 into the receiving part 80 can take place at a predetermined angle, for example at the angle of the chamfer 59 at the free end of the head section 38.The webs 49, 50 can have a tapering run-on slope 51, 52 towards the free end of the head section 38. The webs 50, 51 can furthermore be arranged or aligned approximately in a straight extension of the head-section-side end of the latching elements 53, 54. As is further shown in FIG. 2, the outer sides of the webs 49, 50 can abut on the mutually facing inner edges 93, 94 of the extensions 87, 88 and thus contribute to a further centering of the plug-in part 30 and the receiving part 80.Furthermore, a structure-reinforcing web 41 can be formed on the underside 34 of the insertion part 30. The web 41 can extend, as shown in particular in FIGS. 3 to 6, from the head section 38 into the base section 39. The web 41 can pass through a recess 47, 48 of the central section 40 in the longitudinal direction and thus divide the central section 40 in the longitudinal direction into the two recesses 47, 48 laterally adjoining the central section. The recesses 47, 48 are bounded towards the outside by the outer sides 35, 36, which in this respect also function as connecting webs between the head portion 38 and the base portion 39.The web 41 can have a C-shaped profile. The web 41 may include an elongated web portion 42 that extends longitudinally from the head portion 38 into the base portion 39. In or adjacent to the base section 39, the web 41 can merge into a web section 43 widened in the transverse direction. The end faces of the web section 43 facing the opposite outer sides 35, 36 can likewise come to bear slidingly against the inner edges 93, 94 of the side cheeks 85, 86 or their extensions 87, 88. As is further shown in FIG. 2, the extensions 87, 88 can each have, towards their longitudinal end, i.e. adjacent to the end face 30 of the receptacle 82, an obliquely inwardly projecting run-on slope 103, 104, by means of which a particularly simple introduction of the webs 49, 50, the latching elements 53, 54 and also of the web section 43 into the region between the side cheeks 85, 86, in particular into the region between the extensions 87, 88, can take place.In particular, the central section 40, which can also be referred to as a cage structure, enables a flexible deformation of the insertion pin 32 within certain limits, so that possible tolerances on the vehicle can be compensated even after assembly. Any bending forces arising as a result of component tolerances during production can thus be counteracted particularly simply and effectively. In effect, by means of the plug connection 20 proposed here, a particularly simple reciprocal plug connection of strip sections 12, 14 of a decorative strip 10 can be provided, which can be achieved with only a small amount of force. It also enables rapid assembly with simultaneously high holding forces. Furthermore, it can be solved in a non-destructive manner. A wide variety of mounting scenarios can be implemented and the plug connection also enables exact positioning and dimensionally stable and durable arrangement of the decorative strip 10 on a motor vehicle body 2.The embodiments shown merely show possible configurations of the development, for which further numerous variants are conceivable within the scope of the development. The exemplary embodiments shown by way of example should in no way be interpreted as restrictive with regard to the scope, applicability or configuration possibilities of the development. The present description will only teach one or some possible implementation(s) of an embodiment to those skilled in the art. Thus, many modifications can be made to the function and arrangement of elements described without departing from the scope of protection defined by the following claims or the equivalents thereof.List of reference characters1 Motor vehicle 2 motor vehicle body 3 interior 4 roof structure 10 decorative strip 12 strip portion 13 end face 14 strip portion 15 end face 16 fastening element 20 plug connection 30 plug-in part 32 plug-in pin 33 upper side 34 lower side 35 outer side 36 outer side 38 head portion 39 base portion 40 central portion 41 web 42 web portion 43 web portion 45 sliding surface 46 sliding surface 47 recess 48 recess 49 web 50 web 51 run-on slope 52 run-on slope 53 latching element 54 latching element 55 end stop 56 end stop 57 contact surface 58 contact surface 59 chamfer 63 spring tongue 64 spring tongue 65 stop surface 80 receiving part 82 receiving member 83 upper side 84 inner side 85 side cheek 86 side cheek 87 extension 88 extension 89 counter-latching element 90 counter-latching element 91 counter-stop 92 counter-stop 93 inner edge 94 inner edge 95 sealing lip 96 sealing lip 99 Cutout 100 Cutout 101 Stop surface 103 Run-on slope 104 Run-on slope
Claims
Decorative strip (10) for arrangement on a motor vehicle body (2), having a first strip portion (12) and having a second strip portion (14), which can be detachably connected to one another by means of a plug connection (20) adjoining one another in the longitudinal direction, wherein the plug connection (20) has an insertion part (30) and a receiving part (80), wherein the insertion part (30) has a longitudinally extended insertion pin (32), which can be inserted in the longitudinal direction into a receptacle (82), formed correspondingly to the insertion pin (32), of the receiving part (80), - wherein the insertion pin (32) has an upper side (33) and an opposite lower side (34) and two mutually opposite outer sides (35, 36), which extend between the upper side (33) and the lower side (34), - wherein the receptacle (82) has an upper side (83) and two mutually opposite side cheeks (85) adjoining said receptacle, 86 ), which, facing away from the top side (83), each have an extension (87, 88) pointing towards the opposite side cheek, - wherein at least one latching element (53, 54) is formed or arranged on the underside (34) of the insertion pin (32), which can be brought into latching engagement with a counter latching element (89, 90) formed correspondingly to the latching element (53, 54) in order to form a positive connection of the insertion part (30) and the receiving part (80), wherein the counter latching element (89, 90) is provided, formed or arranged on at least one of the side cheeks (85, 86) or on at least one of the extensions (87, 88).Decorative strip (10) according to claim 1, wherein the latching element (53, 54) has at least one spring tongue (63, 64) which is movable or deformable transversely or perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction and has an end stop (55, 56).Decorative strip (10) according to claim 2, wherein the end stop (55, 56) has a stop surface (65) with a surface normal which is aligned in the longitudinal direction counter to an insertion direction of the insertion part (30) into the receiving part (80).Decorative strip (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the counter-latching element (89, 90) has at least one cutout (99, 100), which extends transversely or perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction and has a counter-stop (91, 92).Decorative strip (10) according to claim 4, wherein the counterstop (91, 92) has a stop surface (101) with a surface normal which is aligned in the longitudinal direction along the insertion direction of the insert part (30) into the receiving part (80).Decorative strip (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one latching element (53, 54) is arranged set back with respect to the opposite outer sides (35, 36) of the insertion pin (32), and wherein the at least one counter latching element (89, 90) is arranged or formed on an inner edge (93, 94) of the extension (87, 88).Decorative strip (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insertion pin (32) has a base section (39), which merges in the longitudinal direction via a central section (40) into a head section (38, wherein the head section (38) forms a free end of the insertion pin (32), and wherein the at least one latching element (53, 54) is arranged on the head section (38) and extends in the longitudinal direction into the central section (40).Decorative strip (10) according to claim 7, wherein at least one web (49, 50), which extends from the underside (34), is arranged or formed on the head section (38) with a run-on slope (51, 52).The trim strip (10) of claim 8, wherein the at least one web (49, 50) is slidably engageable with an inner edge (93, 94) of the extension (87, 88).The trim strip (10) of any of the preceding claims 7 to 9, wherein the central portion (40) includes an elongated web (41) extending from the head portion (38) into the base portion (39).Decorative strip (10) according to claim 10, wherein the web (41) has, in the region of the base portion (39), a web portion (43) which extends transversely or perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction and which, in the mounting position of the plug-in part (30) and the receiving part (80), bears against the mutually opposite inner sides of the extensions (87, 88).Decorative strip (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper side (33) of the insertion pin (32) can be slidingly engaged with the inner side (84) of the upper side (83) of the receptacle (82) and / or wherein the opposite outer sides (35, 36) of the insertion pin (32) can be slidingly engaged with the inner sides of the side cheeks (85, 86) of the receptacle (82) of the receiving part (80).Decorative strip (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a first latching element (53) and a second latching element (54) configured symmetrically thereto are formed or arranged on the underside (34) of the insertion pin (32), wherein the first latching element (53) can be brought into latching engagement with a first counter-latching element (89) of a side cheek (85) or its extension (87) and the second latching element (54) can be brought into latching engagement with a second counter-latching element (90) of an opposite side cheek (86) or its extension (88).Decorative strip (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in a final assembly configuration in which the insertion pin (32) is inserted into the receptacle (82), the side cheeks (85, 86) with their inwardly projecting extensions (87, 88) surround the outer sides (35, 36) of the insertion pin (32), viewed in the circumferential direction, or at least overlap in regions.Motor vehicle having a motor vehicle body (2) and having a decorative strip (10) according to one of the preceding claims.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Device for attaching a decorative strip to a vehicle skin member, decorative strip and vehicle skin member
DE102013223358B4
AU001977022226B1
AU1977022226B1