Visually appealing trim part attachment

Abstract

Trim part fastening for a motor vehicle body of a motor vehicle, with a supporting structure (16) for transferring mechanical loads, a covering part (12) connected to the supporting structure (16) for forming part of an outer shell of the motor vehicle body and at least one connecting means (14) connecting the covering part (12) to the supporting structure (16) characterized in that the one-piece or multi-piece cladding part (12) has a curved and / or U-shaped profile at a lower edge, wherein a part of the cladding part (12) projecting from the bottom upwards projects concealed from the outer shell (25) and is connected to the support structure (16) by means of the at least one connecting means (14), wherein the connecting part (14) surrounds a support of the support structure (16) from below in a U-shape, wherein all connecting means (14) are fastened to an inner side (23) of the supporting structure (16) facing away from the outer shell (25).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a trim part fastening with the aid of which a trim part of a motor vehicle body can be fastened in a way that is visually appealing to an outside observer.

[0002] In a Fig. In the previously known trim part fastening 10 shown in Fig. 1, a trim part 12 is connected to a supporting structure 16 of a motor vehicle via a fastening means 14 running in a vertical Z-direction from bottom to top, wherein a part of the fastening means 14 lying outside the trim part 12 can in principle be seen by an external observer 18.

[0003] From EP 1 284 219 B1 it is known to rivet an angle provided within a sill to the sill and to screw the angle within the sill to a supporting structure via an access opening in the sill, wherein the rivet heads located outside the sill can in principle be seen by an external observer 18.

[0004] From DE 29 30 640 C2 it is known to fasten a side section of a roof lining to a bracket connected to a C-pillar via screws that are visible from the interior of the motor vehicle through a side window.

[0005] From DE 195 07 986 A1 it is known to clip an upper part of a sill to a holder riveted to the body of a motor vehicle.

[0006] There is a constant need to improve the visual appearance of a motor vehicle.

[0007] The object of the invention is to show measures that enable a good optical appearance of a motor vehicle.

[0008] The object is achieved according to the invention by a trim part fastening having the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description, which can each individually or in combination represent an aspect of the invention.

[0009] The invention relates to a trim part fastening for a motor vehicle body of a motor vehicle, with a support structure for transferring mechanical loads, a trim part connected to the support structure for forming part of an outer shell of the motor vehicle body and at least one connecting means connecting the trim part to the support structure, wherein the one-piece or multi-piece trim part has a curved and / or U-shaped profile at a lower edge, wherein a part of the trim part projecting from bottom to top projects concealed from the outer shell and is connected to the support structure with the aid of the at least one connecting means, wherein the connecting part engages around a support of the support structure from below in a U-shape, wherein all connecting means are fastened to an inner side of the support structure facing away from the outer shell.

[0010] Instead of attaching the cladding part to the supporting structure from below at a point where part of the connecting means would be visible to an outside observer, the cladding part is shaped in such a way that part of the cladding part can be connected to the supporting structure from the inside, so that the connecting means is invisible to an outside observer. This means that it is sufficient if the cladding part is attached to the supporting structure at a point that is only slightly higher than the lower edge of the cladding part, so that no part of the connecting means protrudes downwards beyond the lower edge of the cladding part. Part of the cladding part is provided inside the support, which simplifies attachment using the connecting means.However, it is also possible for the upwardly projecting part of the trim panel to extend outside toward the support structure, making it easier to position the somewhat bulky trim panel for assembly. Since the trim panel can be connected to the support structure from the inside, the connecting element can be positioned so that it is invisible to an outside observer, thus ensuring a good visual appearance of the vehicle.

[0011] It is intended that all fasteners directly connecting the identical trim part in the lower area to the identical supporting structure are of the same type, in particular as described above and below, so that all fasteners provided for fastening the trim part at the lower end are not visible to an outside observer. In principle, it is possible that a different fastening technology is used for fastening the trim part at an upper end, if at all. However, the fastening of the trim part at the upper end can be concealed much more easily by another component than would be possible at a lower end of the vehicle body facing the ground.Since the fastener can be used in particular for attaching a trim part that partially forms the underbody of the vehicle body, in particular the rear section, front section, sills, or similar, the fastener can also be easily accessible from the underside of the vehicle. Since the fastener does not protrude downwards above the underbody, the aerodynamics of the underbody are improved and the flow resistance of the underbody is reduced.

[0012] The supporting structure can in particular be composed of steel beams, for example to form a supporting frame, which are designed to be able to bear the loads and weight forces to be expected during operation. The trim part can in particular be made of a plastic material, which is in particular coated with a paint corresponding to the remaining outer shell of the motor vehicle body. The trim part can in particular form a lower edge of the outer shell of the motor vehicle body. The trim part can preferably form the transition from a lateral outer shell, which largely points in a horizontal direction, to a downward-facing underbody of the motor vehicle body. The connecting means is in particular designed as a screw, which can cooperate with a corresponding internal thread, which is preferably formed by a nut, in order to fasten the trim part to the supporting structure.The connecting means can thereby in particular form a detachable fastening which enables easy replacement of the covering part in the event of damage, for example if the covering part comes into contact with an obstacle in the ground.

[0013] In particular, the connecting means is completely covered by the supporting structure and / or the cladding part when viewed from the outside in a horizontal direction. The supporting structure itself can visually cover the connecting means so that the connecting means cannot be seen by an external observer. The supporting structure, in turn, can be visually covered by the cladding part so that parts of the connecting means that pass through the supporting structure can be covered by the cladding part. If the motor vehicle is in an unfavorable position and the outside observer can see somewhat more underneath the motor vehicle, for example if the motor vehicle is parked half-side down on a raised curb, the outside observer can at best see the supporting structure but not the connecting means. This ensures a good appearance even in otherwise unfavorable positions of the motor vehicle.

[0014] Preferably, a connection direction, in particular the screwing direction, of the connecting means runs at an angle to a vertical plane. Viewed from the outside, the connecting means can be relocated behind the trim part and behind the supporting structure from a direction toward the center of the vehicle with an upward portion at an angle to the horizontal plane and the vertical plane in order to fasten the trim part to the supporting structure. The connection point is therefore easily accessible when the motor vehicle is raised on a lifting platform. In this situation, a mechanic can stand underneath the motor vehicle raised on the lifting platform and easily loosen or fasten, in particular screw, the connecting means.

[0015] It is particularly preferably provided that a straight line running counter to a connection direction, in particular the screwing direction, of the connecting means with a downward portion is freely accessible, in particular free of any internal components. The connecting means, which is in particular designed as a screw, can therefore be easily reached with a screwdriver without the tool for actuating the connecting means striking an internal component. It is even possible to provide the connecting means in a recessed and / or pocket-like area, whereby the visibility of the connecting means for an external observer is further restricted. The angle at which the connection direction of the connecting means is bevelled to the horizontal plane and the vertical plane can easily be selected such that the tool can be guided past the internal components delimiting the pocket or the recess.

[0016] In particular, the supporting structure is arranged in front of the trim part when viewed in a connection direction, in particular the screwing direction, of the connecting means, wherein the supporting structure is provided between a screw head of the connecting means, designed as a screw, and the trim part. This allows the connecting part to be pressed against the supporting structure from the outside and the connecting means to be guided from the inside through the supporting structure to the trim part. The possibly somewhat bulky trim part can thus be positioned more easily for assembly.

[0017] Preferably, the trim part is chamfered on a downward-facing underside to form an angle of repose to a horizontal plane, in particular with a substantially wedge-shaped cross-section. Due to the angle of repose, the trim part is higher on the outside at the lower edge than on the inside. If the trim part hits an obstacle, for example a raised curb, this prevents it from striking the obstacle flat. Instead, the trim part can land with its outer edge above the obstacle, so that the obstacle strikes the inclined plane defined by the angle of repose. However, this does not lead to immediate damage to the trim part, but rather initially to the obstacle becoming wedged between the chamfered underside of the trim part and the ground, which is easier to reverse without damaging the trim part.However, the slope angle allows an outside observer to see further inward on the underside of the vehicle. However, due to the hidden positioning of the fastener, the fastener is not visible to the outside observer, even on a trim panel with a sloped underside.

[0018] Particularly preferably, the trim part comprises an outer part forming the outer shell, and an inner part concealed by the outer part and extending within the outer part, which is fastened to the outer part, wherein the fastening means is fastened to the inner part of the trim part. The inner part can be spaced horizontally from the outer part, so that a fastening technique formed by the inner part with the connecting means is concealed by the outer part and is not visible to an outside observer. The outer shell of the motor vehicle body formed by the outer part can be flawless.

[0019] In particular, the outer part and the inner part are connected to each other via a downward-facing, in particular substantially U-shaped, transition part. The transition part, which is in particular formed integrally with the outer part or integrally with the inner part, can provide a horizontal spacing between the inner part and the outer part. Furthermore, the transition part can have a sufficient extension in the horizontal direction that the transition part can form a significant inclined plane with a slope angle.

[0020] The outer part and the inner part are preferably designed as separate components that are connected to one another, in particular clamped and / or clipped. The outer part and the inner part can therefore each have simple shapes that can easily be produced by plastic injection molding. In particular, the outer part can be clamped or wedged vertically between an upper fastening and the inner part, so that a simple fastening technique, for example clip connections, can be provided for attaching the inner part to the outer part. The dimensionally stable positioning can be achieved by the connecting means connecting the inner part to the supporting structure alone and / or in combination with a connecting technique at the upper edge of the outer part.

[0021] Particularly preferably, the connecting means is designed as a screw, with the inner part having a non-rotatably mounted nut. The cladding part, which is pressed onto the supporting structure from the outside, can be easily mounted blindly by the connecting means screwed in from the inside. For example, the nut is inserted into the material of the inner part and overmolded to create a non-rotatably mounted connection.

[0022] The invention will now be explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, based on preferred embodiments. They show: Fig. 1: a schematic sectional view of a previously known trim part fastening and Fig. 2: a schematic sectional view of a trim part fastening according to the invention.

[0023] In a Fig.In the trim part fastening 10 for a motor vehicle body of a motor vehicle shown in Figure 2, a trim part 12 is connected to a support structure 16 of a motor vehicle via fastening means 14, wherein an external observer 18 is not intended to see the fastening means 14. For this purpose, the fastening means 14, designed as a screw, is guided along a connecting direction 21 at an angle to the horizontal plane with a portion facing upwards through the support structure 16 and is screwed into a nut 20 of the trim part 12, whereby the support structure 16 is clamped between a screw head 22 resting on an inner side 23 of the support structure 16 and the nut 20. The connecting direction 21 is guided past installed components of the motor vehicle, in particular the remaining support structure 16 and the trim part 12, so that a screwdriver or other tool can easily be applied to the connecting means 22.

[0024] In the illustrated embodiment, the trim part 12 comprises an outer part 24 forming part of the outer shell 25 of the motor vehicle body and a horizontally spaced inner part 26, which are connected to one another via a transition part 28 forming a clamp or clip connection. The outer part 24 can cover the inner part 26, so that the connecting means 14 and the nut 20 of the inner part 26 are also not visible to the external observer 18.

[0025] The outer part 24 is essentially wedge-shaped in cross-section and forms a downward-facing inclined plane 30, which is inclined at an angle to the horizontal plane, allowing a deeper view of the external observer 18. However, even in this embodiment, the connecting means 22 are not visible to the external observer, thus ensuring a good visual appearance.

Claims

[1] Trim part fastening for a motor vehicle body of a motor vehicle, with a supporting structure (16) for transferring mechanical loads, a covering part (12) connected to the supporting structure (16) for forming part of an outer shell of the motor vehicle body and at least one connecting means (14) connecting the covering part (12) to the supporting structure (16) characterized by , that the one-piece or multi-piece cladding part (12) has a curved and / or U-shaped profile at a lower edge, wherein a part of the cladding part (12) projecting from the bottom upwards projects concealed from the outer shell (25) and is connected to the support structure (16) by means of the at least one connecting means (14), wherein the connecting part (14) surrounds a support of the support structure (16) from below in a U-shape, wherein all connecting means (14) are fastened to an inner side (23) of the supporting structure (16) facing away from the outer shell (25). [2] Trim part fastening according to claim 1 characterized by that the connecting means (14) is completely covered by the supporting structure (16) and / or the cladding part (12) in a horizontal direction when viewed from the outside. [3] Trim part fastening according to claim 1 or 2 characterized by that a connection direction (21), in particular screwing direction, of the connecting means (14) runs at an angle to a vertical plane. [4] Trim part fastening according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized by that a straight line running counter to a connection direction (21), in particular screwing-in direction, of the connecting means (14) with a downward portion is freely accessible, in particular free of installations. [5] Trim part fastening according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized by that, viewed in a connection direction (21), in particular screwing-in direction, of the connecting means (14), the support structure (16) is arranged in front of the covering part (12), wherein in particular the support structure (16) is provided between a screw head (22) of the connecting means (14) designed as a screw and the covering part (12). [6] Trim part fastening according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterized by that the cladding part (12) is bevelled on a downwardly facing underside to form an angle of slope to a horizontal plane, in particular substantially wedge-shaped in cross section. [7] Trim part fastening according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterized bythat the covering part (12) has an outer part (24) forming the outer shell (25) and an inner part (26) which is concealed by the outer part (24) and runs inside the outer part (24) and is fastened to the outer part (24), wherein the fastening means (14) is fastened to the inner part (26) of the covering part (12). [8] Trim part fastening according to claim 7 characterized by that the outer part (24) and the inner part (26) are connected to one another via a downward-facing, in particular substantially U-shaped, transition part (28). [9] Trim part fastening according to claim 7 or 8 characterized by that the outer part (24) and the inner part (26) are designed as separate components connected to one another, in particular clamped and / or clipped. [10] Trim part fastening according to one of claims 7 to 9 characterized bythat the connecting means (14) is designed as a screw, wherein the inner part (26) has a nut (20) fastened in a rotationally fixed manner.

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