Surface covering for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a planar fairing (2) for a motor vehicle with a planar fairing body (4) which, in a mounted arrangement on the motor vehicle, forms an outer skin of the motor vehicle in whole or in part, and with a user-readable display unit (6) comprising at least one user-readable display element (8) which includes at least one recess (10) extending towards the motor vehicle in the outer surface (12) of the fairing body (4) and through which unchanging user-readable information or part of unchanging user-readable information is displayed, wherein the fairing body (4) and the display unit (6) form a common one-piece injection-molded plastic part and wherein the fairing body (4) has its smallest wall thickness in the area of ​​the at least one display element (8).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a flat covering for a motor vehicle.

[0002] Surface-mounted fairings for motor vehicles are known in various designs from the prior art. These usually form the exterior of a motor vehicle and ensure a visually appealing appearance.

[0003] There are known embodiments of fairings for motor vehicles in which display units are arranged on a fairing body, the display elements of which are sprayed, painted or glued onto the fairing body of the fairing.

[0004] Furthermore, fairings for motor vehicles are known in which display elements of the display unit are incorporated into the fairing body by means of embossing, milling or stamping.

[0005] With the known surface-mounted fairings for motor vehicles, it has proven disadvantageous that the provision of a display unit requires a subsequent processing step, which increases the production costs of the fairing and may require rework, which proves to be time-consuming.

[0006] One object of an embodiment of the invention is to propose a flat covering for a motor vehicle that is visually appealing and can be manufactured in a more cost- and time-efficient manner.

[0007] This problem is solved by a planar fairing for a motor vehicle, comprising a planar fairing body which, in a mounted arrangement on the motor vehicle, forms an outer skin of the motor vehicle in whole or in part, and comprising a user-readable display unit comprising at least one user-readable display element which includes at least one recess extending towards the motor vehicle in the outer surface of the fairing body and by which unchanging user-readable information or part of unchanging user-readable information is represented, wherein the fairing body and the display unit form a common one-piece plastic injection molded part and wherein the fairing body has its smallest wall thickness in the area of ​​the at least one display element.

[0008] Because the flat panel comprises a flat panel body and at least one user-readable display unit, with the panel body and display unit forming a single, one-piece injection-molded plastic part, the flat panel can be manufactured in a single production process, particularly an injection molding process. This eliminates the need for subsequent machining, especially the subsequent attachment or insertion of the at least one user-readable display element of the display unit into the flat panel body.

[0009] Because the housing body has a minimal wall thickness in the area of ​​the at least one display element, material can be reduced in this area. This allows the at least one display element of the display unit to be integrated with the housing body in a compact form. Furthermore, this allows the rear wall of the housing body to be seamless and without offsets, meaning that the vehicle's installation space does not need to be allocated for the housing body, particularly in the area of ​​the display element. This results in a compact and space-saving design for the housing.

[0010] It proves advantageous if at least one of the at least one recess of the display element of the display unit extends transversely to the outer surface of the fairing body and has a depth extending towards the motor vehicle that is less than the wall thickness of the fairing body.

[0011] Because the depth of the recess is less than the wall thickness of the cladding body, the remaining material residue of the cladding body forms the base of the recess. In this case, the recess is not continuous but is limited by this base, thereby increasing the stability of the cladding body in the area of ​​the at least one display element of the display unit.

[0012] In addition to or as an alternative to the latter embodiment, it is advantageous if at least one of the at least one recess of the display element of the display unit comprises a depth extending transversely to the outer surface of the cladding body in the direction of the motor vehicle, which is a maximum of 5 mm, in particular a maximum of 2 mm, in particular a maximum of 1 mm, in particular a maximum of 0.8 mm.

[0013] In a further development of the cladding, it proves advantageous if the recess comprises a wall section extending towards the motor vehicle, formed by the cladding body and surrounding the recess at least partially on its circumference, wherein the transition from the outer surface of the cladding body to the wall section comprises a curvature of R 0.5 mm to R 1.5 mm, in particular R 1.15 mm, and / or wherein the transition from the wall section to a bottom surface of the recess comprises a curvature of R 0.5 mm to R 1.5 mm, in particular R 1.15 mm.

[0014] Because the transition from the outer surface of the cladding body to the wall section, or the transition from the wall section to a floor surface of the recess, includes a curve of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, the recess of the display element can be manufactured and shaped in a technically simplified manner.

[0015] Furthermore, the wall section of the recess can be manufactured with improved injection molding technology if the wall section of the recess forms an angle of inclination of 5° to 50°, in particular 10° to 40°, and in particular 15° to 30°, with a perpendicular standing on the outer surface of the cladding body.

[0016] The display unit can, in principle, be arranged arbitrarily on the cladding body. In certain embodiments of the cladding, the display unit comprises a single display element, which is arranged centrally or eccentrically with respect to the center point of the outer surface of the cladding body, or the display unit comprises at least two display elements whose common center point is arranged centrally or eccentrically with respect to the center point of the outer surface of the cladding body.

[0017] If the display unit comprises a single display element, this could be, for example, a letter, a number, an emblem, or a logo. If this is positioned centrally with respect to the center point of the outer surface of the fairing body, a visually appealing appearance of the fairing can be achieved.

[0018] If the display unit comprises at least two display elements, the same effect can be achieved if their common center point is arranged centrally or eccentrically with respect to the center point of the outer surface of the cladding body.

[0019] In order to ensure high stability of the cladding despite the provision of user-readable display elements, it proves advantageous if the user-readable display unit comprises at least two user-readable display elements that are arranged evenly or unevenly distributed over the outer surface of the cladding body.

[0020] In such a case, a largely homogeneous force transmission within the cladding body can be achieved.

[0021] Furthermore, it proves advantageous if the user-readable display unit comprises at least two user-readable display elements, wherein at least two of the at least two display elements have a distance of more than 30 mm, in particular more than 40 mm, in particular more than 45 mm.

[0022] This ensures that there is a sufficiently large distance between two display elements, each of which also represents a weakening of the material in the casing body, in order to guarantee the stability of the casing body.

[0023] In order to keep the weakening area formed by the display element within a technical framework that ensures a sufficiently high stability of the cladding element, it proves advantageous if at least one of the at least one display element has a width and height extent of at least 16 mm x 30 mm, in particular at least 19 mm x 40 mm, and in particular at least 21 mm x 50 mm.

[0024] Finally, it proves advantageous if the cladding body comprises a talc-containing one- or multi-component plastic injection molded part and, in particular, comprises PP-MD30 as the material.

[0025] The single- or multi-component injection-molded plastic part may contain talc. A lower proportion of talc improves the appearance and flow properties of the cladding material.

[0026] In principle, it is conceivable that the fairing consists solely of the fairing body and the display unit. Furthermore, fairing designs are conceivable in which a coating, such as a paint finish or the like, is applied to the outside of the fairing body and / or the display element of the display unit.

[0027] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the attached patent claims, the graphic representation and the following description of two preferred embodiments of the cladding.

[0028] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 A top view of a first embodiment of the planar cladding; Fig. 2. Make a cut along line AA according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 A detailed view of an area of ​​the section view according to Fig. 2; Fig. 4 A top view of a second embodiment of the planar cladding.

[0029] The figures show two embodiments of a fairing for a motor vehicle, designated overall by reference numeral 2 (not explicitly shown in the figures). The fairing 2 comprises a planar fairing body 4, which, in a mounted arrangement on the motor vehicle, forms an outer skin of the motor vehicle, either entirely or in sections.

[0030] Furthermore, the surface-mounted panel 2 includes a user-readable display unit 6, which comprises at least one user-readable display element 8. The display element 8 includes a recess 10 extending towards the motor vehicle in the outer surface 12 of the panel body 4. The display element 8 presents unchanging user-readable information or a part thereof.

[0031] The casing body 4 and the display unit 6 form a single, one-piece injection-molded plastic part. The casing body 4 has its thinnest wall in the area of ​​the at least one display element 8.

[0032] The recess 10 of the display element 8 of the display unit 6 comprises a depth extending transversely to the outer surface 12 of the trim body 4 in the direction of the motor vehicle, which is less than the wall thickness of the trim body 4. This forms a bottom surface 14 of the recess 10.

[0033] Fig. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the planar covering 2, in which the display element 8 forms a user-readable letter. Fig. 2 is a section along line AA according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 and represents an enlargement of the representation according to Fig. 2 dar.

[0034] The recess 10 is bounded on its perimeter by a wall section 16. Looking into Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 It is evident that the transition of an outer surface 12 of the cladding body 4 to the wall section 16 includes a rounding, which may in particular include R 0.5 mm to R 1.5 mm, and that a transition from wall section 16 to the floor surface 14 of the recess 10 may also include a rounding with the aforementioned measures.

[0035] Furthermore, the wall section 16 in the recess 10 is aligned such that it can make an angle of 5° to 50°, in particular 10° to 40°, in particular 15° to 30°, with a perpendicular that stands on the outer surface 12 of the cladding body 4.

[0036] Fig.Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the planar cover 2, in which two display elements 8 of the display unit 6 are arranged on a cover body 4. The two display elements 8 are spaced apart from each other. Furthermore, the individual display elements 8 have similar dimensions with respect to their width and height.

[0037] The features of the invention disclosed in the foregoing description, in the claims and in the drawing may be essential, both individually and in any combination, in the realization of the invention in its various embodiments within the scope of protection of the following claims. Reference symbol list 2. Covering 4 cladding bodies 6 Display unit 8 Display element 10 In-depth study 12 outdoor area 14 floor area 16 wall section

Claims

[1] Surface-mounted cladding (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising a surface-mounted cladding body (4) which, when mounted on the motor vehicle, forms an outer skin of the motor vehicle in whole or in part, and comprising a user-readable display unit (6) which comprises at least one user-readable display element (8) which comprises at least one recess (10) in the outer surface (12) of the cladding body (4) extending in the direction of the motor vehicle and by means of which an unchangeable user-readable item of information or part of an unchangeable user-readable item of information is displayed, wherein the cladding body (4) and the display unit (6) form a common one-piece plastic injection-molded part, and wherein the cladding body (4) has its smallest wall thickness in the region of the at least one display element (8). [2] Covering (2) according to claim 1, characterized bythat at least one of the at least one recess (10) of the display element (8) of the display unit (6) transversely to the outer surface (12) of the covering body (4) comprises a depth extending in the direction of the motor vehicle which is less than the wall thickness of the covering body (4). [3] Cladding (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that at least one of the at least one recess (10) of the display element (8) of the display unit (6) comprises a depth extending transversely to the outer surface (12) of the trim body (4) in the direction of the motor vehicle, which depth is a maximum of 5 mm, in particular a maximum of 2 mm, in particular a maximum of 1 mm, in particular a maximum of 0.8 mm. [4] Covering (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the recess (10) comprises a wall section (16) extending in the direction of the motor vehicle, formed by the trim body (4) and surrounding the recess (10) at least in part on the circumference, wherein the transition from the outer surface (12) of the trim body (4) to the wall section (16) comprises a rounding of R 0.5 mm to R 1.5 mm, in particular R 1.15 mm, and / or wherein the transition from the wall section (16) to a bottom surface (14) of the recess (10) comprises a rounding of R 0.5 mm to R 1.5 mm, in particular R 1.15 mm. [5] Covering (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the wall section (16) of the recess (10) forms an angle of inclination of 5° to 50°, in particular of 10° to 40°, in particular of 15° to 30°, with a perpendicular to the outer surface (12) of the cladding body (4). [6] Covering (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the display unit (6) comprises a single display element (8) which is arranged centrally or eccentrically with respect to the center point of the outer surface (12) of the cladding body (4) or that the display unit (6) comprises at least two display elements (8) whose common center point is arranged centrally or eccentrically with respect to the center point of the outer surface (12) of the cladding body (4). [7] Covering (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the user-readable display unit (6) comprises at least two user-readable display elements (8) which are arranged evenly or unevenly distributed over the outer surface (12) of the cladding body (4). [8] Covering (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the user-readable display unit (6) comprises at least two user-readable display elements (8), wherein at least two of the at least two display elements (8) have a distance of more than 30 mm, in particular more than 40 mm, in particular more than 45 mm. [9] Covering (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one of the at least one display element (8) has a width and height extension of at least 16 mm x 30 mm, in particular of at least 19 mm x 40 mm, in particular of at least 21 mm x 50 mm. [10] Covering (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the cladding body (4) comprises a single-component or multi-component plastic injection-molded part containing talc and in particular comprises PP-MD30 as material.

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