Towing eye arrangement for an interchangeable towing eye for a motor vehicle, motor vehicle

Abstract

Towing eye assembly (1) for an interchangeable towing eye (3) for a motor vehicle (100), wherein the towing eye assembly (1) has a receiving part (4) with a receptacle (5) for receiving the towing eye (3), wherein the receiving part (4) has, in addition to the receptacle (5), a fixing receptacle (6), preferably a bore with a thread for rotatably fixing the towing eye (3), characterized in that the towing eye (3) has a tab (7), wherein the tab (7) is provided to be fixed to the fixing receptacle (6) in such a way that rotation of the towing eye (3) is prevented.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a towing eye arrangement for an interchangeable towing eye for a motor vehicle. The present invention further relates to a motor vehicle.

[0002] From German patent applications DE 601 18 870 T2 and DE 20 2015 105 094 U1, towing eye arrangements are known which allow for additional fixing of the towing eye. German patent application DE 100 41 063 A1 discloses a connecting element with which, for example, a towing eye can be attached to an extruded structure. German patent application DE 199 33 652 A1 discloses a towing device with a captive connecting bolt on the front or rear apron of a vehicle.

[0003] Road-legal motor vehicles, as well as FIA-compliant racing cars, must have a towing eye at the front and rear. The towing eye is used to attach a recovery or towing device, which can be used to tow the motor vehicle or to allow the motor vehicle itself to tow a disabled vehicle.

[0004] Especially on off-road vehicles, towing eyes are typically provided as movable brackets that are permanently attached to the vehicle body. On other vehicles, towing eyes are screwed into load-bearing body parts. These typically have receptacles that are concealed under a cover during normal vehicle operation.

[0005] Especially in the case of racing cars and off-road vehicles, where the likelihood of needing to be recovered quickly is higher than in motor vehicles intended for normal road use, rigid towing eyes that are accessible from the outside at all times, often in signal colors, are provided.

[0006] Often, owners want to enhance the look of a sporty vehicle by adding towing eyes, similar to those found on racing cars. The problem is that such towing eyes protrude from the front of the vehicle, for example, beyond the bodywork, such as the front bumper. However, permanently installed towing eyes of this type are not permitted due to pedestrian safety regulations.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a towing eye arrangement for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle which do not have the disadvantages of the prior art described above, but make it possible to install an interchangeable towing eye as a design element.

[0008] This problem is solved by a towing eye arrangement for an interchangeable towing eye for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 and a motor vehicle according to claim 10.

[0009] The towing eye assembly according to the invention comprises a receiving part with a receptacle for receiving a towing eye. The towing eye is designed as a replaceable part and can, for example, be inserted or screwed into the receptacle. The towing eye is preferably made of metal and painted in a signal color, for example red, orange, or yellow, so that the towing eye is easily visible. A fixing receptacle is provided to secure the towing eye to the receiving part. The fixing receptacle prevents the towing eye from detaching from the receiving part and, in particular, prevents any rotational movement of the towing eye. Preferably, the fixing receptacle is a bore with an internal thread. The towing eye assembly according to the invention makes it possible to securely attach a replaceable towing eye to the motor vehicle as a non-permanent design element in a simple manner.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims and in the description with reference to the drawings.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle is configured for screwing in an additional towing eye. It is conceivable that the additional towing eye is a commercially available towing eye designed for screwing into a corresponding receptacle. This advantageously allows the towing eye provided as a design element to be replaced with the additional towing eye, which is particularly suitable for towing, should it become necessary to recover the vehicle.

[0012] According to the invention, the towing eye has a tab. The tab is designed to be fixed to the mounting bracket in such a way as to prevent rotation of the towing eye. Preferably, the tab is screwed to the mounting bracket for this purpose. Because the towing eye is held in the bracket and furthermore connected to the mounting bracket, the towing eye cannot rotate and is thus securely attached to the bracket.

[0013] In particular, the mounting bracket is intended to be attached to a crossmember of the vehicle. This ensures that forces transmitted from outside to the towing eye assembly are safely transferred to stable parts of the vehicle. This, in particular, enables the vehicle to be towed. Furthermore, the towing eye assembly is provided with a cover to conceal the mounting bracket and the fixing bracket. This minimizes the impact on the vehicle's aerodynamics, protects the mounting bracket, and especially the mounting bracket and fixing bracket, from dirt, and ensures an aesthetically pleasing appearance of the vehicle.

[0014] Preferably, the cover is designed to close an opening in a vehicle's bumper, particularly a rear or front bumper. It is conceivable that the cover is at least partially made of plastic. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the cover is designed to be clipped onto the bumper.

[0015] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover has an elastic section with a passage for the towing eye. This advantageously allows the receiving part to be covered by the cover while simultaneously leaving the towing eye visible as a design element. The optional use of the elastic section allows the cover to be slipped over the flap, so that the flap remains hidden behind the cover, while the part of the towing eye intended as a design element remains visible. In particular, the elastic section is made of rubber. This makes it especially easy to slip the cover over the flap, thus ensuring simple handling.

[0016] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the towing eye comprises an eyelet. A frame of the eyelet, which forms the eyelet itself, is arranged in a principal extension plane. Preferably, the towing eyelet is arranged such that the principal extension plane of the frame, and thus the principal extension plane of the eyelet, is horizontal or vertical. The eyelet is arranged on a connecting rod for insertion or screwing into the receptacle. The tab, which is also arranged on the connecting rod, extends orthogonally to the principal extension plane away from the connecting rod. Alternatively, the tab extends parallel to the principal extension plane of the eyelet away from the connecting rod.Depending on the orientation of the tab, i.e., whether the tab is orthogonal or parallel to the principal plane of extension of the eyelet, the fixing receptacle either lies in the principal plane of extension of the eyelet, or a connecting line from the fixing receptacle to the principal plane of extension of the eyelet is perpendicular to the principal plane of extension of the eyelet. The effect becomes clear when considering an example. If the fixing receptacle is positioned horizontally next to the receptacle and the tab is orthogonal to the plane of extension of the eyelet, then the principal plane of extension of the mounted towing eyelet is perpendicular. If the tab extends parallel to the principal plane of extension away from the connecting rod, then the principal plane of extension of the mounted towing eyelet is horizontal.

[0017] Preferably, the towing eye has an additional tab extending parallel to the tab on the opposite side of the connecting rod. This additional tab is designed to be fixed to a further fixing receptacle in such a way as to prevent rotation of the towing eye. Preferably, the additional tab is screwed to this further fixing receptacle. This advantageously allows the towing eye to be securely fixed without having to screw it into the receptacle. Simply inserting the towing eye is sufficient, as the tabs on both sides of the connecting rod can absorb and safely dissipate forces.

[0018] Another object of the present invention for solving the problem stated at the outset is a motor vehicle with a towing eye arrangement according to the invention.

[0019] All details, features and advantages previously disclosed in connection with the towing eye arrangement according to the invention also relate to the motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0020] Further details, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the drawings and from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings merely illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, which do not limit the inventive concept. Fig. Figures 1 (a) to (b) schematically illustrate towing eye arrangements according to different exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 schematically illustrates a towing eye arrangement according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 3 schematically illustrates a towing eye arrangement according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention on a motor vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 4 schematically illustrates a detail of a motor vehicle according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention with a towing eye arrangement according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] The Fig. Figures 1(a) to (b) schematically illustrate towing eye arrangements 1 according to different exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The commonalities of the illustrated embodiments are described together below. The differences between the illustrated embodiments are discussed further below.

[0022] The towing eye assembly 1 serves to accommodate an interchangeable towing eye 3 on a motor vehicle 100. The towing eye 3 is a design element of the motor vehicle 100 and its eye 18, which is formed by a frame 13, projects beyond a skirt 10 (see Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) of the motor vehicle 100 beyond.

[0023] The frame 13 of the towing eye 3 is connected to a connecting rod 14, which is received by a receptacle 5 in a receiving part 4. The towing eye 3 can be inserted or screwed into the receptacle 4. To secure the towing eye 3, the connecting rod 14 has a tab 7. The tab 7 is designed to be screwed onto a fixing receptacle 6 of the receiving part 4. For this purpose, a screw 20 is screwed through a hole in the tab 7 into the fixing receptacle 6, which is designed as a bore with an internal thread. This secures the towing eye 3 to the receiving part 4.

[0024] In the embodiment which in Fig. As shown in Figure 1(a), the fixing receptacle 6 is arranged next to the receptacle 5. The tab 7 is orthogonal to a principal extension plane of the eyelet 18. When the tab 7 is connected to the fixing receptacle 6, the principal extension plane of the eyelet 18 is vertically oriented. The towing eyelet 3, as shown in Fig. Figure 1(b) shows that, in addition to the tab 7, there is another tab 15. The second tab 15 is arranged on the connecting rod 14 at a 180° angle to the tab 7. This makes it possible to easily insert the connecting rod 14 of the towing eye 3 into the receptacle 5 and yet securely fix it to the receptacle 4.

[0025] The receptacle 5 of the mounting part 4 is not only intended for receiving the towing eye 3. The receptacle 5 also serves to receive a further towing eye 2, which is not designed as a design element of the motor vehicle 100, but rather as a functionally effective means of coupling a recovery or towing device. For this purpose, the further towing eye 2 is screwed into the receptacle 5, as shown in Fig. 2 can be seen.

[0026] In order to safely direct forces acting on the further towing eye 2 into the motor vehicle 100, the receiving part 4 with the receiving 5 is arranged on a cross member 17 of the motor vehicle 100.

[0027] In the Fig. 1 (a) to (b) and in the Fig. Figure 3 shows a cover 8 of the towing eye assembly 1. The cover 8 closes an opening 9 in the skirt 10 of the motor vehicle 100, through which the eyelet 18 of the towing eye 3 protrudes. The cover 8 serves to conceal the area behind the skirt 10, in particular the receptacle 5 with the receiving part 4, and protects the receptacle 5 from contamination. It is conceivable that the cover 8 is clipped to the skirt 10.

[0028] To install the towing eye 3, the cover 8 with the opening 12 is slipped over the tab 7 along the connecting rod 14, so that the cover 8 is positioned between the tab 7 and the eye 18. To enable this, an elastic section 11 is provided around the opening 12 of the cover 8. The elastic section 11 can, for example, be made of rubber. It is also conceivable that the cover 8 is pre-assembled on the towing eye 3. In this case, an elastic section 11 is not necessary. The towing eye 3 is positioned in the receptacle 5 with the connecting rod 14. The cover 8 is pivoted so that the tab 7 is freely accessible for screwing in the screw 20. Once the screw 20 has been screwed through the tab 7 into the fixing receptacle 3, the cover 8 can be pivoted so that it covers the opening 9 in the skirt 10 and clipped to the skirt 10.It is also conceivable that the cover 8 is arranged around the towing eye 3 after the towing eye 3 has been positioned and clipped to the apron 10. The fully installed state is shown in . Fig. 3 shown.

[0029] If the towing eye 3 is not to be installed, an additional cover 19 can be clipped to the skirt 10 to close the opening 9. The additional cover 19 has neither an elastic section 11 nor a through-hole 12, but blends inconspicuously into the skirt 10 of the motor vehicle 100. Reference symbol list 1 Towing eye arrangement 2 additional towing eyes 3 Towing eye 4 Recording section 5 recording 6 Fixing mount 7 tab 8 Cover 9 Opening 10 apron 11 elastic range 12 Implementation 13 frames 14 Connecting rod 15 more tabs 16 more fixation images 17 crossbeams 18 eyelets 19 more coverage 20 screws 100 motor vehicles

Claims

[1] Towing eye assembly (1) for an interchangeable towing eye (3) for a motor vehicle (100), wherein the towing eye assembly (1) has a receiving part (4) with a receptacle (5) for receiving the towing eye (3), wherein the receiving part (4) has, in addition to the receptacle (5), a fixing receptacle (6), preferably a bore provided with a thread for rotatingly fixing the towing eye (3), characterized by , that the towing eye (3) has a tab (7) wherein the tab (7) is designed to be fixed to the fixing receptacle (6) in such a way as to prevent rotation of the towing eye (3). [2] Towing eye arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by , that the receptacle (5) is configured for screwing in an additional towing eye (2). [3] Towing eye arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the tab (7) is intended to be screwed onto the fixing mount (6). [4] Towing eye arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the receiving part (4) is provided on a cross member (17) of the motor vehicle (100), wherein the towing eye arrangement (1) has a cover (8) for covering the receiving part (5) and the fixing receiving part (6). [5] Towing eye arrangement (1) according to claim 4, characterized by , that the cover (8) is intended to close an opening (9) of a skirt (10) of the motor vehicle (100), in particular a rear skirt. [6] Towing eye arrangement (1) according to one of claims 4 to 5, characterized by , that the cover (8) has an elastic area (11) with a passage (12) for passing the towing eye (2). [7] Towing eye arrangement (1) according to claim 6, characterized by , that the elastic area (11) is made of rubber. [8] Towing eye arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the towing eye (3) has an eyelet (18), wherein a frame (13) of the eyelet (18) is arranged in a principal extension plane, wherein the eyelet (18) is arranged on a connecting rod (14) for insertion or screwing into the receptacle (5), wherein the tab (7) is arranged on the connecting rod (14), wherein the tab (7) extends orthogonally to the principal extension plane of the eyelet (18) away from the connecting rod (14) or wherein the tab (7) extends parallel to the principal extension plane of the eyelet (18) away from the connecting rod (14). [9] Towing eye arrangement (1) according to claim 8, characterized by, that the towing eye (3) has a further tab (15) which extends parallel to the tab (7) on the opposite side of the connecting rod (14) away from it, wherein the further tab (15) is provided to be fixed to a further fixing receptacle (16) in such a way that rotation of the towing eye (3) is prevented, wherein the further tab (15) is preferably provided to be screwed onto the further fixing receptacle (16). [10] Motor vehicle (100) with a towing eye arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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