Shaped body for attachment to a load-bearing support structure of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A shaped body (10) for attachment to a load-bearing support structure (26) of a motor vehicle (12) is provided, comprising a holder (16) for attachment to the support structure (26) and a wooden body (14) fixed in the holder (16). The wooden body (14) is formed by bending into a three-dimensional shape having at least one bending radius (32) in order to at least partially encircle the support structure (26) in the region of the bending radius (32). By encircling the support structure (26) with the bent wooden body (14), the use of renewable raw materials in a motor vehicle (12) can be easily increased without significant design modifications.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a molded body that can be attached to a load-bearing support structure of a motor vehicle, as well as a rear seat arrangement with such a molded body and a glove compartment with such a molded body, and an associated motor vehicle in which such a molded body can be installed.

[0002] DE 602 12 394 T2 shows a cladding element of a front-end module that can be attached to the body of a motor vehicle, in which a piece of balsa wood overmolded with carbon fiber can be inserted into a box-like cross-section to improve impact behavior in the event of an accident.

[0003] DE 10 2022 122 808 A1 shows a hybrid component for vehicle construction in which a wooden board is positively fixed in a plastic holder.

[0004] There is a constant need to increase the proportion of renewable raw materials in a motor vehicle.

[0005] The purpose of the invention is to demonstrate measures that enable the increased use of renewable raw materials in a motor vehicle.

[0006] The problem is solved according to the invention by a molded body with the features of claim 1, a backseat arrangement with the features of claim 8, a glove compartment with the features of claim 9, and a motor vehicle with the features of claim 10. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims and the following description, each of which can individually or in combination represent an aspect of the invention, the scope of protection being determined by the claims.

[0007] One aspect of the invention relates to a shaped body for attachment to a load-bearing support structure of a motor vehicle, comprising a holder for attachment to the support structure and a wooden body fixed in the holder, wherein the wooden body is formed by bending into a three-dimensional shape having at least one bending radius in order to at least partially encompass the support structure in the region of the bending radius.

[0008] To ensure that forces occurring during operation or even impact forces in an accident are effectively absorbed by a motor vehicle, the supporting structure can consist of longitudinal and transverse beams, each representing an internal component and limiting the available installation space for other vehicle components. However, it is also possible for a vehicle component to encompass part of the supporting structure, thereby defining its relative position and simplifying its attachment to the supporting structure. It has been recognized that not only steel sheets but also, in particular, board-like wooden bodies can be bent. This makes it possible to create a bent and three-dimensionally shaped wooden body from a relatively flat and / or thin semi-finished product made of wood-based material, which can encompass at least part of the supporting structure within its bending radius.It was recognized that the supporting structures are generally quite large, and therefore the significantly larger minimum bending radii of the wood material compared to a steel sheet are not detrimental to its interaction with the supporting structure. This makes it possible to replace a component otherwise made of a metallic material or plastic with the wooden body. By enclosing the supporting structure with the bent wooden body, the use of renewable raw materials in a motor vehicle can be easily increased without significant structural modifications.

[0009] The molded body can be part of a motor vehicle component distinct from the supporting structure, but intended to be connected to the supporting structure and, in particular, to encompass a portion of it. For example, the molded body is part of a rear bench seat and can form a seat shell, which may be upholstered or, without upholstery, allow sitting directly on the wooden material of the wooden body. The molded body can have multiple supports and / or multiple wooden bodies, with preferably only one wooden body being provided for the molded body. In particular, it is possible to install more than one molded body in the motor vehicle, with differently shaped molded bodies preferably being provided for different functions and / or as part of different motor vehicle components and / or at mutually spaced positions within the motor vehicle.

[0010] The supporting structure can be designed to be sufficiently stable and rigid to support the powertrain, body, and payload, and / or to withstand impact forces. The supporting structure typically comprises interconnected longitudinal and transverse beams, forming, for example, a frame structure. Due to its high stability and strength, the supporting structure is suitable for attaching vehicle components. In particular, the supporting structure exhibits significantly greater stability than is required to support the weight of a vehicle component attached to it, thus contributing to the overall stiffening of the vehicle.

[0011] The holder can be made of a material different from the wooden body, in particular steel and / or plastic. In particular, the holder can hold the wooden body in a defined relative position and / or fix it in its three-dimensional shape. The holder can be designed for direct attachment to the supporting structure, so that it is not necessary to provide a fastening mechanism in the wooden body for attachment to the supporting structure. Apart from the attachment by the at least one holder, the wooden body is unfastened. A fastening mechanism for direct attachment of the wooden body to the supporting structure can be avoided. Preferably, the wooden body is attached to the supporting structure exclusively indirectly via the at least one holder. A suitable attachment of the holder to the wooden body is shown, for example, in DE 10 2022 122 808 A1, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as part of the invention.In an alternative embodiment, the holder for forming the shaped body can be omitted, so that the three-dimensionally shaped wooden body can be attached directly to the supporting structure without an intermediate holder, although the indirect connection of the wooden body to the supporting structure via the at least one holder is preferred.

[0012] The wooden body, with its curved, three-dimensional shape, can at least partially encircle the supporting structure when installed. In this way, the wooden body can positively block any relative movement to the supporting structure as long as it has not yet been fastened to the supporting structure. This facilitates the rough alignment of the shaped body relative to the supporting structure during assembly. The wooden body can be made largely, preferably entirely, from the renewable resource of wood. For example, the wooden body may contain beech, oak, spruce, pine, fir, balsa wood, and / or bamboo fibers. The wooden body can, for example, be made from a single piece of solid wood.It is also fundamentally possible to recycle wood waste from a wood processing plant and join it together with a binding agent, such as resin, to form a wooden body. In this case, the three-dimensional shape of the wooden body can be predetermined as the binding agent cures. This allows, in principle, the realization of complex and / or intricate shapes and very tight bending radii. The wooden body has, in particular, a top and a bottom surface, which are connected along at least one narrow side. The distance between the top and bottom surfaces, determined by this narrow side, can be small compared to the dimensions of the top and bottom surfaces within their three-dimensionally curved plane.

[0013] The bending radius of the wooden body can be adapted to the supporting structure in such a way that the supporting structure can at least partially immerse itself in a concave cavity in the area of ​​the bending radius.

[0014] In particular, the holder is designed to maintain bending stress in the wooden body. This allows the shape of the holder to keep the wooden body under tension. For example, when the wooden body is released from the holder, it may relax into a different three-dimensional shape compared to the one it was in. Due to the bending stress remaining in the wooden body, which it cannot relieve due to the pre-tensioning and attachment to the holder, the load-bearing behavior of the shaped body, especially the wooden body, can be influenced. For example, during normal operation, a weight force can be applied to the pre-tensioned and convexly bent wooden body, causing residual stresses in the wood to dissipate rather than build up.This enables good load distribution from an ecological point of view in a lightweight motor vehicle.

[0015] Preferably, the at least one holder secures the wooden body in a peripheral circumferential area covering more than 50% of its circumference. In particular, more than 75%, preferably more than 85%, and especially preferably more than 90% of the peripheral circumferential area is secured and / or covered by the at least one holder. The movement-resistant fastening, in particular the fixing, of the respective holder to the supporting structure also allows for the easy predetermination of a defined three-dimensional shape of the wooden body, especially in a prestressed state.

[0016] Preferably, the holder engages the wooden body in a clamp-like manner on its upper surface and on its underside, which is spaced apart from the upper surface by a narrow side. The wooden body can be clamped in the holder, with the holder applying clamping force to both the upper and lower surfaces. Preferably, the holder can dig into the material of the wooden body on its upper and / or lower surface in a form-fitting manner. It is also possible for the holder to have a projection facing the upper surface and / or the lower surface, respectively, which can snap into a corresponding groove formed on the upper and / or lower surface of the wooden body in a form-fitting manner. The clamp-like holder ensures secure fastening of the wooden body within the holder.In particular, the holder can be designed as a U-shaped strip following the contour of the wooden body, into which the wooden body can be inserted and preferably fixed.

[0017] In particular, the holder seals one or more narrow sides of the wooden body in a covered area of ​​the wooden body, creating a watertight seal. The holder thus fulfills an additional sealing function, preventing moisture from penetrating the interior of the wooden body through its narrow side. This prevents swelling of the wooden body due to moisture. For the sealing function, the holder can grip and seal the wooden body with a sufficiently high clamping force, at least along its length, preventing any moisture present on the top or bottom from creeping towards the narrow side. Specifically, the holder incorporates a seal and / or sealing material that contacts the narrow side and / or the top and / or bottom, and which can preferably be pressed against the wood by the holder in a liquid-tight manner.

[0018] Preferably, the wooden body is made of a multi-layered material. This allows for the use of a visually appealing, moisture-resistant, and / or highly scratch-resistant wood material for the top and / or bottom of the wooden body, particularly as a veneer layer. Between the top and bottom layers, at least one layer of a different wood material, for example, a more cost-effective one selected based on its mechanical strength and / or ductility, can be provided. This allows for a multi-layered material composite for the wooden body that can be designed to meet various performance requirements.In particular, if the narrow sides of the multi-layered wooden body are sealed against the penetration of moisture, the penetration of moisture into the joints between the layers is also prevented, thus avoiding swelling of the multi-layered wooden body.

[0019] The wooden body preferably contains both a hardwood and a non-hardwood wood. The hardwood in the wooden body can support high loads, provide stiffening, and / or absorb impact forces in the event of an accident. The non-hardwood wood can be softer than the hardwood, allowing for easier processing and / or better formability and / or workability.

[0020] Another aspect concerns a rear seat arrangement for a motor vehicle with a rear crossmember and a seat recess connected to the rear crossmember, wherein the rear crossmember is part of a load-bearing support structure of the motor vehicle and the seat recess is formed by a molded body that can be designed and further developed as described above. By enclosing the support structure with the curved wooden body of the seat recess, the use of renewable raw materials in a motor vehicle can be easily increased without significant structural modifications.

[0021] Another aspect concerns a glove compartment for a motor vehicle with a front crossmember and a glove compartment wall attached to the front crossmember, wherein the front crossmember is part of a load-bearing support structure of the motor vehicle and the glove compartment wall is formed by a molded body that can be designed and further developed as described above. By enclosing the support structure with the curved wooden body of the glove compartment wall, the use of renewable raw materials in a motor vehicle can be easily increased without significant structural modifications.

[0022] Another aspect concerns a motor vehicle with a load-bearing support structure and a shaped body connected to the support structure, which can be designed and further developed as described above, and / or a rear seat arrangement connected to the support structure, which can be designed and further developed as described above, and / or a glove compartment connected to the support structure, which can be designed and further developed as described above. By enclosing the support structure with the curved wooden body, the use of renewable raw materials in a motor vehicle can be easily increased without significant structural modifications.

[0023] The invention is now explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, wherein the features shown below can represent an aspect of the invention, either individually or in combination, and the scope of protection is defined by the claims. The drawings show: Fig. 1: a schematic sectional view of part of a molded body and Fig. 2: A schematic perspective interior view of a motor vehicle body shell.

[0024] The in Fig. 1. A partially depicted shaped body 10 can be installed in a motor vehicle 12 as part of a motor vehicle component. The shaped body can have a wooden body 14, which can be held in a position to prevent movement by a holder 16, in particular a clamp-like form. The holder 16 can, in particular, be designed as a strip that opens in a U-shape towards the wooden body 14. This allows the holder 16 to create a liquid-tight seal on a narrow side 22 provided between a top surface 18 and a bottom surface 20 of the wooden body 14.

[0025] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the body shell 24 of the motor vehicle 12 can have a supporting structure 26, of which a rear cross member 28 and a longitudinal member 30 connected to the rear cross member 28 are visible. The wooden body 14, preferably clamped with preload in the frame-like holder 16, can be formed by bending into such a three-dimensional shape that the rear cross member 28 can at least partially immerse itself in a cavity concave with a bending radius 32 of the wooden body 14 at the concave underside 20 of the wooden body 14. The shaped body 10 can be fixedly attached to the body shell 24, in particular to the supporting structure 26, via fastening openings 34 formed in the holder 16, wherein, in particular, the holder 16 can be fixed to the rear cross member 28 in the illustrated embodiment. The shaped body 10 can thus be moved in the space shown in Figure 26. Fig.2 illustrated embodiment forms a seat shell for a rear seat arrangement of the motor vehicle, which, due to the three-dimensionally bent wooden body 14, is made to a high extent from a renewable raw material.

[0026] The shaped body 10 can also be dimensioned for other applications and / or other motor vehicle components within the motor vehicle 12, in which the curved wooden body 14 provided can at least partially enclose a load-bearing component, for example, a glove compartment wall. The shaped body 10 can be used in particular in a rear area of ​​the motor vehicle 12, preferably in areas where the upper surface 18 and / or the lower surface 20 of the wooden body is visible to a vehicle occupant. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 602 12 394 T2

[0002] DE 10 2022 122 808 A1 [0003, 0011]

Claims

[1] Shaped body (10) for attachment to a load-bearing support structure (26) of a motor vehicle (12), with a holder (16) for attachment to the supporting structure (26) and a wooden body (14) attached to the holder (16), wherein the wooden body (14) is transformed by bending into a three-dimensional shape having at least one bending radius (32) in order to encompass the supporting structure (26) at least partially in the area of ​​the bending radius (32). [2] Molded body (10) according to claim 1, wherein the holder (16) maintains a bending stress in the wooden body (14). [3] Molded body (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one holder (16) holds the wooden body (14) in a peripheral circumferential area by more than 50% of the circumferential area. [4] Molded body (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the holder (16) engages in a clamp-like manner on a top side (18) of the wooden body (14) and on a bottom side (20) of the wooden body (14) spaced apart from the top side (18) via a narrow side (22) of the wooden body (14). [5] Molded body (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holder (16) seals one / the narrow side (22) of the wooden body (14) in a waterproof manner in an overlap area of ​​the wooden body (14) covered by the holder (16). [6] Molded body (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the wooden body (14) is made of a multi-layer material. [7] Shaped body (10) according to 6, wherein the wooden body (14) comprises a hardwood and a wood other than hardwood. [8] Rear seat arrangement for a motor vehicle (12), comprising a rear cross member (28) and a seat recess connected to the rear cross member, wherein the rear cross member (28) is part of a load-bearing support structure (26) of the motor vehicle (12) and the seat recess is formed by a molded body (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7. [9] Glove compartment for a motor vehicle (12), comprising a front cross member and a glove compartment wall attached to the front cross member, wherein the front cross member is part of a load-bearing support structure (26) of the motor vehicle (12) and the glove compartment wall is formed by a molded body (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7. [10] Motor vehicle (12) with a load-bearing support structure (26) and a shaped body (10) connected to the support structure (26) according to one of claims 1 to 7 and / or a rear seat arrangement connected to the support structure (26) according to claim 8 and / or a glove compartment connected to the support structure (26) according to claim 9.

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