Front of a motor vehicle, bracket and functional unit

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle front of a motor vehicle (1) comprising a functional unit (21) with a front cover (213) and an upper body panel (20). The upper body panel (20) is arranged above the functional unit (21) such that a front edge (201) of the upper body panel (20) is spaced apart from an upper front edge (214) of the front cover (213). A bracket (30) is attached to an upper housing side of the functional unit (21), the bracket (30) having a lower section (35) extending between the front edge (201) of the upper body panel (20) and the upper front edge (214) of the front cover (213). A first groove (33) is further formed on the lower section (35), into which a first spring (203) formed on the upper body panel (20) engages.The present disclosure further relates to a corresponding bracket and a functional unit for a vehicle front.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle front of a motor vehicle as well as a bracket and a functional unit for a vehicle front. State of the art

[0002] From DE 10 2018 006 869 A1, a front-end carrier for a passenger car with a light strip extending transversely across the vehicle is known. The light strip is arranged below a cover located between a hood and the light strip 12. A gap is formed between the light strip and the cover. Brief description of the invention

[0003] One objective of the present invention is to provide the smallest possible gap dimensions with low tolerances between a functional unit and an upper body panel.

[0004] Accordingly, a vehicle front according to the main claim, as well as a mounting and a functional unit according to the dependent claims, are proposed. Further embodiments are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, the problem is solved by a vehicle front of a motor vehicle comprising a functional unit with a front cover and an upper body panel. The upper body panel is arranged above the functional unit such that a front edge of the upper body panel is spaced apart from an upper front edge of the front cover. A bracket is attached to an upper housing side of the functional unit, the bracket having a lower section extending between the front edge of the upper body panel and the upper front edge of the front cover. A first groove is further formed in the lower section, into which a first spring formed on the upper body panel engages.

[0006] The lower section acts as a spacer, extending between the functional unit and the upper body panel in relation to the vehicle's vertical direction.

[0007] According to a further development of the vehicle front, a locking connecting element can be provided on the first spring of the upper body panel and on the lower section of the bracket, so that the upper body panel and the bracket are locked together or can be locked together.

[0008] By arranging a snap-fit ​​connection element in the lower section of the bracket, the upper body panel can be fixed to the bracket without an additional installation height.

[0009] According to a further development of the vehicle front, the bracket can have a second spring which is formed on the lower section and which engages in a second groove, the second groove being arranged in a projection on an upper housing side of the functional unit.

[0010] A second tongue-and-groove connection allows the bracket to be precisely aligned on an upper side of the housing.

[0011] According to a further development of the vehicle front, the bracket can also have an upper section, wherein the upper section encompasses the projection, and wherein the upper section is fixed to a housing rear wall by a fastening element.

[0012] The bracket can therefore also be used to fix the rear panel of the housing to a housing of the functional unit, thus saving on additional fastening clips, screws or the like.

[0013] According to a further development of the vehicle front, the functional unit can be arranged between a right and a left headlight unit with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle.

[0014] The functional unit can thus form an assembly with the left and right headlight units, creating a continuous surface section of the front of the motor vehicle.

[0015] According to a further development of the vehicle front, the functional unit can be a lighting unit.

[0016] Inside the housing of the functional unit, at least one light source may be provided, which can be used, for example, to illuminate optical structures of a brand emblem and / or other styling elements.

[0017] The optical structures can be located inside the housing, so that they are visible from the outside of the vehicle through a transparent front cover. Alternatively and / or additionally, such optical structures can be integrated into or attached to the front cover.

[0018] According to a second aspect of the invention, the problem is solved by a bracket for the front of a motor vehicle according to the first aspect of the invention. The bracket comprises a lower section and a connecting device for attachment to an upper housing side of a functional unit. A first groove is arranged at a front end of the lower section, configured to receive a first spring of an upper body panel. The lower section comprises a lower side, a surface of which is adapted to a surface profile of a front upper housing side of a functional unit.

[0019] The lower section can be fitted with its underside surface onto a front-facing upper housing side of a functional unit. This allows the distance between a functional unit and an upper body panel to be adjusted by the thickness of the lower section.

[0020] According to a further development of the bracket, the connecting device can include a second spring and at least one fastening.

[0021] The bracket can be fixed to a functional unit by means of a second tongue and groove connection and a fastening.

[0022] According to a further development of the bracket, a snap-fit ​​connection element can be provided on the lower section.

[0023] The snap-fit ​​connection element enables a snap-in connection between the bracket and an upper body panel.

[0024] According to a third aspect of the invention, the problem is solved by a functional unit for a vehicle front of a motor vehicle according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0025] The functional unit comprises a housing with an upper housing wall. A projection with a second, front-facing groove is arranged on the upper housing wall, the second groove being designed to receive a second spring of a retainer.

[0026] The second groove, open on the front side, allows for a second tongue-and-groove connection for attaching a bracket to the functional unit. Brief description of the drawing figures

[0027] Further features and details will become apparent from the following description, in which – possibly with reference to the drawing – at least one embodiment is described in detail. The features described and / or illustrated constitute the subject matter individually or in any meaningful combination, possibly also independently of the claims, and may in particular also be the subject matter of one or more separate applications. Identical, similar, and / or functionally equivalent parts are designated with the same reference numerals. These are shown as follows: Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective of a motor vehicle with a vehicle front; Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view through the front of the vehicle, Fig. Figure 3 shows two further cross-sectional views through two alternative designs of the vehicle front, Fig. 4 shows a top view of a functional unit of the vehicle front with a bracket, Fig. Figure 5 shows the process of assembling a vehicle front. Description of the execution types

[0028] In the Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the front part of a motor vehicle 1. The motor vehicle 1 has a front end 2, which includes a bumper 24, a right headlight unit 22a, and a left headlight unit 22b, which is hidden in the view shown. A functional unit 21 is arranged centrally between the two headlight units 22 with respect to a transverse direction y of the vehicle. The functional unit 21 can be a lighting unit, for example, an illuminated radiator grille unit or a grille unit of an electric vehicle. The two headlight units 22, together with the functional unit 21, form an assembly, which is referred to below as the visor assembly 24. The visor assembly 24 forms a continuous surface section of the front surface of the motor vehicle 1.With respect to a vehicle vertical direction z, an upper body panel 20 is attached above the visor arrangement 24.

[0029] The upper body panel 20 is arranged in front of an engine compartment cover 14 of the vehicle 1 with respect to a longitudinal direction x of the vehicle. The engine compartment cover 14 and the upper body panel 20 essentially form the surface of a front hood of the vehicle 1. The upper body panel 20 is preferably made of a plastic that is relatively soft or elastic compared to an engine compartment cover 3 made of sheet steel. The upper body panel 20 can therefore also be referred to as a "soft nose".

[0030] The Fig. Figure 2 shows a sectional view through the vehicle front 2 along a vertical longitudinal plane (xz-plane). The section shows parts of the upper body panel 20 and the central functional unit 21. The central functional unit 21 has a housing 210 with a front-oriented front cover 213.

[0031] The central functional unit 21 can serve as a centrally arranged lighting unit between the two headlight units 22, which has at least one light source inside its housing that can illuminate, for example, a brand emblem and / or other styling elements. A transparent front cover 213 would allow three-dimensionally designed lighting elements inside the housing to be visible from the outside of the vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, luminous structures (e.g., in the form of lenses or light-refracting elements) can be formed in or on the front cover 213.

[0032] The housing 210 is designed in multiple parts according to the illustrated embodiment. In the Fig. Figure 2 shows an upper housing wall 211, a housing rear wall 212, and the front-facing front cover 213. The upper housing wall 211 can be part of a frame-like housing component. The front cover 213 encompasses a front area of ​​the upper housing wall 211. In addition to the upper housing wall, the front cover 213 can also encompass a right and a left side of the housing, as well as a lower housing wall, which are not shown in the figures.

[0033] The upper body panel 20 is arranged above the central functional unit 21 with respect to the vehicle's vertical axis z and has a front edge 201 from which a lower section 202 extends in the opposite direction to the vehicle's longitudinal direction x. The front edge 201 of the upper body panel 20 is aligned with an upper edge 214 of the front cover 213 of the central functional unit 21.

[0034] One objective of the present invention is to enable the smallest possible gap dimensions with low tolerances between the visor arrangement 24 and the upper body panel 20.

[0035] A bracket 30 is attached to the upper housing wall 211 of the middle functional unit 21.

[0036] A first groove 33 is provided on a front side of the bracket 30. The lower section 202 of the upper body panel 20 forms a first spring 203 at a rear end, which engages in the first groove 33 of the bracket 30. The first spring 203, in conjunction with the first groove 33, forms a first tongue-and-groove connection 51 of the vehicle front 2.

[0037] At the rear end of the lower section 202 of the upper body panel 20, a locking lug 204 is provided, which engages in a detent 34 in a lower section 35 of the bracket 30. The detent 34 can be designed as a notch or as a through-hole in the lower section 35.

[0038] The bracket 30 comprises, in addition to the lower section 35, an upper section 36. The lower and upper sections 35 and 36 each extend essentially to a horizontal vehicle plane (xy-plane).

[0039] The bracket 30 can be fixed to the housing 210 by means of a second tongue and groove connection 52 and a further fastening 53. For this purpose, a projection 215 extends on the upper side of the housing in the vehicle height direction z on the front cover 213 of the functional unit 21, in which a second groove 216 is formed, open towards the front of the vehicle (i.e. in the vehicle length direction x).

[0040] A second spring 32 is formed on the bracket 30, which engages in the second groove 216 of the projection 215 on the upper housing wall 211 of the functional unit 21.

[0041] The upper section 36 of the bracket 30 encompasses the projection 215 of the front cover 213 located on the upper side of the housing and extends along an upper side of the housing 210 to a mounting opening 217 on the rear wall 212 of the housing.

[0042] The bracket 10 has a locking element 31 which engages in the mounting opening 217 in the rear housing wall 212.

[0043] The surface of a lower side of the lower section 35 is adapted to a surface profile of the housing 210 that extends between the second groove 216 and the upper edge 214 of the front cover 213. In this example, a lower contact surface of the second groove 216 is flush with a section of the outer surface of the front cover 213 that is oriented towards the upper housing side of the housing 210.

[0044] The bracket 30 performs two different functions simultaneously in the assembly of the vehicle front. It acts as a gap adjustment element or spacer, allowing a small gap dimension d to be reproducibly set with low tolerances between the upper body panel 20 and the functional unit 21. Furthermore, the bracket 30 connects and fixes several components of the assembly to one another.

[0045] In the Fig. 3 are two alternative further training courses offered by the Fig. The assembly of a vehicle front 2 of the motor vehicle 1 is shown in section 2.

[0046] The bracket 10 can have a through-hole communicating with the mounting opening 217 in the rear housing 212, instead of the locking element 31 which engages in the mounting opening 217 oriented towards the upper side of the housing. Thus, the bracket 30 and the rear housing 212 of a closed housing 210 can be connected with an expansion rivet 54. Alternatively, a screw or other fastener can be used for a corresponding connection.

[0047] To stabilize the upper body panel 20 of a "soft nose" for vehicle operation, a support structure 40, made of, for example, a sheet steel, is arranged below the upper body panel 20. A receiving area 38 is therefore arranged on the bracket 30, into which one end of the support structure 40 can snap into place. According to the left illustration a), the support structure 40 engages in the receiving area 38 from the front of the vehicle. Alternatively, according to the right illustration b), the support structure 40 can engage in the bracket 30 from the rear.

[0048] The Fig. Figure 4 shows a top view of a section of the functional unit 21, on the upper side of whose housing the bracket 30 is attached. Visible are the rear housing wall 212, the front cover 213, and the projection 215 on the front cover 213. Several spaced-apart mounting hooks 218 are also formed on the front cover 213, which engage the upper housing wall 211 for attachment. The bracket 30 has a cutout at each corresponding position.

[0049] The first groove 33 is open in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle, so that the first spring 203 of an upper body panel part 20 to be attached can be inserted into it.

[0050] The Fig. Figure 5 outlines a possible assembly process for a vehicle front 2 of a motor vehicle 1. In a first step a), a functional unit 21 and a bracket 30 are provided. The bracket 30 has a lower section 35 and an upper section 36, which are connected to each other in a connection area 37. The lower section 35 forms a second spring 32 oriented towards the rear of the housing. A first groove 33 extends on the front side, the lower contact surface of which is formed by the lower section 35.

[0051] In a second step b), the bracket 30 with its lower section 35 is placed onto an upper housing side, so that the lower section 35 rests in a form-fitting manner against a projection 215 on a front cover 213 of the functional unit 21. The bracket 30 is then pushed backward until the second spring 32 engages in a second groove 216 in the projection 215 and the upper section 36 engages the projection 215.

[0052] In a third step c), the bracket 30 is fixed to a housing rear wall 212 via an expansion rivet 54.

[0053] In a subsequent fourth step d), a support structure 40 is inserted from the front of the vehicle into a receiving area 38, which is arranged on an upper side of the bracket 30.

[0054] In a final fifth step e), a first spring 203 of an upper body panel part 20 is inserted into the first groove 33 of the bracket 30.

[0055] The last image f) of the Fig. Figure 5 illustrates that the bracket 30 sets a defined gap d between the front cover 213 and the upper body panel 20. The bracket 30 also acts as a connecting element, linking the upper housing wall 211, the housing rear wall 212, the upper body panel 20, and the support structure 40.

[0056] Although the subject matter has been illustrated and explained in detail by means of exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived from them by a person skilled in the art. It is therefore clear that a multitude of possible variations exist. It is also clear that the exemplary embodiments mentioned are merely examples and are not to be interpreted in any way as limiting, for example, the scope of protection, the possible applications, or the configuration of the invention.Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, whereby the person skilled in the art, with knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without leaving the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description. List of reference symbols 1 motor vehicle 2 Vehicle front 3 Engine compartment covers 20 upper body panel 21 Functional unit 22, 22a, 22b Headlight unit 23 Sight arrangement 24 bumpers 201 front edge 202 lower section 203 first spring 204 Rastnase 210 cases 211 upper case wall 212 Rear panel 213 front cover 214 upper edge 215 lead 216 second groove 217 Mounting opening 218 fastening hooks 30 bracket 31 locking element 32 second spring 33 first groove 34 Rest 35 lower section 36 upper section 37 Connection area 38 Recording area 40 Support structure 51 first tongue and groove joint 52 second tongue and groove joint 53 Fastening 54 expansion rivets 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 10 2018 006 869 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Vehicle front of a motor vehicle (1) comprising a functional unit (21) with a front cover (213) and an upper body panel (20), wherein the upper body panel (20) is arranged above the functional unit (21) such that a front edge (201) of the upper body panel (20) is spaced apart from an upper front edge (214) of the front cover (213), wherein a bracket (30) is attached to an upper housing side of the functional unit (21), wherein the bracket (30) has a lower section (35) extending between the front edge (201) of the upper body panel (20) and the upper front edge (214) of the front cover (213), and wherein a first groove (33) is further formed on the lower section (35) into which a first spring (203) formed on the upper body panel (20) engages. [2] Vehicle front according to the preceding claim, wherein a locking connecting element (34, 204) is provided on the first spring (203) and on the lower section (35) such that the upper body panel part (11) and the bracket (30) are locked together. [3] Vehicle front according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the holder (30) has a second spring (32) formed on the lower section (35) and engaging in a second groove (216), wherein the second groove (216) is arranged in a projection (215) on an upper housing side of the functional unit (21). [4] Vehicle front according to the preceding claim, wherein the holder (30) further comprises an upper section (36) wherein the upper section encompasses the projection (215) and wherein the upper section (36) is fixed to a housing rear wall (212) by means of a fastening element (31, 54). [5] Vehicle front according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the functional unit (21) is arranged between a right and a left headlight unit (22) with respect to the transverse direction (y) of the vehicle. [6] Vehicle front according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the functional unit (21) is a lighting unit. [7] Mounting bracket for a vehicle front (2) of a motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a lower section (35) and a connecting device (52, 53) for attachment to an upper housing side of a functional unit (21), wherein a first groove (33) is arranged at a front end of the lower section (35) which is configured to receive a first spring (203) of an upper body panel part (11), and wherein the lower section (35) comprises a lower side, wherein a surface of the lower side is adapted to a surface profile of a front upper housing side of a functional unit (21). [8] Mounting device according to claim 7 above, wherein the connecting device (52, 53) comprises a second spring (32) and at least one fastening (53). [9] Mounting device according to one of the preceding claims 7 to 8, wherein a snap-fit ​​connection element (34) is provided on the lower section (35). [10] Functional unit for a vehicle front (2) of a motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, comprising a housing (210) with an upper housing wall (211), wherein a projection (215) with a frontally open second groove (216) is arranged on the upper housing wall (211), wherein the second groove (216) is designed to receive a second spring (32) of a holder (30).

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