Two-part lighting device for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a two-part lighting device (4) for a motor vehicle (1) comprising a first sub-element (5) arranged in a vehicle-fixed area of ​​the body (2), and a second sub-element (6) arranged in a body element (3) movable between an open and a closed position, and which, in the closed position of the body element (3), is located adjacent to the first sub-element (5), wherein one of the sub-elements (5, 6) is directly electrically contacted with an electrical wiring harness of the motor vehicle (1). The two-part lighting device is characterized in that the other of the sub-elements (6, 5) is electrically contacted via contact pairs (9) that interact in the closed position of the body element (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a two-part lighting device for a motor vehicle comprising a first sub-element and a second sub-element of the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such lighting devices are commonly known and used, for example, in the form of taillights. By way of example, reference can be made to DE 10 2013 012 828 A1, which shows a taillight comprising a first taillight section and a second taillight section. The first taillight section is fixed to the vehicle body, while the second taillight section is located in a movable body element, in this case, the tailgate. This design is chosen, for example, for reasons of vehicle design or to provide a comparatively large area for the lighting device even with a sufficiently wide tailgate. The disadvantage is that both the first and second taillight sections require connection to a vehicle wiring harness, which is correspondingly complex and expensive, especially for the wiring harness routed into the movable tailgate.

[0003] DE 10 2021 131 381 A1 describes a generic two-part lighting device.

[0004] WO 2019 / 150 948 A1 also describes the basic use of spring-loaded contact elements for supplying power to components, such as lights, in vehicle tailgates. DE 10 2019 209 040 B4 describes a similarly functioning, but quite complex, design.

[0005] For further information on the state of the art, reference can also be made to DE 10 2014 205 265 A1, which describes a specially designed connector for direct electrical contacting of a lighting device with the electrical wiring harness of the vehicle.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a two-part lighting device for a motor vehicle, comparable to the two-part rear light of the first-mentioned prior art, which enables very efficient and simple assembly and is cost-effective and reliable.

[0007] According to the invention, this problem is achieved by a two-part lighting device with the features of claim 1, and in particular of the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the two-part lighting device are described in the dependent claims.

[0008] The two-part lighting device is designed such that a first component is arranged in a fixed body area of ​​the vehicle, and a second component is located in a movable body element that can move between an open and a closed position. In the closed position of the body element, the second component of the lighting device is positioned adjacent to the first component, creating the visual impression of a continuous lighting device.

[0009] One of the components, preferably the first component, which is located in the vehicle's fixed body section, is directly connected to the vehicle's electrical wiring harness. According to the invention, the other component, preferably the second component, is electrically connected via contact pairs that interact when the body section is closed. Thus, the second component of the two-part lighting device does not have its own connection to the electrical wiring harness. Instead, it is connected to the second component via electrical contact pairs when the body section is closed. These contact pairs transmit electrical power and potential control signals to the second component.In the open position of the body panel, this sub-element of the lighting device is not supplied with electrical power; however, this is irrelevant for its function, as the vehicle is typically parked in such a situation, and the lighting provided by the first sub-element is sufficient. While the vehicle is in motion, the body panel is closed, and the two-part lighting device is fully functional thanks to the power supply to the second sub-element via the contact pairs.

[0010] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the contact pairs can be mechanically designed. For this purpose, the contact pairs comprise a first electrical contact surface as the first contact element and a resilient or spring-loaded contact as the second contact element. This interaction of a contact surface and a resilient or spring-loaded contact, which touches the contact surface in the closed position of the body panel, creates a very efficient and simultaneously simple design. The resilient contact element can be designed as a known resilient contact element and can thus compensate for installation tolerances of the movable body panel relative to the body. Particularly preferably, a spring-loaded contact element, commonly known as a pogo pin, is used as the second contact element.Such a pogo pin typically comprises a rounded element for contacting the contact surface, which is held within a sleeve and pressed towards the contact surface by a spring. The spring allows for a relatively large spring travel, ensuring that the rounded contact pin reliably makes contact with the contact surface over a relatively large mechanical distance. The spring inside the sleeve compensates for tolerances and maintains reliable contact even in the event of any movement of the vehicle body relative to the moving body element, such as that which can occur during body twisting.

[0011] A further highly advantageous embodiment may also provide for the use of a protective cover that covers the contact surface when the body panel is in the open position. This prevents contamination in situations where the contact surfaces are exposed. Such a protective cover can also offer the advantage of reliably preventing electrical contact, for example, from electrically conductive elements such as keys, a bracelet, or the like that are accidentally brought nearby.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, the protective cover can be mechanically lifted or pushed away from the contact surface by the movement of the body element into its closed position. The protective cover is thus designed such that it is moved from its position covering the contact surface by the body element as it moves into its closed position, in order to expose the contact surface for electrical contact with the spring-loaded or spring-loaded contact element shortly before the body element reaches its closed position.

[0013] According to a highly advantageous further development, the protective cover can be designed as a spring-loaded, pivoting flap. Such a flap can, for example, be provided with a section extending beyond the axis of rotation, which is mechanically moved along with the movable body element in such a way that the flap itself exposes the contact surface.

[0014] Another possible alternative would be to design the protective cover as a pivotable protective hood, which can be moved via an actuating pin, wherein this actuating pin preferably engages a curved lever arm that pivots the hood and moves it about a pivot axis when the actuating pin is pressed in by the movable body element.

[0015] According to a highly advantageous further development of the two-part lighting device, the contact pairs each have a first contact element in the area of ​​one sub-element or the bodywork and a second contact element in the area of ​​the other sub-element or the bodywork element. The contact pairs can therefore be arranged directly between the two sub-elements of the lighting device, which saves on additional wiring. However, if it is structurally simpler to relocate them to another area between the bodywork and the movable bodywork element, this is also possible with short electrical wires between the contact pairs and the respective sub-element, so that, for example, the contact pairs can be arranged in a particularly protected area between the bodywork and the movable bodywork element, which is less susceptible to dirt.

[0016] The two-part lighting device can, in principle, be implemented as any type of lighting device in a motor vehicle. As mentioned in the prior art cited above, the rear lights of a motor vehicle are particularly often designed as two-part lighting devices. Accordingly, the two-part lighting device according to the invention can therefore be designed as a rear light. In principle, however, it is also conceivable to design it as a headlight, so that the movable body element would not be the tailgate, but the hood, within which a second component of a headlight is located as a two-part lighting device.

[0017] Further advantageous embodiments of the two-part lighting device according to the invention will also become apparent from the exemplary embodiment, which is described in more detail below with reference to the figures. The exemplary embodiment describes the two-part lighting device according to the invention using the example of a rear light, without limiting the invention to this.

[0018] They show: Fig. 1 a side rear view of a vehicle with a two-part rear light as a lighting device; Fig. 2 a schematic sectional view of a spring-loaded contact element; Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a possible protective cover over the contact surface; and Fig. 4 A schematic representation of an alternative protective cover over the contact surface.

[0019] In the presentation of the Fig. Figure 1 is a side rear view of a motor vehicle 1, in which a section of the body of the motor vehicle 1, labelled 2, is visible. Within this body 2 is a movable body element 3, here in the form of a rear hatch 3, which is shown in the illustration of the Fig. Figure 1 is shown in its closed position. The rear of the motor vehicle 1 has a lighting device 4, in this case in the form of a taillight 4. The two-part taillight 4 is divided into a first sub-element 5 and a second sub-element 6, wherein the first sub-element 5 is arranged in a fixed part of the body 2, i.e., it is immovably connected to the motor vehicle 1. The second sub-element 6 of the two-part taillight 4 is located in the movable body element 3, here the tailgate 3 of the motor vehicle 1. In order to avoid the need for two separate electrical wiring harnesses for the electrical contact of the first sub-element 5 and the second sub-element 6 of the two-part taillight 4, the second sub-element 6 is electrically contacted directly or indirectly via the first sub-element 5 of the two-part taillight 4.This can either be between the sub-areas 5, 6 of the two-part rear light 4, i.e. in the representation of the . Fig. The work can be carried out in the area designated 1 with 7, or at any other point between the bodywork 2 and the movable body element 3. For example, an area between the lower edge of the rear decklid 3 and the beltline of the bodywork 2 is shown here and marked with reference numeral 8.

[0020] Various methods can now be used for the electrical contacting of the second sub-area 6 in the movable rear cover 3. For example, a mechanical contacting between a in Fig. The contact surface 10 shown in Figure 2 and a spring-loaded contact 11 form a contact pair 9 suitable for contacting. The contact surface 10 can be sufficiently large to ensure reliable contact between the contact surface 10 and the spring-loaded contact element 11 even with maximum tolerance between the body 2 and the trunk lid 3. In addition to the size of the surface, a spring 14 also helps to compensate for tolerances. The spring-loaded contact element 11 can preferably be designed as a so-called pogo pin, which is shown in the illustration. Fig. 2 has a rounded contact pin 12 at the top, which protrudes from a sleeve 13 towards the contact surface 10. This contact pin 12 is held in place by the spring 14 mentioned above, as shown in the illustration. Fig. 2 is pushed upwards to its maximum position. As the contact surface 10 and the spring-loaded contact element 11 approach each other according to arrow 15, the contact pin 12 touches the contact surface 10 and, depending on the relative position of the contact surface 10 to the contact pin 11, is pressed in more or less strongly against the force of the spring 14. This ensures very reliable contact.

[0021] In the presentation of the Fig. Figure 2 shows a single contact pair 9. Typically, several such contact pairs will be present to connect the electrical and electronic components of the second sub-element 6 of the two-part rear light 4 and to supply them with power and necessary control signals.

[0022] To prevent contamination of the contact surface 10, a protective cover 16 is also required, such as that found, for example, in Fig. 3 is shown, provided for. In the representation of the Fig. 3. This protective cover is designed as a spring-loaded flap, which is movable about a hinge designated 17 with a coil spring or torsion spring. A hinge 17 is shown in the illustration of the Fig. The section 18 projecting to the right is designed to interact with a part of the tailgate 3 such that, when the tailgate 3 moves into the closed position, it lifts the flap of the protective cover 16 from a support 19 and moves it into an open position. The contact surface 10, which is located, for example, in the first subsection 5 of the two-part taillight 4, is then released. The illustration in Fig. Figure 3 shows the flap of the protective cover 16 in a partially open state to illustrate its function.

[0023] An alternative could be to provide the protective cover 16 in the form of a protective hood, as shown in the illustration of the Fig. 4 is shown. In the Fig. 4a) The contact surface 10 is shown, for example, in the first sub-element 5 of the two-part rear light 4. It is covered by the protective cover designated 16 in the form of a protective hood. This protective hood is additionally fixed to a pivot axis 21 via a lever 20. An actuating pin 22 is connected to this lever 20 in such a way that, in the event of an approaching tailgate 3, which pushes the actuating pin 22 downwards, as shown in the illustration of the Fig. 4b) shows that contact surface 10 is released. Fig. 4c) shows the view analogous to Fig. 4b) again in top view.

[0024] Alternatively, the actuating pin 22 or the protective cover 16 can be actuated by a drive or an actuator motor not shown in the drawings.

Claims

[1] Two-part lighting device (4) for a motor vehicle (1) comprising a first sub-element (5) which is arranged in a vehicle-fixed area of ​​the body (2), and a second sub-element (6) which is arranged in a body element (3) movable between an open position and a closed position, and which, in the closed position of the body element (3), is adjacent to the first sub-element (5), wherein one of the sub-elements (5, 6) is directly electrically contacted with an electrical wiring harness of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the other of the sub-elements (6, 5) is electrically contacted via contact pairs (9) which interact in the closed position of the body element (3), and wherein the contact pairs (9) comprise an electrical contact surface (10) as the first contact element and a spring-loaded or spring-loaded contact (11) as the second contact element. characterized by, that a protective cover (16) is provided which covers the contact surface (10) in the open position of the body element, wherein the protective cover (16) is mechanically lifted or pushed away from the contact surface (10) by a movement of the body element (3) into its closed position. [2] Two-part lighting device (4) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the contact pairs (9) each have a first contact element in the area of ​​one sub-element (5, 6) or the body (2) and a second contact element in the area of ​​the other sub-element (6, 5) or the body element (3). [3] Two-part lighting device (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the second contact element is designed as a spring-loaded contact in the form of a so-called pogo pin. [4] Two-part lighting device (4) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by, that the protective cover (16) has a spring-loaded pivoting flap. [5] Two-part lighting device (4) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by , that the protective cover (16) has a pivotable hood which can be moved via an actuating pin. [6] Two-part lighting device (4) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the protective cover (16) or the actuating pin is connected to an actuator motor. [7] Two-part lighting device (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized by their training as a taillight.

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