Segmented front protection bar for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Front protection bar (12a, 12b) for a motor vehicle (10) with a front luggage compartment (frunk) (13), wherein the luggage compartment (12a, 12b) consists of two side pieces (14a, 14b) that can be attached to the front of a vehicle body and at least one center piece (18a, 18b) that can be connected to these side pieces, and wherein the at least one center piece (18a, 18b) is attached to at least one of the side pieces (14a, 14b) and is movable between a home position and a release position, wherein the center piece (18a, 18b) is fixed at both ends to both side pieces (14a, 14b) in the home position and is moved away from the space between the side pieces (14a, 14b) in the release position, characterized in that the at least one center piece (18a, 18b) is guided in a center piece guide of a side piece for movement from the home position to the release position (14b) is movable.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a front protection bar for a motor vehicle with a front luggage compartment (frunk) and to a vehicle equipped therewith.

[0002] DE 198 52 959 A1 discloses the installation of such front protection bars preferably on off-road vehicles or so-called sport utility vehicles (SUVs). In a vehicle equipped with such a front protection bar, access to the space behind it is limited or obstructed. This is especially true for an electric vehicle, in which there is no combustion engine behind the front protection bar, but rather a front luggage compartment (FRUNK).

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a front protection bar which enables improved accessibility to the space behind it, in particular a frunk.

[0004] The invention is based on the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments and refinements are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] The object is achieved according to claim 1 in that the front protection bar consists of two side pieces which can be fastened to the front of a vehicle body and at least one central piece which can be connected thereto, and the at least one central piece is attached to at least one of the side pieces and is movable between a basic position and a release position, wherein the central piece is fixed at both ends to both side pieces in the basic position and is moved away from the space between the side pieces in the release position.

[0006] In other words, the front protection bar is segmented into at least three sections: two side pieces firmly connected to the vehicle body and a center piece arranged between them, which can be moved from the basic position into the release position by sliding or pivoting, thus freeing up the space occupied by the center piece in the basic position and allowing people to approach the front of the vehicle and thus close to the space behind it, in particular a front luggage compartment (frunk) or the engine. This simplifies loading and unloading of the luggage compartment. According to an advantageous development, the center piece should have a width of at least 50 cm, better at least 80 cm. The center piece can be formed in one piece and comprise two or more interconnected cross struts. The center piece can also consist of two or more individually movable cross struts.According to a further embodiment, the middle section can consist of two middle sections which are hinged to the two side sections in the manner of a hinged door and are locked together in the basic position.

[0007] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the center piece is motor-driven and movable between the home position and the release position. Manual movement of the center piece is structurally simpler, but motor-driven movement is more convenient for the user and can be coupled with a release device for the trunk lid to automatically move the center piece away when the trunk lid is unlocked.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one center piece is displaceable in a center piece guide of a side piece for movement from the home position to the release position. In this embodiment, the center piece is moved sideways in the transverse direction of the vehicle manually or by motor.

[0009] According to an advantageous further development of this design, the guide is a screw guide, and the center piece is movable laterally by a screwing movement. For this purpose, the single- or multi-part center piece is designed like a spindle, which is motor-driven and driven by a spindle nut.

[0010] According to an alternative advantageous development, the guide is a sliding guide and the middle piece is laterally displaceable, for example via a rail guide.

[0011] According to an alternative advantageous development, the center section is designed to be at least partially telescopic, allowing it to be partially collapsed during lateral movement. With such a design, the center section is inevitably less rigid and advantageously yields somewhat in a collision with a pedestrian or cyclist, thus reducing the extent of injuries sustained.

[0012] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the center section consists of at least two superimposed cross struts that can be displaced transversely, either together or separately. This design is structurally compact yet rigid in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0013] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the center piece is rotatably mounted on one of the side pieces by means of at least one pivot joint and can be pivoted from the home position to the release position. In this design, the center piece pivots forward in the manner of a garden gate, which is particularly suitable for manual operation. Furthermore, the pivoted center piece can be used as a support, for example, by a person with walking difficulties.

[0014] According to an advantageous further development of this design, the center section comprises at least four cross struts arranged one above the other in pairs, with each of the cross struts being hinged in pairs to both side pieces by means of vertical pivot joints at their outer transverse ends. The two pairs of cross struts each comprise locking elements at their joints to connect them, ensuring a rigid structure in the basic position. In the release position, this design allows the center section to be opened like a hinged door, allowing support on both sides by a person using the luggage compartment.

[0015] According to a second aspect, the object is achieved by a motor vehicle with a mounted front protection bar according to one of the embodiments described above.

[0016] Further advantages, features, and details will become apparent from the following description, which describes two exemplary embodiments in detail with reference to the drawings. Identical, similar, and / or functionally equivalent parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0017] Showing: Fig. 1: a perspective view of a motor vehicle with a front protection bar; Fig. 2a: a perspective view of a first embodiment of a front protection bar; Fig. 2b: a perspective view of the formation of Fig. 2a in a second position; Fig. 3a: a perspective view of a second embodiment of a front protection bar; Fig. 3b: a perspective view of the formation of Fig. 3a in a second position.

[0018] In Fig. 1 shows an electrically powered motor vehicle 10 with a front protection bar 12 mounted at the front and a front luggage compartment 13 (a so-called frunk).

[0019] In the Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b is a first design of the front protection bar 12a in the basic position ( Fig. 2a) and the release position ( Fig. 2b). The front protection bar 12a consists of two side pieces 14a, 14b, which comprise vertical main supports 16a, 16b for attachment to the motor vehicle 10. Between the two side pieces 14a, 14b, a first embodiment of a center piece 18a is arranged, which in the basic position is rigidly connected to the two side pieces 14a, 14b. In the embodiment shown, the center piece 18 consists of two upper cross struts 20a, 20b and two lower cross struts 22a, 22b, wherein the upper cross struts 20a, 20b and the lower cross struts 22a, 22b can be locked to one another in the basic position at the joints 23a, 23b via locking elements (not shown) and are supported in the main supports 16a, 16b to the rear in the direction of travel. The outer ends of all cross struts 20a, 20b and 22a, 22b are each pivotably mounted on the two side pieces 14a, 14b via hinges 24 about vertical pivot axes. As shown in Fig. 2b, the four cross struts 20a, 20b and 22a, 22b can thus be pivoted forward, thus freeing up the space between the two main supports 16a, 16b, so that a person can move up to the front hood, as in a vehicle without a front protection bar, or, with the front hood open, as close as the body construction allows to the front luggage compartment 13 or, if applicable, an engine. The rotation or pivoting movements of the cross struts 20a, 20b and 22a, 22b can be carried out manually or by means of electric motors (not shown) arranged in the hinges 24. If electric motors are installed, the cross struts 20a, 20b and 22a, 22b can be connected in such a way that they pivot automatically when a release for the front hood has been activated in the vehicle interior (of course, only if the front environmental sensors in front of the vehicle do not detect an obstacle).In the illustrated embodiment, the cross struts 20a, 20b and 22a, 22b are all individually movable. Alternatively, an upper cross strut 20a or 20b can be connected to the cross strut 22a or 22b located below it via a vertical strut (not shown) and thus can only be moved together, thereby increasing the stability and rigidity of the overall structure.

[0020] In the Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b is a second embodiment of the front protection bar 12b in the basic position ( Fig. 3a) and the release position ( Fig. 3b). Same components as in the Fig. 2a and Fig.2b are provided with the same reference numerals. In the second embodiment of the front protection bar 12b, the center piece 12b consists of at least two horizontally displaceable cross struts 26a, 26b, which are inserted into two tubular elements 28a, 28b designed as guide sleeves and which are part of the side piece 14b. This can also be done manually or by electric motor, with the guide sleeves in two embodiments enabling a translational movement or a screwing movement. A screw arrangement is expediently driven by an electric motor, and as in the first embodiment, the movement of the cross struts 26a, 26b can be triggered automatically when the front hood is unlocked.

[0021] Although the invention has been illustrated and explained in detail by preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that numerous variations exist. It is also clear that exemplary embodiments are truly only examples and should not be construed as limiting the scope, possible applications, or configuration of the invention in any way.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 departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 198 52 959 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Front protection bar (12a, 12b) for a motor vehicle (10) with a front luggage compartment (frunk) (13), characterized by that it (12a, 12b) consists of two side pieces (14a, 14b) which can be fastened to the front of a vehicle body and at least one middle piece (18a, 18b) which can be connected to these, and the at least one middle piece (18a, 18b) is attached to at least one of the side pieces (14a, 14b) and is movable between a basic position and a release position, wherein the middle piece (18a, 18b) is fixed at both ends to both side pieces (14a, 14b) in the basic position and is moved away from the space between the side pieces (14a, 14b) in the release position. [2] Front protection bar according to claim 1 characterized by that the middle piece (18a, 18b) can be moved by motor between the basic position and the release position. [3] Front protection bar according to claim 1, characterized bythat the at least one middle piece (18a, 18b) is displaceable in a middle piece guide of a side piece (14b) for movement from the basic position into the release position. [4] Front protection bar according to claim 3, characterized by that the guide is a screw guide and the middle piece (18a, 18b) can be moved laterally by a screw movement. [5] Front protection bar according to claim 3, characterized by that the guide is a sliding guide and the middle piece can be moved sideways. [6] Front protection bar according to claim 3, characterized by that the middle piece (18a, 18b) is at least partially telescopic. [7] Front protection bar according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized by that the central piece (18a, 18b) consists of at least two cross struts (26a, 26b) arranged one above the other, which can be displaced together or separately in the transverse direction. [8] Front protection bar according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the central piece (18a, 18b) is pivotally mounted on one of the side pieces (14a, 14b) by means of at least one pivot joint and can be pivoted for movement from the basic position into the release position. [9] Front protection bar according to claim 8, characterized by that the central piece (18a, 18b) comprises at least four cross struts (20a, 20b, 22a, 22b) arranged one above the other in pairs, each of the cross struts (20a, 20b, 22a, 22b) being articulated with their outer ends in the transverse direction in pairs by means of vertical pivot joints to both side pieces (14a, 14b). [10] Motor vehicle (10) comprising a front protection bar (12a, 12b) according to one of the preceding claims.

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