Cargo space element for the front of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a cargo space element (20) for the front of a motor vehicle, comprising a base body (22) by which a front storage space (24) is defined, and at least one structural element (26) connected to the base body (22), the at least one end region (28, 30) of which projects beyond the base body (22) in a connecting position in which the structural element (26) can be connected to a front structure of the motor vehicle. In order to create a cargo space element (20) that can be transported in an improved manner before assembly in the front of the motor vehicle, the end region (28, 30) can be brought into a stow position for stacking a plurality of base bodies (22).

Description

The invention relates to a cargo space element for the front of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to the front of a motor vehicle with such a cargo space element. These types of cargo space elements, commonly referred to as "frunks" (front trunks), can be installed in the front of vehicles that do not have a centrally located engine, particularly an internal combustion engine. This is especially true for electric vehicles, but also, for example, for vehicles with mid- or rear-mounted engines. The absence of an engine block in a centrally mounted combustion engine has not only advantages but also disadvantages. One of these disadvantages is that the structural stability of the front end and its structure is at least partially lost, for example, in the lateral direction of the vehicle. Thus, in a side impact on the front end and its structure, the engine block is not present to transfer forces from the side facing the impact to the side facing away from it. For this reason, cargo space elements such as those shown in Figures 1 and 2 already exist. These elements comprise a base body 10, usually made of plastic, which defines a front storage compartment 12 and to which at least one structural element 14 is connected. The end regions 16 of this structural element 14 project beyond the base body 10 in a connection position shown, in which the structural element 14 can be connected to the respective main longitudinal members 18 of the vehicle's front structure. Thus, in the area of ​​the base body 10, the structural element 14 can transmit forces introduced, for example, in a side impact. Such force transmission elements in the form of structural elements are also commonly referred to as tension and compression bars. Examples of such tension and compression bars integrated into the base body of the cargo space element can be found in DE 10 2017 008 031 B4 and WO 2024 / 208492 A1. However, the handling of such cargo space elements during transport before installation in the front of the vehicle has been problematic so far. The object of the present invention is therefore to create a cargo space element of the type mentioned at the outset, which can be transported in an improved manner before assembly in the front of the motor vehicle. This problem is solved according to the invention by a cargo space element with the features of claim 1 and by a front section for a motor vehicle with the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. The cargo space element according to the invention for a front section of a motor vehicle comprises a base body by which a front storage space is defined, and at least one structural element connected to the base body, at least one end area of ​​which projects beyond the base body in a connection position in which the structural element can be connected to a front section structure of the motor vehicle. To create a cargo space element that can be transported in an improved manner before assembly in the front of the vehicle, the invention provides that at least one end region of the body-in-white element can be moved into a stowage position for stacking a plurality of base bodies. This can be achieved, in particular, by moving the respective end region from the connecting position into the stowage position. While the respective end region therefore projects beyond the base body in the connecting position, it can be moved into the stowage position in such a way that, in the stowage position, it is at least substantially overlapped or completely integrated into the shape of the base body. Thus, a plurality of base bodies, which are usually designed in a tub-like form, can be stacked inside one another without this stacking being hindered or prevented by the projecting end regions.Overall, relocating the respective end areas to the stowed position enables improved transport of the cargo space elements before assembly in the front of the vehicle. In a further embodiment of the invention, the respective end region of the structural element is recessed in the storage position relative to corresponding wall regions of the base body. This allows the base bodies to be stacked particularly efficiently. Furthermore, it has proven advantageous to integrate the structural element into a wall section of the base unit. This allows for particularly favorable integration of the structural element into the base unit, and, in the case of end sections in their respective storage positions, complete integration into the base unit. In this context, it has proven further advantageous if the wall area forms the base of the main structure. This places the structural element in an optimal position to connect both sides of the extension structure, for example, its main longitudinal beams. Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the wall area forms a channel in which the structural element is arranged. This results in optimal integration of the structural element into the wall area of ​​the base structure. In a further embodiment of the invention, the respective end region of the associated structural element can be moved between the connected position and the stowed position against or with the spring force of an associated spring element. Thus, the end regions can be quickly and easily moved from the stowed position to the connected position before assembly in the front section. A particularly advantageous feature is the arrangement of an end section of the associated structural element on both sides of the base body. This allows for the creation of a tension and compression member integrated into the base body, which can be attached to the supporting structure at both ends. The advantages described above in connection with the cargo space element according to the invention apply in the same way to the front end of a motor vehicle with such a cargo space element. Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawing. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the figure description and / or shown in the figures alone, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention. Figure 1 shows a partial perspective front view of a cargo space element integrated into the front end of an electrically powered motor vehicle according to the prior art, comprising a base body and a body-in-white element integrated into the base body and having respective end regions that project laterally beyond the base body and via which the cargo space element is connected to the respective main longitudinal members of the front end structure; Figure 2 shows a perspective sectional view of a stack of cargo space elements according to the prior art; Figure 3 shows...3. Perspective sectional views from the front of a cargo space element according to the invention, comprising a base body and a body-in-white element integrated into the base body and having respective end regions which can be moved from a stowed position shown above, in which the end regions are recessed relative to corresponding wall regions of the base body, by means of the spring force of a respective spring element into a respective connecting position shown below, in which the end regions protrude relative to the corresponding wall regions of the base body and in which the body-in-white element can be connected to a front-end structure of the motor vehicle; Fig. 4 a side view of the cargo space element according to Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 a perspective sectional view of a stack of cargo space elements according to the invention. In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference symbols. While Figures 1 and 2 show a cargo space element according to the prior art, Figures 3, 4 to 5 will be used to explain a cargo space element 20 according to the invention. In the illustrations according to Fig. 3 and in the illustration according to Fig. 4, a cargo space element 20 for a front section of an electrically powered motor vehicle is shown in respective perspective sectional views from the front and in a side view. The cargo space element 20 is arranged, as shown in connection with the prior art according to Fig. 1, in an area of ​​the front section between the respective main longitudinal members, in which this unit is usually arranged in vehicles with a front engine, in particular an internal combustion engine. The cargo space element 20 comprises a tub-like, upwardly open base body 22, which defines a storage space 24 for cargo. Such a cargo space element 20 is commonly referred to as a "frunk," i.e., front trunk. The base body 22 is accessible, for example, by a lid that can be moved between a closed and an open position, particularly a hinged lid, which is not shown here. Alternatively, a hood, below which the cargo space element 20 is located and which can be moved between a closed and an open position, can also serve as the lid of the base body 22. The base body 22 is, for example, made of a plastic, in particular a fiber-reinforced plastic. Other plastics or other materials, possibly also metallic or metal-reinforced, are also conceivable. The base body 22 comprises a front wall section 32, a rear wall section 34, respective side wall sections 36, 38, and a lower wall section designed as a base 40. In addition to the base body 22, the cargo space element 20 comprises a body-in-white element 26 integrated into the base body 20, which is designed here as a force transmission element in the form of a tension and compression strut. In the absence of an engine block of a front engine, the body-in-white element 26, in a connection position shown below in Fig. 3, in which the body-in-white element 26 projects beyond the base body 22 with end regions 28, 30, serves to be rigidly connected to the respective main longitudinal members of the front structure shown in Fig. 1. Thus, in the area of ​​the base body 10, the body-in-white element 26 can effect a transmission of forces introduced, for example, in a side impact, between the two sides of the vehicle's front structure in order to even out and better absorb the forces.Or, to put it another way, the cargo space element 20 can be connected to or integrated into the front structure by means of the body shell element 26 in order to direct forces introduced into the front structure from one side of the vehicle to the other in the event of a side impact. From the connection position shown below in Fig. 3, the two end regions 28, 30 can be moved into a respective storage position shown above in Fig. 3, in which the end regions 28, 30 are recessed relative to the base body 22, in particular its corresponding lateral wall regions 36, 38 of the base body 22. In the present embodiment, a central part 42 of the structural element 26 is designed as a rectangular, in particular square, hollow profile in cross-section, in which the two end regions 28, 30 are telescopically displaceable between the stowing position and the connecting position. The displacement or relocation of the two end sections 28, 30 from the stowed position shown above in Fig. 3 to the connecting position shown below in Fig. 3 is effected by means of the spring force of a respective spring element 44, by means of which the respective end section 28, 30 is telescopically extended out of the middle part 42. Thus, it is possible to arrange the end sections 28, 30 in the stowed position during transport, for example to the final assembly plant, so that a plurality of cargo space elements 20 or base bodies 22 can be stacked inside one another, as shown in Fig. 5. Before the cargo space elements 20 are assembled within the front section during final assembly, the end sections 28, 30 are then extended from the stowed position into the connecting position by means of the spring elements 44 and connected to the respective laterally corresponding main longitudinal member of the front section structure of the vehicle body. The body-in-white element 26 extends essentially horizontally in the transverse direction of the vehicle. In the connected position, the end regions 28, 30 can be locked relative to the central part 42, for example by means of screws, locking devices or the like, so that introduced forces can be transmitted via the structural element 26 formed from the end regions 28, 30 and the central part 42. Finally, Figure 4 shows the side view of the cargo space element 20, illustrating how the structural element 26 is integrated into the base 40 of the main body 22. The base 40, or rather the wall area of ​​the main body 22, forms a channel 46 in which the structural element 26 is arranged. In the present embodiment, this is achieved, for example, by placing the structural element into a plastic injection mold and overmolding or injecting it with the plastic from which the main body 22 is formed. This integrates the structural element 26 into the main body 22.

Claims

Cargo space element (20) for a front section of a motor vehicle, comprising a base body (22) by which a front storage space (24) is defined, and comprising at least one structural element (26) connected to the base body (22), the at least one end section (28, 30) of which projects beyond the base body (22) in a connecting position in which the structural element (26) can be connected to a front section structure of the motor vehicle, characterized in that the end section (28, 30) can be brought into a stow position for stacking a plurality of base bodies (22). Cargo space element (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective end area (28, 30) of the shell element (26) are arranged recessed in the stowed position relative to corresponding wall areas (36, 38) of the base body (22). Cargo space element (20) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the structural element (26) is integrated into a wall area (40) of the base body (22). Cargo space element (20) according to claim 3, characterized in that the wall area forms the bottom (40) of the base body (22). Cargo space element (20) according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the wall area (floor 40) forms a channel (46) in which the structural element (26) is arranged. Cargo space element (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective end area (28, 30) of the associated body shell element (26) can be displaced against or with the spring force of an associated spring element (44) between the connecting position and the stow position. Cargo space element (20) according to claim 6, characterized in that a respective end region (28, 30) of the associated structural element (26) is arranged on both sides of the base body (22). Cargo space element (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structural element (26) is designed as a tension and compression member. Front section for a motor vehicle with a cargo space element (20) according to one of the preceding claims.

Images