Stiffening strip for temporary arrangement in a deformable receiving area of a profile strip, profile strip arrangement and motor vehicle arrangement

Abstract

Reinforcing strip (14) for provisional arrangement in a deformable receiving area (26) of a profile strip (12), wherein the reinforcing strip (14) has a reinforcing body (32) extending along a main axis (30) and a gripping tab (36) connected to the reinforcing body (32) via a connecting section (38), wherein the gripping tab (36) has a flat body (42) extending in a tab plane (40), characterized in that a) the flat body (42) has a tab section (82) extending in the tab plane (40) and a border section (46) extending in the tab plane (40) and surrounding the tab section (82), wherein the tab section (82) is connected to the border section (46) via a predetermined breaking point (84) and / or via a permanent connection (86), wherein by separating (84) the predetermined breaking point (84) and / or by bending the tab section (82) at the permanent connection (86) and out of the tab plane (40), a circumferentially closed handle opening (44) can be provided, which is at least partially delimited by the border section (46), or b) the flat body (42) has a handle opening (44) which extends in the plane of the tab and is closed on the circumference, and a border section (46) which extends in the plane of the tab (40) and delimits the handle opening (44), and in that the handle opening (44) defines a handle axis (48) which is perpendicular to the plane of the tab (40) for engaging a finger in the handle opening (44), the handle axis (48) being skewed to the main axis (30).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a stiffening strip for provisional arrangement in a deformable receiving area of ​​a profile strip, wherein the stiffening strip has a stiffening body extending along a main axis and a gripping tab connected to the stiffening body via a connecting section, wherein the gripping tab has a flat body extending in a tab plane, according to EP 2 253 556 A1.

[0002] Reinforcing strips of this type are also known as "beading" and serve to temporarily stiffen a deformable receiving area of ​​a profile strip. The profile strip serves the specific purpose of creating a connection between a vehicle window and a component adjacent to the window as part of a vehicle assembly. Such an adjacent component can be formed, for example, by a so-called water tank cover, which – in the final manufacturing state of the vehicle – is detachably connected to the deformable receiving area of ​​the profile strip, for example, via locking webs.

[0003] The profile strip is typically a vendor part that is initially only connected, in particular glued, to the vehicle window. Such an assembly, comprising a vehicle window and the profile strip connected to the vehicle window, is typically supplied by a vehicle window manufacturer to a vehicle manufacturer, so that the vehicle manufacturer can then install the assembly on a body-in-white.

[0004] During transport of the aforementioned assembly, the deformable support area of ​​the profile strip protrudes from the vehicle window, is thus exposed, and could potentially be damaged. This is especially true in the typical case where the assembly is transported "upright" for space reasons, with the weight of the vehicle window resting on the profile strip and its deformable support area.

[0005] To protect the aforementioned assembly, it has proven effective in practice to reinforce the receiving area of ​​the profile strip with a stiffening strip, with an elongated stiffening element arranged in the elongated receiving area of ​​the profile strip. After transport, the stiffening element must be removed from the receiving area to free up the receiving area for the (final) installation of fastening elements of a component adjacent to the vehicle window.

[0006] In order to remove a stiffening body from the receiving area of ​​the profile strip, it has proven useful in practice to connect the stiffening body to a grip tab so that the stiffening body can be pulled out of the receiving area by pulling on the grip tab by hand.

[0007] The present invention is based on the object of providing a stiffening strip which can be particularly easily removed from the receiving area of ​​a profile strip.

[0008] This task is solved with a stiffening strip of the type mentioned above by a) the flat body has a tab section extending in the tab plane and a border section extending in the tab plane and surrounding the tab section, wherein the tab section is connected to the border section via a predetermined breaking point and / or via a permanent connection, wherein by separating the predetermined breaking point and / or by bending the tab section at the permanent connection and out of the tab plane, a circumferentially closed handle opening can be provided, which is at least partially delimited by the border section, or b) the flat body has a circumferentially closed handle opening extending in the plane of the tab and a border section extending in the plane of the tab and delimiting the handle opening, and in that the handle opening defines a handle axis perpendicular to the plane of the tab for engagement of a finger in the handle opening, wherein the handle axis is skewed to the main axis.

[0009] According to alternative a), a tab section is provided in the tab plane of the flat body, which is connected to a border section via a predetermined breaking point and / or via a permanent connection. The predetermined breaking point can be designed as a material weakening in the form of a perforation (slot or hole punch) or in the form of a punched section that does not completely penetrate a flat body thickness measured perpendicular to the tab plane. The permanent connection is preferably locally limited and connects only a first partial section of the tab section to the border section. Such a permanent connection can be combined with a predetermined breaking point, for example of the type mentioned above, or with a separation region extending along the length of the handle opening, in which a second partial section of the tab section is completely separated from the adjacent material of the border section.

[0010] By separating the predetermined breaking point, the tab section can be exposed, creating a handle opening. Exposure of the tab section can involve the tab section remaining connected to the border section in a connecting area, but no longer extending in the plane of the tab, or the tab section being completely separated from the border section.

[0011] According to alternative b), the circumferentially closed handle opening is delimited by the border section, without the need to separate a predetermined breaking point between a tab section and the border section in order to produce the handle opening.

[0012] In other words: According to alternative a), the creation of a handle opening is planned; according to alternative b), the handle opening is already present.

[0013] For both alternatives a) and b), the handle opening has a grip axis perpendicular to the plane of the tab for finger engagement. This enables comfortable and easy handling of the handle tab by inserting a finger along the grip axis into the handle opening and subsequently generating a tensile force, which is transferred via the border section to the connecting section of the handle tab and from there to the stiffening body.

[0014] The handle axis is skewed to the main axis, which enables a particularly simple, ergonomic and intuitive application of a disassembly force to the stiffening body.

[0015] The flat body is preferably designed to transfer a tensile force of at least 30 Newtons, preferably at least 60 Newtons, and in particular at least 90 Newtons, applied at the handle opening across the border section to the connecting section. These values ​​enable failure-free, single-use use of the flat body.

[0016] It is further preferred if a boundary of the handle opening extending in the plane of the tab has a curved profile at least on a side of the handle opening facing away from the stiffening body. In this way, tensile forces introduced by a finger can be introduced into the border section while avoiding stress peaks.

[0017] It is further preferred that the curved course of the boundary of the handle opening has a minimum radius of 3 mm, preferably 4 mm, in particular 5 mm.

[0018] For a comfortable and at least one-time failure-free transmission of a tensile force across the border section, it is proposed that the border section has a minimum width of 5 mm, preferably of at least 6 mm, in particular of at least 7 mm, at least in a first region facing away from the stiffening body and / or in two lateral regions each connected to the first region.

[0019] For comfortable transmission of tensile forces across the grip tab while simultaneously maintaining acceptable material usage, it is proposed that the flat body have a width measured parallel to the main axis of at least 25 mm, preferably at least 35 mm, in particular at least 45 mm. Alternatively or additionally, the flat body has a width measured parallel to the main axis of at most 130 mm, preferably at most 100 mm, in particular at most 70 mm.

[0020] It is further proposed that the handle opening extend in the plane of the tab over an opening area of ​​at least 200 square millimeters and / or at most 1000 square millimeters. Opening areas of this size allow for comfortable handling of the handle tab while still using acceptable amounts of material.

[0021] In particular, it is preferred that the flat body has a multilayer structure. This makes it possible to realize different functions of the flat body using different materials.

[0022] For example, it is possible for the flat body to have a reinforcement layer made of a plastic, a paper material, or a composite material to optimize the tensile strength of the flat body. The plastic material can be a polyolefin, such as polyethylene (PE), or a polyester, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The plastic material can be in the form of a film or a nonwoven fabric. An example of a suitable nonwoven fabric is a random-woven fabric based on PE fibers, such as "Tyvek" from Dupont.

[0023] It is further preferred that the grip tab has an active adhesive layer in the region of the connecting section, which serves to connect the grip tab to the stiffening body. This enables a simple, material-to-material connection of the grip tab to the stiffening body.

[0024] It is also possible for the grip tab to have a deactivated adhesive layer section in the area of ​​the flat body. Deactivation of the adhesive layer section occurs, for example, by covering it with an aforementioned reinforcement layer and / or with a cover layer. This makes it possible, in particular, to provide the aforementioned active adhesive layer section and the deactivated adhesive layer section as components of one and the same adhesive layer. This simplifies the production of the grip tab.

[0025] It is further preferred that the grip tab is arranged off-center with respect to a length of the stiffening body measured along the main axis, preferably in an end region of the stiffening body, in particular having a maximum distance from an end face of the stiffening body of 50 mm, 100 mm or 150 mm. This applies in particular to stiffening bodies with a length measured along the main axis of at least 500 mm, in particular of at least 1000 mm. An off-center arrangement of the grip tab has the advantage that the stiffening body can initially be pulled out of the receiving area of ​​a profile strip in an off-center region, with lower disassembly forces compared to a central arrangement.

[0026] The invention further relates to a profile strip arrangement comprising a profile strip with a deformable receiving area, further comprising a stiffening strip as described above, wherein the stiffening body of the stiffening strip is arranged, at least partially, detachably in the receiving area of ​​the profile strip and wherein the flat body is arranged outside the receiving area.

[0027] It is preferred that the grip tab is arranged off-center with respect to a length of the profile strip measured parallel to the main axis, preferably arranged in an end region of the profile strip, in particular having a maximum distance from an end face of the profile strip of 50 mm, 100 mm or 150 mm.

[0028] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle assembly comprising a profiled strip assembly as described above and a vehicle window, wherein a fastening section of the profiled strip is connected to an edge region of the vehicle window. The vehicle window can, in particular, be a windshield.

[0029] Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description of preferred embodiments.

[0030] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a profile strip arrangement; Fig. 2 a plan view of the profile strip arrangement according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a perspective sectional view of the profile strip arrangement according to Fig. 1 along a Fig. 2 section plane marked III - III; Fig. 4 one of the Fig. 3 corresponding representation of a stiffening strip in isolation; Fig. 5 a perspective view of another stiffening strip; Fig. 6 a perspective view of a motor vehicle arrangement with a stiffening strip according to Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 perspective views of another profile strip arrangement.

[0031] In the drawing, profile strip assemblies are designated collectively by the reference numeral 10. The profile strip assemblies 10 each comprise a profile strip 12 and a stiffening strip 14.

[0032] A profile strip arrangement 10 forms together with a vehicle window 16 (compare Fig. 3 and Fig. 6) a motor vehicle arrangement 18. The vehicle window 16 is preferably a windshield.

[0033] The profile strip 12 has, in a conventional manner, a fastening section 20 for fastening the profile strip 12 to an edge region 22 of the vehicle window 16. For example, the fastening section 20 comprises a double-sided adhesive tape 24.

[0034] The profile strip 12 further comprises at least one deformable receiving area 26, which is U-shaped in cross section, for example, and which comprises a receiving area opening 28, the opening width of which is variable due to the elasticity of the material of the receiving area 26.

[0035] During the final assembly of a motor vehicle, the receiving area 26 serves to fix a component (not shown) adjacent to the vehicle window 16 to the profile strip 12. The adjacent component is, for example, a water tank cover.

[0036] During transport of a motor vehicle assembly 18, the receiving area 26 of the profile strip 12 is stiffened and protected by the stiffening strip 14.

[0037] The stiffening strip 14 has a stiffening body 32 extending along a main axis 30.

[0038] It is possible that the stiffening body 32 has a locking section 34 extending parallel to the main axis 30 (see Fig. 3) which can be locked to a boundary of the receiving area opening 28. Optionally, the stiffening body 32 has a holding section 36 extending parallel to the main axis 30 for resting on the receiving area opening 28.

[0039] The stiffening strip 14 further comprises a grip tab 36, which is connected via a connecting section 38 (see Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) is connected to the stiffening body 32, for example by means of an adhesive bond (see Fig. 4) and / or by means of wrapping (compare Fig. 5).

[0040] The grip tab 36 has a flat body 42 extending in a straight or curved tab plane 40.

[0041] The flat body 42 has a circumferentially closed handle opening 44 extending in the tab plane 40, which is delimited by a border section 46 of the flat body 42.

[0042] The handle opening 44 is assigned a handle axis 48, which runs perpendicular to the tab plane 40 and through the handle opening 44. The handle axis 48 of the handle opening 44 and the main axis 30 of the stiffening body 32 are skewed to each other, i.e., they are neither parallel to each other nor intersecting each other. The handle axis 48 has a minimum distance 50 from the main axis 30, see Fig. 2. The handle axis 48 preferably has an orientation perpendicular to the main axis 30.

[0043] A boundary 52 of the handle opening 44 is formed by the border section 46. The boundary 52 has a curved profile at least on a side of the handle opening 44 facing away from the stiffening body 32.

[0044] The border section 46 has a first region 54 facing away from the stiffening body 32, see Fig. 2. Connected to this first region 54 are lateral regions 56 and 58 of the border section 46. In the three regions 54, 56, 58 mentioned, it is preferred that the border section 46 has a minimum width of 5 mm.

[0045] An additional region 60 shown in the drawing, which is arranged between the handle opening 44 and the stiffening strip 32, can also be smaller or non-existent, deviating from the graphic representation, so that a section of the boundary 52 of the handle opening 44 facing the stiffening strip 32 can also be arranged directly at the level of a lateral boundary of the holding section 36 of the stiffening body 32.

[0046] A flat body width of the flat body 42 measured parallel to the main axis 30 is in Fig. 2 is designated by the reference numeral 62. The handle opening 44 extends in the tab plane 40 over an opening area (without reference numeral).

[0047] Relative to a length of the stiffening body 32 measured along the main axis 30, the grip tab 36 is arranged off-center, in particular in an end region 64 of the stiffening body 32, and preferably spaced from an end face 66 of the stiffening body 32 by a maximum of 150 mm.

[0048] The grip tab 36, in particular the flat body 42 of the grip tab 36, has a multi-layer structure, compare Fig. 4.

[0049] The grip tab 36 comprises an adhesive layer 68, which, in the region of the connecting section 38, has an active adhesive layer section 70, which is effective for connecting the grip tab 36 to the stiffening body 32. The adhesive layer 68 further comprises a deactivated adhesive layer section 72, which is covered by a reinforcing layer 74 and thus deactivated. In other words: In the region of the flat body 42, the reinforcing layer 74 not only has a reinforcing function, but also a covering function.

[0050] A carrier layer 76 is arranged on a side of the adhesive layer 68 facing away from the reinforcement layer 74. Optionally, an additional layer 78 is provided on a side of the carrier layer 76 facing away from the adhesive layer 70.

[0051] The reinforcement layer 74 consists, for example, of a plastic material, such as a polyolefin, in particular polyethylene (PE), or a polyester, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0052] The carrier layer 76 consists, for example, of a plastic material, such as a polyolefin, in particular polyethylene (PE), or a polyester, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0053] The additional layer 78 may also be made of a plastic material and may also act as a reinforcing layer.

[0054] Instead of a reinforcing reinforcement layer 74, a simple, non-reinforcing cover layer 80 can also be provided.

[0055] Deviating from the embodiments according to Fig. 1 to 6, it is possible for the flat body 42 to have a tab section 82 extending in the tab plane 40, which is connected to the border section 46 via a predetermined breaking point 84 and / or via a permanent connection 86.

[0056] The breaking point 84 is in Fig. 7 is represented by a dashed line, which is intended to illustrate that a temporary connection is established between the tab portion 82 and the border portion 46 in the region of a predetermined breaking point 84 that has not yet been severed. It is possible that the predetermined breaking point 84 does not have a self-contained profile, but rather that a permanent connection is provided between the border portion 46 and the tab portion 82 in a region 86.

[0057] By separating the predetermined breaking point 84 and by bending the tab section 82 at the permanent connection 86 and out of the tab plane 40, a handle opening 44 can be provided which is at least partially delimited by the border section 46, see Fig. 8. The permanent connection 86 allows the tab portion 82 to remain attached to the grip tab 36, thus not having to be handled and disposed of separately.

[0058] It is also possible for the flat body 42 to have only one permanent connection 86 and for a separation region to be provided instead of the predetermined breaking point 84, in which a boundary of the tab section 82 and a boundary of the border section 46 are completely separated from one another. 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] EP 2 253 556 A1

[0001]

Claims

[1] Reinforcing strip (14) for provisional arrangement in a deformable receiving area (26) of a profile strip (12), wherein the reinforcing strip (14) has a reinforcing body (32) extending along a main axis (30) and a gripping tab (36) connected to the reinforcing body (32) via a connecting section (38), wherein the gripping tab (36) has a flat body (42) extending in a tab plane (40), characterized by , that a) the flat body (42) has a tab section (82) extending in the tab plane (40) and a border section (46) extending in the tab plane (40) and surrounding the tab section (82), wherein the tab section (82) is connected to the border section (46) via a predetermined breaking point (84) and / or via a permanent connection (86), wherein by separating (84) the predetermined breaking point (84) and / or by bending the tab section (82) at the permanent connection (86) and out of the tab plane (40), a circumferentially closed handle opening (44) can be provided, which is at least partially delimited by the border section (46), or b) the flat body (42) has a handle opening (44) which extends in the plane of the tab and is closed on the circumference, and a border section (46) which extends in the plane of the tab (40) and delimits the handle opening (44), and in that the handle opening (44) defines a handle axis (48) which is perpendicular to the plane of the tab (40) for engaging a finger in the handle opening (44), the handle axis (48) being skewed to the main axis (30). [2] Stiffening strip (14) according to claim 1, characterized by that the flat body (42) is designed to transmit a tensile force applied to the handle opening (44) in the amount of at least 30 Newtons, preferably at least 60 Newtons, in particular at least 90 Newtons, via the border section (46) to the connecting section (38). [3] Stiffening strip (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat a boundary (52) of the handle opening (44) extending in the tab plane (40) has a curved profile at least on a side of the handle opening (44) facing away from the stiffening body (32). [4] Stiffening strip (14) according to claim 3, characterized by that a minimum radius of the curved course is 3 mm, preferably 4 mm, in particular 5 mm. [5] Stiffening strip (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the border section (46) has a minimum width of 5 mm, preferably of at least 6 mm, in particular of at least 7 mm, at least in a first region (54) facing away from the stiffening body (32) and / or in two lateral regions (56, 58) each connected to the first region (54). [6] Stiffening strip (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the flat body (42) has a flat body width (62) measured parallel to the main axis (30) of at least 25 mm, preferably of at least 35 mm, in particular of at least 45 mm, and / or that the flat body (42) has a flat body width (62) measured parallel to the main axis of at most 130 mm, preferably of at most 100 mm, in particular of at most 70 mm. [7] Stiffening strip (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the handle opening (44) in the tab plane (40) extends over an opening area which is at least 200 square millimetres and / or at most 1000 square millimetres. [8] Stiffening strip (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the flat body (42) has a multi-layer structure. [9] Stiffening strip (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the flat body (42) has a reinforcing layer (74) made of a plastic material, a paper material or a composite material. [10] Stiffening strip (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the grip tab (36) has an active adhesive layer section (70) in the region of the connecting section (38), which is effective for connecting the grip tab (36) to the stiffening body (32). [11] Stiffening strip (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the grip tab (36) in the region of the flat body (42) has an adhesive layer section (72) covered by the reinforcing layer (74) according to claim 9 and / or by a cover layer (80) and thus deactivated, preferably wherein - with reference to claim 10 - the active adhesive layer section (70) and the deactivated adhesive layer section (72) are each part of one and the same adhesive layer (68). [12] Stiffening strip (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the grip tab (36) is arranged off-center with respect to a length of the stiffening body (32) measured along the main axis (30), is preferably arranged in an end region (64) of the stiffening body (32), in particular has a maximum distance from an end face (66) of the stiffening body (32) of 50 mm, 100 mm or 150 mm. [13] Profile strip arrangement (10), comprising a profile strip (12) with a deformable receiving area (26), further comprising a stiffening strip (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stiffening body (32) of the stiffening strip (14) is arranged, at least partially, detachably in the receiving area (26) of the profile strip (12) and wherein the flat body (42) is arranged outside the receiving area (26). [14] Motor vehicle arrangement (18) comprising a profile strip arrangement (10) according to claim 13 and a vehicle window (16), wherein a fastening section (20) of the profile strip (12) is connected to an edge region (22) of the vehicle window (16).

Images