CLADDING COMPONENT FOR A VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a trim component for a vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a lighting device for the trim component and a vehicle having such a trim component.

[0002] Trim components of vehicles include, in particular, side skirts and bumpers, which, in addition to covering the vehicle, also serve to protect the vehicle body in the event of impacts and stone chips, and, in particular in off-road vehicles and SUVs, also serve as running boards.

[0003] In addition to the usual lighting such as high beams, tail lights, indicators, and brake lights, modern automobiles often also have surround or approach lighting, which can be found in the side mirrors and / or the doors and / or the door openers, for example. This can be used to illuminate the immediate area around the vehicle when the vehicle is parked and the users are getting in or out. For safety reasons, approach lighting may only be activated when the vehicle is stationary. As soon as the vehicle is moving, the approach lighting must be switched off. It makes it easier for the users of the vehicle to open the door in the dark because the door handle is clearly visible. In addition, the approach lighting makes obstacles on the ground in the immediate vicinity of the door, such as stones or puddles, visible.

[0004] A disadvantage of such area lighting installed in the side mirrors and / or door handles or doors is that the illuminated area depends on the position of the door. This means that when the door is opened and the user tries to get into the vehicle, the ground between the open door and the rest of the body is not illuminated. This can result in the user no longer noticing previously illuminated obstacles when getting in after opening the door and, for example, stepping into a puddle. To counteract this disadvantage, US 8 235 568 B2 proposes mounting a number of LEDs on the side sill to illuminate the immediate area around the vehicle regardless of the position of the door. The disadvantage of this arrangement, however, is that the LEDs only illuminate the area around the vehicle in specific spots.Since the LEDs protrude at least partially beyond the side panel, there is also a risk of them being damaged or even destroyed by stone chips or other impacts. Furthermore, the LEDs protruding beyond the side panel create a visually unattractive appearance.

[0005] US 9 162 614 B1, DE 11 2013 005 176 T5, DE 10 2008 056 985 A1, and DE 100 55 561 A1 show various lighting devices for motor vehicles with which the surroundings of the vehicle can be illuminated. US 2002 / 0030997 A1 shows a lighting device for ships that can also be used for motor vehicles. What all of them have in common is that uniform illumination of the surroundings of the vehicle, regardless of the position of the vehicle door, is impossible or only possible with considerable effort.

[0006] DE 20 2004 008 681 U1 and EP 2 028 046 A1 show illuminated decorative elements of vehicles which can be installed in particular on the door sill of a vehicle.

[0007] US 2004 / 0130883 A1, US 2003 / 0169384 A1, US 2002 / 0054488 A1, and DE 697 35 125 T2 disclose lighting devices used for LCDs. US 2009 / 0003002 A1 discloses a planar lighting device. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a trim component with which the surroundings of a vehicle can be uniformly illuminated regardless of the position of the door, while substantially reducing the risk of damage or destruction during vehicle operation.

[0008] The problem is solved by the features specified in claims 1 and 5. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the subclaims.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the trim component for a vehicle comprises a wall which delimits an interior of the trim component, one or more through-openings which penetrate the wall, and a lighting device arranged in the interior of the trim component, which lighting device can be connected to a light source and has one or more light guides which are arranged with respect to the through-openings such that light emitted by the light guide can pass through the through-openings.

[0010] The through-openings have an extension that runs essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the light guide, wherein the extension increases with increasing distance of the through-openings from the light source.

[0011] Alternatively or cumulatively, two adjacent through-openings are arranged at a distance from each other that runs parallel to the light guide, the distance decreasing with increasing distance of the through-openings from the light source.

[0012] In addition to the light guides, the lighting device can further comprise coupling elements with which the light from the light source can be coupled into the light guides. Furthermore, the lighting device can comprise holders with which the light guide can be fastened in the cladding component. The light guides can, for example, be made of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) or PC (polycarbonate) or comprise these materials. When using these materials, the light guides are rigid, but can also be flexible, for example through the use of PU (polyurethane) or glass fibers. The light guides guide the light from the light source, which can be arranged remotely from the lighting device and thus does not have to be part of the lighting device within the meaning of the present invention, to the point at which the light is required.In contrast to the solution presented in US Pat. No. 8,235,568 B2, the invention makes it possible to arrange the light source in such a way that it is largely protected from external influences. This improves the reliability of the light source and consequently the apron lighting.

[0013] The use of light guides allows the through-openings to be arranged flexibly within the fairing component and their dimensions to be selected flexibly. This makes it possible to achieve very uniform illumination of the area surrounding the vehicle, significantly reducing the risk of the user overlooking unlit or insufficiently illuminated objects in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. Because the light guides are arranged inside the fairing component, they are protected from external influences. Even if, for example, a stone were to pass through the through-opening, the surface of the light guide would at most be damaged. This usually results in slightly uneven illumination in some places, but does not impair the functionality of the approach lighting.

[0014] Furthermore, the light guide has output sections, particularly in the area of ​​the through-openings, through which the light can exit the light guide. The output sections can be arranged arbitrarily within the light guide, so that light is only output where the through-openings are located. The light guides are usually tubular or hose-shaped, with the light being guided from one end of the light guide, which is connected to the light source, to the free end where it exits the light guide. Consequently, a light guide must be laid to each through-opening, which results in a relatively high assembly effort. However, the output sections make it possible to output light from the light guides in a radial direction. This makes it possible to use just one light guide and guide it along the through-openings, which is particularly simple from a manufacturing perspective.By coupling light radially out of the light guide only where there is a through-opening, the loss of illuminance with increasing distance from the light source is minimized. This also makes it possible to make the illumination of the immediate surroundings of the vehicle as uniform as possible.

[0015] According to a further development of the invention, the outcoupling sections have a number of notches or bulges, wherein the number of notches or bulges per outcoupling section increases with increasing distance of the outcoupling sections from the light source. The notches or bulges, which are formed on the surface of the light guide and preferably run approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the light guide, cause diffraction and refraction effects, which lead to a radial outcoupling of the light from the light guide via the section of the surface opposite the notches. The more notches an outcoupling section has, the more light is radially outcoupled from the light guide. With each unit of light that is outcoupled from the light guide, the illuminance that the light guide can still provide decreases.Consequently, the illuminance provided by a through-hole decreases with increasing distance from the light source, assuming a constant number of notches. However, increasing the number of notches per output section can compensate for or at least reduce the decrease in illuminance. The illuminance provided per through-hole thus remains the same or nearly the same, allowing the vehicle's surroundings to be illuminated very evenly.

[0016] According to the invention, the through-openings have an extension that runs essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the light guide, wherein the extension increases with increasing distance of the through-openings from the light source. In this embodiment, the number of notches can remain the same over the entire length of the light guide. The above-described reduction in illuminance provided by a given through-opening is in this case compensated by a greater extension of the through-opening along the longitudinal axis of the light guide. With increasing extension, the through-openings then have a higher number of notches, so that the illuminance emitted per through-opening is kept constant or nearly constant. This allows the area surrounding the vehicle to be very evenly illuminated.

[0017] For two adjacent through-openings, each arranged at a distance parallel to the light guide, the invention provides that the distance decreases with increasing distance between the through-openings and the light source. This measure also compensates for the above-described decrease in illuminance with increasing distance from the light source. This again results in more uniform illumination of the immediate surroundings of the vehicle.

[0018] Furthermore, the light source can be arranged in the trim component. As already mentioned above, the use of light guides makes it possible to arrange the light source at a distance from the location where the light is required. Consequently, it is possible to arrange the light source within the trim component where it is protected from external influences. While it would also be possible to arrange the light source in a protected location inside the vehicle and outside the trim component, arranging the light source in the trim component not only reduces the length of the required light guides and thus the weight and material costs, but also simplifies the installation of the trim component on the vehicle. Only the light source needs to be connected to an appropriately designed power supply in the vehicle, while the light guide(s) do not need to be connected to a light source located in the vehicle.

[0019] In a further development of the invention, the light source comprises one or, in particular, two LED boards. The LED board should comprise at least one LED and provide the infrastructure so that the LED can emit light. LEDs are characterized by high luminous efficacy with low heat generation. Consequently, they convert electrical energy into light energy much more efficiently. In addition, they can be constructed more compactly, so that the required installation space can be significantly reduced compared to a light source comprising several light bulbs. Compared to a light bulb, LED boards have a longer service life. When two LED boards are used, light can be coupled in from both ends of the light guide, thereby increasing the illuminance and achieving more uniform illumination of the vehicle's surroundings.

[0020] It is advisable to seal the through-holes with a transparent layer. The transparent layer can be made of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PC (polycarbonate), or glass, or can comprise these components. Alternatively, the transparent layer can be made of another suitable translucent material. This prevents dust, stones, and other particles, as well as moisture, from penetrating the cladding component, thus further preventing contamination and / or damage to the light source and / or light guide.

[0021] Furthermore, the through-openings and / or the lighting device and / or the light source can be arranged on a separate wall section that can be connected to the wall. This results in assembly advantages, as these components can be pre-assembled and then only need to be connected to the remaining cladding component, for example by means of an adhesive or clip connection. In many cases, the cladding components have a very angular and curved structure, which makes the installation of the light guides and / or the light source as well as the production of the through-openings more difficult. By providing a separate wall section, the available working space for attaching the light guide(s) and / or the light source can be increased and the complexity of assembly can be reduced, which is particularly the case if the separate wall section is flat or largely flat.The through-holes can be manufactured particularly easily using flat wall sections, for example, by punching, injection molding, milling, or laser cutting. It is also possible to manufacture the separate wall section at a supplier and deliver it to the assembly line in a fully assembled state. Of course, the separate wall section can also be connected to the cladding component at the supplier itself and delivered to the assembly line as a single unit.

[0022] A further aspect of the invention relates to a lighting device for a trim component according to one of the previously described embodiments, which can be connected to a light source and has one or more light guides arranged with respect to the through-openings such that light emitted by the light guide can pass through the through-openings. The technical effects and advantages that can be achieved with this lighting device correspond to those discussed for the corresponding embodiments of the trim components. In summary, it should be mentioned at this point that with the trim components according to the invention, it is possible to uniformly illuminate the surroundings of a vehicle regardless of the position of the door or doors, whereby the probability of destruction or damage to the area lighting during operation of the vehicle is greatly reduced.

[0023] Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising a trim component and / or a lighting device according to one of the previously presented embodiments. The technical effects and advantages that can be achieved with this vehicle correspond to those discussed for the corresponding embodiments of the trim components. In summary, it should be mentioned at this point that the trim component according to the invention makes it possible to uniformly illuminate the surroundings of a vehicle regardless of the position of the door(s), significantly reducing the likelihood of destruction or damage to the area lighting during vehicle operation.

[0024] The trim component can be mounted on the vehicle in such a way that the light penetrating the through openings radiates towards the ground when the vehicle is used as intended. Due to country-specific safety regulations, it is not permitted in some countries to emit white light from the sides of a vehicle. Often, only orange light may be emitted from the sides. However, orange light has the disadvantage that it does not illuminate the areas it illuminates particularly clearly. Because the invention makes it possible to only emit the light penetrating the through openings towards the ground, white light can be used, which illuminates the area around the vehicle particularly clearly. In addition, the through openings are normally not visible to the user, which is advantageous from an aesthetic point of view.Since users do not normally look directly at the openings, they are not blinded by the light emitted.

[0025] This is particularly useful when the trim component is a side panel, running board, or bumper of the vehicle. Unlike doors, such trim components do not change their position relative to the vehicle. Therefore, the area surrounding the vehicle is illuminated regardless of the position of the doors or tailgate. This reduces the risk of the vehicle user coming into contact with an object after opening the door, despite the initial illumination of the area surrounding the vehicle, and thus becoming soiled or injured.

[0026] The invention will be explained in detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. Figure 1a shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a cladding component according to the invention, Figure 1b shows a sectional view through the Figure 1a shown cladding component along the Figure 1a defined sectional plane, Figure 2a shows a sectional view through a cladding component according to a second exemplary embodiment, Figure 2b shows a sectional view through a cladding component according to a third exemplary embodiment, Figure 3 shows a plan view of a cladding component according to a fourth exemplary embodiment, Figure 4 shows a plan view of a cladding component according to an example, Figure 5a shows an isolated view of a separate wall section according to a first exemplary embodiment, and Figure 5b shows an isolated view of the separate wall section according to a second exemplary embodiment, Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a cladding component according to the invention.

[0027] In Figure 1aand is a first embodiment of a cladding component 10 1 according to the invention based on a plan view and in Figure 1b based on a sectional view along the Figure 1a The cladding component 10 1 comprises a wall 12 which, with respect to the section plane AA defined in Figure 1b The selected view has a substantially horizontally extending section 14, which gradually transitions into a substantially vertically extending section 16. The wall 12 separates an interior 18 of the cladding component 10 1 from an exterior 20. In the horizontally extending section 14, the cladding component 10 1 has a through-opening 22, which completely penetrates the wall 12 and has the shape of an elongated hole. The through-opening 22 is closed with a transparent layer 24.

[0028] Furthermore, the cladding component 10 1 comprises a lighting device 26, which has a substantially tubular light guide 27, which is rigid in the example shown. The lighting device 26 comprises fastening means (not shown) with which the light guide 27 is fastened to the cladding component 10 1 such that it runs slightly above an inner lateral edge 29 of the through-opening 22. In the region of the through-openings 22, the light guide 27 has a decoupling section 28, which is realized by a number of notches 30 located on a surface of the light guide 27. Not shown is the case in which the decoupling section 28 has a number of bulges, which, however, have the same effect as the notches 30. In the decoupling section 28, it is possible to direct light which is emitted by a light source (not shown here) (cf. Figures 3 and 4) coupled into the light guide 27, to exit radially from the light guide 27. The arrangement and orientation of the notches 30 determine over which area and at which angle the light exits radially from the light guide 27. The main exit direction of the light from the light guide 27 is marked with the arrow P. It can be seen that the light exits the light guide 27 via the section of the surface opposite the notches 30.

[0029] In Figure 2a A second exemplary embodiment of the cladding component 10 2 according to the invention is shown in a sectional view. In comparison to the first exemplary embodiment, which is shown in the Figures 1a and 1bAs shown, the through-opening 22 extends not only over the essentially horizontally running section 14, but at least partially also over the transition between the essentially horizontally and the essentially vertically running section 16. Since the through-opening 22 is somewhat wider than in the first exemplary embodiment due to its extension to the transition, the light can radiate more laterally from the trim component 10 2 , whereby a larger area in the surroundings of the vehicle that is further away from the vehicle can be illuminated. Accordingly, the light guide 27 is arranged in a different rotational position compared to the first exemplary embodiment 10 1 . The main exit direction of the light from the light guide 27 is marked with the arrow P.

[0030] In Figure 2bA third exemplary embodiment of the cladding component 10 3 according to the invention is shown in a sectional view. In this exemplary embodiment, the through-opening 22 extends only in the transition between the essentially horizontal and the essentially vertical sections 14, 16. The rotational position of the light guide 27 is adjusted accordingly to enable optimal light emission. The main exit direction of the light from the light guide 27 is indicated by the arrow P.

[0031] At this point, it should be noted that it is not absolutely necessary for the cladding components to have a substantially horizontal and / or substantially vertical section 14, 16. Rather, the embodiments described in the Figures 1 and 2are shown, express that the through openings 22 can be arranged not only in a flat, but also in a curved wall section. As already mentioned, safety regulations apply in many countries, according to which white light may not be emitted from the side of a vehicle. However, since white light provides the best illumination of the vehicle's surroundings, the lateral emission of white light must be avoided. The Figures 2a and 2b The embodiments 10 2 and 10 3 shown meet these safety regulations.

[0032] In Figure 3A fourth exemplary embodiment of the cladding component 10 4 according to the invention is shown in a plan view. The cladding component 10 4 comprises a first through-opening 22 1 , a second through-opening 22 2 and a third through-opening 22 3 . A first light source 34 1 and a second light source 34 2 are arranged at a first end 32 and a second end 36 of the rigid light guide 27. In the example shown, the two light sources 34 1 and 34 2 are connected to the two ends 32, 36 of the rigid light guide, although this does not necessarily have to be the case. It must only be ensured that light can be coupled into the rigid light guide 27. In the example shown, the two light sources 34 1 , 34 2 are each designed as an LED board 40 with at least one LED.As already explained for the other embodiments, the light guide 27 of the lighting device 26 runs slightly above the inner edge 29 of the through openings 22, which due to the selected type of representation in . Figure 3 is concealed. The LED boards 40 can have a receptacle or a housing with which the light guide 27 can be positioned relative to the light source 34 such that the generated light can be optimally coupled into the light guide 27. Furthermore, the LED board 40 can be arranged on the cladding component 10 4 such that the light guide 27 extends at the desired distance from the through-openings 22.

[0033] The dashed line M is intended to represent the center of the light guide 27 with respect to a longitudinal axis L of the light guide 27. For reasons of clarity, only a first half of the light guide 27 is shown in full, with the second half being a mirror image of the first half, although this need not necessarily be the case.

[0034] The light guide 27 has a number of notches 30 over its entire length, which are at a constant distance from one another. The notches 30 can thus be provided independently of the position and size of the through-openings 22, which facilitates their production. The first through-opening 22 1 has the shortest distance A from the first light source 34 1 , while the third through-opening 22 3 has the greatest distance A from the first light source 34 1 . The first through-opening 22 1 has a first extension E 1 , the second through-opening 22 2 a second extension E 2 and the third through-opening 22 3 a third extension E 3 , each of which runs along the longitudinal axis L of the light guide 27. The first extension E 1 is smaller than the second extension E 2 , which in turn is smaller than the third extension E 3 .Consequently, the extent E of the through openings 22 increases with increasing distance A of the through openings 22 to the first light source 34 1 .

[0035] Furthermore, the first through-opening 22 1 has a first distance D 1 from the second through-opening 22 2 , and the second through-opening 22 2 has a second distance D 2 from the third through-opening 22 . The first distance D 1 is greater than the second distance D 2 . Both the changes in the extension E and the distances D serve to compensate for the decrease in illuminance, which increases with increasing distance A from the first light source 34 1 , in order to thus achieve the most uniform illumination possible of the area surrounding the vehicle. In deviation from the illustrated light guide 27, it is possible to arrange the notches 30 only in the area of ​​the through-openings 22 and not in the area between the through-openings 22.

[0036] In Figure 41 shows an example of the cladding component 10 5 based on a plan view. The structure of the cladding component 10 5 is largely similar to that of the fourth exemplary embodiment 10 4 . Again, for reasons of clarity, only the first half of the light guide 27 is shown in full, with the second half of the light guide 27 being intended to be a mirror image of the first half. The dashed line M marks the center of the light guide 27 with respect to the longitudinal axis L. In contrast to the fourth exemplary embodiment, the cladding component 10 5 has four through-openings 22 1 to 22 4 , each of which has the same extension E along the longitudinal axis of the light guide 27. Furthermore, the distance D between the four through-openings 22 is always the same.

[0037] Also in contrast to the fourth embodiment, the light guide 27 has the notches 30 only in the region of the through-openings 22. However, in order to compensate for the loss of illuminance that increases with increasing distance A from the first light source 34, the number of notches 30 per through-opening 22 increases with increasing distance A of the through-opening 22 from the light guide 27. Accordingly, the distance between two notches 30 becomes smaller the further the respective through-opening 22 is from the first light source 34.

[0038] Both in the fourth example and in this example, the first and second light sources 34, 38, the through-openings and the light guide 27 are arranged on a separate wall section 42 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment, which is connected to the remaining wall 12 of the cladding component 10 4 and 10 5 in a manner not shown in detail.

[0039] In the Figures 5a5b shows the first exemplary embodiment and a second exemplary embodiment of the separate wall section 42 1 , 42 2 and the light sources 34 1 and 34 2 arranged on it without the light guide 27, so that the position of the through openings 22 1 to 22 4 is clearly visible. While in the first exemplary embodiment of the separate wall section 42 1 the through openings 22 1 to 22 4 are arranged in alignment along the longitudinal axis L, in the second exemplary embodiment 42 2 they are arranged laterally offset from one another. The offset arrangement of the through openings 22 1 to 22 4 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the separate wall section 42 2 makes it possible to illuminate a wider area surrounding the vehicle.

[0040] In Figure 6A sixth exemplary embodiment of the cladding component 10 6 according to the invention is shown in a perspective view. It can be seen that the through-openings 22 are located within the substantially horizontally extending section 14 of the cladding component 10 6, and the light guide 27 is arranged along the inner edge 29 of the through-openings 22.

[0041] The dimensions of the trim component 10 do not need to be changed to fit the light source 34 and the lighting device 26. The additional design effort therefore remains very minimal. The additional weight caused by the light source 34 and the lighting device 26 is approximately 300 g, which is within acceptable limits. The illuminated area is approximately 1200 to 1400 mm in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and approximately 400 to 600 mm in the transverse direction of the vehicle.

[0042] In all cases, the extension E of the through openings 22 can have values ​​from 10 to 300 mm and the distance D values ​​between 5 and 25 mm (cf. Figures 3 and 4 The width of the through-holes 22 can be between 5 and 25 mm. The illuminance is approximately between 4 and 50 lx (lux) on the floor. The power consumption of the LED boards 40 used is preferably 16 W (watts). The light guide 27 can, for example, have a length of 650 to 900 mm and a diameter of 4 to 5.5 mm. List of reference symbols

[0043] 10, 10 1 - 10 5 Cladding component 12 Wall 14 Horizontal section 16 Vertical section 18 Interior 20 Exterior 22, 22 1 - 22 4 Through opening 24 Transparent layer 26 Lighting device 27 Light guide 28 Output section 29 Edge 30 Notches, bulges 32 First end 34, 34 1 , 34 2 Light source 36 Second end 40 LED board 42, 42 1 , 42 2 Separate wall section ADistance D, D 1 , D 2 Distance E, E 1 - E 3 Extension LLongitudinal axis MCenter PParrow

Claims

1. Trim component for a motor vehicle, comprising - a wall (12) which delimits an inner space (18) of the trim component (10), - a plurality of through holes (22) which penetrate the wall (12), and - a lighting device (26), arranged in the inner space (18) of the trim component (10), which is connect to a light source (34) and which comprises a light conductor (27), which is arranged in relation to the through holes (22) such that the light emitted by the light conductor (27) can flow through the through holes (22), characterized in that - the light conductor (27) comprises, in the region of the through holes (22), decoupling sections (28), in which the light from the light conductor (26) can emerge, wherein o the through holes (22) comprise an extension (E) which runs parallel to a longitudinal axis (L) of the light conductor (27), wherein the extension (E) increases as the distance (A) of the through holes (22) from the light source (34) increases, and / or o each pair of adjacent through hole (22) are arranged spaced at a distance (D) to each other which extends parallel to the light conductor (27), wherein the distance (D) decreases as the distance (A) of the through holes (22) from the light source (34) increases.

2. Trim component in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the light source (34) is arranged in the trim component (10).

3. Trim component in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the light source (34) includes one or more LED circuit boards (40).

4. Trim component in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the through holes (22) are closed by means of a transparent layer (24).

5. Motor vehicle which comprises a trim component (10) in accordance with any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the trim component (10) is mounted on the motor vehicle suche that the light passing through the through holes (22) radiates toward the ground when the motor vehicle is used as intended.

6. Motor vehicle in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that the trim component (10) is a side panel, a running board or a bumper of the motor vehicle.