METHOD FOR POSITIONING A DECORATIVE STRIP AND MOTOR VEHICLE COMPONENT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for positioning a decorative strip on a motor vehicle component according to the preamble of claim 1 as well as to such a window guide according to the preamble of claim 5 and to an end piece for a decorative strip according to the preamble of claim 11.

[0002] It is common practice to attach a decorative strip to a motor vehicle component, such as a window guide, as a design feature. The decorative strip can, for example, run along the upper frame of the window frames of the front and rear doors. However, this often presents the problem that the decorative strips at the junction between the front and rear doors are not aligned after the door adjustment, which compromises this design feature.

[0003] US 2007 / 278827 A1, JP 2016147520 A, and CN 106740549 A disclose end caps for sealing profiles. These end caps are attached to a free end of the sealing profiles. The sealing profiles are then attached to a motor vehicle door using the end caps.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a method which enables simple and precise positioning of a decorative strip on the motor vehicle component.

[0005] This task is achieved by first attaching the trim strip to the vehicle component. An end piece is then attached to the vehicle component and the free end of the trim strip. The end piece acts on the free end of the trim strip to a desired target position, i.e., pushes or pulls it. This allows the trim strip to be positioned particularly easily and precisely in the area of ​​the free end, for example, relative to an adjacent trim strip for a seamless transition.

[0006] According to the invention, after the trim strip has been attached and before the end piece is installed, the deviation of the free end of the trim strip from a target position is determined. Depending on the determined deviation, the appropriate end piece is then selected, which has a sufficiently large offset to compensate for the deviation.

[0007] Preferably, the end piece can be inserted into the free end of the trim strip for attachment to the trim strip. The trim strip can define a hollow space in its cross-section, for example, with a C-shaped cross-section. The end piece can be positively received and held in this hollow space, resulting in a particularly stable attachment of the end piece to the trim strip.

[0008] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the end piece, when inserted, can interact with a fixing geometry on the vehicle component to support or hold it. This allows the end piece to act on the trim strip, i.e., push or pull it into the desired position.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the deviation of the free end of the trim strip from the target position can be determined by selecting a suitable test end piece and trial-attaching it to the trim strip and the automotive component. The test end piece, which can, for example, have an additional handle section for easy gripping, thus enables a quick determination of the necessary offset of the free end of the trim strip to the target position, so that the appropriate end piece can be determined in a particularly time-saving manner.

[0010] Furthermore, a window guide with a holding device for a decorative strip is claimed, which at least one and / or positive support of the end piece and thus an application of the end of the decorative strip into the desired position.

[0011] A fixing geometry is designed as a longitudinal web, particularly with a dovetail-shaped cross-section for the form-fitting reception of the end piece. The dovetail-shaped cross-section allows both tensile and compressive forces to be transmitted transversely to the longitudinal web, so that the free end of the trim strip can be pulled toward the fixing geometry or pushed away from it via the end piece.

[0012] The fixing geometry can advantageously be attached to the window guide, for example, by means of a form-fitting connection, adhesive bonding, or injection-molded connection. Alternatively, the fixing geometry can also be formed integrally with the window guide, for example, in a joint injection molding process with the adjacent part of the window guide. This allows the end piece to be held securely and eliminates the need for attachment to the vehicle body, for example, through holes in the window guide and the body, which would impair the sealing effect.

[0013] To enable the trim strip to be securely and quickly attached to the motor vehicle component, the retaining device for the trim strip can be designed as an elongated retaining lip. In this case, the at least one fixing geometry can particularly preferably be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the retaining lip. If the fixing geometry has an elongated shape, for example, the fixing geometry can be oriented longitudinally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the retaining lip, which enables particularly simple installation of the end piece on the trim strip and the fixing geometry in the longitudinal direction.

[0014] Advantageously, a decorative strip can be attached to the holding device and at least one end piece for the decorative strip can be provided, which is supported on one end of the decorative strip and on the fixing geometry, whereby the end of the decorative strip can be loaded into the desired target position.

[0015] According to the invention, the end piece has an elongated receiving section for insertion into one end of the decorative strip, wherein a retaining geometry corresponding to the fixing geometry is provided in the receiving section in the form of a longitudinal groove with a dovetail-shaped cross-section. The free end of the decorative strip can therefore be supported on the fixing geometry via the receiving section in the shortest possible way, thereby achieving particularly favorable force ratios.

[0016] For a visually appealing transition from the trim strip to the end piece, the end piece can have a cap section that connects to the receiving section and whose outer contour corresponds in cross-section to the outer contour of the trim strip. This enables a seamless transition between the end piece and the trim strip.

[0017] Furthermore, an end piece for a trim strip of the described motor vehicle component is claimed. The end piece has an elongated receiving portion for insertion into an end of a trim strip, wherein a retaining geometry, in particular a longitudinal groove with a dovetail-shaped cross-section, is provided in the receiving portion for supporting the end piece relative to the motor vehicle component.

[0018] Preferably, the holding geometry can extend parallel to the elongated receiving section, which enables particularly simple assembly of the end piece.

[0019] To secure the end piece relative to the trim strip and / or the motor vehicle component, locking elements projecting outward laterally can be provided on the receiving portion, which are designed to engage in corresponding locking recesses in the motor vehicle component. Alternatively or additionally, locking recesses can also be provided on the receiving portion, which are designed to securely receive locking elements on the motor vehicle component.

[0020] For a seamless transition to the trim strip, a cap section with a larger outer contour can be attached to the receiving section. The cap section thus also forms a stop that limits the insertion of the end piece into the trim strip.

[0021] Advantageously, a grip section, which protrudes outwards in particular, can be connected to the receiving section or the cap section, which allows the end piece to be easily gripped. In this way, for example, a test end piece can be formed which can be used to determine the necessary offset to compensate for the deviation. The grip section can be easily gripped and connected to the trim strip and the motor vehicle component for testing, and can also be detached from them again. In addition, a predetermined breaking point can also be provided on the grip section, which allows the grip section to be easily separated. This allows the end piece to be easily assembled with the grip section, and after assembly, the protruding grip section can be easily separated.

[0022] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a window guide of a motor vehicle; Fig. 2 a detailed view of the window guide of Figure 1 ; Fig. 3 the detailed view of Figure 2 in a first assembly step of the window guide; Fig. 4 the detailed view of Figure 2 in a second assembly step of the window guide; Fig. 5 a side view of the window guide of Figure 4 ; Fig. 6 the detailed view of Figure 2 in a third assembly step of the window guide; Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of an end piece of the window guide; Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of another end piece of the window guide; and Fig. 9 shows a side view of a test end piece.

[0023] In Figure 1A perspective view of a motor vehicle component in the form of a window guide 1 is shown. The window guide 1 comprises two lateral window guides 2a, 2b and an upper window guide 3 connecting the lateral window guides 2a, 2b. Additional sealing sections 4a, 4b are arranged on the upper window guide 3, which protrudes laterally beyond the lateral window guides 2a, 2b. The window guides 2a, 2b, 3 form a guide and seal for a movable window pane. The additional sealing sections 4a, 4b can be used to seal trim elements of the motor vehicle, such as decorative panels. The window guide 1 shown is used in particular for sealing a side door of a motor vehicle.

[0024] A decorative strip 5 is provided on the upper window guide 3, which extends essentially parallel to the upper window guide 3. The decorative strip 5 forms a design element of the motor vehicle and emphasizes the lateral lines. Such a decorative strip can, for example, in an embodiment not shown, also be arranged on a lower edge of a window or the lateral window guides 2a, 2b, or on other motor vehicle components.

[0025] In Figure 2 is a detailed view of the window guide 1 of Figure 1 shown. As can be seen there, an end piece 7 is arranged at a free end 6 of the decorative strip 5, which closes the decorative strip 5 flush at the sides. The following figures describe the assembly steps for the decorative strip 5 and the end piece 7.

[0026] In Figure 3 is the detailed view of Figure 2shown in a first assembly step. Here, the decorative strip 5 and the end piece 7 are not yet mounted and the individual components of the upper window guide 3 can be seen. To hold the decorative strip 5, a holding device 8 is provided which extends in the longitudinal direction of the upper window guide 3. In the section of the window guide 1 shown, the holding device 8 is adjoined in the longitudinal direction by a recess 9 which can be formed, for example, by a punched out of the holding device 8 in this area. A fixing geometry 10 for the end piece 7 is arranged in the recess 9. The fixing geometry 10 is designed as a longitudinal web with a dovetail-shaped cross-section for the form-fitting reception of the end piece 7 and extends parallel to the holding device 8. The fixing geometry 10 can be injection-molded onto the recess 9 or otherwise fastened in a form-fitting or material-fitting manner.For example, the fixation geometry can also be inserted laterally as a separate component into a groove in the upper pane guide 3 and held there in a form-fitting manner. Furthermore, it is also possible to manufacture the fixation geometry as a single piece with the upper pane guide 3 in a single manufacturing process, in particular an injection molding process.

[0027] In Figure 4 is the detailed view of Figure 2 in a second assembly step of the window guide 1. Here, the decorative strip 5 is securely fastened to the upper window guide 3 by means of the holding device 8. The decorative strip 5 is positioned such that the free end 6 of the decorative strip 5 at least partially conceals the fixing geometry 10.

[0028] In Figure 5 is a side view of the window guide 1 of Figure 4shown. As can be seen from the illustration, the decorative strip 5 has a C-shaped cross-section and, with its free ends, positively engages retaining lips 11a, 11b projecting laterally from the retaining device 8. During assembly of the decorative strip 5, the free ends and the retaining lips 11a, 11b deform slightly, so that the decorative strip 5 can be easily clipped onto the retaining device 8 with little pressure.

[0029] After fastening the decorative strip 5, the deviation of the free end 6 of the decorative strip 5 from a target position is determined. The target position can be defined, for example, by the free end 6 of the decorative strip 5 being flush with the opposite free end of an adjacent decorative strip, so that a visually seamless transition between the decorative strips is created. For this purpose, it may be necessary for the free end 6 of the decorative strip 5 to be positioned in the drawing plane of Figure 5vertically and / or horizontally. Depending on the determined deviation, an end piece 7 with the corresponding offset can be selected, which moves / loads the free end 6 of the decorative strip 5 in such a way that the free end 6 is pushed or pulled into the desired position.

[0030] In Figure 6 is the detailed view of Figure 2 shown in a third assembly step of the window guide 1. For simplicity of illustration, the decorative strip 5 attached to the holding device 8 is not shown. To attach the end piece 7, it is inserted with a receiving section 12 into the free end 6 of the decorative strip 5, whereby the end piece 7 simultaneously comes into contact with the fixing geometry 10. This allows the end piece 7 to be supported on the fixing geometry 10 and to act on the free end 6 of the decorative strip 5 into the desired position, i.e., to push or pull it into the desired position.

[0031] In Figure 7 is a perspective view of the end piece 7 of the window guide 1. As can be seen from the Figure 7 As can be seen, the elongated receiving section 12 of the end piece 7 has a holding geometry 13 corresponding to the fixing geometry 10 in the form of a longitudinal groove with a dovetail-shaped cross-section. Adjacent to the receiving section 12, a cap section 14 is provided, the outer contour of which corresponds in cross-section to the outer contour of the decorative strip 5.

[0032] The retaining geometry 13, designed in the form of a longitudinal groove, extends in the longitudinal direction of the receiving section 12 and, in the exemplary embodiment shown, into the cap section 14, but does not penetrate it. This allows the fixing geometry 10 to be partially received in the cap section 14, with the cap section 13 completely closing the decorative strip 5 to the outside. To reinforce the attachment of the end piece 7 to the window guide 1 or the fixing geometry 10, locking elements 15 projecting outwards are provided on the receiving section 12. Corresponding counter-elements, such as locking recesses, can be provided on the window guide 1 or the fixing geometry 10, so that the end piece 7 is positively locked in the inserted position.

[0033] Alternatively, the outwardly protruding locking elements can also be arranged on the window guide 1 or the fixing geometry 10 and engage in corresponding locking recesses on the end piece 7. In a further alternative embodiment, the locking elements or the corresponding locking recesses can also be arranged in the holding geometry 13. For a particularly stable locking of the end piece 7, the locking elements can also be hook-shaped, for example in the form of a Christmas tree profile.

[0034] In Figure 8a perspective view of a further end piece 7' of the window guide 1 is shown. In contrast to the end piece 7, the holding geometry 13 in the end piece 7' is offset transversely to the longitudinal direction of the receiving section 12. Compared to the end piece 7, the end piece 7' therefore has an offset, so that when the end piece 7' is used instead of the end piece 7, the free end 6 of the decorative strip 5 is subjected to laterally pressure by this offset, i.e. is pushed or pulled in the direction of the offset. If several such end pieces 7, 7' with different offsets of the holding geometry 13 to the receiving section 12 are held in stock, an end piece with the appropriate offset can be selected depending on the size of the determined deviation and thus the free end 6 of the decorative strip 5 can be pressed or pulled into the desired target position.

[0035] In Figure 9a side view of a test end piece 7" is shown. In contrast to the end pieces 7, 7' of the previous figures, a handle section 16 is attached to the cap section 14, which allows easy gripping of the end piece 7". With the test end piece 7", the necessary offset to compensate for the deviation can be determined particularly quickly, since the test end piece 7" can be easily pushed into the free end 6 of the decorative strip 5 through the handle section 16 and pulled out again after testing. To further facilitate this process, it can be provided that on the test end piece 7", contrary to the illustration in Figure 9 no locking elements 15 are provided. Once the necessary offset to compensate for the deviation has been determined by testing several test end pieces 7" with different offsets, the test end piece 7" can be removed and the final end piece 7, 7' can be mounted.

[0036] In an alternative embodiment, a predetermined breaking point can be arranged on the handle portion 16, preferably adjacent to the cap portion 14, which allows for easy detachment of the handle portion 16. Once the end piece 7" with the appropriate offset has been determined by testing, it can remain inserted into the free end 6 of the trim strip 5, and only the handle portion 16 needs to be released by detaching it at the predetermined breaking point. This further simplifies and accelerates the selection and installation of the appropriate end piece. List of reference symbols:

[0037] 1 Window guide 2a, 2b Side pane guide 3 Upper pane guide 4a, 4b Additional sealing section 5 Decorative strip 6 Free end of the decorative strip 7, 7', 7" End piece 8 Holding device 9 Recess 10 Fixing geometry 11a, 11b Holding lip 12 Receiving section 13 Holding geometry 14 Cap section 15 Locking element 16 Handle section

Claims

1. Method for positioning a moulding (5) on a motor vehicle component (1), in particular on a window guide of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps: - fastening the moulding (5) to the motor vehicle component (1), - attaching an end piece (7; 7'; 7") to the motor vehicle component (1) and the free end (6) of the moulding (5) so that the end piece (7; 7'; 7") impinges the free end (6) of the moulding (5) into a target position, wherein after fastening the moulding (5) and before attaching the end piece (7; 7'; 7"), the deviation of at least one free end (6) of the moulding (5) from a target position is determined, and the end piece (7; 7'; 7") having an offset according to the deviation determined is selected.

2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the end piece (7; 7'; 7") is inserted into the free end (6) for fastening to the moulding (5).

3. Method according to Claim 2, characterized in that the end piece (7; 7'; 7") in the inserted state interacts in a supporting or retaining manner with a fixing geometry (10) on the motor vehicle component (1).

4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the deviation from the target position is determined by selecting a suitable test end piece (7") and attaching the latter to the moulding (5) and the motor vehicle component (1) as a test.

5. Window guide (1) having a holding device (8) for a moulding (5) comprising at least one fixing geometry (10) for an end piece (7; 7'; 7") that can be fastened to the moulding (5), wherein the fixing geometry (10) is formed as a longitudinal web for receiving the end piece (7; 7'; 7") of the moulding (5) in a form-fitting manner.

6. Window guide (1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the fixing geometry (10) is formed as a longitudinal web with a dovetail-shaped cross section for receiving the end piece (7; 7'; 7") of the moulding (5) in a form-fitting manner.

7. Window guide (1) according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the holding device (8) for the moulding (5) is formed as an elongated holding lip (11a; 11b), and the at least one fixing geometry (10) is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the holding lip (11a; 11b).

8. Window guide (1) according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that a moulding (5) is fastened to the holding device (8) and provided for the moulding (5) is at least one end piece (7; 7'; 7") which is supported at one end (6) of the moulding (5) and on the fixing geometry (10).

9. Window guide (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the end piece (7; 7'; 7") has an elongate receptacle portion (12) for insertion into an end (6) of the moulding (5), wherein a holding geometry (13), in particular a longitudinal groove having a dovetail-shaped cross section, corresponding to the fixing geometry (10) is provided in the receptacle portion (12).

10. Window guide (1) according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the end piece (7; 7'; 7") has a cap portion (14), the external contour of the latter corresponding to the external contour of the moulding (5) in cross section.

11. End piece (7; 7'; 7") for a moulding (5) of a window guide (1) according to one of Claims 5 to 10, having an elongate receptacle portion (12) for insertion into one end (6) of a moulding (5), wherein provided in the receptacle portion (12) is a holding geometry (13) in the form of a longitudinal groove for supporting the end piece (7; 7'; 7") relative to the window guide (1), characterized in that the longitudinal groove has a dovetail-shaped cross section.

12. End piece (7; 7'; 7") according to Claim 11, characterized in that the holding geometry (13) extends parallel to the elongate receptacle portion (12).

13. End piece (7; 7'; 7") according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the receptacle portion (12) has latching elements (15) that protrude laterally outwards.

14. End piece (7; 7'; 7") according to one of Claims 11 to 13, characterized in that a cap portion (14) having an enlarged external contour in comparison to the receptacle portion (12) is connected to the receptacle portion (12).

15. End piece (7; 7'; 7") according to one of Claims 11 to 14, characterized in that a handle portion (16) which can be easily separated at a predetermined breaking point, if necessary, adjoins the receptacle portion (12) or the cap portion (14).