EXTERNAL BODY PART WITH DESIGN STRUCTURES AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ATTACHMENT PARTS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an external body part designed for installation in a receptacle on a motor vehicle or for direct connection to the motor vehicle.

[0002] This body part comprises a flat surface section consisting of an outer surface facing outwards in the installed position, an opposing inner surface, and a boundary edge. Furthermore, at least one design feature is provided on the outer surface of the body part. The flat surface section is designed or formed as a plastic injection-molded part in a primary color. State of the art

[0003] The invention thus relates to an external body part designed for installation in a receptacle on a motor vehicle or for direct connection to a motor vehicle. The external body part comprises a planar surface section which, in the installed position, has an outer surface facing outwards, i.e., towards the outside of the motor vehicle, and an inner surface opposite this, as well as a surface edge that circumferentially delimits the planar surface section at an outer circumferential edge.

[0004] Furthermore, at least one design structure is provided, which is a three-dimensional structure that protrudes from the outer surface of the panel, i.e., projects forward from the surface of the panel when installed. The design structure can be, for example, an emblem, a logo, or the like, which is placed on or embedded in the panel. The panel is manufactured as an injection-molded plastic part and has a coating in the desired color of the body panel, which can also be a paint finish or another type of coating.

[0005] The body part is therefore directly connected to the motor vehicle, i.e., screwed, clipped or inserted into a holder or other mounting, and thus forms an external part, also referred to as the exterior part, of the motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car.

[0006] In the development of the invention, a particular focus is on a cover, specifically a radiator guard, which, at the time of the invention, allows the radiator grille to be closed by a closed radiator guard during the transition from combustion engines to electric drives. For thermal management within an electric motor, the cool air supply from under the vehicle is entirely sufficient for the battery, brakes, and electric motor. The former radiator grille at the front of the vehicle in front of the engine compartment can therefore now be closed by a radiator guard, which can be inserted into a frame.

[0007] This radiator guard offers exceptionally interesting design possibilities for highlighting aspects of the vehicle, because this front surface, as defined in the invention, is particularly prominent due to its protruding position. A highly individualized design adapted to the respective vehicle type without requiring major and costly modifications to the production line is especially desirable.

[0008] A chrome-plated finish is particularly preferred for the design structure, i.e., the design structure that protrudes from the outer surface in a different way when installed, and which can therefore be a three-dimensional structure. Ideally, any three-dimensional structure can be incorporated into the raised design, especially adjacent surfaces that form an acute angle between them, and which are then chrome-plated or given a metallic finish to achieve a particularly high-quality appearance. In current technology, hot stamping foils are frequently used for this purpose, which are applied to the three-dimensional structure or to a front surface of the design structure using a hot stamping process.However, this requires a prominent surface with a convex, or rounded, surface that rises towards the center. This allows the hot stamping die to apply the hot stamping foil to this surface and, during application and adhesion, forces any air trapped between the surface and the foil out towards the edge between the two joining partners. Therefore, it is currently not possible to incorporate arbitrary three-dimensional structures into the design that have a metallic surface, especially if the design structure is very small or if multiple design structures are to be incorporated within or on the surface component.

[0009] Devices of the type mentioned are disclosed in DE 10 2017 214 943 A1 and DE 10 2013 018 993 A1, but these have the disadvantage of a relatively complex structure.

[0010] Prior art of a different type is known from DE 299 10 529 U1, DE 10 2007 057 934 A1, DE 10 2008 057 530 A1, EP 0 543 085 A1, DE 10 2010 035 632 B3 and JP 2006 160 136 A. Task

[0011] Based on the aforementioned prior art and the associated disadvantages described above, the invention is therefore based on the objective of at least partially avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages and providing an external body part that enables a particularly variable design of the primarily raising design structure while simultaneously enabling cost-effective manufacturing, especially for smaller design structures, several of which are arranged on the outside of the external body part. invention

[0012] According to the invention, this problem is already solved by the features of the independent claims. Non-essential, but therefore advantageous, further developments are described in the dependent claims.

[0013] According to the invention, the exterior component is designed as a two-part component, namely a front surface part, preferably painted in the vehicle color, and preferably several design openings, when installed in a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car. A contact element is designed with at least one contact surface for contact against the rear of the surface part, at least around the design opening, and has a design structure corresponding to the design opening(s), which projects from the contact surface of the contact element as a three-dimensional structure.

[0014] The design structure is therefore a clearly defined and delimited, three-dimensional geometry extending in length, width, and height, which, designed as a plug-in component, is inserted into the design opening from the back of the surface component, thus sitting within it and being enclosed by an outer edge of the design opening. The design opening and design structure are therefore complementary and preferably designed such that there is as small a gap as possible, or virtually none at all, between them.

[0015] The joining surfaces of the design structure and the surface part, which are in contact with each other in the installed position, can be designed in such a way as to simplify installation, e.g. with complementary ramps that deflect pressure towards each other when inserted.

[0016] Depending on the height, the design structure is either designed as a designer elevation, which means that the front surface or the outer surface of the design structure protrudes into the surface part in the installed position above the outer surface of the surface part, preferably with a distance of 2-5 mm.

[0017] When designing a structure with a slightly lower height, this is formed as a design recess, so that when installed in the design opening of the surface part it is recessed relative to the outer surface of the surface part, preferably by one to 2 mm.

[0018] Since the design structure preferably has a different color than the surrounding surface area that it receives in its installed position, it can also be designed with a height of three-dimensional structure on the mounting surface of the component such that the front surface of the design structure is flush with the outer surface, or only geometric features are provided. For example, the component can be made of a different colored plastic, painted differently, or have a metallic surface.

[0019] Preferably, the mounting surface and the design structure are formed as a one-piece injection-molded plastic part.

[0020] In the most abstract embodiment, the problem is solved by the fact that the surface part with an outer surface in a first color has at least one design opening and that at least one second attachment part is provided, which in the installed position, i.e. in the assembled state, is designed to abut the inner surface of the surface part and which comprises at least one designer structure in a second color that differs from the first color, which in turn is designed to be inserted through the design opening and then, in the installed position, projects beyond the outer surface, is flush with the outer surface or is recessed from the outer surface.

[0021] In addition, several system components with design structures arranged on them, which are assigned to a respective design opening in their installed position, as well as a connecting structure between the individual system components, are provided, which allows a certain movement and thus adjustment of the system components in relation to each other, in order to position them precisely in the respective design opening.

[0022] The at least one design opening within the surface section essentially forms the negative of the design raised area, but is usually slightly larger than the design structure on the component that is connected to the surface section from behind. When installed, the design raised area projects forward through this design opening and can extend beyond or project from the outer surface of the surface section.

[0023] According to the invention, the outer surface can thus function as a freely configurable design surface. The mounting component, located on the inside when installed, comprises a mounting surface arranged around the at least one design structure for contact with the inner surface of the surface component, at least in the area of ​​the design opening. This mounting surface of the mounting component can be of different sizes. However, it is important that the mounting component is securely and permanently fixed to or in relation to the surface component. The mounting component can, for example, be snapped into place with the surface component, clipped on, but can also be glued or connected in another way.

[0024] In its installed position, only the design structure of the component protrudes through the design opening and preferably projects forward from the outer surface of the surface section. However, since the surface section and the component can be manufactured completely independently of each other, the surface of the component can be customized in any color and design.

[0025] The surface component is usually painted in the color of the vehicle, for which three-layer systems are preferably used today. These systems comprise a primer applied to the plastic or the plastic raw part, i.e., the surface component, a further base coat, and a final top coat in order to meet the environmental stability required for an exterior component with regard to stone chips, salts, chemicals, weathering, UV resistance, and the like, depending on the specifications of the respective manufacturer.

[0026] In particular, this design also allows for the application of a metallic surface to the front of the component facing the inner surface in its installed position. For example, a vapor-deposited and particularly durable chrome surface can be provided on the front of the component, creating a particularly high-quality impression of the design and also being especially resistant to environmental influences. In this respect, the design according to the invention enables entirely new design possibilities that were previously impossible, while simultaneously ensuring particularly high environmental stability.

[0027] Preferably, the component is also designed as a plastic injection-molded part. The component and the surface part can be made of the same plastic. Particularly preferred plastics are ASA, ABS, PA, PC, PP, PMMA, and blends of the aforementioned plastics. Preferably, these are the plastics that were particularly preferred at the time of the invention for the manufacture of exterior components, i.e., exterior parts of motor vehicles, especially passenger cars, which exhibit high toughness, strength, and weather resistance.

[0028] For a precise and captive fixation of the surface part and the attachment part in relation to each other, the attachment part preferably comprises a contact surface which is designed for rear contact with the inner surface of the surface part at least around the area of ​​the design opening, but possibly also in larger sections, if desired even extending substantially along the entire inner surface of the surface part.

[0029] The mounting component thus forms an assembly comprising the surface section viewed from the outside in the installed position. These components are joined together to form a two-part body panel. In the installed position, at least one design structure protrudes from the mounting surface and is designed such that, when in the installed position, it protrudes through the design opening on the inside of the surface section, preferably extending beyond the outer surface of the surface section, at least in the area of ​​the design opening.

[0030] The pairing of components is designed in such a way that, in the installed position, i.e., installed in the motor vehicle, only the design structure which is colored differently from the outer surface is visible and preferably stands out, while the rest is completely covered by the surface part.

[0031] Preferably, for particularly precise fixation of the surface part and the attachment part, ramps or complementary fits can be formed between the two components in the installed position, enabling particularly good and precise assembly of the two parts relative to each other, even for inexperienced personnel. These fits or ramps are preferably designed in such a way as to prevent incorrect alignment of the attachment part within the surface part. This can be achieved, for example, by projections that engage in corresponding openings in the correct orientation and create a clearly visible gap in the event of incorrect alignment of the two parts relative to each other.

[0032] In the particularly preferred embodiment, the surface section is designed as a cover, i.e., an element that can be inserted into a frame, edge, or other receptacle. The design of the external body part as a radiator guard is especially preferred, as it occupies a particularly prominent position on the vehicle and, through its redesign, enables entirely new design possibilities.

[0033] In certain embodiments, the component can have a metallic or metallized surface, particularly a chrome-plated, high-gloss surface, at least in the area of ​​the design element, but also for the entire component. This allows emblems, logos, and insignia to be designed to be particularly high-quality and prominent, while also being environmentally resistant.

[0034] In embodiments, the design structure comprises at least two or more adjacent surfaces on a raised design element projecting beyond the outer surface or design surface in the installed position, forming an acute angle between them. Thus, according to the invention, it is possible for the first time, even with small designs, to provide a type of gable roof design and to give it a metallic appearance. In general, any geometric shape that can be produced in the injection molding process can be realized on the raised design element.

[0035] Although the invention has so far been described using a design structure, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide several, in particular a large number of relatively small design openings and several corresponding system components, e.g. several rows of smaller design structures next to and below each other, i.e. also the arrangement in a kind of matrix on the surface part.

[0036] Particularly interesting is the design of a prominent and larger logo within the center of the design area, for example, the logo of a vehicle manufacturer, and then several smaller versions of this logo in the form of raised elements on either side of it. Sometimes it is also possible to design the raised elements as a simplified logo, limited to the core of the logo.

[0037] The component can also be designed as a flat surface, which is located on the back side of the inner surface of the flat part.

[0038] For example, the connection structure can include a gating system, i.e., connecting struts between the individual system components. For instance, the gating system comprises rod-like struts that connect individual and smaller system components, which are assigned to the corresponding design openings in the installed position. The smaller system components or lower sections each include a design structure with a corresponding contact surface that can be inserted into a corresponding design opening on the surface component in the installed position. This relatively flexible connection between the system components allows stresses between the components due to thermal expansion as well as manufacturing and assembly tolerances to be almost completely compensated.

[0039] Preferably, the connection structure is designed to be elastic, thus allowing a certain offset of the system components relative to each other during assembly on the front surface part.

[0040] This is particularly preferably achieved by a slightly curved design of the struts or rods connecting the components, i.e., for example, a slightly curved design of the rods in relation to the direct connection, in particular curved away from the joining surface of the two joining partners surface part / component to each other.

[0041] According to the invention, the attachment component has a color that differs from the outer surface of the surface component, so that the attachment component stands out visually from the surrounding surface component.

[0042] The component can be made of a plastic in a different color than the surface (mold-in-color). It is also possible to apply a color or metallic surface to the component, such as a vapor-deposited metal finish. Applying a metallic hot-stamping foil, at least to the externally visible raised design, is particularly preferred, as it results in a high-quality chrome finish.

[0043] Embodiments include the design of a system component or system part assigned to each design opening, which has a retaining plate for rear attachment to the inner surface of the surface part only in the area of ​​each design opening, and has a design structure or raised structure corresponding to the design opening on this retaining plate, which sits in the design opening in the installed position.

[0044] Further embodiments include making the component at least partially light-conducting, i.e., made of a light-conducting plastic into which light is coupled and guided to the desired exit points via total internal reflection. This light guide can also be injection-molded, either partially or completely. This allows for the illumination of the design features, and also enables the parallel illumination of several design structures arranged in a row.

[0045] In an alternative embodiment, each system component or individual system part is assigned its own individual light source, e.g. in the form of a rear-facing LED which illuminates the system component.

[0046] In an alternative embodiment, at least one component is designed as a deep-drawn film, which, however, possesses the required inherent rigidity and dimensional stability after deep drawing. This deep-drawing process is used in various fields and typically proceeds as follows: a plastic blank is applied to a mold that has a cavity which can be pressurized with a vacuum. When the film, i.e., the plastic blank, is heated, it is drawn into the cavity and, by applying the vacuum, is precisely shaped to the required target geometry. In this way, inherently stable films of any desired geometry can be produced, as is used, for example, for packaging, especially high-quality packaging such as electrical packaging, medical packaging, often referred to as blister packs. Molded plastic components, such as drawer inserts, can also be produced using this method.Cutlery inserts, cups, or similar items are manufactured by deep drawing plastic films. The plastic blank has a wall thickness of 1 to 2 mm, preferably 1.5 to 2 mm.

[0047] In a further disclosed manufacturing process, the mold can be designed in two parts, consisting of two superimposed mold sections: a relatively lower mold base and a relatively upper mold base. The thermoforming film rests on a surface of the upper surface section, and the cavity is formed by the interaction of an upper partial cavity in the surface section and a lower partial cavity in the lower mold. This design allows only the front portion of the thermoformed part, which is particularly prominent in the installed position, to be formed within the mold, which is designed as a steel body. The significantly less expensive surface section forms a large part of the cavity, thus considerably reducing the tooling costs for the mold.

[0048] Furthermore, a manufacturing process for at least one plant component is disclosed, which is designed for use with an external body part according to one of the preceding claims relating thereto.

[0049] In this process, a plastic blank or a thermoforming film is placed on the back of the surface part, at least around the cavity, and this thermoforming film or plastic film is then heated, e.g., by infrared radiation. Due to the heating, the thermoforming film is drawn into the cavity, thus being shaped by the cavity formed jointly in the tool and the surface part, and immediately adheres firmly to the at least partially formed design opening within the surface part. Preferably, the thermoforming film is bonded to the inside of the back of the surface part, at least in the area of ​​the design opening and the raised design element.

[0050] In a preferred further development, a vacuum can be created within the cavity, so that it is designed to apply a vacuum to the design structure.

[0051] In a further development, the finished surface part, which may already be painted on the outside, is placed in the injection mold, whereby the surface part and the injection mold together form a cavity to create the design structure, so that each part forms a partial cavity, namely a relatively lower partial cavity, preferably formed in a steel mold, and an upper partial cavity arranged on top of it, preferably shaped by the surface part.

[0052] In the preferred embodiment, the area within the tool or within the injection mold makes up only a very small part of the designer elevation, in particular only the front 10-20% of the height, whereas the remainder, which is not visible from the outside anyway, is arranged within the partial cavity of the surface part.

[0053] In the figures, identical or similar elements are provided with identical reference symbols where appropriate.

[0054] Reference lines are lines that connect the reference symbol to the relevant part. An arrow, on the other hand, which does not touch any part, refers to the entire unit to which it points.

[0055] The figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain areas may be exaggerated to illustrate details. Furthermore, the drawings may be simplified for clarity and do not include every detail that might be present in the actual construction. They show: Figure 1 is an isometric front view of a radiator guard according to the invention for a passenger car; Figure 2 an enlarged cross-section of a design element; Figure 3 an isometric front view of an alternatively designed component; Figure 4 an enlarged side view along line IV-IV according to Figure 3Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of a mold before the production of a component by deep drawing; Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of a mold after the production of a component by deep drawing; and Figure 7 is a schematic representation of an optical fiber integrated into a component.

[0056] Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a stylized isometric front view of a car with a radiator guard 2 according to the invention, above which an engine cover 4 is located and which is framed on both sides by front lights 6, 6'; an air intake 8 is arranged below the radiator guard 2.

[0057] On the front of the radiator guard 2, a prominently large main manufacturer logo 2a is arranged centrally, and next to it, extending towards the front lights 6,6', on the curved front of the radiator guard 2, four miniature manufacturer logos 2b are arranged in a lower and an upper row.

[0058] Figure 2Figure 2b shows an enlarged longitudinal section of such a miniature manufacturer's logo. A design opening is formed in the front surface section 2c, which is visible from the outside when installed. This opening is adapted to the geometry and size of the miniature manufacturer's logo 2b, allowing the miniature manufacturer's logo 2b, which is molded onto the front of a rear component section 2d, to protrude through this opening and be prominently visible. Specifically, only the front pyramid structure of the miniature manufacturer's logo 2b extends beyond the front surface of the front surface section 2c, which is painted in the vehicle's color. This front pyramid structure, with three upright triangles converging at the central apex, is, like the entire rear component section 2d when installed, finished with a metallic coating or surface. Thus, a raised 3D contour is created by the component section.The raised designer logo 2b is implemented on this surface. A circumferential groove is thus formed between the front surface section 2c and the rear attachment section 2d, extending around the raised designer logo 2e. In a further development, a light element can be additionally arranged in this circumferential groove to create a particularly attractive illumination of the raised designer logo.

[0059] Figure 3Figure 1 shows an alternative embodiment of a component 12, comprising nine individual components, each having a flat contact surface 12.1 and a pyramid-shaped raised design element 12.2 on the front side of these contact surfaces 12.1. The individual components 12.1 are connected to one another via rod-shaped connecting struts 12.3 to form a gating system, which is designed for rear contact and attachment to the front surface section (not shown here, but similar to the one in Figure 1). Figure 2 .

[0060] The Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of two such plant components 12.1 along line IV - IV according to Figure 3, which are connected to each other via a connecting strut 12.4. It can be seen here that the connecting strut is curved backwards from the front, i.e. backwards opposite to the side on which the design raised areas are arranged, in order to compensate for manufacturing tolerances.

[0061] Figure 5 shows a schematic side view of a manufacturing setup to illustrate the manufacturing process of a plant component using the deep-drawing process.

[0062] On the underside, a steel mold 14 is provided, in which a downwardly tapered cavity 14.1 is formed. In this case, this cavity 14.1 corresponds to the design of the raised section. A thermoformable film 16 rests flat on a support surface of the mold 14. When this film 16 is heated, it sinks into the cavity 14.1 and conforms to its geometry. This process can be accelerated and / or improved by applying a vacuum within the cavity 14.1.

[0063] Not shown here is how the connecting struts are also formed in the same way in form 14.

[0064] Figure 6Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of an alternative arrangement for manufacturing a plant component using a deep-drawing process with a two-part mold 18. In this configuration, a finished surface section 20 with a design opening is placed on the mold 18. The surface section 18 with the design opening and the mold 20 together form the cavity for the design elevation, whereby only the lower 10-20% of the design elevation is formed in the mold; the main part is thus realized within the partial cavity formed by the surface section, which is of minor importance for the final appearance because this part of the design elevation is not visible externally anyway.

[0065] Therefore, only the outwardly projecting and thus visible part of the designer elevation needs to be formed by the particularly high-quality and stable form 18 with the lower partial cavity formed in it.

[0066] In the Figure 6The thermoforming film 16 is shown after the thermoforming process, in which the thermoforming film 16 was heated and is therefore located within the cavity. Additionally, an adhesive can be provided between the mating contact surfaces between the thermoforming film 16 and the back of the surface part; this adhesive is particularly preferably heat-activated.

[0067] This mold 18 comprises an upper mold part 18.1, which forms the support surface for the thermoformed film 20 and features a downward-tapering cavity at its upper end. This upper mold part 18.1 can be formed by the surface section or a separate mold part. The particularly design-relevant and stressed tip of the subsequent design feature is formed in the lower mold part 18.2, which is made of high-grade steel. The upper mold part 18.1, on the other hand, can be made of a significantly less expensive steel because these flanks are not visible to the observer anyway, as they are enclosed in the front surface section by the sides of the design opening when installed, or simply formed by the surface section itself.

[0068] Figure 7Figure 2 shows the schematic structure of a light guide assembly designed to illuminate a design element, which is integrated into the manufacturing process, specifically the injection molding process for producing component 21. Component 21 encloses an injection-molded light guide 22, which is integrated into the injection molding process. A luminous flux is coupled into the light guide 22 at one end via an LED board 24. This luminous flux propagates within the light guide 22 due to total internal reflection. At the end opposite the LED board 24, the light guide 22 is fitted with an end cap 26 to prevent stray light.At predefined locations on one side of the light guide 22, coupling geometries 23 are formed or incorporated into the light guide 22, which allow the light flux to exit the light guide 22, so that it passes through a light channel to the rear side and strikes the schematically depicted, translucent design structures 28, thus illuminating them on the front side. Reference symbol list

[0069] 2 Radiator guard 2a Main manufacturer logo 2b Miniature manufacturer logo 2c Surface part 2d Mounting part 2e Design structure 4 Engine cover 6, 6' Headlight 8 Air intake 10 Mounting part 10.1 Design structure 12 Mounting part 12.1 Mounting surface 12.3 Design structure 12.4 Connecting strut 14 Shape 15 Cavity 16 Thermoformed film 18 Shape 18.1 Upper mold part 18.2 Lower mold part 20 Thermoformed film 21 Mounting part 22 Light guide 23 Coupling geometry 24 LED board 26 End cap 28 Design structure element

Claims

1. External body part designed for installation in a receptacle on a motor vehicle or for direct connection to the motor vehicle, with a flat surface part (2c) which comprises an outer surface facing outwards in the installation position, an inner surface opposite this, and an outer surface edge delimiting this, wherein at least one design structure is provided, wherein the surface part is designed as a plastic injection molded part, and wherein at least the outer surface has a first color, in that the surface part (2c) has at least one design opening for forming an inner design edge and that at least a second abutment part (2d; 12) is provided, which is designed to bear against the inner surface of the surface part (2c) and comprises the at least one design structure, that the component part (2d; 12) is designed to engage in the design opening in the installation position, and that at least the design structure has a color that differs from the outer surface, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT that the surface part (2c) comprises several design openings and the abutment part (2d; 12) comprises several abutment parts (12) corresponding to these design openings with contact surfaces (12.1) and design structures (12.2).

2. External body part according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT that the design structure is formed as a design elevation protruding from the outer surface, as a design recess recessed from the outer surface, or as a design surface flush with the outer surface.

3. External body part according to claim 1 or 2, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT in that the abutment part (2d; 12) comprises an abutment surface formed for abutment against the inner surface at least in the region of the design opening, and that the design structure protrudes from the contact surface and is designed such that, in the installed position, it rests against the inside of the surface part (2c) in the design opening.

4. External body part according to one of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT in that the surface part (2c) is designed as a cover, in particular as a radiator cover (2).

5. External body part according to one of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT in that the abutment part comprises a contrasting color to the outer surface of the surface part, e.g. is formed as molded-in-color plastic.

6. External body part according to one of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT in that the design structure (2e) at least on a protruding section protruding above the outer surface comprises two adjacent surfaces that enclose an acute angle between them.

7. External body part according to one of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT that the abutment part comprises a sprue system with connecting struts (12.4) between the plurality of abutment parts (12), and that the connecting struts (12.4) are designed to allow relative displacement of the plurality of system parts.

8. External body part according to claim 7, CHARACTERIZED in that the connecting struts (12.4) are designed to be elastic or flexible in order to compensate for tolerances.

9. External body part according to claim 8, THEREBY THAT that the connecting struts (12.4) are curved in an arc shape to compensate for tolerances.

10. External body part according to one of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT that the abutment part (2d; 12) is at least partially light-conducting.