Hinged closure element arrangement for a vehicle, and vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hinged closure element arrangement (100) designed to be openably attached to a body (12) of a vehicle (10), and the present invention also relates to a vehicle. The hinged closure element arrangement (100) according to the invention has a hinged closure element outer skin (110), in which a first opening (112) is provided, and a hinged closure element inner skin (120), which is attached to an inner side of the hinged closure element outer skin (110). A second opening (122) substantially aligned with the first opening (112) is provided in the hinged closure element inner skin (120). The hinged closure element arrangement (100) according to the invention also comprises a triggering device (130) for triggering an opening process of the hinged closure element arrangement (100), the triggering device being at least partially disposed in the first opening (112) and in the second opening (122). The triggering device (130) is fastened to the hinged closure element inner skin (120) by means of an adjustable fastening device (140) and is at least partially seated against the inner side of the vehicle outer skin (110).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Flap arrangement for a vehicle and vehicle

[0003] The present invention relates to a flap arrangement which is designed to be attached to a body of a vehicle in an openable manner, and to a vehicle, in particular to a flap arrangement with a triggering device which is designed to detect an opening request of the operator of the vehicle.

[0004] A variety of release devices for vehicle tailgates are known from the prior art. Such release devices are conventionally mounted on a movable tailgate of the vehicle to allow a user to open the movable tailgate. The opening is triggered by an electrical switch, which emits an electrical switching signal depending on the user's actuation. The known release devices are sometimes arranged in a recess in the tailgate's outer skin. Therefore, it is desirable to design such release devices as compactly as possible, in particular as flat as possible.

[0005] DE 102020 121 603 A1 describes an actuating device for mounting on a vehicle part. The actuating device known therefrom comprises an electrical switching means with at least one electrical switching element for triggering a vehicle function and a housing unit with at least a first and a second housing section. The second housing section is movable from a rest position into an actuating position for actuating the switching element, at least in part, relative to the first housing section. Furthermore, the switching element is arranged on the second housing section such that the switching element is moved along with the movement of the second housing section from the rest position into the actuating position. Further known devices are disclosed in CN 205 089 098 U, US 2022 / 0

[0006] 328 261 A1 , CN 111 933 471 A, DE 10 2021 004 934 A1 and WO 2017 / 168439 A1 .

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to at least partially remedy the above-mentioned disadvantages known from the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to enable a compact triggering device that operates efficiently and reliably.

[0008] This object is achieved with a flap arrangement according to claim 1 and a vehicle according to claim 9. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

[0009] The present invention is essentially based on the idea of ​​attaching a triggering device to a flap inner skin by means of a fastening device in such a way that the triggering device rests against the flap outer skin, preferably in a sealing manner. By attaching the triggering device to the flap inner skin, assembly-related tolerances of the flap arrangement can be at least partially compensated. In particular, tolerances in the adhesive layer by means of which the flap inner skin is connected to the flap outer skin can be at least partially compensated in such a way that their effect on the operation of the triggering device is reduced. For example, in the case of a triggering device based on the inductive or capacitive principle, the distance between the sensor device and a triggering element that is movably arranged and actuable therewith can be set essentially the same in an unactuated state across a plurality of flap assemblies.This can ensure that the triggering device can work efficiently and reliably.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a flap assembly is disclosed which is designed to be openably attached to a vehicle body. The flap assembly according to the invention has a flap outer skin in which a first opening is provided, and a flap inner skin which is attached to an inner side of the flap outer skin. A second opening substantially aligned with the first opening is provided in the flap inner skin. The flap assembly according to the invention further comprises a triggering device which is at least partially arranged in the first opening and the second opening and for triggering an opening process of the flap assembly. The triggering device is attached to the flap inner skin by means of an adjustable fastening device and bears at least partially against the inner side of the vehicle outer skin.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the flap arrangement according to the invention, the triggering device comprises a housing unit with a first housing element and a second housing element arranged such that it can move relative to the first housing element, and an electrical switching device arranged in the housing unit with a triggering element and a sensor device which is designed to detect a movement of the triggering element. The first housing element is fastened to the flap inner skin by means of the adjustable fastening device and rests at least partially against the inside of the vehicle outer skin. The triggering element can be a separate element. Alternatively, the triggering element can be part of the housing unit and / or at least partially applied thereto, for example by means of a metallic coating.

[0012] Preferably, the second housing element is mounted movably relative to the first housing element by means of an elastic spring device such that the spring device pretensions the second housing element in the direction of the flap outer skin in an unactuated state of the triggering device.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment, the flap arrangement according to the invention further comprises a sealing arrangement which is arranged between the triggering device and the flap outer skin and is designed to seal therebetween. In a particularly preferred manner, the sealing device is further designed to seal between the first housing element and the second housing element. In a further preferred embodiment of the flap arrangement according to the invention, the adjustable fastening device () is designed to at least partially compensate for an assembly tolerance of the triggering device on the flap inner skin. Preferably, the adjustable fastening device has at least one screw connection or a rivet connection or a welded connection or an adhesive connection or a clamping device or a latching clamping device.It may be preferable to at least partially compensate for any assembly tolerances of the triggering device on the inner skin of the flap by adjusting a torque of at least one screw connection.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment, the flap assembly according to the invention further comprises an emblem attached to the triggering device, which emblem has an actuating surface for actuating the triggering device. The user of the vehicle can thus express their desire to open the flap assembly by pressing the vehicle emblem accordingly.

[0015] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is disclosed having a body and a flap assembly according to the invention arranged on the body in an openable manner. The flap assembly is preferably a tailgate or front flap of the vehicle.

[0016] Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by practicing the teachings described herein and viewing the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle with a flap arrangement according to the invention,

[0018] Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view through an inventive

[0019] flap arrangement, and Fig. 3 shows an enlargement of detail III of Fig. 2.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 10 with a flap assembly 100 according to the invention, which is movably mounted on a body 12 of the vehicle. The vehicle 10 is shown in Fig. 1 as an example, a road vehicle. In other embodiments, the vehicle 10 can be any other vehicle, such as an agricultural vehicle, a rail vehicle, a watercraft, such as a ship, or an aircraft, such as an airplane. Consequently, the flap assembly 100 according to the invention can be any flap assembly attached to the vehicle 10 in an openable and closable manner, such as a front flap, a tailgate, a side door, a charging connector flap, a fuel tank flap, or any other flap that can allow or block access to a vehicle function.

[0021] Fig. 1 already indicates that the flap assembly 100 has a triggering device 130 for triggering an opening process of the flap assembly 100. The user of the vehicle 10 can express his or her desire to open the flap assembly 100 by actuating the triggering device 130. The triggering device 130 is designed, upon actuation, to generate a trigger signal and to send it to a control device (not explicitly shown), which in turn is designed to control an actuator unit (not explicitly shown) for electrically opening the flap assembly 100. The opening movement of the flap assembly 100 can be at least partially rotational and / or at least partially translational and / or at least pivoting relative to the body 12 of the vehicle 10.

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view through a flap assembly 100 according to the invention. The flap assembly 100 has a flap outer skin 110, in which a first opening 112 is provided, and a flap inner skin 120, which is attached to an inner side of the flap outer skin 110, preferably by means of an adhesive layer 105, such as an adhesive bead. A second opening 122, substantially aligned with the first opening 112, is provided in the flap inner skin 120. The flap outer skin 110 and the flap inner skin 120 are, for example, sheet metal elements that form a flap, for example a tailgate, of the vehicle in a known manner. Alternatively, the flap outer skin 110 and / or the flap inner skin 120 can be plastic elements.

[0023] The triggering device 130 is arranged at least partially in the first opening 112 and at least partially in the second opening 122 and is designed to trigger an opening process of the flap assembly 100. In particular, the triggering device 130 is arranged such that it protrudes only slightly or not at all beyond the flap outer skin 110. In other embodiments, it may be desirable for the triggering device 130 to be recessed or protruding relative to the flap outer skin 110.

[0024] The triggering device 130 is attached to the flap inner skin 120 by means of an adjustable fastening device 140. For this purpose, as shown in Fig. 2, it may be preferred for the flap inner skin 120 to have a cylindrical fastening region 124 extending substantially away from the flap outer skin 110, which can form a flange. A provided fastening section 136 of the triggering device 130 can then be attached to the fastening region 124 of the flap inner skin 120 by means of the fastening device 140 for attaching the triggering device 130 to the flap inner skin 120. The fastening device 140 can have a screw connection, as shown schematically in Fig. 2. Alternatively, the fastening device can be a riveted connection, welded connection, clips, or an adhesive connection.

[0025] The triggering device 130 has a sensor unit 132, which is designed to detect a desire to trigger an opening process of the flap assembly 100, and a housing unit 134 with a first housing element 133, which is designed to be attached to the vehicle interior skin 120, in particular to the fastening area 124, and a second housing element 135, which is arranged to be at least partially movable relative to the first housing element 133 from an initial position into a triggering position. The first housing element 133 has the fastening section 136, via which the first housing element 133 and thus the triggering device 130 are fastened to the flap interior skin 120, in particular to the fastening area 124, by means of the fastening device 140. On the opposite side, the first housing element 133 rests at least partially against the inside of the vehicle exterior skin 110.

[0026] The flap assembly 100 further includes a sealing assembly 150 arranged between the triggering device 130 and the flap outer skin 110 and configured to seal therebetween. In particular, as shown in Fig. 2, it may be preferred for the sealing assembly 150 to have a shape that extends at least partially around the first opening 112 and seals the area between the first housing element 133 and the flap outer skin 110.

[0027] The triggering device 130 further comprises an elastic return device 160 which movably supports the second housing element 135 relative to the first housing element 133 such that the return device 160 prestresses the second housing element 135 in the direction of the flap outer skin 110 in an unactuated state of the triggering device 130.

[0028] The sensor unit 132 can include an electrical detection unit 137, which is attached to the first housing element 133 and is configured to detect a movement of a trigger element 138 relative to the electrical detection unit 137. The trigger element 138 can, for example, comprise an electrically conductive material and be attached to the second housing element 135. In particular, the sensor unit 132 can be based on the inductive or capacitive principle, in which a change in distance between the detection unit 137 and the trigger element 138, which is arranged and actuated movably relative to it, leads to a change in capacitance or inductive change, thus allowing the desire to open the flap arrangement to be determined.

[0029] The trigger element 138 can be mounted on the first housing element 133 by means of a mounting device 139. Alternatively, the trigger element 138 can be rigidly attached to the second housing element 135, for example, to a projection 131 of the second housing element 135, which is designed to move the trigger element 138 toward the detection unit 137 upon actuation of the trigger device 130.

[0030] With additional reference to Fig. 3, which shows an enlargement of detail III of Fig. 2, it can be seen that the second housing element 135 is connected to the first housing element 133 by means of a locking device 170 such that mobility of the second housing element 135 relative to the first housing element 133 is ensured. The locking device 170 can have a stop 172 designed to allow the second housing element 135 to detach from the first housing element 133. At the same time, the stop 172 can provide a stop that at least partially limits the path of movement of the second housing element 135 relative to the first housing element 133.

[0031] Preferably, the second housing element 135 includes a vehicle emblem (not shown in the figures) that forms an actuating surface for moving the second housing element 135 from the initial position to the release position. Thus, a vehicle operator can press the vehicle emblem on the tailgate and thereby transmit and trigger their request for the automatic opening process of the tailgate assembly 100.

[0032] It is also apparent from Fig. 3 that the sealing device 150, on the one hand, seals the area between the flap outer skin 110 and the triggering device 130, in particular the first housing element 133, and, on the other hand, seals the area between the first housing element 133 and the second housing element 135. For this purpose, the sealing device 150 has a first sealing area 152, which is designed to seal the area between the flap outer skin 110 and the triggering device 130, in particular the first housing element 133, and a second sealing area 154, which is designed to seal the area between the first housing element 133 and the second housing element 135. Preferably, the first sealing area 152 and the second sealing area 154 are integral with one another or formed in one piece. Alternatively, the sealing areas 152, 154 can be separate sealing elements.

[0033] By attaching the triggering device 130 to the flap inner skin 120 and providing the adjustable fastening device 140, any assembly tolerances of the flap assembly 100, for example, the adhesive layer 105, can be at least partially compensated for in such a way that their impact on the operation of the triggering device 130 is reduced. In particular, in the sensor device 134 based on the inductive or capacitive principle, the distance between the detection unit 137 and the actuatable triggering element 138, which is movably arranged relative to it, can be set essentially the same in a non-actuated state across a variety of manufactured flap assemblies 100. This allows the triggering device 130 to operate efficiently and reliably.For example, by fastening the screw connection 140 with a predetermined torque, a secure fit of the first housing element 133 against the flap outer skin 110 can be ensured without damaging the first housing element 133. At the same time, a substantially predetermined distance can be automatically adjusted via the internal dimensions of the triggering device 130 within permissible tolerances.

Claims

Patent claims 1 . A flap arrangement (100) designed to be openably attached to a body (12) of a vehicle (10), the flap arrangement (100) comprising: a flap outer skin (110) in which a first opening (112) is provided, a flap inner skin (120) attached to an inner side of the flap outer skin (110), a second opening (122) substantially aligned with the first opening (112) being provided in the flap inner skin (120), and a triggering device (130) arranged at least partially in the first opening (112) and the second opening (122) for triggering an opening process of the flap arrangement (100), the triggering device (130) being attached to the flap inner skin (120) by means of an adjustable fastening device (140) and at least partially abutting the inner side of the vehicle outer skin (110).

2. Flap arrangement (100) according to claim 1, wherein the triggering device (100) comprises: a housing unit (134) with a first housing element (133) and a second housing element (135) arranged to be movable relative to the first housing element (133), and a sensor device (132) arranged in the housing unit (134) with a triggering element (138) and a detection unit (137) which is designed to detect a movement of the triggering element (138), wherein the first housing element (133) is fastened to the flap inner skin (110) by means of the adjustable fastening device (140) and at least partially rests against the inside of the vehicle outer skin (110).

3. Flap arrangement (100) according to claim 2, wherein the second housing element (135) is mounted movably relative to the first housing element (133) by means of an elastic restoring device (160) such that the restoring device (160) prestresses the second housing element (135) in the direction of the flap outer skin (110) in an unactuated state of the triggering device (130).

4. A flap assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a sealing assembly (150) disposed between the triggering device (130) and the flap outer skin (110) and configured to seal therebetween.

5. The flap assembly (100) of claim 4, wherein the sealing device (150) is further configured to seal between the first housing element (133) and the second housing element (135).

6. Flap arrangement (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustable fastening device (140) is designed to at least partially compensate for a mounting tolerance of the triggering device (130) on the flap inner skin (120).

7. Flap assembly (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustable fastening device (140) comprises at least one screw connection or a rivet connection or a welded connection or an adhesive connection or a clamping device or a locking clamping device.

8. The flap assembly (100) of any preceding claim, further comprising: an emblem mounted on the trigger device (130) having an actuating surface for actuating the trigger device (130).

9. Vehicle (100) comprising: a body (12), and a flap arrangement (100) according to one of the preceding claims arranged to be openable on the body (12).

10. Vehicle (10) according to claim 9, wherein the flap arrangement is a tailgate (100) or front flap of the vehicle (10).

Images