Exterior trim part for a vehicle

Abstract

An exterior trim part for a vehicle, comprising an exterior trim element (1) having at least one passage opening (2), and comprising at least one sensor receptacle (3) for receiving a sensor (20), wherein the sensor receptacle is located in the region of the passage opening and has a sleeve-shaped body (4), into which the sensor, wherein the sensor receptacle furthermore has a flange (5) protruding laterally outwards from the body for bearing against one side (6) of the exterior trim element, and the sleeve-shaped body extends distally from the flange through the passage opening to the other side (7) of the exterior trim element, wherein an edge region (9) of the passage opening jumps back in the direction of the other side, wherein the flange thickness (D) and the depth (T) of the recess (R) are coordinated with each other in such a way that at least the edge-side visible surface (10) of the flange is flush with an adjacent visible surface (11) of the exterior trim element.

Description

[0001] Exterior trim part for a vehicle

[0002] The present invention relates to an exterior trim part for a vehicle, comprising an exterior trim element with at least one through-opening, and comprising at least one sensor receptacle for receiving a sensor, wherein the sensor receptacle is arranged in the region of the through-opening and has a sleeve-shaped body in which the sensor can be received, preferably via an insertion opening, wherein the sensor receptacle further has a flange projecting laterally outward from the body for engagement with one side of the exterior trim element, and the sleeve-shaped body extends distally from the flange through the through-opening to the other side of the exterior trim element, wherein the sleeve-shaped body further comprises at least one fixing element which interacts with this other side of the exterior trim element, so that the sensor receptacle is fixed in the through-opening,by clamping the sensor holder to the outer cladding element by means of the flange and the fixing element.

[0003] A generic exterior trim part is disclosed, for example, in the documents US 2006 / 0021440 A1, US 2006 / 0187756 A1, EP 1 785 316 A1, DE 3812182 A1, EP 1 460 391 A1 or EP 1 792 787 B1.

[0004] The disadvantage of such an exterior trim panel, however, is that this arrangement of the sensor mount and the exterior trim element is not necessarily desirable for design reasons, as the flange of the sensor mount is raised above the exterior trim panel, thus detracting from the vehicle's appearance. Furthermore, protruding areas on a vehicle are always potential sources of disruptive driving noise when the aerodynamics are affected by the protruding flange at high wind speeds.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to create an exterior trim part that is more visually appealing and does not adversely affect the aerodynamics of the vehicle. This object is achieved according to the invention by an exterior trim part for a vehicle, comprising:

[0006] - an external cladding element with at least one through opening, and

[0007] - at least one sensor receptacle for receiving a sensor, wherein the sensor receptacle is arranged in the region of the through-opening and has a sleeve-shaped body in which the sensor can be received, preferably via an insertion opening, wherein the sensor receptacle further has a flange projecting laterally outward from the body for engagement with one side of the outer cladding element, and the sleeve-shaped body extends distally from the flange through the through-opening to the other side of the outer cladding element, wherein the sleeve-shaped body further comprises at least one fixing element which interacts with this other side of the outer cladding element, so that the sensor receptacle is fixed in the through-opening by clamping the sensor receptacle to the outer cladding element by means of the flange and the fixing element,wherein the edge region of the through-opening is recessed towards the other side, wherein the flange thickness and the depth of the recess are coordinated such that at least the edge-side visible surface of the flange is arranged flush with an adjacent visible surface of the outer cladding element.

[0008] The inventive design of the outer cladding part allows the flange of the sensor holder to be virtually countersunk into the surface of the outer cladding element so that the surface or visible surface of the flange is integrated flush into the adjacent surface or visible surface of the outer cladding element.

[0009] As a fixing element, for example, a spring arm extending in the longitudinal direction of the body and elastically flexible in the radial direction can be provided for locking behind the other side of the outer cladding element. Such a spring arm allows the sensor receptacle to be inserted into the through-opening from the front (i.e., from the intended visible side of the outer cladding element) and to deflect the at least one spring arm so that, after passing through the through-opening, it locks behind the through-opening on the other side of the outer cladding element. Another possibility would be to design the sensor receptacle in several parts and to provide a clamp as the fixing element, as disclosed, for example, in US 2006 / 0187756 A1 or EP 1 785 316 A1. Or, alternatively, to provide part of a screw connection as the fixing element, as is previously known, for example, from DE 3812182 A1.

[0010] As a variant of the invention, the rear side of the flange opposite the visible surface can have recesses or protrusions protruding from the rear side, which, when the sensor holder is correctly installed, lie on corresponding recesses or in corresponding recesses in the edge area. Such a design serves to prevent incorrect orientation of the sensor in relation to the exterior cladding element. If, for example, an attempt is made to install the sensor holder rotated from the correct installation position, the flange will remain above the adjacent visible surface of the exterior cladding element (or will not engage at all), since the required joining path is too small if the corresponding recess does not lie in a corresponding recess.

[0011] The edge region can have at least one recess, and the sleeve-shaped body can have at least one outwardly projecting, longitudinally extending rib, which together form an insertion aid during installation of the sensor receptacle. The insertion aid facilitates the installation of the sensor receptacle, as the sensor receptacle is guided in the recess by the rib. Providing several recesses and ribs that are distributed asymmetrically to one another can also serve to prevent incorrect installation, as installation is then only possible in a predetermined position.

[0012] The side edge of the flange can form a uniform, circumferential gap with the recessed area opposite the side edge. For this purpose, centering ribs can be provided at certain points protruding laterally from the edge of the flange, the positions and sizes of which define the gap dimension.

[0013] The sensor to be provided can, in particular, be an ultrasonic sensor for distance measurement. The sensor receptacle can preferably only be inserted into the through-opening from the outside of the exterior cladding element.

[0014] The outer cladding element and the sensor mount can each be formed as a single piece. The outer cladding element is preferably manufactured using a plastic injection molding process. The sensor mount is also preferably manufactured as a separate component using a plastic injection molding process.

[0015] The entire visible surface of the flange and the visible surface of the exterior cladding element can have at least one color-imparting lacquer layer. The lacquer layer is preferably applied after the sensor holder has been installed in the exterior cladding element. A method for producing an exterior cladding part as described above could comprise the following steps:

[0016] Providing an exterior cladding element,

[0017] Providing a sensor recording,

[0018] Connecting the sensor holder to the outer cladding element by the fixing element fixing the sensor holder in the through-hole, by the sensor holder being clamped to the outer cladding element by means of the flange and the fixing element,

[0019] - Applying at least one coat of paint to the entire visible surface of the flange and the visible surface of the external cladding element.

[0020] Alternatives to a paint layer would be to manufacture the outer cladding element and the sensor mount (or at least the flange) from the same colored plastic material (so-called mold-in coloring). The flange can also have only a grooved surface on its visible side, which visually corresponds to an adjacent grooved surface of the outer cladding element.

[0021] The provision of the outer cladding element and the sensor holder can preferably each be carried out by means of an injection molding process.

[0022] Part of the invention is also a vehicle with at least one exterior trim part as described above.

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following drawings, which merely represent exemplary embodiments. Identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0024] They show:

[0025] Fig. 1 is a three-dimensional partial view of an exterior cladding part according to the invention;

[0026] Fig. 2 is a rear detailed view of the outer cladding part from Fig. 1;

[0027] Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the connection area of ​​the sensor holder and the outer cladding element;

[0028] Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the through opening in the exterior cladding element from the intended visible side;

[0029] Fig. 5 a detailed view of the through opening in the outer cladding element with inserted sensor holder from the intended visible side;

[0030] Fig. 6 different views of the sensor holder.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows an outer trim part for a vehicle, comprising an outer trim element 1 with at least one through-opening 2, and comprising at least one sensor receptacle 3 for receiving a sensor (not shown in detail here).

[0032] The sensor receptacle 3 is arranged in the region of the through-opening 2 and has a sleeve-shaped body 4 in which the sensor 20 can be accommodated, preferably via an insertion opening 21 (cf. Fig. 2 and the sectional view in Fig. 3).

[0033] The sensor receptacle 3 further comprises a flange 5 projecting laterally from the body 4 for engagement with a side 6 (here, a part of the intended visible side, which part is then concealed by the flange) of the outer cladding element 1. The sleeve-shaped body 4 extends distally from the flange 5 through the through-opening 2 to the other side 7 (here, the "inside") of the outer cladding element 1 (see in particular Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3).

[0034] The sleeve-shaped body 4 further comprises at least one fixing element 8, which interacts with this other side 7 of the outer cladding element 1, so that the sensor receptacle 3 is fixed in the through-opening 2 by clamping the sensor receptacle 3 to the outer cladding element 1 by means of the flange 5 and the fixing element 8. A spring arm 8 extending in the longitudinal direction of the body 4 and elastically flexible in the radial direction is provided as the fixing element 8 for locking onto the other side 7 of the outer cladding element 1 (see in particular Fig. 2 and Fig. 3).

[0035] The edge region 9 of the through opening 2 is recessed in the direction of the other side 7, wherein the flange thickness D and the depth T of the recess R are coordinated with one another in such a way that at least the edge-side visible surface 10 of the flange 5 is arranged flush with an adjacent visible surface 11 of the outer cladding element 1 (see in particular Fig. 3).

[0036] The rear side 12 of the flange 5 opposite the visible surface 10 has protrusions 13 projecting from the rear side 12, which, in the correct installation position of the sensor holder 3, lie on corresponding indentations 14 of the edge region 9 (cf. Fig. 4 in conjunction with Fig. 6).

[0037] The edge region 9 has at least one recess 15 and the sleeve-shaped body 4 has at least one outwardly projecting, longitudinally extending rib 16, which together form an insertion aid during assembly of the sensor holder 3 (cf. Fig. 4 in conjunction with Fig. 6, and Fig. 2).

[0038] The side edge of the flange 5 forms a uniformly circumferential gap with the area of ​​the recess R opposite the side edge (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 5). Additionally, centering ribs 17 project laterally from the edge of the flange 5 at certain points, the positions and sizes of which define the gap (see Fig. 6). The sensor receptacle 3 can only be inserted into the through-opening 2 from the outside of the exterior cladding element 1.

[0039] In Fig. 3, dotted lines indicate that the entire visible surface of the flange 5 and the visible surface 11 of the outer cladding element 1 have at least one color-imparting lacquer layer L.

[0040] The outer cladding element 1 is formed in one piece, preferably in a plastic injection molding process.

[0041] And the sensor holder 3 is also formed in one piece, preferably in a plastic injection molding process.

Claims

Patent claims 1. An exterior trim part for a vehicle, comprising: - an outer cladding element (1) with at least one through opening (2), and - at least one sensor receptacle (3) for receiving a sensor (20), wherein the sensor receptacle (3) is arranged in the region of the through-opening (2) and has a sleeve-shaped body (4) in which the sensor (20) can be received, preferably via an insertion opening (21), wherein the sensor receptacle (3) further has a flange (5) projecting laterally outward from the body (4) for contact with one side (6) of the outer cladding element (1), and the sleeve-shaped body (4) extends distally from the flange (5) through the through-opening (2) to the other side (7) of the outer cladding element (1), wherein the sleeve-shaped body (4) further comprises at least one fixing element (8) which interacts with this other side (7) of the outer cladding element (1) so that the sensor receptacle (3) is fixed in the through-opening (2),in that the sensor receptacle (3) is clamped to the outer cladding element (1) by means of the flange (5) and by means of the fixing element (8), characterized in that the edge region (9) of the through-opening (2) recesses in the direction of the other side (7), wherein the flange thickness (D) and the depth (T) of the recess (R) are coordinated with one another in such a way that at least the edge-side visible surface (10) of the flange (5) is arranged flush with an adjacent visible surface (11) of the outer cladding element (1).

2. Exterior cladding part according to claim 1, characterized in that a spring arm (8) extending in the longitudinal direction of the body (4) and elastically flexible in the radial direction is provided as the fixing element (8) for locking behind the other side (7) of the exterior cladding element (1).

3. Exterior cladding part according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rear side (12) of the flange (5) opposite the visible surface (10) has indentations or projections (13) protruding from the rear side (12) which, in the correct installation position of the sensor holder (3), lie on corresponding projections or in corresponding indentations (14) of the edge region (9).

4. Exterior cladding part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edge region (9) has at least one recess (15) and the sleeve-shaped body (4) has at least one outwardly projecting, longitudinally extending rib (16), which together form an insertion aid during assembly of the sensor holder (3).

5. Exterior cladding part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side edge of the flange (5) forms a uniform circumferential gap with the region of the recess (R) opposite the side edge.

6. Exterior cladding part according to claim 5, characterized in that centring ribs (17) are additionally provided at some points laterally projecting from the edge of the flange (5), the positions and sizes of which define the gap dimension.

7. Exterior cladding part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor receptacle (3) can be inserted into the through opening (2) only from the outside of the exterior cladding element (1).

8. Exterior cladding part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entire visible surface of the flange (5) and the visible surface (11) of the exterior cladding element (1) have at least one color-imparting lacquer layer (L).

9. Exterior cladding part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exterior cladding element (1) and the sensor receptacle (3) are each formed in one piece.

10. Motor vehicle with at least one outer trim part according to one of the preceding claims.

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