Covering element for a motor vehicle front

Abstract

The invention relates to a covering element (12) for a vehicle front (10), having a front covering layer (26) forming a continuous surface (24), which is adjoined by a flat segment arrangement (28) of multiple segments (30) arranged next to one another rearwardly in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle. The covering element (12) is characterised in that the covering layer (26) has a corresponding elastic wall region (36) which overlaps respective intermediate recesses (34) between the respective segments (30), as a result of which the segments (30) of the segment arrangement (28) are elastically connected to one another in a manner not visible to a person looking at the vehicle front (10) from the front.

Description

[0001] Trim element for a car front

[0002] The invention relates to a fairing element for a motor vehicle front according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Vehicle fronts traditionally feature a bumper with a radiator grille. Due to design language, regulatory requirements, and customer preferences, the design of the vehicle front has changed significantly over time. Modern vehicle fronts, such as those described in DE 102020 108 707 A1, no longer consist of a bumper and radiator grille, but instead feature large, layered cladding elements in the form of panels. In addition to cladding the vehicle front, these panels incorporate other components for vehicle functions, such as lighting (decorative and regulatory), and sensors for driver assistance systems like cameras, ultrasonic, radar, laser, or lidar sensors. These components are typically arranged longitudinally towards the rear of the vehicle in a flat, segmented arrangement of several adjacent segments on the cladding layer.This integration results in high inherent rigidity of the panels without high elasticity.

[0004] Currently, vehicle front ends must be robust against the stresses encountered during vehicle operation, but they must not be too hard, too stiff, or otherwise too aggressive in their design. With regard to pedestrian protection (legislation / rating), vehicle front ends must exhibit a degree of compliance, which must be demonstrated through tests with test specimens (dummies) including legs, hips, and heads, and in accordance with biomechanical limits. This leads to design limitations in the exterior design of a vehicle or makes it impossible to meet legal requirements for bumper testing and pedestrian protection. The object of the present invention is to create a fairing element by means of which the requirements of pedestrian protection can be met more effectively and without restricting the design freedom of the fairing element.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by a cladding element having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The cladding element according to the invention has a front cladding layer forming a continuous surface, to which a planar segment arrangement of several adjacent segments adjoins in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the rear. The cladding layer has a corresponding elastic wall area overlapping with the respective intermediate recesses between the individual segments.

[0007] The elastic wall areas form individual cladding layer segments, which are firmly connected to the respective associated segments located behind them, forming the respective overall segments.

[0008] According to the invention, the cladding layer and its elastic wall sections make it possible to connect and subdivide the segments of the segment arrangement in an elastic manner that is not visible to a person looking at the front of the vehicle from the front, thus creating displaceable overall segments in the event of an accident. This gives the cladding element the necessary elasticity to meet the legal requirements for bumper testing and pedestrian protection.

[0009] The technical functional components / elements integrated into the trim element / panel for further vehicle functions are arranged in segments and connected to a base support in such a way that the trim element / panel presents a solid, continuous surface from the visible side (vehicle exterior), while on the non-visible side it is subdivided into horizontal and / or vertical assemblies / comprehensive segments. This allows the overall component (panel) to exhibit elasticity in individual segments through the strategically placed rigid and elastic areas, enabling segment-by-segment bending / displacement. In a further embodiment of the invention, the respective segments, together with the associated trim segments, form a sandwich structure. This results in particularly favorable stiffness for the overall segments, for example, to protect integrated functional components, without the overall stiffness of the trim element being excessively high.

[0010] A particularly simple sandwich construction of the respective overall segments results if the respective segment has a rear wall area which is connected to the associated cladding segment via webs.

[0011] Furthermore, it is advantageous if a functional element is integrated into the respective segment. This results in a space-saving arrangement of the functional elements within the cladding element.

[0012] Finally, it has proven advantageous for the respective intermediate cutouts between the segments to run in the transverse and / or vertical direction of the vehicle. Depending on the desired stiffness and flexibility, an optimally adapted cladding element can thus be created with respect to the vehicle's vertical and transverse directions.

[0013] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those mentioned below in the figure description and / or shown in the figures alone, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0014] This shows:

[0015] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fairing element for the front of a passenger car, partially visible; Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the front of a passenger car with a fairing element according to the invention;

[0016] Fig. 3 shows four schematic sectional views through the cladding element according to the invention in an unloaded state and in each case under an accident-related force impact; and

[0017] Fig. 4 shows three schematic front views of respective cladding elements for vehicle fronts according to the invention, wherein respective intermediate recesses between respective segments extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle, in the vertical direction of the vehicle, as well as in both the transverse direction and the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0018] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0019] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the front of a passenger car 10, partially visible. In particular, a trim element 12 for the front of the vehicle 10 is visible, which extends, for example, over at least approximately the entire height and width of the front of the vehicle 10.

[0020] In conjunction with Fig. 2, which shows a sectional view through the vehicle front 10 along a vehicle center axis running in the longitudinal and vertical directions, the arrangement of the trim element 12 on the vehicle front 10 is further clarified. Towards the rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a transition panel 16 adjoins the trim element 12 in the area of ​​a joint 14 running transversely and approximately horizontally, which then transitions into a front hood 20 at another joint 18 running transversely and approximately horizontally.

[0021] In the longitudinal direction of the vehicle behind the trim element, a bumper cross member 22 extending horizontally in the transverse direction of the vehicle is shown in the longitudinal member of the main longitudinal member plane (not shown at the level of the longitudinal member). The trim element 12 is attached to this cross member, among other things. The structure of the trim element 12 according to the invention will be explained below in conjunction with Fig. 2 and the four schematic sectional views through it. The uppermost illustration in Fig. 3 shows the trim element 12 in an unloaded state, as also shown in Fig. 2.

[0022] According to the two aforementioned illustrations, the cladding element 12 comprises a front cladding layer 26 forming a continuous surface 24, to which a planar segment arrangement 28 of several adjacent segments 30 adjoins in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the rear. The segment arrangement 28 with the segments 30 thus forms a layer which, together with the cladding layer 26 in the area of ​​the respective segments 30, forms a total segment 32, each of which is designed in a sandwich-like manner.

[0023] The individual segments 30 of the segment arrangement 28 are subdivided or separated from one another in the area of ​​respective, slot-shaped intermediate recesses 34. The cladding layer 26, on the other hand, runs continuously and, overlapping with the respective intermediate recesses 34 between the respective segments 30 of the segment arrangement 28, has corresponding elastic wall areas 36. Thus, a plurality of total segments 32 result, which are formed by the respective segment 30 and the cladding layer segment 38 of the cladding layer 26 arranged in overlap with it, whereby the individual cladding layer segments 38 and thus the individual total segments 32 are connected to one another via the elastic wall areas 36.

[0024] Cladding layer segments 38 are firmly connected to the respective associated segments 30 arranged behind them, forming the respective total segment 32.

[0025] As can be seen further from Fig. 2, the respective segments 30 with the associated cladding layer segment 38 form a sandwich, wherein the respective segment 30 has a rear wall area 40 which is connected to the associated cladding layer segment 38 via webs 42.

[0026] Respective functional assemblies or functional components 44, for example for lighting, sensing or the like, but also decorative parts such as chrome trim or the like, are integrated into the layer structure of the cladding element 12, for example into the respective segments 30.

[0027] Based on the three lower illustrations in Fig. 3, schematic sectional views through the cladding element 12 according to the invention are shown, in what way the cladding element 12 can be deformed in the event of an accident-related force impact as a result of a frontal collision of the motor vehicle, for example in the event of a pedestrian impact.

[0028] The second-to-top illustration in Fig. 3 shows with an arrow 46 a local force action in which the corresponding segment 30 can deflect backwards in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle due to the elasticity of the wall areas 36 of the cladding layer 26 and the separation / division of the corresponding segment 30 from the adjacent segments 30 by the respective intermediate recesses 34.

[0029] The two lower illustrations in Fig. 3 show the respective planar forces exerted by a body 48 – once obliquely relative to the vehicle's vertical direction and once parallel to it. It is evident in each case how the affected segments 30 deflect rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, or how the respective elastic wall areas 36 of the cladding layer 26 are deformed. For example, in the case of an oblique impact by the body 48, the affected segments 30 are displaced rearward to varying degrees in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In the case of an impact by the body 48 parallel to the vehicle's vertical direction, however, the affected segments 30 are displaced rearward to at least substantially the same degree in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0030] Finally, Fig. 4 shows three schematic front views of respective cladding elements 12 for vehicle fronts according to the invention, wherein in the uppermost embodiment the respective intermediate recesses 34 between respective segments 40 and the wall areas 36 of the cladding layer 26 arranged overlapping with the intermediate recesses extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Thus, in this embodiment, the total segments 32 – formed from the respective segment 30 and the associated cladding layer segment 38 – are designed as strips and extend at least substantially horizontally and in the transverse direction of the vehicle.

[0031] In the medium embodiment, the respective intermediate recesses 34 between the respective segments 40 and the wall areas 36 of the cladding layer 26 arranged in overlap with the intermediate recesses 34 extend in the vehicle's vertical direction. Thus, in this embodiment, the total segments 32 – formed from the respective segment 30 and the associated cladding layer segment 38 – are designed as strips and extend at least substantially vertically and in the vehicle's vertical direction.

[0032] In the lowest embodiment, the respective intermediate recesses 34 between the respective segments 40 and the wall areas 36 of the cladding layer 26 arranged in overlap with the intermediate recesses 34 extend both in the vehicle's vertical and transverse directions. Thus, in this embodiment, the total segments 32 – formed from the respective segment 30 and the associated cladding layer segment 38 – are rectangular and smaller than in the first two embodiments.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Cladding element (12) for a vehicle front (10), with a front cladding layer (26) forming a continuous surface (24), to which a planar segment arrangement (28) of several adjacent segments (30) is attached in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the rear, characterized in that the cladding layer (26) has a corresponding elastic wall area (36) in overlap with respective intermediate recesses (34) between the respective segments (30), whereby the segments (30) of the segment arrangement (28) are elastically connected to each other in a manner invisibly to a person looking at the vehicle front (10) from the front.

2. Cladding element (12) according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic wall areas (36) form respective cladding layer segments (38) which are firmly connected to the respective associated segments (30) arranged behind them, forming respective total segments (32).

3. Cladding element (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the respective segments (30) form a sandwich with the associated cladding layer segments (38).

4. Cladding element (12) according to claim 3, characterized in that the respective segment (30) has a rear wall area (40) which is connected to the associated cladding layer segment (38) via webs (42).

5. Cladding element (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a functional element (44) is integrated into the respective segment (30).

6. Cladding element (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective intermediate recesses (34) between the respective segments (30) extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle and / or in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

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