Method for manufacturing a motor vehicle key fob

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a motor vehicle key fob (1) which has at least one metal part (10) and at least one plastic part (20) which are joined to one another at joining points (24, 26). According to the invention, the plastic part (20) and the metal part (10) are joined to one another at least at the joining points (24, 26) in a hot joining process.

Description

[0001] 202404718

[0002] 1

[0003] Method for manufacturing a motor vehicle radio key

[0004] The invention relates to a motor vehicle radio key, in particular its manufacture.

[0005] Car key fobs typically consist of a plastic part, which usually forms the housing for the electronics and any operating elements of the key fob, and at least one metal part, which usually forms a frame or protective housing for the plastic part. Currently, these parts are joined together by screws, which is complex and relatively expensive.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the invention to create a method for manufacturing a motor vehicle radio key which reduces the manufacturing costs for a motor vehicle radio key.

[0007] This problem is solved by a method according to claim 1. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle radio key according to claim 4. Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of the associated dependent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are also described in the description and in the figures.

[0008] According to the invention, the plastic part and the metal part are joined together, at least at the connection points, by a hot joining process. In this process, the plastic part and / or the metal part are heated, forming a strong bond at the connection points. Such a method is cost-effective and results in a good bond between the plastic and metal parts.

[0009] Preferably, the at least one plastic part and the at least one metal part are pressed together, preferably the metal part being heated briefly above the glass transition temperature of the plastic part at least at the connection points, in order to 202404718

[0010] 2. To create a close bond between the metal part and the plastic part. The metal part and the plastic part are preferably pressed together until the plastic of the plastic part has cooled below its glass transition temperature at the connection points.

[0011] The heating time for the metal part, which is preferably inductive, is preferably between 3 and 30 seconds. The advantage of the method according to the invention is that no additional parts such as screws, rivets, or the like are required to intimately connect the metal part and the plastic part. Of course, several metal or plastic parts can be provided on the car key fob. For example, two metal parts can be provided within a frame part, completely surrounding the plastic part, which generally contains the electronics and the operating elements of the car key fob, except for the operating elements and possibly an opening for replacing batteries. The metal parts give the car key fob a certain high-quality appearance and also provide better protection for the electronic components arranged in the plastic housing.The joining process is quick and inexpensive.

[0012] Preferably, the metal part is roughened and / or profiled at the joining points before being joined to the plastic part. This can be done during the manufacturing of the metal part. The roughening or profiling results in a tighter bond with the plastic part during hot joining, improved interlocking, and, in the case of interlocking profiles, even a positive fit between the profile of the metal part and the plastic of the plastic part.

[0013] Preferably, the metal part is inductively heated during the joining process, which is advantageous because the heat can be introduced into the metal part in a defined manner in the area of ​​the joints or joining areas. It is also possible to heat the metal part very briefly, i.e., for a few seconds.

[0014] 3. to heat so intensely that the plastic of the plastic part softens or melts, thereby forming a good bond with the joining area of ​​the metal part.

[0015] To carry out the process steps described above, a processor circuit can be provided that includes programming or software comprising program instructions which, upon execution of the program instructions, cause the processor circuit to perform an embodiment of the process. The processor circuit can include at least one microprocessor and / or microcontroller. The program instructions can be stored in a data memory of the processor circuit.

[0016] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle remote control key consisting of at least one metal part and at least one plastic part, which are connected to each other at several connection points by a method described above. For the features and advantages of the motor vehicle remote control key according to the invention, reference is made to the above description of the method.

[0017] According to the invention, the metal part has roughened or profiled joining areas at the connection points, which form the connection points on the metal part. The plastic part is intimately bonded to the roughened or profiled joining areas of the metal part at the connection points by a temperature-controlled joining process or hot joining process. In this way, a vehicle key fob is provided that has a secure and reliable connection between the metal part and the plastic part.

[0018] Regarding further features and advantages, reference is made to the above description of the method according to the invention.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the joining areas of the metal part have an interlocking profile which, during the temperature-assisted joining process, creates a positive fit between the plastic of the plastic part and the 202404718

[0020] 4

[0021] The metal part creates a positive connection between the plastic and metal parts. Such a connection is virtually impossible to separate in everyday use.

[0022] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plastic part forms a housing for the electronic and mechanical components of the car key fob, such as the radio transmitter and operating button. The metal part, on the other hand, forms a rectangular frame that covers the housing at its top edge and around its circumference. In this way, the housing is protected, and the car key fob also receives a visually appealing appearance.

[0023] Preferably, in this case, tabs project from the four corner areas of the housing in a plane, forming the connection points on the plastic side and designed to secure it to the joining area of ​​the metal part. In this way, the areas heated during the joining process are not located directly on the housing, where they could potentially heat the components arranged within the housing; instead, the heat exposure is essentially limited to the projecting tabs.

[0024] Preferably, both the tabs and the joining areas at the inner corners of the frame are triangular in shape, so that they engage into the inner edge and inner corner of the frame. In this way, the space available within the frame is optimally utilized for the arrangement of the joining areas.

[0025] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, operating buttons protrude from the top of the housing, extending through the opening in the frame. The frame thus allows the entire housing to be covered, so that only the operating buttons of the car key fob are visible. This design of the car key fob is very safe and reliable in use and also aesthetically pleasing. 202404718

[0026] 5

[0027] It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention described above, both with regard to the method and the motor vehicle radio key itself, can be combined with each other in any way, as long as features of different embodiments do not contradict each other.

[0028] The invention also includes further developments of the method according to the invention, which have features already described in connection with the further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the method according to the invention are not described again here.

[0029] The invention is described below, for example, with reference to the schematic drawing.

[0030] This shows:

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a metal part designed as a frame.

[0032] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the associated plastic part of a motor vehicle radio key, which is designed as a housing for the electronic components of the radio button with upwardly protruding actuation buttons.

[0033] Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of the inside of the frame with two joining areas.

[0034] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the fully assembled car radio key from an oblique angle above, and

[0035] Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the fully assembled car radio key from a low angle. 202404718

[0036] 6

[0037] The embodiment described below is a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the described components each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another. Each of these features further develops the invention independently and can therefore be considered part of the invention individually or in a combination other than that shown. Furthermore, the described embodiment can also be supplemented by other features of the invention already described.

[0038] In the figures, functionally identical elements are each provided with the same reference symbols.

[0039] Fig. 1 shows a metal frame 10 as a metal part of a vehicle remote key 1, as depicted in Fig. 4. The metal frame 10 has a flat top surface 12, to which a downwardly projecting side wall 14 is attached. A large opening 16 is provided in the top surface 12 of the metal frame 10 for the passage of operating buttons 22 of the vehicle remote key 1.

[0040] Fig. 2 shows the plastic part 20 corresponding to the metal frame 10 of Fig. 1, in the form of a plastic housing, which contains the electronics of the vehicle remote key 1. Four actuation buttons 22 protrude from the top of the plastic housing 20.

[0041] The plastic housing 20 is elongated and has tabs 24 ad at its four corners, which project from the corners of the plastic housing 20 in a rectangular configuration in one plane. These tabs 24 ad are made of the same plastic as the plastic housing 20 and are preferably formed integrally with it.

[0042] Fig. 3 shows a detailed view into the inside of the metal frame 10 from Fig. 1.

[0043] Between the top 12 and the side wall 14, there are in the corners of the

[0044] Metal frame 10 profiled and / or roughened joining areas 26 formed, the 202404718

[0045] 7 are provided for connection with the tabs 24 of the plastic housing 20. The connection is made in a hot joining process in which the filling areas 26 of the metal frame 10 and the tabs 24 of the plastic housing 20 are pressed or crimped together, whereby the metal part 10 is inductively heated at least in its joining areas 26, causing the plastic of the tabs 24 to soften or melt and thereby bond intimately with the profile of the joining areas 26 of the metal frame 10. In this way, a permanent connection is created. If the profile in the joining areas 26 of the metal frame 10 is recessed, a positive fit is even achieved between the metal part 10 and the plastic of the tabs 24.

[0046] Fig. 4 shows a motor vehicle radio key 1 produced by such a hot joining process in a perspective view from obliquely above and in Fig. 5 from obliquely below.

[0047] The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but can instead be varied within the scope of protection of the attached claims.

[0048] Overall, this example shows how a method for manufacturing a motor vehicle radio key can be provided.

[0049] 202404718

[0050] 8

[0051] Reference symbol list

[0052] 1 car remote key 10 metal part - metal frame of the car remote key

[0053] 12 Top of the metal frame

[0054] 14 Side wall of the metal frame

[0055] 16 Opening in the top of the metal frame

[0056] 20 Plastic parts - Plastic housing for housing the electronics of the vehicle remote key

[0057] 22 actuating buttons protruding from the plastic housing

[0058] 24 tabs projecting in one plane in the corner areas of the plastic housing - connection points of the plastic part

[0059] 26 joining areas on the metal frame - connection points of the metal part

Claims

202404718 9 Patent claims 1. Method for manufacturing a motor vehicle radio key (1) comprising at least one metal part (10) and at least one plastic part (20) which are joined together at connection points (24, 26), characterized in that the plastic part (20) and the metal part (10) are joined together at least at the connection points (24, 26) in a hot joining process.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the plastic part (20) and the metal part (10) are pressed together during the hot joining process, the metal part (10) being heated at least at the connection points (24, 26) briefly above the glass transition temperature of the plastic of the plastic part (20) in order to effect an intimate bond between the metal part (10) and the plastic part (20), and the metal part (10) and the plastic part (20) being pressed together until the plastic of the plastic part (20) has cooled below its glass transition temperature at the connection points (24, 26).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the metal part (10) is roughened or profiled at the connection points (24, 26) before being joined to the plastic part (20).

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the metal part (10) is inductively heated during the joining process.

5. Motor vehicle radio key (1) , manufactured by a method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. Motor vehicle radio key according to claim 5, comprising at least one metal part (10) and at least one plastic part (20) which are connected to each other at several connection points (24, 26), wherein the metal part (10) has roughened and / or profiled joining areas (26) at the connection points (24, 26) which are intimately connected to the plastic of the plastic part (20). 202404718 10 7. Motor vehicle radio key according to claim 6, wherein the joining areas (26) of the metal part (10) have an interlocking profile which, during the temperature-assisted joining process, effect a positive locking of the plastic of the plastic part (20).

8. Motor vehicle radio key according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the plastic part (20) forms a plastic housing for the electronic and mechanical components of the motor vehicle radio key (1), such as transmitter and actuation button (22), and that the metal part (10) forms a rectangular frame which covers and surrounds the plastic housing (20) in its edge area on the upper side.

9. Motor vehicle radio key according to claim 8, wherein tabs (24) project from four corner regions of the plastic housing (20) in a plane, which are designed to be fixed to the joining regions (26) of the metal part (10).

10. Motor vehicle radio key according to claim 9, wherein both the tabs (24) and the joining areas (26) at the inner corners of the frame (10) are triangular in shape.

11. Motor vehicle radio key according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein actuation buttons (22) protrude from the top of the plastic housing (20) through the opening of the frame.

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